Vol. CXXXV, No. 14
The University of Toronto’s Student Newspaper Since 1880
12 January, 2015
The human canvas Toronto’s tattoo community puts ink to skin PG. 12
INSIDE Comment The question: when is it necessary to check your privilege? Being aware of bias in discourse
PG. 11
Science “Spray-on” solar panels developed Bright future for affordable solar energy technology
PG. 19
Sports Students react to the Goldring Centre Students discuss new athletic facility
PG. 21
All layered up
Out of reach
PG. 17
PG. 7
U of T students discuss fashion on campus
Summer Abroad programs marred by high costs
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VARSITY NEWS
Vol. CXXXV, No. 14
news@thevarsity.ca
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
THE VARSITY VOL. CXXXV, No. 14
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photo@thevarsity.ca
Senior Copy Editors Lucy Genua Rose Tornabene
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News Editor James Flynn
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Comment Editor Alec Wilson
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Features Editor Samantha Relich
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Arts & Culture Editor Sarah Niedoba
arts@thevarsity.ca
Science Editor Jasleen Arneja
science@thevarsity.ca
Sports Editor Elizabeth Benn
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Illustration Editor Julien Balbontin illustration@thevarsity.ca Video Editor Jamieson Wang
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Web Developer Eric Bannatyne
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Associate Design Editor Janice Liu Vanessa Wang Associate Senior Copy Editor Hunter McGuire Associate News Editors Salvatore Basilone Tamim Mansour Alex McKeen Iris Robin Associate Comment Editors Emma Kikulis Victoria Wicks Associate A&C Editors Daniel Konikoff Jacob Lorinc Associate Science Editor Nadezha Woinowsky-Krieger
Copy Editors and Fact-Checkers Fareedah Abdulqadir,Salvatore Basilone, Elisha Bauer-Maison, Isabela Borges,Madelin Burt-D’Agnillo, Karen Chu, Alexandra Grieve, Natasha Hartono, Tigesti Hidru, Younhee Jin, Fu Yuan (Andrew) Liu, Alex McKeen, Sacha Morettin, Ashita Parekh, Soham Parelkar, Iris Park, Lauren Park, Anthony Piruzza, Emaan Thaver Photographers and Illustrators Julien Balbontin, Nathan Chan, Elena Iourtaeva, Jessica Lee, Janice Liu, Mallika Makkar, Alastair McNamara, Elham Numan, Jessica Song, Jennifer Su
Cover Janice Liu, Vanessa Wang, Mari Zhou
Business Office Business Associate Parsa Jebely Advertising Executives Anna Afshar Rachel Choi
FROST WEEK EDITION
THE EXPLAINER
Fancy words to impress your new professors in the second semester
Kruger Hall, 7:00 pm
Contributors Jasleen Arneja, Shaan Bhambra, Salvatore Basilone, Jeffery Chen, Emily Colero, Emma Compeau, Adit Daga, Caitlyn Fleming, Jonathan Gass, Karlis Hawkins, Joseph Ianni, Emily Katz, Daniel Konikoff, Shaile Koranne, Jeremy Li, Jacob Lorinc, Pouya Makki, Matthew Manhire, Tamim Mansour, Malone Mullin, Linh Nguyen, Anthony Piruzza, Iris Robin, Zane Schwartz, Alex Verman, Brittaney Warren, Sean Xu
Business Manager Karen Zhou
WHAT’S GOING ON THIS WEEK ON CAMPUS
utsu & wcsa ART FEST
Associate Web Developer Ishan Thukral
Designers Janice Liu, Vanessa Wang, Mari Zhou
Submit your photos to photo@thevarsity.ca.
MONDAY
Associate Sports Editor Reshara Alviarez
Lead Fact-Checker Heather Eason, Ujwal Ganguly, Sean Smith, Suhas Srivinasan
L.I.A. of these lights, who won this year’s Winterfest Battle of the Bands. MASHAL KHAN/THE VARSITY
business@thevarsity.ca
Kick off Frost Week with art and performances by U of T students. There will be free snacks, beverages, and raffle prizes. Also, there will be an art gallery, dance, music performances, fashion show, and more!
TUESDAY GET INVOLVED, GET HIRED — CLUB & SUMMER JOB FAIR Varsity Dome 11:00 am—3:00 pm If you are looking for employment over the summer, representatives of places looking to hire U of T students will be at this fair.
WEDNESDAY UNITY THROUGH DIVERSITY FOOD FAIR Bahen Centre for Technology 12:00—1:00 pm Eat a yummy cultural lunch for two dollars. All proceeds will go to the UTSU Food Bank.
THURSDAY CONCERT — LIGHTS Hart House Great Hall, doors open at 7:00 pm LIGHTS will headline this U of T exclusive concert, featuring DJ Intrinity and other special guests. Enjoy free hot cocoa, prizes, and two dollar snacks. Valid TCard needed for admission.
parsa@thevarsity.ca anna@thevarsity.ca rachel@thevarsity.ca
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 © 2015 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
Mellifluous: A word to describe sweet or musical sounding voices and oratory. This can be used to spice up the language in your literature essay, or to give a well-placed compliment to a professor. Delenda: A word that denotes content that is meant to be deleted, or has been deleted. Examples include your resistance to binge-watching Netflix, and the entire first draft of your homework assignment. Esurient: A word that means hungry or greedy. This word is equally appropriate to describe your secondweek-back determination for a 4.0 gpa, and your desire to run out to the St. George food trucks after a 3 hour lecture in Sid Smith. Sycophant: A person who behaves in an excessively obedient manner toward another person in order to gain advantage. In addition to bolstering your in-class vocabulary, knowing this term will also help you in cutthroat family Cranium nights. Quisquose: A noun for something that is difficult to deal with. This is an elegant way to tell your professor that you have no idea what this week’s readings were about.
FRIDAY LEAGUE OF LEGENDS TOURNAMENT FINALS Earth Sciences Building, 4:00 pm Presented by UTSU & UT League of Legends Association, this is the UTSU’s first ever e-sports event. Includes cosplay, live games, audience prizes, and a prize pool of over $1,000.
