The ever-growing wage gap
Bugs for your health
Canada's own Trump?
It's difficult for female entrepreneurs to get venture funding in this day and age, as most high ranking positions in the economy are occupied by men. There are women who devote their entire lives to their career, yet never earn the same amount of money or respect as their male colleagues. At the same time, we live in a generation where women are described as "free" and "equal". Despite giving women this so-called "freedom", oftentimes women are prevented from reaching their full potential because of social constraints... Page 9
Just a few years ago, the very talk of small robots performing medical operations would be considered something out of a sci-fi movie. But today, nanorobotics has made it just one of the millions other feats in the field of technology. Currently, there are about 100 types of nanobots with unique and special uses. Surveys suggest that in a couple of decades, most humans will be injected with nanobots that will help cure cancer, recollect memories and slow the process of aging... Page 11
A statement made by Conservative MP Kellie Leitch against immigrants that hold "anti-Canadian values" resulted in a recent media uproar. According to Leitch, Canada should resort back to its thorough and intensive immigrant screening process. The Conservative leadership candidate firmly stands by her statement regardless of the stir it has caused amongst Canadians and even some of her fellow Conservative members... Page 14
VOLUME 26, ISSUE 2 WINTER 2016 PAGE 2
Advice Index
Advice p2 Community p3
MSA on a Mission That's right; it's happening again! The Artist; an interview with Mr. Vitols The Toromto Christmas Market: A Holiday Shopping Wonderlamd Top 5 this Winter in Toronto
Lifestyle p6 Top 5 Must Watch Holiday Movies Marie Kondo: Tidying Queen Winter Fashion Trends Hip-Hop: A Year in Review
Global p9 Clash Between Protesters and Law Enforcements at Standing Rock Continues... The Ever-growing Wage Gap The 2016 American Election: Fair or Foul
Science p11
Bugs for your Health How Social Media Decided the US Elections And it Keeps on Getting Warmer! Your train to Mars - Solar Express Space Shuttle Samsung in Hot Water Finding the Perfect Science Undergraduate Program for You: A Guide
National p14 Canada's Own Trump?
Horoscopes p15 Comics p16
Credits
Teacher Supervisor
Mr. Gordon & Ms. Axon
Editors in Chief
Jovana Pajovic Amanda Yang
Copy Editors
Julie Cho Michelle Wei Suzany Manimaran Shankhalika Srikanth Srushti Patel Annie Zou Ghaid Asfour May Huang Aamna Ashfaq Zaina Khan Anushka Goyal Ruth Zelleke
Layout Designers
Rebecca Lee Evelyn Ku Srishti Roy Suchithra Shenthil Rana Al-Fayez Sam Lu Saamia Ansari Vaishnavi Bhamidi Kim Nguyen Jaziba Azher
Photographers
Kim Nguyen Khushi Nansi Saleha Ansari Katherine Woods Maleeha Anwar Annie Zou Annie Liu Srishti Roy Shivam Pandey Sam Lu Taranpreet Ghuman Pranav Sairam Munaam Naveed
Cover Designer Rebecca Lee
VOLUME 26, ISSUE 2 WINTER 2016 PAGE 3
Community
Meggie: Hallelujah for the holidays. Juan: Let us celebrate all things merry and bright! Meggie: think music is the only thing that keeps a lot of us sane in the craziness that is high school. Listening to your music can turn days of misery into ones of happiness. Finding music that can spin those days around for you, or at least make them less stressful, is extremely important. I don’t know what kinds of songs you enjoy, so my song recommendations aren’t going to be too personalized, but I can recommend a few: “Maybe It’s True” - Emmi, “Secret Garden” - Bruce Springsteen, “Brutally” - Suki Waterhouse, “Hide and Seek” - Imogen Heap, “Forbidden Games” - Miriam Makeba, “Parachute” (Acoustic) - Ingrid Michaelson, “If I Never Knew You” -Zombie - Mel Gibson and Judy Kuhn, “(What A) Wonderful World” - Sam Cooke, “There She Goes” - The La’s, and finally, “Rhiannon” - Fleetwood Mac. I could recommend tons of songs - like any teenager I’m an avid music listener, so I’ll recommend some foreign ones as well: “Siempre Me Quedará” - Bebe, and “Chez Keith et Anita” - Carla Bruni. I hope that among these recommendations, you find at least a few songs to help make days seem less torturous. But hey, don’t forget that sometimes, all we really need is a good solid nap with cozy blankets and no disturbance. So indulge! And keep listening to music -- it’s food for the soul.
I need music for those days when school genuinely feels never-ending and torturous, what are some songs that will help make the days less stressful?
I
Juan: irst off, I think music is certainly a wonderful way to de-stress and revitalize yourself before and after a long day of school. It’s a good idea to listen to a variety of genres to see what works best for you, but personally, I find instrumental music without vocals to be the most calming -- almost as if you’re in a scene from a movie, starring you as the main role! I like having different genres for different types of days. For instance, I love jazz on those rainy, slightly foggy days. Soothing ambient noise choices such as light rain or ocean waves also work wonders with migraines and general anxiousness. For homework, choose something that induces brain power (e.g. alpha waves, binaural beats, etc.) to learn material while maximizing efficiency. Other genres that have come in handy in the past are chillstep and classical; not too extreme on the ears, and absolutely wonderful for studying and revising. I hope you feel better soon. Good music is the best medicine!
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Meggie: irst, take a deep breath. Hold it in, then slowly let it Every single day when I wake up, I’m struck all go. Now do it again, and again, and again until with the constant, nagging feeling of not be- you feel a sense of clarity and peace. There -- you’ve got it. Now listen to this: you, are a millionth of a chance. ing good or competent enough. I mean, I’ve You are a miracle of creation; a chance encounter exgot a few passions, but there’s always bound ploding into brilliant intricacies and wonder, you are to be someone who outshines me. How can I irreplaceable, and inconceivable. You are the history of a family, centuries and decades of dreams, work, indeal with this? telligence, laughter, joy -- you are yourself, more than -Sad Face anyone else. We are all extraordinary, and no matter how many times you hear it, this fact holds true. You are uniquely implausible, a fingerprint of passions yet unheard of, unexplored, and unimaginable -- there has truly never been, nor will there ever be, someone like you. You are rarity born and impossible to compare. Embrace this singularity. Perhaps you haven’t discovered it within yourself yet, but you will, and when you do, you will be incandescent.
Photo: Munaam Naveed
Photo: Munaam Naveed
MSA is on a mission By: Munaam Naveed
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ith a committed team of executives, hardworking volunteers and active general members, the Glenforest Muslim Student Association (MSA) is determined to make this year their best one yet. MSA wants to promote an inclusive, safe, and fun environment by focusing on student involvement and important causes. MSA is known for or-
ganizing a wide range of activities and events throughout the school year, including the Eid Party! The MSA Eid Party was held on October 6th, 2016 after school in the school cafeteria. The event was a huge success with more than 90 students attending and enjoying the entertainment, food, and activities including the henna and photo booths. Moreover, after having
their November Samosa Sale sold out within the first ten minutes, MSA has decided to hold another even bigger Samosa Sale early in the second semester, to satisfy the demands of many students and serve them some fresh and tasty samosas at an affordable price. In addition, during the week of December l2th to 16th, MSA, in partnership with READ and SJAC, orga-
nized one of the largest Donation Drives at Glenforest. The goal of the Donation Drive was to collect new or lightly used items such as non-perishable food items, clothes, school supplies, backpacks and books, to donate to Syrian refugees. It was wonderful to have so many students and teachers willing to support and get involved in such a noble cause. “I’m so excited for all
the amazing things we have planned,” said MSA President Talha Jawa. “The exec team is working hard to bring the most engaging, entertaining and fun events for all students!” The various activities and events planned for the rest of the year include monthly general meetings, the annual Custodian Appreciation Day, Identity Appreciation Day, Cultural Day, and an end-ofthe-year party.
