Vol. CXXXV, No. 5
The University of Toronto’s Student Newspaper Since 1880
29 September, 2014
Vying for the student vote Olivia Chow, Doug Ford, John Tory discuss youth unemployment, public transit, housing vincial parliament and head of the Ontario Progressive Conservative party from 2004 to 2009, previously ran for mayor of Toronto in 2003 and lost the race to David Miller in a close election. Tory’s private sector experience includes time as a reporter, lawyer, broadcaster, and businessman. Tory noted that students are critically important to the city of Toronto. “These 300,000 post-secondary students are the future generators of cultural and economic life in this city,” he said. Tory also recognized the challenges young people face when looking for a job. “Youth unemployment is at an all-time high, and that’s a massive concern for students,” he said. Tory pledged to double the number of companies in the Partnership to Advance Youth Employment, a joint initiative between private sector employers and the City of Toronto, to create thousands of new jobs for
young people and make it easier for them to connect with businesses. He also committed to coordinate and consolidate Toronto’s youth employment services. A Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives report found that, in 2013, the unemployment rate for Ontario youth aged 15–24 ranged between 16–17.1 per cent. The national unemployment rate for youth aged 15–24 ranged between 13.5–14.5 per cent over the same time period. Olivia Chow served as a Toronto city councillor from 1991 to 2005, and New Democratic Party member of parliament for the Trinity-Spadina riding from 2006 to 2014. She resigned her seat last March in order to run for mayor. “Students are our current and future leaders,” said Chow. “They are community builders, who hold our future prosperity and quality of life in their hands. I know it’s a difficult
market for jobs, and education is expensive,” she added. Chow emphasized the importance of promoting economic growth in the city. “We have a growing and vital environment for new business and investment. I will support this through revamping Enterprise Toronto to make it easier to find support, multi-lingual services, and mentorship,” she said. Chow promised to consolidate Toronto’s economic and non-governmental organizations, such as the Toronto Region Board of Trade and Toronto Financial Services Association, into one body. She also committed to hiring young people directly for certain city intiatives, such as tree-planting, and requiring companies with large city contracts to hire and train young people. Ford, a former city councillor, has released few details on his campaign platform, but said it will be similar to
that of his brother. “Why do I want to be Mayor of Toronto? Simply put, I want to carry forward the agenda that Rob [Ford] and I started together,” Ford said in a fundraising email, as reported in the Toronto Sun. Ford’s campaign platform centres on keeping taxes low and cutting red tape. He also committed to investing $30 million a year in Toronto Transit Commission (ttc) service improvements, building the Yonge Relief Line, and completing the Sheppard subway line.
Comment
Features
Arts & Culture
Science
The merits of breadth requirements
The good, the bad, and the university
Where to eat on campus
In conversation with Bill Nye
Sports A magical sport hits U of T
Two writers weigh in on the policy
Students share why they love (or hate) their experience at U of T
Cheap spots to fill up between classes
How the renowned Science Guy chose his career path
Learn about the muggle interpretation of Qudditch
Salvatore Basilone and Spencer Knibutat VARSITY STAFF
Toronto residents will soon head to the polls to elect a new mayor and city council. Of the 60 prospective candidates, Olivia Chow, Doug Ford, and John Tory are the lead contenders for the city’s top job. Ford entered the mayoral race on September 12 after his brother, incumbent mayor Rob Ford, was diagnosed with malignant liposarcoma. The Varsity spoke with Olivia Chow and John Tory to get their perspective on student-related issues, including transit, youth unemployment, and affordable housing. Doug Ford did not respond to numerous requests for comment.
CANDIDATE PERSPECTIVES John Tory, a former member of pro-
ON TRANSIT Besides housing, some students also cited transit and bicycles lanes as two of the most crucial election issues. The ttc is the third largest transit system in North America, after Mexico City and New York City, with
CONTINUED ON PG 6
INSIDE
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Vol. CXXXV, No. 5
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Associate Design Editor Vacant Associate Photo Editor Vacant Associate Senior Copy Editor Vacant Associate News Editor Iris Robin
An alternative orientation week dedicated to student activism
Associate Comment Editor Victoria Wicks
MONDAY
Associate Features Editor Vacant
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR PIRG: OPIRG OPEN HOUSE
Associate A&C Editors Daniel Konikoff Jacob Lorinc
North Borden Building, room 101, 1:00 pm—5:00 pm
Associate Science Editor Vacant
Learn how Public Interest Research Groups work and find out more about social activism on campus. Meet like-minded people and get information on the OPIRG’s programming for the year.
Associate Sports Editor Reshara Alviarez
Contributors Reshara Alviarez, Jasleen Arneja, Christina Atkinson, Manuel Augusto, Salvatore Basilone, Emily Colero, Emma Compeau, Sara Constant, Devika Desai, Heather Eason, James Flynn, Claire Fox, Anthony Frati, Susan Gordon, Devina Gupta, Diandra Ismiranti, Ushma Kapure, Spencer Knibutat, Daniel Konikoff, Jacob Lorinc, Sofia Luu, Shreya Mathur, Linh Nguyen, Sarah Niedoba, Carol Eugene Park, Iris Robin, Melissa Rud, Caroline Shim, Simon Spichak, Katrina Vogan, Sandy Wang, Brittaney Warren
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WHAT’S GOING ON THIS WEEK DISORIENTATION EDITION
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The Varsity is the University of Toronto's largest student newspaper, publishing since 1880. The Varsity has a circulation of 20,000, and is published by Varsity Publications Inc. It is printed by Master Web Inc. on recycled newsprint stock. Content © 2014 by The Varsity. All rights reserved. Any editorial inquiries and/or letters should be directed to the sections associated with them; emails listed above. The Varsity reserves the right to edit all submissions. Inquiries regarding ad sales can be made to ads@thevarsity.ca. ISSN: 0042-2789
TUESDAY AUSTERITY AND DISABILITY: THE IMPACT OF CUTS AND RESTRUCTURING ON DISABLED PEOPLE Innis College, room 312, 7:00 pm — 9:00 pm Disability activists discuss cuts to disability-related funding and
support programs and how communities are fighting back. This event will have American Sign Language and live captioning.
WEDNESDAY BEYOND 101: A CONVERSATION AROUND PARTY CULTURE, SEX-POSITIVITY, SAFER SPACES, AND SOBRIETY OISE, room 5150, 3:00 pm — 5:00 pm A panel discussion exploring the relationship between sex-positive spaces, party culture, accessibility, and safety. The speakers will address harm reduction, sexualization, racialization, and consent in social spaces.
THURSDAY OUR HOME ON NATIVE LAND: DISCUSSING DECOLONIZATION OISE, room 4420, 12:00 pm — 2:00 pm This workshop will be led by indigenous and non-indigenous youth in Toronto and structured as an active dialogue about our relationship to the land and its histories, as well as what decolonization and reconciliation can look like.
FRIDAY FILM SCREENING: THE INTERNET’S OWN BOY WITH Q&A WITH DIRECTOR BRIAN KNAPPENBERGER Sidney Smith Hall, room 2117, 7:00 pm — 9:00 pm This film follows the life of Aaron Swartz, co-founder of Reddit, programming prodigy, and information activist. The screening will be followed by a Q & A with the film director.
THE EXPLAINER:
FROM THE VARCHIVES
Some of the wackiest headlines from The Varsity’s archives. 1949: “Trinity Tradition Menaced.” A student was injured and hospitalized as a result of Trinity College’s traditional Cake Fight. An argument ensued as to who should pay the bill for the student’s stay in hospital. 1955: “Skule auctioned stolen UC chair, college leaders show no concern.” When a group of engineers stole the speaker’s chair from the University College Literary and Athletic Society (UC Lit), college leaders said they would do nothing. The chair was later auctioned for an undisclosed price. 1962: “UC Lit has banquet abolished as students chew up budget.” The UC Lit proposed to cut funding to University College’s three banquets, which were attended by only 20 percent of the student population. The outraged students accused the UC Lit of incompetence and malpractice. 1964: “Varsity’s fishermen finish second.” The University of Toronto had a successful fishing team that won second place in the Eighth International Game Fish Seminar, despite a star player having an injured reeling hand. 1998: “SAC president caught eating on students’ tab.” The president of the Students’ Administrative Council (now operating as the University of Toronto Students’ Union) requested reimbursement for trips out to restaurants. Correction: An article from last week incorrectly said that Kathleen DeBoer would be holding a talk at the Munk School on October 21. In fact, DeBoer will be holding the talk on October 22.
var.st/news
VARSITY NEWS
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2014
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AGM items referred to UTSU board Legal controversy may prevent motions from reaching UTSU AGM for membership vote Iris Robin
ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR
A number of motions proposed as agenda items for the Annual General Meeting (agm) of the University of Toronto Students’ Union (utsu) have been referred to the Board of Directors for further discussion. The motions in question are a proposed alternative Board of Directors structure in light of the Articles of Continuance and two amendments to these articles. There is also a motion on the table to move the agm from Thursday, October 30 to Wednesday, October 29. If the Board of Directors approves this motion, the agm date will be changed in accordance with the utsu’s bylaws, which require that notice of the agm must be given at least 21 days in advance of the meeting. Ryan Gomes, vice-president, academic at the Engineering Society (EngSoc) drafted the alternative Board of Directors structure proposal. The proposal keeps the college and faculty definitions as they currently are and requests to enshrine these definitions in the new charter documents, created as per the Articles of Continuance, which govern the utsu’s transition from the Canada Corporations Act to the new Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act. Additionally, Gomes’s proposal stipulates the creation of an equity committee, chaired by the utsu vice-president, equity. This committee would be designed to address the desire for representation of marginalized communities. The proposed committee is composed of 12 positions — many of which would represent the same students as the initial board restructuring plan — including a lgbtq issues committee member and a racialized issues committee member. The committee would be required to provide recommendations on any suggested policy changes that would affect members of that community. Gomes said that he sought legal counsel to ensure that his motion complied with bylaws and procedures that govern the utsu. “At the July board meeting, the utsu brought in their legal counsel. They actually stated at that meeting that changes to the Articles of Continuance should go directly to the agm and should not need any approval. So that was the assumption I worked on, and I just wanted to make sure that the motion that I drafted was not going against any bylaws and that we dotted our Is and crossed our Ts,” said Gomes. However, according to the minutes of a Policy & Procedures Committee meeting on
The University of Toronto Students’ Union offices. jENNIFER SU/THE VARSITy
September 16, 2014, Yolen Bollo-Kamara, utsu president, claimed that lawyers have stated that Gomes’s proposal is “highly inadvisable.” Bollo-Kamara said that she will recommend that the motion be defeated at the meeting of the board based on the recommendations from legal counsel, as recorded in the minutes of another Policy & Procedures Committee meeting dated September 22, 2014. The minutes of both meetings were contained in a utsu Board of Directors package dated September 29, 2014. Two motions submitted by utsu vice-president, university affairs Pierre Harfouche were also referred to the Board of Directors: one that would disallow cross-campaigning between executive candidates and director candidates and another that would forbid anyone who was not a U of T student, alumnus, donor, or staff member from campaigning on behalf of the candidates. Harfouche defended the motions, saying that the first motion would make the process more fair for independent director candidates who have limited campaign funds. “This proposal will advantage people who will represent the community, and not people
who have more friends U of T–wide who can give them money to run this campaign,” Harfouche said. Bollo-Kamara said that she does not agree with the principle to restrict members’ rights to associate with others if they choose to, saying that it helps the membership to understand who would work well together. “It’s no secret that Ryerson is five steps away. It’s no secret that, yeah, if you brought people from other campuses to help out in the election, you would have a lot more support... It’s just not right for people to come here and pretend they understand the issues on this campus or the complexities of the college system,” said Harfouche of his second motion. Other motions submitted to the agm agenda include one moved by Kaleem Hawa, chair of the Trinity College Meeting, Rowan DeBues, president of the Victoria University Students’ Administrative Council, and Benjamin Coleman, student governor. According to Hawa, the motion proposes that all potential members of the Student Commons Management Committee immediately declare conflicts of interests and club affiliations, meaning that utsu-appointed
candidates will have to declare any connection to campus clubs — in the form of executive membership or endorsements — and recuse themselves from voting on space allocation for those organizations. “Nobody likes paying money into a project they aren’t seeing progress on,” said DeBues, adding: “However, it is obvious that, given the current political atmosphere, having a student run, multi-million dollar facility could just present another area of disagreement, conflict, and abuse. As such, we wanted to preemptively work to make sure that the management of the building is as transparent and democratic as possible,” he added. Although the University Affairs Board has approved the operating agreement for the Student Commons, the Executive Committee of the University of Toronto’s Governing Council has postponed approval pending the resolution of the ongoing fee diversion conflict. Sandra Hudson, utsu executive director, said that all three motions sent to the Board of Directors were also forwarded to legal counsel for review. The Board of Directors is scheduled to meet on Monday, September 29 to discuss the motions.