Correction: An article from January 5, titled “Student faces two charges in relation to hacking incident” stated that the University of Toronto was the complainant in the case. The Varsity is not now able to verify this.
var.st/news
VARSITY NEWS
MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015
3
Keeping up with the co-curriculars Initiative launched in 2013 aims to boost student engagement Yip, describing the official record of activities given to each student after they graduate from high school to use when applying for university.
Salvatore Basilone and Tamim Mansour ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITORS
THE DATABASE
With a student population the size of a small city, spread across three campuses separated by what can be hours of travel time, University of Toronto students often say it is difficult to find opportunities on campus. University administration says that the solution could come in the form of the Co-Curricular Record (ccr). Launched in the fall of 2013, the ccr is a searchable database of approved activities at the University of Toronto and an official university record of those activities, with the goal of helping students identify the skills they gained to potential employers.
BACKGROUND
The impetus for creating the ccr came from the findings of an extensive set of student surveys conducted by the Council on Student Experience across all three U of T campuses in 2009 and 2010. The surveys, identified a need for the university to “reduce the intimidation factor, particularly in large classes, to encourage student-faculty interaction,” and to improve “messaging to encourage co-curricular participation and institutional pride.” Academic studies have also suggested that the student experience is improved when students are able to engage with the university outside the classroom. The U of T administration sought student input when they started developing the ccr in 2012. “Students sat on the working groups, participated in focus groups, attended town halls, and engaged in various conversations regarding how the ccr should be developed,” says Kimberley Elias, the student life coordinator for campus involvement at U of T, who also notes that the development process of the ccr is ongoing. Elias completed her undergraduate degree at U of T in 2011, and recently completed her thesis entitled “Employer Perceptions of Cocurricular Engagement and the Co-Curricular Record in the Hiring Process” for her master’s degree in higher education. The ccr is funded as part of the Next Generation Student Information Services, the same university initiative that created the Safety Abroad database and that is developing the new Accessible Campus Online Resource Network (acorn) system, which is set to replace ROSi. “There have been minimal costs associated with promotion of the ccr, but no formal budget,” says Elias, adding, “The program runs, based on commitment from staff positions.” Over 4,300 students used the ccr in its first year. Word of mouth has been an important factor in promoting the ccr to students, but the university used other methods as well, such as videos and a link on rosi.
BUILDING A RESUME
In researching her thesis, Elias surveyed 110 employers listed on the U of T Career Centre da-
JANICE LIU/THE VARSITY
tabase, and around three-quarters of them said that they would take the time to review an official record of student’s co-curricular activities. However, Daniela McNamara, a senior manager for Career Programs at cibc who is involved in recruiting fresh graduates, says that, when it comes to co-curricular activities, she has seen them only in candidates’ resumes — not on a ccr. “[In] resumes, it’s fairly brief, in terms of just explaining that they’re either a member or executive of a particular club,” she says. When asked for her opinion on the usefulness of the ccr in assessing candidates, McNamara says that it may not accurately portray the student’s level of involvement in a particular activity. “It does give you more information about what the extra-curricular activity is,” but added, “it doesn’t tell me exactly what that individual did.” McNamara says that she gains the most information on candidates’ experiences with cocurricular activities from interviews; the information gleaned is dependent on the candidate’s ability to talk about their experiences. “When it comes to the actual interview, it all depends on their communication style; some do it really well and some struggle a little bit,” she explained. “It’s not just about putting it on your resume, it’s about understanding that [you] chose this club, this activity, and these are things [you’ve] done and skills [you] got from it.”
Elias says that the ccr is meant to help students communicate their experiences and the skills they have gained to potential employers. “We envision students using the ccr to help them write their cover letter and resume, prepare for an interview, and students can attach the ccr to their application,” she says. “An employer might not know what a residence don is, but they do know what communication, leadership, and teamwork are — and the ccr highlights these competencies,” she adds. Vera Sipicki, a second-year computer science student, volunteered at University College this past summer. Though she did not find her position through the ccr, she was shown how to use it to create an official record of her experiences. “It helps a lot with describing the skills you acquired through the volunteering process,” says Sipicki. Though she has not yet used her record to apply for a job, she is confident it will help her in the future. “As you end up getting more experience, once you get enough, it will definitely be useful for resumes,” says Sipicki. Nicholas Yip, a second-year mechanical engineering student, says it is good for students to be able to bring together all of the extra curricular experiences they gained at university into a single file. “I think it would be great... I am from Hong Kong, I was studying in secondary school there and they have something similar,” says
Students can search the ccr database using over 60 individual filters listed under three categories specifying the location, type, and time of activity for which the student is looking. The search result lists the activities along with more detailed descriptions, hours, and the sign-up process. Elias cites this level of detail as one of the ccr’s strengths, and notes that the search criteria are designed based on student input. “For example, commuter students talked about how difficult it is to get involved since many opportunities are after 9 pm. The ccr allows them to find opportunities Monday-Friday before 5 pm,” she explains. Elias says the ccr database listed nearly 1,500 campus activities in its first year of operation. It continues to grow — some 4,000 new activities have been proposed for addition to the database, though many of these are still awaiting approval. “We know that there are still many clubs that can be included on the ccr, and we will continue to offer training sessions for the next academic year,” says Elias. Student organizations looking to add their activities to the ccr database must meet the following criteria: they must specify the tasks and duties for students to complete; the activities must allow the student to develop key skills; they must be recognized by ULife, utsu, or a divisional student society; and must include the involvement of a faculty or staff member. The faculty member acts as a validator, a role that can also be filled by a Club Hub, which is “an office on Campus that brings together groups with similar interests, such as the Centre for Community Partnerships,” says Elias. Some have expressed concern that the involvement of validators could threaten the independence of student societies. However, Elias stresses that the process for inclusion in the ccr database is student-driven. “Students identify what it means to ‘complete’ the opportunity, which is then approved by a committee primarily comprised of campus organization leaders,” she says. She also notes that the required faculty member can be chosen by the student group, that they only need to meet 3 times per year, and that their role is one of support not control. “The ccr is not intended to take away any group’s independence, but rather to help facilitate the learning process, and to add a level of accountability,” says Elias. While the ccr at U of T continues to grow, colleges and universities across Canada have been developing their own co-curricular records. Elias says that around 60 schools have introduced them so far, including York University, McGill University, and the University of Alberta.
