Vol. CXXXV, No. 3
University of Toronto’s Student Newspaper Since 1880
15 September, 2014
The consent conversation
From “no means no” to “yes means yes,” the language of consent on North American university campuses may be changing The victim, a 21-year-old woman, did not report the incident until the attackers were back at their home campus three weeks later. It is not only administrative complications that hinder student assault victims in Canada; many sexual assault cases go unreported due to the social stigma and misunderstanding surrounding the issue of rape, resulting in the inability of many college students to fully understand the consequences of certain behaviors they engage in. During this year’s orientation week at Carleton University, a number of students were photographed wearing t-shirts that said “Fuck Safe Space.” The students involved said that the original purpose of the shirts was to rebel against the pampering of firstyear students. However, the message
was interpreted by some as promoting rape culture and condemning the notion of the university providing a safe space for its students.
In recent weeks, American government officials have moved to reduce the prevalence of campus sexual assaults and change language around sexual consent. On September 4, the California legislature passed a law that requires state colleges and universities to change or intensify their investigations of assault claims as a way of attempting to decrease the number of campus assaults. Bill SB967, or the Yes Means Yes bill, was also enacted with the inten-
tion of clarifying what constitutes sexual consent. Under the bill, consent is defined as “an affirmative, unambiguous and conscious decision” from each participant wanting to engage in sexual activity, at every stage of that sexual activity. The bill is also part of a broader movement from traditional “no means no” consent language to “yes means yes.” “Consent must be ongoing throughout a sexual encounter and can be revoked at any time,” the bill reads. The Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) developed its No Means No campaign nearly 20 years ago to reduce the occurrence of sexual assault on college and university campuses. California public and private sec-
ondary schools are also required to adopt a “victim-centered” approach to handling and enforcing policies set in place to not only prevent assaults, but to support victims by providing them with clear options for getting any help they may need. California’s change in protocols is partly a response to a federal bill passed earlier in July. The new law was set in place to help manage the high number of assaults taking place on college campuses throughout the United Sates. It mandates that schools must conduct anonymous surveys in order to assess and make public the extent of sexual assaults taking place within their student populations.
Comment
Features
Arts
Science
Sports
Does U of T have a school culture?
A student’s best friend
A city full of art
In conversation with Kenneth Yip
Hundreds attend Red & Blue Bowl
Three writers on school spirit or lack thereof
The costs and benefits of owning and adopting pets
We review local art exhibits in Toronto this fall
Meet one of U of T’s favourite profs
Blues defeat Lions in 70-0 shutout in Homecoming game
Caitlyn Fleming
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
Weeks into the start of the new school year, colleges and universities are already under intense pressure from government officials and members of the public to change protocols for handling incidences of on-campus sexual assault in the wake of a number of incidents at Canadian institutions. Last week, the University of Ottawa suspended its men’s hockey team after two players were charged with sexually assaulting a young woman in Thunder Bay. The assault took place in February, when the team was in town to compete against Lakehead University.
LEGISLATIVE DEVELOPMENTS
CONTINUED ON PG.5
INSIDE
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VARSITY NEWS
Vol. CXXXV, No. 3
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St. Andrew’s Church, 73 Simcoe Street, 7:00 pm Olivia Chow and John Tory have confirmed their attendance. Come and listen to a discussion that affects us all.
1. When note-taking, always record the source and place quotations in quotations marks if needed.
TUESDAY
Contributors Christina Atkinson, Salvatore Basilone, Emily Colero, Emma Compeau, Claudia Dessanti, Nabi Dressler, Leelan Farhan, Caitlyn Fleming, James Flynn, Emily Katz, Emma Kikulis, Spencer Knibutat, Osman Mahamud, Francesca Morfini, Linh Nguyen, Hirshen Patel, Mursal Rahman, Aditya Rau, Iris Robin, Deniz Samaldi, Ayla Shiblaq, Amitpal Singh, Corey Van Den Hoogenband, Sandy Wang, Edgar Wang
Butting heads at homecoming. DENIS OSIPOV/THE VArSITy
How not to commit an academic offence
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2. Use campus resources. The writing centres at U of T can help you with citations, formatting, and bibliographies. 3. Don’t share your work with others unless the course requires sharing material and group work. 4. Read university and course policies. The Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters and Rules for the Conduct of Examinations give clear instructions on how to avoid committing an academic offence. 5. If you are accused of committing an academic offence, visit Downtown Legal Services at 655 Spadina Avenue. A free clinic run by law students, they can give you advice and offer practical solutions. 6. Don’t share your work with others unless the course requires sharing material and group work. 7. Don’t help other people commit academic offenses. This includes sharing iClickers.
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8. Read your course syllabi. These specify the format of the assignment, what materials you may use, and often include a statement on academic integrity. 9. When in doubt, speak to your professor. 10. Use footnotes, endnotes, or in-text citations, along with accurate page numbers.
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VARSITY NEWS
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2014
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Student charged following stabbing of U of T professor Alleged attacker in custody, set to appear in court again on October 8 Iris Robin
ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR
An individual has been arrested and charged following a knife attack on U of T senior lecturer Sean Uppal last Wednesday. Xiaoyue Zhou, 21, a second-year mathematics and economics student, was charged with aggravated assault, assault with a dangerous weapon, and criminal harassment related to the incident. Mark Kazakevich, a fourth-year computer science and physics student who took MAT223 with Uppal, praised the lecturer for his outstanding teaching skills and genuine care for students. “He really wants to make his students understand not only how to do the math, but why it is
a powerful tool for many other fields of study,” Kazakevich said, adding: “I would often talk to him one on one after class and ask questions about the material, as well as how it relates to other courses I was taking in physics and computer science. He was always ready to stay however long it took to fully explain everything I wanted to know, and our conversations were part of what drove me to take higher level math courses in later years.” The knife attack — which was allegedly unprovoked — took place in Uppal’s office at the Earth Sciences Centre building. Uppal sustained cuts to his wrists, thighs, and face. His injuries are said to be non-life threatening, but he is recovering in hospital. Althea Blackburn-Evans, U of T director of media relations, declined to comment on spe-
cific elements of the case, saying the university “cannot comment on any campus police reports or investigations.” Zhou appeared in court on Thursday, where a judge ordered police to keep her in custody pending a mental health evaluation. Zhou’s two roommates had previously discussed their concerns regarding Zhou’s stress level, noting that she appeared to be under pressure and spent her spare time exclusively reading books and studying. Zhou had not mentioned a problem with any instructor and her roommates became worried when she failed to return home on Wednesday. One of Zhou’s roommates called her and texted her, but received no response. Media reports indicate that in the days leading up to the attack, Uppal received fre-
quent, disturbing emails from an anonymous source. He then advised university administration and campus police of the emails. “The details of this unfortunate event are currently under investigation by the Toronto Police Services. The university is cooperating fully with that investigation. The safety and security of all members of the university community is our top priority,” said U of T president Meric Gertler in a statement. The statement also included contact information for various campus support services, including Counselling and Psychological Services, and Health Services at the Mississauga and Scarborough campuses. Zhou is scheduled to appear in court again on October 8.
Union, university agree to new contract Contract includes salary increases, other benefits Salvatore Basilone
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
The University of Toronto has avoided labour strife to start the school year, after university administration and the United Steelworkers (usw) Local 1998, which represents nearly 7,000 permanent and casual workers at U of T, reached a new deal last week. USW membership voted to ratify the agreement on September 12, with the final count showing 73.9 per cent of members in favour. The contract applies to 4,100 employees. Among the most significant stipulations in the new contract was a series of salary increases each year, through a combination of percentage increases and one-time cash payments. usw economist Erin Weir initially said the university was pushing for a wage freeze. The salary increases amount to 0.5 per cent every six months for the first two years, rising to 1.25 per cent in the final year. The cash payments total $500 over the span of the contract. The deal also includes other benefits and education assistance. Concessions from the usw include a decrease in the number of personal leave days from four to three, a reduction in the vacation payout that employees receive upon retirement or departure, and an increase in the amount of money employees contribute to the pension plan. “We moved the University from austerity to
increases, and from concessions to better benefits. Some may say this is not a ‘good’ deal, but I say this may be the ‘best’ deal possible,” said usw president Paul Tsang in a message to usw members preceding the vote. Not all were in favour of the agreement. Linda*, an administrative worker at the Rotman School of Business, said this was her third time going through the collective bargaining process at the university. “I don’t think this is a fair deal, especially in terms of the pension,” said Linda. “We didn’t lose the pension — the university kind of lost it for us, so having to pay it back, I don’t think is fair,” she added. Linda said the loss of a personal day was a sore point, adding that while not every industry gets personal days, it is fair compensation for the work done by the usw members. “In corporate, they get bonuses if they do well and meet their targets; we don’t, even though we are meeting, even exceeding targets… Most of the departments, because of all the cutbacks they’ve done, are seriously overworked and undermanned,” said Linda. Mary*, however, who has worked at U of T for 34 years and is currently employed in a registrar’s office, echoed the majority of voters with her positive comments. “I think it’s a fair deal,” she said, adding that, given the economic climate, she was not expecting a raise. Mary added that the concessions made by the union were “more than fair,” in light of the rais-
BY THE NUMBERS Number of workers represented by USW Local 1998 Members in favour of the new contract Cash payments over the life of the contract
Salary increases
}
7,000 73.9 % $500
0.5% 1.25%
es, and that they were ultimately manageable. “Losing a personal day, having to sacrifice vacation days if you don’t take them when you’re supposed to, the possibility of having to make higher contributions to our pension plan — it’s
every six months for the first two years in the final year
my pension plan and I’m happy to contribute, I don’t think that’s such a hardship... I am very happy to vote yes.” The new contract will last until June 30, 2017. *Name changed upon request.
UTM students march in solidarity with black youth affected by police brutality March was part of the Hands Up Walk Out initiative James Flynn NEWS EDITOR
Last Wednesday, over 50 utm students walked out of class and attended a march in solidarity with Mike Brown and black youth affected by police brutality. The march began in front of the William G. Davis building and then winded through-
out the campus, with attendees chanting “no justice, no peace” and “hands up, don’t shoot.” The march was organized by University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union (utmsu) vice-president, equity Melissa Theodore in the wake of the shooting of Michael Brown, an 18-year-old unarmed black man, by white police officer Darren Wilson. A preliminary private autop-
sy found that Brown was shot at least six times in the chest and head. A number of community activists spoke at the event, including Rose Streete, a recipient of the 2013 ymca Peace Medallion and candidate for Mississauga City Councilor in Ward 8. Streete urged students to fight injustice in their community, and called for an end to institutionalized violence against people of colour.
According to the event’s Facebook page, the march was part of the Hands Up Walk Out initiative, which calls for a number of fundamental changes in light of the Brown shooting and subsequent protests, including “a swift and impartial investigation by the Department of Justice into the Mike Brown shooting, and expanded Department of Justice investigation into patterns of civil rights violations across North St. Louis County.”
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VARSITY NEWS
Vol. CXXXV, No. 3
STREETERS
news@thevarsity.ca
Emily Colero and Emma Compeau | Varsity Contributors
What’s the quirkiest course you have ever taken to fulfill a breadth requirement? Most undergraduate students at the University of Toronto are required to take breadth requirements to complete their degree. To satisfy these requirements, students often need to take a course or two outside of their comfort zone. This week, we asked returning students on campus to share what courses they have taken that were most outside their area of study, and to rate the difficulty of the course on a scale of one to five birds (one being the hardest and five being the easiest). Here is what they had to say. Photos by Rusaba Alam
Junku K.
Melika G.
Fourth year, Rotman Commerce
Second year, equity studies/South Asian studies/diaspora and transnational studies
Abby O. Fourth year, English literature
An FAH [History of Art] course
SOC250Y1 [Sociology of Religion]
Henry S.
Fatimah M.
ANT100Y1 [Introduction to Anthropology]
Donghee V.
Caleb N.
Fourth year, biochemistry
Second year, philosophy/political science
Second year, social sciences
Third year, political science
PHL245H1 [Modern Symbolic Logic]
BIG101Y1 [Big Ideas]
LTE199Y1 [Plants as We See Them, and Time]
CIN105Y1 [Introduction to Film Study]
Want to write for The Varsity? We’ve got news for you! Email news@thevarsity.ca
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VARSITY NEWS
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2014
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McGill student wins landmark case against CFS Case could have wide-ranging consequences for CFS battles in Ontario envelopes, and said that he has tracking information to support his claim. Farrington, on the other hand, claims that both envelopes were sent by registered post to the cfs office in Ottawa, but when they received notice to collect them, there was only one envelope waiting. “It was a clerical error — we contacted Ge Sa to advise him that his petition didn’t add up to nearly enough and asked what was going on, and he then accused us of not picking up his second envelope,” Farrington said. The cfs eventually recognized the petition on August 26, two days before the start of Sa’s trial.