Plebiscite, election amendments on the table Amendments at UTSU board meeting include power to override the EPC, mandatory CRO approval of endorsements Iris Robin
ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR
The University of Toronto Students’ Union (utsu) has sent two sweeping amendments to the Elections Procedure Code (epc) to the Board of Directors for ratification. The amendments, if passed, will give the Elections & Referenda Committee absolute discretion to override the epc in circumstances beyond the utsu’s control, in order to uphold the spirit and principles of the elections. Additionally, the amendments will require all candidate endorsements to be approved by the Chief Returning Officer (cro) before being made known to the public. Kaleem Hawa, chair of the Trinity College Meeting, expressed concern with the amendments. “You will be, in essence, providing
broad and wide-reaching authority over the outcome of elections in times of stress and confusion to the very people who have enjoyed near-complete incumbency for the last decade of student politics,” Hawa said. Hawa also expressed concern with potential for abuse of the system, citing allegedly unclear wording and lack of explanation as to when the cro may block an endorsement or use it as grounds for a penalty. “Given that cros in the past have been known to show bias in favour of the utsu with their distribution of demerit points, this provides yet another avenue to entrench the utsu’s incumbency and limit democracy at U of T,” he added. The amendments were contained in the Board of Directors package for Monday, September 29. The 197-page document was sent out four days before the Board of Directors
meeting, with the minutes of the erc meeting among its contents. The package is dated Friday, September 22, although September 22 was a Monday. Teresa Nguyen, president of the Engineering Society, expressed her frustration at the short time frame between the meeting date and when the package was sent out. “To be quite frank, with the engineering schedule, we have a lot of classes. I think it’s actually unacceptable that the utsu think it’s appropriate to release the package the Friday before a Monday meeting,” Nguyen said, adding: “It gives students no time to adequately look anything over. It’s inadequate.” The package also included 16 questions for a plebiscite on the proposed Board of Directors structure to be held in advance of the Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, October 29. The questions are structured as
follows: “Do you believe that international students should have direct representation to the University of Toronto Students’ Union board of directors through an individual who is elected specifically to work on issues affecting international students?” This question is repeated 12 times, with “international” replaced by each one of the 12 groups on the proposed Board of Directors. The question pertaining to college and professional faculty–based student society representation is structured as follows: “Do you believe that college-based student societies should represent themselves to the University of Toronto Students’ Union through a committee?” The proposed board of directors structure does not include representation for individual colleges and allocates three seats for professional faculties. The utsu did not respond to requests for comment.
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news@thevarsity.ca
Student Commons approval may soon be put to Governing Council Project previously postponed pending ongoing fee diversion controversy DeBues said that the Student Commons fee is especially frustrating for Victoria College students, who also still pay towards the college’s Goldring Student Centre as well. “Progress is being made, though not through the utsu… We have talked with the vice-provost, Jill Matus, and Governing Council in trying to improve the situation,” DeBues said.
Salvatore Basilone VARSITY STAFF
Approval of the proposed Student Commons may soon be put to Governing Council. Althea Blackburn-Evans, U of T director of media relations, said that provost Cheryl Misak will “be recommending to the Executive Committee that it consider whether the time has come to put the Student Commons Agreement on the agenda for consideration by Governing Council this fall.” The Student Commons is a planned student-run building that would be home to campus clubs, eateries, multifaith spaces, and work and meeting spaces. The building, which will be located at 230 College Street, was originally slated to open in fall 2015. St. George students currently pay construction costs for the space as part of their annual fees. The $8.20 fee was approved in a referendum held in 2007. According to Pierre Harfouche, University of Toronto Students’ Union (utsu) vice-president, university affairs, the universiy holds all funds for the building. However, final approval by Governing Council, which is required for construction to commence, was postponed in June 2013. BlackburnEvans said that this was motivated by the need for the utsu and various divisional student societies to resolve outstanding disputes. The disputes revolve around what Misak referred to in a 2013 report as “an ongoing series of complaints and frustrations on the part of some divisional student societies towards the
THE PATH FORWARD
The Governing Council Chamber in Simcoe Hall. kenneTH TruOng/THe VArsITY
University of Toronto Students’ Union.” Three of these societies, the Trinity College Meeting (tcm), the Victoria University Students’ Administrative Council (vusac), and the Engineering Society (EngSoc) previously held referenda among their membership that supported no longer paying fees to the utsu.
CONCERNS WITH PROGRESS Student societies have already raised a number of concerns with the project, including the planned allocation of space within the commons. “The main concern is that of neutrality,” said vusac resident Rowan DeBues, adding: “Given how nega-
tive relationships have been with the utsu, I see the Student Commons as another potential area of conflict if it is mishandled.” Representatives of the utsu expressed optimism that the Student Commons would be completed. “The Commons will be built due to obligations that both the university and the students’ union must uphold,” said Cameron Wathey, vice-president, internal and services, adding: “At this point, we have been discussing with clubs what the plans currently are, and ensuring that they have an opportunity to voice their concerns about the lack of space on campus.” Representatives from various divisional societies were less optimistic.
“The issue is far from being sorted out,” said Kaleem Hawa, chair of the tcm. “The utsu’s drive to remove college and professional faculty representation from their Board of Directors and to potentially remove online voting from the upcoming election is a signal that they don’t take their responsibilities as our student union seriously,” he added. Hawa also criticized the utsu for its “unwillingness to act in an accountable and democratic fashion.” EngSoc president Teresa Nguyen echoed Hawa’s sentiment, saying that the utsu has “still made no efforts to acknowledge EngSoc’s requests for more transparent operations back in 2010.”
Some students have taken steps to help expedite the planning process. For example, Hawa submitted a motion to the utsu Annual General Meeting (agm) that would require all potential members of the Student Commons management committee to declare conflicts of interest, including club affiliations. “This would mean that utsuappointed candidates will have to declare any connection to campus clubs — in the form of executive membership or endorsements — and recuse themselves from voting on space allocation for those organizations. This should make space allocation fair and representative,” he said. DeBues and Harfouche also called for more student engagement to resolve outstanding issues. “It is your money, and you have every right to see returns on your investment,” DeBues said. “Students looking at moving this project forward should get informed on the root causes of the issues behind the approval of the student commons,” Harfouche added, calling on students to attend the utsu agm.
UTAM’s hedge fund investments under scrutiny
TIMOTHY LAW/THe VArsITY
Devina Gupta
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
Recently, a woman ate her fiancé’s last ice cream bar in Orillia, Ontario. When she returned to the convenience store to replace it, she picked up a Lotto Max ticket and went on to become a multimillionaire. George Luste, former president of the University of Toronto Faculty Association, describes success with hedge funds as likely as “winning the lotto.” For him, the University of Toronto Asset Management Corporation (utam), a wholly owned subsidiary that actively manages the univer-
sity’s pension funds, endowment, and other short- and long-term investments, is taking a risky bet by putting their faith in hedge funds. Previously, the university’s investments were passively managed by the university’s treasury department and supervised by a volunteer committee. The University of Toronto’s latest annual financial statement points out that utam has around $255.8 million invested in or through hedge funds, mainly in government and corporate bonds and emerging markets equities. Hedge funds — investment vehicles that pool capital from a number of investors — bet on and against
bonds, securities, and other investment instruments, but are extremely complex. “Hedge funds cannot guarantee returns and are like buying a lotto ticket and hoping to win. But someone loses money always, and, really, how many winners do we have? In such investments, the only people that make money are the managers,” said Luste. Luste is not the only one who feels that way. The California Public Employees’ Retirement System (calpers) recently decided to divest the $4 billion that it has invested in hedge funds. Ted Eliopoulos, interim chief investment officer of calpers, said the decision to eliminate 24 hedge funds and six hedge fund-of-funds wasn’t related to investment performance. According to calpers figures, calpers paid $135 million in fees in the fiscal year ended June 30 for hedge fund investments that earned a 7.1 per cent return, contributing 0.4 per cent to its total return. “Hedge funds are very volatile and don’t have any government regulation since it’s a commercial contract between two parties. But who will hedge against these hedge funds?” said Bharat Singh, a certified financial planner in Toronto.
Still, utam is confident of its investment strategy, with the LongTerm Capital Appreciation Pool (ltcap) posting a net return of 14.6 per cent last year. The ltcap posted just a one per cent return two years back. William Moriarty, utam president and ceo, said that utam managers are taking a strategic call on investments, and hedge funds are one option for them. “We haven’t made specific allocations for hedge funds, but it depends on manager to manager — they decide on what basis investment is to be done,” Moriarty said. Moriarty was the fourth-highest paid public servant in Ontario in 2013, earning a salary of $772,547. David Naylor, U of T’s former president, earned $388,401 in 2013. A comparison of U of T’s endowment plan return with its American counterparts reveals relatively significant differences in returns. For example, the Yale University endowment fund reported a 20.2 per cent investment return for the last fiscal year. Harvard University’s endowment reported a 15.4 per cent gain for fiscal 2014, while the University of Pennsylvania was up 17.5 per cent. Luste also critcized the university for the fees that it pays to fund
managers. utam paid out over $14 million in investment-related management fees to external managers in 2014. Recently, utam has also increased its emphasis on investments in emerging markets. According to a recent report to the university’s Business Board, ltcap invested around 10 per cent of its total funds — over $178 million — in emerging markets last year, but has lost over 1.8 per cent this year. A recent research paper from the International Monetary Fund points to a slowdown in the emerging markets, saying that the weakness could be a “prelude for more modest growth rates in the years to come.” A comparison in the research paper notes that economic expansion rates in more than 90 per cent of emerging markets are lower than before the 2008 turmoil. As a group, the emerging markets are growing at just five per cent, compared to about seven per cent before the financial crisis struck in 2008. Nonetheless, Moriarty is confident of his strategy thus far. “We are looking at higher returns from the emerging markets and will increase our investment around 10 per cent there,” he said.
var.st/news
VARSITY NEWS
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2014
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U of T students join People’s Climate March Activists call on politicians to address climate change
People gathering before getting on the buses to the climate march in New York. DENIS OSIPOV/THE VArSITy
Brittaney Warren
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
Hundreds of thousands of environmental activists, including some U of T students, took to the streets of New York City on September 21 to demand world leaders to take action against climate change. The People’s Climate March coincided with the United Nations (un) Climate Summit, a preclude to the UN Climate Change Conference scheduled to take place in Paris in December 2015. Indigenous groups, labour unions, environmental organizations, celebrities, and politicians — including the Green Party of Canada leader Elizabeth May — were among those in attendance.
The People’s Climate March was widely lauded as a success, with attendance far exceeding expectations and many expressing optimism that the protest was effective in garnering the attention of politicians. “By getting 400,000 people on the streets of nyc and nearly 600,000 people worldwide protesting climate change, we made our voices heard,” said Riley McCullough, University of Toronto Students’ Union sustainability commissioner. The mood at the event was largely celebratory, with protestors expressing their dissent through colourful costumes, song and dance, art, and creative slogans. For Sam Harrison, a first-year engineering student, inspiration abounded in both silence and sound. “For two minutes during the march, the
crowd fell silent to take a moment for the frontline communities of climate justice. Following this, a wave of sound rushed through the crowd as 400,000 people made as much noise as they could to sound the burglar alarm on the fossil fuel industry stealing our future,” Harrison said. Fossil fuels seemed to be one of the top concerns at the march: the issue was tabled at the un Climate Summit and is on the agenda for the 2015 Paris Conference. The burning of fossil fuels is one of the main contributors to greenhouse gases, the increase of which is causing the earth’s temperature to rise and the ice caps to melt. While over 100 countries have signed the Kyoto Protocol, which calls for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by seven per cent
or more below 1990 levels, there are some nations, including the United States, that have not ratified the treaty. Although Canada did ratify Kyoto in 2002, the government withdrew its name in 2011 in order to avoid an estimated $14 billion dollar penalty for its inability to lower co2 emissions. This year’s Climate Summit was an opportunity for heads of state from around the world to demonstrate their environmental commitment by offering their ideas on how to alter the current trend of environmental degradation. Stephen Harper, prime minister of Canada, did not appear at the summit. Ben Donato-Woodger, a fourth-year anthropology student, expressed his disappointment at Harper’s absence. “It’s embarrassing. Our leaders aren’t leading. So we will,” he said. Toronto350, a local chapter of 350.org, an international environmental group working to build a global movement to solve the climate crisis, sent five buses to the march. Toronto350 has also called on U of T to divest its shares in global fossil fuel companies. The group submitted a briefing in March and are waiting for approval from U of T president Meric Gertler to continue their investigation. “U of T’s endowment is invested in dirty coal and oil. If U of T is serious about social responsibility and sustainability, they will divest as soon as possible,” said Donato-Woodger. In the wake of the march, students expressed optimism for Canada’s environmental movement. “[C]limate change is positive in one crucial way — its power to wake people up and bring them together. This is when humanity is at its best: mobilized and exhilarated,” said Ariel Martz-Oberlander, a fourth-year drama student. McCullough called on more people to get involved in the battle against climate change. “More work needs to be done to convince many of the people not involved that this is not an extremist movement or one that only a few people feel really passionately about. This is something that will impact everyone, and we all need to work together to demand the change that needs to happen,” she added.
