The Plant February 2023 Vol. 58 No. 1

Letter from the Editor

Dearest readers,

Although the break has flown by in the blink of an eye, it is my greatest wish that you enjoyed yourself.

In a way, the break has flown by as quickly as these past two years have. Over a month ago, like so many other students, I began my final semester. Although this marks the beginning of a bittersweet ending, I am ready to assume the position of Editor-in-Chief. Monumentally, my esteemed political science professor has taken a particular liking to referring to me as the big cheese; a change from the previous title of medium cheese. In other words, one may argue that I’ve truly made it in life.

It goes without saying that it takes many sleepless nights, a crippling addiction to caffeine, and an army of passionate, devoted writers to put this newspaper together. It seems like the perfect opportunity to introduce our lovely new plantlings who will be joining our team. A special welcome to Mia, Christopher, Angélique, Kevin, Silvia, and Raluca-Mara. For reasons relating to a limited word count and an endless list of cheesy self-care methods, kindly refer to the masthead to learn of their specific positions on the team. Please give them all a warm welcome.

February is the month of love, and, despite the fact that some of you may be able to share your love with someone, make sure you all practice some form of self-love. As Ru once said, “If you can’t love yourself, how in the hell are you gonna love somebody else?” Cheesy and insufferable, I know, but I just had to. Whether it be curling up in bed, digging into a tub of Ben & Jerry’s Half-Baked and staring at the wall - which may or may not have been my plans on the night of February 14th - I hope you take the time to do something nice for yourself.

Our team worked incredibly hard to curate this issue of The Plant, and we hope that our love for this newspaper can manifest itself into a testament to our love for you. On that note, thank you to the readers of The Plant for your endless support. The Plant team is extending their love to you.

With lots and lots of love,

MATHEW ANANIA Editor-in-Chief, Winter 2023

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 2023

Dawson Students and Teachers on the Use of ChatGPT

MATHEW ANANIA Editor–in–Chief

On a Friday afternoon in January, a reporter stood outside my Moral Issues in Law class. He stood there, waiting for the occasional student to drop by, glance at the camera equipment and ask: “what’s this for?” or “am I going to be on the news?” His goal was to get student opinions on the new AI technology, ChatGPT.

ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence program that can write texts relating to any prompt that it is fed. In the CTV report conducted at Dawson, the AI tool is seen writing a response to a prompt about Descartes’ Meditations. Within seconds, sentence upon sentence appeared on the screen until a full-blown paragraph was written. Despite its appeal, the use of AI has stirred debate amongst students and teachers on whether its use is ethical, fair, and conducive to learning environments.

A common attitude emerges among students who believe the use of the platform is unfair to the rest of the student body. In an anonymous survey conducted by The Plant, one student mentioned: “I can understand why some people use it as a source of inspiration, but entering your essay question and copy-pasting the answer is, I think, plagiarism.” Another student expressed a similar point of view: “Not only is it incorrect to plagiarize using online devices, but it’s equally unfair for the others who work hard for their grades.”

An immediate concern amongst teachers is the possibility that students

might use ChatGPT in a way that is unconducive to academic integrity, such as through plagiarism and cheating. Political science professor Michel Fournier-Simard, whose dissertation focused on the use of AI in public policy, believes the primary focus should be on maintaining academic integrity. Chair of Senate and political science professor Marianne Pelton states that the algorithm is a possible threat to academic integrity: “From what I know, it doesn’t do much that can’t already be done, it just does it for you [...] Teachers will have to create assignments in ways that are impossible to generate responses from ChatGPT.”

other student who mentioned that those who used the platform were only shooting themselves in the foot and defeating the purpose of getting an education.

Like many other teachers, Prof. Fournier-Simard is not averse to exploring the possible uses of the tool: “It is probably too early to know how this would look, but I think it is worth exploring what we can do with the tool.” This common sentiment is echoed amongst multiple teachers, yet it may leave one to wonder: how could it positively be used?

English professor Jeffrey Gandell, who writes songs during his free time, recounts his own experience with the platform: “I’ll ask ChatGPT to write a song in the style of John Prine and it was a terrible song, but there was one line that I could take and use as a lyric of another song.” Jeff believes the platform can also be used to brainstorm, list and develop possible ideas: all tasks he asks the students of his class to engage in.

One student mentioned that the fear of being caught using the AI has acted as a deterrent for its potential use: “It also just seems like as soon as you decide to use it, it would just backfire horribly. It’s all fun and games until your teacher finds out.”

Standing outside the classroom, I listened in disbelief as one student spoke confidently about how he used ChatGPT to list notable topics that occurred during a specific decade in Canadian politics. I chuckled along with an-

Political science professor and coordinator of the Law, Society and Justice profile Prof. Dónal Gill offered a unique perspective. He warned The Plant and other journalistic entities of the precariousness of their positions due to the increased presence of AI: “Firstly, the field of journalism is likely going to go out of business because AI can feed prompts into the program and generate an entire article.”

Prof. Robert Stephens of the Humanities and Philosophy department admits that the metaphor of the calculator is still relevant: “Teachers did not ban calculators when it came to solving more complex equations [...] the AI should not be banned right away; they need to look into other ways of using it.” Additionally, Prof. Stephens warns potential AI users of its inability to impart users with the logic to understand and write about concepts: “There is a value in writing an essay; it helps you become a better thinker and allows you to deepen your understanding through writing about the topic.”

With the creation of the new Society and Technology profile of Social Science, it is clear that research and exploration into the effects of technology on society are virtually undiscovered. Despite the opinions one may hold towards technology and artificial intelligence in education, its increased presence in society could signify increased use in classrooms. p p

Firstly, the field of journalism is likely going to go out of business because AI can feed prompts into the program and generate an entire article.

Photo VIA WWW.OPENAI.COM/BLOG/CHATGPT/

The Ceaseless Fight of The Iranians

AYA HAFEDA News Editor

Last Saturday marked the 44th anniversary of the Iran Islamic Revolution of 1979, an event that had shocked the globe. The revolution followed the abolishment of the Iranian monarchy. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini then came to power and ruled Iran as a theocracy. This governmental system still stands in the country.

Today, with the current president, Ebrahim Raisi, Iranian civilians face various extremist “Islamic” rules imposed by The Morality Police of Iran. The group was established in the country in the year of 2006. Their duty consists of enforcing a certain dress code, such as mandatory veiling for women. The organization is furthermore supported by the Iranian interior ministry. On September 13, 2022, 22-yearold Mahsa Amini was arrested in the capital, Tehran, by the Morality Police for not wearing the veil as they required her to and labeling it as “inappropriate clothing.” Following her arrest, the young woman was found in a coma. Three days later, Amini passed away due to severe head trauma. An injury like this is usually caused by a violent strike or jolt to the head, thus leading Amini’s family and local news to believe that the young Iranian endured severe physical abuse by the police.

The passing away of Masha Amini incited a wave of yearning for justice and liberation among the Iranian people. On September 17, 2022, the Iranians took their anger to the streets and protested against the government. Outside, the crowds were believed to be chanting “Death to the dictator” as well as “Woman, Life, Freedom.” Some women were even seen removing or burning their enforced garments. The movement was reproduced in over 50 cities, including some of Iran’s biggest cities, such as Tehran, Tabriz and Shiraz.

On December 1st, Iran’s attorney general, Mohammad Jafar Montazeri, stated during a press conference that “Morality police have nothing to do with the judiciary. It

was abolished from the same place it was launched. Of course, the judiciary will continue to monitor society’s behavior.” However, The Student News Network of Iran (SNN) remains wary of the matter and claims that it is simply a government ruse to distract them from the protests.

The Iranians have been protesting nearly every day since September 17th. The Iranian force was, as a result, granted permission to open fire at the protesters. On December 6th, the BBC stated in an article covering the protests in Iran that The Activist News Agency (HRANA), which is an Iranian non-governmental organization that advocates for human rights, says that “448 protesters have been killed, including 63 children, in addition to 57 members of the security forces”.

The Deutsche Welle news company released an article on the 8th of January, 2023 stating that there have been over 18 000 arrests around the country. In the same week, news spread that the Iranian juridic parliament sentenced 15 000 protesters to the death penalty. This release outraged the world; many statements on the suddenness of the decision came forward, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who tweeted: “Canada denounces the Iranian regime’s barbaric decision to impose the death penalty on nearly 15,000 protesters. These brave Iranians were fighting for their human rights–and we continue to stand united in support of them, and united against the regime’s heinous actions.”

The news had originally spread from a parliament conference in Iran where 227 lawmakers labeled the protesters as “mohareb,” a term used in Persian that translates to “war against God and the state” or “enmity against God.” To do either of these things is punishable by the death penalty in Iran. Al Jazeera moreover quoted that lawmakers stated that the arrested protesters “should be dealt with “decisively” with a response that would “teach an example.” The usage of such a term, as well as the lawmakers’ statements, caused the assumption of the execution of 15 000 protesters. After the clarifications, Present Trudeau proceeded to erase his tweet. Afterwards, a list of the 227 parliament members began circulating online along with a letter insisting that the judiciary treat all the arrested protesters “as people engaging in moharebeh.” The letter and the list, which had included resigned members of the parliament, were proven to be false as well.

Despite not sentencing all “moharabeen” to death, Iran is still advancing in its death penalty decisions. The New York Times stated in an article that 8 men have been executed, including “a doctor, a rapper, a karate champion, a barber and an actor, sons, grandsons and fathers.” The newspaper additionally states that “At least 15 other men and boys remain at risk of execution. Some human rights groups cite higher numbers, which The New York Times was not able to independently verify.”

Photo VIA THE INDEPENDENT UK

On February 11th, the anniversary of the 1979 Iranian revolution, president Ebrahim Raisi made a speech at the Azadi Square in the city of Tehran. The speech was televised for the gathered public. Throughout Raisi’s speech, he denounces the West for implementing propaganda against his government: “Those who have been deceived by the enemy now know that the enemy’s issue is neither woman nor life or freedom or human rights, but it wants to take away the independence and the tranquil life of the Iranian nation.” He furthermore stated “You [the West] use women as tools and have turned them into commodities […] you propagate the vilest form of obscenities, meaning homosexuality.”

During the speech, the screen suddenly got hijacked by protesters. In the center of the interrupted screen, appeared a veiled woman who declared the following statement: “Death to the Islamic republic,” inciting the civilians to stand their ground and persist with the protests. The interruption was believed to have lasted 19 seconds.

