the plant SINCE 1969 VOL 56 NO 1
FEBRUARY @THEPLANTNEWS THEPLANTNEWS.COM
2 THE PLANT
Letter from the Editor Here we are again! First things first, I’d like to welcome our new staff for the Winter 2022 semester: Casey as Voices Editor, Emmy as Sports Editor, Ben as Curiosities Editor, Emily Z. as our new Social Media Manager, Alessa, our Graphic Designer, and joining us as Staff Writers are Tea and Kiana! Please welcome them warmly. They have already done a fantastic job at bringing you this first issue of the semester, and I am thrilled to have them all here. I’d also like to shout-out our old staff in their new positions: Laury, who shimmied on over to Creative Writing; Emily M. who is now a Staff Writer; Daria who jumped over to Arts & Culture, Blu who stepped up to Copy Editor, and Alice, our powerhouse of a Managing Editor! I hope you have all had a restful holiday, and that your return to school was bright and hopeful. February is a lovely month. It’s the calm and composure after the chaos of a never-ending January. I’m sure you’ve all noticed the weather being a little warmer recently, although I’m not sure I’m ready to let go of the crisp winter air, or the comforting bundle of a hat and scarf. I know some of you will vehemently disagree with me, but I hope we get loads more snow. We haven’t had a good ol’ snow day, wouldn’t you agree? But my favourite thing about the coming and going of February is the lengthening daylight hours; it fills me with delight to know that every day will last just a little longer. It’s also the love month, so I’d like us all to take a moment to share the things we love. For me, this moment is for my plants, my morning matcha lattes, and my new favourite pair of pants that I got for Christmas. But back to the issue; In this February edition of The Plant, we offer you a variety of heartthemed subjects (no, literally– check out the Science & Environment section). Curiosities will also have a treat for you, but make your way leisurely through the issue before you get there. I promise, it’s worth it. On a final note, happy Black History Month. Thank you for being here, thank you for reading. With love love love, PIPA JONES Editor-in-Chief
Index NEWS ARTS & CULTURE VISUAL ARTS VOICES CREATIVE WRITING PLAYLIST SPORTS SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT CURIOSITIES
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The Plant is an editorially autonomous student paper. All opinions expressed in The Plant do not necessarily belong to The Plant, but are those of individuals. All content submitted to The Plant or its staff belongs to the paper. We reserve the right to reject or edit all submissions for brevity, taste and legality. The Plant welcomes typed and signed letters to the editor under 400 words. Copyright 2022
NEWS 3 3
Dawson College Expansion Ban: What Do People Have to Say? JACQUELINE LISBONA News Editor
Dawson College has been eagerly anticipating the expansion of its medical technology department for years. This expansion would include a clinic to help serve the Montreal community, and it would help train future medical students. In 2020, the Quebec government promised Dawson College to fund this $100 million dollar expansion plan. However, during a press conference on January 31st, Premier Legault did an about face and quashed all upcoming expansion plans, explaining that the CAQ has “too many projects and [that] there is a limited capacity to build new infrastructure”. He further added that if they had to choose a priority, it’d be “better to expand French colleges before adding capacity to Dawson”. During interviews with Legault and members of his team, questions regarding Bill 96 inevitably arose. For background, on May 13, 2021, the government of Quebec labelled Bill 96 as an act “representing French as the official and common language of Quebec”. This has been the catalyst to many heated discussions over the presence of francophone students in an ‘anglophone’ school. Daniel Béland, director of the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada, is puzzled by this decision. He suggested that it is Legault’s personal views on the province’s language laws that affected this decision regarding the cancellation of the Dawson expansion and that the Parti Quebecois’s ultimate goal with Bill 96 is to prevent non-anglophone CEGEP students from attending English-language colleges. This bill already affects non-anglophone students, who are prohibited from attending English primary or secondary schools. Legault has stated publicly that he believes that this law should expand to the junior college system as well, triggering a flood of reactions from students.
Joseph Benzazon, a second year Health Science student at the College, explained that while he understands the rationale behind the government’s desire to preserve the French language, “to penalise an important academic institution based on the fact that it is an English school is pretty unfair”. Benzazon added that Dawson’s student population attracts both anglophone and francophone students, and that French classes are taught at the College. French is very much alive at the institution, with French conversations happening all around you. Kim Dubuc, a second-year graphic design student at Dawson, shared her opinion: “I see why the Quebec government is doing what it’s doing,” she said. “I understand that they want to preserve the French language in Quebec but I completely disagree with the expansion ban. I think the issue is deeper than we think it is and we just have to find a happy balance”.
“I think that it is quite obviously a blind political move by the CAQ. Jeffrey Gandell, an English Professor at Dawson, had quite a bit to say about this decision: “I think that it is quite obviously a blind political move by the CAQ [...] they are letting an English school’s infrastructure deteriorate because they aren’t giving them money to expand and invest in their facilities. This political choice is doing a big disservice to the sustainability of the province’s healthcare system”. The expansion project would help the students training to be nurses, as well as those in the ultrasound, physiotherapy, radiation, oncology, and diagnostic imaging departments. Currently, these programs are working in many different spaces at Dawson as well as rented spaces off campus due to the lack of space.
This expansion would help with another major issue in the school: overcrowding. Students are already scrambling for seating in class. Additionally, an inability to physically distance in class during COVID adds to the likelihood of the virus spreading, which causes unneeded stress among students and professors. Megan Wise, a first-year commerce student, agreed that “it is really difficult to get anywhere around the school because the staircase is so crowded”. She also said that her classes have “way too many people in them and sometimes there’s not enough desks for everyone which should not be happening”. Dawson’s Director General Diane Gauvin informed Dawson employees, in a letter that the Ministry recognized, that Dawson “suffers from a space deficit of 11,200 m2 or the equivalent of more than 10 typical office floors”. She also said that she is “extremely disappointed by the decision” and she will remain “committed to finding solutions to better serve students and the community”. Despite backlash from Montrealers, Legault continues to defend the decision. p
Photo VIA JACQUELINE LISBONA
4 THE PLANT
Calling the Next Generation of Health Care Workers! TÉA BARRETT Staff Writer
It’s been news since 2020: Nursing staff around the world are struggling to stay afloat amid poor working conditions. Yet, it feels as though their struggles have not been justly highlighted in the media. The World Health Organization estimated in 2020 that to reach Sustainable Development Goal 3 on health and well-being, “the world will need an additional 9 million nurses and midwives by the year 2030”. Right now, in Montreal, Dawson College is preparing dedicated and passionate nursing students to enter this challenging workforce while current nurses are shedding light on the reality, good and bad, of their profession. COVID-19’s influence on healthcare has increased the roles of nurses significantly. Raed, a registered nurse at the MUHC, highlighted the importance of consistent and abundant staff by stating that their workload is “intense enough, but teamwork is helping a lot”. Teamwork extends beyond registered nurses, as sometimes it can “feel as though nurses rely more on students to help out as they are so understaffed,” commented student nurse Hailey Wildenmann at the Douglas Hospital. Emily, a student nurse at Royal Victoria Hospital, expressed the extremities of her workload, in addition to having a paid job and academic responsibilities, as being “quite unmotivating at times”. As a student nurse, Emily often arrives early and leaves later than her assigned shift and is responsible for the work of a nurse and a p.a.b “on top of being expected to prepare the night before with a complete report on [her] patients diagnoses, current condition, and expected plan of care”. Having such a hectic job, she scarcely takes breaks and is “often very hungry, dehydrated and lightheaded at the end of [most] days”. Despite the discouraging conditions of being a nurse, those in the field of study remain as determined as ever to make a difference. “I entered the nursing career to help and comfort people in their time of need” stated William Auclair-Heroux, a Dawson
