talon times
For the students, by the students.
VOLUME 22, ISSUE 4 CHRONICLE 2013
In this issue... The sounds of spring:
On May 23rd, Glenforest held its annual spring concert, Printempo. This year’s concert featured thrilling highs and calming lows, with groups like the Symphonic Band delivering an explosive performance...
P5
A Mini Guide to the Big City:
Toronto: home of the CN Tower, the famous Eaton Centre and the ever so popular, Yonge and Dundas Square. But what can you do in downtown Toronto when all of these clichéd places have gotten boring?
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Glenforest & mental health:
A On a regular school day, Talon Times made a visit to Ms. Howald’s office in the guidance department during fourth period lunch to talk about student mental health in schools...
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from the editors A final farewell!
VOLUME 22, ISSUE 4 CHRONICLE 2013 PAGE 2
Index
From the editors Advice column Events around Glen
p2 p3 p4
Big City Lights A talk with your Peel Student Trustee Printempo That was M-PRESSIVE!
Insights p6 The law of attraction Returning to the mother tongue If you're happy and you know it Why are fashion hauls so popular?
Student life
p8
Into the real world Pasta: the ultimate fast food Combating senioritis at Glenforest Prom dresses 2013 Take the lead Note-to-self Gryphonbyte 5 websites you won’t regret spending time on Why we need more adventure and less pressure
Travel & recreation
p12
Urban exploration Tackling Toronto A beginner's guide to rock climbing
Entertainment
p14
Epic music for those not-soepic days Spring break for Hollywood Spinning back into popularity Studio Ghibli
Interviews p16 Project Unbreakable Madonnaro in Sydney Florence, frottage and figures
Education p18 Nine things that will surprise you about your body The mystery of ESP
Politics p19 Multiculturalism in Canada North and South Korea
Social Issues
p20
HRC equality sign goes viral We live in a "rape culture". Now what? How Glenforest is tackling mental health issues The fairness of fair trade
Where to next? p22 Meet the team p23 Comics p24
First and foremost,
we would like to congratulate the Talon Times team of 2012-2013 on a job superbly done. We are immensely proud to have led and worked with a team that has demonstrated so much dedication and talent. We encouraged our team to take risks and venture into unfamiliar territories (whether they were writing, taking photographs, or editing) and without fail, our team delivered. The challenges that we faced this year were numerous and unfamiliar, but with the invaluable support from the Talon Times team, we were able to tackle all of them and continue on as a stronger, wiser, and more cohesive club. We can’t express just how grateful we are for the hard work of our team and the kind words of our readers. The entire 2012-2013 year of Talon Times would have been impossible without you. Now, as many of you know, Talon Times has been exclusively published online at talontimes. org for the 2012-2013 school year. However, when we were approached by our teacher supervisors with the opportunity to print the Chronicle, we knew that it would be the perfect way to end the year. We’d like to thank Mr. Gordon and Mr. Gale for not only giving us the opportunity to print the final issue, but also for giving us much-needed advice and guidance throughout the year. As much as we’ve enjoyed being your editors for the 2012-2013 year, it is time that we pass on the red ink pens and Adobe tips to next year’s editors: Ruchika Gothoskar and Nathan Duong. We have the utmost faith in their leadership and talents. Talon Times is in safe hands, and we know that next year holds only more success and improvement for the club. Ruchika and Nathan: best of luck next year! We’re excited to see what you have in store for Talon! Through all of the slightly frenzied e-mails concerning deadlines, through all of the laughter-filled editing sessions, through all of the late night designing, and through all of the good and all of the challenging: we’ve had a blast. We hope you have, too. It’s certainly been a journey, and we couldn’t have wished for better companions.
Best of luck and thank you,
Cindy Pu and Divna Stojanovic Editors-in-Chief of Talon Times, 2012-2013
advice column "I
t's almost summer, and I'm really nervous about going to the beach and pool parties with my friends because I don't really have a "beach body". It seems like everywhere I look, there are pictures of what you should look like in a bikini, and it makes me uncomfortable. What can I do to be more comfortable with my body this summer?"
"I
t seems like every summer, I have all of these great, big ideas about what to do. And then... nothing ever happens, and I end up just staying up late, browsing the web aimlessly and then sleeping most of the day away. What are some easy and fun activities to help me get and stay out of that mid-summer rut?"
"I
've heard that the workload at university is a big change from high school, and I'm really nervous that I'll fall behind and perform badly. How can I make sure that I'm ready and staying on track next year?"
S
imply put, you could start working out to turn your body into something you would be proud to show off. There is no use in complaining when you could be running, lifting weights, or swimming. I know it's hard, but get your butt off your couch and go exercise! Remember to avoid junk food and sugary drinks. Eat plenty of healthy fruits and vegetables - it will pay off when you see the outcome of your hard work - your toned body! Even if your new body does not resemble the media's portrayal of the ideal bikini body, remember that these images are often airbrushed to no end and do not represent a realistic goal. As long as you are fit and healthy, you should feel and look fantastic. Personally, it is the little flaws in every unique individual that I find the most attractive. If your body already
M
ake an effort to get out of the house and do something - anything! People are surrounded by so much athome entertainment that they often forget that the most fun they can have is by interacting with the outside world. It feels terrible at the end of the day when you realize that you’ve accomplished nothing that day. Just force yourself out of the house. Ditch your computer, games, and general laziness; it is always better to go out and experience the world. You never know what kind of fun experience or adventure you’ll have! Though the trip out may not always be a good one, a bad outing is better than a safe and boring day at home. Make a consistent effort to make plans with friends. If they flop, who cares? Go out by yourself and interact with the world around you! Humans are social crea-
Y
our ability to take on a heavier workload does not rest upon your current ability to complete homework; rather, it rests upon self discipline. Self discipline is formed from your day-today behaviour. It is to reflect the type of person you wish to be and is beyond simply persevering in the moment. Self discipline requires days, weeks - even months - of daily habits and conscious control. University does have a heavier workload but students who have self discipline are more likely to stay on top of their academics and find success easier than others. It is better to form habits early on because after habits are formed, they become easier to keep. Good habits to bring to university include: 1) Keeping an agenda of all the tasks you have to complete for the day, 2) Going to class regularly, 3) Completing your homework even if it is not being checked, 4) Being involved in clubs, 5)
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looks fine and you are just nervous about exposure then it is best to become comfortable with your own body. Confidence is the best thing to wear; it’s is always more attractive than any supermodel body! — A
T
he media and celebrities’ ideal beach body images are unrealistic and leave girls and boys with false hope, almost always making them feel like their bodies are not good enough. Everyone would love to trim down by a few pounds before the summer. Summer comes with hot weather, more exposed skin, and of course, bathing suits. Be happy with your body and embrace it, if you are uncomfortable in a bikini, try an alternative like a tankini or even a stylish one piece. There are so many great swim suit designs, so if you tures and we need social interactions to feel fulfilled. You said you have these great ideas on what you want to do so why not write them down and set specific goals to achieve them? Make a summer bucket list and aspire to cross off every point by the time September rolls around again. Everybody has their favourite summer activities, so find something you love to do and go do it! Go to Wonderland with friends, get a summer job, volunteer, travel, or just educate yourself at the library (seems lame, I know, but self improvement is always cool!). — A
A
t the beginning of the summer, you usually just want to relax and catch up on some well-deserved sleep! Exams are finished, and for some, high school is over forever! If you’re worSleeping daily, and 6) Finding time for your hobbies. However, don’t worry yourself too much. You deserve to relax this summer after four years of high school. Have lots of fun this summer and come to university refreshed and ready to study. Work hard and play hard! — A
U
niversity is a big change, period. The workload will increase as well as your responsibility as an individual student. It’s easy enough to fall behind in high school; in university, time management will be key to stay on track. Although you will have more time between class because you won’t have the same classes every day, there won’t be as many unimportant assignments—the essays, labs or assignments you will hand in will be weighted much more. When you get an assignment make a schedule. Break up the assignment into stages, at least if you don’t fully commit
feel like your body’s not “bikini ready” for the beginning of the summer, don’t be hesitant to start off with a suit that is a little more concealing. The months before summer always seem to be the busiest- exams, applying for summer jobs, plus the normal workload. Try and go for a walk or run on the weekends when you have a little more spare time. It’s hard to get motivated but if you start with small changes, the results will show and you’ll be a bit closer to your beach body! Another alternative is wearing a cover up on the beach or swim shorts instead of a bikini bottom, you’ll be more comfortable and the worry of constantly adjusting your bathing suit will hopefully be gone. Lastly, remember you’re going to the beach with your friends to have a good time, so stop worrying and and soak up some sun! — R ried about wasting yet another summer break make a list of all the things you’ve wanted to do; a summer bucket list of sorts! The list doesn’t have to include fancy, expensive trips or activities - just simple things you’ve always wanted to do. These activities could include: going camping with your friends, going hiking, shopping around downtown, going thrifting, seeing one of your favorite bands perform live, going on a mini road trip, visiting a museum, going for a picnic – essentially, any of the things you’ve always wanted to do! The most important aspect to making your summer plan is to do the things you want to do. If you need to catch up and sleep the first week then do it! When you’re ready to start making your break worth it get out of the house and start your adventure! — R to the schedule you made you won’t have the entire project to complete at once. Set your “finish” due date a few days before you actually have to hand it in, as this allows for time to edit. Remember to ask any last minute questions, compare with classmates and it takes some of the pressure off! If you need to put in some serious study time, go to the silent floor on the library and leave your phone at home or turn it off completely! Your friends and Twitter will still be there a few hours later and you will be much more productive without distractions. University needs dedication and hard work but it is also a time to have fun and new experiences. Keep a balance of studying and enjoying time with friends and you should be fine! — R
events around Glen
VOLUME 22, ISSUE 4 CHRONICLE 2013 PAGE 4
Big City Lights O
by: Jennifer Wang
n April 23rd, Bloor and Fieldgate was transformed into 42nd and Broadway as Big City Lights came to Glenforest. The event was produced and run by Glenforest’s own Wind Ensemble with the guidance of Mrs. Pierson. The dinner-and-a-show event was held to raise money for the music department; but part of the proceeds went to Sheena’s Place, an organization that provides aid to people with eating disorders. The four interspersed fashion show segments were also dedicated to raising awareness for such
disorders. These fashion show segments showcased models wearing styles from sponsors, The Bay and Donato’s Salon & Spa, fashions made from recycled materials, and scarves created by Ms. Coovadia’s fashion class. A segment even featured Ms. Wang-Martin’s biology class who walked the runway sporting their biology note-clothing. The musical side of the night was lauded by all those that attended, some who even remarked that the performances at the event were on par with, or were even better than, the performances at the talent show. The performanc-
es included a medley from the musical Les Miserables, keyboard solos, and several ensembles that really showcased Glenforest’s musical talent. There was also busking in the foyer at the beginning—a clarinet duet by Victoria Li and Bernadette Abalos—and at the end—a violin and piano duet by Yifan Yang and Jimmy Hou. Big City Lights also witnessed a transformation of the cafeteria into a NYC themed dinner-and-a-show, with a variety of scrumptious food and a classy waiter/waitress system to serve the guests. Food items in-
cluded ready-made coffee, fresh crepes, and New York cheesecake. Preparations and planning began with the class in early to mid-March, giving the group only a few weeks to get the event together, which they pulled off successfully, exceeding the estimated revenue and bringing in approximately $700. The Mississauga News also took interest in the event, and the production was featured in an article the following day. The Wind Ensemble is planning something even greater for their production next year and is expecting a great turnout!
A talk with your Peel Student Trustee I
by: Peter Shi
had the pleasure of having an informal interview with our new Peel South Trustee Trevor Sookraj. Trevor is grade ten right now from our very own Glenforest Secondary School. Throughout the interview, I picked up his main goal as student trustee: unity between the students. His vision is to represent the student voice, and represent the ideas to the council regardless of success or failure. This is especially important to trustees, as our voices will be represented through Trevor at board meetings, and to the adult trustees. PS: What policies do you plan to implement as trust-
ee? TS: I ran my campaign on three points, these being “Building, Success, Together”. Through these three points I had nine different ideas that I wanted to see be implemented, and after talking with a variety of students I feel as though that list of ideas may have expanded. My main goal as Student Trustee will be to communicate all the issues that students are facing in Peel, connect schools together and, if possible, try to implement my solutions by working with the Board. As for three specific points, I would first like to work with our student senate, the Peel Students’ Presidents’ Council, to create a more unified Board. I hope
to achieve this by creating a social network where schools can voice their issues, get input from other schools, see how other schools operate, and create a connection that lasts. Another point would be boundary issues and streamlining initiatives that have already been implemented at some schools to solve these boundary issues. For example, many students in regional programs such as French Immersion do not get bussed to school, and are required to pay for their own method of transportation. This is a huge problem, seeing as how the buses for local students pass by their houses with empty seats, but they can’t get on. Introducing an initiative
where students in said programs could get bused, if the buses had the empty space, would be a good solution. Thirdly, many students want to raise awareness for mental health issues, but they aren’t sure how. The Peel District School Board (PDSB) ran an amazing mental health awareness campaign last year named “Stand Up”, and I would definitely like to see more student involvement in it this upcoming year. Mental health support at schools should also be better publicized, as these options are available but unknown to many students.