Despite the interruption, the government ensured that the day was properly celebrated. Rallies and celebrations were held on the decorated streets of around 1400 cities in Iran. The Posters of the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei, and the president, Ibrahim Raisi, were held high. The government furthermore paraded its military advances.

According to the Washington Post, many prisoners are beginning to get released, including “seven Ira-

nians […], five local and international rights groups, as well as Iranian doctors and lawyers in direct contact with people arrested after supporting the protests.” Despite the release of some Iranian civilians, Iranians believe that most of the arrested protesters come back as bruised beings with a trauma they will have to bear. The government of Iran has yet to speak on what prisoners undergo in their penal institutions.

Photo VIA CBC

Photo VIA THE NEW YORK POST

The Plant Recommends: Self-Care Tips

CLEANING YOUR ROOM

When life gets tough, your room gets hit the hardest. You come home, throw your clothes on your week’s old basket of laundry, and fail to throw out the mountains of food wrappers on your dresser. But, occupying a space that’s essentially a pigsty isn’t good for your mental health. Take an hour to put your favorite music on full volume while you deep clean your room. I promise when you can finally see floor, you’ll feel a lot better about yourself.

EMMY RUBIN Managing Editor

CLEANING YOUR PHOTO GALLERY

Nothing feels better than deleting the billions of photos taken half a decade ago. Being able to let go of the most random things, such as homework due in 2021, will definitely improve your mood and your phone’s storage. Besides, you might come across hilarious memories and memes that were once peak humor. Leaving events in the past to make place for events in the future is the best self-care tip.

RALUCA-MARA MARE Staff Writer

READ

A BOOK!

When life gets too overwhelming, escaping with reading may help you decompress. Sometimes the only thing you can do to ease your anxiety is to remove yourself from the situation. Why not take this opportunity to grab a book you’ve been wanting to discover for a while? Grab your favorite snacks, a warm drink, a fluffy blanket and get ready to curl up and escape for the day. I promise you, I will do a world of good for your mental health.

ANGÉLIQUE BABINEAU Voices Editor

EVENTS

WOMEN’S DAY 2023

Come celebrate International Women’s Day with us on March 8th, in the atrium!

Back by popular demand we will be conducting our “Renaming and Reclaiming of Metro Stations Activity”. While you’re there, buy yummy home baked goods to help counter food insecurity in our community. Participation in activities and events for International Women’s Day is open to everyone so feel free to come down and join in the celebration of women everywhere.

Let’s Bring the Vampire Conversation Back from the Dead

EMMY RUBIN Managing Editor

“This is the skin of a killer, Bella.”

Being teenagers, we’re obsessed with the idea of eternity, being young and sexy forever, never having to consume anything but blood. The ultimate liquid diet. And what fantasy allowed us to keep dreaming about this idea of forever? Vampires: Edward Cullen. Damon Salvatore. Count Chocula. What most people don’t know is that this fantasy is not fantastical at all. There’s truth to vampires laid out in historical and archaeological facts. So don’t give up your brooding hopes of the undead just yet.

It all started with a Serbian farmer named Arnold Paole. The story, according to National Geographic, is that Arnold was a victim of an alleged vampire attack. He ate dirt from the vampire’s grave and smeared its blood over himself because he believed his doing so would get rid of all of the vampire’s remnants. After dying in a hay wagon accident, Paole was dug up forty days after his burial. The nails on his hands and feet had fallen off and were replaced by new ones. Fresh blood flowed from his eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. The villagers and soldiers who had dug him up complained that, after he was disinterred, he had attacked them

by sucking the blood out of their veins. Soon afterwards, they fell ill and died, leading the officials to dig him up once more and drive a stake through his heart.

There’s no certitude as to when the vampire epidemic started, but many believed that it started with Arnold Paole. What we do know is that after Paole’s death, townspeople constantly staked, beheaded, and burned corpses to keep the vampires from rising from their graves and spreading their disease.

Sir Christopher Frayling, author of Vampire Cinema: The First One Hundred Years, said: “He was the one all the philosophers talked about. There were debates about Paole in the Paris salons.”

Arnold Paole was believed to be the original vampire by at least one person. After hearing of the vampire epidemic and the story of Arnold Paole, Bram Stoker was inspired to write Dracula in 1897. But Stoker didn’t believe that vampires were just stories; he didn’t even think his story was just a story.

In the original preface, Bram Stoker wrote, “I am quite convinced that there is no doubt whatever that the events here described really took place, however unbelievable and incomprehensible they might appear at first sight. And I am further convinced that they must always remain to some extent incomprehensible.”

But with time comes knowledge. In modern-day science, we’re able to explain some of the previously unexplainable phenomena, such as the discovery of saponification.

Saponification is when a body is buried in a cold and damp environment, such as the one in 18th century Eastern Europe, and slows down the decomposition process. The saponified body retains flexibility and the fatty acids prevent the body from putrefying by transforming into a waxy, soap-like film that covers the body. There’s an equally scientific explanation for the hair and the nails: hair and nails continue growing after death. Similarly, after death, the skin dehydrates, making the nail beds more visible and giving the appearance of supernatural length.

Another observation that might shed light on the vampire phenomenon is the rabies theory. According to Science, prior to the vampire epidemic, the Hungarian rabies epidemic ran rampant among dogs and wild animals. The symptoms of rabies could explain those of vampirism as they included insomnia, increased sex drives, and trouble swallowing resulting in the leakage of blood saliva from their mouths. Just imagine Edward foaming at the mouth as he tries to show off his sparkly chest, “I shparkle, Bella.”

Charles Rupprecht, chief of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s rabies section admits that the rabies theory is intriguing but not entirely plausible. If a ‘vampire’ were to bite someone and infect him with rabies, the vampire would only have a 5-10 % chance of infecting his victim. This idea, therefore, doesn’t carry much weight as, according to the testimony of the 18th-century witnesses and victims, when attacked by a vampire, its victim would succumb to vampirism 100% of the time.

Even though science would like you to believe that there is an explanation for everything, there are still some unanswered questions when it comes to vampires. There comes a point when you have no choice but to believe — believe in the sexy vampires. Believe that you still have a chance of becoming one, never having to confront your grey face in the mirror. Believe that the Count isn’t the only real vampire. There’s more than one — ha ha ha! Maybe two — ha ha ha! p p

Photo VIA IMDB

Even though science would like you to believe that there is an explanation for everything, there are still some unanswered questions when it comes to vampires.

Artwork by Aurelie Moutien

Artwork by Ana Sofia Castano @EYEZIART

Visual Arts by ALICE BOULIANNE Visual Arts Editor

Artwork by Georgios Pantazopoulos @GPANTZ_ART

Artwork by Anisia Alexe @ANI.WAS.HERE

The Erasure of Artists

LEA-SEANNA RUIZ GASTIL Contributor

For years now, it has been well-known that the career path of an artist is a bumpy and challenging one. However, it seems that artists’ struggle to maintain a stable career has become increasingly difficult due to many obstacles arising recently, such as greedy corporations, new technological tools, and downright art theft. These challenges have been impeding the success of many artists in the art and animation industries who pour their hearts into their craft for hours on end to entertain us.

The Hindrance of NFTs

One of the many detriments to artists’ journeys today is the digital assets known as NFTs. Essentially, NFT art is supposed to be beneficial for artists as it allows them to increase the profits of their artwork. However, many independent artists soon agreed that it caused more harm than good, not just for artists but also for the environment.

“Cryptocurrency, in general, is not very sustainable. All the exchanges and transfers are generated by extremely strong computers that pollute the environment. And for what? An image of a bad monkey? You could get a personalized picture of whatever you want for a small fraction of the total price of an NFT,” says Kristina Levesque, a 19-year-old Illustration student at Dawson College who strongly dislikes NFTs.

Another reason NFTs have such a bad reputation amongst artists is because a lot of their artworks have been stolen by thieves who turn them into NFTs and post them on NFT websites to make a profit. Furthermore, artists must constantly be on the lookout for people who try to hijack their accounts to promote NFTs.

Art Theft: A Selfish Act

Yet, art theft is much broader than NFT trade: it is a common occurrence amongst the online art community. Many independent artists

who strive to share their art and make a name for themselves on social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, or Tumblr must often deal with their art being stolen and reposted on different accounts or platforms without their permission.

Just like with NFTs, many art thieves steal art to gain profits by turning artworks into merchandise such as pins, stickers, and shirts. Other thieves are simply looking for more likes and follows through stolen art, which is saddening when you consider that there have been many cases where stolen art on repost accounts gained more views than the original artwork posted on the creator’s account.

“Artists put a lot of blood, sweat, tears and money into being able to create art,” says Levesque. “It also takes years and years to master your craft, so to just blatantly steal someone else’s art and make more profit from it than the artist is really unfair.”

The Threat of A.I. Generated Art

A recent technological asset that has been concerning digital illustrators and photo editors is A.I.-generated art. Since 2021, A.I. generators such as DALL-E, Midjourney and Stable Diffusion started gaining the attention of editorial magazines like Cosmopolitan magazine and design industries. Many companies are currently firing illustrators as the use of A.I. technology to generate art and designs saves them time and money.

“It’s threatening for us artists because we fear that a robot is going to take our jobs,” says Lyna Djafer, an 18-year-old Illustration student at Dawson College who specializes in digital art. “A.I. generated art is just one style, there is no diversity. A computer can’t be creative without the creativity of artists.”

Not only does A.I. art threatens the jobs of illustrators, photographers, and designers, but it also tackles many ethical questions about individuality, creativity, ownership, and privacy. In August 2022, a man won the Colora-

do State Fair’s fine arts competition using A.I. art, a situation that infuriated many artists and started a hefty debate regarding the harms A.I. art creates within the art industry.

While many illustrators fear for the future of their jobs and the integrity of the art world, others believe that the era of A.I. art is simply a phase. “We’re worrying now, but I think that it’s going to get better. It always gets better,” says Levesque. “It’s mostly going to end up being a tool unless it becomes too smart. Then, pretty soon, it’s going to get old and people aren’t going to want that anymore.”

Despite the challenges that they face, artists continue to persevere due to their strong sense of community and their love for art. Artists convey stories, create worlds and inspire us with the gift of their craft, so we must continue to appreciate, help, support and encourage artists of all kinds. That is the best way we can ensure that artists will not be erased and forgotten.

Photo VIA COSMOPOLITAN.COM

It also takes years and years to master your craft, so to just blatantly steal someone else’s art and make more profit from it than the artist is really unfair.