nursing student. Those who wish to become nurses, like nursing student Eden Zrihan, believe that “nursing is more than a career choice, it is a calling”. “Nursing is what drives me to succeed and what I hope to become” she said, and when asked about how she feels about the current working conditions, Eden replied with an emphasis on the importance of personal protective equipment: “PPE has become scarce in many places, putting healthcare workers at risk […] Priority should be given to proper PPE. I believe that the lives of healthcare workers are not sufficiently prioritized, resulting in increased infection and, as a result, a staffing shortage”. Megan Dija, a Dawson nursing student, criticized the government for their seeming lack of awareness when it comes to what the staff needs by saying: “All the government is doing is augmenting their salary, which is a good thing but not the priority right now… They’re wondering why no one wants to be a nurse but look at the working conditions!”. The government’s role in healthcare has been heavily scrutinized on account of their lack of improving working conditions. However, according to the Quebec government, they’ve implemented financial incentives for nurses to return to the workforce, and have added measures to improve daily routines such as “less mandatory overtime, more stable schedules, additional staff, and the recruitment of nurses with international credentials”. So, how is Dawson preparing its
Photo VIA ISTOCKPHOTO.COM
students for the upcoming challenges, while keeping them motivated? According to Gioia, “teachers have been very transparent with us. Nursing is not easy and although they remind us of this frequently, they don’t fail to mention that it is also one of the most fulfilling professions out there”. It is, however, impossible to say with complete confidence how effective their program is until they can experience nursing first-hand and, as nursing student Alexander Trujillo commented, “I don’t believe being 100% ready is possible but I’m sure at the end of the program I’ll be as ready as I can be”. An interesting aspect of the program, Eden mentioned, is that “some [students] may even provide direct care to COVID-positive patients, according to an email sent recently […] Knowing that we could potentially infect loved ones at home adds to the stress”. Nurses and student nurses also wish to encourage those studying the profession to stay inspired and focus on the importance of what it is to be a nurse. When asked if they could say one thing to future nurses and people in healthcare, Emily said “You are worthy of every little thing you do, sometimes it feels as though all your hard work has gone unnoticed, but your patients see you bigger than you can ever imagine”. Jeanette Agcaoili, an RN at MNH in the ICU, empathized to “always think about the patient’s safety and [that] everything we do is for the patient”. p
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A Deeper Dive Into the “Freedom Convoy” Protests How to unify and combat polarization in times of deep division KIANA LALAVI Staff Writer
What is the freedom convoy movement, who are its organizers, and where is it going? The Freedom Convoy movement, as described by Michel Fournier-Simard, a PhD candidate and politics professor at Dawson, “is a movement [that] started around the 24th of January in BC about the specific issue of cross-border vaccination requirements for truckers. However, throughout the first week, a lot of people added to it, to express their frustrations on anything that [was] Covid related.” The affiliations of some of the catalysts of the movement, such as Tamara Lich, James Bauder, and Patrick King, have been the source of concern for many Canadians. Critics brought up Tamara Lich’s role with the Maverick Party in Alberta, as the former secretary, when expressing concerns over racism and white supremacy in the protests. These consternations were only magnified in concern to James Bauder from Canada Unity and Patrick King, who are accused of being white supremacists and of encouraging hateful, racist, and undemocratic actions undertaken by some protesters in Ottawa.
The supporters of this movement are much more than a “fringe minority” with “unacceptable views,” as expressed by Trudeau. However, other prominent figures of the convoy movement in Ottawa, notably Benjamin Victor and Chris Barber, have tried distancing themselves from hateful and racist figures within the convoy, and deny people’s claims of white supremacy and violence. They state that their board includes a Jewish man and Metis
woman, and believe these controversial figures are “outliers” that do not reflect their movement. Instead, they explain the “freedom convoy” is meant to unify and represent Canadians of all ethnic backgrounds. In a press conference in early February, they also testified to working with local authorities to prevent violence and to keep their grassroots movement about removing COVID restrictions. When the protest first started, there wasn’t much concern about violence and division, as “it was [an overall] positive demonstration, with people of all ages and backgrounds, vaccinated and unvaccinated, in Ottawa celebrating and rallying, but as time went by, the people that were left weren’t just the truckers,” said Fournier-Simard. Indeed, many others who were more extreme and had bad intentions also joined the protests: honking all night, showing up with confederate flags and swastikas, and vandalizing the War Memorial, thus discrediting the positive message that other protesters were trying to convey. The actions undertaken by these people explain why so many Ottawans have negative sentiments towards the movement and feel trapped in their homes. It can, however, be harmful to generalize and put everyone in the same oversimplified box, as it can create division. The supporters of this movement are much more than a “fringe minority” with “unacceptable views,” as expressed by Trudeau. According to a survey conducted in early February by Abacus Data, close to a third of the Canadian population feel they have a lot in common with the convoy protesters. Although the people who associate with the Conservatives and PPC support the movement at greater rates, contrary to popular belief, many “left” or “center-leaning” voters also identify with the protesters, close to a quarter of Liberals and NDP voters, and more than half of the Green Party voters. Despite the surge in hateful and radical actions
undertaken by certain individuals at the protest, this movement, for many of its supporters, remains about vaccine mandates and a frustration with current living situations caused by the pandemic. Such protests also cross borders and political parties, happening in many different regions of the world. Now, how do we move forward as a society? Decicions regarding COVID restrictions will ultimately come down to decisions made by politicians. Despite opposing views of pandemic policies, how can society stay unified throughout these difficult times? As expressed by Michel Fournier-Simard, “Canada has mostly avoided the polarization that we’ve seen in the States, but democracies are very fragile entities. […] [the notion] that a [polarizing statement] comes from the left, that it comes from the progressives, that it comes from Trudeau, is troublesome. We need to talk to these people [the protesters and supporters]. We can’t use an us vs them mentality like we’ve seen in the States”. On February 8th, Joel Lightbound, an influential Quebec MP, showed a rare moment of dissent when he openly criticized his own government for politicizing COVID and fermenting division within Canadians. Like Lightbound, we should hold politicians accountable and “[penalize] leaders when they decide to go and enhance polarization instead of diminishing it”. As individuals, we can also “read articles” of varied, reliable sources “that go against our beliefs, to understand each other […] and [to] open dialogue.” p p
6 THE PLANT
Escaping Campus On A Budget: Tips for Your First Solo Trip
JOSEPHINE ROSS Staff Writer
In this snowy February atmosphere, it feels like winter may last forever. As COVID regulations loosen and summer nears, students are beginning to plan their summer trips or gap years. Early young adulthood is the perfect time to get out of your comfort zone and try traveling with friends, with your partner, or completely alone. However, planning your first independent trip can feel both exciting and overwhelming if you don’t know where to begin. Having just returned from my first solo international trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina, I find myself well-positioned to offer you some tips and resources, fresh from my experiences in South America. From saving money, to finding affordable plane tickets, to booking decent accommodations, this is your short how-to independent travel guide. Depending on where you’re going and the kind of travel lifestyle you’re aiming for, costs will vary. If you’re rarely eating out, staying in youth hostels, and avoiding costly tourist attractions, you can get by on far less money than someone dining out every night and staying in a fourstar hotel. Regardless of how much you need, saving money can be difficult. I especially struggled with this. While many of you are probably far more organized and disciplined than I am, I only began to deprive myself of my daily 4$ oat milk latte when the fear of not having enough money for my trip set in. To avoid this panic, I would advise consulting your bank about opening a savings account. I was able to do this via my banking app, no awkward social encounters required! I found it helpful to create the type of account that you can’t easily withdraw funds from. I set a weekly budget and began making electronic money transfers after every paycheck. Another easy way to save money is to book your plane tickets many months in advance; You can save hundreds of dollars with a little foresight.