Iris Robin
ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR
A McGill student has won a landmark case against the Canadian Federation of Students (cfs). Although Ge Sa, a PhD student and plaintiff in the case, launched the suit as an independent individual, his victory will allow the McGill Post-Graduate Students’ Society (pgss) to hold a referendum on whether or not to remain a member of the cfs. The landmark case, launched earlier in the spring, began when Sa sent a petition for a referendum to the cfs in two packages, one of which was allegedly lost in transit. The case could have wide-ranging consequences for cfs battles in other jurisdictions, including Ontario, where student societies such as the Graduate Students’ Union (gsu) at the University of Toronto have attempted to hold referenda on their cfs membership. Various U of T divisions, including the Engineering Society, the Trinity College Meeting, and Victoria University Students’ Administrative Council, passed referenda in favour of fee diversion from the University of Toronto Students’ Union in March 2013. A pgss referendum held in April 2010 resulted in 86 per cent of the electorate voting in favour of defederation, a majority large enough to leave. The pgss does not consider itself a member of the cfs any longer, and as such, has not paid its membership fees since 2010. The results of the 2010 referendum have yet to be recognized by the cfs, which maintains that the pgss is still a member society. In response to the cfs’ refusal to acknowledge the 2010 referendum results, the pgss filed a case requesting permission to schedule a referendum on their membership. The trial for Sa’s case took place at the end of August, ending with the judge ruling in favour of Sa on September 9, 2014. The date of the pgss referendum will be scheduled following a meeting of the national cfs executive. Sa has requested that the vote take place sometime in late October, although the date has yet to be confirmed.
MEMBERSHIP DISPUTE It is the official stance of the pgss that it is no longer part of the cfs. “Whether the last referendum is valid or not, it’s a case in court right now,” said Sa, acknowledging that the membership status of the pgss is up to the court to decide. “They keep claiming that the pgss is part of
CONTINUED FROM COVER The law also requires colleges to provide victims with any assistance they may need to help find closure, whether it is with reporting the assault and assuring proper actions are taking place to convict the attacker, or finding emotional support. If the college or university fails to comply with the new standards, one per cent of its operating budget will be cut as a consequence. Legislative developments in the US were largely the result of a survey conducted by White House focus groups that found that one in five female college students had been assaulted at some point during their academic careers. Public protest from local communities, campus organizations, and assault victims also spurred the changes. In Canada, the occurrence of on-campus sexual assault is even more frequent. According to surveys conducted by York University, four out of five female undergraduates disclosed that they had been assaulted, with only 29 per cent of them reporting
IMPLICATIONS FOR ONTARIO
sociation shut down the process,” Farrington said of the 2010 referendum. However, the pgss used an online voting system for the referendum, which is not permitted under cfs bylaws. “That was a violation of the bylaws — we flagged that for them and they decided to proceed anyway,” Farrington added. “The cfs has been backwards. We’re in 2014 now and they still want to use paper ballots,” said Sa. “The pgss is not involved with the cfs at all and I find it funny that the cfs uses bylaws that they amend themselves to retroactively bind the pgss,” Sa added. Farrington claims that no one has filed a motion to amend the cfs bylaws to allow online voting; however, it is a topic that the cfs has discussed. Additionally, there were issues with the receipt of the petition that Sa sent to the cfs wherein he requested that a referendum be scheduled. Sa’s petition was sent in two envelopes, one of which the cfs claims it never received. “[T]hat’s a lot of half-truths,” Farrington said in response to the allegation that the petition was misplaced. Sa said that he sent the petition in two separate parts in order to comply with Canada Post regulations. “It was sent in two envelopes because Canada Post doesn’t allow super heavy packages,” he said. Sa believes that the cfs did receive both the
Other student societies in Ontario have also attempted to hold referenda on their cfs membership. Among these is the gsu at U of T, which is in the process of litigation with the cfs. In September 2013, the gsu circulated a petition for a referendum which gathered 3,000 signatures. The cfs has not acknowledged the validity of the petition, so the gsu undertook legal action to initiate a referendum. Walter Callaghan, chair of the litigation committee of the gsu, hopes that the court judgment will be favourable and that the cfs will be required to acknowledge the validity of the petition. If the cfs acknowledges the petition, Callaghan anticipates holding the referendum during this academic year. The gsu has no official position on the petition and encourages discussion of the issue from all of its members. “The Ge Sa victory means that the cfs cannot arbitrarily interpret its bylaws, and recognizes the rights the bylaws provide to students to decide their own future and the nature of their relationship with cfs,” Callaghan said. Although the gsu was one of the founding members of the cfs, their internal relationship with them has soured over the years. A statement on the gsu website states that the gsu and the cfs often have different goals and that the petition should open a healthy debate on their 32-year-old cfs membership. Further statements report a lack of need for the cfs as one of the reasons behind the petition. The gsu has sought out alternative, allegedly superior replacements for cfs services, such as health and dental plans, a more sustainable handbook, and ethical merchandise. “This case sets the precedent that any student within a student group — no matter what their execs may think — if they have the 20 per cent needed to call a referendum, they can have a referendum,” Sa said.
Najiba Ali Sardar, vice-president, equity, of the University of Toronto Students’ Union (utsu) called on students to engage in open dialogue about the meaning of consent. “It is our job to encourage these discussions amongst students. We try to take a proactive approach by holding various equity workshops in our clubs training, workshops, and events we are invited to in order to remind our members what consent looks like,” said Sardar. However, Rachel Costin, sec’s public relations representative, said the university’s legislative policies around sexual assault were still in need of improvement. “There is no clear strategy for handling assault cases,” she said. “Victims are often confused and do not know who to go to [to] report their assault. They do not know if they should report to university officials or go seek help outside campus,” Costin added. Althea Blackburn-Evans, U of T director of media relations, said the university offers a number of on-campus resources aimed at informing students on issues around consent, including the Draw The Line program, which educates students on how to spot sexual vio-
lence and empowers them to make a difference. In an attempt to elicit change in the university’s policies, the utsu said it is working to establish additional workshops and information sessions, particularly for first-year students. “If all first-year students were required to attend a mandatory workshop discussing safety on campus, respect, consent, rape culture, and so forth during Orientation Week, we would hopefully see increasing change. We must take an intersectional approach to these issues, being aware of things like intimate partner violence, the problematic sexualizations of racialized women, indigenous women, [and] transwomen,” Sardar said, adding: “These measures would be a positive step forward.” Costin echoed Sardar. “It is about information and communication,” Costin said. “Students need to understand what constitutes as consent and what constitutes as assault. Universities need to support ... victims by providing them with clear administrative assistance and multiple avenues of emotional support so that they can plan their own way of finding closure,” she added.
The University of Toronto Graduate Students’ Union. JENNIFER SU/THE VARSITy
the cfs on their website, in their materials, and in their publications. I personally think it’s just not [right]. I do not want to be associated with them, and I don’t want them to keep claiming fees from us,” he added. “This is such a unique case because the pgss actually put the brakes on us a number of years ago,” said Brent Farrington, cfs internal coordinator. “Their case was that they weren’t members of our organization; our case was that they are members of our organization.” He added, “[T]he students at McGill are in fact members and have the right to exercise that vote.” However, when Sa filed his original petition requesting a referendum on the McGill campus, the cfs said they would not work to recognize the petition, on the grounds that the pgss does not consider itself a member of the cfs. “We made him aware that, as per the bylaws, their member local association would not be cooperating with us to validate the petition because they did not believe they were members of our organization,” Farrington said. “They’re switching back and forth on their position,” Sa said. “You can’t claim that we’re members in a previous case and then claim that we’re not members in this case,” he added.
PREVIOUS REFERENDA ATTEMPTS According to Farrington, for a number of years the cfs has tried to set up a vote on membership at the McGill campus. “The student asthe incident and only six per cent notifying the police.
“PROACTIVE APPROACH” At U of T, the degree to which sexual assault is a problem on campus is still largely unknown — at least to the public. However, the university is taking steps towards promoting policy changes and making more information available for students. This year, in the wake of previous frosh week chant controversy at St. Mary’s University and the University of British Columbia, divisions across U of T reviewed their frosh week chants to cut down on offensive material. Ask First, a campaign established in 2007, provides resources and materials to increase awareness of sexual assault and inform students on consent. That campaign recently released a video that frames consent language as “yes means yes.” U of T also provides an on-campus Assault Centre, Sexual Education Centre (sec), and psychological services for victims of rape and sexual assault.
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Vol. CXXXV, No. 3
VARSITY NEWS
news@thevarsity.ca
Green Champions unites students, staff, professors across faculties Sustainability Office program promotes greener daily life, on- and off-campus
elham numan/The VarsiTy
Nabi Dressler
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
Professor Christian Abizaid’s research focuses on the Amazon rainforest. While he researches the environmental impact of the Amazon’s trees being cut down, his participation in the Sustainability Office’s Green Champions program invokes “a process of self-reflection” as he reevaluates his own environmental impact. This September, Abizaid pledged to reduce household waste through Green Champions, part of the university’s It’s Greener Here initiative, which is committed to making the university more sustainable. Green Champions also provides those interested in the program with resources on how to be green and tools to feel environmentally empowered.
Similar pledges are listed under one of four categories: waste, health, water, or energy. According to program coordinator Jessica Dawe, these categories encompass how each person impacts Earth, and the breakdown makes pledging less daunting. Pledges range from unplugging all electronic devices when not in use to adopting a plant-based diet one to four times weekly. While current pledges are for this month, anyone can get involved with Green Champions throughout the year. More than 700 students have already pledged at Green Champions’ frosh events or online, while seven pledgers are featured on the Green Champions website. On this blog, featured champions like Abizaid document their pledge progress. The university’s Sustainability Office, which launched in 2004, developed the
Green Champions program last winter, following a general green lifestyle pledge program last fall. One goal of the program is to demonstrate that anyone can be green and environmentally conscious regardless of which subjects they study. Dawe said the university community has been generally receptive to Green Champions as they “learn about how they can make modifications to their own lifestyle.” According to Dawe, staff members often want to learn more about the program after they see their colleagues participate. Dawe hopes the program will show people that environmental action doesn’t have to be scary and that there are environmental leaders across different faculties, offices, and student groups. She expressed hope that the program will inspire conversations with peers, family members, and friends,
and eventually snowball to create a larger conversation about climate change. Abizaid, too, hopes for long-term impacts of his month-long pledge and committed to continue living sustainably after September. He also got his children involved with the program at home. For instance, he and his children measured how much water is used in a bath versus in a shower. “Anything we do on this Earth has an impact,” Abizaid said. Green Champions also allows students to see Abizaid and other faculty members as people who are making an effort to be greener in daily life and not just as professors. “If at least one person goes to the website and can relate somehow and decides to make even a small change in their lifestyle, then it’s good,” Abizaid said.
Purchase of iClickers and other assessment materials now mandatory University policy changes contradict previous statements Spencer Knibutat
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
U of T students can now be required to buy electronic and digital learning materials, such as iClickers, under the new Provostial Guidelines on the Use of Digital Learning Materials for the 2014–2015 academic year. The purchase of these materials was previously not mandatory. The iClicker, a personal response system commonly used in large classes to engage students in class quizzes and to gauge attendance, costs upwards of $40.
Abdullah Shihipar, Arts & Science Students’ Union (assu) president, took issue with the university’s decision. “While the cost of things like iClickers are marginal for some and do add to the learning experience, the cost of delivering a high quality of education should lie with the university — not students who have already paid tuition fees to begin with,” said Shihipar. The previous provostial guidelines stipulated that “all of the costs associated with student participation in a course are expected to be funded through tuition revenue and the University’s provincial operating grant.”
The new provostial guidelines come in response to a December 2013 revision to the Tuition Fee Framework and Ancillary Fee Guidelines for Publicly-Assisted Universities by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. This revision allows for a number of learning materials, including art supplies, lab coats, and online manuals, to be conditionally exempt from the Memorandum of Agreement between the University of Toronto and student governments regarding the increase or introduction of compulsory non-tuition-related fees.