Chronic Consumption and the Seventh Art: Where the Oscars, Netflix and Local Cinema Converge

SIMONE BÉLANGER Arts & Culture Editor

The year 2023 marks a historical first: media said “numerical” will overtake traditional television in time spent daily by American adults in consuming video content, according to a study published by Insider Intelligence. The industry’s leviathans, platforms such as Netflix, TikTok, and YouTube, are some of the most notorious culprits for this societal shift. On average, video consumption on non-traditional media will reach up to 3 hours and 11 minutes a day; the study only targets adults, a very alarming prospect, especially when we consider how minors tend to develop serious addictions to numerical content consumption.

Unfortunately, this phenomenon operates to the detriment of more pertinent and local cinematographic works. The future of indie cinema, and particularly homegrown films, is far from bright. The declining attendance in movie theatres and overall lack of interest in Quebec cinema, an even stronger tendency among the youth, are symptoms of an endangered seventh art. The film industry condemns both the challenge of reaching out to the younger demographic and the general lack of education regarding our own filmmaking. Julie Ravary-Pilon, a cinema teacher at l’Université de Montréal, describes how the level of exposure to one’s local culture at a young age directly correlates with the media consumed throughout adulthood. As consumption habits closely reflect the cultural education one received as a child or adolescent, we must take a stance swiftly in order to rekindle our local film industry.

Cinema student Lily Maheu describes how the Quebec film industry has been dominated by the same producers, directors, and actors for years, while also targeting a much older audience. The issue of diversity in Quebec cinema has become critical. “We keep making the same boring movies and series with the same overdone tropes for the same small audience. We are playing it safe,” states Lily. “The industry lacks directors willing to take risks and experiment. You really have to dig to discover emergent filmmakers.”

As boomers still shepherd the indus-

try, the appeal is limited for the younger generation, unable to genuinely connect with the marketed films. Lily denotes the importance of going out to appreciate local indie cinema and recommends attending festivals such as Cinemania, Fantasia, Festival du Nouveau Cinéma, and Rencontres Internationales du Documentaire de Montréal (RIDM). She emphasizes the necessity to “broaden our cultural horizons,” especially for younger, less educated people. Moral of the story: cultivate youth interest in Quebec cinema before it’s too late. And despite the problematic and outdated aspects of the Quebec film industry, Lily still expresses a genuine pride for an art form that evolves and is our own.

Furthermore, the Americanization of our media consumption can be traced to a major upcoming event: The 2023 Oscars. Fellow cinephile Marie-Laurence Rondeau believes that the nominations, particularly for best picture, echo our consumption habits. She expresses how “American, high-budget productions are predominant, and certain films like Top Gun: Maverick were nominated in multiple categories a ridiculous number of times.” She also raised her concerns regarding the diversity within the jury panel and the rightfulness of its verdicts. Indeed, controversy arises every year following the Oscars nominations for various distinctions; the Academy’s selections are often questioned, to say the least. Correspondingly, Lily Maheu defines the established organization as an “archaic, macho institution”; a boys’ club to put it simply. For instance, no Black actors were included in leading actor categories, and this year’s nominations for best director entirely consisted of men. This absence of female directors mirrors

a history of sexism allegations, sparking a hostile response channeled by the hashtag #OscarsSoMale. Lily also confides that hardcore cinephiles typically disdain the ceremony, an overrated event that reflects American cinematography and Hollywood over-the-top productions.

But how exactly does the selection process function? The Academy of Motion Picture Arts encompasses nearly 9,500 eligible voters as of 2022, divided into 17 branches (actors, cinematographers, costume designers, directors, documentaries, editors, makeup artists/ hairstylists, music, producers, production design, short films/feature animation, sound, visual effects, and writers), each branch voting with respect to their expertise as well as for best picture. Anyone holding feature film credits can apply; the candidature has to be approved by the branch’s executive committee before being submitted to the board. Such a process based on voluntary applications (and taking place in the U.S.) is undeniably propitious to Western-centrism. “Yet we cannot forget that the Oscars are an American ceremony for Americans, and the nominations must appeal to the audience,” reckons Marie-Laurence.

Whether the Oscars nominations are astute or not exceeds our jurisdiction. But as cinema consumers and enjoyers, we are not utterly powerless. While Netflix pushes addictive yet very limited cinematography to us, the dilemma to watch or not to watch is yours to solve. Collectively, are we ready to inform ourselves to elevate what we consume and adopt the habit of supporting independent, local theatres and our own homegrown art? Or will we keep staring at Netflix’s “Are you still watching?” like soulless sheep?

Photo VIA C.R.A.Z.Y. - DIRECTED BY JEAN-MARC VALLÉE

Ticketmaster: A Lesson In Monopolies And Moral Bankruptcy

SILVIA CRAC Staff Writer

There’s no denying that Taylor Swift has one of the most dedicated fan bases in the history of music. As such, it comes as no surprise that her fans were scrambling to get tickets to the Eras Tour, the iconic singer’s first tour in four years. Like many artists, Swift’s team decided to promote the event with Live Nation, who, since 2010, has been in a merger with ticketing colossus Ticketmaster. The aforementioned organized the artist presale, which, as many of us know, did not go according to plan. More people had entered the presale than there were tickets available and two million tickets were sold on that day alone, making it the highest number of tickets sold for an artist in a single day. The website glitched and lagged, leading to hours-long waits and people getting kicked out of the queue.

Jenna Brender, a second-year Dawson student, was lucky enough to obtain tickets to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. She was unable to enter the presale, which led to her resorting to the secondary ticketing service StubHub, a platform commonly used by scalpers. She recounts her experience in an interview: “As soon as the presale started, resellers started reselling. I don’t think I saw a single ticket under four digits, even in the very back rows. Everyone was caught off-guard. I was with my mom at the time, refreshing and refreshing the page but the prices kept getting higher and higher. We saw front-row tickets at almost a hundred thousand dollars, it was crazy. A lot of tickets were available on the website, but the prices weren’t accessible to most people, which is ridiculous. We decided to just do it before the prices got any higher than they already were.” When asked about her reaction to the backlash against Ticketmaster, Brender responded: “I thought immediately that something was going to have to be done legally because I don’t think this has happened before. A lot of heads turned to Taylor to make a response but it

really was out of her control. I don’t really know what can be done, since the tickets are now sold out.”

Understandably, fans were outraged and demanded a response from Ticketmaster, who blamed the catastrophe on bot accounts — also known as scalpers — who normally shouldn’t have even been able to join the presale to begin with. Indeed, the whole point of an artist presale is to prevent scalpers from infiltrating ticket sales and scooping up large amounts of tickets only to resell them to fans at exorbitant prices. To access an artist presale, a fan must first register, usually to the artist’s newsletter, and from there wait to get sent a presale code. The registration process guarantees that whoever is getting a presale code is a real person and that they cannot use the code to purchase an obscene amount of tickets. This begs the question: Who was really getting the tickets: Swifties or scalpers?

Way back in July 2018, journalists from the Toronto Star infiltrated the Las Vegas Ticket Summit by posing as scalpers. At the summit, these enterprising journalists discovered Ticketmaster’s booth, where the company was promoting software programs that scalpers use to create the bots that buy tickets by the hundreds. The reason scalpers need these softwares is to bypass security systems, such as Ticketmaster’s individual purchasing limit that dictates the maximum number of tickets one can buy for a single show. The journalists even filmed a Ticketmaster executive at the booth speaking of a scalper he knew of that had over 200 Ticketmaster accounts, adding that it was pretty much a given that every scalper has more than one account. Despite openly denouncing scalpers and bots for snatching tickets from fans, Ticketmaster seems to be enthusiastic about helping them behind closed doors. This is because the company benefits from resales due to the processing and service fees that Ticketmaster charges for each transaction. Not only are they making money from the first sale to the scalper, but they’re making even

more money after reselling it since the price of processing and service varies according to the price of the ticket. Knowing this, it is not surprising that Ticketmaster would want to facilitate mass scalping. This is a mutual occurrence since scalpers gravitate towards Ticketmaster due to its dominance in the market.

However, these fees are not the only way Ticketmaster makes their cash. In fact, there are two other ways in which they snatch as much money as they can. Firstly, price hiking of tickets occurs mid-sale, an increase not indicated to the buyer, which prevents them from recognizing whether or not they’re getting a good deal. Additionally, not all tickets are immediately put on sale for a given event in order to hike the price and create the false illusion of high demand. These seemingly small actions have had huge consequences since Ticketmaster’s 2022 third-quarter revenues peaked at 6.2 billion dollars, a 66.8% increase since 2019. It seems as though not even the pandemic’s lockdowns were enough to dissuade Ticketmaster.

The question that many have been asking themselves since the Taylor Swift controversy occurred is: How could this be allowed to happen? Quite easily, actually. As previously mentioned, in 2010, the Department of Justice approved the merger between Ticketmaster and Live Nation. What exactly is a merger, though? Simply put, it is the fusion of two companies, creating a new entity, which allows both companies to continue existing and working together towards the same goal. This is different from an acquisition, in which a company purchases another, leaving only the purchasing company in operation. Live Nation and Ticketmaster operate in com-

This begs the question: Who was really getting the tickets: Swifties or scalpers?

plementary fields: event promotion and primary ticketing respectively. Both companies have rarely had to face any proper competition, which makes their merger advantageous for them but concerning for consumers.

Knowing this, many have called out Ticketmaster and Live Nation for being monopolies and for violating antitrust laws. A notorious case that some might know of is Pearl Jam’s infamous 1995 lawsuit against Ticketmaster. At the time, the company ticketed eighty of the United States’s top one hundred venues, which Pearl Jam had vowed to avoid like the plague for their 1994 tour precisely because of absurd ticket prices that the band attributed to the company’s being a monopoly. Unfortunately, their lawsuit failed.

Live Nation, though a more recent company, has also dominated the event promotion market for over a decade. At the time of the merger, concerns were raised over the possibility of decreasing competition, which would skyrocket the price of

tickets. In 2023, we know now that their warnings have become a reality. Because of Live Nation’s merger with Ticketmaster, the entire independent concert promotion market is threatened. Not only that but Live Nation has also been known to employ aggressive tactics such as keeping shows from venues that refuse to sell tickets through Ticketmaster. This is in direct violation of antitrust laws. The two companies are estimated to control 60% of the live entertainment industry.