I used skyscanner.ca, which allowed me to view the cheapest flights offered by various international airlines. If you’re planning on traveling this summer, I suggest you start consulting and tracking prices now. Youth hostels are both a great way to find decent accommodation on a budget and the best way of meeting fellow travelers. The lively ambience and sense of community that hostels provide make them an ideal choice for solo travelers. Hostelworld.com is one of the leading sites for booking, offering low prices, free cancellation for select locations, and a reliable rating system. Additionally, many of these hostels have built-in restaurants, bars or terraces. I met many fellow travelers in youth hostel bars in Buenos Aires. These moments of spontaneous and unlikely friendship ended up being some of my favourite experiences from the trip. In Argentina, my friend and I opted to stay in an Airbnb over a youth hostel. While Airbnbs are generally pricier, those in Buenos Aires are cheaper than in other parts of the world. When booking accommodations, consider the length of your stay. For a stay of three weeks, we wanted access to our own private kitchen and bathroom. Most Airbnbs also offer discounts if you’re staying for a longer period of time. Workaways are a great way to make money or gain a cultural experience while abroad. With a bit of research, you can find families in need of an English tutor for their children, or youth hostels hiring adventurous travelers to work during the summertime rush. Many backpackers I met while in Argentina told me about their positive experiences working on farms, planting trees, or picking fruit. Most of these workaways offer free accommodation and meals, while some even pay their country’s minimum wage for the hours you work. Workaway.info is a great website for finding these opportunities, although you will have to purchase a yearly membership, which will cost you 44 USD$ for individuals or 56 USD$ for couples.
While independent international travel is no easy feat, especially in times of COVID paperwork and bureaucracy, it is possible with hard work, planning, and foresight. I wouldn’t exchange my trip to Argentina for the world. It was truly one of the most enlightening experiences of my life. Leaving my comfort zone was simultaneously intimidating and refreshing, but it allowed me to reflect upon my past, live in the present, and re-evaluate my plans for the future. Useful links: · Workaway (workaway.info): Find cultural exchanges, working holidays and volunteering opportunities. · Skyscanner (skyscanner.ca): My go-to website for worldwide cheap flights. · Airbnb (airbnb.ca): Online marketplace for renting homes, private and shared rooms. · Hostel World (hostelworld.com): Booking sites for youth hostels, offering cheaper accommodation and free cancellation for select locations. · Eurail (eurail.com): Find train tickets and special travel passes for locations all over Europe. p p
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Photo VIA JOSEPHINE ROSS
=ARTS & CULTURE 7 7
Archive 81: The Poster Child For Modern-Horror Television A look into 2022’s most promising nightmare-inducing show EMMY RUBIN Sports Editor
Hysteria-inducing isolation. Demon worship. Nineties-style videotapes. Mix them together in a bowl, stick them in the microwave, and you’ll find that you’ve made yourself a delicious helping of Netflix’s newest horror series, Archive 81. The eight-part series opens with a look into the grief-stricken life of New York City archivist, Dan Turner (Mamadou Athie). While spending his days working as a film restorer in a modest film museum located in the heart of the city, he simultaneously wrestles with the ever-present grief of having lost his family in a terrible fire many years earlier. Suddenly recruited by a mysterious business mogul to restore a set of videotapes that were damaged in a fire almost twenty years ago, Dan deserts the calm mundanity of his regular life for good. Immediately after starting to watch the tapes, Dan becomes immersed in the story of Melody Pendras (Dina Shihabi), a graduate student who, in 1994, was in the midst of recording an oral history project on the Visser apartment complex. Slowly learning the truth about the building and its inhabitants, closer investigation reveals dark conspiracies that show beyond doubt to be as unresolved in his own present time. Using its scattering of found footage to propel the plot forward, Archive 81 is akin to a modern Blair Witch Project. In the same way that the 1999 horror classic’s use of found footage brought the terror of the film to a terrifyingly close parody of reality, so too does Archive 81, evoking fear and discomfort in the minds of its viewers. While the uncanniness of the footage proved efficient in frightening viewers, the creators of the show knew that they would lose their audience if every gruesome detail of the mystery at the Visser were captured exclusively with the grainy footage taken from Melo-
dy’s camera. In an effort to diversify filming methods, they expertly intuited that each piece of the past should be introduced by the found footage, but then be played out entirely in magnificently modern HD quality. The combination of the two mediums, the low-quality archival footage, and the modern-day HD video that we have grown so accustomed to, amalgamates into something that serves not only as entertainment, but as an experience that thrusts the audience into a terrifying world that leaves them with the strangely irresistible urge to dive in headfirst.
An experience that thrusts the audience into a terrifying world that leaves them with the strangely irresistible urge to dive in headfirst. The beauty of the series is that the horror is not limited to the past events captured in damaged videotapes. No– viewers will quickly notice that there is an equal amount of frightening intrigue while Dan views and restores the tapes in a modern timeline. Under stringent stipulations from his employer, business tyrant Virgil Davenport (Martin Donovan), Dan must complete the restorations in one of Davenport’s secluded estates in the middle of the woods. He is prohibited from having any visitors or contact with the outside world, with the exceptions of a strange woman in a red jacket, and a medical team a twenty-minute drive away. The threat of any emergencies looms, including those that pertain to mental health, a fact that Davenport reminds Dan of at an alarming frequency. As the narrative unwinds, Dan’s predicament takes on a psychologically thrilling aspect as
the torture-like isolation intermingles with the realisation that there is something dark hidden in the tapes. This realisation births a conviction that this same darkness is part of an ever-present conspiracy that surrounds him within the very walls that he is being forced to inhabit. Another reason, perhaps, that Dan’s sequestering is so successful in inducing fear is because we, as viewers, relate to his predicament in a way that no other generation has before: we are the generation that was locked away. Dan, even though he might not seem like it at first, is a personification of our age. The real-life experience that we have faced of quarantining and self-isolating lends itself to a suspended reality that is closer to our actual reality than any other sort of horror-related situation. In a sense, Archive 81 has looked into our lives and twisted our most recent and emotional experiences and shown us the most nightmarish outcome that we could have ever dreamt of. And it was scary. Archive 81 is a series that is susceptible to spoilers with even the briefest of summaries as every episode untangles countless knots in the string that is its unrelentingly harrowing plot. The only way to truly understand and appreciate the full effects that the found footage and dually fear-evoking timelines create is by watching the series for yourselves and allowing yourselves to be dragged into a world that you won’t help but succumb to. p p
Artwork by Isabella Maldonado @ISASARTDUMP
Artwork by Arusha Bruns @SKETCHYY.ILLUSTRATIONS
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VISUAL ARTS 9
Artwork by Anisia Alexe @ANI.WAS.HERE
Artwork by Charles Lesenko-Oliveros @PHOTO.CELO
Visual Arts by DANAÉE DESCAILLOT Visual Arts Editor
10 THE PLANT
Welcome to Heartbreak The Legacy Of Kanye West’s “808S & HEARTBREAK” STEFANO MARIANO REBULI Contributor
When Kanye West first dropped 808s & Heartbreak in November 2008, it was an unexpected change of pace in his discography. Whereas The College Dropout, Late Registration, and Graduation are bright albums characterized by soul samples, orchestral production, and glamorous synths, respectively, their successor takes on a moodier tone. 808s was released following the death of Kanye’s mother, Donda West, in November 2007, and his subsequent breakup with long-time girlfriend and fiancée Alexis Phifer. These two events left him with a burden of emotional pain. This period of turmoil explains the album’s central themes of grief, heartbreak, and alienation, which motivated Kanye to sing instead of rapping, a daring stylistic leap for a rapper in 2008. Kanye’s technical approach is also different, with his heavy use of Auto-Tune vocals and a minimalistic production style characterized by digital synthesizers and the Roland TR-808 drum machine. 808s & Heartbreak is a robotic, moody, and melancholic record that stands in stark contrast to Kanye’s previous releases at the time. However, the experimentation pays off—the album inspired an entire generation of artists and continues to dominate the current musical landscape.