The new guidelines also outline the processes to control non-tuition costs to students. “The University will continue to investigate the use of open-source assessment tools and engage in discussions with publishers to obtain the best options for our students. Additionally, the University will investigate the suitability of reduced cost options for textbooks such as open source and/or commercially available etextbooks,” a statement from the document reads. All provostial guidelines are reviewed annually in the late spring or early summer.
var.st/news
VARSITY NEWS
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2014
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Insider Pass scrapped for 2014 orientation week Pass dropped due to heavy criticism, new Blue Crew focus Amitpal Singh
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
After a year of criticism from several student leaders, the University of Toronto Students’ Union (utsu) has discontinued its Insider Pass program. The Insider Pass was available for $20 last fall and promised students access to exclusive events, discounts, and a “student survival kit.” A detailed breakdown of the pass revealed that most of the discounts marked as exclusive were already available to students as part of mandatory fees paid to the utsu. When asked about the revenue the program produced and its level of success, utsu president Yolen Bollo-Kamara said that the utsu is constantly exploring ways of keeping students engaged. “Last year’s Insider Pass provided an incentive for students to stay connected throughout the year by providing them with discounts or free entry to numerous events, in addition to the promotions offered by various sponsors,” she said. Regarding the decision to eliminate the Insider Pass this year, Bollo-Kamara explained that a changed structure motivated the decision. “This year, we are focused on promoting the popular new Blue Crew volunteer program, which is recognized by the new co-curricular record (ccr) and offers many opportunities for students to get involved in utsu initiatives,”
Bollo-Kamara said. Pierre Harfouche, utsu vice-president, university affairs, echoed remarks he made last year regarding the Insider Pass. “The Pass allowed students who had spare change to become ‘Insiders,’ essentially ‘better members.’ This was extremely unfair for students who could not afford this, or did not know about the Insider Pass. All utsu members deserve to be treated equitably instead of being treated based on their ability to fork out $20 at the start of the year,” he said. Harfouche attributed the decision to remove the Insider Pass from orientation events as a lesson learned from last year’s criticism. “It is likely that the executive team last year realized their misstep and discontinued the Pass, alternatively there may still be support for the Pass, but it is definitely not vocal,” he explained. When asked how many of the passes were sold, Harfouche said he was unsure of the numbers. Brian*, who purchased the Insider Pass as a first-year student last September, said he was disappointed when he heard that many of the purported benefits were available free of charge. “I felt cheated when I realized that I had essentially been the victim of false advertising. I was attracted by the Greyhound and food discounts, which I later learned were free of charge,” he said. *Name changed at student’s request.
The University of Toronto Students’ Union office. elena iourtaeva/tHe varsity
UTSU hosts second annual street festival Festival raises questions about UTSU plans to pedestrianize St. George Street Emma Compeau
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
Representatives from a variety of University of Toronto student societies, groups, and services set up shop at the second annual University of Toronto Students’ Union (utsu) street festival last Tuesday. The event involved the closure of St. George Street to cars, leaving the street open to pedestrians. The event was set to run from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, but was late getting underway as Toronto Police closed off the street later than planned. Officers were originally scheduled to close St. George Street around 6:00 am, but did not do so until 10:00 am. “Campus police are not responsible for road closures on our campuses. It is the responsibility of the event organizers to arrange road closures with the City of Toronto and Toronto Police. As the Toronto Police were later than planned, campus police assisted the utsu to get the event safely underway,” Althea Blackburn-Evans, U of T director of media relations, said regarding the late start. The utsu Fest, which is geared towards both new and returning students, was advertised by the utsu as the largest organized event at U of T. utsu Fest began in 2004 with the goal of helping students transition to U of T by providing them with information on the university’s various clubs and events. U of T clubs present at the Street Festival included program-specific clubs such as the Criminology Students’ Association and the Rotman Commerce Students’ Association; athletic groups such as table tennis and paintball clubs; student societies such as the Greek Students’ Association and the Egyptian Students’ Association; and various retail vendors.
Students at the UTSU street festival. jennifer su/tHe varsity
A number of food trucks, including Fidel Gastro’s, Smoke’s Poutinerie, Blue Donkey Greek, and Beaver Tails, were also at the event. In recent years, the pedestrianization of St. George Street has repeatedly been featured on the utsu’s agenda. In January 2014, the university and City of Toronto claimed that they had not heard of the utsu’s plan to pedestrianize St. George Street, citing concerns around
safety and increased traffic congestion. The utsu did not respond to requests for comment. A similar plan was successfully executed in the closure of Willcocks Street between St. George Street and Huron Street in 2010, where the street was turned into a public square, now known as Willcocks Commons. The Willcocks Street closure
was originally slated to last just one year. To make the closure of Willcocks Street possible, the university partnered with the City of Toronto to mimic New York City’s closing of Times Square. The concept has also been implemented in other universities, such as Ryerson University, where Gould Street was closed off to create a pedestrian-only space.
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VARSITY NEWS
Vol. CXXXV, No. 3
news@thevarsity.ca
Dinner with 12 Strangers Building the U of T community one dinner at a time
julien balbontin/tHe Varsity
Claudia Dessanti
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
Now in its ninth year, Dinner with Twelve Strangers (D12) continues to build a stronger university community. As part of the program, U of T students
attend a dinner party hosted by a U of T alumnus or alumna. The program is run jointly by the University of Toronto Alumni Association (utaa) and the Office of Alumni Affairs. Barbara Dick, assistant vice-president, alumni relations, said that,
since the program’s inception it has led to many lasting friendships and mentorship-type relationships between alumni and students. The program started in 2006 with five dinners, and now regularly exceeds 30 events annually. It has also expanded to more than just dinners,
with alumni choosing to host a range of events including nature hikes and games nights. The cost of each activity is generally covered by the alumnus or alumna who volunteers to host it. Larger events, such as the annual holiday party at Hart House Farm
receive limited sponsorship. Attendance is free and open to all current students and recent graduates. Students who sign up for the program are sent invitations to multiple events, from which they then choose according to time, location, and activity. U of T is not the only — or the first — school to have launched this sort of program. The University of California, Los Angeles (ucla) launched its Dinner for Strangers program in 1968. In 2012, ucla alumni hosted 304 dinners, with over 3,400 student participants. Ohio University, University of Winsconsin, and Emory University also run similar programs. Within Canada, however, U of T is currently the only major university to have a D12 program. Cindy Ross Pedersen, president-elect of the utaa, has hosted dinners for five years. She said bringing students together through conversation and food fosters friendships and makes the university more welcoming. “At these parties, we exchange stories, we cook together, I do some mentoring, and the students offer each other advice,” said Pedersen. “Each dinner is the same and different,” she added. Naveeda Hussain, a third-year student, said the program offers opportunities for students to create a more intimate involvement with the university community. “It’s a way to put faces and names to an intimate group of people amidst the overwhelming hoard of people that is U of T,” said Hussain. Dick added that the program provides benefits to alumni participants, as well as students. “It also gives members of the University’s 530,000+ alumni community a fun way to give back and make a direct impact on the student experience,” she said. Besides participating in the program, Dick said, alumni participate in the university community through volunteering, mentoring, and supporting student scholarships and financial aid. “Alumni, being former students themselves, care a great deal about the university,” Dick said.
Varsity Publications
Board of Directors By-election Varsity Publications is the not-for-profit corporation that publishes The Varsity newspaper. There are two (2) vacant seats on the corporation's Board of Directors. A by-election to fill this seat will be held on September 24-26.
Who are the candidates? — One (1) Scarborough director: Karen Young — One (1) general category director: Hoda Khan, Raiyyan Khan
Vote online at voting.utoronto.ca, September 24-26.
Times have changed. Shouldn’t financial services? You could win $12000, a MacBook Air and a paid work term. Bring big ideas to life with the Manulife Smart Tech Challenge. Enter by October 8, 2014.
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Comment
VAR.ST/COMMENT 15 SEPTEMBER 2014
comment@thevarsity.ca
Does U of T have a school culture? The Question
U of T may struggle with unifying under one banner, but it isn't for a lack of trying Aditya Rau
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
While all U of T students share experiences of campus, can the same be said of a single school culture?. Jennifer su/THe VArsiTy
U of T's student culture is one Culture here cannot compare of smaller groups to other Ontario schools Christina Atkinson
Francesca Morfini
I am personally tired of defending the University of Toronto to friends and strangers who attend other universities. With any institution the size of U of T, there are obviously going to be issues unifying around one unique student culture, but in my opinion, it does not have to be defined as a single communal experience. U of T is a community of communities, very much similar to the way that Toronto is a community composed of smaller communities. Who says that we have to have an intense school spirit? Who says that we have to all walk around in U of T clothing during our university careers, celebrating our collective university experience? Who says that we have to enjoy school-wide events to have fun at university? School spirit does not necessarily mean attending a football game. Many U of T students carry a school spirit that is narrowly defined by their college or campus, which was developed during their first years. Wearing a school sweater does not necessarily mean you liked your experience there; it could have just as easily been a gift from your parents. U of T is composed of numerous, unique colleges, faculties, clubs, and groups that each make up their own independent student communities. The sheer size of U of T as an institution ensures that any type of student can come and be successful socially — they just have to take the initiative to customize their university years. That is why there is no cookie-cutter U of T experience — we each create and find our own communities and cultures. Though, ultimately, isn’t that the perfect university life — one that you can choose? Some argue that U of T is too large and that it is easy to get left behind socially as a result of the absence of a unified student culture. My response to that is firstly, being a part of a campus, college, and faculty already serves to introduce new students into smaller communities, and, more importantly, that is the way the real world functions. No one will hold your hand every day and tell you how to do everything, with the possible exception of some overbearing parents. Your life is what you make of it and the sooner you realize that the more fulfilling your life will be. I’d much rather create my own memories than follow some outdated university culture that other people made for me. All that being said, there are some general characteristics that U of T students share that could be considered examples of the “average.” Everyone I’ve met here is intelligent in their own way, hardworking, and wildly interesting. Our atmosphere lends itself to producing great members of society and, in my opinion, that is what really matters.
With three campuses, over 65,000 undergraduate students — one-seventh being international — is it even possible for U of T to have a student culture? Our students come from all over the world, with incredibly diverse cultural backgrounds, traditions, dietary habits, living habits, and studying habits. Yet we all come together: we all chose U of T. Students share the vast number of hours spent in the body of a concrete peacock in the form of our beloved Robarts Library, and a pride for attending the socalled Harvard of the North, no doubt. Yet in comparison to other Canadian universities like Western, Queen's, and Guelph, U of T lacks in the school spirit category. If it weren’t for tiff, frosh week would take over the city at the start of September. This is a quintessential moment of any U of T student’s experience, whether it means marching or watching from afar. Yet it seems that as September and the thrills of starting a new year descend on campus, students go off into their own shells, or rather, library cubicles, and stay there until autumn of the following year. Despite the fact that a prominent student culture may not exist, it would not be fair to consider U of T students to be disassociated. This school has several smaller communities and cultures that are part of a greater spectrum. The sheer amount of extra-curricular clubs the school has to offer is practically overwhelming. Every student association creates a culture of its own, and in the unlikely event that a culture is ignored, a new club will be established. The college system, a concept that is unfortunately still confusing to some fourth-year students, plays a role in giving students that school spirit. Going beyond the often uncanny stereotypes that define each college, these homes within U of T provide a haven for us all. This system, along with student councils and associations within faculties like the Economics Students’ Association, Engineering Society, and so on, give us the opportunity to involve ourselves by picking and choosing school cultures and customs. There is an underlying je ne sais quoi between students sharing the same college or association that instantly binds them when they meet. Though many students’ havens may not be the college, every student at U of T associates themselves with something. In a nutshell, U of T may not have the strong campus culture that other Canadian schools pride themselves on, but it gives its students plenty of other instruments to create a sense of community.
Christina Atkinson is a third-year student at University College studying economics and political science.
Francesca Morfini is a third-year student at St. Michael’s College studying international relations and history.
VARSITY STAFF
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
The political science student in me would be remiss to begin this response without defining school culture. As much as I detest the formulaic approach to argumentation that is drilled into students over the course of a four-year undergraduate degree, I do recognize the format’s value. Thus, allow me to define school culture as student recognition of, and involvement in, a cohesive, vibrant, and dynamic social and learning community. It is widely recognized by both students and academics that U of T lacks a school culture. The reasons for this belief are clear: U of T is divided into three campuses and is home to a large commuter population. Furthermore, the misconception that U of T is an easy school to get in to, but a hard school to stay at, speaks to the emphasis placed on achievement over culture at this institution. Additionally, bodies that seek to represent the student population and build student culture have recently come under fire, resulting in a more fragmented student population. It appears that we are too divided and disillusioned to come together and build school culture. The cynics would argue that the facts speak for themselves — students seeking school culture would be better served attending schools such as Western or Queen's, where Mustang or Gael games, respectively, are characterized by packed stadiums and screaming fans. In contrast, I have yet to see Varsity Stadium packed in my two years on campus. Much like Canada, unity in diversity is at the heart of school culture at U of T. The college system is the most powerful representation of this idea — seven colleges serve as homes away from home to both resident and commuter students, offering resources, services and, of course, the occasional party or two to their constituents. While some may suggest that frosh week chants and other rivalrous activities set the colleges against one another, I would argue that it is activities such as these that allow us to find a collective culture through diversity. Students are proud to belong to colleges that are constituents of Canada’s top university — there cannot be one without the other. The frosh parade is the best example of that unifying principle — in the midst of sharp yet witty chants, our diverse learning and social mosaic is pieced together as we bleed blue through the streets of Toronto. There are, then, mechanisms in place which seek to, and succeed at, building school culture at U of T. Finally, school culture at utsg specifically is unique in that, while we exist within the confines of our college's or faculty’s respective quadrangles, we share important priorities. U of T’s students should pride themselves on their ability to recognize challenges and respond to them. Students have and will continue to act in ways that benefit the student community as a whole. A vivid example of this is the manner in which a number of colleges and faculties rallied together at an utsu Annual General Meeting (agm) to stress the importance of online voting. We need to be willing to venture beyond our local campus bubble, seeking out new friends, conversations, and opportunities if we are to cultivate a school culture that each student contributes to and benefits from. We also need to make better use of the clubs, resources, and institutions available to us if we are to truly celebrate a school culture we can be proud of. Ultimately, cultivating and growing school culture at U of T is not simply the duty of every student — it is a noble calling, and an immense responsibility. Aditya Rau is the Male Head of Arts at Trinity College. He is a third-year student studying political science.