Rock smashes UTSU office window Act may have been politically motivated, executives say Alex Verman
VARSITY STAFF
The window of an office in the University of Toronto Students’ Union (utsu) building was smashed on the morning of Tuesday, January 6. Najiba Ali Sardar, UTSU vice-president, equity, shares the office with Cameron Wathey, vice-president, internal affairs. Sardar says that neither she nor Wathey were
in the office at the time of the incident. The utsu building, located at 12 Hart House Circle, has been targeted several times in recent years, with incidents ranging from egging to a dead pig being dragged inside the office. At this time, while Sardar says that she cannot be sure, she believes the act was politically motivated, citing past incidents of vandalism at the utsu office. “This has gone too far,” she said in a Facebook post, calling it “an example of the extremely problematic climate at UofT.”
Wathey says that the most recent incident is nothing new. “We have sent complaints after complaints to the university [administration],” he says. “They have told us they will look into it in person but they have not followed up with it.” Munib Sajjad, former utsu president, shared similar concerns when asked about acts of vandalism that occurred while he was in office last year. “We have always reported these concerns with the Vice-Provost Students Office, which is what we are told to do by central administra-
tion. We even offered to try to support antibullying support workshops prior to Orientation with the administration. There was no response,” says Sajjad. Both Sardar and Wathey say they are hopeful that the issue will be solved sooner rather than later. “We will continue working hard, and I hope to have a strong last term serving on the utsu and ensuring I do whatever I can to improve the student experience at UofT,” said Sardar in the Facebook post.
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VARSITY NEWS
Vol. CXXXV, No. 14
STREETERS
How are you coping with the first week back?
news@thevarsity.ca By Emma Compeau
As 2014 fades out of view and the winter semester begins, frigid temperatures and winter blues are among the realities faced by students in their transition back to school. The Varsity asked students how they are coping with their first week back. Nadia
Katherine
Miki
First-year, Master of Information
First-year, Master of Information
“A lot of music and time management.”
“I printed out all of my readings and am planning out work for the rest of the semester.”
“I’m doing pretty well, except for the weather — I’m wearing three layers of pants!”
Colin
Zachary
Parham
Yasmeen
“Denial.”
“Coffee!”
“I’m taking it as a fresh start — one thing at a time.”
“I’m working out a lot. I think that the only time I use the gym at Hart House is in the first couple of weeks back.”
Photos by Mallika Makkar
Fourth-year, environmental studies
First-year, sciences
Second-year, geophysics
Fourth-year, human biology and animal physiology
Third-year, history
New law allows Diabolos’ to re-open UC Food Services to jointly fund cofOntario Ombudsman UCLit, fee shop for semester to investigate public concerns Grievances against municipalities, universities, school boards to be addressed
Diabolos’. FILE PHOTO: MALLIKA MAKKAR
Emily Katz Iris Robin
ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR
André Marin, Ontario Ombudsman, has praised the passing of Bill 8, the Public Sector and mpp Accountability and Transparency Act, 2014, as a positive step towards keeping the public sector accountable. The bill will grant Marin the ability to investigate public concerns within municipalities, universities, school boards, hospitals and long-term care homes, children’s aid societies and police (mush) sector. “We look forward to finally being able to help the thousands of complainants who have come to us from these sectors,” Marin said in a press release by the Ombudsman Ontario office. The changes bring the jurisdiction of Ontario’s Ombudsman up to date with that of Ombudsmen in other provinces. Bill 8 is expected to add around 548 bodies, including 443 municipalities, 22 univer-
sities, and 83 school boards, to the offices Marin already oversees, effectively doubling their number. The role of the Ontario Ombudsman is to address individual complaints and systematically investigate problems with mush services. The Office of the Ombudsman of Ontario operates independently under the legislature. While the Ontario Ombudsman does not oversee matters dealt with by the City of Toronto Ombudsman, his office will still be able to conduct investigations related to Toronto without formal prompting. In 2013–2014, the Ontario Ombudsman’s office received 26,999 cases. Once the government has made the necessary provisions, a date will be set for the Ombudsman’s new jurisdiction to come into force. A statement released by the Ontario Ombudsman’s office encourages members of the public looking to make complaints relating to mush services to check social media and the Ombudsman’s website for updates.
VARSITY STAFF
Coffee will soon be returning to University College’s Junior Common Room. Diabolos’, the University College staple, is set to reopen in late January through a joint venture between the University College Literary & Athletic Society (UCLit) and University College Food Services. Eric Schwenger, who was elected UCLit president on October 17, cited getting Diabolos’ back on its feet as one of his major goals for the year. The student governing body has partnered with UC Food Services to fund the coffee shop’s operations for the remainder of the semester. The partnership will reportedly allow the UCLit to purchase supplies and coordinate schedules through Food Services. The coffee shop, a student-run initiative, will present an inexpensive alternative to some other coffee shops on campus. A UCLit job posting lists the start date for Diabolos’ baristas as January 19, with an end date of April 17.