“I love being a part of MSA,” exclaimed treasurer Sakib Reza. “It is such a welcoming club that is open to all and I encourage everyone to join.” To learn more about MSA and how you can get involved, you can like their Facebook page www.facebook. com/GlenforestMSA, follow them on Twitter @gfssmsa, or send them an email at gfssmsa. exec@gmail.com.
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Juan: Every single day when you wake up, you are offered a new opportunity to choose to be happy and make the most of the day. Think about it: you are making that conscious decision to be compared to someone else who is on a different road. Others may seem to have it better, but we really do not know what personal struggles they deal with behind the perfectly filtered picture. Perhaps it is a recurring addiction. Or the loss of a sense of identity. Or even the very issue that you are trying to combat -- low self-esteem. It’s easier said than done, but make sure to remember what you are grateful for each day. You are not a failure, despite what your peers, parents, or grades say. We must be aware that the only true constant in our busy lives is change, and that could be a positive or negative aspect of life based on your personal outlook. See those supposed failures and setbacks as building blocks towards improvement. The only person who can determine the boundaries of competence is you. Comparison leads nowhere, because we are all different so that we can fulfill our roles in the future. Why splurge your precious time sulking over the unchangeable, when you can start a new goal, plan, or hobby? Sometimes, the best talents only arise from discovery, which requires exploration. Aim for happiness, not status -- I cannot stress this enough. Try as many different activities as you can during this precious time, you will never really know until you try. I know you can get it under control. Last but not least, please, please, please take good care of your health because you deserve it.
That’s right, it is happening again! A
By: Ghaid Asfour
lot has happened since November 2015, when Glenforest STEM organized Canada’s largest student-run conference. The team planned and organized STEMposium, a STEM event filled with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics workshops for Bristol Road Middle School students. Also, besides releasing their first newsletter and upgrading their website, the
team announced that their next conference will take place on May 25th, 2017 at Pearson Convention Centre. While last year’s conference attracted schools from all over the province, they have stepped up the game since their next conference is international. Moreover, they are inviting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to speak at the event. They are planning on providing each of the 1000+ delegates with speakers, hands-on workshops, a chance to speak with representatives from var-
ious STEM companies, and a choice between soft-skills development activities or speed mentoring. In addition, parents also had the opportunity to register to attend the event with their children. The countdown for registration started on September 23rd and registration opened at 6:02 am on October 23rd, in celebration of Mole Day. All 1000 tickets were sold out in a few hours and many schools were placed on the waitlist because of high demand. Due to the team’s previ-
ous successes and their empowering vision, various organizations including Hydro One, Science Odyssey, Magna and Toronto Pearson have agreed to sponsor the conference. The STEM team has also received a lot of attention on their social media platforms and a lot of support from individuals like Hillary Marshall, Vice President of the GTAA, Councillor Chris Fonseca, and Mayor Crombie. In addition to organizing this large-scale conference,
Photo: Kim Nguyen and Charu Sharma
the team presented at the Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC) CareerMash Conference and at the Mississauga City Council. Over the summer of 2016, the STEM team defied the stereotypical perception of typical teenagers when two STEM alumni, six current student executives travelled with two of their teacher advisors to present at the International Baccalaureate Conference of the Americas. They spoke about how Glenforest STEM initially started and the prog-
ress that it has attained in only two years. The team will be releasing guides’ applications, contests, prizes and many more exciting things, so follow them on social media to receive updates.
Community
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VOLUME 26, ISSUE 2 WINTER 2016 PAGE 5
Community
The Toronto Christmas Market: a holiday shopping wonderland Photo: PanamericanWorld Photo: Albert Vitols
The artist: an interview with Mr. Vitols R
By: Jovana Pajovic
oom 119 has always been the everyman’s nook at Glenforest. An unrivaled dwelling that is just as much of a social hub as it is a place of seclusion and comfort. Words seem permanently etched onto the chalkboards. Sound — even something as unremarkable as the ring of a cell-phone — reflects off the walls to create music. With its treehouse-like stairs, minifridge, and towers of cabinets, it’s certainly unique in itself, but it is also universal in that it offers something to anyone that passes through its doors. I thought about these things as I walked into the room to meet its equally compelling occupant, Mr. Vitols. When I presented him with the prospect of being interviewed for his involvement in the arts at school, he agreed without hesitation. Most students know of his leadership in Student Writers’ Guild, the A Capella team, and the Glenforest United Arts Committee, among other arts-based clubs. Outside of the school, he is just as much of an artist — in every sense of the word. He is a musician, playing the piano, accordion, harmonica, mandolin, ukulele, and at least three versions of the guitar. He sings, too. He and his wife, Maria, are talented photographers. He is a composer, a poet, a writer, and he even dabbles in figure drawing. However, Mr. Vitols didn’t always aspire to become an artist. “In high school, I wanted desperately to be the ‘jock’,” he said. “I played club volleyball and I was on the senior volleyball team in Grade
9. I also played in university, at U of T.” He did play piano in school, but as the child of Eastern European parents, that was an obligation. He didn’t like the “note-poke” piano method so his parents agreed to let him switch to guitar (classical, of course). Incidentally, this was the instrument that helped his music career take off. “Playing guitar, I realized that you could look at music both ‘horizontally’ and ‘vertically’. Being aware of these dimensions is where the real music lies.” After high school, Mr. Vitols was recruited to play bass guitar for Skandāls, a Latvian rock band. They toured Europe, playing hits like “Domas par mājām” (‘Thoughts of home’) with an upbeat, late 80s Euro-rock sound. “We performed in Germany, France, Austria, and Sweden (where we even performed in the famous ABBA studio).” For Mr. Vitols, music is an important link to his Latvian heritage. “Besides Skandāls, I sang in a lot of Latvian choirs and men’s ensembles. Through the ethnic community, I get lots of gigs to play my own music too.” Music also seems to run in the Vitols family genes. His father was an opera singer at U of T, and his sister, Vilma, and son, Alastair, both sing with the Canadian Opera Company. Alastair was the boy soprano soloist for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s “The Lord of the Rings--The Fellowship of the Ring in Concert” from December 1st-3rd. Mr. Vitols met his wife, Maria Thorburn, a professional singer and actress, through Skandāls. The pair still regularly perform together.
Though he pursued environmental science at university, Mr. Vitols always found a way to incorporate art in his life. Students often feel like they have to choose between the arts and the sciences, but he believes that it’s all about finding a happy medium. “You don’t have to give up on one for the other. You can always have the arts or the sciences on the side. Study those things that you love, and when you have the option for an elective, choose one that truly interests you.” By involving himself in the arts at university, Mr. Vitols learned many things about himself that he otherwise never would have known. For instance, he discovered that he prefers complex music — at that time his favourite band was The Strawbs for their ability to blend classical and rock elements. He also loves Shakespeare (this, he mentions, can be attributed to Maria’s phenomenal ability to bring his plays to life on the stage). He wishes that more people would see the life and humanity beyond Shakespeare’s words, but his favourite author is Pablo Neruda, whose work contains similar themes of “love and seeing the beauty in mundane things.” Finally, I asked Mr. Vitols why he creates art himself. “I need it,” he said. “It’s the reason that we live. I love the way that art can not only express other people’s ideas, but it gives the listener, the observer, or the reader the opportunity to see things and try to understand them from a different perspective.” According to Mr. Vitols, “art makes life worth living.”