ONLINE EXCLUSIVE An extended version of this article is available online at thevarsity.ca/comment
VARSITY COMMENT
10 Vol. CXXXV, No. 3
comment@thevarsity.ca
School, a social life, and sleep: pick two Students are often forced to sacrifice sleep to make time for other things Mursal Rahman
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
As teenagers, some of us lived our lives by the motto “sleep is for the weak." I, for one, am guilty of following this mantra. You might feel that if you get to sleep at 9:00 pm you are losing out on valuable Netflix time, but the opportunity to stay up watching movies until sunrise is quickly evaporating. Unfortunately, the truth is that summer has come to an end, and it is time to return to reality. All you have now are deadlines, meetings, and work — not to mention making time for studying and a social life. It is abnormal for a university student to get 10 hours of sleep a night. There is so much to do and so little time—sometimes you do not even notice that you work straight through hours that are meant for sleep. Many students lie in bed trying to fall asleep, but find that their mind will not stop running. This lack of sleep has many side effects: you curse at morning classes, you yawn throughout the day, you have no idea why the university would venture to schedule three-hour lectures, and you often feel the most tired during the moments you know you need to be awake. You might even fall asleep on the bus and end up at a station you have never been to before.
Caffeine then becomes your best friend. You will make sure you get up for class in the morning in time to make a quick coffee run beforehand. At lunch, you may opt for a soda instead of water, just for that extra bit of energy. You are grumpy and you yell at the people around you. You want others to leave you alone. It is often said that students have three available options: school, sleep, and a social life, and they are going to have to pick two and sacrifice the third. Frankly, as a student, it is often easier to choose a social life and work over sleep. Perhaps work and school are more important to you — after all, you are paying for tuiton, textbooks, and living expenses. If staying in touch with your friends and having time for fun is important to you, then you have to make an effort to see them. Sleep is often easily sacrificed when it comes to finding time to incorporate all of your interests and responsibilities as a student into your tight schedule. So, get ready for years of coffee, tea, and tears. Everyone is different and will make different priorities, but remember that time management is key — and finding time to sleep, though difficult, is critical for achieving a balanced student lifestyle.
ZZZ
Mursal Rahman is a first-year student at UTSC studying journalism.
KAWMADIE KARUNANAYAKE/THE VARsITY
Conflict minerals and the integral role of everyday Canadians When consumers contribute to humanitarian crises Op-ed
Kristen Pue is the Advocacy Director at STAND CANADA. JENNIFER sU/THE VARsITY
Kristen Pue
ADVOCACY DIRECTOR AT STAND CANADA
We all know about the crisis in Ukraine. We all know about the Ebola outbreak, and we are all aghast at the advance of isis in the Middle East. But are you aware of the single deadliest conflict since the World War II? More importantly, do you know if you are inadvertently contributing to this humanitarian catastrophe?
Although it is rarely in the news, the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (drc) has claimed 5.4 million lives since 1996 and remains one of the world’s worst active crises. In addition to its high death toll, it is notable for its rampant sexual violence: an average of 48 rapes are committed per hour. The conflict in the drc is multifaceted, but here is the gist: the Rwandan genocide provided the trigger for the First Congo War, but the despotic rule of Mobutu Sese Seko certainly was an underlying factor. Following the geno-
cide, Tutsi rebels took control of Rwanda. Two million refugees flooded into the drc, most of them Hutu. Hutu extremists were among civilian refugees and used the eastern drc as a base to continue the Rwandan civil war. This stoked instability, and eventually resulted in an uprising. Rwanda and Uganda joined to help depose Mobutu. Laurent Kabila, the new leader, failed to oust Hutu militias, prompting Rwanda and Uganda to again invade; Angola, Namibia, and Zimbabwe intervened in support of Kabila. This Second Congo War ended with a 2003 peace accord. However, paramilitary groups have continued to clash in the mineral-rich eastern drc ever since. Consumers may be inadvertently complicit in this violence through our purchases. Up to 95 per cent of revenue for armed groups is derived from the sale of conflict minerals, sustaining rebel operations and providing a strong incentive to avoid peace. Mineral wealth is thus a driver of conflict. Conflict minerals are extracted by local labourers who are illegally taxed, and otherwise exploited, by rebel groups that control the mines. They are sold at local trading houses, then again to exporters who sell the minerals to smelters and refiners that process the minerals. The processed minerals are then manufactured in products that we purchase. The conflict minerals, often called “3TGs” (tin, tungsten, tantalum, and gold), are present in many products such as electronics, jewelry, airplanes, cans, and medical devices. Canada has yet to pass legislation requiring businesses to avoid the use of conflict miner-
als in their products. Given that the US passed a law of this nature in 2010, Canada lags woefully behind. However, a draft of a Private Member’s Bill on conflict minerals has been proposed Bill C-486, the Conflict Minerals Act, would require companies that are engaged in the extraction, processing, purchasing, trading, or use of “3TG” minerals originating from the drc and surrounding countries to exercise due diligence — to take reasonable steps to ensure that they are not using conflict minerals. The bill implements oecd recommendations developed in coordination with industry and the governments from the Great Lakes Region of Africa. Bill C-486 will be voted on this month but is, unfortunately, unlikely to pass. Several Conservative MPs have stated their opposition to Bill C-486 because they feel that it will make Canadian companies less competitive. Considering that the US already holds companies to these reasonable human rights standards, and that the European Union is expected to pass conflict minerals legislation soon, this concern is hardly plausible. If you think that Canadians have a right to know whether our purchases are contributing to conflict and gross human rights violations abroad, take part in the National Day of Action on Conflict Minerals on Wednesday, September 17, by signing STAND CANADA's petition, and supporting the cause on social media. Kristen Pue is the Advocacy Director at STAND CANADA, a youth-led anti-genocide organization. She is a student in the Faculty of Law.
Editorial
VAR.ST/EDITORIAL 15 SEPTEMBER 2014
comment@thevarsity.ca
Rising costs of textbooks among barriers to higher education
Julien BalBontin/tHe Varsity
Last week, The Varsity published a news article detailing the extent to which rising textbook costs are affecting students at U of T. The soaring cost of materials at the U of T Bookstore is, in part, emblematic of a larger structural problem currently facing Canadian universities and their students, which raises several important questions about financial accessibility to higher education. The average debt for a Canadian student with some form of debt amounts to $25,000 upon graduation — a number that reflects the overwhelming cost of post-secondary education in this country. With little savings to be gained from the U of T Bookstore's rental program and low buy-back rates, students are left with few options for reasonably priced materials through the university, leading many to turn to buying and selling used materials online. While the issues of public funding models and enrolment complicate any grievance over the cost of higher education in Canada, the time has come to address exorbitant and exclusionary financial barriers to the university experience. Granted, if U of T is going to continue to thrive as an educational institution, it will be forced to supplement provincial funding through more capitalistic practices, such as the sales of textbooks and materials. However, it is of the utmost importance that students not bear the brunt of the university’s financial growth to the point that necessary educational costs prove insurmountable. The reasons for the astronomically high costs of textbooks are understandable. The industry revolves around an exhaustive scholarly review process of new materials that entails compensating co-authors, research staff, editors, etc. This, combined with the high print quality of glossy colour texts and the seemingly endless turnover of new editions, is among the reasons textbooks are prohibitively expensive products — not to mention the fact that textbooks are perennially essential resources with an inelastic demand. There are several alternatives to brand new print texts available to students, although each comes with its own set of limitations. Online texts are sometimes available and are generally less expensive than their print counterparts. However, unlike their hardcopy counterparts, online versions of textbooks are often only accessible for a set period of time — generally a semester or academic year — meaning that students lose the opportunity to refer back to or resell their textbooks. Online texts also remain quite expensive, largely due to the review process they are still subject to and the labour required to develop an online platform and accompanying digital resources. Open access material is also worthy of consideration and is a subject that has come under recent debate. In 2012, the Supreme Court of Canada overhauled the Copyright Act, effectively loosening the restrictions of copyright law. The legislative changes included an expansion of the fair dealing principle within the context of education. The university interpreted this ruling to mean that so long as instructors use 10 per cent or less of a given academic work, it constitutes fair dealing, and therefore does not require copyright licensing. Open access material is included in the definition of these 10 per cent or less instances, as well as scholarly articles available through the U of T library system, and online sources such as Google Scholar. While these open access materials are useful to students for things like essay writing, they are decidedly less useful in terms of course syllabi. Professors do not always consider price in addition to quality when selecting their texts and, as such, some often choose rigorously reviewed, but painfully expensive textbooks over more financially accessible alternatives. Additionally, the rental costs of books through the U of T bookstore can be only marginally cheaper than buying a book at its full price. Buy-back rates are subject to fluctuation, with students sometimes being offered significantly less than the total value of the material when they come to sell them back to the bookstore. With the increasing cost of education in Ontario, one step U of T’s administration ought to consider with a view to limiting the financial blow to students is the implementation of reasonable buy-back rates and a worthwhile textbook rental system. Such a move would be in the university’s best interest as more students would be willing to participate in the program, and more used materials would be available for sale. Course instructors also have a role to play — while some do their best to keep course material costs low, many insist on assigning new editions of textbooks or course packs in lieu of shorter readings that would fall under the 10 per cent line and could be posted on Blackboard at no additional cost to students. With these barriers in mind, the university has a responsibility to create an infrastructure in which materials are as financially accessible as possible. Currently, the systems in place are woefully inadequate, especially for an institution that prides itself on a reputation for progress. The Varsity's editorial board is elected by the masthead at the beginning of each semester. For more information about The Varsity's editorial policy, email comment@thevarsity.ca.
LETTERS TO
THE EDITOR
Vol. CXXXV, No. 3 | September 15, 2014 Re: Future of online voting uncertain I hope anyone considering removing the online voting option realizes the political costs such a decision could have. At the same time, I hope the press, Trinity, and Engsoc realize that all that's happened thus far is that an idea was preliminarily discussed. This doesn't need to be a scandal, certainly not as this point in the discussions. — ZM (from web) Re: Academic justice I don't see a problem with this per say. The names of the students were never given. The people involved in the case are entirely confidential, if a student doesn't want others to know why they are no longer in school, he just doesn't need to speak about it. This system is far more friendly than the Criminal Code of Canada which allows the names of offenders to be released. At least the university protects your name. — Pierre Harfouche (from web) Re: APUS, university work to implement accessibility fixes While Siewrattan is correct that accessibility is about more than just ramps, ramps are still important. The "accessibility" ramp on the west side of Sidney Smith has been in a hazardous state of disrepair for months. Let's hope the administration manages to fix it before winter. — Susan Froom (from web) Re: Op-ed: Life as an (international) student union executive I've personally always been a very vocal critic of any exec's decision to be a Graduated Student and utsu
executive. While I still feel like being a graduated exec is not right (for evident reasons such as not being able to relate to student issues), this comment explaining the barriers international students have in participating in the utsu does help clarify the situation a lot. International students go through a lot of stuff that domestic students such as myself can't always relate to and helping us understand what types of Services International Students need is always important. I'm glad you took the time to clarify this Cameron, it takes a lot of courage to put yourself and your personal situation on centre stage like that and open to criticism. — Pierre Harfouche (from web) Re: Waiting on change Actually, western societies use tax money for things we don't all believe in all the time. The truth is that while the utsu needs to learn to better engage with its members to build its popularity and usefulness, this issue is in fact a complex one. Its often hard to tell which anti-utsu allegations are legitimate and which aren't as scandals come and fade (some, including the recent continuance dispute, result from misunderstandings, not actual political differences), and unfortunately when enough mud is slung, some of it sticks. — ZM (from web) Re: Behind bedroom doors I love these, feels so natural. If they'd been smiling it would've felt staged. My favourite was the girl with her grandma's dentures. Sounds like something I would've done. — Louisa Julius (from web)
Letters to the editor should be directed to comment@thevarsity.ca. Please keep letters to 250 words. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.
A student’s best friend Exploring student options for the costs and benefits of pet ownership and fostering for students Article by Emma Kikulus | Photos by Jennifer Su
I
n the past few years, animal therapy rooms have become ubiquitous on university and college campuses during exam season. These rooms — intended to provide students with the opportunity to de-stress and unwind with attention from furry friends — are a reminder of the positive influence animals can have on human well-being. Pets can be excellent companions, providing their owners with often much-needed affection and attention. Animal interaction has also been linked to decreased stress levels. However, while the idea of owning a pet in university may be appealing, the responsibility that comes with adopting an animal is substantial. With some research and long-term consideration, pet ownership or fostering can be a satisfying source of stress relief and affection for dedicated students.