Many students were surprised and disappointed to learn of the coffee shop’s closure in the fall semester. The closure left a “massive void [that] replaced the warmth and community brought to the JCR and the college at large,” says Schwenger. Schwenger says the closure was the result of “transitional deficiencies” and annual turnovers, issues faced by many student organizations. He says the UCLit has worked on expediting the current system “to clean up the loose ends of the current transitional processes and implement a more cohesive framework.” Schwenger says that, when open, students can expect to purchase food and beverages like those available at Howard Ferguson Dining Hall or Reznikoff’s Café. Schwenger also says that Diabolos’ will continue to offer some of its “niche favourites that made [it] what it was.” Part of the process of re-opening Diabolos’ is gauging which items sell better than others, and when business tends to peak. Schwenger says the intention is to “cement Diabolos’ once and for all next September and ensure that this kind of thing will never happen again.”
var.st/news
VARSITY NEWS
MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015
5
Judith Wolfson on recruitment, funding, U of T’s global role Wolfson serves as vice-president, international, government and institutional relations
Judith Wolfson. NATHAN CHAN/THE VARSITY
Iris Robin
ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR
Judith Wolfson was recently appointed to the newly-created role of vice-president, international, government and institutional relations. In this position, she is responsible for a large portfolio that spans government, institutional and community relations, international relations, and strategic communications. Although the University of Toronto does consistently well in world rankings, it does not get the attention it deserves, Wolfson believes. “I mean… here’s this great university in a great city, in a wonderful country. And we’re so Canadian, we’re modest, and I don’t think that we have enough airtime if you will,” she says. “It’s a great university by everybody’s measure, and yet people don’t know. So when I go to England and I talk about U of T, [the reaction is] ‘Is it Texas that we’re talking about?’” Wolfson laughs. “We haven’t told our story well enough.”
AT HOME AND ABROAD
International recruitment is arguably one of the university’s biggest challenges, with international tuition fees on a steady rise. However, Wolfson does not view the difference between domestic and international tuition fees to be an obstacle. “I must say that international tuition fees, I don’t think are a significant barrier. When you are excellent, and when you rank with the rest of the world — whether or not you quibble about a specific ranking, whether it’s 19, 20 or 21 — if you’re in the top tier, which the University of Toronto is, then in fact the issue is ensuring that people know,” she says. “Of course we want to ensure that we have open and accessible university and U of T does
its best to do that,” she adds. “That’s been a goal for us.” Wolfson highlights U of T’s status as a research-intensive university, and the key role that universities play in shaping nations and peoples, as successes of which people should be aware. U of T’s focus on research implies a concentration on graduate studies, with the potential to detract from undergraduate recruitment. However, Wolfson does not see it that way. “If you look at the numbers, in fact it’s much more undergraduate than graduate, so I think that’s a fallacy,” she says. “When you’re a research-intensive university, the opportunities for undergraduates to do research, to be exposed to the great researchers, who at the University of Toronto, teach. It’s been a mandate at the University of Toronto that our finest researchers are in the classroom,” she says. Wolfson identifies the combination of academic roles as an advantage for undergraduates. “It’s not about research over here, scholarship over here, and teaching over here,” she says, “It’s the merger of those that I think enriches us all and I think that’s unique. I don’t see it as a competition between graduate and undergraduate.” With times changing, U of T self-promotes via online platforms more than ever before. “There’s been a huge increase in the use of our website and our use of social media,” Wolfson says. “It’s a noisy world out there, and we have a continuing increase in the amount of recognition that we have. What I want to do is make that even broader. I think we need to ensure that our whole community knows that — not specific segments of the community. Now, when President Gertler travels, he tweets and makes sure that the community knows. We’re using Instagram and doing whatever we can [to get the message out],” she says.
THE UNIVERSITY IN CONTEXT
“President Gertler has made the role of the university in the city a priority,” Wolfson says proudly. She heaps praise upon Gertler, whom she accompanies on travels. “He is seen with such respect for his scholarship and his knowledge of the field [urban geography], let alone his commitment to post-secondary education. President Gertler’s priorities are exactly right. They’re about great universities and great cities going hand in hand,” she says. In light of U of T’s efforts to specialize, differentiation among universities comes up. In U of T’s case, this takes the form of differentiation between the three campuses. “I think you use your assets in a differentiated way and a specialized way. It’s wonderful that there’s medicine here and a branch of it at utm. We have a campus at Scarborough that is beside what I think is one of the largest new federal national parks in the world in the Rouge Valley, and the ability to do environmental science is extraordinary,” Wolfson says. Wolfson calls the university a “profound anchor” with a twofold mandate: to create knowledge and to transfer knowledge. “When you’re living in a community and in a city, being a part of that city means that’s also your campus. You transfer knowledge through people, and transferring that knowledge through relationships; deepening, not just broadening, international relationships, but deepening them, is a responsibility.”
PROVINCIAL FUNDING
When asked if she plans to pressure the government to increase per-student funding, Wolfson laughs. “Oh my goodness,” she says. “Well, let’s talk about student funding.” Wolfson refers to a recent article in U of T Magazine in which Gertler claims “U of T truly
defies gravity” — its rankings remain strong, while its provincial funding does not. Ontario currently has the highest average university tuition fees and the lowest perstudent funding of any Canadian province. “I used to be in the government. I really do understand the pressures, and of course we all know about the deficit,” Wolfson says. She has 10 years of government experience under her belt, having previously worked as a deputy minister in intergovernmental affairs, economic development, trade and tourism, and consumer and commercial relations. To Wolfson, funding is not a matter of pressuring the government; it is about showing that funding is an investment, not an expenditure. “It’s an investment in today and it’s an investment in the future. I try and tell the story of how important it is and why this particular university needs a specific kind of funding to achieve the results that we all want,” she says. “I think, being fair, the province understands. The issue is ‘how do you divide your revenue?’ It really is important for them to understand the outcome measures of investment in post-secondary education,” says Wolfson. Wolfson observes that U of T contributes by producing graduates, but also as an employer of staff and students, making an enormous contribution to the economy and to the community. “It’s not just that they’re giving and we’re taking, it’s that we’re contributing. That’s the understanding that I hope government can achieve... that this is a partnership that adds huge value to Ontario. As opposed to giving it to us to spend, they’re investing.” Wolfson says. At half-past three, Wolfson’s assistant knocks on the door to remind her of her next engagement. “I have a meeting, but I’ve got a few minutes,” Wolfson says. “It is so important that every single student who comes has an opportunity to thrive. The more we can get that story out, the better.”