With all this information coming to light, it comes as no surprise that an investigation is in order. United States Senators Richard Blumenthal, Amy Klobuchar, and Edward J. Markey of Connecticut, Minnesota, and Massachusetts respectively, have filed for the Department of Justice to investigate not only Ticketmaster and Live Nation, but the entire online ticketing industry. In their letter to the U. S. Attorney General, they wrote: “Without significant market competition, Ticketmaster and oth-

er primary ticket providers continue to charge high fees to consumers… Concerts, sports and other events offer an important respite to Americans’ busy lives, foster shared memories and contribute greatly to America’s social fabric. Yet, the ticketing industry is broken.” The outlook for this investigation is hopeful, as the Department of Justice is known not to shy away from filing antitrust lawsuits against monopolies, as evidenced in the ongoing December 2020 lawsuit against Google. There has been talk among U.S. senators to break up the merger between Live Nation and Ticketmaster. p p

Photo VIA KEVIN MAZUR, GETTY IMAGES

Taylor Swift performing onstage during iHeartRadio’s Z100 Jingle Ball 2019

Cabot Square: Ville-Marie’s Tragic Backyard

DESIRÉE ZAGBAI Contributor

A spread of used joints, trash bags, and the scent of marijuana are mere banalities at Cabot Square in Montreal. The urban square, known as a gathering area for homeless people who spend their time in the park or at local shelters, is recognized as a hotspot for native homeless people, disease, and death.

At Cabot, especially during the winter, there have been numerous instances of people freezing in the cold or not being cared for while ill. Resources are running out and the situation is likely to worsen if nothing is done to change it.

Amanda, 23, is a homeless survivor who has evolved beyond her past struggles and is currently living in an apartment downtown. She bravely speaks out on her experiences as a homeless person and does her best to volunteer and assist those in need.

“I remember being so ashamed of what I looked like while being on the streets. People’s disgusted looks and jokes from teenagers made me feel constantly humiliated,” recalls Amanda. “I became homeless at 17 years old. My roommate got into a very bad stage in her life and could not pay rent anymore; I could not pay it by myself, and there was no one at that moment who could help me,” explains Amanda.

Cabot has a history of homeless people passing away due to a lack of resources and insufficient capacity in

shelters. In January 2022, the Montreal Gazette reported that another indigenous homeless person had passed away: “Nakuset, executive director of the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal and co-manager of Resilience Montreal, noted that another homeless member of the local Indigenous community has died on the streets since the death of André. An Inuk woman, Elisapee Pootoogook, was found dead on a construction site near Cabot Square this past November.”

Amanda explains how it feels to have people view you as worthless and how much it affects one’s mental health in the long run: “I recall a woman passing by with her friends and giving me the dirtiest look ever while they were all smirking, only because I asked for some change. I always asked myself: ‘What if I were their child, sister, or cousin? Would they still do the same thing?’” says Amanda, troubled.

“Once, I passed by Cabot Square and decided to stay there for a couple of days; it was terrible and very saddening,” says Amanda. “I wish Cabot Square became a healthier and more stable place for every vulnerable person. I was lucky enough to get out of homelessness thanks to my aunt, who found out about my situation, but not everyone will have that luck.”

The rising number of homeless deaths is one of the critical issues the city of Montreal is facing. Sarah Sultani, an affiliate of the mayor’s office

and executive committee of the city, spoke up regarding the measures to improve the conditions of homeless people: “We put in different teams of police officers and social workers and make sure they humanely approach them,” says Sultani.

The neighbourhood’s at-risk population not only includes people on the streets but families and kids in need as well. Youth organizations work hard to help them and improve their situation. “There are a lot of issues of cohabitation in this neighbourhood. We put in place different measures for cohabitation and social habitation,” expresses Sultani.

To effectively help vulnerable people, it is crucial to treat them with the same regard as any other human being, with respect and care. “Resilience Health Center made their centre more humane, livable, and positive with different activities to have a good approach,” mentions Sultani.

Sultani evoked the importance of being aware of the different types of homelessness, as it does not only affect people who are on the streets. “Homelessness comes in different forms, such as sleeping at your friend’s house, at a restaurant, or in the metro,” explains Sultani. “Issues such as domestic violence and mental health issues also lead to homelessness, and it is the Quebec government’s responsibility.”

There has been an improvement in availabilities in centres such as CIUSS Centre-Sud, yet, according to Sultani, more needs to be done: “CIUSS Centre-Sud opened 1600 new spaces, which was the highest number the city has ever seen. But making sure emergency housing is available is also important.”

“The challenging part is having enough financial resources to open all the resources we want to open. The most exciting aspect is collaborating with the homeless organization, the First Nation, the city, and the borough. Working together is not always easy, but it is the best way to advance,” says Sultani.

“I wish for everyone to have a roof over their heads and food on their tables; our end game is for everyone to have access to social workers who can help them,” concludes Sultani, hopeful. p p

Photo VIA CULTMTL.COM

Short Hair and Femininity

Why did having short hair make me feel as if I had lost a part of my femininity?

VICTORIA CADIEUX Contributor

In 2017, I decided to cut my hair from shoulder length to a pixie cut. When people asked me why I did it, I never had a proper answer. To be honest, I still don’t have one. I guess I just wanted to explore a new look. Even though I’m back to chin-length hair, having short hair for nearly six years taught me a lot about femininity and the perception of gender in our society.

When I cut my hair short, I dressed relatively femininely and people easily assumed my gender correctly from my clothing. The only change I saw in people’s attitudes was the strange number of questions I would get. I was asked things like: “Are you gay?” “Why did you do it?” or “Were you depressed?” by people I sometimes barely knew. It felt slightly strange, but I got over it quickly.

However, this changed when I experimented with fashion and wore baggy hoodies and pants. All of a sudden, people would presume I was a guy. For a while, this was also fine by me. I never really minded the assumption that I was anything other than a woman. I would simply either correct people, or not bother at all if it was irrelevant to the context.

My appearance never seemed important, nor did other people’s perceptions of my gender, until I tried going back to a stereotypically more feminine look. Suddenly, I felt as though I couldn’t be feminine without longer hair and, for a while, regretted cutting it.

As my research progressed, it became evident that what I was confronted with was not a unique experience. In fact, I discovered that many women have felt a similar sense of being looked at and treated differently due to their change in haircuts. The story was almost always the same: with short hair, women would be regarded as more masculine, fueling their confidence. Yet, they inevitably would be faced with distasteful comments about the “decline in their feminine appeal.”

This experience made me question why my hair had suddenly become such an integral part of my femininity. I reflected on my own for a while and decided to do some research, eager to see if other women experienced a similar struggle.

I found that one of the major reasons why I believed my hair affected my femininity was because I was told it did. Not by my parents, who were very supportive, but by advertisements, social media, and people around me who thought it was appropriate to tell me I had “turned into a guy.” Although I initially did not care that some people perceived me as masculine, as time went on, the comments started to toy with my head. Likewise, I felt I was treated differently when I had a pixie cut compared to now with my longer hair. With my short hair, others perceived me as what is typically associated with masculinity: assertive and powerful. This is not to say I hate being feminine. On the contrary, I love it. I just do not understand what hair has to do with character.

In her article Why Are All The Men In My Life So Angry About My Short Hair?, freelance journalist Parisa Hashempour discusses her experience chopping off her waist-length hair to a bob. She recalls men commenting and asking things like: Why would you do this to your hair? or You know most men like women with longer hair, right? as if the mere goal of a woman’s existence was to fulfill the male gaze. Hashempour concludes the article with a powerful statement, one that I wholeheartedly agree with: “We are socialized to believe that when we cut off our hair, we are mutilating our femininity. But in fact, cutting my hair has been liberating.”

Cutting my hair short was a refreshing and freeing experience that, in hindsight, I could never regret. It allowed me to explore new hairstyles and hair colours. For once, the nape of my neck felt cool even under the burning heat of the sun.

There is most definitely a societal pressure put on all of us to conform to the expectation of our gender. For women, that might equate to having long, glossy hair, but that should not intimidate anyone into not doing as they please. The beauty of gender is that you can express it however you want. Femininity comes in all shapes and forms. It is not restricted to the way you present yourself. Cutting your hair does not mean losing any part of your femininity. I sincerely recommend experimenting with hairstyles because, at the end of the day, hair grows back. And, in the grand scheme of things, if it makes you happy, other people’s feelings really do not matter.

My appearance never seemed important, nor did other people’s perceptions of my gender, until I tried going back to a stereotypically more feminine look. Suddenly, I felt as though I couldn’t be feminine without longer hair and, for a while, regretted cutting it.

Photo VIA ELLE MAGAZINE

Artwork by Aicha Diallo @AICHATASTIC

Artwork by Alice Boulianne @ALIEBOULIANNE

Playlist by ALICE BOULIANNE Visual Arts Editor

I’m 18 and This is Why I Don’t Want My Driver’s Licence

MIRREN BODANIS Contributor

Author’s note: This article, which was originally part of a longer essay, has been condensed to fit the suggested word count of The Plant.

My routine morning commute takes at least an hour. After an eighteen-minute walk to the train station and a forty-minute ride, I still have to make my way onto our beloved metro along with hundreds, perhaps thousands, of every other sort of folk imaginable. Maybe I’ll find a seat, but chances are I’ll have to clench my core and brace my quads to keep stable as the lights turn red and the doors close as the floor beneath my feet accelerates inevitably to a determined seventy-five kilometers per hour. Amongst all this stimulation, even after a mere six hours of sleep, I have only one thought: “FUCK CARS!”

Transit is how we move through time and space. Transit controls the jobs we can have, the things we can buy, the places we can inhabit, and even the people we can meet. Our most sacred rituals are all about movement: getting your driver’s licence, moving out, going away for college, going out on a date. A society’s culture and transit are interdependent. Good transit gives us the freedom to live a good life. Good transit in America equals cars and car culture. It is the dream. Owning a vehicle means being completely responsible for your transit. It means being free to leave

whenever you feel like and to choose your own route. Cars are synonymous with freedom. Right?

If that is the case, then why doesn’t it feel free? Why is the planet burning? Why are we always stuck in forty minutes of traffic and why does gas cost so much? Well, as it turns out, structuring our society around cars was perhaps not such a good idea.

only the affluent and privileged to afford it. Often located far away from major cities, suburbs fuel our car dependency. Car culture and suburbs create private societies where only the privileged can survive while the marginalized are unwelcome.