TS: Being only recently elected student trustee, I will not experience what a week of a student trustee is like until my term begins in August/ September, however, I can try to give students a rough picture. Student trustees attend Board meetings every other week on Tuesday evenings, while also attending sub-committees Board meetings monthly. Student trustees are also invited to attend weekly student senate executive meetings (Peel Students’ Presidents’ Council) every Thursday evening. Outside of the Board, student trustees also have the opportunity to meet with PS: What does a week of a community stakeholders and Trustee look like? the schools in their region to liaise and ensure that all
schools stay connected, hearing their voice, and unifying them under the Peel oard. PS : Any last words, or “Trevor quotes”to inspire students who are thinking about running for trustee? TS: Follow your passion. If you want to get the student voice heard, Student Trustee is a great venue to do so, but your voice can also be exercised through our student senate, city-wide youth groups (Mississauga’s Youth Advisory Committee, MYAC), and even locally, through youth groups at your local community centre or library. Find your passion and follow it, wherever that takes you.
events around Glen
VOLUME 22, ISSUE 4 CHRONICLE 2013 PAGE 5
Printempo:
the sounds of spring O
by: Simo Pajovic
n May 23rd, Glenforest held its annual spring concert, Printempo. This year’s concert featured thrilling highs and calming lows, with groups like the Symphonic Band delivering an explosive performance of the international smash hit “Gangnam Style” and Forest Fire spreading the love with their rendition of John Lennon’s timeless “Imagine”. Performances covered a
W
by: Yilin Zhang
atch out, Gryphons! A wave of amazing K-Pop dancers is taking over our school. Formed nearly a year ago by leader Cecilia Ma, MPRESS consists of eleven talented grade twelve dancers who impressed everyone with their performances at Red Cross Chapter’s Night, Red Cross’ Limitless Talent Show
wide variety of genres, ranging from big band jazz with Frank Sinatra’s classic “Come Fly With Me” played by the Wind Ensemble, to video game music to the familiar tune of the Legend of Zelda theme featured in the Grade Ten Band Class’ “Hyrule Symphony” medley. Other highlights included the Concert Choir’s performances of “Dynamite” and “The Climb”, in addition to the Grade Nine Experienced Band Class’ performance of “Skyfall” from
the recent James Bond film of the same name. At the end of the concert, Glenforest waved goodbye to our graduating musicians. The Class of 2013 really has not only some of the most talented and dedicated music students in Glenforest history, but also some of the kindest and most respectful. Hopefully, those of us who still have a ways to go before graduation will acknowledge them as an example of what it means to be part of the Glenforest com-
munity and continue their legacy. Of course, we students took some time to thank our eternally hard working music teachers too. While there were extravagant bouquets of flowers and oversized cards, we can never truly express what Mrs. Pierson, Ms. Krizan and Mr. Graham mean to us. One cannot even fathom the amount of time they spend planning and teaching lessons, as well as helping to orchestrate the many mu-
sic-related events every year. They work early mornings and late nights to give us the gifts of learning and music, all because they care. With the utmost sincerity, music teachers, all of Glenforest, music students or not, thank you! And so, with deep sentimentality, another music season was brought to a close. Despite the unfortunate political climate, the music department had an enormously successful year. There were many “firsts”: the first Big
City Lights, the first GAMA flash mob, the first Junior Forest Fire rock band and of course the first Grade Twelve Vocal class. It was also, sadly, the first year without a Winterlude (the school Winter concert). Nonetheless, the music program at Glenforest seems to be growing more and more every single year. At this rate, music may become the most popular course in school – yes, even more popular than math.
and the G-Factor. The members danced to songs such as Big Bang’s “Fantastic Baby”, SNSD’s “I Got a Boy”, UKISS’ “Stop Girl” and many more including BAP’s “One Shot” and Hyuna’s “Troublemaker”. Ziying Zhang, a Glenforest student revealed, “I was utterly impressed with how our hard work paid off, and revealed itself on stage.” MPRESS gained a fan base not only from the
school, but also around the world. Videos of their performances on YouTube often have worldwide viewers! Being alongside fellow MPRESS members (Jerry Wang, Jason Wang, Mike Wang, Jordan Le, Jonathan Coe, Michelle Chaung, Michelle Li, Alisha Zhang and Lena Ji) was truly an incredible experience. We worked as a cohesive unit during ev-
ery practice, and we were like family. Everyone helped and encouraged each other during the more difficult dances. Attention to detail was especially important, as we spent countless hours practising minor movements which could have easily been neglected; however, it was these movements that added beauty and elegance to the routine. It all paid off in the end, as our per-
formances were met with support from the crowd. We fed off of the audience’s energy, and were able to enthusiastically present our creative and unique routines. I am glad that I joined this dance group, because not only did I escape the pressures of school, but I also made some new friends, and got to know others better. This, I believe, is the true value that MPRESS brought to my life.
A special “thank you” goes out to our leader, Cecilia Ma, for her continuous dedication to the group. MPRESS looks more MPRESSive than ever; who knows what the future will bring?
VOLUME 22, ISSUE 4 CHRONICLE 2013 PAGE 6
insights
The law of attraction T
by: Rashmi Logo
he search to unlock the mysteries of what the future holds has always been an ongoing quest for mankind. Man's insatiable hunger for knowledge has been the impetus that has propelled him towards his pursuit of self-actualization. He knocked on the doors of religion and supersti-
tion; extended an enthusiastic hand towards science, even shook hands with the devil in the hopes of bartering his soul for a secret that would help him decipher the impossibilities of a future he knew nothing about. He had treated the future with the cautionary weariness of a stranger. The law of attraction urges him to act otherwise.
The law of attraction is a simplistic theory that gives man the power to shape and mould a future by simply using his mind as a tool. The notion of man being the master of his own destiny is strongly ingrained within this theorem, which states that the whole expanse of the universe was constructed by the mind, and that one's thoughts chisel and
mold one's imagined state of being into a tangible, constructed reality. The mind that continually houses an endless stream of thoughts, whether negative or positive, has the potential to bring anything into existence by merely conceiving this notion, asking for it, believing in it, and truly visualizing the result as if it had already been
birthed into existence. It has been scientifically proven that each thought has a frequency; like thoughts attract like. What one puts out into the universe is what one receives back. Thoughts become things when one's mind truly believes in them. This concept has been continuously used by the greatest men in history who
understood that the key to mastering the world is to master one's mind. Albert Einstein, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Winston Churchill have all advocated this central belief that what we think about, we bring about. In the words of the Buddha, "Happiness does not depend on what you have or who you are; it solely relies on what you think."
Returning to the mother tongue “A
by: Allison Chen
re you really a Chinese person?” is a question I am often asked after I attempt to converse in broken Chinese. Being a Canadian-born Chinese citizen, my parents always stressed the importance of keeping a firm hold on our Chinese background. Yet, I find myself, like many other second generation immigrants, without a strong link to the linguistic aspect of my culture. In fact, studies carried out in the Pew Hispanic Center have shown that native language fluency drops
off with each successive generation. Most of Glenforest’s student population is composed of immigrants who, upon arriving, were faced with the challenge of learning English. Some of these students managed to balance English with their native language, but others have never gotten the opportunity or have never been motivated to do so. Many have experiences similar to that of grade twelve student, Chibuikem Emenogu, a student who’s always known how to speak Igbo, but is limited in his fluency. Anshuman Pat-
naik, grade twelve, describes this barrier, saying that the “social norms [in Canada] made him adapt to English” and that moving here at a young age further “exploited his neuroplasticity.” Ultimately, our environment has great impact on our own sense of identity and values, encouraging an acceptance of a new culture, but in some cases, failing to retain the original. It might, at a glance, seem simple enough in itself to bring oneself to converse more, to expose oneself to more media and activities that involve their mother
tongue, but it’s not unusual to find students more fixed upon the immediate distractions of homework, food, and the weekend plans to consider the more long term goal: becoming reacquainted with their own culture through language. Such an age gap between generations has creates a plethora of varying perspectives. First generation parents have expressed an embarrassment, a pity, and pure disbelief for the second generation for not being able to preserve the language. Most parents agree that to be fluent in one’s
mother language means pass on their own generation’s culture to the next. More than the career value that is associated with being able to speak multiple languages, there is also worth in maintaining strong communication ties between parents who are clearly not as fluent in English. Realistic goals, taking it one phrase at a time, and asking parents to enforce stronger rules about speaking at home may strengthen relationships between generations. A suggestion is to approach this language barrier sooner than later, in 30 day
challenges, or by simple tasks like using “Word of the Day’s, which in some cases have proven more effective that the Rosetta Stone CDs and traditional Chinese school. There is something to be said about those who are able to recognize and appreciate language’s influence on one’s own identity and its importance in reaffirming the multiculturalism of our community. The more difficult step is to act on it. Let us carry on the language so that the generations of tomorrow may be exposed to the cultures of the past.
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insights
If you're happy and you know it by: Monisha Ambwani
A
happy face, smiling face, smiley or is an icon that we see every day! It’s the first face we learn to draw as a child, the face we make when we are happy, the face we send to our friends after saying something that may sound offensive, the face we draw under two exclamation marks. But where does this face come from? Why have we overlooked the origins of
this well-known, popularized icon? It’s time to delve into this topic a little deeper. By definition, this image is a “stylized representation of a smiling humanoid face, commonly occurring in popular culture.” Since 1964, it has acted as a “symbol of peace and joy which represents the American spirit of friendship, happiness and peace.” Isn’t it interesting to think that your grandparents may have grown up without the
smiley face? "I made a circle with a smile for a mouth on yellow paper, because it was sunshiny and bright," Harvey Ross Ballstated in a 1996 interview with The Associated Press. The story of the creation of the smiley face began when the State Mutual Life Assurance of Wecester initiated a merger that had poor effects on company morale. Then, in 1964, State Mutual cooked up a “friendship
Why are fashion hauls so popular? “T
by: Mona Jia
his was only $14.95!” she beams, holding up a recently bought shirt in front of the camera. Like all the other clothing items and accessories in the video, the shirt is a steal. Its new owner happily describes each of her Black Friday conquests in loving detail during an eleven-minute vlog. Who would willingly spend eleven minutes watching what is essentially just a show-and-tell of bags and blouses? The fashion vlogger in question is a highly successful Youtuber known by the handle DulceCandy87. She has over 700 000 subscribers—a figure which could very well have increased by the time
this article is published—who gobble up video documentation of fashion purchases, known as “fashion hauls”. The phenomenon extends far beyond DulceCandy87’s own popularity: many Youtube accounts of the same species rack up hundreds of thousands to millions of views by showcasing purchases. The appeal of Youtubers like DulceCandy87 lies in the excitement of hunting down anticipated trends, of experiencing it second-hand as a consumer. But the experience is not a wholly vicarious one. Viewers also use the videos as sources of inspiration that help them plan what to buy on their next trip to mega-retailers like H&M, Forever 21, and Zara, where a significant
portion of the finds seem to originate from. Known for their fast fashion ethos and on-trend product lines, these chains can go hand-in-hand with consumerism. Their displays change rapidly and their products aren’t advertised for quality as much as they are for their relevance: they serve to feed the notion that wardrobes should be constantly updated to be fashionable. The hauls are simply a reflection of that attitude: typical vloggers upload content on a monthly basis and have closets overflowing with clothes, shoes and makeup. According to various estimates published in Time, CNN, and the book Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion
campaign” to get employees to smile whenever they answered a phone, filed a claim or wrote a report. They then looked to Ball for graphics support. Ball reported that he spent ten minutes designing this huge popicon and was paid $45.00 for it. These were put on buttons and cards in order to raise the company morale. Neither Ball nor State Mutual copyrighted or trademarked the smiley face and soon after, the icon became
the symbol for an entire generation of Americans. Today, this icon is one of the most wellknown in North American culture. Ball once said, “Never in the history of mankind or art has any single piece of art gotten such widespread favor, pleasure, enjoyment and nothinghas ever been so simply done and so easily understood in art.” Now, in the 20th century,
this icon has become a huge part of Internet culture and was the basis for the “emoticons” we use every single day. They can be found all over social media sites today. While the original smiley was all about happiness and creating a smile, all sorts of smileys are used today. The next time you send a smiley face to your best friend over text, or end a tweet with one, you’ll hopefully remember its origin.
by Elizabeth Cline, the average American buys over 60 items of clothing per year. Although Talon Times is a little skeptical of where this figure comes from, it acknowledges that an obsession with acquiring cheap new threads (and many of them) exists to some degree; certainly enough to be wary about. Not everyone who shops at similar locales buy into this lifestyle, but the popularity of these videos alone is a pretty strong testament to how highly taste, trendiness, and “shopping skills” are valued by their fans. Defendants of the fashion haul medium are quick to point out the fact that the videos help cash-strapped young people find more affordable alternatives to high-end fashions. Although their make and material may not be up to par, these runway knock-offs generally feature the same design. If one considers the entire supply chain of the ordeal, including raw materials, design, labour, shipping, and retail,
one must ask: how is Forever 21 able to sell a skirt for $7.50? Forever 21 probably doesn’t want customers to think about that, which is why the company has sponsored fashion haulers to buy and promote their stuff in a personable format. Consumers are more likely to trust and become influenced by these brand ambassadors, who are sometimes given free shopping sprees in return for advertisement. Ultimately, that is what fashion hauls are: advertisements. The final goal for these haulers may be just to produce harmless entertainment or to foster a positive community centred on fashion and affordability, but the inevitable outcome isn’t innocuous. The videos perpetuate consumerism while ignoring the environmental and social implications of goods bought cheaply and often. If it were really only about fashion and saving money, why aren’t thrift store hauls or DIY repurposing videos nearly as popular?
There’s nothing wrong with being smart with one’s money and saving whenever possible on apparel, but keep in mind that it’s not necessarily economizing if one hunts for replacement garments after one season. Seasonality is a key component of fashion, but that does not mean a wardrobe update must come in the form of a purchase. Finding new ways to wear pieces is the best way to decrease wasteful spending and instead save money. Realistically, however, it’s difficult to suddenly cease buying clothes; the writer of this article will be the first to admit that H&M carries a damn fine ten dollar men’s T-shirt. One need not change all of their buying habits right away, just cutting down on the number of purchases made per season is a start.