On 808s and Heartbreak, Kanye defied the then-current hip-hop landscape and created a new one that he would pioneer over the next decade, along with a new crop of artists. The influence of 808s’ heartfelt and melodic nature can be seen in one artist more than any other: Drake. The
Photo VIA WIKIPEDIA
Canadian rapper is known for a mix of singing and rapping that has characterized most of his work to date. The self-proclaimed “Certified Lover Boy” is no stranger to showing his softer side on his records and crafting emotional ballads, two of his most recognizable traits as an artist. Both 808s and Kanye himself can be seen as instrumental in Drake’s work, some ways being rather direct. “Say What’s Real”, a track on Drake’s breakout mixtape So Far Gone, utilizes the instrumental to 808s’ opener “Say You Will”. Kanye also produced Drake’s hit 2010 love song “Find Your Love”. Otherwise, Kanye’s transition into singing can be seen as the catalyst for Drake’s crossover style: his album Take Care contains rap bangers like “Under Ground Kings” and emotional singing performances such as the iconic, drunken heartbreak anthem “Marvins Room”. Drake famously called Kanye the “most influential rapper” to his sound in a 2009 MTV interview. 808s & Heartbreak has significantly influenced more recent acts too. A key example is Juice WRLD, who wore his heart on his sleeve and cites the album as his favourite album ever. Its impact is as clear as day on his debut Goodbye & Good Riddance, a breakup record filled with melodies, passionate singing, and lyrics about heartbreak. Juice was candid about his emotional struggles and poured his feelings into his music, a characteristic carried over from Kanye’s re-
cord. For example, Juice’s smash hit “Lucid Dreams’’ is a poignant ballad about being unable to recover from a breakup. Baby Keem is another artist who credits 808s as a pivotal inspiration to his sound. He called the album his most significant musical influence and his favourite in Kanye’s discography. Keem has also shown it: this past September, he sampled the drums from “Love Lockdown” and “Coldest Winter” on 808s in “scars’’ and “issues”, respectively, two tracks on his debut album The Melodic Blue. More than a decade after its release, the album’s impact is demonstrated by the artists it influenced. Kanye’s technical choices have also been carried on by the new generation. Whilst T-Pain helped bring the effect to mainstream heights, 808s can be credited for furthering the presence of Auto-Tune in the hiphop sphere. Kanye’s use of the effect can easily be seen as having inspired someone like Travis Scott, known for his “auto-crooner” style and general use of the effect. The 808 drum itself has become extremely popular since the album’s release, now serving as a foundational element in a myriad of hip-hop hits’ instrumentals (e.g., Bad & Boujee, Mask Off, ORANGE SODA, INDUSTRY BABY). Hip-hop production has even transcended the limits of its own genre, allowing the 808 to be found in production for pop artists like Ariana Grande. On 808s and Heartbreak, Kanye defied the then-current hip-hop landscape and created a new one that he would pioneer over the next decade, along with a new crop of artists. Kanye encapsulated his emotional pain and sorrow into the album by using robotic, minimalistic production and icy, auto-tuned vocals. The album showcased Kanye’s emotional alienation while simultaneously opening the door for feelings within the hip-hop sphere. Amid inspiring artists like Drake and Juice, 808s built itself a timeless legacy that continues to play out even today, thirteen years after it was released to the masses. p p
PLAYLIS ARTS & CULTURE 11 11 11
We Should Talk About Bruno You too can find your voice in Encanto. ANNABELLE LAJOIE Contributor
The latest Disney Animation film, Encanto, directed by Byron Howard and Jared Bush, became a surprise hit weeks after its release. It hit theaters on November 24th, 2021, a month before its addition to the Disney + platform. This musical follows a Colombian family who finds safety in Encanto’s magical village after being chased out of their home. The magic of Encanto blesses every Madrigal child with a supernatural gift to help their community– that is, all but Mirabel. However, this doesn’t mean she isn’t gifted; When the magic is threatened by an unknown force, Mirabel might just be the only one who can save her family. This movie has eight original songs composed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, an award-winning singer-songwriter. The songs are performed by an entire Latino cast, including Carolina Gaitán, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, and Stephanie Beatriz. Each song sounds different, which appeals to a broader audience. This album is a blend of cha-cha, salsa, hip hop, and pop. It was mainly inspired by 90’s Colombian music. As
Photo VIA DISNEY
always, Lin-Manuel mastered the art of lyrics. Not only does he tell the story through his songs, but he brings it to new depths. “Dos Oruguitas” is the most meaningful song on the album. The lullaby tells the story of two caterpillars afraid of letting go. They fear the changes ahead, but “the world will never stop changing”. They need to embrace this as it leads to “nuestro milagro,” meaning ‘our miracle’. The lyrics then change from “dos oruguitas” to “ay, mariposas” [oh, butterflies], showing that the caterpillars needed to be separated to evolve and have a better future. This song is a metaphor for Abuela’s origin story. The use of a butterfly is significant because, in many cultures, it represents endurance, change, hope, and life. This is the story of the community of Encanto. Throughout the film, we can see many butterfly symbols, such as a detail on Mirabel’s dress. “Dos Oruguitas” was nominated for the Best Original Song Academy Award. However, it was far from being the best hit on the album. The song that broke Disney’s records was “We Don’t Talk About Bruno”. It took about two months since it was released to grow in popularity. But on January 31st, it climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It became the first chart-topping song from a Disney animated film in 29 years. It even broke the record of Aladdin’s “A Whole New World,” which stayed No. 1 for only a week in 1993. Surprisingly enough, that means it surpassed “Let It Go” from Frozen, which I’m sure we all heard to the point of annoyance after its release in 2014. “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” is an unexpected hit due to its traditional musical formula. The song would mark the end of the first act in a staged musical as the music reaches its climax. To achieve this, Lin-Manuel Miranda required the participation of the entire cast. He gave each character a respective melody, then layered them up. It makes for organized chaos, which heightens the stakes for the second act. This technique of layering
different pieces is the songwriter’s signature. It can be seen in his other musicals like Hamilton, with “Non-Stop,” and In the Heights, with “Blackout.” The song’s success can be attributed in part to TikTok, where it’s been trending for the last month. The various melodies allowed people to each have a favourite moment. In addition, it caught the attention of many creators for its very danceable and dramatic lyrics such as “I’m sorry, mi vida, go on” and “grew to live in fear of Bruno stuttering or stumbling”. For this reason, many dances and trends were created on the platform with “We Don’t Talk About Bruno”.