For starters, cars are ridiculously expensive. According to the Roadside Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV), as a car owner, you can expect to spend around $860 per month on operating and maintaining your vehicle. If you work at the minimum wage in Québec, that number equates to fifteen hours of labour per week, which represents almost half of a full-time work week. That is a lot . Contrastingly, public transit is considerably more affordable. On the Island, a monthly transit pass, which includes the entire bus, train, and subway system, costs $94. A reduced fare is offered to students for $56.50 and to passengers over sixty years old for 28.25$. At $94, the most expensive option for monthly public transit corresponds to an hour and a half of work per week. Fifteen or one? The choice seems evident to me. Consequently, car societies are dependent on the presence of suburbs. Suburbs are designed to cater to the needs of our car-obsessed societies. They are characterised by low housing density and the scattering of points of interest, such as restaurants or schools. The private and separated urban design eliminates the potential for walkable or bikeable distances and raises the cost of living, allowing

If that has not convinced you yet, this might: cars kill us. In the United States, transportation accounts for twenty-nine percent of all greenhouse gas emissions, fifty-seven of which come from private personal transport. Greenhouse gas emissions create poor air quality, which affects our cardiovascular health and increases our risk of developing cancer. Dedicating an engine for almost every commuter is nothing short of an environmental and health tragedy. A study conducted in 2010 by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) discovered that a fully loaded commuter train emits only ten percent of the CO2 produced by a single passenger car. Incidentally, for the same number of commuters, trains and buses occupy a fraction of the space used by single-passenger vehicles.

The sad part is that the solution already exists. You can find it in Berlin, Tokyo, or Singapore: cities with dense neighbourhoods built in ways that prioritise walking, biking, and public transit. Urban wasteland picket-fence sprawling seas of single-family homes suburbs have to go. Right now, it is true that in most of America, the fastest and most convenient way to commute is driving, but that is a result of our actions, not a feature of the product. In the long run, car culture is what will cause our downfall. As a society, we need to shift the focus from individual privilege to collective effort.

At eighteen, I say, “ FUCK CARS ” because all I want is to be able to move and explore. I don’t want to worry about money or the planet. I want to be independent. “ FUCK CARS ” because they are designed to steal that freedom away from me. p p

Photo VIA TUMI

Car culture and suburbs create private societies where only the privileged can survive while the marginalized are unwelcome.

What’s The Deal With Jordan Peterson?

ANGÉLIQUE BABINEAU Voices Editor

As I am flipping through the first pages of Jordan Peterson’s 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote for Chaos, I cannot make up my mind. On the one hand, I am unable to stop myself from associating the words I am reading with those of a man who, metaphorically or literally, believes that chaos is inherently feminine and order is masculine. On the other hand, some of the advice is valuable. That is the danger of Jordan Peterson.

Jordan Peterson is a Canadian clinical psychologist who, throughout the past years, gained significant attention as a result of his conservative political views. In 2016, Peterson posted the first lecture of a three-part series titled Professor against political correctness, addressing his opposition to the Canadian government’s Bill C-16. Bill C-16, passed in 2017, expands the list of prohibited grounds for discrimination in the Canadian Human Rights Act to “gender identity and expression.” Peterson claimed this bill would criminalize the refusal of using one’s preferred pronouns, therefore “compelling speech,” an assertion that has since been refuted by experts. Ever since, Peterson has been branded as a “public intellectual,” a label that stirred concern among many, me included.

With a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from McGill University and an incredible ability to utilize formal language in any setting, the aesthetics of Peterson’s work are scholarly. Peterson exudes credibility. However, some of Peterson’s political claims are filled

with logical fallacies. Among Peterson’s most controversial assertions is that “the idea that women were oppressed throughout history is an appalling theory.” The historical oppression of women is not a theory. It is a fact. A glaring example is that, in Quebec, women did not gain full suffrage until 1940. If you’re not convinced, a Google search directing you to Elizabeth Cady Santon’s Declaration of Sentiments should suffice.

views were so far outside the mainstream as to make him unacceptable to teach. Some have said they are surprised to hear that a course like this is given at Dawson and that just makes me feel all the more that it is a necessary thing to be offered,” states Hawkins. Hoping to incentivize critical thinking, Hawkins stresses that he makes it clear from the start that his goal is not to persuade students that Peterson is either right or wrong as the course solely focuses on the book. “I want them to feel free to critically assess the material as they will. In the past, students have definitely felt free to disagree,” says Hawkins.

Declaring Peterson a public “intellectual” allows right-wing conservatives to use some of Peterson’s refutable political claims as a reliable source to support their exclusionary agendas. Peterson is a psychology expert. Yet, Peterson’s following consists mostly of young men who, finding refuge in his psychological guidance, are likely to take his social commentary as the undeniable truth. As a society that tends to praise public figures, we sometimes lack the capacity to filter through the information given by individuals we idealize, which can represent a real danger.

Since 2019, Dawson English teacher Paul Hawkins has been offering a BXE course entitled Jordan Peterson’s Rules for Life on Peterson’s book 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote for Chaos. Newly this semester, the course focuses on the sequel Beyond Order: 12 More Rules for Life. As the mandate of the English BXE course is to provide students with the opportunity to create a program-related project, Hawkins felt that Peterson’s books, as they link interdisciplinary elements, would be an ideal pick. Hawkins, aware of the controversy surrounding Peterson, considers this polarization as an extra appeal to the course. “I never felt that Peterson’s

In January, 18-year-old Clara Nhiên Lévesque, a Dawson student in the Social Sciences Psychology Profile, wrote a letter to Dawson expressing her concerns about the course. Lévesque worries that the class does not foster true critical thinking. Most of us perceive the world subjectively, through the lens of our own lived experiences. Quintessentially, by virtue of being part of a marginalized group, one might have a deeper understanding of the ways in which inequalities frame our society. In the context of an English course, some might not be well equipped to critically assess the different layers of Peterson’s written work. “The education system as we know it is about swallowing information you receive without questioning it. Students are incentivized by grades to agree with the material or pretend that they do,” states Lévesque.

What about exposure to differing views? Lévesque says, “the basis of knowledge is largely built upon listening to counter-arguments. But, there is a difference between encouraging people to listen to other points of view and being taught those in a classroom setting.” Peterson refuses to identify himself as a political figure. Nonetheless, he is perceived as such by the masses. By denying his influence, Peterson escapes accountability. Although his books are not marketed as political and are mostly focused on important psychological advice, they are certainly filled with his own biases. And, as Lévesque puts it, “At the end of the day, people’s political beliefs will impose themselves in your life, especially if you’re part of a marginalized group.” p p

Photo VIA THE GUARDIAN

Declaring Peterson a public “intellectual” allows right-wing conservatives to use some of Peterson’s refutable political claims as a reliable source to support their exclusionary agendas.

The World Is Addicted to Crime: Here’s Why

ROKHAYA RODRIGUEZ Staff Writer

The Netflix show Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story has given rise to controversy for good reasons. The series depicts the atrocious murders of Jeffrey Dahmer, glorifying them while constantly batting its eyes at the trauma of victims. True crime shows like this one are meant to, according to directors, “honour” the lives of victims. In reality, they exploit and objectify victims for entertainment, which begs the question: Why are we so obsessed with crime?

True crime has become a profitable industry that, unfortunately, responds to demand. Although the industry should be held accountable by following stricter rules, true crime feeds a deep human need. Some might ask: What pushes someone to commit gruesome crimes? Perhaps, a window inside the mind of a criminal is exciting or enlightening. A closer look into the gothic genre may help further understand our relationship to true crime.

Gothic fiction might remind most of the famous novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. Her work is one among many others of its kind. Gothic fiction can be traced back to the 18th century. According to Fred Botting, the genre rose to popularity as a response to

“massive threats,” such as the French Revolution. The genre ponders uncertainties of the 18th century while pushing back against “reason and rationality.” Gothic fiction shares values with romanticism by looking at the past and the devastating downsides of technology. However, gothic fiction, as mentioned by Botting, challenges the status quo by blurring the boundaries between “real and fantastic, sacred and profane, supernatural and natural, past and present, civilized and barbaric, rational and fanciful.”

the beauty and immensity of it all. But sometimes, we can almost reach whatever is out there. It feels tangible and also fragile: subject to disappear like dust. The sublime can be frightening, like death. Death is inexplicable. Has anyone ever come back to describe death? No. With that in mind, both concepts can be used as a critical foundation of gothic fiction or, more specifically, gothic horror.

While true crime portrays reality and may not be fictive, our human response to it can be compared to the way we experience gothic fiction. When consuming true crime in various forms: podcasts, documentaries, and books, our brains go through an emotional experience. We can either experience the sublime, the uncanny, or both at the same time. As we get more into the psyche of killers or victims, some may feel empathy for them or identify with them.

Two major concepts are found in gothic fiction. The first, the uncanny, “disturbs the familiar.” It is the unsettling feeling that something unknown is lurking around. In the case of horror movies, the uncanny creates a pleasurable yet terrifying experience. Effects such as “doubles and alter-egos” leave the viewers wondering whether they are experiencing the threat of a supernatural force or the projection of a character’s psyche. We yank ourselves back from the TV screen at the mere sounds of what is bound to happen to a character. We anticipate the unsettling feeling creeping upon our skins. This uncanny feeling leaves us disorientated, with our eyes bulging from witnessing inexplicable forces. When the uncanny is so close to home, like what viewers see in true crime tv shows, it is even more terrifying.

By contrast, the second concept, the sublime, makes us gasp in awe at the “grandeur and higher forces seeming to control us.” Have you ever looked up at the sky and felt like your life has no meaning among the many stars and galaxies? The sublime is a “timeless” experience. Often, the landscape is used to portray the sublime, “grandiose buildings and mountainous landscapes.” The sublime is beyond human reach. Our eyes cannot fathom

True crime depicts the already violent world we have become accustomed with. Most would feel empathy or sadness for events such as the killing of college students. But what pushes us to consume even more violence than we experience daily? Is there a sadistic explanation for our behavior? Are we perhaps inherently drawn to violence because it challenges us?

True crime is addictive. The American Psychological Association defines addiction as “psychological or physical dependence.” A few weeks after Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story was released, it rose to the most-viewed series on Netflix: it is fair to say that the response it produced should alarm the North American population. The appeal of such shows is comprehensible. Their commercialization is meant to attract viewers. However, I would say that the viewing rates reflect a broken society that uses true crime to cope with a mental health crisis. Take what you will, but ask yourself: why are you consuming true crime?

Works Cited

Botting, Fred. “Chapter 1: Gothic Excess and Transgression.” 1995. PDF file. Shea, Jay. “Lecture on Gothic Fiction.” Dawson College, Montreal, QC. p p

Photo VIA BRITANNICA

When the uncanny is so close to home, like what viewers see in true crime tv shows, it is even more terrifying.

Public Nudity: How Nude is Too Nude?