VOLUME 22, ISSUE 4 CHRONICLE 2013 PAGE 8
student life
Into the real world
we grow and change during graduation is going to hapthese four years, so do our pen, but not any time soon. ometimes it feels like reactions to graduation. Four years! That’s practicalthe only reason anyone ly a millenium, right? As an ever comes to high school Grade Nine: anonymous grade nine said: is so that one day they can Most of us start out in “I have some idea of what I leave high school and enter grade nine. At this point, want from [graduation], but I the “real world”. University, even though you have more don’t spend much time thinkgraduation, running off to years left until graduation ing about it, to be honest.” New York with nothing but than those in other grades, a dream and a cardigan, are you’re probably the most sim- Grade Ten: all common topics of discus- ilar to high school graduates. Okay, so now you’re sions for us awkward, bright- Like them, you’ve entered a in grade ten. Wow, that was eyed hormone sacks. new place full of possibili- fast. The terms “universiNo matter what your ties and potholes, a place for ty,” “options,” and “after high grade, age, ethnicity, po- which you have expectations school” are slowly beginlitical affiliation, eye-lash that will probably elude real- ning to creep into day-to-day length, etc, you too are ac- ity. And you are too wrapped speech. Graduation turns tively aware of and have up in the novely of this ad- into an inevitability and you feelings about the looming venture to think about the start to imagine it, and more specter of graduation. As next one. Oh, you know importantly, how it will feel.
S
by: Aishwarya Singh
As Sabrina Sahi said; “I still in right now. I’m scared.” have a couple more years to go, but it is surely something Grade Twelve: I’m scared about and excited Grade twelve! Congratuabout at the same time.” lations! You finally have some coherent idea of yourself and Grade Eleven: those around you. You’re the Wow, grade eleven; one most comfortable and accushalf of your four year millen- tomed you’ve ever been to nium has gone by. And this high school. Your millenniis where the panic hits. Sud- um is coming to a close, and denly graduation not only you’re not sure whether you exists, but matters. Suddenly, want to run towards it or if you can’t get by on coming to you want to run away. Anila school with a sacked lunch Rudrabhatla says; “I'm lookand half a pencil. The looming ing forward to that new start specter is brighter than ever, in university. However, the and seems both too beautiful friends I've met at Glenforest and too much for you. Ruhi truly had an impact on my life. Kokal says: “I kind of like the So I'm a mix on emotions, but comfortable, safe world, I live one thing's certain: I will miss
Glenforest very much.” So that’s how it goes, usually. To end off this article about ending off, I don’t have any useful advice about coping with the all consuming beast that is the future, but I do have some thoughts on the “real world.” It’s not actually any more real that the world you’ve been living in all your life. High school is not some fictional land, and you are not a non-existent character who will magically evolve into an actual human being upon touching that diploma. Your story does not start upon graduation, so try not to write it as thought it does.
Pasta: the ultimate fast food
O
by: Kevin Zhang
ne look at what comprises much of the average student lunch nowadays – if not an arid beef patty, a soggy samosa (or an equivalent) in its stead – and I can’t help but feel a twinge of sympathy. Driven by incentives in convenience and price, it seems that hardly anybody really cares about how their food tastes, and even less so what actually goes into what they eat. As a student and a foodie who often finds himself tight on time, I sympathize with such a situation. The first thing that comes to mind as an alternative to such a mundane diet was pasta –
versatile, quick to make, and above all, delicious. So much variety to be found, yet so many of us are confined to the ideas of Spaghetti & Meatballs (the meatballs, by the way, are traditionally served as another dish altogether) and Mac & Cheese - most of the time found in prepackaged cans or boxes. Those pasta pots sold in supermarkets and cafeterias, filled with cold, mushy penne and some mayonnaise? Not really what you’d call an ideal meal. There is a world of inexpensive and healthful dry pastas that lines supermarket shelves, ready to be tossed in a quick and simple Pomodoro or a Bolognese sauce, yet the intimidation factor in cook-
ing one’s own meals often deters students from doing so. But when it takes more time to walk down to the nearest food joint outside the cafeteria then make a wholesome, tasty pasta lunch – ten minutes is all it takes – then something’s got to give. ‘Bacon and Eggs’ Spaghetti (Spaghetti alla Carbonara) A simple Spaghetti alla Carbonara is a perfect stepping stone for those just starting to get into cooking. Carbonara sauce is traditionally made with prosciutto, a type of cured Italian ham. As prosciutto is difficult to find most of the time outside
of specialty stores and markets this side of the Atlantic, bacon acts as a great alternative.
Procedure
Ingredients
• 500g dry spaghetti • 4 eggs • 4-5 strips thick-cut bacon (or prosciutto)
• Salt & pepper • 3L cold water • Hard cheese (to grate) (optional)
1. Fill a relatively deep pan or pot with water and add roughly 6 tablespoons of coarse sea salt. Place onto burner, turn heat up to maximum and cover. Wait until water reaches a rolling boil, then remove lid and drop in spaghetti. 2. Refer to the cooking directions on the packaging of the dry pasta; cook for 1-2 minutes less than instructed for an ‘al dente’ doneness. 3. At the same time, slice bacon strips into small, rectangular chunks and place a skillet or pan on medium-high heat. Once hot, place bacon inside pan and cook until crispy, about 4-5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat, and reserve both bacon and grease inside. 4. Once the spaghetti is done cooking, reserve about half a cup of pasta water and strain the pasta – do not rinse your spaghetti. 5. Crack open and beat eggs in a separate bowl and set aside. 6. While pasta is still hot, transfer into bacon pan and quickly pour beaten eggs and pasta water into noodles – do not place back onto heat. 7. Mix eggs and pasta water with noodles well (the residual heat from the pasta and the pan will cook the egg through) and serve.
VOLUME 22, ISSUE 4 CHRONICLE 2013 PAGE 9
student life
Combating senioritis at Glenforest H
by: Catherine Liu
ow many times have you heard a grade twelve student say something along the lines of “I’m so done”, or “I’m so over high school”? Many senior students are suffering from ‘senioritis’, a term used to describe the decreasing motivation, repeated absences and a dismissive attitude towards all forms of school work. By March, many grade twelve students already had acceptance offers from post secondary institutions, which mean that all they have to do is maintain the predetermined top six average, as stated in their conditional offers.
Some averages tend to be lower than others, which leads students to the false pretence of believing that they can slack off and still be able to graduate and attend university or college. However, the final “top six” average is also the deciding factor for entrance scholarships. The higher the marks, the greater the amount of scholarship money the university or college could potentially offer. Post secondary tuition is costly and having such scholarships could significantly lower the amount of student debt and stress of repaying it later. Furthermore, what students don’t realize is that
often, their marks could drop beyond their expectations, causing schools to revoke their offer after receiving their final second semester marks. Even worse, a failing grade in one of the required courses to graduate could lead to retaking the course in summer school. Although seniors are excited to move on to the next chapter of their lives, they have to successfully conclude this chapter first. It may be difficult to motivate yourself to study, but senioritis can be avoided – or at least, managed – by following these simple tips. 1. Be organized
Create a schedule of what you have to do daily by making good use of your agenda. Write down your homework and plan out your to-do list at lunch or at home to ensure that you follow your schedule. But mostly importantly, make sure the schedule is realistic; know yourself, your limits and your capabilities.
2. Be motivated If you know what you would like to pursue in the future, outline what you have to do to achieve that goal. Surround yourself with like-minded and inspiring people. The transition between high school and the challengrs that come with a
post-secondary education will be tough, so take advantage of these last few months of high school to rest and be relaxed so you can appropriately face the rigors. 3. Don’t obsess Don’t spend the entire time thinking about college or university life and the admission process. If all your time is spent on worrying about your grades instead of working on improving them, your marks suffer. September will be here before you know it and everything will work out. You are here now, so do whatever you can to be a good student, to get involved within the community and to do things you
Prom dresses 2013 W
by: Marianna Lozowska
ith prom just days away, many girls may not have yet picked out that perfect dress. Prom dress shopping can be stressful and overwhelming, especially within a short time frame, but the shopping experience can be made less intimidating and nerve-wracking. To begin, start browsing online shops that sell prom dresses. You’ll soon get an idea of what silhouettes cater to your style and preferences. Take notes on which neck line, colours and patterns appeal to you. If you choose to go out and shop, the experience will be much easier
Take the lead L
by: Allison Chen & Pallavi Mathur
eadership has long been recognized as an essential life skill, one of the most salient traits any individual needs to become successful. Many influential figures, both historical and in quotidian life, prove leadership to be applicable beyond the bounds of a presidential role. Leadership is a term that we define just as much as it defines us, and is achievable by any one of us. Indeed, in the midst of Bill 115 this year, several individuals faced challenges to starting and maintaining extracurricular activities; nonetheless, they took the initiative to give it a try, and inspired others along the way to find their own means of being leaders in their
respective areas of strength and interest. The approach to leadership is, and can be, as simple as identifying a need in the community and realizing how you can contribute to it. For Cathy Li, Chair of the Mississauga Multiple Sclerosis Youth Committee, finding the need in the community is where any individual can start. Noting that many youths were not aware of the prevalence of the disease, she says, “It’s important for youth, as the leaders of tomorrow, to become aware of their communities and take that step to get involved.” As a life-long skill, leadership is continuous. Trevor Sookraj, Peel Student Trustee South and Vice-Chairperson of the Mississauga Youth Advisory Committee, mentions lead-
ership for him is found not only in those positions but, “exhibited every day through personality: being social, introducing myself to new people, being outspoken but also being a great listener.” But leadership is often not without its difficulties. Many individuals find that leadership is associated with problems pertaining to communication among the team and ensuring that everybody meets deadlines. Nonetheless, the role of the leader is to use positive reinforcement and sustain team dynamics, as to create what Li refers to as “familial sentiment” among the team. Other students have mentioned difficulties with time management; one jokingly exclaiming that the biggest challenge was sleeping in,
knowing just how much time is spent simply on planning. Rawan Abdallah, co-founder of the Mississauga Youth Film Festival, comments on the worries and pressure. “The pressure to do well, to live up to expectations is something that all leaders have to face,” she says. That being said, it is difficult finding the “right” method to take the initiative. Another high school student comments that the most challenging thing about leadership is often “forging onwards not knowing if you are right or not.” Leadership may not necessarily always mean being right; but in this case, certainly operates best on confidence. “In the end, you have to eradicate the doubt and just trust your gut instinct.” The outcome is just as
once you have an idea of what you’re looking for. Keep an open mind; don’t close yourself off to one specific style. By trying on styles you haven’t considered you’ll know for sure what looks best on you. Maybe you’ll find that perfect dress while trying on a style you hadn’t considered before! Finding a dress that compliments your body shape is especially important. For girls with petite body types, try avoiding long, flowing dresses, as this style will make you look like you’re drowning in fabric. Instead of hiding your small shape, accentuate it with something short and feminine. A solution for girls trying to
surprising as it is rewarding. In the words of one twelfth grader, “You’d be surprised; the effects of leadership and encouragement go a long way.” Not only that, but to be a leader connotes stepping outside of a comfort zone, an experience in which one can then learn more about their own strengths and weaknesses, identify what they love to do, while motivating others in the team to do the same—it is said that leaders do not create followers, they create more leaders, contributing to an overall positive effect on the world as a whole. One should acknowledge that being a “leader” does not necessarily always mean being successful. There are times when things simply do not work out the way you want them to. However, as Winston Churchill once wisely said, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.” It is important to remember that so long as one makes the effort to
love and enjoy so you can be better prepared, and help the time pass a little quicker. 4. Take care of yourself and have fun Sleep early and wake up early so you can be refreshed at school. Avoid taking long naps after school as they will make you groggy and lazy. Eat fruits and vegetables, drink water and exercise daily. Being physically fit will allow you to be healthy mentally as well. Remember that you have worked hard the last four years and don’t forget to reward yourself, pull through the next few months and enjoy your senior year responsibility!
look curvier would be a dress that cinches in at the waist. A small, cinched waist gives the illusion of a curvier figure. A girl with an hourglass body shape should look for a dress that is fitted throughout the top and waist. The perfect style for a girl with an hourglass shape would be a mermaid gown. Pear body shaped girls should look for a dress that highlights the body from the waist up. A dress with embellishments and beading around the neckline balances out the upper and lower half of pear shaped girls’ body. Plus sized girls look great in empire waist gowns that flow out around the body. Go out and explore shops, there are plenty around Mississauga and downtown Toronto that carry a plethora of styles that cater to everyone’s idea of the perfect prom dress. Good luck, girls! improve oneself as well as the world around them, they are exhibiting what it takes to be a leader. Exhibiting leadership does not have to even be a conscious effort. As Juexia He puts it, “One with the courage to inspire others will always be a leader. You have the passion to pursue what you enjoy, and that gives them the motivation to follow in your footsteps and work towards the same goal.” If the recipe is as simple as doing what you love and showing it, it is one that anybody and everybody can follow. It is a world full of opportunities, but as Sookraj adds, “If you don’t have the right mindset and motivation, you won’t find them.” Add a pinch of courage, confidence, and positivity. Take that leap of faith to start becoming the leaders of today and the inspirers of tomorrow.
student life
Note-to-self S
by: Rena Gao
o as the year is coming to an end, it doesn’t matter whether you’re in grade nine, ten, eleven, or twelve - we could all use some “life tips” now and then. Feel free to ob-
ject to the lessons mentioned and remember that you can always learn more, whether we are nine or 90. Experiences don't define us, even if they may form parts of who we are. 1. Life is what you make
it. If you work for something, then something will happen. It does no good to sit around and dream about it. 2. Do your best in everything that you do. If you have a choice between doing
well in one thing versus do- love. ing a mediocre job in several things, always choose that one 4. Facebook is a real thing. waste of time. Restrict your Internet usage. 3. Time is the most valuable asset. It is scarce and 5. Join clubs. Clubs are limited. At the same time, it is a great way of getting to know the all pervasive entity of our people with the same interests lives. Do not hold back on do- as you. Arguably, clubs are ing something because it will what make high school fun! take too long, or you deem Some of Glenforest’s great acit to be “too late”. It is never tivities include: DECA, tentoo late to do something you nis, Chamber Choir and Sears
Gryphonbyte by: Indranil Balki & Cameron Taheri
The 2012-2013 school year has undoubtedly been an eventful and exciting experience. As we near its end, here is what your fellow Gryphons want to say about all that we have achieved as a school, and what to look forward to for next year. Wasi Rizvi: What a year this has been for Glenforest. A great showing at the volleyball tournament (all the way to the semi finals) has meant that our school is really making a mark in interschool competitions. New sports teams have also been introduced, such as the Varsity Boys Cricket Team. Hopefully next year will be even better!
working students are united under the common title of yerds (yearbook nerds). Despite the lack of advisors, deadlines before exams and demographics that are as hard to keep track of as mystical unicorns, the yerds prevailed and produced another successful volume of soulprint. Special thanks to Mr. Fong and Mrs. Manchur, Ms. Trupp, Ms. Horvath, and most importantly the yerds – for making this documentation of student life possible.