As always, Lin-Manuel mastered the art of lyrics. With its fandom still growing., the heartfelt story of an immigrant family is profound enough to keep an audience of any age entertained. The bright images, colourful Colombian fashion, and playful approach to the movie appeals to most children. Yet, it approaches darker themes, such as Isabela’s need to be perfect or Luisa’s fear of cracking under pressure. The morals shared in Encanto are ones that many adults can relate to. Moreover, the animation of Encanto is remarkable as it includes various skin tones, hair textures, and body types, giving a voice to many who, before Encanto, couldn’t find a representation of themselves in Disney’s characters. p p
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As Seen In the Hallways: Morgana Follmann
Photo VIA MORGANA FOLLMANN CASEY KISS Voices Editor
In our first As Seen in the Hallways piece of the year, meet Morgana Follmann. Morgana is a second year Liberal Arts student who has recently self-published her own poetry book under the pseudonym Cora Wolfe. She also graciously laughed at my cheesy jokes off the record. Casey: Thank you for sitting down to talk to me! First things first, tell our readers about your book One Heart, Two Ghosts, Three Lovers, and a Rose. Morgana: Actually, here’s what I texted my friend about the book which I think explains it well… Okay, it’s a poetry book that follows a linear narrative about love immigration and self discovery. There’s also some LGBTQ content and lots of emotions and learning how to deal with that. It’s around 180 pages which is quite long for a poetry book but some poems are really short so it’s easy to read and it’s my own experience sooo yeah. Casey: Writing a book of any kind is super impressive, let alone a poetry book. What was your biggest inspiration while writing? Morgana: Definitely my love experience and experience immigrating from Brazil.
Casey: What was the self-publishing process like? Morgana: It was hell. Okay, first, I had no idea what I was doing, then I had to do so much research, and even then it was not that clear because I feel like they’re trying to make it really hard for you to self-publish. Then, you know, there’s lots of places that say, “we can give you tips!” or help you, but it’s a scam. It was terrible. Then finally my boyfriend’s dad knows all about graphic design, book design, and typesetting, so I was like “oh my god it’s my lucky day,” so he’s been helping me through the process. Casey: What’s the most standout, important theme from the book? Morgana: I would say it’s about love, and I know that sounds cliche and really cringy, but I feel like everyone either needs to learn how to love others or themselves at one point in their lives, and I got to discover that pretty early on so that was cool. Casey: Well, to have written a book, I’m assuming reading and writing are big hobbies of yours. What are your hobbies outside of that? Morgana: I’d say watching movies. I know that sounds a bit like, “okay, you stay at home inside too
Photo VIA MORGANA FOLLMANN
much,” but I really love acting performances. I want to try acting myself at some point, it might not work but I really like watching people get into characters and tell a story, so it kind of fits in with reading and writing. Casey: Any plans to continue to pursue writing? Morgana: Absolutely! I want to be a writer, which I already am but when I say writer I mean I want to be someone who can say that they’re a writer for their profession and who actually makes a nice income out of it. I have an idea in my head for a sequel as well as for fantasy books that are an extensive world, and I want to write more poetry books. I also have a couple ideas for other novels so I’m kind of all over the place but lots of ideas. Casey: Well I have no doubt you’ll write some more great books but one last thing! Tell our readers where they can keep up with your writing and buy the book! Morgana: Let’s just say I tried setting up a website and it didn’t work so for now I’m just on social media, Instagram mostly at @iamherbooks and you can buy the book through my Instagram handle. p p
VOICES 13 13 13
Ask The Plant DARIA BOCICOVA Arts & Culture Editor
Dear Plant, Is time linear or circular? Love, A confused physicist Is time linear or circular? That’s a complicated question. Now I’m really glad I took a physics course last term. First of all, we know that time is fundamental because it would not slow down if it weren’t. Time dilation is a distortion in what we think of as time flow, in high-speed transitions or the presence of strong gravitational fields. In terms of the universe, according to the general theory of relativity, the density parameter Omega, defined as the average density of the universe divided by a critical density (which is required for the universe to have zero curvature), is related to the curvature of space. If Omega is 1, the curvature is zero, and the universe is flat; if Omega is greater than 1, then there is a positive curvature indicating a closed or spherical universe; if Omega is less than 1, there is a negative curvature suggesting an open universe. The cosmic inflation model suggests that the Omega conjecture is precisely 1, so the universe actually balances between the two extremes. In that case, it will continue to expand but gradually slows down, and eventually, it will be powerless. Even with dark matter in the calculations, all matter in the universe, both visible and dark, is only about a quarter of the critical mass required, suggesting a continuously expanding universe. Oh, I just realised this is a lot of science talk to throw at you early in the morning. Let me try to explain it differently. Time as we know it in our everyday lives is, essentially, an idea based on a sensation based on an observation, which, in turn, is based on our knowledge and memory of the state or condition before the measurement of that change. Time is the feeling that we experience when we see some kind of change, like movement or a state change. Linear time is like an arrow launched from the past, crossing the present and heading for the future. Meanwhile, circular time can be likened to circular wheel movement or rhythmic pendulum oscillation. When people think that celestial changes or seasonal changes associated with the Earth’s position around the Sun are time, it’s like thinking that a fish swimming in an aquarium is water. In fact, a tank is like space, and water is like time. Water fills the tank, and it’s everywhere. If it wasn’t, the fish wouldn’t be able to move and would be dead, despite all the space in the aquarium.
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Time itself is neither linear nor circular. It does not flow or move but allows others to do so. So the cycles we observe have nothing to do with time, except that time will enable them to exist. Time is attached to each part of space, forming a space-time continuum, and as everything moves, vibrates, changes, it is related to the fact that time is a dimension that allows change, and spatial dimensions enable things to be in different places. When these things change position, it’s because time allows it to happen. No time, no change, no nothing. The fact that time doesn’t move explains the asymmetry of time or why things never seem to come back. Even though physicists can control their equations backwards and forwards, we will never see that the events that explain these equations happen backwards. That’s because time has nothing to do with it. For things to happen in reverse, all the forces and processes that make them happen in a causal order would have to be reversed, and that would never happen. Gravity will not change, your biological processes will not change, the expansion of gases in the blast will not change because there is no causal agent that can force them to do so. But, hey, ask me this question again when I’m looking at the clock during class, and I would forget all of this and tell you that time actually seems to be moving backwards. xoxo,
The Plant
Photo VIA THETIMETRAVELERS.ORG
CREATIVE WRITING 15 15 15
Creative Writing by LAURY CHARLAND Creative Writing Editor
Doodles by PIPA JONES Editor-in-Chief ALESSA ORSINI Graphic Designer
Afterthoughts ADRIAN DARWENT
Contributor
Oh, to be (only) a lesson in love The sky, healing, exists (foremost) above Your halo, a cold gin and tonic kiss. Your teeth refuse me hungering kindness And so, (into the pit!) give me a shove. The day that’s (seldom for us) dreamt of When my hand fits your (our) skintight glove. It shouldn’t be. Truly. But it is. A (sick joke) painful lesson in love. Us: a clear hot spring (trapped) among The thinnest (brittle) streams of blood. Though this veil is fabric blindness, The final silence reminds us Though we try, we’ll (one day) become A (long-lasting) lesson in love.
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PLAYLIST
Playlist by DANAÉE DESCAILLOT Visual Arts Editor
VISUAL ARTS 17 17 17
Artwork by Delphine Mouchès @DEL._.PHI
Artwork by Alice Boulianne @ALIEBOULIANNE
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Chapters LAURY CHARLAND Creative Writing Editor Do you ever wonder what comes next? After a big break, I mean. After you’ve been fired, or divorced. Do you ever just sit down, look at the dead empty of your home, and think, what the hell do I do now? It had been a long time since I’d had that thought. My life was on track—career, husband, kids...everything was where I wanted it to be. I was happy. And then one day, I came home to the lush, green plants scattered around our apartment, the faint smell of cinnamon apple pie, and someone moaning in my bedroom. I made my way through the kitchen, hoping I was wrong, and inched the door open. For a second, I thought my chest was being ripped open by the sea, but I closed the door, took a deep breath, and sat quietly in the living room. I flipped through a magazine and waited. When they finally came out, she noticed me first. I’d never seen someone leave so quickly. My husband stared at me for too long and said nothing, nothing at all. I’m not sure when I got up. I’m not sure when I grabbed the knife. It just happened. Now, I look at the black garbage bag at my feet and sigh, wiping sweat from my forehead. Beyond the trees, the sun is rising. My arms are getting heavy. I’m too close to the highway to keep digging in the daylight. What the hell do I do now?