HANNAH DANE Copy Editor

Walking down St-Mathieu Street in a pleated black skirt, long socks to keep the cold from hitting my calves, wrapped in my coat and scarf, I wouldn’t call my few exposed inches of thigh particularly saucy, yet, according to a gentleman that passed by, it seems I should have “covered up more, slut.” As a publicly indecent person (apparently), I am left to wonder when my outfit passed the threshold of too much exposure. Though people sport the ever-trendy mini-skirts, cropped tanks, and short shorts yearround, we always keep a certain amount of skin covered so as not to be completely naked. However, weather aside, how do we know whether we are too exposed? Is a little thigh a little too much?

First, let’s talk about the law. According to the Canadian Criminal Code, under section 174, “a person is nude who is so clad as to offend against public decency or order.” Following this definition, “Everyone who, without lawful excuse,

(a) is nude in a public place, or

(b) is nude and exposed to public view while on private property, whether or not the property is his own, is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.”

So, Canadian law has defined public nudity as a criminal offense only if deemed indecent and offensive. When it comes down to it, it is thus up to the public to ultimately decide what is or is not appropriate. Habit and social norms, what we are used to, and the unwritten rules established by society dictate what we accept; to see somebody entirely na-

ked would be abnormal and shocking, so we reject it. To see partial nudity, however, could pass unnoticed.

In more professional situations, like work or school, these restrictions narrow. “At work, I prefer to be mostly covered up and usually see my coworkers – whatever gender – covered from below the neck to below the knees,” Janique Laflamme, HR Director at Accenture, a global IT corporation, says. Whether it is a higher position at an institution like Accenture or a parttime job in retail, these general conditions tend to apply. “I can’t have any ripped jeans or shorts. I’m not allowed to have my shoulders, chest, thighs, or stomach exposed,” says Léanne Montplaisir, an 18-year-old student and part-time worker at an athletic clothing and equipment company. For Laflamme and Montplaisir, coverage at work is mandatory and regulated. Employees must keep the amount of skin exposed to a minimum, avoiding any region that could be deemed “inappropriate,” like the ever so risqué thighs or knees. It all comes down to what adheres to a company’s public image. Coverage is respectable, while skin is apparently not.

At school, the Dawson Code of Conduct limits the skin coverage regulations to specific cases such as “athletic facilities, laboratories, and workshops, … for reasons of safety and/or hygiene.” Therefore, students like Montplaisir might opt for the comfort of sweatpants and a sweatshirt offering full-body coverage, whereas others might prefer shorter bottoms or a low-rise top at no risk of getting reprimanded.

However, what happens when we step outside the safety of indoor spaces can change the unspoken rules of

necessary coverage. “At school, it’d be fine if I wore a crop top or shorts, but as soon as I step outside, I’m aware people might look at me and whatever skin is out. Even if I like a certain top or skirt, I’ll often just change into something that covers me up more to avoid situations where I could get sexualized or feel unsafe,” says Montplaisir. Unlike school, where it’s all up to you, or work, where the rules decide, the limits for public nudity in outdoor spaces fall into the hands of others. What we choose to wear might not come down to what clothing items are comfortable but how comfortable they will make us feel around others.

As for “how nude is too nude?” respecting the laws and your boundaries is the best way to go. Everything comes down to context. “Honestly, I think places like where I work need to evolve. I used to have to be covered up to my neck about a decade ago. If crop tops are fine with these new generations, then they should be fine at work too. The old masters were fine with nudity. Why are we so strict?” Laflamme concluded, laughing. And maybe she is right. What is so wrong about a little thigh, after all? We must, however, remember that not everyone will view “public nudity” the same way. For some, less coverage might seem trivial, but for others, it can pose a real risk. Catcalling and sexual harassment are things that need to be taken seriously, and though one should not solely dress in fear of how others might choose to act, it is a factor to take into consideration when getting dressed. p p

Photo VIA MARIA EKLIND, MALMÖ PRIDE 2016

The limits for public nudity in outdoor spaces fall into the hands of others. What we choose to wear might not come down to what clothing items are comfortable but how comfortable they will make us feel around others.

Ominvox - 1 new grade: Oh no.

RALUCA-MARA MARE Staff Writer

Author’s note : Most students will experience anxiety at some point or another. However, if it starts to interfere with your daily life or to affect your health and/or relationships, you should perhaps consider getting in touch with a mental health professional. Don’t let it get the best of you.

I hope the headline didn’t scare you too much. But, if it did, just know you are not alone. December was a rough month for most of us. Time to start new and fresh again… Right? With university applications right around the corner, R scores coming out, and a totally different semester ahead, there isn’t much time to sit back and relax. Rising levels of stress have now become day-to-day normalities.

After tedious research on this phenomenon, I realized that the best way to tackle the issue was to speak with the targeted people themselves: Dawson students. After reading the replies to a

series of questions I asked in a survey, many interesting points were brought up. The words that people mentioned most were “fear,” “pressure,” and “success.” Many defined “academic performance anxiety” as the stress related to not living up to the expectations set by ourselves. Obsessing over achievements, having nightmares of failure, feeling your heartbeat fluctuate with your grades, comparing yourself to everyone... Does it ring a bell?

number. Yet, surprisingly, some students see performance anxiety as a way to motivate themselves. Perhaps this is due to my own bias, but I never bothered to view failure in a positive light. A student in the survey mentioned, “It somewhat motivates me to be disciplined, but it also makes me feel bad whenever I don’t feel satisfied with my performance. It’s a love-hate relationship.”

Anonymous students shared their experience with test anxiety and the feeling of not being enough. Indeed, it can be incredibly discouraging to receive negative feedback over something you poured your heart into, to get a bad grade on a project you sacrificed your sleep for, or to have your future determined by a single

For those who applied or who are currently applying to university, the process can be incredibly nerve-racking. Many fear being forgettable, disappointing their parents, or feeling like they haven’t worked enough throughout their studies. Considering this might be a difficult period for many, here are some words of motivation to start your new, or perhaps last, semester with positivity. Life is more than a single path; we are adaptive beings who will find ways to thrive regardless. Your grades do not define you, nor do they determine your value as an individual. For the art students out there, this is a reminder that grades do not define your creativity and talent and that you should not let those limit you. An anonymous student from the survey wrote, “It will pass one way or another,” and I stand by that. Your health and well-being are much more important than a class average.

Now you might be thinking, “I’ve heard motivational speeches before, but what I need right now is to relax.” I thought ahead. Here are some ideas to calm down, all provided by other anonymous students: naps, long baths with lavender, talking to other people, reaching out to a long lost friend, hugs, sports, watching ASMR videos, hiking Mount Royal, breathing exercises, yoga, meditation, video games, eating your favorite foods, drawing, journaling, petting a dog or joining a club. You could also listen to very angry rock. At full volume. Be the main character.

Nonetheless, fearing the future is normal. Progress is not linear; it’s La Ronde’s Goliath. Failure is a part of life. I said it before, but I can’t stress it enough: look how far you’ve come! We are still so young. We have all our lives ahead of us. So, follow your dreams, whatever they are, but most importantly, live for yourself.

Progress is not linear; it’s La Ronde’s Goliath.

Performance anxiety, university applications, and all in between

Creative Writing by EMMA MAJAURY Creative Writing Editor

By now, we have plunged right into the semester and assignments are starting to pop up on LEA. I am especially grateful that I received so many submissions for this issue! Thank you for making the time to contribute to the plant! Your works are what makes this section what it is. I hope that you enjoy these lovely poems and that you are looking forward to what this semester will bring!

The Gaps Of Sunlight

TOKA SIYAM Contributor

The gaps of sunlight

An image half complete

I try to put the puzzle together

Frayed edges and broken bones

The music in the background, Your boyfriend loves that song but so do I

I don’t know me anymore

I used to love playing with your hair, Then summer came and you cut it all off

I slept in your bed for days

Now I can’t recall the colour of your walls

Who am I?

A teenage boy lost in a daydream, A long way from home

I dream of your eyes, golden honey

We’re lying on the grass

(I wrote you a poem when the cold came, When I started seeing our ghosts

In places I passed by every day)

Now I’m alone

With the gaps of sunlight

Illuminating my darkest thoughts, My deepest fear

I lost you on a cold winter night

But darling,

Were you mine in fall or summer or ever at all?

When I say I Love You

VANESSA

LOZZA

Contributor

When I say I love you

I want you to feel like you are on an island

Warm Time Froze

RIM NAGUIB Contributor

Here he was, handsome as a fairytale

Hair flowing in the breeze with ease

It wasn’t the effect of the cocktail

As the shameless cold shoves the breeze

Pretty face followed by the sun

Captures this timeless essence

Butterfly invasion had already begun

What a beautiful captivating presence

Sober yet hallucinating

Striking and hypnotic eyes

Making you forget all pieces of advice

Given as they are resonating

Leaves twirling with a sigh

Excitation going undeniably high

Can only silently admire

As the dream comes to expire

Snaps back to reality

Falls to the ground, hopelessly

Ripped from the dreams

I used to imagine without extremes

When I say I love you I want you to enjoy it like you’re listening to a band

Your love is as soft as a marshmallow

You make me feel so mellow

Your voice sounds like a melody

This love is no parody

Lastly, when I say I love you I hope it does not end in tragedy

Dear You

SAMANTHA DIABO

Contributor

Dear You

The Unbinding of a Logophile

SARAH-ROSE MESTEL-GROINIG Contributor

What a childish thing to do, to have so many colours in your dreams.

The moment I started speaking, I stopped thinking. And the words came before me. They greeted me with a bow. Oh, how regal I thought they were.

But the cape was torn, withered with the betrayals of time. Dirt caked on my skin. Little patterns dried in place.

And soon, the words were caked with dirt. Little patterns etched into the earth, that buried me alive.

You left me broken. As I look back on our years together, You were my shoulder to cry on. My blanket of comfort and warmth. You led me to believe that I could trust you. You made me want to be just like you. Now nothing feels the same.

I wish I didn’t still miss your smell.

I wish I didn’t still see your face everywhere. I wish I knew then that you were going to hurt me. But now I know better,

So I pray to god that I will never have to vanish.

Vanish from my kids, Like you did to me.

Dear mom, I don’t want to be like you anymore

EFRANÇIS MELANÇON

Contributor

The ice-cold blizzards of the north.

It blinds me from the truth.

Reveals my solitude.

It strips me of my freedom, whilst my limbs go numb.

My tears turn to ice, then snow, becoming one with the blizzard. Those around me become nothing but a blur as I am engulfed in snow

Many laugh with a smile as warm as the sun.

Whilst my heart grows cold.

Such smiles filled with joy deepen my sorrow.

Those that touch my icy skin grow cold.

I keep my distance from such.