A STRESS RELEASE At times, university can be an overwhelming experience. Living away from home, commuting, and the challenges of managing course workloads can all lead to heightened stress levels. Animals and animal therapy programs have been increasingly helpful to students struggling with mental health issues or increased stress levels. A recent study conducted by Sara Staats, a professor of psychology at Ohio State University, concluded that owning a pet not only reduces stress in students and young adults, but that the companionship that a pet provides can help individuals overcome feelings of loneliness, which many undergraduates struggle with. The survey revealed that 18 per cent of students who own pets found that their animal companions helped them cope with the stresses and hardships of university life. The top reason for owning a pet, as cited by students and young adults, was to combat loneliness and isolation. Hollie Devlin, a therapy dog evaluator with St. John Ambulance, agreed, “Students are under a lot of pressure, especially those who are away from home for the first time. Just the act of petting a dog alone can raise cortisol levels.” Cortisol, an adrenal hormone, regulates the body’s reaction to stress, including the moderation of blood pressure
and blood sugar, enabling students to better manage their stress and combat anxiety. Requiring no medication or psychotherapy, pet therapy is a successful way of easing exam stress and relieving anxiety and loneliness. “It is a fun, relaxed, shared experience with friends,” said Devlin. Animal therapy benefits the pets as well as the participants. “Pet therapy allows students to just relax and pet or play with a dog who wants nothing more than a belly rub or ear scratch,” explained Devlin. “We’ve seen a dramatic surge of interest from schools, including universities, colleges, high schools, and also some grade schools and specialty schools. During the 2013–2014 school year we visited over 6000 students at more than 60 separate events at various departments, faculties, and residences,” she said. Unlike service dogs, therapy dogs do not undergo extensive training; however, an evaluation process is required by most organizations. “Dogs must be at least a year old to be evaluated, although we usually recommend that handlers wait until dogs are two years old so they are more mature,” said Devlin. “We ensure that the dog wants attention and likes to be petted, [and] is friendly and well-balanced,” she added. The positive effects of animal therapy can be substantial. Many universities nationwide
have opened puppy rooms and kitten rooms during exam time so students can unwind and de-stress while interacting with canine and feline companions. It is an easy and fun way to relieve stress, and the benefits these animals provide to students are invaluable. “Many times I’ve observed students come into [therapy] dog sessions talking and moving fast and [then] seen them leave moving slower, with their shoulders lower and smiling like crazy,” said Devlin.
REALITIES OF PET ADOPTION While owning a pet can be a rewarding, constructive experience, the responsibilities involved are not always compatible with the realities of student life. As such, performing extensive research prior to adopting an animal is essential. Toronto is host to hundreds of animal wellness centres, specializing in various animal conservation activities. Organizations like the Toronto Humane Society, Toronto Animal Services (tas), and the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals can help students determine if their lifestyle suits pet ownership and find a pet that matches their level of commitment, financial situation, and schedule. “Looking for a potential pet owner is really about making a good match,” said Mary Lou Leiher, program manager with tas. “We
like to see that the adopter can make the required emotional and time commitment and that [they] understand the potential financial commitment. Beyond that, we try to find the best animal for the owner’s lifestyle and personal preference,” she said. Once students have determined that they are interested in pet adoption, the next step is to decide which species, age, and breed is the best fit. Small pets, including hamsters, guinea pigs, and fish, require a relatively small time commitment aside from regular habitat maintenance and feeding. However, size is not always indicative of the care an animal requires — rabbits, depending on the breed, can have a predicted lifespan of 10 years. Adopting a cat or dog requires a much higher level of commitment. “A potential adopter should consider the time commitment for a pet — this is a big one,” said Leiher, as both dogs and cats require mental, physical, and emotional stimulation from their owners. Taking into consideration your class schedule for the next year and extracurricular activities is important, but thinking more long-term will enable you to decide if adopting a dog or cat is best for you and the animal. Travel plans, life after graduation, and potential future living conditions are all key factors to consider.
More photos online at var.st/pets
Left to right: Third-year English and history major Marius playing with his Bengal cat Babu. Emily, a women and gender studies and English major, and her chameleon Francis. Fourth-year psychology major Lily with Cheng, her tortoise. Recent life sciences graduate Julie with rabbit Millow. Lily the cat with fourth-year international relations and political science double major Jerome.
“Dogs need much more social time and exercise with their owners than cats, and this varies greatly with breed,” said Leiher, adding: “Although cats require less time, many people don’t realize that cats also require daily play and exercise with their owner.” The financial obligations of pet ownership can be substantial. Total annual expenses can occasionally exceed $1,000 — an often surprising figure for first-time pet owners. Spaying or neutering your pet, regular health check-ups, microchip implanting, registering your pet, and pet-proofing and modifying your home all add up to substantial costs that not all students anticipate. Unfortunately, this financial burden can lead to pet surrendering or abandonment. “We don’t keep data on the age or demographic of people who surrender pets,” said Leiher, “[but] my sense is that we don’t see more surrenders from [the young adult or student] demographic than any other.” Although surrendering an animal is never ideal, Leiher said tas understands that people are often left without options. “It’s our belief that the decision to surrender a pet is very difficult for most people and so we try to offer as much support as possible. There are many valid reasons for pet relinquishment. Having said that, it’s fairly obvious when an owner just hasn’t really bonded with the pet and hasn’t made the emotional commitment. This also occurs with some regularity,” she added.
“A VERY REWARDING EXPERIENCE” Although the idea of owning a pet can seem appealing, the reality is that most university students are not ready for the responsibility and commitment that owning a pet — especially a dog or cat — entails. Fortunately, animal fostering provides a solution for students looking for a companion without the long-term commitment. “Fostering is an excellent option [for students],” said Leiher. Most fostering opportunities with tas are with cats and kittens. The commitment
ranges from a few weeks to eight months depending on the specific case. “A fosterer is required to make a short term commitment to the animal and tas retains financial responsibility for the pet,” said Leiher. This makes fostering an ideal option for students who are unsure about their ability to commit financially and logistically to adopting a pet. Although being a foster parent to an animal requires less of a commitment than adoption, fosterers are required to give animals round-the-clock care, something fourth-year student and kitten fosterer Toula Nikas knows all too well. “When they first came to us they were extremely defensive and timid,” said Nikas, referring to Gus and Grey, the one-month-old kittens she and her two roommates fostered for two months. Kitten fosterers need to provide the animals with a quiet, clean environment. The animals are fostered until they are old enough to be neuteured or spayed, after which they are eligible for adoption. Nikas, who is ironically severely allergic to dogs and cats, maintains that she wanted to lend a helping hand in light of the growing problem of feline overpopulation in Toronto and the GTA. “Unfortunately, overhead for these kittens is very limited,” said Nikas, adding: “Rescue programs have no option but to put them down if they cannot find a temporary living situation for them until a permanent solution can be arranged.” What started as a humanitarian effort turned out to be a rewarding emotional experience for Nikas — one that she would do again. “My roommates and I were so happy knowing that we ensured the kittens’ survival [by] providing them with a temporary home,” she said, adding: “I would most definitely foster kittens again if I had the opportunity.” With that in mind, Nikas also has a disclaimer for students considering animal fostering: “[I was] able to dedicate more time to the kittens because we had them during the summer. I think it would be a little different during the school year, so I would suggest ensuring that
you truly do have the time and some funds to dedicate to the animals.” Depending on the organization, some costs associated with fostering, including food and litter, may be the responsibility of the foster owner. Shauna Edgar, a fourth-year student at U of T, also found the feline fostering experience to be beneficial. “I highly recommend that students foster if they love animals, have experience taking care of them and socializing them and are dedicated to the idea,” she said. She cautioned, however, that the decision to foster is not something to be taken lightly, noting: “[A]t times it can be fairly challenging and stressful depending on the pet and its issues.” Edgar fosters cats through the Toronto Cat Rescue (tcr) and has had a positive experience working with the organization, “tcr is quite good as they keep in close contact with you to hear how the cat is doing … they keep your experience in mind when recommending fosters for you.” Edgar, who shares the responsibility of fostering with her partner and her roommate, has taken on cats with different varieties of needs ranging from socializing shy animals to administering medication. Communicating with the organization prior to accepting a foster can help students understand the scope of responsibilities they will face. “You have to know what you’re getting into,” said Edgar, “but it is a very rewarding experience.” Despite the time commitment of pet ownership or fostering, the experience is generally rewarding for both pet and owner. “I have definitely benefitted a lot from fostering with tcr. As someone that has struggled with anxiety and depression my whole life, it is extremely comforting to come home to a pet that provides unconditional love, and I’ve found it incredibly therapeutic,” said Edgar. “I have often joked that a doctor should really just give me a prescription for a pet cat. Even with just regular day-to-day stress, it’s so calming to come home from a long day of class and pet our foster cat.”
Arts&Culture
VAR.ST/ARTS
15 SEPTEMBER 2014
arts@thevarsity.ca
Galleries roundup: back to school A guide to new art exhibits around the city this fall
The Why Can't Minimal exhibit at the Justina M. Barnicke Gallery jennifer su/THe VArsiTy
Emily Katz
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
In the lead-up to Toronto’s annual art extravaganza Nuit Blanche, it can be easy to forget the staggering number of other art offerings in Toronto at any given time. If you’re jonesing for an art fix, check out this guide to current art exhibits being housed in galleries near campus.
tbd: “Artists are the barometer of our cultural consciousness.” Together these charts, notes, and images seem to comprise the collective thoughts of the contributing artists. In this way, the exhibit offers a platform for discussion on new interpretations of gallery space. Great for: inspiring critical thought, with the bonus of paywhat-you-can admission.
MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY CANADIAN ART (MOCCA)
JUSTINA M. BARNICKE GALLERY
Recently opened is tbd, a new exhibit that aims to question what it means to be a contemporary gallery. This comes at a time when the Queen West gallery is continuing its search for a new home, as the current space will be transformed into condominiums later this year. The exhibit is comprised of over 70 submissions from architects, challenging existing notions about public galleries and museum spaces. The exhibit is small and unassuming; along the walls there are floor plans, three-dimensional models, and endless interpretations of what a gallery is. In one of the three rooms, a written line exemplifies one of the many themes of
The Why Can’t Minimal exhibit, on through October 19 at the Hart House gallery, is perhaps the most accessible art to U of T students. The gallery is free, on campus, and affiliated with the neighbouring University of Toronto Art Centre, housed in University College. The collection was curated by a Master of Visual Studies graduate. The current exhibit pokes fun at the concept of minimalism by “embracing its humanity and latent absurdity,” according to the exhibit's web page. The gallery is small and quickly walked through. The pieces in the exhibit stick to their promise of minimalism, yet there is a sense of joviality and ease as you walk
through — from doodles on pieces of paper to a large glass square that is dripping with condensation on the inside. It seems almost funny, except that it is too subtle to actually make you laugh out loud. Great for: stopping by for even a moment’s quiet relief from the busy campus surrounding it.
ART GALLERY OF ONTARIO (AGO) The biggest exhibit on at the ago right now showcases twentieth century Canadian artist Alex Colville. It is the largest collection of Colville’s work to date, with over 100 paintings being shown in addition to drawings and sketches. The Toronto artist passed away in July of last year at the age of 92. His work is known for its realism. In an interview with Maclean's, curator Andrew Hunter describes Colville as “aware that things can always go horribly wrong, that they were always on a fine balance.” Much of his work showcases his Canadian heritage, like “To Prince Edward Island” or “Low Tide.” His work also often deals with wartime scenes and themes from his time in Europe during the Second World War. Hunter explains that this fo-
cus distinguishes Colville from his Canadian contemporaries, as he established himself as a relevant, modern artist. Another interesting draw is that the ago is pairing many of his works with scenes in which they’ve been recreated in modern pop culture. The painting “To Prince Edward Island” was reimagined by Wes Anderson in Moonrise Kingdom, and "Target Pistol and Man" was channeled by the Coen brothers in No Country for Old Men. Great for: reflecting back on the life and work of a great Canadian artist, on a scale that only the ago could accomplish.
HASHTAG GALLERY Forgotten Places by Christina Tjandra opened this week at Hashtag Gallery — so recently that I didn’t even have time to check it out myself. Tjandra is an Indonesian-Canadian artist whose sketches are repetitive and mesmerizing, using imagery of architecture and people to create fantastic scenes. They offer a challenge for any who consider themselves to be detail-oriented — I myself am eager to spend an hour or so decoding her artwork.
Great for: a small, free to enter, friendly gallery at Bathurst and Dundas West.