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VARSITY NEWS
Vol. CXXXV, No. 14
news@thevarsity.ca
Out of order Outages, maintenance plague Blackboard during exam season Brittaney Warren VARSITY STAFF
“Portal Service Outage” messages, scheduled maintenance, and generally slower service plagued the university’s Blackboard service over the December exam period. Between December 4 and December 10, Portal experienced at least three service outages, while UTORmail experienced at least one. Most of the outages lasted from one to two hours. While technical staff did not elaborate, the University of Toronto is reassuring students that the issue was promptly resolved. “During a short period in early December, the University’s Learning Management System (the Portal) was very slow for some users. U of T’s IT staff and the Blackboard support team worked around the clock to successfully identify the source of the problem,” says Avi Hyman, director of academic and collaborative technology. Although the December outages went unnoticed by many students, there was concern over how consistent Blackboard outages could potentially impact academic performance, particularly during exam periods. “There have been times when it’s been out the night before an exam, and then you don’t have access to it. You hope that your [professor] is going be understanding,” says Michelle Woodhouse, a third-year environmental and Latin American studies student, adding: “I think it could have the potential to affect academic performance.” While not every professor chooses to use Blackboard, many students rely on its services to access their syllabi and additional materials not included in course textbooks. “One of my course professors puts up supplemental material on Blackboard. Not being able to access that material could be a disadvantage, especially around exam
times,” says Nicole*, a third-year health and disease student. Chris*, a third-year history student, also says it’s important for the university to ensure the reliability of Blackboard services. “It affects upper-year courses more because classes are smaller and more discussionbased, like seminars, so students rely on the syllabus that’s supposed to be accessible on Blackboard,” says Chris. Many students also stated that they were unable to access their grades during the month of December.
INTUITIVE DESIGN
The University of Toronto currently uses Blackboard Learn 9.1, the most recent Learning Management System (lms) product offered by Blackboard for its higher education clients. The product is advertised as a studentcentred lms system with an intuitive design, boasting several efficient teaching features. Efficient teaching features include the opportunity for professors to easily create and grade assessments, give real-time feedback, and create engaging content without any programming experience. Global navigation, updates and notifications, collaborative spaces, and mobile capabilities are among the features targeting students. Skepticism of Blackboard’s user-friendliness, however, is pervasive; students have expressed a disconnect between how professors and students understand the learning system. “We, as students, expect a certain efficiency and consistency with it [Blackboard], but TAs [teaching assistants] and professors struggle with it. It’s user friendly for students, but not user friendly for professors or TAs,” says Woodhouse, adding: “TAs and professors don’t seem to have had a proper walk-through tutorial for performing the functions they want to on Blackboard. For the most part, it works out, but sometimes it seems like an annoyance for the people that
ALASTAIR MCNAMARA/THE VARSITY
have to administer the course on the Blackboard website.” Blackboard is among the most competitive Learning Management Systems in the North American education market. The company offers online educational products to elementary schools, government, and businesses, in addition to higher learning institutions.
UNDER REVIEW
The University of Toronto is currently undergoing a comprehensive review of its educational technology, citing a criteria overview as the focus. The Academic Toolbox Renewal Initiative seeks to create a holistic set of common criteria that would be easily consumable for instructors and the various departments.
The review includes, but is not limited to, Blackboard. “The University of Toronto’s enterprise educational technology ecosystem (our Academic Technology Toolbox) has grown organically over the past several years. The renewal process will take a holistic approach by reviewing the Toolbox in its entirety,” says Hyman. The Academic Toolbox Renewal Initiative invites students to give their input. “We are currently in the midst of our Academic Toolbox Renewal Initiative, and all members of the University, especially students, are being invited to comment on the future of educational technologies here at U of T,” adds Hyman. Many of the university’s current technologies are scheduled for renewal in 2015. *Names changed at students’ requests.
U of T student places third in World University Debating Championships Veenu Goswami, a previous national champion, began debating in junior high school Emma Compeau VARSITY STAFF
Veenu Goswami, left. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE HART HOUSE DEBATING CLUB
From December 26 to January 3, three teams of debaters from the Hart House Debating Club (hhdc) travelled to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to compete in the World University Debating Championships (wudc). Two debaters from U of T placed in the top 10 speakers, with Joe McGrade named ninth best speaker and Veenu Goswami named third best speaker. This year, the wudc hosted 410 teams from around the world, with a maximum of three teams and two judges allowed per institution. Hosted by the The Debate Society of the Universiti Technologiki Mar, the wudc is a parliamentary debating event held using the British Parliamentary Debate format. Next year, the event will be held at the University of Macedonia in Thessaloniki, Greece. The hhdc attends the championship each year. According to Kaleem Hawa, hhdc treasurer, team spots are awarded based on competitive success. Goswami and McGrade’s results in Malaysia follow a year of debating success for the team, whose recent accomplishments include winning the Oxford Invitational Tournament and tying for best speaker at the Cambridge Invitational Tournament.
Goswami, a law student, was also ranked the top speaker at the Oxford tournament, and is a previous national champion in Canada. He has been a member of the Hart House Debate Club for five years, and began debating in Calgary. “I think the most important skill is being a good listener. The way to become a good debater is by being responsive. It’s less about being aggressive and more about to adjusting to other people,” Goswami says when asked about the most important skill for success in debating. At the wudc, Goswami and McGrade debated topics including whether or not medical professionals should refuse to treat victims of torture, as well as the merits of tightly integrated families. According to Goswami, the pair excels on motions relating to politics and economics. “Debating at U of T has been an incredible experience which has helped me in so many ways. It has helped me to meet people at U of T who share my interest, and has given me many skills that are useful both in class discussions and in life,” Goswami said. Goswami said that this year’s championships marks the third time that he has been in the tournament. Although the wudc has a limit of four attendances per person, Goswami would not confirm whether or not he will attend the championship again.
VARSITY NEWS
var.st/news
MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015
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High costs pose barrier for Summer Abroad programs Cost for certain programs approaches $10,000 Republic on the Central Europe Program. “I got a chance to meet some really amazing people … [to] get to know my professor … and [to] do some hands on research,” she says. “[The program] definitely inspired me to continue studying political science at a time when I was feeling a little disillusioned with the program,” Sahal says. Melissa Clancy, also a fourth-year student, participated in the Italy program. “I mainly wanted to go to Italy and found the course [Modern Italian Culture] was a great way to ease into traveling,” she says. “A lot of the traveling is planned for you,” Clancy adds, “so it was easier to sell to my parents.” Travel is a core part of all programs, with numerous field trips planned for all participants.