Amr Saleh: This year has been fantastic. Congratulations to all my fellow gryphons for keeping many of our school clubs up and running despite some of the problems associated with Bill 115 earlier this year. I am glad we have gotten over Yearbook Executive it and I am looking forward Committee: Yearbook is to another great year! where stalkers, caffeine adShahzaib Gill: The Safe dicts, artists, writers, photographers, and above all, hard Schools initiative has really
put Glenforest on the path to becoming a bullying-free community. Hundreds participated in the wear-pink campaign and I can see the difference we are making. Keep it up everyone! INTERACT-YFGA Executive Committee: This year has been a great success – thank you to Glenforest for making such generous donations to local service organizations, Ecosource and international service organizations.
Peter Shi: This school year has been truly amazing! I've made so many new friends here at Glenforest. Everyone is caring, supportive, and beyond a doubt, family. A place like Glenforest, is rare; yet it is satisfying to know that my future will unfold from such strong roots. Maggie Zhang: I can see why so many people have
Social Justice Action Committee: Thank you, Glenforest, for your support in fighting abuse against women. You have really made a difference in changing social perception. Next year we will be looking to raise awaresmiling faces as I pass them ness about the issues surin halls. I look around seeing rounding mental health. faces of laughter and happiness. What's not to smile Shahrukh Rahman: about here at Glenforest? We There's never a dull moment have amazing teachers, great here at Glenforest. Whethstudents, and above all, a com- er it's the hundreds of clubs mon passion to succeed. we have, semi formals, or school initiatives. We alAlek Tirpan: Glenforest ways tackle everything with is different. Our only similari- an open mind and an open ty I presume is our difference; heart, and never without our our uniqueness per say. Glen- infamous spark of spirit. forest to me is freedom. Freedom to be who I want and not Sriram Sundereman: be judged, freedom to do what This has been a truly fanI please and it be scowled at, tastic year. I would like to and freedom to say as I wish, thank all our wonderful without being put down. teachers for being such great inspirers of learning. Ali Ansari: Wow time has flown by so fast. This Michael Dimitrov: school year has gone by in a Wow! |Hearty congratulaflash. And why would you tions to everyone for worknot feel this way when you're ing so hard. Keep it up having a good time. School and stay motivated. This is used to be a place I disliked, wonderful place to be. Glenforest has taught me that learning can be intuitive. Arunan BhavananNow I never want to leave. tham: I awake every morning excited for another day. Let’s
VOLUME 22, ISSUE 4 CHRONICLE 2013 PAGE 10
Drama Festival, to name a few. We could always use a few friends, whether in grade nine or twelve! 6. Work hard and study! It’ll pay off later. 7. This is pretty standard, but don’t succumb to peer pressure. There’s an old saying: just because your friends jump off the bridge, should you? keep it this way friends! Saarthak Rathee: This has been a wonderful year – but we can do even better. Let us set even bigger goals and become even better individuals. Let us work harder, play harder and represent our school principles. Abbas Medhi: Glenforest is sick. Period. Prian Kuhanandan: Glenforest has an amazing atmosphere that’s filled with positivity. Never a dull moment here, and that is what I like best! Brian Sweldon: I couldn’t imagine a year better spent. So much to learn and do here at Glenforest, one is truly always occupied— but that’s the best part! Judging from what this sample of Gryphons has to say, Glenforest has pulled off another successful school year. All that remains with us now will be our cherished memories, our lifelong friends, and our novel appreciation for learning. Cheers to an amazing school year, and many more to come!
VOLUME 22, ISSUE 4 CHRONICLE 2013 PAGE 11
student life
5 websites you won't regret spending time on (DISCLAIMER: Talon Times is not responsible for the content of external publications; some material may not be appropriate for all ages, and is not under our control.)
Y
by: Serena Chao
ou've just come home from school and, miraculously, you have no homework. You're constantly switching between Facebook and Twitter, and you have no idea what to do with your time. Have you ever had one of those moments when you're bored out of your mind, and you just don't know what to do on the Internet? Have no fear, here are five websites that will put that time to use, and give you some insight that you'll love. You could spend hours and hours scrolling through and visiting each of these sites. You'll learn odd facts, useful tips, and helpful advice. Just make sure you don't make these a source of procrastination!
A
by: Serena Chao
dmit it, you're stressed, unmotivated, and bubbling over from the pressure. We need less of it. There's this strange illusion that we need to achieve high marks, be accepted into every opportunity, and to be at the top of our game in order to be successful. There will always be some sort of pressure. Whether it be
4. Tumblr I would personally describe this as a collection of fandoms, quotes, and images of your choice. It's a blogging site with the flair of a modernist. Simple but complex at the same time, the functionality and convenience of the platform has its advantages. You can "follow" the blogs that spark personal interest, "like" the posts that appeal to you, and "reblog" all you want.
5. SoulPancake Imagine a strange website with a world hidden inside of the most absurd, useful, and personal advice and conversations about art, philosophy, creativity, culture, and humor. Do you want to start a conversation about a new idea you have? Or maybe you want an activity to open your mind to different things? No matter which part of the website you go to, you're sure to put your time to good use.
4. Do something you've 2. Get lost never done before You never know what'll Self-explanatory. happen. 5. Go on a spontaneous 3. Take a trip into the wil- trip derness Grab a couple of Being out of the city friends, and just go 1. Explore the gems of your is a nice getaway at any- with your instincts. city time of the year. S'mores, Satisfy that desire to Whether it's your city or campfires, and star-gazing. travel, to try exotic food, or the neighbouring one, there's What could be better? to wander for once. If you always something new. haven't done the five things
above, or even gone outside in a while, go. Your homework, SAT studying, and LoL game can wait. And years from now, you'll be able to say, "Hey, remember that time when...? Yeah, that was awesome."
1. StumbleUpon This is the hub of all the hidden secrets on the Internet. Whether you want to try a new recipe or find a new personality test, you can put in your interests and receive personalized results for sites that you have "stumbled upon." There are categories from A to Z and I'm sure that you'll be able to find something that catches your eye. If you want a website full of everything, this is a must visit.
2. TED This particular site is becoming more and more popular. Do you have a couple of minutes on your hands? Try watching a talk - short or long - that will inspire you and blow your mind. These videos are all about getting out those ideas that everyone should know, learn, and spread. If you want an educational use of your time, this is the one.
from your family, friends, or just everyone, sometimes we forget that these are the years that we shouldn't be spending like this. They're the ones we should look back at in the future and miss. Years from now, you'll realize that you didn't need to pull that many all nighters for that worthless test. You'll realize that you've wasted the chances to enjoy yourself and spent them alone
wishing for a change. You'll realize that those moments will be the adventures that you won't be able to relive. Here's a short list of some of the best things you can do with your friends.
3. ThoughtCatalog Think about a catalogue with jumbles of mixed thoughts where you can pick and choose the content. Updated frequently, writers from all over the world submit their articles to join the catalogue of wonderful thoughts. Sorted by themes, you can get advice or another perspective on almost anything. It's a good place to seek random facts, lists, and life hacks.
travel & recreation
VOLUME 22, ISSUE 4 CHRONICLE 2013 PAGE 12
Urban exploration:
infiltration is the name of the game
L
by: Jennifer Tran
iving in a city where all moves upwards and outwards, you start to pay less attention to the backdrop of strip malls and condos, or the mechanism that fuels the evolution of the skyline. New buildings are always going up and foundations are always being dug. But if you are lucky, you might come across a building that resists the trend of architectural anonymity. By all civil standards, it is a neighbourhood-devalu-
ing monstrosity. But there is something about it—maybe it is the sprawling graffiti, or the promise of urban relics contained behind boarded doors—either way, you just gotta get in! Urban exploration, at its core, is the appreciation of man-made structures. Sometimes, appreciating involves infiltrating places in which you are not necessarily supposed to be. Massive drains, catacombs—all derelict delights are fair game in the world of urban exploration.
Once you find your basement hatch or shimmy through an open skylight, you are exposed to a haven of graffiti art, bygone architecture, and nods to an industrial near-past from which the city actively tries to distance itself. Suddenly, you are privy to a gallery reserved only for the most adventurous patrons.The skin of peeling plaster reveals a modern fresco on every wall. There is no admission fee to this exhibit, just a scalable fence and a vaultable window. Admittedly, urban ex-
plorers are prone to romanticism, but never dismiss the inherent risks that come with the hobby. These manmade structures that intrigue us— they most likely belong to an unforeseen commercial landlord who does not want you poking around. Be aware of trespassing laws, and never force your way into a site. While trespassing in Ontario is a summary offense, breaking and entering is classified as an indictable offense. That is moving up from a warning or a small fine, to a potentially more serious convic-
tion.
Be wary of the signs emblazoned with, “TRESPASSORS WILL BE PROSECUTED,” and if you are confronted by the owner or a security guard, be clear in stating a lawful reason for your presence. This might meanexpressing interest in photographing the structure, or gathering first-hand examples for a paper on art-deco lighting fixtures. Unless you are exploring an active site, it is unlikely that anyone will prosecute a minor who does not intend to damage
property. Take nothing but photographs, leave nothing but footsteps. Take notice of the 99% of structures which remain invisible as we plod through our lives on a city’s polished surface. DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author; they are in no way reflective of Talon Times or its respective opinions. Talon Times does not condone and/ or encourage participation in illegal activities, recreational or otherwise.
travel & recreation
VOLUME 22, ISSUE 4 CHRONICLE 2013 PAGE 13
Tackling Toronto: a mini guide to the big city by: Ruchika Gothoskar
A
h, Toronto: home of the CN Tower, the famous Eaton Centre and the ever so popular, Yonge and Dundas Square. But what can you do in downtown Toronto when all of these clichéd places have gotten boring? Don’t fret! Toronto is vast and, although there is an endless amount of small shops and places for you to visit, listed below are some notso-mainstream dwellings that are tried and true. Ranging from quaint cafés to record stores and even a man-made island, Toronto is a lot more diverse than you may have expected. So, grab your TTC bus fare and your transit tokens, because that 40 minute subway ride is completely worth it when it comes to these unique and local haunts.
quaint little bakery/coffee shop, serves almost any type of cookie you could imagine, featuring flavours like Brown Sugar Toffee, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip and Oatmeal Coconut Chip. Chase your classic, oversized cookie down with a glass of milk, as this bar serves more types of milk than you probably knew existed, with options like vanilla bean, mocha, strawberry banana and even caramel. That’s right: caramel flavoured milk. And the best part? All of their cookies, cakes and ice cream sandwiches are made with organic, all natural ingredients. Not to mention the fact that their milk also comes in cool, vintage-inspired bottles. Owned and operated by a husband and wife duo, and located on Queen Street East, this fun little bar is a lovely place to stop by; and you don’t even need to be nineteen to order a drink. Address: 1918A Queen St. E Toronto, ON M4L 1H5
1. Moo Milk Bar Now open for little less than a year, Moo Milk Bar is exactly what it sounds like; a “bar” that serves milk and cookies. Bringing it back to the basics, this 2. Snakes and Lattes
Sticking with the theme of cute cafés, Snakes and Lattes is perfect for the board game dork. I mean, you don’t have to be leader of a Dungeons and Dragons group, but if you’re into freshly-brewed coffee, really cool people, and a copious amount of board games, Snakes and Lattes will be right up your alley. Located on Bloor Street, Snakes and Lattes is a board game café, featuring over 2000 board games. That’s right: over two thousand different types of games. In order to play these games, however, there is a small fee of $5. But with that $5, you’re free to play any game you’d like, for as long as you’d like. Open until 2AM on weekdays daily, the staff is not only incredibly dedicated, but they’re also more than happy to explain rules, and even join in if you’re missing a player. Besides the massive collection of games, Snakes and Lattes serves everything from their famous Nutella latte to sandwiches and quiches. With thousands of board game options and delicious drinks and
treats to keep you awake all night long, Snakes and Lattes is fun for people of any age. But beware, because of the popularity of this café, tables are often booked days in advance. Avoid visiting the café during the peak hours (Friday afternoons/evenings, Saturday & Sunday days/evenings) or be ready to wait in a long line to be seated. Otherwise, Snakes and Lattes is a super fun way to spend an evening. Address: 600 Bloor St West Toronto, ON M6G 1K4 3. Grasshopper Records Straying away from cafés and board games, this next store is sure to be a hit (no pun intended) for the music lovers. Grasshopper Records is a fairly new addition to Toronto’s record shop collection. With bare brick walls and simple boxes that crowd the small store with records, Grasshopper Records’ atmosphere is immediately warm and welcoming. The music available in the store ranges from Bob Marley
A beginner's guide to rock climbing
cerns about equipment, safety, and a purported lack of skill. earing cryptic phrases But worry not; these fears can like, “I could’ve sent that be dispelled with just a little 5.11d but my rand didn’t catch prior knowledge. when I tried bat hooking, man” being casually thrown The Equipment from one person, hanging The most obvious obsta40 feet in the air, to anoth- cle preventing you from imer is not uncommon in rock mediately scaling the nearest climbing gyms. But it might be wall is a lack of equipment. enough to leave the uninitiat- Quality equipment paired ed scratching their helmeted with the knowledge necessary head. It is understandable how to operate it are essential when the sport of rock climbing can your finish line is 60 meters off seem dominated by an elite up- the ground. However, having per crust of veterans who leave the right harness, shoes, caralittle room for the curious first bineers, belay device, rope, and timers. Most often, what stops chalk can seem overwhelming people from uninhibitedly hit- (and overwhelmingly pricey) ting the walls are niggling con- for a novice. Luckily for the
H
by: Jennifer Tran
tomed to seeing involves a climber attached to a single rope that is secured to the top of a hundred feet tall route, all regulated by a belayer standing on the ground. This popular configuration is referred to as “top rope climbing”; and while it is the style of climbing to which novices are first introduced, it is by no means the only style. The different variations of climbing cater to each individual’s specific skills or developmental goals. “Bouldering”, with its bursts of dynamic movements over A Type of Climbing for Every short traverses, aims to flex your technical skill, while Climber The variety of climbing marathon “top rope” routes most beginners are accus- improve stamina; for the natbefuddled beginner, the majority of indoor climbing gyms offer comprehensive beginner lessons and all of the necessary fixin’s for rent. But if you are seriously considering pursuing the sport, it will be more economical in the long-run to invest in some quality equipment of your own. In turn, you can redirect those accumulated savings towards a lesson or two that will equip you with the technical knowledge necessary for skill improvement.