THE GLADSTONE The famous Queen West art hotel currently has on a retrospective of their own history, called Then | Now | Next, looking back at the last 125 years. The exhibit features the history of the hotel itself as well as its art programming, and is made up of various pieces of art, photography, and artifact. This includes endlessly fascinating old maps of the city, pictures of Queen Street West when it mostly consisted of dirt, and documents like the permit for the original building, which was designed by George Miller in 1889. The collection is fascinating for anyone who has spent any time in Toronto, as the history of the hotel offers insights into the growth of the greater city throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. This coupled with Queen West’s recent accolade as second coolest neighborhood in the world by Vogue makes for a worthwhile visit to the exhibition. Great for: discovering Toronto’s past, at no cost.
var.st/arts
VARSITY ARTS & CULTURE
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2014
15
EDM: music versus culture Students and fans of EDM music weigh in on the growing connection between the music and the drugs
julien balbontin/tHe Varsity
Leelan Farhan
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
In the past few years, electronic dance music (edm) has had a significant resurgence in mainstream pop culture. Despite the genre’s existence since the 1980s, artists like Avicii, Diplo, Swedish House Mafia, and Deadmau5
have lead the charge in repopularizing the genre. Heavy drug use that was synonymous with raves in the 1980s and 1990s has only seemed to grow alongside the edm culture, creating controversy with giant shows of thousands of people partaking in illicit drugs and substances. This past summer alone, Toronto’s veld music festival had two drug-related deaths,
as well as 13 hospitalizations. At Mad Decent Block Party in Maryland, Virginia, two people died and 20 people were hospitalized. Soon after these events, edm artists began to speak out against their risk-taking, partygoing audiences and question edm music versus edm culture. Is the drug use really as intense as the media has made it out to be? Are edm audiences just “crowds of fucked up kids,” as the artist Flume recently suggested? After the deaths at the Mad Decent Block Party, artist Diplo sided with his management on the decision to ban kandi — colourful handmade bracelets made from pony beads — much to the anger of his fans. While kandi is now known for its association with plur culture (Peace, Love, Unity, and Respect), it wasn’t always a creative way to make innocent, goodnatured friendships. Often, drug dealers wear kandi to catch buyers' attention. “Drugs will happen one way or another, with or without kandi. I don’t think they’re to blame,” Allen Simans said, an edm producer and York University student. “I think the deaths that happen at edm festivals are the fault of both the victim and the venue. It is way too easy to get dehydrated at festivals. Especially when they confiscate your bottle caps ... and it's hot as hell outside, you're in the middle of a field dancing surrounded by other people, there is only one water truck and the line-ups are half a mile long. Now imagine this devil's playground when you're on drugs such as dehydrating alcohol or mdma/Ecstasy,” he added. Scott* agreed, expressing that venues should — and probably will — restrict these shows to the 19+ crowd. “The reason that lots of artists have recently come out against
the drug use at their concerts has a lot to do with not wanting to be connected to some of the emergencies and deaths that take place at their shows after overdosing. Venues are quickly coming to the same realization — it’s a massive legal liability to have children experimenting with drugs at concerts.” While Simans and Scott agree that edm shows are a “mixed bag” when it comes to the types of people who attend, Mitchell* comments that the drug use that’s associated with rave culture is quite accurate: “It’s a part of rave culture to use drugs, but it’s not necessarily connected to the music that’s being performed. Whether modern edm exists or not, there will be raves, and those raves will continue to be drug-centric. It’s not the fault of the music.” On Flume’s comment that he “doesn’t like playing to crowds of fucked up kids,” Mitchell agrees to an extent — “I agree that the kids who attend these shows are ‘fucked up,’ but I don’t attribute these problems to edm itself. Once people get sick of the ‘three-drop, 128 beatsper-minute, four-on-the-floor, loud-as-hell’song structure, there will be another genre to replace edm, and the drug culture will continue to exist.” If there’s one thing all three music connoisseurs can agree on, it’s that the rise of edm into mainstream music has two things to thank — the crowds of these so-called “fucked up kids,” and the Internet. As Scott insightfully notes, “Tons of indie artists start off in coffee shops and consequently have the pleasure of playing to like-minded crowds, but they never get their music heard by more than a few hundred people.” *Name changed at student's request
“Everything ends up sounding like Zeus” Band member Carlin Nicholson talks about the band’s latest album, Classic Zeus Ayla Shiblaq
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR Canadian indie-rockers Zeus just released their new album, the aptly titled Classic Zeus. The Varsity sat down with band member Carlin Nicholas to chat about what's changed in the band's newest effort, and what it was like to play a secret show at June Records. The Varsity: You guys recently released an album called Classic Zeus. How did your approach change with recording this album? Carlin Nicholas: The recording of the album
was similar to Say Us. Robbie [Lackritz], who worked with Jamie Lidell, Feist, and Bahamas, helped us out. The recording of this album took over a year, just like Say Us, which was a labour of love much like Classic Zeus. The recording studio also made a huge difference — before we recorded it up in the Feist ranch. This is an album that we created in house without having outside help other than Noah [Mintz] from Lacquer Channel. Sounds and arrangements were certainly different, not like a straight up rock 'n' roll album. We try to see who can bring stuff in, for example a funky riff, and then catering to others' strengths and so on. TV: It’s been said by fans and critics alike that you guys have a sound that spans different decades of music — did you ever struggle with keeping your oldies sound original? CN: We hear that a lot, but we don’t really put
a lot of thought into it. We think about our tone and adding like synth vibes, but never about what sound the album actually is. We don’t sit around thinking this sounds '80s or
Media pHoto
'70s. Something may come up and sound '80s, but in the end, everything ends up sounding like Zeus. TV: You guys performed a secret show at June Records a couple of weeks ago. How did that differ from your previous performances? CN: I don’t know if June Records will ever do it
again, and I don’t know if we’ll do it again, but it was a lot of fun.
The audience was in good spirits and excited to be outside. Since no one had to pay, everyone was really happy to be there and it was more casual since you didn’t have to go through buying the tickets and entering, etc. The show felt real mostly because of that. There were a lot of noise complaints and the cops came. There was no security except for about 25 cops who came. Gotta love Toronto; we wouldn’t have been able to do this in any
other city. In New York, the police would’ve shut it down. Here, they kind of stood around just to make sure the crowd wasn’t rowdy, which they weren’t. Everyone was out to have a good time, and if you’re able to give people something like that to enjoy, then there shouldn't be a problem. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and length.
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Vol. CXXXV, No. 3
VARSITY ARTS & CULTURE
That's a wrap
arts@thevarsity.ca
Final reviews from TIFF 2014
The Drop A fast-paced crime thriller featuring Tom Hardy Jacob Lorinc
VARSITY STAFF
In the heart of a crime-ridden neighbourhood in Brooklyn, a lowly pub acts as a crossroads for gossip and hearsay for a shady community. The bar welcomes its usual customers each night, unscrupulous characters that discuss the news of the day. Behind the scenes, two bartenders work hard to keep the bar in working order, minding their own business and making it their priority to keep their customers happy. Cousin Marv (James Gandolfini) is an exloan shark that claims his crimefilled days are behind him, and who cares only about his bar. His younger cousin Bob Saginowski (Tom Hardy) appears to be as innocent as a child. A polite and well-spoken gentleman, Bob doesn’t appear to have been engaged in any sort of
illegal activity — but in Michaël R. Roskam’s The Drop, nothing is as it appears to be. The film is a suspenseful thriller with a series of plot-twists, but is more than just your ordinary crime drama. Unlike other classic crime thrillers like The Italian Job or The Departed, The Drop constantly asks the audience to determine who is good and who is bad. In the gritty New York neighbourhood setting, everyone is morally ambiguous to a certain degree, and no one is entirely trustworthy. Using these deceptive devices, Roskam successfully creates a film that has you paying close attention from start to finish. The moment you feel as though you’ve figured it out, Roskam reveals a new thread of information, tactfully thickening the plot without over-complicating the story. The film is a slow burner, and has no difficulty in maintaining the audience’s attention.
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In addition to its captivating narrative, the film deserves credit for stellar casting. British theatre-actor Tom Hardy excels in a role seemingly destined for Mark Wahlberg, impresively shedding his thick English
This Is Where I Leave You Perhaps not great filmmaking, but certainly great laughs
accent and adapting an American persona. Both Noomi Rapace and James Gandolfini hold down the fort in their supporting roles. With both performance and storytelling working hand-in-hand, The Drop
makes for an exceptionally wellrounded film. Verdict: Worth your money, so make sure to see it at the festival or in theatres.
The Theory of Everything The Stephen Hawking biopic proves to be more romance than science Jacob Lorinc
VARSITY STAFF
Media Photo
Daniel Konikoff VARSITY STAFF
Anyone who has ever attended a large family gathering knows from firsthand experience that while they are certainly noble in intention, they are, at best, inconsistent in outcome. This Is Where I Leave You is an honest portrayal of the archetypal dysfunctional family, who, for one reason or another, can’t help but be at each other’s throats. We are drawn to these movies because we identify with the families within them; we may not find ourselves ensnared in hijinks quite as often as they are, but at least some of the dysfunction and craziness hits close to home. It is for this reason that the latest from director Shawn Levy (Night at the Museum, Real Steel), is such a delightful movie — not because it is brilliant filmmaking (which, I assure you, it isn’t), but because it’s honest, heartfelt, hilarious, and rife with characters and situations that are easy to identify with. Based on the book by Jonathan Tropper, This Is Where I Leave You
tells the story of the four combatant siblings of the Altman family, who are forced to reconvene in their childhood home to sit shiva (a weeklong period of mourning and bereavement, as dictated by Jewish custom) for their recently deceased father. The story centres on Judd (Jason Bateman), the Altman middle child, who has lost his wife and his job in one fell swoop (read: his boss slept with his wife). The death of the Altman father figure brings Judd back to his hometown, where he reconnects with his sister Wendy (Tina Fey), who is now a responsible mother; his earnest and mature older brother Paul (Corey Stoll), who oversees the family’s sporting goods business; his younger, promiscuous, and charmingly reckless brother Phil (Adam Driver); and his hypersexual mother (Jane Fonda), a celebrity psychologist whose four children are still reeling from being the subject of her bestselling parenting guide. Like The Royal Tenenbaums, Ron Howard’s Parenthood, or Arrested Development, This Is Where I Leave You’s comedic magic lies in the fa-
milial interplay. Bateman’s delivery and timing is, consistently, absolutely perfect, and his chemistry with Fey, Driver, Stoll, and Fonda yield some of the film’s biggest laughs. Most of the actors here have honed their craft on network or cable half-hour comedies (including a hysterical Ben Schwartz of Parks and Recreation fame), and none of the jokes — even the more foreseeable ones — ever fall flat. The true heart of the film, however, is when these characters get each other alone, with Levy and Tropper playing with varied character pairings to produce genuinely touching sibling interaction, pivotal revelations, and raw, relatable emotion. Although its relatively predictable narrative arc doesn’t bring anything new to the table, This Is Where I Leave You’s first-rate cast performs cinematic alchemy, elevating a mediocre script into a great comedy that’ll strike a chord with family members alike. Verdict: A mediocre comedy, worth seeing for its talented and charismatic cast
How much pressure can true love withstand? How long can a strained marriage last in the face of struggle and hardship? These questions are almost intolerably sappy, but they also happen to be the ones that The Theory of Everything chooses to ask. In James Marsh’s new biopic of Stephen Hawking, the focus is on the seemingly flawless romance between the two protagonists, Hawking (Eddie Redmayne) and his wife Jane Wilde (Felicity Jones). Mostly overlooking Hawking’s scientific achievements and personal struggles with als, in The Theory of Everything, the only science that we get to see up close is the chemistry between Hawking and Wilde throughout their topsy-turvy relationship. From its hopeful start to an uplifting finish, the bond between the two Cambridge graduates is evident, yet I couldn’t help but wonder what the actual Stephen Hawking would think when seeing his life portrayed in this fashion. When added up, The Theory of Everything has all the parts of a conventional romance. Emotionally stirring scene where Hawking and Wilde's love is strained and put to the test? Check. Scene where the two lovebirds quarrel but then promptly make-up? Check. In fact, just when you thought there was no way of overdoing it any more, we see the mo-
notonously familiar montage of the couple frolicking about while the sound of happy violins bombards your already manipulated emotions. Being a secret admirer of romantic films myself, it’s not that I had an issue with the genre of this movie. Instead, my frustration lies in the movie’s ability to toss you around like a rag doll, juggling your emotions as it pleases. During the completion of Stephen’s PhD, we look on as the young man learns of his developing physical condition and watch as he reacts in despair — believing he only has two years left to live. A real tearjerker on all accounts, this somber episode is patched up with a touch of light humour. Then the audience sits back, thinking they’re safe, when bam, the doleful sound of a violin slowly edges its way into the following scene, forcing you to take out the box of Kleenex you had just been putting away. If you were hoping that The Theory of Everything would be an in-depth look at Stephen Hawking’s life and scientific accomplishments, then you’re out of luck. But, if you don’t mind a little romance and a bit of an emotional roller coaster, then it’s probably for you. Verdict: Despite the excessive tugging of the heartstrings, this is a nicely constructed film that should be worth your while — depending on what you’re in the mood for.
var.st/arts
VARSITY ARTS & CULTURE
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2014
17
Bibliophiles unite Exploring the world of second hand offerings at U of T’s annual fall book sales of delicately wrought Victorian valentines, which are gorgeous.” For those who haven’t yet made their way through the independent bookstores Toronto has to offer, the different college book sales are a good place to start your discovery of used books. “The college book sales fulfill a need for bibliophiles who have seen the closure, over the past years, of so many favourite secondhand bookshops,”said Ruhnke, “and I think that is one of the reasons for their success.” University College’s book sale will take place from October 17–21, followed by Trinity College's from October 23–27, and St. Michael's College's from October 28 to November 1.