New project aims to “Unite U of T” Student-based group focuses on illuminating mental health issues Devika Desai
VARSITY STAFF
In March 2014, students walking into Sidney Smith Hall were greeted by a question on a white board: “How does the University of Toronto make you feel?” Now, the innovator of that project, David Fishbayn, a fifth-year psychology student, is back with a new initiative: “UniteUofT.” The student group focuses on shedding light on isolation — perhaps the most prevalent cause of mental health issues at U of T. “A first-year student once said to me that she felt that she wasn’t growing like a tree. That statement really resonated with me. As an environment, U of T is not conducive to human development, due to the serious lack of social contact. In a period of modernity, U of T is almost the peak of alienation,” Fishbayn said, adding: “It’s tough here.” Caroline Fraser, a fourth-year book and media studies student involved with the initiative, echoed Fishbayn’s sentiment. “Last week, we met a third-year student who was on exchange from Venezuela, and he told us about how he thought going to a big school and sitting in big classes would ensure that he met people and
made friends really easily. Instead, the opposite proved true,” Fraser said. Over the past few years, students have repeatedly criticized the university’s mental health services, such as Counselling and Psychological Services, for allegedly failing to properly treat affected students. Fishbayn and Fraser also expressed concern over the prevalent perception at the university that student alienation is normal. “People refuse to acknowledge it because they believe that it’s the norm here — that it’s just how things are. This is exactly what needs to change, and this form of improvement needs to come from within the students,” said Fishbayn. While the group is still in its beginning stages, Fishbayn and Fraser aim to implement a number of different projects by midOctober. For example, the group plans to reintroduce the How Does U of T Make You Feel? project. They also plan to start a Facebook page called U of T Stories, where students can anonymously share their university experiences and then reach out to other students with similar experiences. “It’s all about bringing people in contact with each other,” Fishbayn and Fraser said.
Sidney Smith Hall. ElENA IOurTAEVA/THE VArSITy
Fishbayn added that the prevailing mindset around the university will not change overnight, saying, “The question that I find most interesting and difficult to answer as a psychology stu-
dent is: How do we make people be more social? How do we change an environment that’s not only antisocial but also accepted as something that’s normal when it’s clearly not.”
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Students, student groups adapt to back campus changes Recently completed $9.5 million project drew sharp criticism Anthony Frati and Emily Colero VARSITY CONTRIBUTORS
Student groups are learning to adapt to the recently completed back campus field renovation, with sports teams shifting practices and games to other spaces on and off campus. The launch of the $9.5 million back campus fields project was met with considerable opposition from students, staff, faculty, and alumni — including author Margaret Atwood — who argued that the destruction of the natural turf on back campus would hurt the environment and undermine athletic groups. The two synthetic turf fields were constructed, in part, to host the 2015 Pan Am Games. Historically, back campus had a significant place in Canada’s military culture, with the field serving as training grounds for U of T students who were called to fight in both the First and Second World Wars. Despite strong opposition, the project was underway on July 1, 2013, leaving many to wonder about the possible implications associated with the decision. The project aimed to provide a more accessible playing surface for sports teams on campus and to serve as the official host of women’s field hockey in both the Pan Am and Parapan Am games starting in the summer of 2015. Back campus also served as a symbol of student culture and voice on campus. Brad Evoy, a former member of Keep Back Campus Green, a group opposed to the back campus project, and former external commissioner of the Graduate Students’
CONTINUED FROM COVER 10,132 service stops served by vehicles in the Greater Toronto Area. ttc ridership has increased yearly for the past decade. “Residents in this city note that many cities — ones far bigger and more populated than Toronto — have more efficient transit models and wonder why Toronto can’t get with it,” said Aliya Bhatia, a thirdyear international relations student who has volunteered for the Olivia Chow campaign. Luis Lopez, a second-year political science and economics student, agreed. “I use the ttc often, and I am constantly disappointed with the service. As a young person, the most valuable resource I have is time, and the ttc is making me lose that resource,” Lopez said. Mrinalini Dayal, a recent graduate, also called on mayoral candidates to expand presto card service throughout the city’s transit network. presto, an electronic fare payment system, is only available in 14 subway stations. Chow has outlined a number of transit plans that specifically address Toronto students. “I will invest in bus services to help get students to York [University] faster. I’ll in-
Front campus field. jESSICA SONG/THE VArSITy
Union, said that the back campus fields project hurt student culture. “The loss of back campus embodies a wider struggle on this campus for space, both physically and in terms of the space of dissent and the student voice. Back campus was historically student space, defended from administrative overreach since
1892 when students paid the cost of maintaining the field ... through to last year. This space is lost to us all now, and will remain so until the turf decays and is replaced,” Evoy said. Now that construction is completed, student groups are learning to adapt to the change from natural grass to artificial turf, with some noting that
the completed project is much more accessible and safer for athletes. Richard*, a second-year criminology student, expressed mixed opinions on the change. “Although I’d personally prefer grass, in the long-term turf is much more maintainable and safer for athletes who use it,” Richard said.
Emma Stairs, a field hockey player, praised the new fields. “The back campus field is amazing. Our field hockey team, for the first time, is able to play on a surface that is conductive to the sport and allows us to train at an elite level,” she said.
vest in track signal renovations to make Line 1 run more efficiently for Ryerson [University], University of Toronto, and ocad [University] students. And I am the only candidate with a plan to provide a dedicated above-ground rail stop for the 12,000 full-time and 28,000 parttime students at Centennial College,” Chow said. Chow also hopes to streamline the process for obtaining a student ttc pass. “I will give campuses the ability to sell all fare media and print ttc Post-Secondary Student IDs. Rather than having to go to Sherbourne station, you’ll be able to get your ID on campus,” she said. Chow has also promised to expand Toronto’s cycling infrastructure, planning to build 200 kilometres of new bike lanes across the city. “Whether by foot, by car, by transit, or by bike — I support making it easier for you to get where you want to,” Chow stated. Tory echoed the importance of bicycle lane expansion. “Toronto’s cycling infrastructure needs a boost. The number of cyclists in the city has grown, but infrastructure has not kept pace,” he said. Tory’s expansion plan consists of a network of separated bike lanes in the city. “I support the Adelaide and Richmond pilot project to get a better understanding of how additional
bike lanes changes [sic] to the flow of traffic,” Tory added. Many of Toronto’s post-secondary institutions are located downtown, which Tory said poses a problem to students who have to balance affordable living with accessibility to their place of study. “SmartTrack will connect Toronto’s many surrounding areas to the city’s center, thereby making our city more functional and affordable for students,” Tory said of his transit plan. According to Tory, his SmartTrack transit plan is a surface subway that utilizes existing go Transit tracks. It includes 22 stations, spans 53 kilometers, and is designed to be completed in seven years. “SmartTrack will be built on 90 per cent existing track, and provide all day, two-way, rapid-transit service across the city, not just the downtown, ” he said. Basil Southey, a first-year student, also called on candidates to address the issue of affordable housing. Covenant House, Canada’s largest homeless youth agency, estimates that there are at least 10,000 homeless youth in Toronto during any given year. Estimates also peg the mortality rate of homeless youth at up to 40 times the mortality rate of housed youth. “Transit and affordable housing are the two most important
factors to look at to give youth a chance to live and work in Toronto,” Southey said.
the election would affect youth voters. “I find that with youth, there is often less tendency to vote, or more jaded behavior despite how active and engaged we are in the communities we belong to — whether that be campus clubs [or] colleges,” Bhatia said, adding: “It’s important to note that — despite your thoughts or indifference or belief towards the democratic system — that your vote is your voice.” The municipal election is scheduled for October 27.
STUDENT SKEPTICISM Emily Tsui, president of the Association of Political Science Students, expressed concern with the various transit promises of the candidates. “Even if the political will is there, funding concerns need to be further addressed in a more direct and realistic manner,” Tsui said. Tsui also expressed concern with the ability of candidates to deal with what she called the “political stagnation of city council,” which she said has let “gridlock and commute times accumulate over the years.” However, Tsui was optimistic about the impact the election could have on voter engagement in Toronto. “Rob Ford’s term in office has undoubtedly prompted political opinions from individuals who previously did not have one, and those who had not seen a reason to be involved with politics are now getting involved. If anything, I think there is hope that the voter turnout will increase, and new and upcoming voters will be excited from this election to continue their engagement with democracy,” she added. Bhatia said she was unsure whether the increased interest in
*Name changed at student’s request.
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Salvatore Basilone and Claire Fox | VarSity ContriButorS
Do you feel safe on campus?
Photos by Jay Bawar
Athina fourth-year, biology
Seun first-year, chemical engineering
Miranda first-year, commerce
I feel pretty safe on campus. I do have some evening classes that don’t finish until 9:00 or 10:00 pm, but I always feel okay — even when it’s dark… [T]he emergency telephones around campus do look a bit run down so I don’t know how reliable they would be if I ever needed one.
I definitely feel safe on campus. I play on the varsity basketball team and, although our practices end late, I’m not too concerned about walking by myself. I feel comfortable on campus.
I haven’t experienced any problems on campus. I definitely feel safer walking through campus with a friend, and if I’m walking late at night I usually stick to the main roads.
Abbas fourth-year, global health and immunology
Umang first-year, general science
Lisa third-year, political science
Ines third-year, political science
I definitely feel safe, and people are very nice on campus. I have to come through campus after my late classes, but I haven’t had any problems. I usually have someone to walk with, and, compared to other places, I think the campus is very safe.
Apart from the racoons late at night, I usually feel safe on campus. I have late classes that don’t finish until 9:00 or 10:00 pm, but I always feel comfortable when I’m walking home. I’m not too worried about the attack on the professor – there will always be crazy people and that kind of attack could really happen anywhere.
The U of T campus definitely feels safer than my own campus back in Paris — I always feel safe when I’m walking through campus. I don’t know of anyone who has had to contact the authorities about problems concerning their safety on campus.
I feel safe on campus, even at night. The recent attack of a professor doesn’t really rattle me too much… I don’t know anyone who’s had problems on campus, really — I haven’t had any in the four years I’ve been here.
Alexandra fourth-year, neuroscience and pharmacology I generally feel comfortable and safe on campus. Most of my classes finish late at night, but I’m never worried about walking through campus… I haven’t really seen any difference in the last few years in terms of safety on campus, either.
University tutorials revamped Joint Working Group on Undergraduate Tutorials provided series of recommendations on tutorials Emily Colero
VarSity ContriButor
Following a series of recommendations made in March 2014 by the Joint Working Group on Undergraduate Tutorials, the university has begun implementing changes to tutorials. The working group provided a series of recommendations on tutorials to provost Cheryl Regehr in the form of a categorization scheme to reveal the different types of tutorials. According to the report, the provost was looking for the best interrelation of “goals, size, and mode of delivery” to organize tutorials. As part of the report, a survey was sent to 98 department heads and associates in March 2014, requesting their input on university tutorials. The survey found that budget restrictions affected decisions about tutorials and that the best tool for ensuring successful tutorials is proper training and mentoring for teaching assistants (tas). Althea Blackburn-Evans, director of media relations, said that, beginning in September, tutorials were placed into four categories: discussion-based tutorials, skills development tutorials, review/Q & A sessions, or laboratories/practicals. Assigning tutorials into categories assisted instructors and departments
on how to properly train tas to ensure course goals were met. Under a new training system, tas also receive training on how to use proper teaching techniques and facilitate learning activities. The new training system is in place on all three university campuses. “The Group determined that tutorials need clearer objectives, better guidance for instructors who plan them, and more focused training for tas who lead them,” BlackburnEvans added. Another key aspect of the report was the move to provide a clear definition for “tutorial.” “The term ‘tutorial’ at the University of Toronto is used to identify interactive and participatory sessions, primarily led by teaching assistants. During these interactive and participatory tutorial sessions, teaching assistants are responsible for gauging student understanding and providing formative feedback, in line with assessment structures and guidelines set by the instructor,” the report said. The report recommends that tutorial sizes be capped at around 25 to 30 students, depending on the goal of the tutorial. Tutorial sizes of 30 students are suggested for tutorials where students learn a skill, whereas tutorial sizes of 25 students are suggested for discus-
Classroom in Sidney Smith Hall. victoria dawson/tHe varsity
sion tutorials where students break off into smaller groups for discussions. If tutorial sizes surpass the recommended sizes, the report recommends that
“instructors... identify which teaching approaches and facilitation skills are needed in order for the ta to conduct the learning activities successfully.”
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Queer Orientation fosters community Sexual & Gender Diversity Office, student groups hold over 30 events across 10 days Emma Compeau and Shreya Mathur VARSITY CONTRIBUTORS
Between September 19 and September 29, Queer Orientation brought new and returning students together through events at all three University of Toronto campuses. Queer Orientation invited students to engage in a variety of events exploring sexual and gender diversity and learn about getting involved on campus. This year’s programming included open houses, meet-and-greets, and queer yoga. There were also new, innovative events such as GenderPoo, an art-based exploration of gender. A team of staff and students from many onand off-campus groups, including out@utm, sc:out, lgbtout, and the Sexual & Gender Diversity Office (sgdo), worked together to organize the events.
“DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES” According to Haley O’Shaughnessy, president of Rainbow Trinity, one of the main goals of Queer Orientation is “[allowing] first-years to become accustomed to the university environment before they get involved with the many queer clubs on campus.” For example, the Campus-to-Village tour and Queer Tea in Public Spaces helped students locate places to hang out and socialize in a safe and supportive environment, as well as learn queer and trans history within the university context. Allison Burgess, the university’s sexual & gender diversity officer, said that Queer Orientation plays a critical role in building a strong university community. “Queer Orientation is important for students to help build lgtbq communities across our three campuses and to help foster diverse and inclusive communities,” Burgess said, adding: “There are lots of events on the week’s program where all students can attend and learn something, such as meet-and-greet events and movie nights where anyone can come and listen, learn, and participate in lgtbqorientated programming.” In addition to their support of Queer Orientation, the sgdo offers a number of services for students, faculty, and staff at all three
Students at a Queer Orientation event. SHAHIN IMTIAZ/THe VArSITy
campuses, including the Queer Students of Colour Discussion Group; the lgbtq Students Group, which brings lgbtq international students together for monthly social and educational events; and training and educational programs. The sgdo is also involved in the Washroom Inclusivity Project, which aims to provide clear and updated information about the university’s current washroom facilities.