to The Smiths, Sonic Youth to Wu-Tang Clan, and more. Derek Madison, owner of the store, is well known in Toronto’s music scene and knows exactly what he’s talking about when it comes down to the beats. Often found in the store, Madison is willing to help you out with any of your music related needs, and is an extremely laid back guy. With a plethora of records and a music junkie like Derek Madison available to help you find any type of music your heart may desire, Grasshopper Records is a store that you must stop by if you happen to be in the area. Price ranges for the records tend to get a little steep, but it’s all worth it at the end of the day. Address: 1167 Dundas Street West Toronto, ON, M6J 1X3 4. Leslie Street Spit Yes, I know, the word “spit” being in the name of this location isn’t exactly the most appealing, but it doesn’t mean what you think it does. A spit, in this sense, uralist, “traditional climbing” offers all the challenges of indoor climbing and translates it to naturally occurring rock formations. So, slap some chalk on (it absorbs sweat, allowing you to better grip the rocks) and get to conquering all the different routes. The Varying Difficulties in Climbing A common misconception keeping potential climbers on the ground is that they don’t possess the skill needed to accomplish routes, and therefore cannot enjoy climbing. But the fact is, if you can climb a ladder, there’s a wall for you. A route’s difficulty is graded using one of several systems: the Yosemite Decimal System (starting at 5.0, increasing in difficulty by increments of .1), or the Heuco Scale (V0, being the easiest, all the way up to V16, the most technically advanced). Indoor climbing gyms cater to all levels of skill and experience, and have walls corresponding to
is a landform usually found off of a coast that connects to the land, and extends into a body of water. The Leslie Street Spit is a man-made headland located in the east end of Toronto, heading into Lake Ontario. Originally created 40 years ago for harbour front expansion, it has now been transformed into a phenomenal wildlife reserve. You can walk down the five kilometer Leslie Street Spit and admire flora and fauna, as well as the stunning scenery, as the Spit spreads into Lake Ontario. It is a lovely place to come to escape the regular brouhaha of downtown Toronto and to take a moment to just admire the almost kaleidoscopic colours of fall. Visiting is completely free and although the Spit is a bit secluded, that may just be the best part. Address: PUBLIC TRANSIT: 501 Queen St. streetcar, and walk towards Leslie Street, to the gate. CAR: Lakeshore Boulevard towards Leslie Street, turn south and continue to the gate. all graded difficulties. You take on only what you are comfortable with because there are difficulties which range from climbing a ladder, to routes with tiny crimps and jutting overhangs. Climbing is a sport characterized by personal progress; your biggest competitor is not the person climbing the adjacent wall, but the fatigue in your fingers and your “just short of that hold” armspan. Simply by participating in the sport, you’re actively improving because the only way to get better is to work on the techniques while you’re on the walls. So grab a belay buddy (and a helmet because Talon Times is not liable in case of personal injury), hit the walls, and soon enough, you’ll be the one pulling heel hooks and flashing V5’s. Happy climbing!
VOLUME 22, ISSUE 4 CHRONICLE 2013 PAGE 14
entertainment
O
by: Cecilia Ma
nce upon a time, in a land far, far away, gallant knights prepare for their majestic exams, and young witches and wizards await their OWL’s. As another semester comes to an end, we are again faced with our final quests. Procrastination may be a temptress, but don't fall for her trap. Need some motivation? Well it's time to add some “epicness” to your study routine! No promise of dragons or grand adventures, but with a playlist filled with soundtracks from some of the most enchanting movies, transform any regular old session at the library to an end-all battle for Middle Earth.
The Initiation of the Hero You used to be just another girl or boy, singing carelessly with the birds in the Forest of Glen. But now your journey calls, and you must answer. Begin the study session with some lighthearted and ambient music; setting a pleasant mood will clear your mind of stress and help you focus for the next couple of hours. Here are some songs to warm up your battle tactics: • Fairy Dance (Peter Pan) – James Newton Howard • Define Dancing (WALL-E) – Thomas Newman • Harry’s Wondrous World (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone) – John Williams
The Overcoming of ObstaTykwer, Johnny Klimek cles & Reinhold Heil Here comes the bulk of • Time (Inception) – Hans the work. Pencil in hand and Zimmer pink highlighter at the ready, • The Deep and Timeless you’re set to solve the most Sea (Titanic) – James twisting riddles of math and Horner tackle down those intimidat• The Breaking of the Feling physics laws. Listen to lowship (The Lord of the these calming melodies as you Rings: The Fellowship find your way through your of the Ring) – Howard labyrinth of notes: Shore • Rue’s Whistle Song (The • One Summer’s Day (SpirHunger Games) – James ited Away) – Joe HisaNewton Howard ishi • The Collapse of Laputa • The World Is Ahead (The (Castle in the Sky) – Joe Hobbit: An UnexpectHisaishi ed Journey) – Howard • I’m Forrest, Forrest Shore Gump (Forrest Gump) – Alan Silvestri The Final Battle • Travel to Edinburgh There may be times when (Cloud Atlas) – Tom you want to give up. The fights
seem impossible to win, and you can’t remember why you set out to fulfill your goals in the first place. Do not surrender! Take a breather and pump up your energy with some triumphant songs: • He’s a Pirate (Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl) – Klaus Badelt & Hans Zimmer • Imagine the Fire (The Dark Knight Rises) – Hans Zimmer • Lux Aeterna (Requiem for a Dream) – Clint Mansell
this is only the beginning of the adventure. Have some rest, you deserve it! Enjoy some relaxing music as you rejuvenate yourself : • Only the Beginning of the Adventure (Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) – Harry Gregson-Williams • Transformation (The Beauty and the Beast) – Alan Menken • Married Life (Up) – Michael Giacchino
value, but rather should be seen as opportunities to open discussion about the media: is this really the direction in which we want society to
go? Perhaps, in that way, the only reason we needed Spring Breakers was to help us realise that there is a lot we need to change.
You have overcome your fears and slain your demons; you are now ready to take your final stand. So trust in your The Return Home Your journey ends here, abilities, my dear hero. And but it is not over yet. With may the odds be ever in your your exams looming ahead, favour.
Spring break for Hollywood S
by: Hamnah Shahid
ex, drugs, and violence: is it possible to find a successful piece of pop culture without one or more of these elements? It seems that is all that pop culture has to offer nowadays, and is especially apparent in the art of moviemaking. With directors and producers realising that they can make more money by putting in less effort, it seems that a quality film with substance has become a novelty. Spring Breakers (rated R), the recently released crime drama by director and writer Harmony Korine, is a perfect example of this cinematic
degradation. Spring Breakers calls itself a social commentary, claiming to satirise the worship of a criminal lifestyle. However, this is merely a façade, a thinly veiled attempt to do the exact opposite. While the movie does, indeed, present scenes of sexual and criminal activity, it does not provide an opinion on them; the satirical aspect is missing entirely. Instead, the movie becomes exactly that which it attempts to criticise: nude women set against a backdrop of danger and violence. However, Spring Breakers is not alone in this blatant degradation of quality cin-
ematic experiences; various other cinematic productions are forgoing a plot, relatable characters, and an actual message for the objectification of women and glamourisation of violence. Yet, many are not offended by this. We do not even raise an eyebrow. Why is that? The degradation of quality cinema is, and should be taken as, a direct insult to both our culture and our intelligence. By accepting such movies as the norm perpetuating their production, we are inadvertently saying that we are incapable of handling anything more intellectual. By paying to watch movies that present women as objects of
sexual gratification, things to ogle at, as opposed to people with valuable thoughts and ideas, we are indirectly giving our consent to allow such a mentality to fester. By not demanding that movies contain more substance than the explosions and gun shots we are presented with, we are doing ourselves a disservice. While Spring Breakers may have failed as a satire, it acts as a wakeup call. It has unintentionally brought to the forefront, in a direct and explicit way, the lack of quality cinema that has emerged from pop culture. Movies such as Spring Breakers should not be taken for face
VOLUME 22, ISSUE 4 CHRONICLE 2013 PAGE 15
entertainment
T
by: Simo Pajovic
he familiar “click” into place and that scratchy sound as it starts up; and then, that warm, authentic sound. Some of the older generations might know what I’m talking about. It’s that dark, beautiful round thing that sings like a bird. It is the very definition of classic: a vinyl record. Back in the day (before the late 1900’s, that is), vinyl records and turntables were
the only way to record and listen to music. Inspired from work by inventors like Thomas Edison and others, and ultimately invented by Emile Berliner, records consist of microscopic grooves, with irregular patterns cut into them, that run around in a spiral—in a way, records are a material representation of sound. When playing on a turntable, the needle of the turntable runs along these grooves, bumping into them to vibrate
and recreate sound, which is amplified with a speaker. In a really quiet room, you can listen to the music without a speaker. It’s like magic. Eventually, just as the new Call of Duty or Apple product replaces the last one every year, vinyl was replaced by the compact tape records and then CDs a few decades ago. Some ardent audiophiles continued to use and collect them but, arguably, scarcely. Some people believed vinyl
would be around forever, and that it was the purest way of recording sound, alas it too disappeared into obscurity with all the other alleged dinosaurs of the technological world. But it wasn’t really the end of vinyl. In the last couple of years, the popularity of vinyl has shot up. Maybe it’s the nostalgia, or maybe we are all just hipsters, but sales of vinyl records have increased twelve per cent. Stores that have stuck by vinyl, ones like
Sonic Boom and Sunrise Records in downtown Toronto, are gaining popularity, while some more modern stores like HMV are just starting to get in on it. Even some pop artists like Katy Perry are releasing their albums on vinyl, and the Beatles’ albums have very recently been rereleased on vinyl as well. The comeback of vinyl is spectacular to see, given all the (supposedly) better alternatives available today. Perhaps
there are some things that are simply inherently awesome, that invoke this good feeling at any time and place. Considering that retro video games and clothing designs are also increasing in popularity, it might not be a far stretch to say that we are seeing some kind of a renaissance in technology and art. Or Western culture, in all its vanity, is having a midlife crisis. That could explain it too.
Studio Ghibli: more than what meets the eye T
by: Cecilia Ma
he Oscar award-winning film Spirited Away, on the surface, is about a girl trapped in the spirit world and her journey to save her parents while escaping. But like every Studio Ghibli film, if you dig deeper, you will find that the story is rich with messages: it teaches us lessons about growing up, the self-destruction of greed, finding your own identity, the importance of family and friends, the problems of pollution, for example Studio Ghibli, a Japanese animation studio, was formed in 1985 with the creation of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. Studio Ghibli has since created classics such as My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, Laputa: Castle in the Sky, and more; many of which have been translated into dozens of languages and released around the world. The studio is comprised of a talented team, most
notably Hayao Miyazaki (director and screenwriter), Isao Takahata (director and screenwriter), Toshio Suzuki (producer), KitaroKosaka (animator), Masashi Ando (animator and character designer) and Joe Hisaishi (composer). Studio Ghibli’s works eventually caught the attention of Hollywood’s resident animation studio, The Walt Disney Company, leading to a collaboration that would propel Ghibli films to global fame. Yet there are notable differences between Disney’s and Studio Ghibli’s works. Disney tends to use vibrant colours, distinct characters, expressive songs, and powerful yet simple themes. Studio Ghibli’s movies, on the other hand, profess a more peaceful and organic ambience; animation is often hand-drawn instead of computer-drawn, and most of the characters stand on a blurry line between good and evil. One example is the war
between ‘Nature’ and ‘Industry’ in Princess Mononoke. The film is able to develop sympathy for both sides, and as the story progreses, it becomes increasingly clear that no matter who wins, it will not be a happy ending. Yet the film is able to wrap up beautifully, teaching a valuable lesson to both children and adults. With nineteen films currently under its belt, and two more planned for release in 2013, Studio Ghibli manages to remain child-friendly, without boring their adult audience. In fact, a majority of its fans are not children. This is because all Studio Ghibli films have profound themes and morals, and sometimes deals with mature subject matter, all while being disguised as an adorable little goldfish (Ponyo)
or a sweet 16-going-on-90 girl (Howl’s Moving Castle). Two themes are frequently found in Studio Ghibli films: environmentalism and feminism. While all Ghibli characters are wellthought out with
three-dimensional traits, the her own values. The films try female leads truly stand out. to incorporate nature into Even on the occasion that their stories, shown both the heroine is a princess, through beautiful artwork she is not just be a pretand raw exposure of humanty girl, waiting for her kind's impact. prince to come; she Hidden messages and saves her own kingdeep meanings aside, Studom and stays true to dio Ghibli films are simply works of art, leaving a legacy in our hearts and reminding us that there will always be a child in each of us.