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By: May Huang
inter is coming, and you know what that means (besides endless trudging through the snow): the annual Toronto Christmas Market! It's a holiday shopping wonderland, laid out between the walls of worn brick and industrial metal of Toronto’s historic Distillery District. When you first enter, you are greeted by a large red steel heart, aptly named “The Heart of Christmas”, where visitors are encouraged to take pic-
tures and share a tender moment with a loved one. Behind the heart is a maze of fluorescent pink trees that twinkle when it gets dark that give a magical, fairytale-like feeling. Pro-tip for the Christmas market: come early, eat first, and shop later. As the day goes on, more and more people will arrive, and lines for food grow longer. Some places I recommend for food are Schnitzel-Haus ($9 for schnitzel, a traditional German breaded pork on a pretzel bun with sautéed red peppers
and onions), Soma Chocolatier (lots of chocolate sweets – ‘nuff said), and The Cabin by Campbell’s, where you can try two free samples of soup created by Chef Antonio Park. If none of those sound appetizing, there are lots more stores to choose from, such as Das Kartoffelhaus with their “tornado potatoes” and French Canadian Poutine (because no event could be truly Canadian without poutine). Done eating? Great, let’s go shopping! There are many stores you can browse, from
seasonal Toronto Christmas Market vendors to shops that are open year-round. If you’re someone who enjoys fun, unique things, Bergo Designs is the perfect place for you. Distinctive home décor, playful kitchenware, and an extensive children’s section filled to the brim with games, stationery, and books are only a few of the things Bergo Designs boasts. If you enjoy cosmetics, the Burt’s Bees shop and Jacob & Sebastian are great places to start. If you’re looking for something cute and out-of-the-box, Win-
terbourne Alpaca sells winter accessories made out of alpaca wool! Everything is fair trade and hand-crafted by artisans and craftspeople in Ecuador. Want to have some fun? There are musical performances every day, which take place beside the majestic, beautifully-decorated 50-foot Norway spruce tree in the centre of the District. A District-wide sound system is always playing Christmas music, though, so you can listen even if you’re not watching. There’s also a Ferris wheel and a carousel set
up nearby. Sure, they might be intended for children, but if they ask, tell them that you’re a child on the inside. Works every time. Unfortunately, the Christmas Market is already over, but if you just want to go shopping, many of the aforementioned stores are open all-year round in the Distillery District. Toronto’s 2017 Christmas Market begins in mid-November, so make sure you free up your calendar!
Photo: toronto.com
Top 5 things to do in Toronto this winter T
Photo: Khushi Nansi
By: Anushka Goyal
This is Toronto’s number one outdoor party, and will be seeing a stellar lineup of local and international DJs. The best part about it? It’s absolutely free.
he winter blues can be really upsetting, but sitting home and not knowing what to do can only make the blues worse. So, here is a list of the top 5 things that you can do in 2. Winterlicious Toronto this winter: This event runs from January 27th to February 10th. It’s 1. Attend the DJ Skate Nights every foodie’s dream. You can at Harbourfront enjoy the city’s culinary scene DJ Skate Nights will take through a delicious (and ofplace starting December 17th ten discounted!) three-course up until February 18th every prix-fixe lunch and dinner Saturday night from 8-11 pm. menus served at over 200 dif-
ferent restaurants. This culi- from Yonge to Bathurst. nary event series also offers a variety of experiences such as 4. Visit the Canadian Intercooking classes and tastings. national AutoShow! Innovation, style, and 3. Visit Art Show at the Wa- power continue to rule at the terfront Canadian International AuIce Breakers, by the Wa- toShow in Toronto, with over terfront Business Improve- 600,000 square feet of dazment Area and the team be- zling displays, big prize givehind the immensely popular aways, and engaging exhibit. Winter Stations, will run from This event is every gearhead’s January 21st to February 26th, dream, and runs from Febru2017. It will include five art ary 17th to 26th at the Metro installations located at various Toronto Convention Centre. points along the waterfront
5. Visit the IceFest The IceFest is a free event that runs on February 20th and 21st from 12-5 pm at Bloor and Yorkville. It is an art gallery with a display of a variety of sculptures made purely of ice. Patrons can expect to be dazzled by these ice creations, which will include an iconic LOVE sculpture, a giant tribute to world peace, an abstract couple embracing, a winter-themed heart, and a depiction of the ultimate love
story – Romeo & Juliet. If you ever feel that there is nothing left to do, just remember – Toronto isn’t a city that sleeps when the temperature drops!
VOLUME 26, ISSUE 2 WINTER 2016 PAGE 6
Lifestyle
VOLUME 26, ISSUE 2 WINTER 2016 PAGE 7
Lifestyle By: Suzany Manimaran
Photo: TidyBean
Marie Kondo: tidying queen Photo: Fanpop
Top 5 must-watch holiday movies O
By: Ruth Zelleke
Christmas Jack Skellington is known for being Halloweentown’s pumpkin king, but after years of traditional activities, he gets tired of the shtick, so he decides to find a new goal in life: to rule Christmastown, kidnapping Santa Claus and destroying holiday traditions.
vites her relatives for a Christmas Dinner, but tensions rise after various secrets are exposed between family relations. After the family realizes the Whitfield son’s interest in singing, arguments arise and the family is forced to do nothing but cope with his wish.