10 Item Challenge List Look for these finds as you navigate the sales 1) A book written by a U of T alumnus 2) A book written by a U of T professor 3) A book for less than a dollar 4) A book published in 2014 The Victoria College book sale. ruSaba alam/The VarSiTy
Linh Nguyen
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
Fall brings with it the distribution of syllabi and, with them, the mad rush to the U of T Bookstore to purchase necessary materials. Amidst this book buying extravaganza, many of U of T’s colleges offer students other chances to get their literary fix at their annual fall book sales.
Kicking off the season is Victoria College's annual book sale, taking place from September 18–22 in the Old Vic building. Founded in 1992, the book sale is organized by the Friends of Victoria University Library and chaired by alumna Nancy Ruhnke. All proceeds go towards the E.J. Pratt Library, and to student scholarships and bursaries. As all of the books are donations, the selection ranges from very recent releases to expensive rare finds, such as a first Canadian
edition of an Agatha Christie title which sold for $10,000 a few years back. “While we do have a good number of books from today's best seller lists, we offer a range of titles that cannot be found in retail chains,” said Ruhnke, “We have beautiful leather bound sets from the eighteenth century, rare first editions, and some remarkable ephemera. For example, we have a Life magazine from 1943 which features Joseph Stalin on its cover. As well, we have a number
5) A book published in the eighteenth century 6) A book with gilded illustrations 7) A book that costs $1,000 or more 8) A book with a particularly special inscription 9) A book with marbled pages 10) A book with a personalized gift note inside
Step into the time machine The Varsity attended Riot Fest, and much nostalgia was had Corey Van Dan Hoogenband VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
I am currently sporting some brutal sunburns that I will wear as temporary battle scars to proudly proclaim: “I attended Riot Fest Toronto.” Originating nine years ago in Chicago, Riot Fest began as a single city music festival consisting mostly of punk rock acts like The Misfits and Dead Kennedys. Over the years, Riot Fest introduced alternative genres to the stage, and in 2012 expanded to feature larger venues and multiple city stops. Now in 2014, it has made its way to Toronto — carnival decorations, wrestling rings, and all. Arriving shortly after noon the first day, the first band I heard was the unmistakably Canadian group, Mounties. This newly formed Toronto super group, featuring band members from Hot Hot Heat and Limblifter, impressed the early afternoon crowd with great live renditions of “Tokyo Summer” and “Headphones,” two of their most exhilarating tunes. Anyone who stood in the grass fields closest to the stage was made well aware of the festival's rain-or-shine mentality, as the fields of Downsview Park had been reduced to a muddy swamp thanks to a thunderstorm the night prior. The mud, along with my last outing to Downsview involving my girlfriend getting trapped in a Weezer mosh pit, left me happy to lay back and enjoy the music from afar. Part of the fun of big festivals like Riot Fest is in allowing yourself to discover new music with the comfort of knowing it won't be too far off from the groups you already love. Rubblebucket, a talented Brooklyn band I had never heard of, was a great reminder of this. Trum-
The crowd at Riot Fest. Shaq hoSein/The VarSiTy
pets, trombones, a baritone sax-wielding lead singer, along with plenty of crowd interaction and what appeared to be a dancing, anthropomorphic donut, made for a great live show. Staying true to its roots, Riot Fest also featured many punk rock groups from the mid2000s, such as Taking Back Sunday (tbs), and
New Found Glory. Personally, I've felt as though groups like this have struggled to transition successfully out of the 2000s. When I saw tbs in 2009 and heard their new music, it struck me that they were having an identity crisis by trying to find a balance between new and old sounds. Riot Fest allows fans of groups like
these to hop in a musical time machine and embrace them the same way they might have 10 years ago. I, for instance, loved tbs's set, but had no desire to see them live if they weren't part of the festival lineup. Heavy hitters like Billy Talent and The Cure closed out Saturday's festivities and left fans happy and anxious for the next day. For the most part, Sunday's lineup took a step away from heavier, punk-oriented groups in favour of more alternative artists. Tokyo Police Club, who had performed during U of T frosh week days earlier, provided a noticeably more upbeat set than the appropriately titled Riot Fest would have you imagine. I was happy to see that these admittedly lighter songs had time to resonate with the audience. Indie folk group The Head and the Heart provided a necessary break from distortionheavy groups like the Dropkick Murphy's and Social Distortion with their harmony and violin fuelled set. Alternative heavy hitters The National, Metric, and City and Colour were the big names to close out the festival. Of the three, I was most impressed by The National, falling for the unbelievable vocal performance by frontman Matt Berninger during songs like “Graceless” and “Mister November.” What resonates with me most about Riot Fest Toronto is the impressive amount of generations represented by the festival lineup. Modern musicians like Stars and Pup appeased the younger crowd, 2000s throwbacks like Alkaline Trio and Rise Against were present for those who were a bit more nostalgic, and punk classics like Social Distortion, Buzzcocks, and the Cure were around for seasoned veterans. This American-originated music festival's infiltration of the Canadian border is one that is as justified as it is welcome.
Science
VAR.ST/SCIENCE 15 SEPTEMBER 2014
science@thevarsity.ca
In conversation with Kenneth Yip
Science around town Stem cells in cancer: do they matter?
Humorous, down to earth and personable, Dr. Yip is highly popular among undergraduates studying life sciences
The fifth annual Robert A. Phillips lecture, featuring speaker Dr. John Dick, Director of the Cancer Stem Cell Program at the Ontario Institute of Cancer Research. Monday, September 15 4:00 pm–5:30 pm MaRS Auditorium, 101 College Street Free; register on Eventbrite
Nanophotonics: From Intra-Cellular Sensors to Quantum Technologies A seminar by Dr. Jelena Vuckovic, a professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Ginzton Laboratory at Stanford University, facilitated by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers Monday, September 15 4:00 pm–5:00 pm Rosebrugh Building 164 College Street (Room RS208) Free; register on Eventbrite
Windows of Opportunity: Working in the Frontiers of Biomedical Research A seminar on biomedical research with Dr. Lap-Chee Tsui, the 2014 Henry G. Friesen International Prize in Health Research recipient
Dr. Kenneth Yip, researcher and professor at the Department of cell and Systems biology. ElEna IourtaEva/tHE varsIty
Sandy Wang
VARSITY conTRIbuToR
It is a rare sight to see every single seat taken at a night lecture, but this is often the case for the introductory cellular biology lectures taught by Dr. Kenneth Yip. First and foremost a researcher in cancer drug discovery and translational genomics, Yip is also a favourite among science students for his clear lecturing style and advice to students in an effort to help them succeed. In an interview with The Varsity, Yip shed light on his personal journey in the sciences, both as a student and a professor. The Varsity: Why did you decide to pursue science as a career? Kenneth Yip: When I was a student, the world was experiencing a number of exciting scientific breakthroughs and events (as it is now), especially in biology. Mammals were cloned, scientists were racing to sequence the human genome, and there was an explosion in biotechnology that was reshaping our understanding of human health and disease. I became captivated by how life works on a biological level, and I wanted to create and develop new ideas based on the existing foundation of scientific research to directly impact the world. This led me to begin work in “translational science,” where we try to trans-
late basic scientific discoveries into direct patient health benefits — a very intellectually stimulating and rewarding field. TV: Did you always know that you wanted to go into science? KY: Definitely not. I had (and still have) a wide range of other interests. I think I had a different dream career every month of high school. Even in university, I contemplated a wide range of majors, ranging from philosophy to genetics. TV: What kinds of struggles did you face when you were a science student yourself? KY: I was a very stereotypical student. In first year, I had to adapt to a new city, [a] new school, and new social circles, all while trying to maintain high academic standards. The year had its highs and lows — probably the most stressful, yet [most] fun year of my life up until then. In third [year] and fourth year, I struggled balancing my studies with trying to have a social life… especially during study week. TV: What is the focus of your research and why did you decide to pursue it? KY: My research can be divided into cancer drug discovery (trying to develop new medications to treat various cancers) and translational genomics (using next-generation dna and rna sequencing to develop diagnostic
tests). These are great fields for someone who wants to use the latest in basic science and biotechnology to try to impact healthcare. My dream has been to intellectually contribute to a new medication and/or medical test — it would be extremely rewarding to meet a patient who has benefited from my work. TV: Are there research areas that you are passionate about that you have not yet explored in your work? KY: I would love to get the chance to participate in work about the history, philosophy, and logic behind science and scientific discoveries. As well, having a bigger part in communicating science to the general public would be fantastic. TV: What is your favorite thing about lecturing at U of T? KY: My favorite thing about lecturing is the student interaction. Research can be slow and frustrating at times, but interacting with undergraduate students who are energetic, enthusiastic, and inquisitive often provides momentum for my own work. TV: Many students love taking your classes and enjoy your lecturing style. What do you think is key to providing a good classroom experience for students? Or what do you do personally to create that experience for students?
KY: I guess I’ve just been modelling myself after the professors I enjoyed as a [u]niversity student. I was a student for a very, very long time, so I’ve seen a lot of great professors. At the University of Toronto, I’ve been trying to take bits and pieces of what seems to work from award-winning/great professors such as Melody Neumann, Michelle French, John Coleman, Sue Varmuza (whom I TA’d for), Jennifer Mitchell, Darrell Desveaux, Tony Harris, and Chris Garside. Getting input from experienced staff helps tremendously too (thank you Nyla Maharaj Cabrera). TV: If you could give science students at U of T one piece of advice, what would it be? KY: I guess this advice applies to non-science students as well: I would encourage students to put effort into meeting and making friends with people outside of their normal social circle. The University of Toronto environment has improved, but a lot of students don’t expand their social circle too much… it will make you more well-rounded to get to know and appreciate people who have different interests and views. In my experience, undergrad was the best time to do this. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and length.
Tuesday, September 16 12:00 pm–2:00 pm Munk School of Global Affairs 1 Devonshire Place The Vivian and David Campbell Conference Facility Free; register on Eventbrite
Ethics and the 2014 Ebola Outbreak A seminar with an impressive lineup of speakers from the WHO, University of Ibadan in Nigeria, Queen’s University, Ryerson University, and U of T Wednesday September 17 4:10 pm–6:00 pm Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy 144 College Street PB 255, second floor, Large Pod Free; no registration, but seating is limited to 60 The event will also be streamed online
Graded Multilinear Maps from Lattices Come hear Sergey Gorbunov, computer science PhD student at MIT, discuss the applications of graded multilinear encodings in cryptography. Friday, September 19, 2014 11:10 am Galbraith Building room 221 35 St. George St. Free
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VARSITY SCIENCE
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2014
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U of T collaborates with Janssen Inc. and Johnson & Johnson Innovation Concerted effort between academia and industry in new drug discovery
Medical Sciences building at the university of Toronto. DENIS OSIPOV/THE VArSITy
osman Mahamud
VARSITY conTRIbuToR
The University of Toronto has announced a new open-innovation research collaboration, dubbed the Neuroscience Catalyst, with Janssen Inc.
and Johnson & Johnson Innovation. The three-year agreement, which will support research through the Collaborative Center for Drug Research (ccdr), will solely focus on identifying new ways to treat and manage brain disorders, such as mood disorders and Alzheimer’s disease.
Through the collaboration, the ccdr will issue three calls for proposals over the three-year agreement. Calls for collaborative and open-source research projects will be open to researchers from the Faculty of Medicine, the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, the Centre for Addiction
and Mental Health (camh), and other U of T-affiliated hospitals through the Toronto Academic Health Science Network. As part of the collaboration, Janssen scientists will work with U of T researchers providing technical support and use of their discovery sciences facilities.
This unique marriage between academia and industry presents an opportunity to accelerate the discovery and exploration in the field of neuroscience and mental health. “Brain disorders are highly complex and therefore identifying new drug treatments requires a concerted effort and the combined skills and expertise from academia and industry,” said professor Ruth Ross, director of the ccdr, chair of the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology and senior scientist at camh. In the spirit of open collaboration, funded researchers are free to commercialize and publicly disclose, through peer-reviewed journals, any of their findings. “This partnership is unusual in that the funding from Janssen is ‘no strings attached.’ That is, the company does not have any intellectual property rights to the research funded by the Neuroscience Catalyst fund and the research is conducted within a model of ‘open collaboration,’” said Ross. Historically, investment in funding brain research to identify and develop new treatments has proven to be high-risk commercially. However, the Neuroscience Catalyst will allow researchers to identify potential drug targets and new therapeutic compounds.