LGBTQ ADVOCACY Originally founded as the University of Toronto Homophile Association in 1969, lgbtout, the oldest lgbtq student group in Canada, also participated in this year’s events. According to Ben Donato-Woodger, the group’s public relations executive, lgbtout aims to be the major unifying queer group on campus. The group runs a drop-in center for lgbtq students and engages in advocacy and event planning on campus.
Donato-Woodger said that Queer Orientation continues to attract attendees from a variety of backgrounds. “You get everybody. You meet people coming out for the first time in the safety of progressive Toronto. You meet people there to make friends. You meet activists. You meet people wanting to get involved on campus,” he said. “The university has both a unique responsibility to advance equity as a centre for education, but also because of the opportunity it has to shape students positively at a formative time in their lives. Many people come out for the first time in the safety of progressive Toronto,” he added.
“ADVANCING EQUITY” Building an engaging community where experiences and struggles are shared and discussed was a central theme throughout Queer Orientation. O’Shaughnessy said that, to overcome systematic forms of oppression, students, staff,
and faculty must challenge heteronormative cultures and gender binaries within colleges, classrooms, and social spaces. For example, during Queer Orientation, participants put their preferred pronouns on nametags. The Queer Students of Colour discussion also invited students to challenge racism, homophobia, and transphobia through discussions on how sexuality and race affects lives and communities. Although pleased with progress made on campus in the past few years, Donato-Woodger said that the university must still actively work towards the development of a more equitable and inclusive atmosphere at U of T by challenging homophobia and transphobia, as well as sexism and racism. “I hope lgbtout can continue growing, bringing students together, and advancing equity,” he added. With files from Iris Robin
NEWS IN BRIEF Former lieutenant-governor to teach at U of T
Columbia University students go unpunished for alleged sexual assaults
Ontario post-secondary enrolment slips
United States releases new statement urging compliance with Title IX
The Honourable David Onley, the twentyeighth lieutenant-governor of Ontario, has accepted a teaching position at utsc. Onley will teach in the Department of Political Science and serve as an ambassador for the Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games, portions of which are to be held at utsc. Onley graduated from the Scarborough campus, then known as Scarborough College, in 1975. “I am honoured to be assuming my new responsibilities at utsc and am truly looking forward to sharing my experiences as lieutenant-governor in class and on campus,” said Onley. “We are delighted to welcome home our distinguished alum,” said Bruce Kidd, utsc interim vice-president and principal. Onley worked as a journalist before being appointed on July 10, 2007. He was Ontario’s first lieutenant-governor with a disability.
Columbia University’s first annual Report on Gender-Based Misconduct Prevention and Response revealed that none of the 10 Columbia undergraduate students accused of sexual assault in the 2013-2014 academic year were punished. No details were given about the cases, leaving students without a way of knowing whether the complaints were thoroughly investigated. The report claimed no sanctions were imposed, as no perpetrators were held responsible. Sejal Singh, a senior at Columbia University, pointed out that there is no way to hold the university accountable due to the lack of information. “I’m glad to see this information is being released, but I don’t think that this report answered many of the questions students had raised,” she said. Columbia University is one of the few Ivy League schools, along with Yale University, Brown University, and Dartmouth College, that have released information about sexual assaults on campus.
This year, according to Ontario Universities’ Application Centre data, fewer new Ontario high school graduates are entering post-secondary institutions. The number of high school graduates entering universities dropped by 2.9 per cent, while the number of high school graduates entering colleges dropped by 3.5 per cent. This is the first drop in 15 years. Many have warned that the slide will continue until after 2020. “I’ve been shouting about this for years; we’re going to see a 10 per cent drop in postsecondary enrolment over the next 10 years, so now is not the time for new buildings, especially if we’re in an austerity mode,” said David Foot, professor of economics at the University of Toronto. Bonnie Patterson, president of the Council of Ontario Universities, brushed off the slip, saying many post-secondary institutions have boosted international student enrolment to fill the gap.
On September 19, the White House released a statement urging colleges and universities to conduct campus climate surveys to ensure ongoing compliance with Title IX, the gender equity law requiring schools to respond to and prevent sexual violence on campus. The Obama administration’s “It’s On Us” campaign encouraged colleges to analyze data from the surveys, “to assess the rates and nature of sexual misconduct, any location hotspots or risk factors, knowledge of the College’s sexual misconduct policies, procedures and resources, and the consequences of violating such policies.” The White House first pushed for the surveys in April, but faced resistance from higher education groups like the National Association of Student Affairs Administrators (nasaa), which was reluctant despite the idea being widely endorsed by sexual education experts. nasaa recently created #SAPledge, a pledge to “listen to, believe, and assist victims of gender-based violence.”
With files from the Toronto Star
With files from Huffington Post
— James Flynn
— Diandra Ismiranti
With files from U of T News — James Flynn
With files from Huffington Post — Caroline Shim
Comment
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In defence of allies Marginalized communities should welcome advocates Manuel Augusto
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
A controversial issue currently being batted around is the line between speaking as a member of a minority or disadvantaged group and speaking on its behalf as an ally. Many allies of modern human rights movements — dedicated to furthering the causes of feminism, anti-racism, and lgbtiqq2sa (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex, queer, questioning, 2-spirited, and allies — hereafter referred to as lgbt) activism — have reported instances of unjust treatment when advocating on behalf of marginalized groups. Some people closer to the issues in question have lashed out against allies for their supposed ignorance: if you haven’t experienced oppression yourself, how could you possibly presume to speak out against it with any legitimacy? This clash is extremely contentious and often manifests in heated exchanges, particularly over social media. One recent example drawn from Western pop culture is the case of hip-hop artist Macklemore’s well-known single “Same Love,” in which he raises awareness of lgbt
issues. The song fueled a lot of anger within the lgbt community, given the fact that Macklemore identifies as a heterosexual male. Some argue that Macklemore has no idea what it’s like to feel oppressed and therefore has no basis upon which to address the very personal issues mentioned in the song, much less profit from them through his own artistic endeavours. As a member of the lgbt community, I do understand why others reacted negatively towards the popularity of the song and the subsequent publicity Macklemore received for it. I understand why people are easily upset when allies speak out on issues that they have not necessarily been faced with personally. Nevertheless, in my opinion, the opposition demonstrated by some marginalized groups against well-meaning allies is neither appropriate nor beneficial in the long run. We need to take into consideration the way that allies communicate their support, what their intentions are, and whether they produce a positive outcome for these movements. The way by which allies communicate their support is crucial in determining whether or not a line has been crossed. It is essential for allies to understand what they are advocating for and for them to approach
these topics sensitively, with respect and maturity in mind. Self-identifying privilege is particularly important for those who would come out as allies for any marginalized cause. An awareness of any potential innate bias is a necessary prerequisite for allies, given its implications for the dynamic between the community and supporting groups. Generally, most privileged people are not always aware of their inherent advantage. They often grow up blind to oppression and live in a euphoric world, unaware of their relative edge. Allies who are aware of their own identities and their accompanying privilege are in a unique position to help open the minds of others to the oppression that occurs in society. Allies help bring issues of social injustice to light for the general population in a way that the concerned community cannot do on its own. By maintaining some distance from the core of the problem, allies straddle the line and can appeal to the public effectively on behalf of those most affected. In “Same Love,” Macklemore croons, “I might not be the same, but that's not important. No freedom ’til we’re equal, damn right I support it.” He communicates his
support effectively, disclosing that he is aware of his identity. In doing so, he dismisses it as being irrelevant to the message. His intention is to contribute to the movement for equal rights. Ultimately, the intent of allies is most important. If someone has good intentions, and is genuine and passionate about the cause, then attacking them is the last thing we should be doing. Many of those in marginalized groups know what it is like to feel attacked, so why expose others to scorn and hatred? Most allies have good intentions, which is what makes them allies in the first place. Whether you like it or not, allies help produce a positive outcome for these movements by building a strong network of support. Their contributions to human rights movements help spread awareness of many important issues. Limiting the voices of allies is problematic and hinders their ability to contribute to human rights movements. In order for us to truly progress as a society, we need to stop silencing the allies. Manuel Augusto is a second-year student at UTM studying professional writing and gender studies.
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Do you benefit from U of T's course breadth requirements? The Question
Many of U of T's Arts & Science course offerings are taught out of Sydney Smith Hall. victoria Dawson/tHe varsity
Practically they may not be necessary, but why deny yourself the opportunity? Christina Atkinson
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
Breadth requirements may feel arduous and unnecessary at times, but there are several significant benefits to taking courses outside of your subject POSts. These courses can open you up to new opportunities, enrich your experience in your chosen disciplines, and make you a more well-rounded student in general — but only if you pick the right courses. Students will often forget to include breadth requirements in their course selection decisions, despite the fact that they are necessary for graduation. If you take classes that you have no interest in, opt to take them as credit/no credit, and just show up to write the exams, then yes, you are wasting your time. However, selecting courses that interest you in some way, getting involved, and making an effort to learn something new is not wasting your time at all. The University of Toronto St. George Faculty of Arts & Science calendar defends the breadth requirement on the grounds that it is important for students to “have chosen courses across a broad range of subject areas,” while the university’s Scarborough campus website states that “[the breadth requirement] enables students to develop insight, experience, and new ways of thinking in areas distinct from their main fields of study.” In theory, the concept is sound, but in order to achieve these goals, students have to be actively engaged in their extra courses. I major in economics and public policy, but I took women and gender studies, forestry,
and environmental science courses to fulfill my requirements. Although it may seem like these courses are wildly outside of my focus, they really aren’t, everything had an economic and political component to it, and I gained important experience in thinking about problems that interest me from an interdisciplinary perspective. Many of my friends simply made their breadth classes credit/no credit. This is because the structure allows for two full-credit equivalent courses to be taken on a credit/no credit basis, which conveniently parallels the number of required breadth courses. Although there’s nothing wrong with this, I noticed that I was able to achieve higher grades in my breadth requirement classes than in my regular classes, boosting my GPA overall. The change of pace provided by these courses is refreshing when you can all too easily be numbed by the drudgery of standard academic fare. Are breadth requirements necessary? Perhaps not in the grand scheme of preparatory education in a given discipline. However, in the sense that branching out can only be a positive experience — and assuming you dedicate yourself — they are absolutely integral to the development of well-rounded students and citizens. If you don’t think the grade will help, or that it might hurt you overall, by all means take the course as credit-only. However, try not to slack; the opportunity to explore new interests is too important to pass up. Christina Atkinson is a third-year student at University College studying economics and political science.
Breadth requirements: One way to ensure U of T students make the most of their experience Carol Park
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
A year ago today, I was one of thousands of students eagerly awaiting graduation from high school, busy researching universities to attend for the following year. I was quite the pretentious and overly confident student back then, completely engrossed by the respective reputations of Canadian schools when it came time to make a decision. I only cared about prestige and the ways in which post-secondary institutions are perceived here in Canada and abroad. My parents wanted me to attend a reputable school, and so — as far as rankings go — it would have to be one of McGill University, University of British Columbia, or U of T. With that in mind, I made sure that come January I focused on preparing the best applications for those specific schools. Throughout my high school experience, I was never a huge fan of math and science courses. To be frank, I despised everything that involved numbers and logical thinking. As a student who wanted to study English and history, numbers — excluding historical dates — and science haunted my dreams. So, you can imagine my reaction when I learned that U of T maintains a breadth requirement policy, compelling
students to wade out from their comfortable disciplines into murky foreign waters. Frankly, I was horrified. I remember asking an older friend and U of T graduate why such requirements existed. She replied with a shrug. For a while, I was annoyed by the academic policy, but soon came to terms with it. I was just going to have to suck it up and deal with it. Now that I am a first-year student taking a science course to meet a requirement, I can say it’s not as bad as I thought it would be. Sure, I would much rather study Shakespearean plays or European civilization, but learning about the sun and the stars is turning out to be tolerable, if not equally as fascinating. The reasoning behind U of T’s breadth requirements is not difficult to follow. It is a simple way for the university to make sure that its students can contribute to society in more ways than just their area of study. If I’m being honest, it makes sense — having a broader knowledge base in many subjects improves a person’s thinking and, ultimately, problem-solving skills. It kills me to admit this, but the arts are connected to the sciences and everything in between. The world needs polymaths, and how can you argue with expanding your horizons? Carol Park is a first-year student at Victoria College studying English and history.