ur longing for summer and warm weather has come to an end as families and friends come together to celebrate the holiday season. Gather up your gingerbread cookies and your hot chocolate as I give you a brief overview of the top five holiday #3: A Christmas Carol movies to watch this season. #4: This Christmas Ebenezer Scrooge beA family reunion occurs lieves that the idea of holidays #5: The Nightmare Before when Ma’Dere Whitfield in- is horrible. One evening, the
spirit of his deceased business partner tells Ebenezer that three spirits will visit him during the night. Those three spirits take Ebenezer through a time slot, reviewing his holiday past, present, and future. #2: Elf Will Ferrell plays Buddy, a human man who stowed away on Santa’s sleigh as a toddler and was adopted by Papa Elf. When Buddy realizes that
he is not an elf, he sets out on cruise. But news travels fast in a mission to find his father in the suburbs and soon the pair New York. find themselves the targets of a neighbourhood-wide protest. #1: Christmas With The Kranks After saying farewell to their daughter, Nora and Luther Krank are left alone to celebrate the holidays. Luther, tired of the costs and effort they put into the holidays every year, tries to get his wife to ‘skip’ Christmas to go on a
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#5: The Nightmare Before Christmas
Photo: Sony Pictures
#4: This Christmas
Photo: IMP Awards
#3: A Christmas Carol
Photo: Fans Share
#2: Elf
it solely for its value?”). It has a very significant reliance on intuition, as opposed to logic. Kondo continually reinforces the importance of feeling the garment or object and sensing the emotion linked to it. Often deemed as the trickiest part of the process, many individuals find it to become easier with practice. Once thought of as a chore, organizing has now become an art -- a new solution to freeing up space in the house and, more importantly,
the mind. One key feature of the procedure is to organize a section (e.g. clothing) at a time instead of by location (e.g. a room). This is effective as it forces one to actively venture around the house to tidy as opposed to the traditional, passive method of meticulously sorting through a list, which is more efficient, and therefore less time-consuming in the long run. Kondo’s unique yet simple folding procedures are
also extremely useful to maximize empty space. It doesn’t matter how skilled one is in the process of replacing items, as Kondo’s technique is easy enough for a child to understand. Through practice, it becomes significantly easier and will definitely free up some space in those cupboards! Folding, colour-coding, material-sorting -- the process has a secret ingredient, and that is appreciation. Each item has served its
Winter fashion trends B
Photo: Fanart.tv
By: Lily Li
ollowing the release of her bestseller The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up in 2011, Marie Kondo has created the revolutionary KonMari method: an approach to organizing one’s life, mental well-being, and sanity. Fascinated by the art of maintaining a tidy workplace as a young child, Kondo grew up to become a personal consultant, helping regular individuals
re-think the definition of organization. Goodbye, lists that go on for days. Hello, minimalism! Her personal mantra is to obtain and possess only items that spark joy in one’s life, and with gratitude, gently donating those that are at the end of their time to find a new owner. This unique system works through a series of honest self-evaluations (i.e. “Does this item really bring me happiness, or am I keeping
By: Aamna Ashfaq
sweater weather, so how about changing things a little and cozying up in layers of soft clothing instead? Sweaters are thick layers which keep you warm and light. However, utilizing many thin layers will insulate you better and allow you to take off a couple if necessary, depending on the temperature. It will also allow for mitigating costs which can be used to purchase other items. Try the over-the-shoulder look by throwing on a light, casual outfit and topping it off with a jacket or coat draping over the shoulders for easy on-and-off function. These include fur coats, leather coats, or the straightforward and simple winter jackets, which do an excellent job to prevent the cold from entering.
rrr. It’s already December it’s getting cold. December is the month of celebrating Christmas, giving and receiving presents, drinking hot chocolate, and late nights ice skating with your besties. But as the cooler weather sets in, no one should have to sacrifice their fashion. Step out in style this season, and make the holidays magical with these whimsical pieces that are a must for your wardrobe. Getting dressed on a chilly morning will be a cinch, and showing off your dazzling pieces during holiday parties should be dramatic with these quality trends. Read this guide of fashion must-haves: winter edition, and enjoy the experience Buy a pair of boots one snowy day at a time. I’m not talking about the furry, showy type; what we Dress in layers need are the ones that offer Everyone knows that it’s
everything. Ones that are stylish and warm, versatile and fashionable, water-and windproof. Try the sporty boots at Adidas for “fashion-forward winter shoes” that ensure your feet are in style no matter what the weather looks like. These are the boots that are not only trendy and warm, but also give the après ski look, making them the ultimate footwear for Canadians. You can also try some black booties for a cool look that goes great with anything. These black beauties, are part stylish with wedges, part black with detailed designing, and entirely cozy corresponding with the description for trendy footwear. Wear scarves, gloves, and hats Always wear this trio to protect you from the cold! It might seem like it’s too much, but it’s the little things that
count the most. Invest in thick materials that are able to keep you warm. Try the all-covered-up look, which is self explanatory and the perfect solution to dressing warm. Choose a bold hue for your fur or knitted scarf. Spice things up with a colour-coordinating beanie or mix and match for a sophisticated and classic appearance. Last but not least, try shearling gloves, which are a combination of black leather and elegant shearling trim for a hint of vintage glamour to ease your shivering hands.
Photo: Pinterest
unique purpose in life, so it is absolutely essential to always remember to have a sense of thanks. “Rebound occurs because people mistakenly believe they have tidied thoroughly, when in fact they have only sorted and stored things halfway,” says Kondo. So ask yourself the next time sorting comes around: “Does it spark joy?”
VOLUME 26, ISSUE 2 WINTER 2016 PAGE 8
Lifestyle
VOLUME 26, ISSUE 2 WINTER 2016 PAGE 9
Global
Photo: NBC News
Clash between protesters and law enforcement at Standing Rock continues By: Shankhalika Srikanth
T Photo: Philly
Hip-Hop: a year in review S
By: Balaaj Durrani
imply put, 2016 was a great year for hip-hop. Old favourites and new faces came together to release some fantastic projects. American recording producer, Anderson .Paak, provided one of the best releases of the year in January with Malibu and has found nothing but success following this release. Four of my personal favourite albums came out during the summer. Chance the Rapper, YG, ScHoolboy Q, and Noname put out fantastic records: Colouring Book,
Still Brazy, Blank Face, and Telefone, respectively. Chance experiments with a gospel sound, and channels it perfectly. YG brings back the 90’s, and ScHoolboy Q puts forth a thorough, cohesive project with a very interesting sound. Noname completely blew me away with the production and the themes discussed in her music, which is definitely a contender for project of the year. Mississauga native PartyNextDoor put forward a solid project in August, with PartyNextDoor 3, continuing the trend of dancehall beats and tropical sounds. Frank Ocean
released his first album in four years, Blonde. It lived up to the hype; his album evoked a surreal, heavenly atmosphere. Isaiah Rashad, Mick Jenkins, and A Tribe Called Quest released spectacular projects the past few months which make my personal top 10. Rashad’s The Sun’s Tirade is mellow and relaxing. The same can be said for Jenkins and his project The Healing Component, a beautiful story about spreading love. ATCQ released their first album since 1998, after the death of group member Phife Dawg, called We Got It from Here… Thank You 4 Your Service. It was quintessential
Photo: Twitter
Chance the Rapper Colouring Book
ATCQ, with heavy political undertones, classic beats, and the group members going in on every track. There were some big names that fell flat, however. Kanye West released The Life of Pablo, and although there were some good tracks, the album seemed rushed and not assembled very well. Toronto representative Drake, released his year-inthe-making project Views, and although the production is high quality as always, and the songs have isolated success, the album as a whole did not live up to the hype. Meanwhile, A$AP Mob,
Photo: Pitchfork
YG Still Brazy
Travis Scott, and Meek Mill used the trap sound to their advantage, and all put out solid albums, with Cozy Tapes Vol. 1: Friends, Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight, and DC4 respectively. A year after releasing one of the best rap albums of the decade (To Pimp a Butterfly), Kendrick Lamar released a project filled with unreleased songs from the recording process, yet managed to make it sound like a cohesive album. Untitled unmastered continues the jazz-infused theme Kendrick has been leaning towards. Some other projects worth listening to are Prima
Donna by Vince Staples, Major Key by DJ Khaled, and the uplifting Big Baby D.R.A.M by D.R.A.M. With one month still left in the year, there might be another classic on the way, Childish Gambino is set to release his project Awaken, My Love! But for now, if this year is anything to go by, 2017 should be just as memorable for hip-hop.