CREATIVE WRITING 19 19
We Like It Loud GABRIEL GEFIN Contributor When shards and vessels meet Where the thickened river sleeps Our organs dance to hearty beats And scream “We like it loud!” The saddened creature drinks It wishes not to think Its problems grow and worries shrink It’s clear It likes it loud The quiet fools rejoice They laugh without a choice Their king cares only for their voice When broke He likes it loud The belching beggars sung Of strums and piercing thrums A tune not long ago begun By those Who like it loud A putrid stench arose Donned coats of skin and gold It retched and spoke of sins and woes And hope It likes it loud Your needle hands have grown Yet there is nothing sewn Instead they pierce my skin and bones And soul You like it loud I never thought to yell For I could still not tell If you had yet to love as well Or not I won’t be loud The friendly music ends Our dancing organs send A final call to all who lend An ear: “We like it loud!”
My Consumption VICTORIA VOLPATO Contributor The slippery slope of self-sacrifice, using me to get what he wants magnifies the feeling of hatred devouring me. I please myself to please him and she looks within to find my priced prize. They twirl in twin colours of black and white exploding like supernovas while I let them eat from my soul but he – The slippery slope of self-sacrifice. He swallows my laugh, converts it into cries. He bites my tears until they’re mostly ice. She begs him to stop but he simply keeps digging until he touches the key and I moan until they say, “That’ll suffice.” The slippery slope of self-sacrifice.
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Excerpt From “Off the Deep End” SAVANNA VITA Contributor Every dark emotion you’re feeling hits you like punches from a fight you were never going to win as you slide against the bathroom door. As the cold from the tiles pierces every nerve in your body, running the chill up your spine, you wonder if life is even worth living. Should you go on? Should you make the effort? Should you wake up tomorrow? Should you sleep all day and just go numb? Would you be missed? Would you be mourned? Did you ever truly feel loved or cared for? Would there even be a difference in anybody’s life if you weren’t there? Did you make an impact? You lie on the floor, paralyzed, not understanding life or why it works the way it does. You start questioning everything, overthinking every possible detail of every traumatic event that happened to you and your world. Everything is unfair, unreasonable, unbalanced. Nothing makes sense. What happens after you go into the light? Where do you go? Your thoughts? Your feelings? Do you know what happens? Your brain is screaming, from all the thoughts you’ve had to ignore and bury as you forced on a smile. You can’t take the pain, can’t take the sadness, and everything is overwhelming you all at once.
CREATIVE WRITING 21 21 21
Echoes DONTÉ K-R Contributor From inception, there lived something primal Off and running before it could grow legs to stand on Mesmerised by the wonder of its newfound home, and incapable of simply gazing At the feet of its magnitude No, this spirit lived to holler from the mountain top And revel breathlessly in the vibrations of the echoes
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Let Her Play Why intersex and transgender women should compete in the Olympics according to their gender identity ALICE MARTIN Managing Editor
The Olympics season is upon us. As an avid fan of winter sports myself, last February 4th, I diligently tuned in to CBC in the morning to watch the participating countries of the 2022 Winter Olympics parade down Beijing’s National Stadium. Although it was hard to watch at some points due to the controversies surrounding politics, health guidelines, and doping, I like to think there’s always a silver lining. With 35 out athletes, including the pair figure-skater Timothy LeDuc, the Winter Games’ first non-binary athlete, the Beijing Olympics officially hold a record number of LGBTQ+ athletes in a Winter Olympics. If all Games are included, however, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics still wins gold by a landslide with the number of out LGBTQ+ athletes. This step forward in 2020 wasn’t done without stirring the pot, though, especially in regards to gender non-conforming athletes. Laurel Hubbard, an Australian transgender weightlifter, and Caster Semenya, a South African intersex sprinter, created controversy with their participation. Hubbard was the first openly transgender athlete to compete in the Olympics. She had all the requirements of World Athletics—the international governing body for athletics formerly known as the IAAF or International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF)—surrounding transwomen, which made her participation totally legitimate. Nonetheless, her participation was heavily criticized. Some said she was taking the place of a cisgender woman, and others downright said that she was cheating as her former male body would grant her an unfair advantage in her event: weightlifting in the women’s +87kg category. The latter group of people would be proven wrong as Hubbard failed to place in her division during the competition. Semenya seemed to beat records everywhere she went, winning gold twice in the 2012 London Olympics and in the 2016 Rio Olympics, both in the 800m. Semenya was banned from competing in these events after the 2016 Olympics, on the grounds that she had levels of testosterone too high to compete with cisgender women. If she wanted to participate again, she was going to have to take estrogen supplements which would most likely come with horrible side effects, and would also heavily defeat the purpose of agencies like the World Anti-Doping Agency that actively prevent athletes from using drugs that would alter their performance, which is what World Athletics is asking of Semenya. However, is it true that transgender women and intersex women really have an advantage over cisgender women in sports that makes it impossible for both of them to compete together?
There is an unequivocal difference between male and female bodies that make male bodies more prone to greater muscle mass. When it comes to strengths and power, male bodies have on average 75% more muscle mass and 90% more strength than female bodies in the upper body, (University of Utah). In a recent study from the University of Utah, it was also found that men have up to 162% more strength in a punching motion than women.
To say that men have an advantage in all sports would be a grave mistake. Nonetheless, to say that men have an advantage in all sports would be a grave mistake, a cultural and political mistake that is at the root of the exclusion of intersex and transgender women in sports. While men seem to have the upper hand in most sports requiring a lot of strength, like sprinting and weightlifting, female athletes find their strength in endurance sports. As a basic rule of thumb, the greater the endurance required, the more similar men and women perform, as female bodies tend to have more slow-twitch muscle fibres, according to Dr. Nicholas Tiller, a senior lecturer in applied physiology at Sheffield Hallam University (BBC). While women’s performance in endurance events can be attributed to physiology, some experts are attributing it to mental preparation, as these events are extremely strenuous on the mind. Dr. Carla Meijen, a senior lecturer in applied sport psychology at St. Mary’s University, says, “Typically females use more emotion-focused coping, so they focus more on how to reframe what they are feeling than males in general. That might be a reason why they may be more suited to those more ultra-endurance events”. Male and female bodies both have physiology that gives them advantages in certain sports. In that case, to target only transwomen or intersex women as having an unfair advantage when they are competing with cisgender women would be wrong. In fact, all regulations surrounding transgender athletes and intersex athletes are centered around those who identify as women. World Athletics doesn’t have regulations for transgender men or intersex men that want to participate with cisgender men, simply because the assumption that females are weaker in every sport still lingers. There is also a problem with the fact that World Athletics base themselves on testosterone only to determine whether a gender non-conforming woman is eligible to participate in international competitions. If their testos-
SPORTS 23
Photo VIA IAN MACNICOL / GETTY IMAGES
terone levels are too high, they aren’t a woman anymore. By doing so, World Athletics is essentially saying that the only indicator of good athletic performance is testosterone levels. However, there is a cruel lack of credible scientific evidence to prove that testosterone is enough to influence performance by itself. Furthermore, the only study on which the World Athletics based its decision to put the testosterone limit to 5 nanomoles per litre in female athletes had been commissioned by World Athletics themselves. It would then be safe to assume that they were
more inclined towards confirming their position rather than finding compelling counterevidence. Testosterone is far from being the only advantage that athletes can have, but it is still the only one being regulated. Height, VO2 max, heart size, and lung capacity, are also some physiological advantages that make athletes more prone to outstanding athletic performance. These advantages have as much of an impact on performance as testosterone, and they are accepted and even sought out in the Olympics.