FEES
The Centre for International Experience. FILE PHOTO: MALLIKA MAKKAR/THE VARSITY
Jonathan Gass
academic experiences,” says professor Joseph Desloges, Woodsworth College principal.
Every year, hundreds of students participate in the University of Toronto’s Summer Abroad program, and hundreds more are interested in studying abroad, whether through an international U of T program or independently. Despite this interest, with application deadlines approaching, many students say cost prevents them from applying. Since its foundation in 1972, the program has grown steadily, and now offers 35 classes in 17 different countries. U of T students past and present in good academic standing, in addition to students at other North American universities who may enroll as visiting students, are eligible. “The Summer Abroad program… was designed to facilitate students’ cross-cultural learning, and add to the diversity of students’
“LIVING TEXTBOOK”
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
The Summer Abroad Program, which differs from the semester-long and year-long student exchanges offered by the Centre for International Experience (cie), as well as the international activities offered by the International Programs and Partnerships Office in the Faculty of Arts & Science, allows students to complete a U of T credit in 3–6 weeks. The 35 classes offered are diverse, ranging from commerce courses in South Korea, to physics courses in Switzerland, to conservation biology courses in Ecuador. Students may apply to a maximum of two Summer Abroad programs. Aishwarya Sahal, a fourth-year student, travelled to the Moravian city of Brno in the Czech
According to the Summer Abroad website, the cheapest of the programs offered is the Science Abroad option, which includes courses in Hungary, China, and Taiwan. Disregarding medical insurance and spending money, Science Abroad costs $4,452 for domestic students and $5,607 for international students. On the other hand, the environmental science course offered in Australia is the most expensive of the programs offered, totalling about $9,908 for domestic students and $11,063 for international students — due, in part, to the hefty $3,825 price tag for airfare. International students pay more because, unlike domestic students, their fees are not supplemented by the per-student operating grant the Canadian government provides to the university. All applicants also pay a $200 application fee. Admitted students who choose to withdraw at a later date are not refunded, while unsuccessful students receive a full refund. “A lot of students come to university on a
tight budget… and $200 is definitely a lot,” says Sahal. However, she admitted that going abroad is “a pretty big deal” that requires a lot of planning and preparation. “It could be a way to narrow down the students who are really motivated to go abroad,” she suggests. For his part, Desloges maintains that the $200 application fee is to ensure that students who apply for the program intend to participate if they are admitted.
RESTRICTIONS ON FUNDING
The Summer Abroad program acknowledges the potentially off-putting cost of going abroad. To combat this, they offer a number of awards, scholarships, and bursaries. According to Desloges, 100 students received Summer Abroad awards and bursaries last year. However, some students noted the fact that certain colleges and/or programs of study offer more awards than others. For instance, of the awards, scholarships, and bursaries detailed on the Summer Abroad website, five are reserved for, or give preference to, Woodsworth College students. In addition, the St. George’s Society Award for study in the United Kingdom through a U of T program is reserved for students at Trinity College, Victoria College, or Massey College. The Summer Abroad program in England is one of the oldest and largest programs, offering nine awards to domestic undergraduate students who have documented financial need. Programs in the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, and Peru offer two awards. All domestic students may receive financial assistance through student loans or Summer Abroad Bursaries. Some colleges offer other awards, detailed on their websites. International students, visiting students, and alumni are not permitted to apply for financial assistance.
Arts & Science faculty to implement new online system Course Information System to streamline course details for Arts & Science students Emily Colero
VARSITY STAFF
The Faculty of Arts & Science is taking steps to make course information more comprehensive for students at the St. George campus who are frequently overloaded at the beginning of new terms. Members present at a recent Arts & Science Council meeting discussed a Course Information System (cis) for students and faculty. Currently, course instructors must submit grading schemes to the Faculty of Arts & Science, including due dates, assignments, and weighting of grades prior to course enrolment. They are also required to submit information about exams and the final exam paper four weeks before the start of exams. According to Suzanne Stevenson, vice-dean of teaching and learning at the Faculty of Arts & Science, the aim of the cis is to streamline these details for students. “The Course Information System will make it much easier for students to review required course information, including the instructor’s syllabus and marking scheme, by presenting the info in a consistent and accurate format early each semester,” says Stevenson. With the new system, course instructors
will submit all required course information to the Faculty of Arts & Science electronically. The chair, or chairs designate, will review the information and the applicable information will be made available for students through the same portal. This will replace the current process used for approval of marking schemes by the chair or chairs designate, as well as the system used to submit final exam details and the final exam paper, which is currently submitted to the Office of the Faculty Registrar. Students will reportedly be able to use the Course Information System to find information similar to what is found on many class syllabi. The faculty also recommends that course instructors submit course descriptions, required texts and material, marking policy and protocol, accessibility accommodations, sessional dates, missed test policies, academic integrity messages, online communication policies, and extra details about final exams. Stevenson says that the new system will benefit instructors as well as students. “The system will enable instructors and staff to free up time spent on administrative processes so that they can spend their time doing what matters to them the most: engaging with students and providing outstanding learning
Sidney Smith Hall. FILE PHOTO: ELENA IOURTAEVA/THE VARSITY
opportunities,” she says. The system will only be available for Arts & Science students, but Stevenson says that the faculty is “happy to share [their] it efforts with other divisions if they are interested.”
The Faculty of Arts & Science is also looking into improving other online systems such as Degree Explorer and Course Finder. A date has not yet been set for the rollout of the new system.