after citizens raised concerns about water pollution. Critics have decried this decision as being the product of “environmental racism.” Protesters demand for the Dakota Access to either reapply for a federal construction permit or change its route. The Army Corps has ordered protesters to vacate “Oceti Sakowin”, their main camp, which is a little north of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, by December 5th. They cite safety concerns for the general public as a consequence of the violent conflicts, and also the safety of the protesters as winter approaches. The Army Corps says they will set up a “free speech zone” to the south of the current camp that protesters can relocate to. As of now, the water protectors say they have no intention of moving. The ongoing conflict has also prompted concerns about the state of free speech. Amy Goodman, a reporter for
Democracy Now!, faced riot charges following her early September coverage of unlicensed security guards using mace and attack dogs on protesters. The judge rejected this charge, but it left many worried about the message her arrest warrant would send to law enforcement agencies around the country with regards to peaceful demonstrations. Since August, more than 500 demonstrators have been arrested. One of those arrested was actress Shailene Woodley, who has been a very vocal supporter of the #NoDAPL movement. She was charged with involvement with a riot and criminal trespassing; she was released from jail and has pled not guilty. The protest is the largest Native American protest in modern history and the numbers continue to grow. Celebrities and politicians in addition to Shailene Woodley that have shown their support for the Standing Rock Sioux
I
Photo: The Source
ScHoolboy Q Blank Face
ensions between water protectors and law enforcement in Standing Rock continue to rise as protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline stretch into their ninth month. The conflict between the Standing Rock Sioux tribe along with their thousands of allies and the police has turned violent, as protesters are attacked with pepper spray, attack dogs, tear gas, and rubber bullets. Water cannons used on more than one occasion as a means of “crowd control” resulted in the hospitalization of at least 17 people. Due to North Dakota’s below-freezing temperatures, some even faced hypothermia. At least 160 people were injured. A female protester from New York nearly lost an arm because of a grenade reportedly thrown by law enforcement. Police deny the allegations despite multiple eye-witness reports as they contin-
ue to defend their tactics. Construction of the pipeline is almost complete, as Energy Transfer Partners (ETP) -- the company behind the pipeline -- waits for a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers to drill under Lake Oahe, which is federal land. The Army Corps has repeatedly asked ETP to momentarily stop work in order to defuse tensions while they work towards a resolution. The firm has refused and is continuing construction on the privately-owned land surrounding the lake. At the core of the issue is the destruction of land that holds cultural significance to the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, as well as the risk of water pollution. The 1172 mile long pipeline designed to transport crude oil was originally routed to cross the Missouri River north of Bismarck, the state capital, but was rerouted just upstream of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation
Photo: Twitter
Noname Telefone
The ever-growing wage gap Photo: Huffington Post
By: Kesha Shah
t’s difficult for female entrepreneurs to get venture funding in this day and age, as most high ranking positions in the economy are occupied by men. There are women who devote their entire lives to their career, yet never earn the same amount of money or respect as their male colleagues. At the same time, we live in a generation where women are described as “free” and “equal”. Despite giving women this so-called “freedom”, oftentimes women are prevented from reaching their full potential because of societal constraints. Feminists have fought to diminish the disparity of pay between men and women for the past century. Women earn 77 cents for every dollar earned by their male counterparts, who are equal in skill and education. The infamous wage gap is often defended with the sexist assumption women being “less focused” on their careers due to values that revolve around their family and
tribe include Bernie Sanders, Mark Ruffalo, Susan Sarandon, Leonardo DiCaprio, Pharrell Williams, and Ezra Miller. Marches have been held across the country in cities like New York, Washington D.C., and San Antonio, and also here in Toronto. One of the largest Norwegian banks that has been funding the Dakota Access Pipeline has sold its assets in the company, worth $3 million. Three loans that they have made to ETP are also under consideration of termination; these loans fund up to 10% of the pipeline’s construction. There is a possibility of the firm losing major contracts as they are almost guaranteed to not make the New Year’s Day deadline for completion that they had promised oil companies. Along with the growing support for the movement come increasing worries with the election of Donald Trump. Trump, an avid supporter of
oil and gas production and a denier of climate change, has between $15,000 to $50,000 invested in ETP, and stocks in Phillips 66 which has a 25% share in Dakota Access. In addition, ETP CEO Kelcy Warren donated more than $100,000 to the Trump campaign during the recent election. Warren has stated that he is hopeful about the situation now that Trump is president-elect. Spirits among protesters remain high. Their sentiments are reflected by Winona LaDuke of the White Earth Reservation in Minnesota, who declared, “This is 2016, and you don’t get to treat Indians like you have for those last hundred years. We’re done. You know? It’ll be interesting times.”
children. But this is far from the truth. According to Statistics Canada, women work only 0.8 fewer hours than men. An 11% difference in working hours does not reflect the 22% wage gap. Equal pay should be common practice. The future of the world lies in the hands of the youth in our communities. It is crucial that we strengthen and develop their views on important issues like the wage gap in order to generate changes in the mentality of people and enable them to create a better world. Students at Glenforest, like eleventh grader Karthik Prasad, believe that there should be a change in the way that women are treated in the workplace. “It is not a woman's fault for having to take a break in order to start a family so it shouldn't affect their pay either,” he says. Tanya Handa, a BOSS executive, is worried about the prospect of a wage gap when she enters the workforce. “As a millennial and as a woman, the gender wage gap puts me and my future at a disadvantage. I
study the same courses as my male peers and compete for the same positions. There's no way to justify someone earning more for the same amount of time and effort. As for pregnancy and maternity leave, the assumption that every woman wants to have children is unfair and incorrect.” Women may have secured the right to vote in 1968, but they still struggle for equality in the workplace. There is no losing side in regard to feminism; companies which actively pursue gender equality in their workplace have low job turnovers, higher rates of satisfaction, and higher rates of productivity. Rather than calculating the cost of gender equality, companies should start calculating how much inequality is already costing them.
VOLUME 26, ISSUE 2 WINTER 2016 PAGE 10
Global
Science
Bugs for your health
Photo: Sputnik International
The 2016 American election: fair or foul? As the witches warned Macbeth, “fair is foul and foul is fair”; in the case of the American election, it is a matter of fair and foul play rather than murdering the president. From the very beginning, Donald Trump established himself as a highly controversial figure, voicing highly offensive opinions against women, various racial minorities, the LGBTQ community, and Muslims. He described his opponent, Hillary Clinton, as 'corrupt', but at least she hasn't earned the labels 'racist', 'misogynistic', and 'islamophobic'. Next to Clinton, who is a former secretary of state, he has little political experience. So how did Trump go from being a punchline at the dinner table to the president-elect of one of the most powerful countries in the world?
Fair By: Suzany Manimaran The Electoral College
Hillary Clinton won the popular vote, by a larger margin than Al Gore back in 2000. However, as it is the Electoral College that picks the winner, not the popular vote, the Electoral College brings about a whole new debate on the fairness of the election. It was a system created so that big states like Texas and New York wouldn’t be the only states with a real say with electing the next president.