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So, you’re going to be a doctor? A career in medicine is a daunting investment, so be sure that it's one you are ready to make Simon Spichak
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
You’ve dreamt of being a doctor for as long as you can remember. You’ve always loved helping people, and so you figured it was your calling. Heading into your first year of university, you suffered through physics because you figured that medical schools require it. You messed up in first year, but that’s okay since medical schools don’t really care about it. You know you’re eventually going to be a doctor saving lives. But let’s slow down a little. Have you actually done any research into which prerequisite courses you need for medical schools? Did you know that not all medical schools in Ontario require undergraduate physics? Did you know that some medical schools actually do care about your first year? Do you have any idea what medical school is like? Have you ever volunteered in a hospital? Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with wanting to be a doctor, but I have met a lot of students in the life sciences who haven’t done their homework when it comes to a career in medicine. Medicine may not be the right choice for a lot of students. To put things into perspective, imagine that becoming a doctor is like investing in a big-ticket item. Would you just go out and buy a Lambo-
A portrait of Dr. Frederick Banting inspires would-be doctors in U of T's Medical Science building. jessica song/THe VarsiTy
rghini because it looks fancy? You would be making a significant error if you failed to consider the financial sacrifice. Being accepted into medical school requires a lot of sacrifice to achieve
the high grades and entrance exam scores required to distinguish your application. Once you have been accepted — if you are accepted — you have to pay an arm and a leg in tuition fees. If after a few years
of medical school you come to the realization that it’s not for you, you will have already spent the money. The opportunity costs associated with careers in medicine are astronomically high when you consider
the necessary time spent studying, working in residency programs, and the inevitably long hours awaiting you once you start practicing — not to mention the accompanying stress. I am not trying to scare anybody away from medicine; I just recognize the importance of objective thinking and research when it comes time to make the decision to apply for medical schools. Much like the Lamborghini, a medical career seems luxurious but is expensive. After doing the adequate research, you must ask yourself why you want to be a doctor. You need a few very good reasons to become a doctor after you find out about the expenses, the stress, and the lack of a social life. After you’ve spent a few hundred hours in hospitals, a hundred or so hours studying for the mcat, and dozens of hours researching the profession, you might still have trouble answering this question. There is still plenty of time for undergraduates to figure out whether medicine is the right path to follow. You may come to the decision that medicine isn’t for you, and there is no shame in that. There are plenty of other careers that one can pursue with a science degree that are equally rewarding and might better suit you. Simon Spichak is a second-year student at New College studying neuroscience and physiology.
The good, The bad, and The students share the reasons why they love and hate u of T There is a lot that can be said about the University of Toronto — and quite frankly, not all of it is good. While the university is continually ranked among the best universities in the world, its student experience is often criticized for being cold and impersonal. Some students would disagree with this perception, and, indeed, there are several other arguments for the merits and faults of the school. The Varsity asked students to share the experiences that shaped their opinions of U of T and why they love — or hate — the world-renowned institution we call home.
Kate Webber Fourth-year Criminology
Teodora Pasca First-year Social sciences
robarTs Library
For me, walking into Robarts for the first time was earth-shattering. Little did I know, it was only the beginning. As a first-year student coming from a school roughly the size of Convocation Hall, U of T certainly took me by surprise, but, somehow, this had less to do with the school’s behemoth population and more to do with its staggering wealth of books. You could spend your entire life at U of T doing nothing but reading, and, at the end of it all, there’d still be some book on some shelf you hadn’t yet picked up. There is so much unearthed knowledge out there, and U of T gives us the perfect way to dig it up. I’ve been wandering from E.J. Pratt to J.M. Kelly, from Graham to Gerstein, marvelling at the contents of their shelves and trying to make the most of the boundless resources at my disposition. Libraries are incredible places — and I look forward to learning incredible things.
Will Tennet
duFFerin sTr
Third-year Evolutionary biology I hate U of T because of the fissure between opportunities to get involved and, well, actually getting involved. It seems that there is such a tremendously large emphasis placed on the ability to come into your own at U of T, with advertisements — you’ve seen them on pretty much every lamppost around campus — telling you that, no matter how diverse your interests, “There’s a club for that.” The options are staggering in the most beautifully overwhelming way, but I’ve found that getting involved is not as easy as the posters make it out to be. I am rather passionate about a cappella, and every year I have auditioned for a multitude of college-specific and campuswide vocal groups to absolutely no avail. Last year, I got a call back for a group that shall remain nameless, and I thought that, this time, I was bound for glory. Needless to say, things didn’t pan out, further diminishing my confidence in ever getting involved in something about which I am passionate. I worry that U of T’s club culture has set me up for failure. I worry that I will complete my undergrad without ever getting involved in something I love. I worry my new co-curricular record will be threadbare upon my departure. And I hate U of T for making me worry so much.
sidney sMiTh haLL
I had big dreams for these going to get involved in me make a difference, find my determined to overcome t fears associated with this c to myself that I wouldn’t fe that I would talk to my pro would make friends. I jinxe each-way commute put a d involved and meeting new to loathe any club with a m pm or friends who texted m just as I was boarding the t memoir of my first two yea Disappointment. There was hope: I went to a professor spent half an hour talking w ised he would bring up poi sion in lecture, which imme office hours. I walked to cla somewhat vindicated. A me he was telling the class abo with Christina — I don’t kno but she sure sounded a lot
Prakruti Dixit
First-year, Master’s Aerospace engineering
harT house
I am new to this country, and it has be than three weeks that I have been her I am already longing to go back home. my friends and family out there. That thing that I most feared and wanted to when I parted with them. Now, there’ looking back as we are already miles a admit that it’s a pretty hard pill to swa when I am supposed to be settling in a city, working with people who I hardly and doing my best in academics. Hand in hand with this sadness is y other feeling — there’s this exhilarati feel every time I walk down the stree prestigious university. What brings m to U of T and makes me feel more at h with each passing day are the friend that I meet every day. I haven’t made yet, but no one has made me feel ou place — and that is why I love U of T.
e universiTy
four years. I was eaningful things, y place. I was the stereotypical campus — I vowed eel like a number, ofessors, that I ed it. My two-hourdamper on getting people; I started meeting after 8:00 me to grab a drink train home. The ars would be titled s one moment of r’s office hours and with him. He promints of our discusediately followed his ass with him, feeling ere 10 minutes later out his discussion ow who she was, like me.
Larissa Ho Fifth-year English
When I started at UTM, I didn’t know anyone. Just as I thought that coming to this university would be a terrible experience, I found out that I could write for the campus newspaper, run for executive positions on different clubs, and hold a job — all on campus. I was in a safe learning environment. However, all this wasn’t enough to sustain me and keep me well and healthy. University life can be overwhelming, especially in first year. I fell into a depression. I sought help at U of T in the form of counselling, and not only did I find it at UTM’s Health & Counselling Centre, I grew in knowledge of the illness, the help that is available to students, and what I could do to help myself. This decreased the stigma for me. Whereas before I had been ashamed and afraid to ask for help, only seeking help when things had gotten really bad, I saw then that seeking help was nothing to be ashamed of and that a lot of people are suffering from mental health issues at U of T and campuses around the world. Thankfully, U of T has acknowledged this, put resources into the issue, and taken action to decrease the stigma and protect its students’ mental health — and I love U of T for it.
Jared McKay
Fourth-year Book and media studies
burWash dining haLL
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een more re — but . I miss was one o avoid ’s no apart. I’ll allow, a new y know,
yet anion that I ets of this me closer home dly people e friends ut of .
souTh buiLding
I definitely had an idealized version of what university would be before I came — if I recall correctly, it was something like many people all sitting around in a sunlit quad, discussing important ideas with mutual respect. In my first two years, many dining hall conversations proved me wrong. If there’s one thing I don’t like about U of T, it’s that more often than not, when someone is more knowledgeable about something than I am, their reaction is not “You don’t know this? Let me share it with you!” but instead, “You don’t know this? I now think less of you.” What I wanted was a community where people shared what they knew, and what I got more often than not was a culture of pretension. I wish I could say that things have changed in my upper years, but if house parties and casual campus conversations are any indication, they haven’t.
More stories online at var.st/lovehate
Glen Ross
Fourth-year Political science My mother warned me that this institution was going to be too big, but I obviously didn’t listen. I am reminded of a time when, as a mere first-year political science student, I was seduced by the grandeur and pomp of professors Kosptein and Wong’s POL101 lectures in Convocation Hall. The bloated size of the venue and audience couldn’t have mattered less to me at the time — after all, it was a first-year survey course. Convinced that in the future I would realize my idyllic intellectual dreams of small classes and intimate dinner discussions with engaged profs, I swooned and was naively optimistic for the future. Alas, U of T, you have failed to deliver. Now, as I brave a fourth year of cramped, overheated, and fluorescently lit lectures, I’d do anything to return to those bright early days. Hell, I’d even settle for coffee with a TA.
ConvoCaTion haLL
Arts&Culture
VAR.ST/ARTS
29 SEPTEMBER 2014
arts@thevarsity.ca
The on-campus connoisseur The Varsity reviews UTSG eateries for quick bites between classes Sarah Niedoba
the Innis Cafe, I highly recommend it for delicious eats and friendly service.
U of T is notorious for its lacklustre meal plans. In first year, friends who visited me from other universities were shocked to learn that my meal plan only covered my specific college dining hall and that alternative campus food options were often expensive, unappealing, or both. Of course, the benefit of going to a school like U of T when you live or have class on the St. George Campus is that all manner of downtown Toronto eateries are a short 15-minute walk away. But this is little help when you have a day full of classes and only 15 minutes here or there to grab a bite to eat. As time goes on, we tend to find certain convenient places that become our go-to choices for food and, often more importantly, coffee. With this in mind, I checked out a number of on-campus food spots for all tastes and price ranges.
Price range: $ Best item: Chicken kabobs and salad Good for: Grabbing a tasty, relatively nutritious meal on campus with a generous side of salad
ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR
SAMMY'S STUDENT EXCHANGE 7 Hart House Circle, in the basement of Hart House Sammy's is really close to being a great spot to eat on campus. It’s located in the beautiful Hart House building, and has a menu with a wide range of interesting middle-eastern inspired dishes. It should also be noted that the food is pretty good, especially the falafel and chicken dishes. That being said, it’s way too expensive for what you get, the line at lunch is borderline terrifying, and the staff are always strangely surly. Not bad if you’re in a bind and need a bite between classes, but ultimately, it’s a money suck, and no one wants food served with a frown.
HARVEST NOON
Price range: $$ Best item: Chicken Shawarma Good for: It’s likely close to many of your classes, and the food is of a better quality than the chain restaurants in the campus cafeterias
16 Bancroft Avenue, on the second floor of the gsu Building The first thing to note about Harvest Noon is that it’s likely the quaintest lunch spot on campus. With its eclectic mix of furniture, knick-knacks, and coffee table books, it feels like walking into the apartment of a hip grad student. Once inside, you need only grab yourself a glass of water (served in mason jars, of course) and make your way over to claim an absurdly well-priced $5 student lunch, which changes weekly but is always locally sourced and delicious. The café is open 10:00 am–2:00 pm Monday through Friday, and it is in your best interest to get there early because they sometimes run out of food before the four hours are up. Seriously, wrangle up some friends and take them here — you will seem in-the-know, save money, and feel good about yourself all day. I mean, they make their own bread, for goodness’ sake. Price range: $ Best item: The $5 student lunch, because it’s delicious, but also because it is $5 Good for: Cheap, local food served up by U of T students
B ESPRESSO BAR 273 Bloor Street West, inside the Royal Conservatory of Music building
Above: Innis Cafe's chicken kebobs. Below: A cappucino from B Espresso Bar. jay bawar/THe VarsiTy
THE EXCHANGE 95 St. George Street, to the right of the front entrance of the Rotman Commerce Building I will admit to being obsessed with The Exchange for about a year now. It was once suggested to me as a meeting place for an interview, and I spent most of the conversation marveling at, firstly, how clean and beautiful it was, and secondly, the fact that I could get a restaurant-quality lunch for under $10. This week, I had the vegetable pasta (which was delicious and featured parmesan, roasted peppers, and fresh spinach), but I suspect I would have been equally happy with one of their daily panini, soups, or the
Cheap arts The Sleepworker launch party
southern chili. It is admittedly a bit more expensive than say, a Subway sandwich, but The Exchange consistently serves up fresh high-quality food, at a price that is equal to many other campus cafeterias. You will be eating amongst a lot of snazzy people in suits, but if you can deal with being a little underdressed and feel like spending a bit more on lunch, there is no better place to do so on campus. Price range: $$ Best item: Depends: their butter chicken is ridiculous, but they also have all-day breakfast — and by all-day breakfast, I do in fact mean waffles with whipped cream Good for: Relatively affordable delicious food, close to Robarts, so as to avoid the horrors of the Robarts cafeteria
INNIS CAFÉ 2 Sussex Avenue, next to Robarts The Innis Café is something I have often heard praised by my friends in the film program. With this in mind, I decided to finally go try it out. It was not the easiest task, as it is tucked away inside the Innis College main building, and with the current construction, I had to ask a friendly-looking professor for guidance. Once I got there, I asked what the most popular item on the menu was and, before the woman working the counter could respond, three students in the immediate vicinity called out “chicken kabobs!” and everyone else nodded in a surprisingly intense manner. It was good advice — I was presented with two delicious chicken kabobs and, frankly, an absurd amount of salad. If you can find
Under $10, pay what you can, and free arts events happening around the city this week
Smiths is Dead
Monthly Smiths-themed DJ night A Warhol-inspired launch party for held in the quirky Dundas West the English debut of Cyrille Marti- bar, Unlovable nez's novel The Sleepworker. Wednesday October 1, 10:00 pm Wednesday, October 1, 7:00 pm Unlovable, 1415 Dundas Street West, Type Books, 883 Queen Street West Apartment B Free Free
Toronto Queer Zine Fair A zine fair seeking to create space for traditionally marginalized voices in the zine community Saturday, October 4, 11:00 am-1:30 am The United Steelworkers Hall, 25 Cecil Street PWYC, suggested donation $5
The B Espresso Bar is technically not on the U of T campus, but it’s just off of Philosopher's Walk, so we’ll call it close enough. It’s a beautiful space and always full of professor-types sitting around sipping espresso. Because of this, it’s also crazy expensive — as in “I think I’d like a cookie with my coffee and oh, look, now I’m paying $12 for this” expensive. So avoid the food unless you’ve recently come into some money, but their coffee is really, really good — addictively good. As in, how can I drink the drip coffee served around campus now that I have found this god-like caffeinated nectar? If you want great coffee on campus, head to B Espresso — but be prepared to never go back to any other campus café once you’ve started. Price range: $$$ Best item: The coffee. Good for: The coffee.