No one must ever feel my ice-cold presence.

No one deserves to feel my heart of ice.

Even if it seems to many that I am as bright as the sun.

They must never know my truth.

Doodles by SANAD HAMDOUNA Curiosities Editor

The Art of “Tanking” in Sports

KEVIN LABOSSIÈRE Sports Editor

If you’re a big sports fan, you’ve probably seen the names of Trevor Lawrence, Connor McDavid, the whole Slafkovsky or Shane Wright debate, and, recently, Connor Bedard. It all comes down to the art that is seen as almost taboo in sports but is still a part of every sports season. Tanking is a word often thrown around for the lower-placed teams, but what does it mean?

Major League Baseball (MLB), part of the Big 4, along with the National Football League (NFL), the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the NHL, also recently implemented a draft lottery system at the end of the 2022 season. The NFL is currently the only league left that does not use a lottery system. The draft order is, therefore, made with the final standings.

tomatically get the first pick. The Sabres were horrible that year, and so were the Oilers, but you could see the Sabres being more lenient toward losing games.

Tanking is obviously considered illegal, going against the integrity of the sport, and is why it is frowned upon in the sports world. The Montreal Canadiens currently sit 26th out of 32 in league standings at the time this article is being written.

Gary Bettman, commissioner of the NHL mentioned in an interview with Sportsnet in January 2023 that “You’re not going to lose games to increase your odds by a couple of percentage points. That’s silly. And frankly, suggesting tanking, I believe, is inconsistent with the professionalism that our players and our coaches have. Nobody tanks.”

Tanking by itself is deliberately losing games in order to get a better chance at a potential franchise-changing player in the upcoming year’s draft. This year in the National Hockey League (NHL), the biggest talk, especially around the Montreal Canadiens is the promising talent of Connor Bedard making waves with the Regina Pats in the Western Hockey League (WHL), a junior league in Canada. He is predicted to be the first overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. However, some leagues perform under a lottery system. The NBA and NHL have been using it since 1984 and 1995 respectively, thus not giving the last-placed team a definite chance of getting that first overall pick.

So, in that case, if it’s up to a lottery for a majority of the sports, why would you tank? Well, the odds get higher the lower you finish, but it does not guarantee you get the first pick. Take, for example, the 2015 NHL Draft, the year of generational talent Connor McDavid. That lottery was won by the Edmonton Oilers, who had the 3rd best chance at winning the lottery, finishing 28th out of 30 teams at the time. The Buffalo Sabres, who finished last, fell to 2nd in the draft despite having the best odds at landing the first overall pick (20%). Edmonton only had an 11.5% chance to land the first overall pick, thus landing Connor McDavid. This process creates some sort of randomness that doesn’t ensure that the last team will au-

NHL fans consider this claim by the commissioner to be false, as was proven a bit later when Mason McTavish of the Anaheim Ducks, who currently sit 30th out of 32 in the standings at the time of this article, texts his Team Canada teammate Connor Bedard after every Ducks loss the odds of landing the first overall selection he mentioned in an interview “I get a (Mason McTavish) text all the time if they lose.”

If we shift towards another sport, the NFL games, which do not use a draft lottery system, become a bit more entertaining for fans as they battle in a so-called “Tank Bowl” – a nickname made famous by sports YouTuber UrinatingTree who covers just about every sport in a humorous fashion. It’s easier to gauge in the NFL because of the lack of a lottery. If you have the worst record that year, you land the first overall pick.

So, your team struggles and you see there’s a shiny prospect in the upcoming draft. Sell your assets and players, get your draft picks, and proceed to subtly lose to get more chances at this opportunity to obtain a franchise-altering player. Embrace the Tank! p p

Photo VIA NHL

The odds get higher the lower you finish, but it does not guarantee you get the first pick.

Suggesting tanking, I believe, is inconsistent with the professionalism that our players and our coaches have. Nobody tanks.

I get a (Mason McTavish) text all the time if they lose.

System Failure: The Reality of Being an ER Nurse in Québec

CHRISTOPHER BOA Science and Environment Editor

If you happen to be on the sixth floor of Dawson’s B wing, you will more often than not encounter some students clad in blue. This area happens to be one of the few at the College where classrooms and laboratories are mainly devoted to our hands-on Nursing Program. Here, students are stimulated through their exposure to real clinical settings and professional equipment early on. But how well does this fuelled fervour hold up in light of the management crises and subpar working conditions that plague healthcare institutions across the province?

On the 16th of January 2023, the nurses of Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont staged an overnight sit-in, effectively paralyzing its emergency room. The vast majority of its nursing staff had threatened to quit within the next few days if immediate changes were not made to its establishment.

This outcry came as no surprise to Mélanie Boisclair, a well-rounded nurse from the Laurentides region of Québece. “When I started as a nurse 25 years ago,” she says, “there was already a [labour] shortage, but it got much worse with time.” Having worked in both rural and urban medical establishments, she recalls that the province’s public healthcare system was already in “really bad shape” long before the COVID-19 Pandemic. The shutdown of this East-End ER was only a small fissure in the system’s greater framework, whereby managerial cracks and job vacancies penetrate as deep as the foundation.

With experience in the emergency room, Ms. Boisclair asserts that the work-

ing conditions at Maisonneuve-Rosemont “must have been extreme for the staff to make such a drastic decision,” as they are trained to be fully aware of the dangers that any shortage of caregivers in the ER poses on both the patients and the nurses themselves. Reducing the emergency nursing staff exponentially increases the likelihood of serious mistakes occurring “due to fatigue,” as well as “the risks of being harmed” on duty. “When nurses have to decide which of their patients is more endangered to prioritize their care, it’s insanely stressful,” she adds.

Nevertheless, the mediocre working conditions that underlie demonstrations such as this sit-in are by no means the exception; they are the rule. Not even the province’s private sector is exempt from the labour shortage. As ERs, among other departments, acquired certain notoriety as being extremely busy and disruptive to the life of their employees, they became “less attractive options for nurses to apply to.” This gradually culminated in the vicious cycle of applicant hesitancy toward such underserved nursing positions that we observe today. Consequently, Québec boasts a virtually insatiable amount of job opportunities in this profession, a reality that may not necessarily have positive implications for our prospective nurses at Dawson.

“When I first started, I was passionate and young,” shares Ms. Boisclair regarding her tenure in Québec. “Even if it was a really busy and unstable department, I loved it. I learned a lot.” These words surely resonate with the passionate, blue-clad Dawson students that experience the realities of local healthcare institutions as a part of their third-year in-

ternship. As the years progressed, however, a lot of Ms. Boisclair’s colleagues began to transfer over to the Ontario healthcare system. In addition to their proximity to the provincial border, these employees were enticed by a policy that capped the patient-to-nurse ratio at 5:1, half the maximum amount allocated to each nurse in Québec hospitals at that time.

That was ten years ago.

In today’s post-pandemic world, Ms. Boisclair admits that “the shortage of nurses [has become] as bad in Ontario as it is in Québec” to the point where a significant number of her colleagues have left the profession altogether. Despite this new reality, she explains that she ultimately decided to make the switch to the Ontario system. “The context in my facility was getting worse,” she explains. “[There were] a lot of service cuts, enough to scare me for the future. So I decided to leave my Québec job and never regretted it. The salary was and still is substantially higher, the conditions were much better at the time, too.”

Even if the situation has also deteriorated in Ontario in recent years, Ms. Boisclair shares the ways in which their healthcare system has made innovative progress to lessen the load on nurses, particularly those working in emergency units. “The hospital where I work was very proactive with new methods to relieve the waiting time in ER, [such as] by putting up a respiratory virus clinic,” she says. “Also, when there is a car accident and the weather conditions are good, there is a company named ‘ORNGE.’ They work with the 911 line and can fly a helicopter directly to the accident site to transfer the patients to a trauma facility without having to occupy another emergency room. It decreases the time between the accident and access to acute care. These are just a few examples where Quebec could learn how to help the health system [function more efficiently].”

Choosing between working in Québec or beyond may be a decision Dawson’s soon-to-be graduated nurses have to inevitably make. Unfortunately, without a government-level reevaluation of the entire healthcare system, we can only expect more retaliatory measures from emergency rooms province-wide until innovative changes benefiting both the patients and their nurses are implemented here, too.

Photo VIA CHIASSON, PAUL FROM THE CANADIAN PRESS.

Quite a SAD Semester, Isn’t It?

SOPHIE ANABELLE SOMÉ Staff Writer

Have you been experiencing difficulties thinking, concentrating, or making decisions? Have you perhaps been oversleeping since winter started? Have you accumulated a loss of interest or pleasure in the activities that you used to enjoy? These are common symptoms of the winter blues, also called seasonal affective disorder (SAD). During wintertime, you might feel like your energy levels are low because you are not getting enough sleep. Overeating is also a common response to the change of season. McDonald’s chicken nuggets, the A&W Mama Burger, or that 12-inch steak and cheese Subway sandwich just look so mouth-watering.

during winter when days are shorter and darker. As a college student, you might see very little sunlight throughout the day. This can have a toll on your mental health. Almost certainly, you’ve had that surprising moment when you go outside during winter and the sun is already gone.

This overproduction of melatonin incites us to sleep longer and can impair our abilities to carry out our day-today tasks. Since the sun sets earlier in the evening, we feel sleepy earlier at night. However, some experts believe that there is not enough evidence to support this claim. In fact, our limited ability to enjoy outdoor activities might influence our mood and result in symptoms related to seasonal affective disorder.

Basically, winter blues are commonly known as a change in one’s mood when fall kicks in and the winter wind is whistling through the window cracks. Essentially, negative emotions and depressive feelings are amplified

Limited exposure to sunlight is believed to be the main cause of SAD because daylight regulates our internal clock. Circadian rhythms, our 24hour internal cycles, are internal processes that carry important functions in our bodies, such as the sleep-wake cycle. Fundamentally, the brain sends signals to generate alertness that help us stay energetic throughout the day. At night the body initiates the production of melatonin, a hormone related to sleep. According to the Sleep Foundation, “our circadian rhythm aligns our sleep and wakefulness with day and night.” During winter, our bodies’ ideal cycle is disrupted. Consequently, when days are shorter and nights are longer, we produce more melatonin.

According to the Canadian Psychological Association, approximately 15% of Canadians will report a mild case of SAD in their lifetime. Seasonal affective disorder makes up 10% of all reported cases of depression. Although it is a disorder that most people won’t encounter in their lifetime, limited sunlight exposure during winter has a global impact on nearly everyone’s internal clock. For many students here at the college, attending back-to-back classes literally means only being able to see sunlight through the windows. And let’s not begin to talk about the students who have classes on Dawson’s lowest floors.