Media
Media coverage has always played an important part in the outcome of an election: for Roosevelt it was the radio, for Kennedy it was television. In this age of social media, the non-stop coverage of all things Trump might have been, well, the Trump card. Whether we were bashing his stance on immigration or the misogynistic comments he made at a rally, with the media posting a new headline every single day, you couldn’t avoid the name “Trump” over this past year. The coverage of the election was often so surreal that at times, it was hard to tell if news coverage of the election was from CNN or The Onion. The incessant coverage of all things Trump was what got
VOLUME 26, ISSUE 2 WINTER 2016 PAGE 11
J
By: Khyathi Rao
ust a few years ago, the very talk of small robots performing medical operations would be considered something out of a sci-fi movie. But today, nanorobotics has made it just one of the millions other feats in the field of technology. Currently, there are about 100 different types of nanobots
with unique and special uses. Surveys suggest that in a couple of decades, most humans will be injected with nanobots that will help cure cancer, recollect memories and slow the process of aging. Google announced the launch of their own line of nanobots in a couple of years. It will detect any foreign cell that may be circulating in
your bloodstream and notify you about its presence. This way, you can stay up to date about changes happening in your body. A similar technology is the DNA Bot, which disintegrates the potentially harmful cell instantly without letting the host know about it. This ensures that the body functions as it is supposed to but the DNA Bot enhances its
speed and effectiveness. Other applications include assistance in surgeries, testing and diagnosis, gene therapy, early detection of cancer, and effective transportation of drugs to the intended location. Surgical nanobots act as on-site surgeons, performing simple or complex altering processes inside the human body. They can either be di-
rected by surgeons or programmed directly to do their internal tasks. The testing and diagnosis of patients is done with the help of nanobots that circulate the body searching for any health issue or major concern that needs tending. Gene therapy helps a person fix any gene-related problems they might have, like hereditary diseases.
Photo: Huffington Post
The most beneficial future use of nanobots, however, is to register drugs to the place that they are programmed to reach. With this, you will have no more side effects of consuming pharmaceutical drugs, like headaches and nausea. These are some of the many wonders of a nanobot!
Foul him from “Reality Star slash Real Estate Billionaire Announcing his Candidacy” to “President Elect”. While Clinton’s “free advertising” was about emails and Benghazi, Trump’s scandals were apparently not as scandalous. However, we must understand that somewhere between all the hateful anti-Muslim, anti-immigration rhetoric, Trump also found the time to talk about jobs and the economy as well. The people of middle America found a person who was their voice, someone who was promising jobs in regions devastated by the recession.
Leftist Split
People in general were dissatisfied with the aftermath of the primaries. They were dissatisfied with Hillary being the Democratic nominee, especially after the democratic socialist movement led by Bernie Sanders. A lot of the self dubbed “Bernie Bros” wanted sociopolitical reform on a level they knew couldn’t be achieved with Clinton. Especially after scandal broke of the head of the DNC supposedly rigging the primaries to suit her longtime friend and colleague, Hillary Clinton. Some of these supporters went to Trump, but a number of them decided that their dissatisfaction lay not with the candidates but the two-party system of the United States. A majority of those that broke apart from the Democratic Party decided to move onto
third-party candidates like Gary Johnson and Jill Stein. As Canadians, we are familiar with the method of “strategic voting”; in the last Canadian election, the race was split between the Conservatives, the Liberals, and the NDP, and through strategic voting, we managed to vote in a Liberal government. However, the dissatisfaction with the DNC led our neighbours down south to vote for parties that stood no chance, for the sake of making a statement. Politics are by nature controversial, by definition they are meant to divide. The people had a decision to make and this was their choice. This is the result of a democratic republic.
Voter Base
Anyone paying attention to the news coverage of the election could tell you that the platform that President Elect Trump ran was one of fear and hatred. But somewhere between all the bigotry and anti-immigration rhetoric, Trump had managed to bring up the economy a few times as well. He appealed to the predominately white voters of middle America, people who still had not been able to bounce back from the recession, who needed jobs that no longer existed because they were shipped overseas to be done at a fraction of the price.
By: Michelle Wei The Electoral College System
The most obvious reaction to Trump’s victory would be to assume that he won because more people voted for him, but in fact that’s not quite true. Hillary Clinton actually won the popular vote by 1,917,830 votes. However, Trump managed to win 290 electoral votes against Clinton’s 232. The gap between the vote of an individual and the vote of that individual’s state is thanks to the American Electoral College system, which is a lot more complicated than the simple matter of ‘majority rules’ that most people believe democracy is. When voters go to the polls, they are actually voting for the candidate that receives their state’s electoral votes, not the candidate themselves. This two-steps-removed voting process wouldn’t be too much different from abiding by the decision of the majority, if it weren’t for the fact that each state is given a different number of electors. Because of this, votes in certain states are weighed more heavily than others and can basically change the course of the election. The Electoral College system was appropriate two hundred years ago when the population wasn’t as educated and didn’t have access to cur-
rent news, but that’s a far cry from today’s Internet-centered world. In modern politics, the system doesn’t follow the principle of democracy in which every individual’s opinion is weighed equally. As such, two million votes were ultimately rendered useless. So if the values of votes are not equal and are instead determined by the state, then is it truly a democracy?
Media Coverage
For someone who is criticized constantly in the media, Trump sure made a lot of headway in swaying the opinions of the people. While his image hasn’t been squeaky clean, he has had an invisible helping hand in winning the election: his image in the media, period. According to analyses done by the National Public Radio network, Trump benefitted most from free media coverage, receiving almost $2 billion worth in media attention without having to pay a cent. In fact, Trump alone made up almost a quarter of all 2016 election coverage on the evening newscasts of NBC, CBS, and ABC – more than all the Democratic party candidates combined. Every mention of the election was followed up almost immediately by Trump’s name, whether it was to scorn him or praise him. He soaked up the attention of election spectators until he unwittingly became the face of the election itself. For an election that
eventually came down to a 2-4 per cent gap in the key states, media was a critical factor, shifting the vote in Trump’s favour and handing him the White House.
Voter Suppression
Although the presidential race itself started in early 2015, the Republican party’s move to suppress Democratic voters began long before that. In the years leading up to the 2016 election, Republican governors and legislators have pushed for stricter laws on where, when, and how people could vote by limiting poll locations and restricting voting hours. Despite warnings from several lawmakers that such policies would disadvantage the poor, people of colour, and students – the Democrats’ main supporters – the Supreme Court approved most of the motions for the 2016 election. This falls under the act of voter suppression, a political ploy that aims to prevent certain demographic groups from voting by either making it harder for them to vote or by preventing them from voting altogether. In states like Wisconsin, where a stricter photo ID law was implemented, the effects could be seen immediately. As many as 300,000 people were turned away because they lacked the proper ID to vote in a state where Trump won by only 30,000 ballots.