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VARSITY NEWS
Vol. CXXXV, No. 14
news@thevarsity.ca
Co-op at UTSC: who benefits? Employability prospects vary widely among U of T experiential learning programs Alex McKeen
ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR
The first time Esmeralda Bukuroshi had a co-op work term as part of her program at the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus (utsc), she tutored at Centennial College. Bukuroshi is now in her fifth year of a biological chemistry program at utsc, having recently completed a 15-month research-based work term in Calgary with nova Chemicals Corporation. Though the work term was already long at 12 months, she liked the position so much that she stayed on for an extra three months before returning to her studies. Bukuroshi chalks up the success of her past co-op opportunity to luck of the draw. “It was the second job I applied to, and... the first interview that I got. It worked out very well, but I don’t think it happens for everybody,” she explains. There are several factors at play within the utsc co-op program that can make or break a student’s experience. While students in certain programs such as management have wide access to placements and administrative support, others must fend for themselves to access work opportunities relevant to their areas of study. Meanwhile, at the St. George and utm campuses, available experiential learning opportunities are not as widely known.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCEMENT
The utsc co-op program has been in operation for 40 years. Co-op is an option for both Arts and Science and Management students at the Scarborough campus. Approximately 2,100 utsc students are currently enrolled in co-op programs. Students either enter co-op in their first year, or apply to transfer to the co-op program later on. Kanwar Gill, president of the Co-op Students’ Association (csa) and a fourth year computer science co-op student, says that co-op is sometimes seen as a positive way to bolster transcripts. “Most of the students in my program have a gpa that’s not the highest [nor] the lowest, so if you have a co-op to complement that, it’s an asset for your resume,” says Gill. This is a common response from co-op participants, including Gill, who feel that having
tangible work experience upon graduation provides an employability advantage. Gill says that many co-op students develop relationships with their co-op employers while in school, that can sometimes translate into job offers after graduation. According to Gill, the companies which students complete a co-op placement with will likely hire them afterwards. Althea Blackburn-Evans, U of T director of media relations, says that quality placements like those described by Gill and Bukuroshi are common throughout the Scarborough campus program. “utsc students find meaningful placements with top employers including Microsoft, Mercedes-Benz, cibc, Scotiabank, rbc, Telus, The Hospital for Sick Children, Deloitte and various government ministries,” Blackburn-Evans says. All co-ops through utsc are paid. Blackburn-Evans also points out that the utsc co-op program continues to grow, and that students are finding placements despite a difficult job market.
LUCK OF THE DRAW
The lucrative options that Blackburn-Evans describes, however, pertain to certain programs more than others. Gill observes that the management co-op program is more “rigorous,” and many Arts & Science co-op students are taking computer science or math programs. According to Gill, there are many companies that call for computer science students through the department website, which is the standard way to connect utsc co-op students with employers. Gill says that co-op students in certain other Arts & Science programs, such as linguistics, have more trouble in this stage. “It can be the case that... they don’t find jobs pertaining to their program specifically,” Gill says. In this case, Gill says it is contingent upon students to network on their own, and some students are referred to potential employers individually by the co-op department. Bukuroshi says that the amount of support she received from the department was relatively high. While working at her co-op placement in Calgary, she says that a co-op advisor from utsc — who was in Calgary for a conference — arranged a meeting with her and her employer to check in. Bukuroshi also describes having applied to a wide range of jobs for her first co-op term, think-
JULIEN BALBONTIN/THE VARSITY
ing that all experience was of equal worth. However, she found that when she was only offered a position at Centennial College, she was required to accept it. This experience motivated Bukuroshi to get involved in the csa and advise new co-op students to apply to jobs more selectively. The csa also provides feedback to the co-op department through regular surveys. Gill says that a common concern among students is that the department does not reply to communications in an efficient way. Bukuroshi also points out that, during co-op terms, students are required to pay fees to the university equivalent to one course load.
NAVIGATING THE HIDDEN OPTIONS
While Bukuroshi and Gill suggest improvements to the utsc co-op programs through their involvement with the csa, St. George and utm students question the absence of experiential learning options on their campuses. Erin Bionda, a third year Rotman Commerce student, says she is “surprised and disappointed” by the lack of co-op options at the St. George campus. Bionda says that gaining hands-on experience can be fiercely competitive without the help of a university sanctioned co-op program. “In the business program, everyone competes for the summer internships. But a lot of companies aren’t willing to pay for interns, and it’s illegal
to have unpaid workers if they’re not earning school credit,” Bionda says. The lack of Rotman Commerce co-op opportunities can also affect some students’ decision to attend U of T or go elsewhere. Bionda describes her experience as a mentor talking to high school students, some of whom cited co-op as an important consideration in choosing the institution they would ultimately attend. Bionda has also taken advantage of one of the newest experiential learning options at U of T, the 2014–2015 Internship in New Ventures, a course that connects students with technology start-ups at the Impact Centre. Bionda says that, while she has had a great experience in the course, it may not be relevant to all interests since placements are confined to start-ups. As Blackburn-Evans points out, experiential learning options exist on all three U of T campuses. She describes experiential learning as a “key institutional strength” of the university. Experiential learning programs — such as the Professional Experience Year (pey), which provides a full-time job that lasts 12 to 16 months — were coupled with the utsc co-op program as a core priority in the university’s 2014 Strategic Mandate Agreement with the government of Ontario. However, computer science and engineering students tend to be the main benefactors of the pey program.
NEWS IN BRIEF 3D printing technology facilitates prosthetic rehabilitation in Uganda In response to a lack of prosthetic technicians in Uganda, University of Toronto professor Matt Ratto has collaborated with ngo Christian Blind Mission Canada and private partner Autodesk Research on the 3D PrintAbility Project. The project has sent 3D printing technology to Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services Uganda (corsu) to equip children with prosthetic limbs. Technicians use a device to scan the limbs — converting them to data that is processed by computer graphics software programs — then design the socket for the prosthetic limb, which can be printed after six to nine hours. As corsu’s initial trials indicate that there is potential for cultural revisions to the technology, Ratto and his team will travel to Uganda in January to train and collaborate with the corsu team. 3D printing technology is an inexpensive rehabilitation method which helps to address the deficit in prosthetic technicians in developing countries. — Clara Osei-Yeboah With files from The Toronto Star
Charges dropped against Mississauga student accused of mischief on Air Canada flight
Members of controversial Dalhousie University Facebook group to attend separate classes
Two counts of mischief have been dropped against Sohill Agha, a 23-year-old who was arrested after being accused of uttering disturbing comments “about bombs” in a telephone conversation on an Air Canada flight to London in September. Agha was on his way to study law at the University of Leicester at the time. He says that the experience of being arrested and having to postpone his studies has cost him. “It’s a trial that stopped my dream of studying law, a dream that has been stopped in a rather uncanny way,” Agha said in a public statement. Agha’s lawyer Saron Gebresellassi says the case was a misunderstanding, and that racial profiling was involved. Gebresellassi says that the comments overheard by airplane passengers were uttered on the other end of the phone line — not by Agha himself. Agha is working on getting his tuition refunded for the term he missed as a result of the trial.