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SPORTS
Photo VIA MARK SCHIEFELBEIN/AP
Michael Phelps, an Olympic swimmer and the most decorated Olympian of all time, has a body made for swimming. Standing at 6’4”, he has a greater lung capacity than most people, his arms are longer than his whole body, he has short legs, and a long torso. His physiological advantages make it almost impossible for anyone to compete against him. Before getting caught in a doping scandal, Lance Armstrong was often seen as the best cyclist of all time because of his 7 consecutive Tour de France wins. He also has a physiology that is perfectly adapted to his sport. “The extraordinary sportive results of the racing cyclist Lance Armstrong made us realise that a high capacity of hepatic gluconeogenesis was the basis of his success, because it might have provided him with less pain complaints caused by lactic acid and with an extra source of energy from lactic acid,” says the National Library of Medicine. Just these two examples of human physiology prove that the “level playing field” World Athletics is trying to preserve by banning athletes like Semenya, doesn’t exist at all. In fact, if the Olympics started categorising every physiological advantage, no one would ever win. What about external factors? To say that everyone has the same chances is completely wrong. Access to coaching and equipment are at play in an athlete’s performance. The overall wealth of a country also weighs a lot in the balance of athletes’ training, even if we don’t want to acknowledge it. It isn’t for nothing that the United States has accumulated over one thousand more medals in
total at the Olympics than the next contender. Therefore, is testosterone the only thing that plays a role in a woman’s athletic performance? Absolutely not. Maybe Caster Semenya’s body is just purely made to sprint, like Phelps’ was made to swim and Armstrong’s was made to cycle. Semenya’s high levels of testosterone are, first and foremost, completely natural. Her height as well as her muscle mass make her an explosive and talented sprinter. All of those biological factors that inherently make her an athlete should never interfere with her identity as a woman, nor can it justify her being banned from the Olympics. We can’t stop ignoring the issue of transwomen and intersex women in professional sports. It’s not like Semenya and Hubbard are the last transgender and intersex women to want to compete at the professional level. If anything, they are paving the way; They are giving more visibility to the young athletes that think they might not have their place in the sex-binary-cursed world of sports. In fact, these women are breaking the mold and because of them, it is more obvious than ever that they are excellent athletes beyond their testosterone levels. Wasn’t it Yogi Berra himself that said that sports, and most precisely baseball in his case, are “90% mental and 10% physical”? If that is the case, after dealing with the whole Olympics against her, it’s no wonder Semenya breaks all the records. p
p
SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT 25 25
Pig Hearts for Humans ROBIN STEEDMAN-BRAUN Science and Environment Editor
The new year started off with a futuristic and unimaginable medical experiment in Baltimore, Maryland, with the first-ever person receiving a transplanted heart from a genetically modified pig. Xenotransplantation, the transplantation of animal organs into humans, has been a widespread dream in the medical world for decades now. Xenotransplantation has been made possible with the recent advancements of CRIPR-Cas 9, a genome editing technology, which facilitates creating animal organs that are less likely to be attacked by the human immune system and lead to organ transplantation rejection. The 7-hour surgery was performed on 57-year-old David Bennett, a patient with a long-time heart condition who didn’t qualify for a human heart transplant or other conventional treatments. This procedure was Bennett’s last resort. Since the surgery in early January, the new
Photo VIA GETTY IMAGES/FUTURISM
heart is already functional, however, Bennett is still being kept alive by a heart-lung bypass machine. In addition to the pig heart, new experimental immuno-suppressant drugs and a heart machine were used to reduce the risk of rejection as much as possible. The pig heart was provided by Revivicor, a regenerative medicine company based in Virginia. The pig heart used in the surgery was genetically modified to remove certain genes that provoke the human immune system. Infections such as porcine retrovirus, a pig virus that can be transmitted to humans, are important risks in such a surgery. The pig was also given six human genes to help it adapt to the human body. Pigs are chosen as donor animals as their organs are of similar size to humans’, and they are easy to breed and raise in captivity. If the surgery proves to be successful, which it has so far, ethicists will need to weigh in on the future of xenotransplantation procedures, because they are, as of right now, ex-
perimental and high-risk. When it comes to pig heart transplants, three main ethical issues arise: The first involves the medical implications of such a procedure. The risk of rejection is already high in human organ transplants, and even higher with xenotransplantation, without mentioning the possibility for a human patient to contract a porcine infection or disease. Animal rights are another important ethical issue. PETA (People for the Ethical Treatments of Animals) have condemned the procedure as “unethical, dangerous, and a tremendous waste of resources”, implying that it is not only wrong to genetically modify animals but also to kill them for human use, whether it be for meat consumption or organ donation. Finally, religion comes into question when considering pig organ transplants, and whether or not such a surgery would be accepted by Jewish and Muslim communities. All things considered, this procedure is a huge medical advancement in the realm of organ transplantation. p p
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SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT
Golden Time Machine
Photo VIA VANCOUVER SUN EMILY MCQUEEN Staff writer
On Christmas day 2021, 7:20 am, a golden time machine is launched into space from French Guiana, South America. You may think this sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie, but let me explain: The James Webb space telescope is often nicknamed a ‘time machine’ because of its ability to capture light from the first star that shone through our galaxy. Controversially named after James Webb, the head of NASA for the decade leading to the moon landing and who was also complicit in discriminatory regulations, the telescope was created by the joint effort of the European Space Agency (ESA), the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). So, what is the Webb and what does its launch mean for future astrological discoveries? Weighing 2,900 kilograms, the space telescope’s primary feature is its golden mirror made of gold-plated beryllium. The mirror is hexagon-shaped and measures 6.5 metres wide, making the telescope close
to the size of a tennis court. It is so large it needed to be launched folded up inside a rocket. Over its journey, the craft mechanically unfolded itself while engineers from different countries facilitated the process over several weeks. According to NASA, there were over 300 potential single-point failures that could have ruined the 10-billion-dollar mission. But the Webb successfully unfolded on January 8th, 2022. It is currently on course to its permanent orbit known as L2 or the second LaGrange, which is over a million miles from Earth in the opposite direction of the sun. More powerful than any other telescope, Webb’s technology captures electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths longer than those of visible light, also known as infrared light. Infrared light is often from distant sources in space and time and the wavelength of this light has expanded with the overall expansion of the galaxy. This technology will allow scientists to learn more about the origins of our world. As stated by Vox, the telescope will be able to see as far as 250 million years after the Big Bang when the first starlight
shone through our universe. In other words, Webb can see back to the end of the cosmic dark age, the time before there was any light in the universe. It can also peek inside of dust clouds to see how new stars and planets, including our own, develop, and how galaxies are assembled. On top of that, it offers a deeper and much more precise look into our solar system from Mars and outwards. It is equally useful for investigating exoplanets orbiting around other stars, opening the possibility of finding a planet with an atmosphere adequate for life or a planet already inhabiting life. It is truly amazing that during times that feel more divided than ever, over 1200 skilled scientists, engineers, and technicians, from 14 different countries, worked together on the project just to better understand this big ball of wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey stuff that we live on. The Webb space telescope may only be giving us a glimpse into the mystery of our universe and the infinite unknown that is space and time, but with its help, scientists could make revolutionary discoveries. p p
CURIOSITIES 27 27 27
HOROSCOPES
ARIES (mar. 20 - apr. 18): In these ever-changing times, don’t be afraid to seek help or search for concrete solutions. Trust that you know the change you want, and that you want it to come quickly. Be careful, however, as rapid change may disrupt your sense of comfort. Overall, know that the universe is on your side and that help is on the way. TAURUS (apr. 19 - may 20): Take advantage of your creativity and the skills you know you have. Although it will require hard work, be prepared to take on difficult tasks with dedication. Resist the pressure to lower your standards or take shortcuts. If you work smart and persevere, you’ll have everything you need to reach your goals. GEMINI (may 21 - june 20): Something incredible is starting in your life. While absolute certainty is impossible, you will follow the correct path if you trust your instincts. After all, there are good reasons to feel confident in how everything is going. Once you accept that life is unpredictable, you’ve already won half the battle.