When you google solutions to help cope with winter blues or SAD, the main options are light therapy. Essentially, with light therapy, you are scheduling moments of your day where you will expose yourself to a special type of light that can easily be found on Amazon, or you can simply plan to spend more time outdoors. But is it really that simple? While light therapy is a powerful tool that deserves consideration, tips such as maintaining a regular bedtime can help. Easier said than done, but worthwhile! Creating a balanced schedule can help you organize yourself and feel less overwhelmed. Reducing the stress of the semester can significantly help you feel better.

Finally, seasonal affective disorder is an important illness that deserves consideration and can greatly impact your life. This article is in no way trying to diagnose nor impose solutions for SAD, but only to inform you about the disease. If you suspect you may have it, seeking professional advice is highly recommended. p p

Photo VIA LIVI

McDonald’s chicken nuggets, the A&W Mama Burger, or that 12-inch steak and cheese Subway sandwich just look so mouth-watering.

As a college student, you might see very little sunlight throughout the day. This can have a toll on your mental health.

A Deeper Look at Plastic Pollution

KARINA HESSELBO Contributor

On Nov 30th, 2019, a sperm whale washed up in Scotland with 220 pounds of plastic in its stomach. In another case, a sea turtle was found with a plastic straw up its nose. These are just two instances of plastic pollution badly affecting animals, but there are thousands of cases each year of marine animals dying or suffering from plastic pollution, and the statistics are frightening. 8 million tons of trash are dumped into the sea annually, and that number is only expected to keep growing. So, what are some causes of plastic pollution, and how do we fight against it? Well, let’s find out.

There are many sources of plastic pollution, but the ones that this article will focus on are single-use plastic, fast fashion, and the fishing industry.

Single-use plastic. We all know about bottles, straws, and bags ending up in the ocean, and believe that an easy way to fix the problem is to recycle plastic, but this is not the case. While recycling can be effective with materials such as paper and plastic, it’s much more complicated. There are

different types of plastics, and while some can be recycled, some can’t. The truth is that only around 9% of plastic is recycled yearly. Those that aren’t or can’t be recycled will either end up in landfills or incinerated. Certainly, recycling isn’t stopping millions of tons of single-use plastic from entering the ocean. Yes, recycling plastic is important, but if some plastics can’t be recycled, we need to look at other ways to fix the problem. Fast fashion: the not-so-pretty side of keeping up with fashion trends. Essentially, fast fashion is when companies produce fashion items cheaply and quickly. The clothes are then bought on a dime and thrown away after being worn a couple times. This cycle is problematic because of the materials used and how fast consumers throw away their clothing. Fast fashion is often made from plastic and pollutes the ocean when it gets washed. The plastic particles from the clothes come off in the washing machine and end up in the ocean, becoming microplastics. When it comes to the rate of disposing of fast fashion, it’s also quite alarming. An article of clothing is often only worn 14 times before it is thrown away. Annually, the textile industry produces 92 million tonnes of waste. It pollutes the ocean with half a million tonnes of microplastics yearly. We need to think about these things before buying a new shirt to be trendy.

Finally, the fishing industry. The fishing industry contributes to marine plastic through what is called ghost gear, which is lost or discarded fishing gear at sea. Fishing gear can get lost due to factors such as weather conditions and snags from underwater materials, namely rocks or corals. What makes it so harmful is that it continues to catch marine animals while in the water, and marine animals may ingest the gear, blocking their stomachs and starving them. They may also get entangled in the gear. In addition, ghost gear risks smothering vital marine habitats like seagrass and corals. Ghost gear isn’t a small part of the trash problem, either. By weight, 60% of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is ghost gear. Some fish populations have experienced a 30% decline because of ghost gear. Ghost gear has been proven to be the most lethal kind of marine plastic.

There are ways to change this, but efforts must be made both at the level of the individual and on the global scale. Individually, we need to do things such as buying from second-hand stores, using more reusable products, recycling, reducing marine life consumption, or trying to buy it more sustainably. However, it would be naive to say that reducing plastic waste falls entirely on the consumer. Regulations and laws must be put in place to prevent plastic pollution. Single-use plastic must be phased out, the fashion industry must be properly regulated, and governments must use good fishing management practices. Thankfully, it seems that we are now seeing change. Canada plans to ban some single-use plastic products by 2025, but the fight against plastic pollution won’t be over until we never find a whale dead on the beach ridden with plastic again. p p

Photo VIA CHASANT, MUNTAKA ON WIKIMEDIA (2019).

The truth is that only around 9% of plastic is recycled yearly.

Efforts must be made both at the level of the individual and on the global scale.

PUZZLES

HOROSCOPES

ARIES (mar. 20 - apr. 18):

Do NOT look into the void this month. It’s not the time. It’s not ready. Please, please, please, you have so much left to do.

TAURUS (apr. 19 - may 20):

Mountains follow you; they trail behind your footsteps like snow. They believe in you, do not lead them to ruin.

GEMINI (may 21 - june 20):

This month, bring your silliness to the world.

CANCER (june 21 - july 22):

The eldritch being under your bed is actually pretty chill, give them a chance.

LEO (july 23 - aug. 22):

Avoid eating fire this month, it’s not very good for you. Try being fire instead, it’s fun and you’ve got what it takes.

VIRGO (aug. 23 - sept. 22):

Remember that drinking paint is really bad for you. Hopefully, you weren’t doing this before, but honestly, you never know, so here’s a friendly reminder.

LIBRA (sept. 23 - oct. 22):

Don’t worry Libra, the probability of the cars in that parking lot nearby coming alive and eating you is really really low. You really shouldn’t worry about it. Please don’t worry about it.

SCORPIO (oct. 23 - nov. 21):

Your wall calendar may seem haunted this month, but don’t worry, it’s been haunted this entire time. You just never noticed.

SAGITTARIUS (nov. 22 - dec. 21):

Make sure to take care of your health and stay hydrated, or the necromancers will do it for you. (No amount of homework is worth letting a necromancer do a better job than you of taking care of your body.)

CAPRICORN (dec. 22 - jan. 19):

Doing chores while blasting the Little Mermaid soundtrack might actually be a good idea this month. Why not try it out?

AQUARIUS (jan. 20 - feb. 18):

It might be time to pick up a new hobby, maybe something that doesn’t involve ritual sacrifice and strange old books would be fun and cool.

PISCES (feb. 19 - mar. 19):

Look at that! It’s the star of the month (well, the end of February or the beginning of March, at least). Happy birthday! Even though this is either super late or super early.

PUZZLES

Curiosities by SANAD HAMDOUNA Curiosities Editor

COME BACK NEXT ISSUE FOR THE ANSWERS!

RECIPES

MATCHA HOT CHOCOLATE

Recipe by Jee

Choe

Prep time: 6 mins

Yield: 2 servings

Ingredients

2 cups milk (any kind)

½ cup white chocolate chopped

1 tablespoon sifted matcha

1 tablespoon honey

1 teaspoon salt

Optional: toasted marshmallows

Instructions

In a saucepan, bring milk to a simmer over medium-low heat. Take off the heat and whisk or stir in chopped white chocolate.

Sift in matcha, honey, and salt until well combined. Pour matcha hot chocolate into two mugs and if you would like, top with toasted marshmallows.

Source: https://www.ohhowcivilized.com/matcha-hot-chocolate/

PUMPKIN SPICE HOT CHOCOLATE

Recipe by Kate

Donald

Prep time: 5 mins

Cook time: 10 mins

Yield: 2 servings

Ingredients

2 cups coconut milk

¼ cup cacao powder

¼ cup pumpkin puree or pumpkin butter

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (usually contains cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice)

2-3 tablespoons maple syrup

Instructions

1. Pour the coconut milk into a small pot and get that going on the stove at medium-low.

2. Add the cacao powder, pumpkin puree, and spices to the coconut milk and whisk it up.

3. Once the mixture is almost hot enough, add the maple syrup and stir. Taste for sweetness and add more if you please.

4. Serve and enjoy!

Source: https://www.ohhowcivilized.com/matcha-hot-chocolate/

DAWSON SPEAKS

“What’s

And you responded with...

“layers! hoodie under your vest, a sweater vest, button up; basics get the job done.” @sarahhouriaa

““my cow print coat, a nice scarf, and over the ear headphones” @sunshinepipaaa

“Oversized sweater that stops a bit below the hips and leggings plus dr. Martens” @katerina2909

“Hand Warmers” @dysfuncnoodle

“cute leg warmers and earmuffs” @graciepizzucoo

“Vodka… and illusion “sheer” leggings” @fool_in_disguise

“double pantsing à la max” @justbrainnocells

“Every layer is a cute layer hehe” @little_queer_unicorn_

“I wear fleece lined skin colored tights under everything (works great for skirts )” @meloroxy

“Layerssss, layered tights, socks & legwarmers, layered tops and sweaters. Layers are key.” @gracia_s_garin

“Layering!! Putting a mock/turtleneck under your top or a blazer over it” @lavinia.pfr

your favourite way to stay warm but fashionable during the winter?”

2 fun and vegan-friendly hot chocolate variations to spice up this old classic.

MASTHEAD

Mathew Anania Editor-in-Chief

Pipa Jones

Co-Editor-in-Chief

Emmy Rubin Managing Editor

Hannah Dane

Copy Editor

Alessa Orsini Graphic Designer

Alessia Vigna Secretary

Aya Hafeda

News Editor

Simone Bélanger Arts & Culture Editor

Angélique Babineau

Voices Editor

Christopher Boa Science & Environment Editor

Emma Majaury

Creative Writing Editor

Alice Boulianne

Visual Arts Editor

Sanad Hamdouna Curiosities Editor

Pipa Jones Cover Artist

Mia Gueli Social Media Manager

Rokhaya Rodriguez

Staff Writer

Sophie-Annabelle Somé Staff Writer

Silvia Crac Staff Writer

Raluca-Mara Mare Staff Writer

CONTRIBUTORS

Ana Sofia Castano

Aurelie Moutien

Georgios Pantazopoulos

Anisia Alexe

Lea-Seanna Ruiz Gastil

Desirée Zagbai

Victoria Cadieux

Aicha Diallo

Mirren Bodanis

Toka Siyam

Rim Naguib

Vanessa Lozza

Sarah-Rose Mestel-Groinig

Françis Melançon

Karina Hesselbo

CONTACT

The Plant Newspaper

Dawson College

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Montréal, QC

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theplantnews.com

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@theplantnews