By Sofia Luu
Hassler LP record release with Proxy, Absolut, and Valley Boys
Feast in the East 41: US GIRLS, Nature, Castle If, and Body Butter
Record release party for Hassler at SHIBGBS
A monthly east-end music, food, and installation series, this month featuring mac and cheese.
Friday, October 4, 9:00 pm SHIBGBS, 225 Geary Avenue $8
Friday, October 3, 9:00 pm The Jam Factory Co., 2 Matilda Street $10/ $13 with food
VARSITY ARTS & CULTURE
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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2014
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The best of Just For Laughs The Varsity reviews the best acts of the comedy festival By Sarah Niedoba and Daniel Konikoff “42 Things, 10 Days, 1 Pass” reads the Just For Laughs festival website. Last week, 42 comedians made their way into Toronto, determined to make the city laugh — and if our experiences are anything to go by, they certainly succeeded. Forty-two acts is a lot to get through for even the most determined comedy aficionado, but we tried our best, and there were certain stand-ups that seemed to stand out from the pack. With this in mind, we’ve reviewed our favourite shows from the 10-day affair for your consideration.
LENA DUNHAM
DAVE ATTELL Throughout the Just For Laughs festival, I received constant emails about special promotions — on the first night, I was offered a free ticket plus one to see one of Dave Attell’s shows. I’d seen some of his stand-up (Comedy Central’s Insomniac with Dave Attell) and thought he was funny, but found myself wondering if it wouldn't be a great act, since they weren’t able to sell out his shows. Sitting in the Queen Elizabeth Theatre a few hours later, I was proven very, very wrong. People who should not see Dave Attell: young children, conservative types, and your grandmother (if she’s anything like mine).
People who should see Dave Attell: literally everyone else. To say that he killed his set would be unfair — it was a massacre. Attell let forth a non-stop stream of filthy jokes, delivered with perfect timing and a constantly nonplussed expression. Obviously reading the room without seeming to, Attell would wait until the crowd had settled down before delivering a quick, dry one-liner that would result in a roar of hysteria. To my right, a middle aged man developed a case of the hiccups, while to my left, a pair of sisters clutched each other in a silent fit of hysteria. Attell delivered his act with the ease of a pro, and the audience, myself included, gave him the laughs he so richly deserved.
When looking over the list of performers at JFL42, Lena Dunham’s name was an immediate stand out — which is interesting, because in a festival packed with stand-up acts, she was scheduled for a book reading. Nevertheless, her show sold out almost immediately, and the Sony Centre was packed with excitedly whispering Dunham fans. Most people know Dunham from her hit hbo show Girls, but her show at JFL42 centered on her soon-to-be-released book, Not That Kind of Girl – A Young Woman Tells You What She’s “Learned.” Dunham shared an excerpt and then discussed the work with the host of Q, Jian Ghomeshi. The talk was a highlight of the festival for me, because it really was so different from any of the other programming that was offered. The tales of preteen angst Dunham shared with the
TIM MINCHIN
MIKE BIRBIGLIA “I’m going to tell you some stories,” said Mike Birbiglia at the beginning of his 2008 one-man show, What I Should Have Said Was Nothing, starting off the hour with humility and honesty instead of theatrics and volume. Six years later, that line still stands. Ever since studying theatre and screenwriting at Georgetown University, Birbiglia has been more enthralled with plays than stand-up comedy, and his new tour, Thank God for Jokes, is a hybrid of the two.
That is to say, Birbiglia is more so a storyteller than a stand-up comedian. His stories are all devastatingly funny but all connected. His latest show focuses on jokes themselves and the role humour has played throughout his life. With perfectly honed delivery (predominantly subtle but hilariously emphatic when it needs to be), Birbiglia brilliantly weaves an hourlong narrative that is rife with both sadness and humour, putting him a step above other comedians and defining him as a stand-alone artist in the stand-up realm.
Musical comedy is one of those niche areas of entertainment that is dominated by a core group of instantly recognizable performers (“Weird Al,” The Lonely Island, Flight of the Conchords, etc.). Well-deserving of a spot amongst the pantheon is Tim Minchin, who lit up Just For Laughs with his first performance in two years. Unfamiliar with his material, I was left in stitches by his two-hour performance left me in absolute stitches, though it left those already acquainted with
audience were funny, as was her banter with Ghomeshi. But what the evening became was an insight into Dunham as being, as her book so aptly puts it, “not that kind of girl.” Under a thin layer of back and forth joking, she and Ghomeshi spoke about how she managed to get to where she is now at such a young age, the idea of feminism and whether she identifies with it, and a whole host of other quite serious topics. While I normally find Ghomeshi a bit of a trumped-up public character, who spends a bit too much time picking out jackets to wear with his ripped jeans and practicing how he says “Good morning,” even I have to admit that he and Dunham had an extremely engaging conversation about what it means to be a young woman in comedy today — something that was sorely lacking from the rest of the JFL42 line up.
his work slightly less amused (such is the downfall of musical comedy). Looking like a mix between Captain Jack Sparrow and Russell Brand, Minchin’s talent is equal to his biting wit, both of which are on perpetual display; songs such as “Prejudice,” “Confessions,” and “Thank You God” aptly highlight both his musical dexterity and his ability to cleverly offend you with socio-political satire. His show flows seamlessly, connected by stand-up between songs, proving him to be both a wickedly funny man and a pretty talented musician to boot.
From left to right: Dave Attell, Lena Dunham, Mike Birbiglia, Tim Minchin Media photos
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Vol. CXXXV, No. 5
VARSITY ARTS & CULTURE
arts@thevarsity.ca
The culture of stories at Word on the Street Authors, publishers, and festival-goers weigh in on the future of the print industry
Author signs books at Word on the Street. Media photos
Linh Nguyen
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
Last Sunday found Queen's Park Circle filled with students, families, and bibliophiles of every nature, all exploring the dozens of tents that made up the annual Word on the Street. Ever since it was founded 14 years ago, the festival has brought together small presses, independent
authors, and ngos that promote worldwide literacy for a free, singleday, outdoor festival. At first glance, the festival seems to focus strictly on printed literature. It is a difficult stance to take in the changing world of publishing and the ever-present idea of the e-reader. Speaking with authors at various booths, it became clear that there is no one consensus when it comes to the method of sharing of stories.
Janet Campbell, a children's book author, is a self-described “storyteller,” favouring the oral tradition for its range of verbal and facial expressions. Anna Yin, a writer from the Canadian organization Poetry Alive, also favours the oral tradition but keeps her work in hand. “I prefer to read off the paper because each level gives me another meaning, gives me more layers of the poetry,
of what it can bring to my experience,” she said. Storytellers or not, few people I spoke with were eager to enter the age of digitization. “I firmly think that there will always be a place for the printed word and books,” said Kristen Blank from Toronto-based press, Quattro Books. “The experience of reading a book is tactile. It's a sensory experience. I think that things are going to change, but there will always be a place for [physical books],” she said. “Book launches would be different,” Banks said, adding: “Having an author signing their book, the excitement of cracking the spine, making notes in a book, putting your book down, having bookmarks... It would become consuming content as opposed to reading a book.” Most of the authors and publishers at the festival seemed to share Blank's optimistic view that despite some change, the printed word will always be around. “I work at a library,” one woman explained, “I still see so many people enjoying their books, and having the physical object seems really important to them.” Many of the small independent presses present at the event seemed to be flying below the digitized, mass marketed radar. “There's been a huge transition to digital which we've mostly been able to keep up with, but it hasn't been that big for us,” said Nic Boshart of Toronto-Halifax press, Invisible Publishing. “Our print sales haven't gone — they’ve actually gone up. It hasn't been the big upheaval that we thought it would be.”
Other independent presses have echoed this view, suggesting that while larger publishing companies might have felt the impact of digitization, their small and specific audiences remain loyal. “Numbers tell us that people are mostly still reading print,” said Erin Creasey, sales and marketing director at the Toronto-based Entertainment Culture Writing Press. Certainly, the culture of print literature is not dead yet, and this issue ranks low on many independent presses' concerns, compared to much more imminent issues, such as developing a public presence. One dissenter to these views was Hamilton native Marshall Hryciuk, a poet from small poetry publisher Imago Press. “The print industry is just about completely over,” he said. “If people that are young would rather read off a screen than carry [books] around, this is done for. In 20 years, [books] will be doorstops.” When I told him that he was the only one I’d spoken with that day to share that view, he countered, “I don't hate [books]; it's just that you don't have any choice. Everyone is trying to be positive, but I've got to deal with reality.” Although Hryciuk could very well be right, it was hard to agree with him in the midst of the diverse and print-friendly crowd at Word on the Street. “All I have to say about [the future of print] is that it's still vibrant,” said a spokesperson for Montrealbased Vallum Contemporary Poetry magazine. “It may not seem mainstream anymore, but look at how many people are here today.”
The pursuit of popcorn A recap of A Cure for the Munchies, an evening exploring stoner films and the food that goes with them Jacob Lorinc
ASSOCIATE ARTS EDITOR
Here’s a likely familiar scene: you’re curled up on your couch, a screen playing Netflix a few inches away from your face, with a plate of food you’re shovelling into your mouth with alarming speed. While you might be enjoying the movie, somewhere in the back of your mind you understand that food is making the experience significantly better. This relationship between film and food was put under the microscope last Monday for writer David Sax’s oddball event, A Cure for the Munchies. According to Sax, a stoner-film aficionado, what we eat while watching a film is critical to our movie-watching experience. For Sax, movies and munchies go handin-hand. So, to join him on stage for the discussion, Sax brought along Cory Mintz, a food critic for the Toronto Star; Aja Sax, a well-known Toronto bartender; and Anthony
Rose, the head chef at the popular Rose & Sons diner. As the three rambled happily about their different experiences as burnouts in high school, Sax presented them a weighty question: “What would be the experience you’ve had with movies and munchies that changed your life?” The chattering crowd died down to give the panelists on stage their undivided attention. A series of stories unfolded: Rose told of his experience watching Papillon while high with his father, which segued into Mintz’s life-changing moment watching a marathon of Kung Fu movies while eating a tray of baked potatoes and maple syrup. At one point, even a member of the audience joined in the conversation to endorse watching The Last Waltz while eating a pie. Finally, in order to give the audience a similar experience, the talk moved on to its main event, a showing of the quintessential stoner movie: Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle. To round
out the night, the audience members were each given a mediumsized popcorn to munch on, with the promise of burgers cooked by Rose once the movie had finished. The already-inebriated crowd was, needless to say, more than pleased. As many already know, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle is a movie about two stoner friends who go on a lengthy and hilarious journey to find a particular fast food chain in New York, where they will be greeted with the finest of hamburgers. Much like Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (and probably intentionally so), A Cure for the Munchies was also an extensive journey in the pursuit of hamburgers. Not that the journey wasn’t a blast, because it totally was, but the hamburgers at the end of the show, which were as nicely fried as the people who ate them, were undeniably what we had all been waiting for. Greasy burger in mouth and drink in hand, it was clear that Sax was right: food and movies are a match made in heaven.
The Bloor Hot Docs Theatre. Matthew fonte/the Varsity
VARSITY ARTS & CULTURE
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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2014
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Shopping like it’s 1969 The Varsity visits the Toronto Vintage Clothing Show
Vintage gloves on display at the Toronto Vintage Clothing Show. saRa constant/the vaRsity
Sara Constant
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
Last Saturday, I made my way down to the Metro Convention Centre and was directed to a large, basement-level space nestled underneath a set of escalators. Perhaps not the most glamorous setting for the bi-annual Toronto Vintage Clothing Show, but what it lacked in first appearances it more than made up for in beautiful vintage apparel.
The show, which urged visitors to “shop like it’s 1969,” brought together exhibitors from across the province — from Toronto staple Gadabout Vintage to smaller outfitters based in towns like St. Jacobs and Cambridge. The assortment of goods on offer was equally varied. Several booths had $10 racks or selections of inexpensive costume jewelry, while others boasted more designer-driven collections — one exhibitor, for example, proudly displayed a three-piece Louis
Vuitton leather luggage set, on sale for $950. Though the crowd grew increasingly diverse as the day wore on, the show was not the most accessible for those on a student budget — the $10 entry fee and emphasis from some booths on designer merchandise might have discouraged those student shoppers who prefer the casual vibes and price points of stores like Black Market Vintage. However, for students who are passionate about
vintage culture, the unique vendors that these types of shows attract can be part of what makes attending one worthwhile. “I think that a lot of the people [selling] here are actually collectors,” explained Christa Waters, who has taken Cherry Picked, her personal collection, to the Toronto Vintage Clothing Show for the past three years. “Most vendors have at least a shop online, but there is a wide spectrum of why they’re here.”