interviews Project Unbreakable:
an interview with the founder, Grace Brown C
by: Divna Stojanovic
reated in October of 2011 by photographer Grace Brown, Project Unbreakable is a Tumblr blog that posts photographs of survivors of sexual assault, holding up a poster featuring a quote from their attacker. Over four hundred of the photos are personally taken by Grace Brown,
and there are over a thousand submissions sent in by survivors. It was a Readers’ Pick for one of TIME magazine’s “30 Must-See Tumblr Blogs”, and continues to experience success and gain recognition. I was personally struck by the unusual approach that Ms. Brown undertook; using Tumblr as the platform, she has created a
project that empowers survivors and most importantly, creates a space in which they can share as much as they would like to share. Divna Stojanovic: In your FAQ, you stated that you were motivated to create Project Unbreakable after a friend told you her story. A year and a half
VOLUME 22, ISSUE 4 CHRONICLE 2013 PAGE 16
later, and you have over 30,000 followers on Tumblr and over a thousand submissions. How has the project changed since it was first created—and did you ever imagine that it would become so powerful? Grace Brown: Originally, I planned on not showing any faces in the portraits—I assumed no one would want to—but after a friend suggested [that] I open up the option, I realized the importance of it… Faces in these portraits are more than just faces; they put a soul behind a statistic. I honestly had no idea that it was going to turn into what it is now. I expect I'd maybe photograph twenty people and I assumed hate mail would be coming left and right… but I was pleasantly surprised that it's been limited. DS: The photos on your blog are incredibly emotional and striking, and you have taken over four hundred of those! What motivates you to keep the blog running, to keep taking
pictures that tell such a difficult truth? GB: This issue hits a personal spot. So many people in my life have been affected by sexual assault and it is so raw and so real to me. Even when I'm not photographing (sometimes I take a step back to make sure I am taking care of myself), I feel very connected to the issue and very driven to change it in different ways than just my photography—such as my public speaking at colleges about it. DS: Extending beyond just Tumblr, Project Unbreakable is collaborating (along with other organizations) with the Trauma Stewardship Institute (TSI) to host a workshop in New York City on June 5th, 2013. What makes this an interesting, worthwhile opportunity to pursue for those who have an interest in one day working with survivors of sexual assault? GB: It is so incredibly important to take care of yourself while working in a field where
you aid people; whether it's with survivors of sexual assault or children or the mentally ill. Laura van Dernoot Lipsky (of the TSI) has a very fascinating and easily accessible way of learning about the effects of this kind of work, and how to manage it. Our society is obsessed with the idea of "keep on keeping on", but Laura challenges that and brings a whole new perspective about how to make a difference in the healthiest way possible. DS: In the future, will Project Unbreakable be partaking in other collaborations such as the aforementioned one? GB: I hope so! I am open to it. DS: How can people help support Project Unbreakable? GB: Anything and everything. Support a friend who went through it. Buy one of our bracelets. Share our page. Most of all, simply don't let the topic of sexual assault stay silenced.
Madonnaro in Sydney
D
by: Shalaka Jadhav
ressed inconspicuously outside the Circular Quay Railway Station, Giuseppe Percirati wouldn’t be easy to pick out of the crowd…unless you know that he is working on the world’s largest chalk painting by one artist. Sitting carefully on a pillow, the Italian Madonnaro carefully continues to work as passers-by stop, snap a few pictures, and read the several panels around his work. These panels detail what he is doing and answer common questions. They also state that he speaks English, Italian, and Japanese, is open to questions, and that the work will be donated to charity. He challenges the foot traffic to stop and take a moment to take in the
wonderful world of “Where’s Wally”, adding a little quirk to the tourist walkway that is bookshelved between the Sydney Harbour Bridge on the left, and Sydney Opera House on the right. A spontaneous interview ensues, his lovely Italian accent kindly present throughout:
great.
Well, it… it sucks.
SJ: Have you broken any other records? GP: This is my first, but maybe not my last—we’ll see how it goes (chuckles).
SJ: Why did you want to break a world record? GP: Well, I wanted to try. It’s something nice to tell friends, a good conversation (laughs).
SJ: What are your plans after this? GP: I’m going back to Japan Shalaka Jadhav: So what after this, but I have plans to visit Canada and the States. brings you to Sydney? Giuseppe Percirati: I’m visit- Maybe I’ll do a cross-country ing my brother here, and also trip in the States by car, or on a motorbike. to do this. SJ: Why street art? GP: I love it, I always have. It lets me travel, lets me do what I love. I used to do commissioned painting, but now I do this. The donations I get pay for my supplies, travels—it’s
SJ: How do you tackle the challenge of such a large canvas? GP: Like any other work—I sketch it out, draw it, and fill it in. This one’s a mix of several different “Where’s Wally” situations, but I’ve added details in myself. It’s good; you can put your own quirks in. Not all the panels are here. I only have a few because this is the space I can have for now by the law and permit I have.
SJ: All these panels later, do you know where the “Where’s Wally” characters are? GP: (laughs) Of course, of course! I need to know, to have it complete. There’s still a character missing and an item SJ: And did you read/play – those are on panels six and “Where’s Wally”? SJ: You should visit Canada, seven. GP: Yeah, it’s good fun; I like it’s brilliant. it. GP: Yeah, but it’s cold! SJ: I have to ask, what if it rains, or the weather’s bad? SJ: Why did you pick “Where’s SJ: It’s 40°C there, now! GP: Simply, I uh, don’t show Wally” for this? GP: Yeah, but that’s now. I like up. It’s counterproductive. A GP: Usually I replicate, um, winter, I do but for my job? few drops are okay, though. classical art pieces; people
usually just stop for a bit, then walk away. I’ve done some Tweety birds, and that’s better—people take pictures with it, and it’s more involved. With “Where’s Wally”, there’s more an entertainment aspect—people stop, try to find characters. There’s more involvement, and it’s more interesting that way, I think. SJ: How big is it going to get? GP: Well, it’s five panels now, and I’m 80 percent done. Two more panels to go, and it’ll go from there, to about (walks what looks like a few quickly calculated paces) to here. SJ: Do you plan on doing another one? GP: (laughs) We’ll see how it goes.
VOLUME 22, ISSUE 4 CHRONICLE 2013 PAGE 17
interviews
Florence, frottage and figures Interviews are contained spaces that offer the advantages of a fulfilling conversation in a back-and-forth exchange while simultaneously wetting one’s feet on the topics discussed. The “clippy” nature of interviews has consistently been incredibly appealing to me, even more so as interviews became more commonplace upon applying for volunteer positions. While interviews are set up so the interviewee truly shines, they are shaped greatly by the questions asked, and ultimately, by the interviewer’s choice to conduct the interview. The stuffy image of table and desk for such affair is far from the norm – interviews today are conducted over email (as the one featured below), over the telephone, and can be stripped down simply, to the act of conversing in a recorded question-answer format, even on the street side. Sincerely, they boil down to a more concentrated form of human interaction – consolidating, even for a brief moment, a conversation.
A
by: Shalaka Jadhav
manda Baron is a mixed media artist born in Mississauga and is now living and working in Toronto, Ontario. She attended OCAD University and is now graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drawing and Painting. Amanda studied in Florence, Italy for one year with OCAD under the Florence Off-Campus Studies program. Baron had her first solo exhibition last summer at The Embassy in Toronto, and has since continued to show her art at commercial and artist run galleries. You can check her work out on: Blogspot: www.amandabaron.blogspot.ca Tumblr: www.amandabaronart.tumblr.com Shalaka Jadhav: Did you ever feel a moment where you went from being a student of art, to an artist? Do you like the label "artist"? Amanda Baron: I have no objections to being labeled as an artist, being an artist is a way of life, a way of thinking and perceiving the world and I am proud to be a part of the artist community. I suppose the first time I really felt like an artist, rather than an art student was when I went on the Florence Off-Campus studies, where I studied in Florence for a year under OCAD. Much of our time was self-directed, meaning you work on your own time, choose your own hours and make the kind of art you want. That was also the first time I had a studio. Having a studio made an incredible difference and, rather than being motivated by assignments and professors, I became motivated by myself and bonded heavily with my peers (while obviously being inspired by the beautiful city of Florence). Another first was realizing the impact of working with people who have the same goals and aspirations that you do. I suppose you mentally graduate from being an art student to artist when you become self motivated.
aly? How did travel affect you and consequently, I presume, your work? AB: Florence was an incredible experience and I still think about it everyday, even after almost three years of being back in Canada. The city is a beautiful place filled to the brim with history. Being exposed to the architecture, sculptures and frescos really kept my mind open when thinking about what art means, how it can function differently in different times. I began using the method of frottage in my work during my stay in Florence. Frottage is the method of rubbing surfaces to get imagery for work. So the first thing I frottaged was The Duomo, and it was such an amazing experience - I really felt connected to that church, as it was right around the corner from my apartment. I felt like I was really integrated into the city, the buildings, the history, by rubbing the surfaces and watching images and textures emerge from it. This experimentation, consequently, has influenced my art practice from there on out. Not necessarily the rubbing aspect, but the intuitive and almost random nature of the act itself. When I travelled I did a couple of frottages to get the same experience in other European cities. I loved travelling on the trains and living like a nomad, you learn a lot about yourself when you are in a new place, and I think it’s very important for an artist to gain perspective of the world outside from their own. However the most amazing thing I gained from that experience were the friends and colleagues I still have today. I went to Florence thinking I was going to learn a lot from myself, but I needed up learning much more from the amazing people around me.
SJ: When did you realize creating was something that was integral to you? AB: I don’t think there was ever a defining moment for that, creating has always been apart of me. Whether SJ: Can you talk about it was drawing, embroidery, your residency in Florence, It- writing, painting, music, it
seems that I always had the tal, and how do you think that need to create something, to affects your use of those techshow what the world looked niques? AB: Everything I have like to me. ever done started as an experiSJ: How has your practice ment, so every technique I use now began with me trying it evolved over time? AB: Well, I didn’t get very when I had no idea how to use interested in art until my last it. Some accidents are happy year of high school. And at ones, others not so much, but that time I was an angsty teen- it is the best way to learn. Frotager drawing in my sketch- tage was an experiment and book. Now, I am much less so was digital painting when angsty, but I am still always I first started. I find when you drawing in my sketchbook. I try to use a technique uninsuppose after my experience formed, you learn how to use in Florence my practice be- it in a unique way, a way that came much more studio based someone else may not. What and more involved and time I have been doing lately is use consuming. The ideas I am Photoshop to digitally collage trying to convey in an artwork images together, and then I go sharpened and I began to trust in with a tablet pen and mess myself more. Trusting yourself around with digital drawing is really important and will and painting techniques. Phochange so much in your art- toshop is an amazing thing and I was always really heswork and your life. itant to use it, but now I take SJ: How does awareness – full advantage of all its differof your environments, people ent tools in order to manipu– play into your development late my collages. After I print the image, I like to use acrylic into a role of an artist? AB: Well, every piece of paint and paint into the surart comes from a feeling, an face to add another level of emotion. And, if you are aware depth and detail. and conscious of your environSJ: In your artist’s statement and the people around you, it’s easy to get emotional. ment, you wrote: "Through But with this, I get inspired. the transition of digital to anPeople are inspirational and so alogue media, these works are is a landscape, so is grime, and created through experimentanooks and crannies and alley- tion allowing them to exist in ways. I feel that as I tapped multiple states, such as a digiinto that, my art became much tal image and a painting." Can you discuss your evolution more meaningful. into digital media, and why SJ: A reoccurring motif you choose to reproduce into a in your works is figures – how physical piece, as well? AB: I started using digital did this come about, and why media in my thesis, it was my do you pursue the motif? AB: The human body is first year back from Florence the most recognizable thing. and I was doing a lot of black Like when you see a face in and white collages. In Florence a tree or Jesus in your coffee. I also began photocopying my I suppose the concepts I have drawings and cutting them up manifest themselves as people, then rearranging them into similar to the way that we once something new. My thesis had different gods for differ- professor was really hard on ent emotions, seasons and life me, and kept insisting on costages. People identify with lour, and someone suggested people, and I find that to be a I try digital painting. Using a very powerful thing. It creates computer and a tablet really a connection instantly, emo- allowed me to explore colour and collage in a completetionally and physically. ly new way. When I come to SJ: Can you outline some think of it now, digital media of the techniques you use? was a very natural progression Were any of them experimen- from the photocopy collages I
was doing prior. There are several reasons why I reproduce my work physically, but it is mainly because I felt disconnected from the work I was doing on the computer. I missed the physicality of painting and the work out it gives you. Although I use the computer a lot in my artist practice, getting messy with paint and paper is much more exhilarating then sitting in front of a desk hunched over and glued to the screen. I am an advocate for digital and online artwork, but for me, I need to feel it. SJ: Does the same work reproduced in different mediums emulate the same sensation of creating “versions” of the original work? AB: That’s hard for me to answer as the artist; I feel like that is something the viewer would be able to comment on more accurately. As I see it though, each piece is individual, subtle changes can change how the piece itself is perceived. SJ: How do you feel the digital evolution has helped and hindered your evolution as an artist? AB: I feel like using digital media has aided my work tremendously by allowing me to explore and experiment freely, without worrying about “messing up” because I can easily undo or change things as I go. The digital evolution, has been greatly useful to artists and artistic entrepreneurs, Facebook, Twitter, and blog websites are great agents of exposure for artists and a great way to connect with other artists or curators, people interested in the same stuff you are. Art is a product of its time and in our time we are very digitally oriented, and I don’t think that is going to change, ever. I feel that the art as well as design, embraces digital technology and uses it as a source of inspiration and as a platform to make things come into fruition. SJ: Any outstanding influences?
AB: Max Ernst has, and always will be my favourite artist. I have learned from him endlessly and whenever I feel burnt out or run out of inspiration, I always look back at his work to get my mind jogging again. SJ: Is there anything you dislike or like about the art world? AB: The art world is a business just like any other, and that can take the magic away sometimes. At times I find it discouraging, but if you believe in what you do, and you do it well, there will always be people willing to give you a chance or help you out. Luckily, there are many avenues in the art world to take: curatorial, criticism, community arts, fundraising, administrative jobs that need to be done, [and] of course the artists themselves. The good thing about that is you can avoid the aspects you don’t like by focusing in on what you do like, and then roll with it. es?
SJ: Favourite art piec-
AB: Haha, there are so, so many. Europe After the Rain by Max Ernst may one of my favourite paintings ever. Although Ernst’s collage book La Femme 100 tetes is really surreal and incredible. I love art compiled into books because it is involved and narrative, it doesn’t just begin and end with one piece. Another amazing book is the Codex Seraphinianus, by architect Luigi Serafini, it’s an encyclopedia of a made up world, like an alternate reality of ours. It is really very bizarre and fantastical. I have also lately been really interested in Max Klinger’s work recently, his book of lithographs Braham’s Fantasy is exquisite and romantic with a touch of oddity, Klinger made a series of lithographs that are accompanied by music sheets of Braham’s piano compositions.