The latest in gaming at Microsoft Exclusive previews of Sunset Overdrive, Halo-MCC, and other Xbox One games sor, the Kinect, such as Dance Central Spotlight and Shape Up, which grabbed the attention of many.
Edgar Wang
VARSITY conTRIbuToR
On Wednesday, September 10, Microsoft Canada hosted the annual X14 Media Showcase, bringing fans and media together to witness the fall collection of Xbox One games. When I was directed to enter the showcase through a questionable, dark alleyway, I started to have doubts about attending the event. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the interior. Rows upon rows of tiny lights lined the ceiling, creating a club-like ambience. Xbox One consoles and enormous flat screen TVs filled the room like computers in a computer lab. Between gamers testing out the latest games, reporters conducting interviews, and people socializing by a bar, the event exceeded my expectations.
STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES
GAMES Xbox hosts this annual event as a means of giving reporters and Xbox fans a glimpse into the latest console games from Microsoft. Released in November 2013, the Xbox One is described as Microsoft’s all-in-one multimedia console. Games on display included Sunset Overdrive, Halo-MCC, and others. The games were all available for playing and they were the focal point of the event. Jeff Rivait, the senior category and product marketing manager
MEDIA PHOTO
at Microsoft Canada, said of the showcase, “It is an opportunity where we bring all the latest and greatest upcoming Xbox games, so that all the Canadian media and also some select Xbox fans can get their hands on them before the holiday [season].” Developed by Insomniac Games, Sunset Overdrive is an upcoming
open world video game focusing on combat in a dystopian world. The game is expected to be released in fall 2014. “The first thing people see are ultimately graphics. [In] something like Sunset Overdrive, you [see] massive, vibrant open worlds; really cool gameplay; [and] seamless transitions, that [are] really
unlocked by the power of the Xbox One,” said Rivait. Letting fans and gamers get a preview creates an opportunity for them to provide feedback about the quality of the products and the new features they would like to see added. There were also games that took advantage of the Xbox’s motion sen-
When asked about opportunities in the video game industry, Rivait noted, “Canada is now the third-largest nation for game developments.” “We [are] a 100 per cent sales and marketing; we do hire two interns every year to work on Xbox and to work on great events such as this and some of our promotional launch plans for our upcoming games at the end of the year. I’d say there is a lot of opportunity; it just continues to grow and develop,” said Rivait. Microsoft employees stressed that the opportunities were not “revolving doors.” The company values the students they bring in and encourages growth and development within the company however, many of the Canadian job placements are in marketing or sales. Since Microsoft Canada Inc. is a subsidiary, they don’t deal with video game development, which mostly happens in Redmond, Washington. Other employees mentioned that there are third party developers in Vancouver and Toronto where students could get involved, though not directly with Microsoft Canada. Such companies include Ubisoft, ea, and Black Tusk Studios, among other independent developers.
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Sports
VAR.ST/SPORTS 15 SEPTEMBER 2014
sports@thevarsity.ca
Blues shut out Lions in homecoming game U of T wins 70-0, setting a record in Red & Blue Bowl history Reshara Alviarez
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
Despite the low fall temperatures this weekend, the U of T Varsity Blues football team had a great turnout at the fourty-fifth annual Red & Blue Bowl and homecoming game on Saturday. The unparalleled school spirit was surely not in vain, as the Blues triumphed over the York Lions, celebrating Toronto’s second consecutive Argo Cup victory with a final score of 70–0. The Blues set a record in Red & Blue Bowl history with the largest margin of victory, giving them great reason to celebrate the beginning of what is anticipated to be an equally successful season. The score stood at 21–0 at the end of the first quarter, and the Blues wasted no time moving into the second quarter as running back Lukas Gavac picked up his third touchdown of the game on a 12-yard run. The Blues stood at a comfortable 40–0 lead heading into halftime. Gavac was named the Blues’ player of the game after rushing four times for 140 yards and three majors in the first half, and a nineyard rushing touchdown. “We came together as a team. We showed that we have far more potential than we showed in the first two games,” said Gavac. “Coming into the game I was a little stressed. I had no idea it would be a blowout like this, but I’m feel-
Blues fans cheering on the team at homecoming. DENIS OSIPOV/THE VArSITy
ing very grateful,” he added. Two-time ovfl all-star Kevin Bradfield was also celebrated for his outstanding performance with seven receptions for 135 yards and one touchdown. “The Red & Blue Bowl game is always an exciting game for Toronto,” said Bradfield. “We always practice really hard, and we expected to win coming in here today. Executing every play one play at a time is key for us and after having executed that play,
then you deal with what you have to deal with. We also ran the ball really well, which was something we needed to improve on coming into the game,” he added. Bradfield led Ontario University Athletic (oua) and Canadian Intercollegiate Sport with 734 yards on 59 punt returns and one touchdown last season, and is looking forward to an even more successful season this year. Blues quarterback Simon Nassar also scored a touchdown and
shone as another key player in Saturday’s game. Nassar won oua offensive player of the week last year after defeating the York Lions and winning the Argo Cup on October 10 last season. “We had a great game plan going into today, and we just had to go out and execute it. We went out and did that and it’s a great feeling. We feel great excitement moving forward and will carry this momentum to the game next week,” said Nassar. Blues head coach Greg Gary was
very proud of the team’s overall performance in Saturday’s game and looks forward to continued success throughout the remainder of the season. “Our goal was to come in and be competitive right out of the box. Initially I just wanted to see our team not do a poor job, and we certainly exceeded that,” said Gary. “For us, it’s about how well we manage the standard we try to set for our performance. The standard today was good for us, and if we can carry that into the next game, I’d feel good about it,” Gary added. Gary believes that Nassar’s ability to manage the game was certainly commendable, noting that his leadership in the season thus far has been one key to the Blues’ success. He also looks forward to seeing Gavac and Smith, as well as defensive back JJ Lam and defensive line Everton Williams, as they continue to improve on their outstanding performance throughout the rest of the season. After having lost the first two games of the season, the Blues had a great deal of catching up to do in order to stay in the playoff race and showcase their talent. Saturday’s win was certainly a step in the right direction. U of T now sits at 1–2 on the season and will be looking to enjoy similar success on the field next Saturday in London when they take on the Western Mustangs.
U of T sailing club in eleventh year Sailing club offers programs for new and experienced sailors Sampson Coutts
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
Established in 2003, the University of Toronto Sailing Club endeavours to uphold U of T’s history of water sport excellence by “providing sailing opportunities for experienced and beginners sailors at Canada’s largest university,” as stated on the club’s website. The club, led by president Sarah Domino, runs two sailing programs: a competitive program for experienced sailors, based out of Coronation Park’s National Yacht Club, and a recreational program for beginners, based at Harbourfront Centre on Queens Quay. For experienced sailors, the U of T Sailing Club is among Canada’s best university sailing clubs, boasting membership in both the Canadian Intercollegiate Sailing Association and the Middle Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association. These memberships allow the U of T sailing club race team to compete regu-
larly against both Canadian and American squads, attending regattas on both sides of the border. Last September, the squad travelled to Ithaca, New York, and took part in Cornell University’s famous regatta. Conscious of the time constraints that many U of T students face, the race team practices twice weekly, with additional training times available for those who can find the time. The recreational program is offered in three-hour sessions on weekends and is meant for beginner sailors. Licensed instructors teach students how to operate keelboats in a safe and fun environment, with students generally spending a year or two in the program before they are confident enough in their abilities to sail without a teacher. They then have the option of trying out for the race team. Anyone wishing to learn more about the sailing club can visit their website at sailingclub. sa.utoronto.ca.
TImOTHy lAw/THE VArSITy
VARSITY SPORTS
22 Vol. CXXXV, No. 3
sports@thevarsity.ca
Fitness class review: Fit Mix Fit Mix, offered at the Athletic Centre, combines triple blast, tabata, and step Deniz Samaldi
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
The Athletic Centre and Hart House offer fitness classes daily. jennifer su/THe VArsiTy
On September 16, I attended my first fitness class at the Athletic Centre (ac). Fit Mix is a one-hour class that incorporates step exercises, weights, and strength and conditioning techniques in a triple blast cardio class. I was pleasantly surprised to see a variety of participants in attendance. The fitness level varied from very fit athletic students to an elderly woman who stepped along behind a supportive walking stand. It was easy to modify the class to fit personal fitness goals. By the end of the class, I was sweating a lot more than I expected to. While I found the standard version of the class challenging itself, it can be modified to become more or less intense to suit all participants. In order to intensify the class, for example, participants can use heavier weights or add more blocks to their personal steps to increase the height. If you are new to exercising or, like me, haven’t been going to the gym as much as you would like to,
you can participate in the program at your own pace. The casual and supportive atmosphere of the class makes it a much less daunting alternative to running on the treadmill next to top athletes who train at the ac. The instructor, Christina, was upbeat and kept us all motivated throughout the course. Step classes can be confusing at the beginning, but she took things slow for the newer participants, and by the end everyone had gotten the hang of it. She was friendly and made sure to introduce herself, check up on individuals throughout the routine, and talk to participants afterwards to learn about their experience. She made participants feel very comfortable and supported. However, if you do not like working out with an audience, I would not recommend this particular class. The ac field house workout area, in which my class was held, is not as private as in dance studios. Bring a bottle of water, grab some friends, and head on down to the ac or Hart House for their wide range of offered fitness classes. What do you have to lose?
Eat well, live well Three healthy snack recipes to keep you energized Hirshen Patel
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
With the school year beginning, one might neglect habits such as healthy eating and outdoor workouts and activities in order to prioritize academics. To help maintain a balanced lifestyle, here are some quick, lowcalorie snack options that are easy to put together so you don’t have to reach for easily accessible saturated fats and packaged junk food.
FLAWLESS KALE CHIPS A combination of crisp and crunch makes this unbelievable recipe so tasty. For me, chips are a go-to snack but they don’t fit the bill of fulfilling any nutritional intake. Kale is rated number one on the Aggregate Nutrient Density Index. All those naysayers who say kale is overrated or bland can be proved wrong by this simple recipe, which is bound to ignite the taste buds of even the harshest critics.
Ingredients:
Approximately half a bunch of kale leaves 1–2 tablespoons of olive oil 1 teaspoon of garlic powder 2 teaspoons of fine grain sea salt 1 teaspoon of cayenne (optional)
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 300 ºF. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. 2. Remove leaves from stems and cut kale into whatever size you want the chips to be. Wash and spin leaves until thoroughly dry. 3. Add kale leaves to a large bowl. Massage in oil and spices until the leaves are covered evenly.
4. Spread the kale out onto baking sheet in a single layer. 5. Bake for 10 minutes, flip the leaves, and bake for an additional 10–15 minutes. The kale will look shrunken and firmer. 6. Sprinkle salt on the kale once taken out of the oven, and enjoy immediately!
HEALTHY BANANA, CRANBERRY, AND BERRY SHAKE We all like a good smoothie, and even though there are a few staple ingredients that seem to do these refreshing beverages justice, it’s not always easy to know which ingredients to include. This shake is easy to make, the ingredients are clean, and no added sugar is needed.
Ingredients:
Ice cubes 1 cup of cranberry juice (no sugar added cranberry juice rather than cranberry juice cocktail) 1 whole banana 1 cup of frozen fruit
Preparation:
1. In a blender, add ice cubes and cranberry juice. 2. Slice the banana and add to the blender. 3. Add the frozen berries. 4. Blend.
GREEK YOGURT PARFAIT Loaded with over 15 grams of protein, this breakfast or mid-day snack is healthy and flavourful. Greek yogurt is a healthier alternative to any other yogurt available, and the addition of berries and granola add a natural sweetness and crunch that is a must.
Flawless kale chips. HirsHen PATel/THe VArsiTy
Ingredients:
1 serving of non-fat Greek yogurt (flavour optional) 2 tablespoons of pomegranate seeds 2 tablespoons of granola
Preparation:
1. Place pomegranate seeds in bowl. 2. Spoon yogurt into bowl on top of pomegranate. 3. Sprinkle granola on top of yogurt.
HOMEMADE QUINOA GRANOLA: QUINOLA Jazz up your boring granola recipe with quinola! It’s a healthier alternative that’s just as tasty, filled with oats and nuts.
Ingredients:
1 and 1/2 cups of raw, whole rolled oats (old fashioned oats) 1/2 cup of raw nuts, chopped (pecans or walnuts are best) 2–3 tablespoons of simple syrup, maple syrup, or raw honey 2 tablespoons of coconut oil 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract 1/4 cup of quinoa 1 large pinch of fine sea salt
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 300 ºF. 2. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl and spread in thin layer on baking sheet. 3. Bake for 10 minutes and let sit. Berry shake. HirsHen PATel/THe VArsiTy
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A Haiku Sailing, homecoming, and recipes too. Write for sports, and this could be you.
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