How social media decided the US election O
By: Rana Al-Fayez
n the internet, all ideas appear equally valid, even when they are lies. President-elect Donald Trump has credited part of the strength of his campaign to his immense reach on social-media platforms, and it’s true. On Facebook, Trump boasts over 11.8 million followers and on Twitter the number is closer to 16 million. But not all of these followers are human. The 2016 presidential campaign gave rise to millions of extremely popular automated networks of social-media bots whose sole goal was to spread erroneous information to potential voters. A political bot is a pro-
gram that usually operates on a social media website like Twitter or Facebook. Normally, they automatically generate social media posts, which may look like they've come from a human being. Researchers estimate that a third of the millions of tweets in favour of Donald Trump, and a quarter of pro-Clinton tweets, are generated by automated accounts. These political bots often don’t identify themselves as bots and instead pretend to be human users. They are biased by design and are often used for negative campaigning or to spread misinformation for the benefit of their candidate. Political bots have absolutely no regard for the truth, and will often tar-
get specific users and harass them, intimidate them, or try to choke off a conversation. Social media can be the greatest bias-confirmer, and bots in support of both Trump and Clinton effectively harness the proliferation of fake news. One pro-Trump bot, ‘@amrightnow’, has more than 33,000 followers and spams Twitter with anti-Clinton conspiracy theories. Its competitor, @loserDonldTrump, retweets all mentions of ‘@realDonaldTrump’ that include the word ‘loser’, producing more than 2,000 tweets a day. These bots represent only a small fraction of the millions of politicized software programs working to manipulate the democratic
process behind the scenes. According to a report published by researchers at Oxford University, automated bots supporting Donald Trump overwhelmed similar programs in favour of Hillary Clinton five to one in the days leading up to November 8th. To what extent this army of political bots played a role in deciding the presidency is still a contentious point of debate, but the implications are worrying and potentially far extending. The Oxford researchers had previously reported that similar political chatbots had indeed played a small but significant role in shaping the political landscape that led to Britain’s “Brexit” vote. The ability of a sin-
gle tweet to direct political conversation and drive media coverage has never been greater, and much of Twitter's relevance in contemporary politics is directly related to Trump’s notorious, and at times haphazard, penchant for speaking his mind in 140 characters or less. The more outrageous and provocative the tweet or headline is, the greater circulation it receives and the further it propagates the spread of false media. The 2016 presidential election has shown us -- not for the first time -- how the very same platforms that offer a world of facts and information at our fingertips can just as easily be used to undermine basic truths. The public
has developed a Twitter-sized attention span, where the latest outrage always seems to supercede the one before it. If the election is any indication, we can be sure that the problems surrounding fake media and political bots will remain a source of worry and dispute for years to come.
VOLUME 26, ISSUE 2 WINTER 2016 PAGE 12
Science
VOLUME 26, ISSUE 2 WINTER 2016 PAGE 13
Science
And it keeps on getting warmer! Photo: Munaam Naveed
I
By: Zaina Khan
t’s no secret that the weather has been quite unpredictable these past few weeks. We’re never sure whether we are going to face the freezing cold or rain. As the nights grow longer and the weather gets colder and colder, one almost longs for this year’s hot summer. But while every Canadian summer is hot, this year’s was unbearably so, temperatures being a bit more extreme than expected. WMO, the World
Meteorological Organization, released a report claiming that 2016 is set to break the temperature records of 2015. Incidentally, WMO released a report last year stating that the year 2015 made history “with shattered temperature records, intense heatwaves, exceptional rainfall, devastating drought and unusual tropical cyclone activity”. The indisputable reason behind the issue of global warming is the release of greenhouse gases into the at-
mosphere. These gases have multiple sources, including cars, airplanes, industrial activities, and coal consumption. All these emissions trap heat in our atmosphere, creating warmer weather. Greenhouse gases have resulted in drastic changes in our climate. Most notably, they have made it much, much warmer. This temperature increase has caused our glaciers to melt at an alarming rate in recent decades. There other consequences to climate change too,
like rising sea levels, extreme weather, and risk to wildlife. An interesting fact that the WMO reported was that 16 of the 17 hottest years have taken place in this century alone. The 17th year was in 1998, an El Niño year. El Niño is the series of climate changes that affect the equatorial Pacific region every few years. This event is distinguished by the unusually warm water in the Pacific Ocean as well as the warmer-than-average tem-
peratures in North America. Some may think that El Niño is caused by global warming, yet this is completely untrue. El Niño is actually a naturally occurring phenomenon, said to be caused by strong winds blowing from east to west along the equator in the Pacific. Global temperatures are rising every year, surpassing the already record-breaking temperatures of the previous year. And as the years go by, the need to combat global
warming grows stronger and stronger. Even though the Global Carbon Project has reported that carbon dioxide emissions have been close to flat for three years in a row now, three years are certainly not enough.We need to reduce the amount of these emissions, and that’s only a start to the solution.
S
Your train to Mars – Solar Express space shuttle A
By: Julie Cho
s a child, you’ve probably gotten lost in science fiction that took you to a distant galaxy. Star Wars, Star Trek, Avatar, Oblivion, and Guardians of the Galaxy are all examples of films that take place somewhere in outer space, away from the Earth. The reason why these types of movies are so popular may be because of the unaccustomed feeling
or the mesmerizing ambiance that the setting gives off. What if you could experience what the characters of such movies went through in their time? Up until a few days ago, you may have thought that it would be impossible for you to go beyond the Earth’s atmosphere, much less travel to Mars, but recently, there’s been an ongoing research on a space shuttle that could take someone to Mars in merely
two days. An innovator from Montreal named Charles Bombardier has unveiled the concept of a space train named the Solar Express which would travel at one percent the speed of light -- around 3,000 kilometers per second. Its main purpose is to carry people, as well as materials and minerals around our solar system. The speciality of this design is that it would be running non-stop, with smaller vessels attaching
to it as it passes by. This is given the fact that in space, acceleration and deceleration take the most amount of energy. However, once it has reached its cruising speed, it would take minimal energy to keep it moving. The design has progressed in a far more detailed manner than one would expect. The Solar Express would be in the form of aligned cylinders, with each cylinder being
Samsung in hot water By: Annie Zou
amsung just can’t seem to catch a break. After the dismal -- and dangerous -- mishap with the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphone, Samsung has announced a recall of 2.8 million washing machines including Kenmore models. The models recalled, including 34 of Samsung’s top-loading models, have tops that are prone to detaching from washing machine chassis during
Photo: Munaam Naveed
about 50 meters long and each train made up of six cylinders. It will use harvested water from nearby comets or moons, solar energy from the Sun’s arrays, and gravity around planets to support its propulsion system. Moreover, it will supposedly have a “space city” rotating around its axis providing artificial gravity so that people inside can live normal lives during their voyage. Does this sound too bi-
Photo: CNET
zarre and impractical? It is true that only the general idea and design of the concept has been carried out. Nevertheless, it is the thought that progresses to action, not the other way around; therefore, we can be hopeful that soon enough, our fantasy will become our reality.
high speed spin cycles. Washing machines from the March 2011 model on were retracted in the US and Canada after Samsung Electronics Canada received 67 reports of tops detaching and 11 cases of property damage. While no injuries have been reported in Canada, there have been minor injury reports from the US. Approximately 256,000 units have been sold in Canada. Samsung has recommended that customers with the
affected models should use a lower speed when washing bulky and water-resistant material to lessen the risk, with the offer of a prorated rebate for owners who wish to replace their washing machine. In August, the tech giant was forced to recall and shelve the Samsung Note 7 smartphones after multiple reports of the phone overheating and exploding. The problem? The smartphone’s faulty batteries. Samsung has issued statements
reassuring customers that the Galaxy S7 does not suffer from the same defects. Nonetheless, scattered reports of similar incendiary problems occurring have popped up throughout the S7 family of phones. Concerns have now been brought up of earlier models sharing Note 7 hardware, including the Note 4. Product recalls are always a blow to corporations; not only do they lose the trust of consumers, but they also lose
money dealing with fixing the product and compensating customers. Samsung stocks plummeted following the recall and Samsung is now under pressure from shareholders to split the company in two. Perhaps this is just a minor glitch in a long line of successes, but one thing that the South Korean company has proven is the immense pressure that tech companies face to churn out new appliances. In order to meet a deadline
and beat a competitor, tech companies are forced to make shortcuts where possible. In order to make profits, many products are pushed into the market before all the technology is tested for safety and it’s not until there is irrefutable evidence of malfunction that companies take action.