Indeed, many of the booths at Saturday’s show were pop-up shops, personal collections, or online stores that don’t have fixed physical storefronts. For vintage enthusiasts of all ages, the chance to peruse and buy from these unique collections is a big draw. With what seems to be a growing interest in vintage culture among young Torontonians in recent years, even local shops are learning to cater to a wide audience, both during and outside of these events. Shelley Pulak, who owns Printvintage at College and Ossington, explained that many shop owners are working to make vintage not only stylish but also financially accessible. “I have an ongoing sale rack — a $10 rack — all the time. There’s always something for somebody,” Pulak said. “I think you can’t go wrong with vintage, because it’s what stores like Joe Fresh and H&M copy, without copying the same quality. If a pair of vintage boots has lasted for 50 years, they’re going to be fine for another 10.” For those who missed Saturday’s show, October 9 will be another chance to put Pulak’s theory to the test, during a 7:00-to-midnight Toronto Vintage Crawl, where nearly 50 local vintage stores will feature special promotions. With designer prices less of an obstacle, students will have an opportunity to get creative with how they think about, and shop for, their vintage clothes. “When we were in school, we wanted to look different, not buy the same dress that everyone had from the mall,” explained Pulak. “We wanted a style that was our own, and [students today] can have that, too," she said.
Punny or die The Varsity sends a tribute to the first annual Punger Games at the Toronto Reference Library
People competing in punning challenges at the Punger Games. Rusaba alam/the vaRsity
Heather Eason VARSITY STAFF
Last Friday The Varsity sent me to the first Punger Games at the Toronto Reference Library. Part of Culture Days @ the Library, this
punrivalled event began with an informative pun presentation followed by live punning from the audience. The event was led by Stephanie Avery, a local artist who works in traditional mediums such as photography, painting, and il-
lustration and hosts interactive artistic events including neighbourhood treasure hunts and the Punger Games. Though I wasn’t precisely punctual, I arrived at the event in time to revel in a display showcas-
ing several of Toronto’s punniest storefronts. Highlights included Kensington hair salon Curl Up and Dye and an airport-adjacent gentleman’s club, The Landing Strip. Avery defined two types of puns: homographs and homophones. “A homograph is a single word that generates two or more meanings,” she explained. She offered several historical homograph examples, including Edgar Bergen’s “Show me where Stalin is buried and I’ll show you a communist plot.” When the pun and games were over, the real competition began. A brave tribute, Punderella, volunteered to showcase her punning talents first. Soon after, John Punne challenged her previously unsurpassed skills. The task was to create a pun based on a set topic in only 30 seconds, and the first to fail was expelled from the competition. The prize was a majestic plaque adorned with the fuzzy pink rear of a stuffed feline — a cat-asstrophy. The pair punned prolifically until Punderella faltered, allowing John Punne to deliver the victory punch and forcing her to accept her punishment. As the rest of the audience was unwilling to compete, the remain-
der of the evening was devoted to a collaborative circle of punning. All audience members were encouraged to take a given topic and just pun with it. This approach stimulated everyone’s creativity, as all contributions were welcome. Topics were changed if the participants were unable to utter a new pun for 30 consecutive seconds. Some of the best puns that emerged from the game included: “Protect your bagels. Put lox on them” on the topic of breakfast; “The latest textbook about amputation: A Farewell to Arms,” on literature; and “Before they sell the Tickle-Me-Elmo doll, they need to give it two test tickles,” on anatomy. In the end, John Punne took home the cat-ass-trophy for a music-related pun: “I recently had a sexual awakening. Now I’m a Randy New-man.” Though the Punger Games lacked a competitive edge, they were anything but mundane. The collaborative nature of the event created a welcoming and supportive atmosphere that encouraged all participants to unleash their talents. One attendee aptly described, “It’s more of a pun support group than a competition.”
Science
VAR.ST/COMMENT
29 SEPTEMBER 2014
science@thevarsity.ca
Bill Nye: “Leave the world better than you found it” Pre-eminent science educator shares his thoughts on science education and space exploration
Startup Coffee House An informal gathering hosted by You’re Next Career Network for students to chat with interns and employees from startups Monday, September 29 7:00 pm–8:30 pm Sanford Fleming, room 3202 Free; register on Eventbrite
Integrin signalling in endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis A seminar presented by Dr. Wayne Orr of the Department of Pathology at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Monday, September 29 4:00 pm–5:00 pm Medical Science Building, room 2172 Free; no registration required
Computer Science Distinguished Lecture Series, Anniversary Edition A lecture featuring Dr. Brad Myers, professor at the Human-Computer Interaction Institute at the School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University Bill Nye, better known as “Bill Nye the Science Guy.” courtesy of nasa
Sandy Wang
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
For many ’90s kids, the name Bill Nye is synonymous with some of the most fun science classes, during which the teacher would dim the lights and pop in a VHS tape with an episode of Bill Nye the Science Guy. Originally trained as an engineer, the charismatic scientist is best known for his iconic science education show that was not only a welcome change of pace in many science classrooms but also opened many young students’ eyes to the potential of science. Nye has remained one of the most popular scientists due to his continued appearances and lectures and, recently, a debate with creationist Ken Ham. Advocating for science literacy, particularly amongst children and youth, is one of his career-long projects. Nye will be in Convocation Hall at U of T on October 1 to participate in a radio show hosted by The Planetary Society about the Canadian Space Agency. In an exclusive interview with The Varsity, Nye shared his thoughts on space exploration and the Canadian space program, discussed his college experience, and offered some advice to current students. The Varsity: My most memorable moments as a kid in science class were watching your show, Bill Nye the Science Guy. Can you tell me what initially inspired you to pursue science education?
“[W]hy doesn’t everybody else wear [a bowtie]?” Bill Nye: I volunteered at the Pacific Science Centre in Seattle, and I really liked it, that was really fun. I really enjoyed teaching or showing people science demonstrations. And then I was working for a company that was obsessed — obsessed, I tell you — with making money. And you can do that if you are making paper towels or something, but you can’t do that if you are making a new product — a navigation system for a business jet, in this case. So I decided that those guys didn’t know what they were doing; I decided to quit my job. [I] just didn’t think it was the most productive use of my time. So I decided to affect people like you, so that in the future we have more scientists for a better world for all human kind. TV: Why is pushing for science and engineering education important to you? BN: It’s the key to the future; [it is] what keeps Canada in the game economically. You export a tremendous amount of wood and lumber and oil right now, but what gives you national pride is the [Canadian] Space Agency. So, I carry a five-dollar bill with me all the time, because here you have the International Space Station flying above us all. So, I just think that’s wonderful. Now what you want to do is innovation — that’s
going to be be the key to the future. Not everybody is going to be buying oil and natural gas, not everybody is going to be buying lumber forever, so in order to have economic success in the future, you have to have innovation, and the key to that is science and engineering. TV: You are in Toronto next week on October 1 to talk about space exploration. Could you comment on what we can expect at the radio show? BN: We are going to be at The International Astronautical Congress. We are bringing international awareness of space to Toronto. I hope you, as a Canadian, are very proud of the Canadian Space Agency, [which] has found little niches to be a participant in so many missions. [It] has instruments, hardware, and ground services tracking so many missions around the world. It’s really something to be proud of. TV: What was your favourite part of being a university student studying science? BN: I can’t tell you my favourite part; that would get me in trouble. No, I took astronomy from Carl Sagan, and by the time I got to be a senior in engineering school, I had focused on what I wanted to do,
which was control systems and hydraulics, fluid mechanics. And so I was having fun at that point. Some of the other stuff didn’t appeal to me as much — I took foreign policy, psychology, history, but my favourite thing was physics. TV: You are wearing a bow tie today like you usually do in public. Could you comment on this choice over a conventional tie? BN: Well, they don’t fall into your flask, they don’t slip into your soup, and they are very practical — you know, when you lean over they don’t fall down. You can be a little bit dressed up, and if you are going to wear a tuxedo, you generally wear a bow tie. I think a better or more interesting question is: why doesn’t everybody else wear one? TV: What would be the one piece of advice you would give students here at the University of Toronto? BN: Follow your passion — I know people tell you that, but I’m not kidding. You will find your way to something that you really enjoy if you just keep looking, and you’ll be surprised [to see that] you can change the world. So my advice is: pursue that — leave the world better than you found it, and everybody’s responsible for his or her own actions, and sometimes...you [have to] pick up other people’s trash, that’s just how it goes. I know, I don’t like it either! This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and length.
Tuesday, September 30 11:00 am–12:30 pm Bahen Centre for Information Technology, room 1170 Free; no registration required
The Many Faces of Addiction The symposium will bring together leaders from across North America to discuss the latest in addiction research and treatment Wednesday, October 1, 7:30 am– Thursday, October 2, 4:00 pm Ontario Science Centre Prices vary; tickets available on Eventbrite
Café Scientifique: Bigger, Better, Faster, Stronger – Are Stem Cells the Answer? Organized by the Centre for Commercialization of Regenerative Medicine to explore ethical questions surrounding the use of stem cells to create superhumans Thursday, October 2, 5:30 pm–7:30 pm Hard Rock Café, 279 Yonge Street, upstairs Free; register on Eventbrite
ONLINE: check out an extended interview at var.st/billnye
var.st/science
VARSITY SCIENCE
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2014
19
For wonderers and skeptics A recap of last week’s city-wide celebration of science during Science Literacy Week Jasleen Arneja SCEINCE EDITOR
Curiosity and skepticism are two of the main drivers of science research. These were also the inspiration behind this year’s Science Literacy Week. Jesse Hildebrand, a recent University of Toronto graduate and the founder of Science Literacy Week, describes the occasion as “an event designed to promote public understanding of science.” The week-long affair took place this past week across U of T, York University, the Toronto Public Libraries, and Mississauga Public Libraries. “I had frankly conceived of it as being a much smaller event, but as it turned out, once the ball got rolling, people really got involved in a big way and were extremely excited to help,” said Hildebrand. Hildebrand’s initiative is driven by his own childhood experiences. “Ever since I was little, I was fascinated by science. Every time I would express interest in a new topic, my parents would take me to a library and let me explore,” he said. He hopes to make science accessible to everyone so as to inspire others in the same way he was. “[My parents’] effort led to my lifelong
Looking at Mars from the 16-inch reflector telescope at the observatory at the Burton Tower. elena iourTaeVa/The VarsiTy
desire to go into science communication, and literally the day after I finished my degree I set out to make
this happen and so enable anyone in the city to have the same experience that I had,” he said.
During the week, science-themed book displays greeted students who entered Gerstein library, Thomas
Fisher library, and the Dentistry library at U of T during the week. “I think that the history of science is so crucial to understand how we got to where we are today,” said Amie Lalonde, a third-year history student, as she perused the book display at the Thomas Fisher Rare Book library. The wide range of Science Literacy Week events included a chance to view Mars, Saturn, and the Ring Nebula through the telescopes on the fourteenth floor of the Burton Tower at the McLennan Physical Laboratories. Additionally, a lecture series at Gerstein library featuring lectures on dinosaurs, the evolution of parasites, and the big bang theory ensured that there was an event to spark the curiosity of every attendee. Hildebrand is hopeful about the future of Science Literacy Week. “My vision for it has no bounds really,” he said, adding, “I’d be thrilled if it became an event of the same scale again next year, but I have plans to make it nationwide and to (fingers crossed) make it the largest event of its kind in Canada.” Jesse Hildebrand was formerly a staff writer for The Varsity.
Does math make you selfish? Performing calculative tasks may increase disposition to unethical behaviors, researchers say Ushma Kapure
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
It is often difficult to delineate where our personal life starts and where work or school ends. People are defined by what they do, and what you do on an everyday basis may influence your personality. Dr. Chen-Bo Zhong, an associate professor at the Rotman School of Management, took this idea one step further to see if performing mathematical procedures results in a calculative mindset. The study, published in the journal Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, questions whether doing calculative tasks has an effect on moral and ethical decisions, and what those effects are. It also attempts to understand whether certain external stimuli, such as the
presence of family or friends’ photographs, have any bearing on the decision made. The study was structured into five separate experiments. In the first four experiments, the subjects were asked to complete either a calculative or comparable non-calculative task, followed by a seemingly unrelated decision-making task. Calculative tasks included gre math problems, whereas non-calculative tasks included gre verbal problems. The subsequent decision-making task was chosen such that it could be seen how often subjects put their own interests above others, and vice versa. The fifth experiment was set up in a similar manner, except it introduced family photographs to participants in order to evoke feelings of love and empathy in hopes of reducing the effect of the calculative task.
ann sheng/The VarsiTy
“Performing calculations, whether related to money or not, seemed to encourage people to engage in unethical behaviours to better themselves,” Zhong said in a press release. While performing calculative tasks in general makes people more prone to rationalizing decisions made out of self-interest, the presence of fam-
Write for science. Email science@thevarsity.ca
ily photographs had a noticeable effect on the altruism of the subjects. Thus, it may be rewarding to think about the workplace surroundings of financial workers as the outcomes are of high social value. Zhong encourages financial companies to introduce policies encouraging family values, so as to
promote ethical behaviour. These principles apply to anyone who performs calculative tasks, such as those in many stem fields, finance, and other disciplines. The next time you do that calculus problem set, you might want to think about how it could affect the way you think and act afterwards.