VOLUME 22, ISSUE 4 CHRONICLE 2013 PAGE 18
education
Nine things that will surprise you about your body T
by: Yallenni Ilamvaluthy
here are a lot of things about your body that will surprise you—facts you do not know about yourself, little quirks of the body that you might have thought impossible. Here are just a few of them: 1. Loneliness
amount to physical pain.Physical pain and loneliness are both associated with the anterior cingulate cortex of the brain. Since both sensations are “processed” in the same place in the brain, humans try to avoid loneliness the same way they attempt to avoid physical pain.
gerprints as well.
3. You technically have a super memory – your brain stores every single piece of information you intake throughout your life.
5. Usually, we have seen the people in our dreams. Dreams are fascinating. We dream about different things and different people every night when we fall asleep. In fact, all of the people you dream about have walked into your life at some point.
4. You don’t remember most of your dreams when you wake up. More specifically, 90% 6. Your dreams are not 2. Prints. You have a of your dreams are forgotten always in colour – approxitongue print, much like how when you wake up. mately 80% are, but a good can you have your own unique finamount of your dreams are ex-
perienced in black and white as years old – not your body spewell. cifically, but the atoms floating around inside the confines of 7. Genes only make up a your body. Hydrogen, carbon, small portion of our DNA. 97% and oxygen atoms were all are other substances which formed eons ago, so technically have the important task of act- speaking, you are old—really ing as switches, turning genes old. on and off and production of other compounds. They all 9. It’s hard to think of equally contribute to making yourself in terms of atoms, but us who we are. essentially, you are made up of them. A typical adult is made of 8. Your body is a billion about seven octillion atoms.
Do you believe in the sixth sense?
The mystery of ESP E
by: Sophie Fu
ver had a hunch, an instinct or an intuition? Ever answered a phone call, only to hear the person you were just thinking of on the other end? Ever had a dream about something that actually happened later on? Ever felt like somebody could read your mind? Some people may interpret these sorts of experiences as extrasensory perception, or ESP. ESP is defined as an awareness of the world that occurs through some mechanism other than the known senses. For hundreds of years,
many vivid anecdotes have convinced people that ESP is real. For example, Mrs. Bill, one of the passengers who was supposed to be aboard the Titanic, cancelled her booking because she had a dream of Titanic being wrecked. This hunch saved her life. Although numerous piece of “evidence” seem to prove that ESP exists, the debate on this issue has never been settled in the science field. Science deals with observations of the natural world and can shed light on natural explanations for those observations. At this point, you
might wonder: what does science have to say about ESP? Although ESP might not seem like something scientists would examine, the results of ESP are well within the realm of science, and so we can use the tools of science to study phenomena attributed to ESP. Using these tools, scientists have studied whether ESP exists or not. Their experiments have explored all kinds of ESP, but most have focused on mind reading. In the most typical of these experiments, one person, (the sender), goes through a deck of cards, each
depicting one of five symbols, while another person, tries to determine what symbol the sender is looking at. To eliminate any tips from body language, the sender is often shielded from view. If the receiver were to correctly identify the symbol more often than could be explained by chance, it would suggest that ESP does indeed exist. However, researchers have found that receivers are not particularly accurate in these experiments; no evidence of mind reading or any other sort of ESP has been found. Pity the poor scientists-
no matter how hard they try to convince the public that science is one of the few things you can trust in this complex world, public faith in science is still tough to come by. It is interesting to find that more people are willing to believe in ESP even when told it is scientifically disproven. Statistically, about three in four Americans profess to at least one paranormal belief, and the most popular is ESP, mentioned by 41 percent. This odd result might be explained by the fact that people see paranormal activities as a matter of belief and not evidence. Or it
could be that when it comes to psychic coolness, people place more faith in their peers’ opinions than in those of scientists. Regardless, no one can deny that ESP cannot be proven by science so far. ESP itself is neither scientific nor unscientific, but it can be studied scientifically or unscientifically. Scientific studies find no support for the hypothesis that ESP exists. Those who ignore the evidence and insist that ESP is a real, natural phenomenon fail to meet one of the key aspects of scientific behavior: assimilating the evidence.
VOLUME 22, ISSUE 4 CHRONICLE 2013 PAGE 19
education
Multiculturalism in Canada W
by: Wahaj Khan
herever one goes or looks around in Canada, they will find different ethnicities and cultures surrounding them. It can be in the people they meet, in the various types of food, or even the clothing worn by other people. This multiculturalism is what defines Canada as the cultural mosaic where many cultures live together in
society. Being a multicultural society, Canada is open to all cultures where everyone is treated equally with respect. People are freely able to follow their religion and faith while still being part of Canada. The idea of the cultural mosaic is important to Canada as it brings ethnic diversity into our society. Many people immigrate to Canada because of its multiculturalism. The
immigration leads to exposure of different cultures, creates jobs, and also helps the economy. The exposure to different cultures teaches everyone to respect others and promotes equality. Also, immigrants with different skills and knowledge help build a better Canada and improve the economy. There are also many organizations that promote multiculturalism and help
North and South Korea N
by: Kevin Chung
orth Korea and the South are technically still at war. The end of the Korean War was brought about by the signing of an armistice which ceased all firing, but not the
war itself. Sixty years later, internal hatred between the South and the North still remains. North Korea is technically a dictatorship, although they consider themselves democratic, due to the fact that their citizens are allowed
to vote (but only for one party). On the other hand, South Korea is a democratic society, following a governmental system similar to that of the United States of America. The conflicts between North Korea and South Korea have
Atif Mahmood: A harmonious society where everyone is treated as equals and people
from different cultures, races, AM: Living in a society where and religion all live together everyone is open to faith and as one. religion. Everyone is treated as equals and no one is sinWK: How is multiculturalism gled out as a minority. Also important to Canada? in terms of Canada, one can be proud of being Canadian, AM: Multiculturalism in but still be able to keep in Canada creates diversity and touch with one's roots. opens you up to other culMulticulturalism contures. Canadians are able to tinues to grow in Canada learn more about other cul- through immigration and the tures and to respect them. It diversity of our land. Multialso allows us to live freely culturalism also plays its role in a democratic society with in keeping the economy going our beliefs. Multiculturalism and building an ideal society helps the Canadian economy where Canadians can live. Its too through immigration and importance and significance creation of jobs. Also it rein- to Canada can be expressed forces the idea of Canada be- through the diversity the land ing open to everyone regard- shows where people of differless of race or culture. ent cultures and races live together. By being this cultural WK: What does multicultur- mosaic, everyone is open to freely live with their cultures alism mean to you? and be a part of Canada.
persisted since the separation of Korea, and on April 2nd, 2013, the leader of North Korea, Kim Jung Eun, declared that they were ready to fire missiles to the American base located in South Korea. Kim Jung Eun declared that they were in a “state of war.” This is one of the greatest threats that South Korea has received since the Korean War. Kim Jung Eun took over as the new leader of North Korea after the passing of his father Kim Jung Il on December 17, 2011. People outside of North Korea were glad of the dictator’s passing, yet were still afraid of the
rise of a newer, younger, and rasher leader. Kim Jung Eun attended an International Baccalaureate school in Switzerland and loves basketball. Unlike his father and his grandfather, Kim Jung Eun knows, and is more involved with the other countries, due to the foreign exposure he was afforded through his schooling. Some people say that he might be more dangerous and undpredictable due to the fact that he is still in his twenties. North Korea has been known for making these kinds of threats from before, and uses it as a method to
spread the message of cultural equality in Canada. One such organization is the Peel Multicultural Council. An interview was conducted with the Community Coordinator at Peel Multicultural Council, Atif Mahmood, to gain a greater insight on multiculturalism in Canada. The following is a summary of the interview: Wahaj Khan: What comes to mind when you think of multiculturalism?
“scare” the US and South Korea. However, many of these threats were predictable as the US and South Korea knew that Kim Jung Il and his father would not have done any harm to other countries. The problem with Kim Jung Eun is that not many facts are known about him, and has no experience in a leadership role. For all we know, he could be serious about launching a full-fledged war against South Korea.
VOLUME 22, ISSUE 4 CHRONICLE 2013 PAGE 20
social issues
HRC equality sign goes viral
I
by: Naveli Gandhi
t was not long ago when Canada legalized same-sex marriage in 2005 through the Civil Marriage Act under Paul Martin’s Liberal government – it was the fourth country in the world to do so. Today, supporters of gay rights across the globe await the Supreme Court’s decision in the U.S.A on marriage equality legalization. Barrack Obama, himself, supported the movement as he linked a picture of him on Twitter saying, “Same-sex couples should be able to get
married.” As many of you may have noticed, millions of Facebook and Twitter users showed their encouragement for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) on this issue by profiling and sharing the HRC equality sign symbol. HRC has been successful in legalizing same-sex marriages in states like Maine, Washington and Maryland. While some agree that sharing or profiling the symbol will makes no difference directly, there are others who see it as the first step towards a solution.
As HRC’s aim to influence social circles, the campaign has succeeded. Approximately 2.7 million more people changed their profile pictures to the symbol on March 26 when the Supreme Court heard arguments on the issue, compared to the week before. On Facebook, HRC’s status, which said, “Make sure you wear red to show your support for marriage equality. And make your Facebook profile red too!” was shared 68, 228 times with almost 22, 000 likes. Nonetheless, criticisms of HRC are on a rise. The main
argument against the HRC is that the organization does not truly represent equality. Queer Undocumented Immigrant Project, an organization that supports LGBTQ immigrant youth, requested a public apology from HRC. According to the organization, a member’s speech was revised and he was told not to mention his struggles as an immigrant. The member of the organization said he was limited, as he could not share the true struggles he faced. Thus, people argue that the HRC’s message is that LGBT inequality
only affects middle to upper class white couples – not immigrants or people belonging to the lower class. The transgender community, similarly, is unhappy with HRC for failing to represent trans* rights. At a rally in front of the White House, the transgender flag was banned from being raised by the HRC. A blogger, “Clever Title TBA”, who is a supporter of gay rights, wrote, “[The HRC’s] vision of ‘equality’—as obviously signaled by their logo—is not, and never has been, equality for all.
It is equality for those who can afford it. It’s equality for those who can prove they are ‘just like everyone else’ who respect and embody gender normativity, middle class sensibility, and white supremacy.” People who support the view of this blogger believe that no progress is being made at all and that people need to be made more aware. Whether people choose to support the HRC or not, the Supreme Court has yet to make its decision on same-sex marriage, which will be announced in June.
We live in a "rape culture". Now what? F
by: Simran Dhunna
rom New Delhi to Steubenville, the past few months have seen an outburst of events and news articles about rape. When a society tolerates, and even condones violence against women and male sexual aggression, when excuses are made for perpetrators of actions such as rape, a “rape culture” is formed. Particularly evident in social media is an increased level of awareness of what those two words mean, and just how abhorrent the stories surrounding them are. While it is noteworthy that many people acknowledge the existence of rape culture in modern society, the fundamental question still remains: what can we do about it? Rape is more complex
than issues solely concerning sexuality; it is a problem entrenched in violence and many other facets of society. As such, it requires an equally complex, yet possible, set of solutions. Following are eight ways in which “rape culture” can be reversed and even eradicated:
1. Understanding and encouraging awareness of the causes of rape culture. A rape culture exists because we collectively accept misogyny in day-to-day conversations and in media, or because we see male aggression and “uncontrollable hyper-sexuality” as normal. A society that propagates the notion that masculinity is adversative and superior to femininity is
one that is much more likely to tolerate violence against women. Perhaps the definition of masculinity and femininity needs to be re-examined and transformed—much of the violence against women starts from the very concept of what it means to be male or female. 2. Stopping victim-blaming. The common argument in rape cases is that if the victim was wearing revealing clothing or if she was drinking, it is equally her fault for making rape likely. We saw this with the SlutWalk protest in Toronto (in 2011) and the media response from the Steubenville rape. But instead of wondering what a woman could have done differently to avoid rape, we should be ask-
ing what made the perpetrator scrutiny. think it was acceptable to strip another individual of their 6. Empowering men. rights. There is a tacit social stigma against males who fight 3. Educating the youth. for women’s rights or adopt a Openly discussing rape, sex- “feminist” perspective. Yet it ual consent, violence against is ignorant to say that women women, and gender roles in alone can stop rape, or that sexual education classes can women alone are responsible. prevent detrimental stereo- Because this is not a one-sidtypes from developing. ed battle, it requires the support and voices of everyone, 4. Being actively criti- including men, without any cal of the media. Although it preconceptions. is difficult to sway the media, it is worthwhile to be more 7. Raising children to skeptical of what movies, ad- understand the importance vertisements, news reporters, of respecting the opposite and even rap songs say about sex. Studies show that pargender. ents, teachers, and even the toys children play with, shape 5. Empowering wom- how we view each other. Vien. It is essential for women olation of someone’s bodily to know how to identify ob- rights starts from the mojectification, violence against ment someone thinks that an women, and rape. Further- individual must be treated a more, women should be em- certain way because of their powered by being allowed to sex. step outside of conventional gender roles without societal 8. Speaking out against
sexist jokes or comments. If you feel uncomfortable about how someone is talking about men or women, or if rape is used as a punch line around the lunch table, do not remain silent. A skewed perception of the opposite sex is where sexual violence begins, and you have the personal power to change that. The mechanisms that tackle “rape culture”, outlined above, are not only appropriate for rape, but all forms of gender inequality. Changing cultural beliefs and societal perceptions takes an especially long time. At the end of the day, everyone must ask themselves: “What role do I play in propagating a culture that not only allows, but justifies sexual violence against women?”If everyone, especially the younger generation, can commit to transforming cultural norms, a society absent of rape or violence against women can become a reality.