Finding the perfect science undergraduate program for you: a guide T
By: Anjali Thatte
This one-of-a-kind program is flexible and interdisciplinary, allowing students to take courses in both the arts and sciences, along with various other disciplines. The core belief of this program is to innovate solutions to various worldly problems without specialising in one field. By the end of the KI, students can speak fluently in a second language, evaluate the credibility of a statistical analysis, and craft the perfect research essay.
recognizes this and so it provides options for students to specialise in everything from aerospace to biomedical engineering. The first two years of this program are spent completing an array of highly accelerated engineering based courses, after which students choose their specialisation for the last two years. Unlike most esteemed engineering programs, EngSci prepares students for research oriented postgraduate studies rather than just entering the workplace.
he start of the winter months also signals the start of university application season. Choosing a program for the young science-minded student can be quite a challenge, especially for those who do not want to enroll in one of the more classic science choices like general engineering or health sciences. It is important to remember that with so many choices, there is sure to be a program out there that is perfect for you! Have you looked into… Engineering Science, UniverMarine Biology, Dalhousie sity of Toronto: Knowledge Integration, UniPhysics is everywhere! University: Located in Halifax, Dalversity of Waterloo: The EngSci Program at U of T
housie University is the perfect locale to study the ocean. Biology goes beyond working in a medical institution, and the Marine Biology Program here is perfect for kinesthetic learners who have a flare for biology and enjoy working outdoors. Students in this program can expect to study everything from molecular realms to Sperm Whales. Physical Sciences, McGill University: With a heavy focus on the physics and chemistry branches, the Physical Sciences program at McGill provides students to focus on a specific interest on a wide spectrum of
the sciences including Computer Science in a physical science context, Geology and Earth Sciences, Planetary Sciences, and more. Software Engineering with Game Design, McMaster University: Calling all the gamers! Ever wanted to design your own video games for a living? Perhaps this is the program for you. Students graduate with a Bachelor of Software Engineering; however, a lot of their courses are focused specifically on video game creation and implementation. While it may seem like there are an overwhelming
number of programs for those wishing to pursue science, it really is not difficult to find your niche if you know how to search for it. Try researching fields that require skills and interests you have. Once you have identified where you want to be in the long-term, it is a lot easier to find the perfect program that can get you there.
VOLUME 26, ISSUE 2 WINTER 2016 PAGE 14
National
VOLUME 26, ISSUE 2 WINTER 2016 PAGE 15
Horoscopes Zodiac Signs: Hogwarts School! Aries-Gryffindor
Libra-Hufflepuff
Strong, brave, and fiercely loyal, Aries would be sorted into Gryffindor. They are always passionate and enthusiastic, textbook Gryffindors.
The soft and sweet Libra is the model Hufflepuff. Social by nature, Libras are Hufflepuffs with a friend in every house. They are gentle and kind which also makes up the core of the house of Helga Hufflepuff.
SEPT 22 - OCT 23
MAR 20 - APR 19
Taurus-Hufflepuff
Scorpio-Slytherin
Taureans are totally Hufflepuff, with their kind and understanding attitude. They are fiercely loyal friends and also admittedly a little lazy with a slight obsession with food.
APR 20 - MAY 20
Geminis are the perfect Slytherins: ambitious, analytical, and brilliant. The air sign goes well with the core values of the house of Slytherin.
Canada's own Trump? A
By: Srushti Patel
statement made by Conservative MP Kellie Leitch against immigrants that hold “anti-Canadian values” resulted in a recent media uproar. According to Leitch, Canada should resort back to its thorough and intensive immigrant screening process. The Conservative leadership candidate firmly stands by her statement regardless of the stir it has caused amongst Canadians
tolerance towards other religions, cultures and sexual orientations, violent and/or misogynist behaviour and/ or a lack of acceptance of our Canadian tradition of personal and economic freedoms is a policy proposal that I feel very strongly about.” Upon reading her poll and hearing her statement, people took to Twitter to express their disapproval. However, this has not been the first time that Leitch has found herself in hot water with re-
gards to this topic. During the 2015 elections, she helped to promote a campaign that opened a tip line for “barbaric cultural practices”. Once again, she has released a statement expressing that immigrants need to be screened to ensure that their values and practices coincide with Canadian values and that no “barbaric cultural practices” take place. But the true question raised by many Canadians is: what are ‘Canadian values’? Canada is known for
its multiculturalism. We take pride in our nation for its diverse and welcoming reputation, so how is it fair to judge the different cultures and values when immigrants make up a large part of Canada's identity? Leitch congratulated Donald Trump on Twitter after his victory, writing, “Tonight, our American cousins threw out the elites and elected Donald Trump as their next president. It’s an exciting message and one that we need deliv-
Sagittarius-Ravenclaw
Gemini-Slytherin
Photo: National Post
and even some of her fellow Conservative members. Recently, an informal email poll was sent to people signed up on her website, asking them if the Canadian government should “screen potential immigrants for anti-Canadian values as part of its normal screening for refugees and landed immigrants.” When being questioned about her poll, she said, “Screening potential immigrants for anti-Canadian values that include in-
OCT 24 - NOV 21
ered in Canada as well. It’s the message I’m bringing with my campaign to be the next Prime Minister of Canada. I congratulate president-elect Trump on his victory and I look forward to working with him on issues of common concern.” The 2019 elections will certainly be something to look out for. Perhaps what happened in America is already making its way to us.
MAY 21 - JUNE 20
NOV 22 - DEC 21
JUNE 21 - JULY 22
Practical, patient, but zealous, Capricorns are Slytherins by nature. They are cunning but not cold, ambitious or cruel. In fact, Capricorns are amongst the most ambitious of the signs.
DEC 22 - JAN 19
Leo-Gryffindor
JULY 23 - AUG 22
Leos are confident and ambitious, and while they prefer to act independently, they need their actions to be admired and appreciated by the people around them. As a result Leos are often surrounded by friends, because people are attracted to their charm, and protective nature.
Aquarius-Gryffindor JAN 20 - FEB 18
Virgo-Ravenclaw Photo: Rolling Stone
AUG 23 - SEPT 21
The loyal, honest, fiercely protective traits of Aquarius will make them feel right at home in the house of Godric Gryffindor. Aquarians are almost Hufflepuff-y in this way, but their fierce determination and loyalty makes them Gryffindors.
Pisces-Hufflepuff
The quietly brilliant, Virgo is the stable and grounded sort of Ravenclaw that fits the house perfectly. Virgos are fiercely determined in their pursuit of knowledge.
Photo: Huffington Post
Sagittarians may not be the stereotypical Ravenclaws: they are not meek not mousy, but rather temperamental and fiery. They are the loudest in the argument but have the brains to back up their points. Their individuality, fierce hunger for knowledge would sort them into Ravenclaw.
Capricorn-Slytherin
Cancer-Ravenclaw
Individualistic, intuitive, moody and creative, Cancers are Ravenclaws by nature. The mysterious water signs have a quiet, often overlooked emotional intelligence that sets them apart from the stereotypes of their house.
Scorpio are known to be cold and cunning, and unafraid of breaking ties if it means they can climb higher up on the ladder. Scorpio have the cold calculating nature that Salazar Slytherin admired and expected from every pupil.
Pisces are true Hufflepuffs. They are gentle, wise, and artistic. They are empathetic and always willing to help others. And they look really good in yellow.
FEB 19 - MAR 20
Comics
By: Rizva Ahmed
By: Vince De
By: Tania Khan
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