20
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Vol. CXXXV, No. 5
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Sports
VAR.ST/SPORTS 29 SEPTEMBER 2014
sports@thevarsity.ca
Practising with your peers U of T offers opportunity for kinesiology and phys ed students to act as athletic therapists Melissa Rud
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
Ann sHEng/THE VArsITy
U of T offers a unique program for kinesiology and physical education students that allows them to become student therapists, assigned for a varsity team. The program not only allows students to get hands-on experience in the field but also adds to the muchneeded personal care that varsity players receive. Most students involved in the program study kinesiology, but there are also physical therapy students that take part. Participating student therapists earn a course credit for their work. Students are not always placed with a varsity team; they may be placed with a chiropractic, athletic, or physical therapy clinic external to U of T. The program is a significant time commitment for students who are required to complete at least 100 hours of work to receive their credit. Getting involved as a student therapist “allows students to get hands-on experience in a field they could possibly pursue as a career,”
says Andrea Prieur, head therapist at U of T’s David L. MacIntosh Sport Medicine Clinic. “[I] loved the experience,” said Marina Pavelic, who acted as the student therapist for the men’s baseball team in the 2013–2014 season. “It’s great to be a part of a team where your role is to ensure that sport performance is at its best. Learning how to tape joints or how to give a proper assessment for an injury are only a few of the unique experiences I got from my placement that I could more than likely use regularly throughout life,” added Pavelic. The program encourages practical education through multiple levels. Physical therapy students, who have more specialized training in sports medicine in terms of rehabilitation, act as mentors to the kinesiology students. This creates a student-led environment for those participating in the program and those affected by the program. Alternatively, a staff member — most commonly a physiotherapist or athletic therapist working at the MacIntosh Clinic — will supervise the stu-
dent. This provides student therapists with a well-rounded education not only in the field but also through the mentorship of highly trained individuals. Student therapists aren’t just involved in the program to add an impressive notch on their cvs. Students will first be trained extensively as First Responders before their placements; then, they will be present on the bench with their assigned teams at practices, home and away games, and playoffs. They will be the first to treat an athlete experiencing possible life-threating injuries and the last to leave the field after a game. Aside from attending games, student therapists are “in contact with the staff therapist, coach and athlete who helps to provide the interdisciplinary approach we feel necessary to give to our varsity athletes,” said Prieur. Needless to say, the program provides students with the opportunity to not only gain valuable work experience, but also make a vital contribution to the support system involved in strengthening the university’s varsity athletics program.
Quidditch: a history The muggle manifestation of the sport has been growing in popularity since its 2005 debut, and U of T is proudly taking part Katrina Vogan
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
The first of JK Rowling’s Harry Potter novels was published in 1997. In the next 10 years, the series exploded into a bona fide cultural phenomenon and a touchstone for millions of children. Here at U of T, the Harry Potter franchise has introduced an endless debate about which of our colleges is really Gryffindor, as well as a new sport to the intramurals repertoire. Quidditch, of course, is the sport of choice in the wizarding community. In 2005, muggle quidditch made its debut in Vermont. In 2007, the International Quidditch Association (iqa) was formed to regulate the new sport. In 2009, an embassy of McGill athletes brought the sport to the St. George Campus, and the U of T Nifflers Quidditch team was formed, followed by teams at utm and utsc.
SNITCH SPECIFICS The basic rules of the sport should be familiar to Harry Potter fans. There are seven players on each team: three chasers passing a ball through one of three large raised hoops; one keeper to stop the attempts; two beaters, who throw balls (bludgers) at the opposing team to temporarily remove players from the field; and a seeker, who seeks the golden snitch, the catching of which will end the game. Rowling’s Snitch is “tiny, about the size of a large walnut… [and with] little fluttering silver wings.” Muggle snitches are worth 30 points and are rather more visible.
“The snitch is a ball attached to the waistband of the snitch runner, a neutral athlete in a yellow uniform who uses any means to avoid capture,” according to the iqa rulebook. Seekers must steal the ball from the snitch runner to make the catch. Complicating the game for the seekers is the existence of the “snitch perimeter.” For a predetermined time at the beginning of the game, the snitch runner can hide within a pre-established area (including in any buildings) off the pitch, which the seekers must then search. If, at the end of this time, the snitch has not been found and caught, the snitch runner returns to the pitch and the seekers must catch it there.
ON THE FIELD So what exactly is Quidditch like on the ground? “It’s kind of like a combination of rugby, dodgeball, and wrestling,” said U of T co-captain Sarah Basciano. “And a bit of tag,” added co-captain Harrison Wade. All competitors must play with a broom between their legs at all times: “I use my Swiffer,” said Basciano. Muggle Quidditch is proudly co-ed and progressive — the iqa states: “A Quidditch game requires each team to have at least two players on the field who identify with a different gender than at least two other players.” The game is chaotic and fastpaced, and often surprisingly physical — tackling is legal and a core part of the game’s strategy. Injuries occur frequently in the game. Co-captain Matt Korda showed
EMIILIE MACLEOD /THE VArsITy
off a finger splint earned while seeking, and fourth co-captain Cole Li has been concussed twice while playing chaser: “That’s one of the reasons I want to change to beating — less chance of injury there,” he said. Equipment and safety procedures are being standardized and regulated; certified snitch runners are given preference at tournaments. The current iqa rulebook is 117 pages long and in its seventh edition, with the eighth edition about to be adopted.
A GROWING SPORT The Quidditch community strives for more respect for the sport, and the game’s physicality often helps
silence those whose first instinct is to mock. “I do think that one of the toughest things about Quidditch is moving the game away from the books,” says Korda. All four U of T captains stress their excitement at the way the game is developing. The Nifflers themselves are in the process of rebranding, moving away from their fuzzier mascots towards a new image, soon changing their name to the Centaurs. The name represents a change in attitude: they want to be more competitive, and they also are hoping that a less obscure name might help them attract more attention here at U of T.
The Nifflers’ aspirations echo the aspirations of the sport at large — more fan engagement, more resources, and more participation. Quidditch is new and a little strange, but the community hopes that new fans will embrace the differences — and they seem to be doing so as the sport is continually growing. Higher-level tournaments have begun to attract public interest. Basciano played beater for Team Canada this summer at the first ever International Global Games in Burnaby. At U of T, the teams will hold open practices so that newcomers can check out the game. They’re hoping to spread the magic of Quidditch and keep the sport flying high.
22 Vol. CXXXV, No. 5
VARSITY SPORTS
sports@thevarsity.ca
Player profiles: football captains Simon Nasser and David Green lead this year’s Varsity Blues football team Susan Gordon
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
The Varsity Blues football team has had a difficult start to its season, winning just one of its last six games. But that win — a shutout over York University on U of T’s homecoming weekend — was a spectacular one, with the Blues’ single-game scoring the best in over 20 years. Leading the team are captains Simon Nasser and David Green, starting quarterback and outside linebacker, respectively. Green, in his first year as co-captain, acknowledged that the Blues have had a rough start. “Well, I would say that the start for our team had been a bit shaky,” said Green, “but we are all starting to come together and I think make some waves in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport… We beat the York lions 70–0; it showed what our team is capable of doing if we all play like we can,” he added. Green is in his fifth year at U of T; he started playing football in his second year of high school and came to the Blues without the extensive experience of some of the other players. “I was actually a walk-on for U of T. I just contacted my coach at the time and asked if I could try out for his team. That probably was the most nervewracking experience of my career,” said Green. Since then, Green has seen changes both in himself — as he has come to better understand the game — and in his team.
“Over my career at U of T I have seen the team change drastically. It’s all an attitude thing. I think a lot comes from our head coach [Greg Gary], he is always pushing the team and the individuals to do our best,” he explained. Co-captain Nasser agreed that Gary has had a huge part in the team’s improved level of play. “Much of the credit goes to coach Gary,” said Nasser. “When he took over as our head coach he really helped change the culture and pushed us to strive to always be better. It showed with our 4–4 finish last season, which was the team’s best since 1993.” Nasser, in his fourth year on the team, has had many personal achievements during his time with the Blues. “I believe I have changed from a shy rookie to someone who my teammates can come to and depend on,” he said. With so many years on the team, the captains have had many highlights in their football careers. “Winning the James A. Bennett trophy the last two seasons means a lot to me because it is an award that is voted by the players. The award goes to the player which is seen by his teammates as someone who overcomes adversity,” said Nasser. Beyond personal success, the two captains are invested in the success of their team and teammates. “As a leader in this program, I try to set a good example for the younger players,” said Green. “I make sure the team’s attitude towards the game is appropriate because going
Blues linebacker David Green confronts an opponent. COURTESY OF VARSITY BLUES
into a game with mixed feelings can cause an athlete to underperform… I like to talk to every player individually so I can talk to them on a personal level.” Looking back on their years with the team, both Nasser and Green have thoroughly enjoyed their time, largely because of the great team spirit they have felt.
“My experience on the team has been incredible,” said Nasser, adding: “I could not have asked for better teammates around me. On and off the field there is a bond and a brotherhood that can’t be broken.” “I’d say my favourite part about being on the team is that I can call everyone in the room my family,” said Green. “We’re together basical-
ly all year round (training included) going through all the highs and lows of a season, those tough off-season workouts, and practices. While at university, the team becomes your surrogate family,” he added. Green, Nasser, and the rest of the Varsity Blues Football team will return to the field on October 4 in Ottawa versus the Carleton Ravens.
Men’s lacrosse rises to 3–2 after first half of season Blues hoping to continue success after Robertson drafted by Toronto Rock
This weekend the lacrosse team improved its record to 3-2. EVAN LUKE/THE VARSITY
Reshara Alviarez
ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR
The Varsity Blues men’s lacrosse team had a rough start to their season after suffering a close loss to the Queen’s Gaels in an exhibition game at the beginning of the month. Attacker Michael Buwalda shone in the opening match, managing to place the Blues in the lead heading into the fourth quarter of that game. AJ Masson and Jordan Robertson helped to equalize the score,
but the Blues were unable to pull through, resulting in a 11–10 loss in overtime. The following week, the Blues went up against the Laurentian Voyageurs. Despite putting up a great fight, the Blues faced their second loss of the season with a final score of 15–10. All hope was not lost. The following game against the Nippissing Lakers was a huge success for the Blues, who finished the game with a 19–11 win. Both Robertson and Buwalda delivered phenomenal
performances, placing the Blues in fourth in the Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association (cufla) west division. On September 17, the Blues lost to the McMaster Marauders with a final score of 12–10. The game started off strong, with the Blues scoring four goals in just the first quarter by Masson, Robertson, Buwalda, and McKegney. Unfortunately, they were unable to hold onto this lead in the second quarter. This past Saturday, September 27, the team defeated the Laurentian Voyageurs in a strong 17–9 win in front of home fans, bringing their season record up to 3–2 with six games left in the regular season. Despite the losses that the Blues have incurred this season, they have enjoyed some successes. The overall team performance has been commendable, and there are a number of key players who continue to dominate the field. Last Monday, September 23, Jordan Robertson was drafted by the Toronto Rock in the fifth round of the 2014 National Lacrosse League entry draft. Robertson’s selection does not come as much of a surprise, considering that he started the season at 15 points in only
three games. Robertson was named a cufla all-Canadian for his performance in the 2012 season. This announcement comes at a crucial time for the Blues, hopefully reinvesting faith in their
team, despite the few losses of the season. The Blues will go headto-head against the Western Mustangs in two consecutive matches this Friday, October 3, and Sunday, October 5.
Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education
COUNCIL OF ATHLETICS AND RECREATION BY- ELECTIONS
Make Your Voice Heard!!! Nominations Open Wednesday, October 01, 2014 at 9:00AM Nominations Close Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at 5:00PM for the following positions on the Council of Athletics and Recreation: • • •
1 Student Representatives (St. George Campus) 1 Administrative Staff Representative 1 Academic Staff Representative
All positions are for a term of 1 academic year: November 23, 2014 to April 30, 2015. By-Elections held on November 12, 13 2014 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Polling locations: Athletic Centre Lobby, Sidney Smith Building lobby Online: http://voting.utoronto.ca The Council is responsible for overall Athletics and Recreation policy including¬: allocation of funds to Co-Curricular areas; staffing policy; rental and fees policy. Nomination forms are available in: the Athletic Centre Main Office; Suite 1040 or the Co-Curricular department Suite 1064, Nomination papers must be filed at one of these offices. Nominations received elsewhere or after that time will be invalid. For full information contact: Chief Returning Officer Khary Lumley: 416.946.7878 Khary.lumley@utoronto.ca http://physical.utoronto.ca/AboutUs/Councils/Council_of_Athletics_and_Recreation.aspx
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Coverage begins on September 1, 2014. Accounts for new plan members (first-year students, students previously enrolled in part-time studies, or students returning from a leave of absence) are activated by the end of November and reimbursements are processed subsequently.
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23
DIVERSIONS
24 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2014
editor@thevarsity.ca
Sudoku
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