VOLUME 22, ISSUE 4 CHRONICLE 2013 PAGE 21
social issues “Raising awareness” is not just a buzzword:
how Glenforest is tackling mental health issues O
by: Mona Jia
n a regular school day, Talon Times made a visit to Ms. Howald’s office in the guidance department during fourth period lunch to talk about student mental health in schools. It quickly became obvious that a guidance counselor’s role extends beyond providing academic guidance, as Ms. Howald was juggling the task of going through a stack of student midterm reports with planning an upcoming event in support of Mental Health Awareness Week. It isn’t only guidance that is making the effort: since the start of the school year, there has been a seemingly unprecedented number
of student, community and Peel-run initiatives created to raise awareness for mental health. “Raising awareness” and “starting a conversation” are terms that are used a lot in these campaigns, but they’re not meaningless buzzwords. The core of many mental health initiatives is the removal of the stigma associated with mental illness, and fostering a community that is open and accepting. An obvious example is Bell’s nationwide “Let’s Talk” campaign, aimed at promoting honest discussion among Canadians about mental illness. Mental health was also a fixture in the Peel student trustee election, and a cursory
glance at candidate platforms would reveal that it was an important issue for many student leaders. “Mental health is definitely an evident issue in the region of Peel,” says 2013-14 trustee Trevor Sookraj. “In the coming year, I would like to see more students contribute to the development of Peel’s ‘Stand Up’ mental health campaign, which had a huge success receiving national media coverage this past year.” Glenforest’s own campaign includes a number of initiatives implemented this year. Some of these initiatives include providing staff with resources and professional development, inviting students and parents to pick
up information from support agency fairs in an anonymous environment, introducing mental health into the grade nine physical education curriculum, and giving incoming grade nine students information sessions to help ease the transition to high school. Next year, guidance hopes to give seminars for grade ten students facing a second stressful transition into senior high school years. “There is no implication or expectation that every student in the building needs mental health support.” Ms. Howald states. “Depending on the statistic, mental illness affects one in five Canadians. That means that at any given time, a student
may have a family member, friend, classmate, co-worker, or neighbour who is experiencing a mental health issue.” This means it is important for students to be aware and to know where to go to get help if needed. If Peel, community, and student efforts continue, guidance’s goal that students become "advocates who are ready to listen”, could well be within reach. However, an area that is not addressed to the same degree by mental health campaigns is parents and families. It is just as important to establish a space that is accepting of mental illness within homes, as fear of disappointing parents often acts as a barrier to seeking
help. On this front, Glenforest invited families to attend its third annual May Community Agency Information Fair on May 6th. In past years, parent attendance has been poor – an indication of the challenge reaching out to parents presents. Future campaigns may want to dedicate more resources to promoting awareness, participation, and understanding among families. Information about some of the walk-in programs, support, and family service agencies represented at the fair can be found on the Peel website, under “Stand Up for Student Mental Health”.
The fairness of fair trade C
by: Cameron Taheri
hocolate: it is all around us, it tastes great, and it is cheap. But do you ever stop and wonder how that chocolate bar ended on the shelves of your local supermarket? There is most definitely a long chain of people in this process. First are the producers, those who do the hard work gathering the cocoa fruit. Next, we have the exporters, who export the cocoa to North
America and Europe from Africa. The stock brokers in New York then speculate the value of the chocolate. Following, the importers, who distribute the cocoa to big companies. Subsequently, the manufacturing and processing plants transform the cocoa and sugar into chocolate. Finally, the finished product lands on the shelves of supermarkets and, eventually, right into your mouth. However, there is a big
problem with this process. We, as consumers, want to pay the lowest possible price for the chocolate and on the other hand the big companies throughout the chain want to maximize their profits. In other words, it is the producers who often suffer the most. In South American countries, cocoa exports generate about two billion dollars while it is an astonishing 60 billion dollar market in North America. The reason for this is that six
corporations control 60 percent of the global market. The average producer makes less than one US dollar per day. What’s even worse is that children, as young as four and five years old are dragged to work with their parents. As a result they do not have the opportunity to go to school as over 100000 children in Africa are victims of slavery. The conditions these children are exposed to are horrendous. They work with machetes and
pesticides for an unbelievable ten to twelve hours a day, non stop. What is the solution? The answer lies in fair trade. Fair trade eliminates a step in this long process. It guarantees the producers of the cocoa a fair price for their work, which is stable and fixed. The price is determined by the Fair Trade Labelling Organization. With more money, the producers reinvest into their communities, especially the building of new
schools. As smart consumers, we have the choice to continue this problem in our world, or we can acknowledge that something is not right and make a change by buying fair trade products. Like grade eleven Glenforest student Amr Saleh says, “change starts at the consumer level.”
where to next?
UNIVERSITY BOUND University of British Columbia Dylan Pun – Commerce Cheryl Tan – Sciences Brock University Rachel Urovitz – Concurrent Education Ruo Yu Jia – Human Sciences Angela Prashad – Social Sciences Henry Kwan – Sports Management Carleton University Jacky Duong – Commerce Ryan Sandink - Commerce Gloria Pei – International Relations
University of Guelph Siva Aswini Kumaravelu – Biomedical Sciences Andra Radoiu – Psychology, co-op Wisam Zawdeh - Zoology University of Guelph-Humber Sahar Khalid – Business Administration Vinoja Kirupakaran – Business Administration Hamza Sadiq – Business Administration Rafia Asif – Business Management Chun Lau – Finance University of King’s College Vidhya Elango – Foundation Year Program, Science University of Ontario Institute of Technology Farzana Mariam – Biological Sciences University of Ottawa Ashley Chau – Biomedical Sciences Jawaria Shaheen – Electrical Engineering McGill University Claudia Lach - Biological, Biomedical and Life Sciences McMaster University Hamnah Shahid – Arts and Sciences Pirravin Utheyakumar – Business Julie Zhu – Business Randa Mohsen – Computer Sciences, co-op John Peng – Engineering Christine Hon – Kinesiology Allison Chen – Health Sciences Ellen He – Health Sciences Henry Yu – Health Sciences Kevin Zhang – Health Sciences Pearl Cai – Life Sciences Margaret Lam – Life Sciences Margaret Lu – Life Sciences Pallavi Mathur – Life Sciences Nandini Nandeesha – Life Sciences Mayurre Sripathy – Life Sciences Jerry Wang – Life Sciences Stanley Wong – Life Sciences Nayab Zafar – Life Sciences Yilin Zhang – Life Sciences Ayesha Rahman – Marketing Taskeen Ahluwalia – Psychology, Neuroscience and Behavior Anja Perc – Psychology, Neuroscience and Behavior Jessica Rodrick – Social Psychology Hashim Alvi – Social Sciences Yuvneesh Dhaliah – Social Sciences Chibuikem Emenogu – Social Sciences Philip Kim – Social Sciences Jennifer Wang – Social Sciences Royal Military College Arthur Akymov – Aerospace Engineering Queen’s University Matthew Coleman – Arts & Sciences Connie Li – Commerce Daniel Eapen – Commerce Michelle Chaung - Sciences Ryerson University Thajeerthan Ganesalingam – Business Management Pavneet Sandhu – Business Management Nadia Sheriff – Business Management Komal Siddiqui – Business Technology Management Oleanne D’Souza – Business Technology Management, co-op Sardar Asima Hayat – Computer Sciences Aleksandar Nikolovski – Electrical Engineering
Assia Messaoudi – English Jenny Chilhasan – Nursing Melisa Tica – Politics and Governance
University of Toronto – St. George Elgrid Tili – Architecture Teja Devulapalli – Chemical Engineering Rathusshan Kuganesan – Computer Sciences Sriram Sundararaman – Engineering Sciences Divna Stojanovic – Humanities Jennifer Tran – Humanities Simran Dhunna – International Relations/Peace and Conflict Studies Natalie Valencia – International Relations/Peace and Conflict Studies Rawan Abdallah – Life Sciences Ginger Jiang – Life Sciences Ivana Perisic – Life Sciences Saad Salman – Life Sciences Grace Tang – Life Sciences Mary Zhen – Life Sciences Dario Toman – Mathematics and Economics Victor Hurem – Physical and Mathematical Sciences Moeez Sabir – Psychology Ishmam Intiaz Alam – Rotman Commerce Naveli Gandhi – Rotman Commerce Christina Ly – Rotman Commerce Isha Nepal – Rotman Commerce Aditi Shah – Rotman Commerce Rakshit Upadhyay – Rotman Commerce Alpha Wong – Rotman Commerce Gurkeerat Daliwal – Social Sciences University of Toronto – Mississauga Helen Liu – Commerce Paras Shoaib – Commerce Mithuran Rajanakumar – Forensic Sciences Ishrat Khatri – History of Religions Maham Hafeez – Life Sciences Shaigan Mujahid – Life Sciences Manusa Anantharajah – Psychology Arshdeep Khurana – Psychology Saleh Abdo – Social Sciences Samreen Naser – Social Sciences Sobika Sivapalan – Social Sciences University of Waterloo Kamverpaul Deol – Accounting and Financial Management, co-op Shaka Raina – Accounting and Financial Management, co-op Davis Zhan – Accounting and Financial Management, co-op Talha Saeed – Biotechnology-Economics Arjan Manku – Biomedical Sciences Henny Duong – Civil Engineering, co-op Jerry Jiang – Computer Engineering Yash Kothari – Computer Engineering, co-op Zhi Rui Du – Computer Science, co-op Wei Sun – Computer Science, co-op Amy Li – Computer Science/Bioinformatics, co-op Aniththa Umamahesan – Computing and Financial Management, co-op Jason Wang – Computing and Financial Management, co-op Peter Cheng – Electrical Engineering, co-op Sam Wanuch – Geomatics Varrun Jeyathevan – Health Promotion Abiraa Ramesh – Health Studies Mary Fan – Life Sciences Iris Kang – Life Sciences Kathryn McTavish – Life Sciences Shikhar Gaur – Management Engineering, co-op Lena Ji – Mathematics/Chartered Accountancy, co-op Valentina Luo – Mathematics/Financial Analysis and Risk Management Richard Bie – Mathematics/Financial Analysis and Risk Management, co-op Mihir Chandan – Mechanical Engineering, co-op Andrej Rosic – Nanotechnology Engineering, co-op Shalaka Jadhav – Planning, co-op Apurva Gurjar – Psychology Zahra Ahmed – Social Development Kevin Xiao – Software Engineering, co-op Sanhar Balachandran – Systems Design Engineering, co-op Angela Chao – Systems Design Engineering, co-op Ramandeep Farmaha – Systems Design Engineering, co-op Anshuman Patnaik – Systems Design Engineering, co-op Krishn Ramesh – Systems Design Engineering, co-op Sid Unnithan – Systems Design Engineering, co-op Ziying Zhang – Systems Design Engineering, co-op
VOLUME 22, ISSUE 4 CHRONICLE 2013 PAGE 22
Western University Ivy Tran – Health Sciences, Nursing Shirley Tran – Health Sciences, Nursing Sylvia Lee – Management and Organizational Studies + Ivey AEO Catherine Liu – Management and Organizational Studies + Ivey AEO Smriti Juriasingani – Medical Sciences Meera Kanani – Medical Sciences Divij Khithani – Medical Sciences Emaad Mohammad – Medical Sciences Shawmiya Yogendran – Medical Sciences Sanveer Dhanju – Medical Sciences + Ivey AEO Cathy Li – Medical Sciences + Ivey AEO Joanne Tang – Medical Sciences + Ivey AEO Vedant Suri – Social Sciences + Ivey AEO Mathurey Manikkavasagar – Vocal Music King’s University College at Western University Kriti Kaura – Management and Organizational Studies Wilfrid Laurier University Rohit Balakrishnan – Business Wallise Wu – Business Administration and Computer Sciences Anila Rudrabhatla – Business Administration and Computing and Computer Electronics Wilfrid Laurier University - University of Waterloo (Double Degree) Wayne Wong – Business Administration and Computer Sciences Robin Wei – Business Administration and Mathematics York University Chris Su Kyung Jang – Administrative Studies Rachel Williams – Fine Arts Suzana Rrahmani – Social Work Jana Semenuik – Sociology International Baylor University, Texas, USA Dan George – Pre-Medicine/Psychology University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK Mary Sedarous – Medicine Johns Hopkins University, Maryland, USA Mona Jia – Krieger School of Arts and Sciences King’s College London, London, UK Aarti Patel – Pharmacy Northwestern University, Illinois, USA Diana Yoon – Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences University of Nürnberg-Erlangen, Bavaria, Germany Benedikt Mielke – Nanoengineering Parsons The New School for Design, New York, USA Jasmine Zhang – Communication Design COLLEGE BOUND Algonquin College Samira Kassem – Pre-Nursing Centennial College Anggelos Koutsoukos – Power Sports Technician Shainne Harford – Early Childhood Education Complections College of Makeup Art and Design Summer Henwood – Makeup Artistry Humber College Shane Pemberton – Arts and Sciences Sarah Sureshi – Creative Advertising Kai-Ann Hill – Early Childhood Education Ken Chau – Mechanical Engineering Maham Yawar – Pharmacy Technician Tommy Duong – Police Foundations Johnson Luu – Police Foundations Marca College Kate Dawson – Esthetics Sheridan College Gagandeep Sandhu – Business Karen Quan – Cosmetology
VOLUME 22, ISSUE 4 CHRONICLE 2013 PAGE 23
meet the team
Nathan Duong
Sophie Fu
Ruchika Gothoskar Shalaka Jadhav Copy Editor
Copy Editor
Cindy Pu
Divna Stojanovic
Jennifer Tran
Smruthi Venkateshan
Jasmine Zhang
Indranil Balki
Catherine Liu
Cecilia Ma
Photo Editor
Editor in Chief
Head Designer
Copy Editor
Editor in Chief
Copy Editor
Copy Editor
Copy Editor
Copy Editor
Copy Editor
Jerry Wang
Joe Yang
Rachel Williams
Maine Bi
Xin Yue Wang
comics
VOLUME 22, ISSUE 4 CHRONICLE 2013 PAGE 24
For the students, by the students.