LIBRA (sept.23 - oct. 22): You aren’t happy with the way things are moving around you. You are likely yearning for a sense of real movement and big progress. The next step is to reflect on how you communicate your feelings. Once you make this shift, you will rapidly notice a positive change. SCORPIO (oct. 23 - nov. 21): Due to your determination, success is already on its way. While you deserve the best, it may be difficult to find a clear path forward. Know that while there will never be a perfect way to proceed, you can always follow what feels right. SAGITTARIUS (nov. 22 - dec. 21) : Be careful not to dismiss any of your big ideas. With the right approach and a little imagination, you can achieve your dreams. Don’t listen to your doubters. You’ve executed an idea like this before, and you’re more than prepared to do it again.
CANCER (june 21 - july 22): Be aware of the differences between your self-image and the way others view you. You may think you’re in an unstable position, where other people think you’re more secure. Allow yourself some kindness. Once you recognize your own abilities, you’ll be able to put them to good use.
CAPRICORN (dec.22 - jan. 19): Something is burning inside you and makes it difficult for you to relax. Search for humour in what you’re doing; It’ll dissipate your anxiety and help give you a new perspective. You will soon find a certain piece of info and it will show you how to proceed.
LEO (july 23 - aug. 22): You are yearning for an answer or an explanation. Don’t blow this problem out of proportion, this answer is arriving very soon. There is no reason to worry, clarity is on its way. Accept it with open arms and redirect your energy into what makes you happy.
AQUARIUS (jan. 20 - feb. 18): You’ve been stressing over an issue that will have a strong effect on your future. The hard decision is choosing between a safer boring road and a riskier one with more potential. Whatever you choose, be sure to commit fully and you will make important progress.
VIRGO (aug. 23 - sept. 22): After weeks of cold weather, it is easy to become accustomed to wrapping oneself up in jackets and scarves. However, warm weather is often around the corner. In the same way, you are likely worrying about an issue that isn’t as bad as it seems. Allow yourself some relaxation!
PISCES (feb. 19 - mar. 19) : You have an urge to change everything. An important area of your life needs an update but you’ve been struggling to figure out how to do it. While it may seem impossible now, achieving this dream is entirely possible. Look for signs of hope in the coming weeks.
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Recipe: Big Hearted Brownies TÉA BARRETT
Staff Writer
INGREDIENTS Brownies ½ cup Melted Butter 1 cup White Sugar 2 Eggs 1 tsp. Vanilla Extract ⅓ cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder ½ cup Flour ¼ tsp. Salt ¼ tsp. Baking Powder Icing White Chocolate Food Colouring INSTRUCTIONS 1. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 Celsius). Grease and flour an 8-inch square pan. If you don’t want white residue, use cocoa powder instead. 2. In a large bowl, combine sugar, eggs, and vanilla. 3. Beat in cocoa powder, flour, baking powder and salt. 4. Spread batter into prepared pan. 5. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes. Wait until cool. 6. Heat white chocolate in the microwave for 45 seconds. Stir, then repeat until smooth. 7. Add food colouring to chocolate. Optionally, cut brownies into hearts. 8. Dip hearts into chocolate and let cool.
Photo VIA TÉA BARRETT
CURIOSITIES 29 29 29
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ACROSS 2. City of Angels, for short 4. Makes men drop to their knees? Psst! Clues with question marks means there’s a pun or a play on words. Think outside the box! 6. Sidewalk edge 8. Tie up 9. Section of the Plant featuring “As Seen in the Hallways” 11. Play a role 12. Actress Gadot 13. (I’ve _____) The Time of My Life 14. Seasonal box contents 17. Pronoun 18. Garden tool 19. Sculpture, music, and cinema 20. Downhill sport 22. Take apart 25. Pass out 26. Gene code
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1. The ___ of the crossword 2. French “him” 3. Cupid or Robin Hood 4. Treasure 5. Interested in, romantically 6. Dark soda 7. Fantastic _____ and Where to Find Them 8. Classical composer 9. Patron Saint of love and romance 10. Data storage card 12. Slime 15. First Nations leader 16. Cards for divination 21. Mac-and-cheese brand 23. How a single person might feel at this time of year 24. Partner to 26-across
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BENJAMIN BISAILLON Curiosities Editor
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CONNECTIONS Dealing with the aftermath of a drawn-out pandemic-induced lockdown has left Dawson students fragmented to say the least. With social skills rusted and motivation at an all-time low, how can we move forward in our endeavours without feeling so alone? I created Connections with the hope of giving people an opportunity to advertise who they are, and/or to find what they’re looking for, without having to commit to a club or class. Whether you’re a musician looking to find bandmates; a student in need of a roommate; looking for specific textbooks; looking to recruit people for a volunteering project; looking to find human canvases for your tattooing career; looking for a tutor; looking for models to help build your photography portfolio; Connections is a place where bridges can be built between Dawson students for whatever reason you seek. To post an ad: 1 - Briefly state who you are (no names required). 2 - State what it is you’re looking for/what you’re advertising. 3 - Leave a means of contacting you. Your ad will be featured in the upcoming issues of The Plant. You can submit your ad via: The Plant’s Instagram: @theplantnews Email: theplantnewspaper@gmail.com The Birdhouse: a box available at our stand during issue launch days! Follow the Plant on Instagram to know when our deadlines are, and when the next month’s issue will be coming out! Next time you pick up a copy of your school’s newspaper, flip over to Connections and see if anyone out there is unknowingly looking for you. It’s like Craigslist but for Dawson students! ISABELLA BLU PTITO-ECHEVERRIA Copy Editor
32 THE PLANT
CONTRIBUTORS
MASTHEAD Pipa Jones Editor-in-Chief
Alyssa Scotti Cover Artist
Alice Martin Managing Editor
Emily Zahirovic Social Media Manager
Isabella Blu Ptito-Echeverria Copy Editor
Josephine Ross Staff Writer
Alessa Orsini Graphic Designer
Emily McQueen Staff Writer
Jacqueline Lisbona News Editor
Téa Barrett Staff Writer
Daria Bocicova Arts & Culture Editor
Kiana Lavali Staff Writer
Stefano Mariano Rebuli Annabelle Lajoie Isabella Maldonado Charles Lesenko-Oliveros Arusha Bruns Anisia Alexe Adrian Darwent Victoria Volpato Savanna Vita Donté K-R Delphine Mouchès Alice Boulianne Gabriel Gefin
Casey Kiss Voices Editor Robin Steedman-Braun Sciences Editor Emmy Rubin Sports Editor Laury Charland Creative Writing Editor Danaée Descaillot Visual Arts Editor Benjamin Bisaillon Curiosities Editor
CONTACT The Plant Newspaper Dawson College 3040 Rue Sherbrooke O Montréal, QC H3Z 1A4 2C.15 theplantnews.com theplantnewspaper@gmail.com @theplantnews