Dalhousie University dentistry students involved in the controversial “Class of DDS 2015 Gentlemen” Facebook group are to attend separate classes from the rest of their classmates, the university announced on Friday. The students will not resume classes until January 12. On January 5, the university temporarily suspended thirteen students involved in the group from clinical activities. The controversy surrounding the Facebook group has rocked the university, with some calling on Dalhousie president Richard Florizone to expel the students involved. “It’s obviously been a tough month for our university, for our community; obviously most directly for the women who were most directly targeted in these posts,” Florizone said at a press conference. Despite backlash, the university has pressed forward with a “restorative justice” process that prioritizes discussion between the two sides. Florizone has said that expulsion has not been ruled out.
— Alex McKeen With files from The Toronto Star
— James Flynn With files from CBC News
Virgin, MaRS partner on $1 million venture fund Virgin Groups founder Sir Richard Branson has announced that the company’s non-profit branch, Virgin Unite Canada, is partnering with MaRS on a $1 million impact venture fund. The fund, which is jointly supported by Virgin Unite Canada and Mindset Social Innovation Foundation, a Vancouver-based ngo, will support early-stage Canadian entrepreneurs working on current social and environmental issues. MaRS plans to fundraise up to $5 million this year, while Virgin Unite will chip in an additional $500,000. “Our partnership with MaRS will support inspiring entrepreneurs with the mentoring, training and investments they need to succeed,” said Branson at the fund announcement. The collaboration will also enhance support for Canadian entrepreneurs by creating an online program that connects new entrepreneurs with more experienced mentors. — Emily Colero
Comment
VAR.ST/COMMENT 12 JANUARY 2015
comment@thevarsity.ca
Grades don’t define you JANICE LIU/THE VARSITY
The current model of evaluating students fails to reflect their true potential Karlis Hawkins
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
Some students are dissuaded from pursuing a subject area that they enjoy by the possibility of receiving low grades. Our current grading system is antiquated and does not provide a legitimate evaluation of individuals. Rather, it represents a flawed method by ranking students in a standardized mold of institutionalized education. Unfortunately, the free and compulsory education system North Americans grow up in cannot trace its ideological roots back to an altruistic government interested in promoting open discussion, debate, and free thought. Learning can be one of the most inspiring and rewarding activities in life. So why do most people equate learning with boredom and monotony? Why is it that many children fake being sick to avoid going to school? By and large, institutionalized education fails to accommodate people's idiosyncrasies, such as different learning speeds, socio-economic sit-
uations, learning styles, or personality types. It is a one-size-fits-all approach to learning, which all too often teaches students to memorize rather than think for themselves. For example, the normative grading system used in North American universities sets a distribution of grades before the semester begins, thereby preemptively categorizing students. Professors aim for their class averages to be within a range that shows that the course is neither too easy nor too hard. This system is not about creating a positive learning experience, nor a personal one — students are often graded on a relative scale, rather than one that accurately evaluates their individual performance. The traditional grading system teaches students to be overly competitive at a time when society desperately needs its best and brightest to work cooperatively and collaborate to find solutions to pressing issues, from cancer research to global climate change. The current model demoralizes individuals by labelling people subjectively with letter or percentage grades that reflect little about an individual’s ability or value beyond their
basic capacity to memorize and regurgitate. Grades can cause students to become extremely stressed, when education should generate excitement. What’s more, institutionalized education places an inordinate emphasis on weighted exams, wherein students are called upon at the end of every semester to collectively spew what they can remember from the syllabus. Realistically, exam results more accurately reflect an individual’s ability to work within the format of the test than they do a student’s ability to think critically. Students are often required to memorize facts that will change over time, like the population of a city. The grading system does not usually reward students for relating course material to relevant topics or issues from sources outside of the curriculum. Clearly, exams in this format do not measure one’s ability to analyze, but rather to memorize. Of course, any condemnation or criticism of our current system of evaluating students must go hand in hand with a thankful appreciation for all that is right and good with modern education in North
America. Many countries have little access to educational resources and high-quality teachers. In that way, we are truly privileged, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t strive for progress. As students, we all have so much potential that is too often undervalued or glossed over by institutionalized education. Don’t let your grades define you. Free thought is of more value than any marks, degrees, or professional titles that you acquire. It is time to shed these old values and antiquated systems in favour of a method of learning that allows for more autonomy, enjoyment, and fulfillment. With the emergence of open source learning platforms, the advent of technology, and increased access to the Internet worldwide, traditional educational institutions may become unnecessary. Hopefully, U of T will be able to keep up with these advancements and adapt to emerging values, lest the institution erode slowly into obsolescence. Karlis Hawkins is a third-year student at Trinity College majoring in geography and environmental studies, with a minor in political science.
10 Vol. CXXXV, No. 14
VARSITY COMMENT
comment@thevarsity.ca
Unpaid internships are exploitative; they are holding Canada back It is time for the country to replicate the UK and US’ policies on unpaid work Column Zane Schwartz
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
In June 2013, CBC reported that Bell Mobility kept a warehouse in Mississauga where 280 young people worked (more than full-time hours) without pay. In a separate building from the paid employees, unpaid interns say they did menial tasks like phone surveys, and were consistently pressured to work overtime, sometimes as late as 3:00 am. Bell is one of many Canadian companies that could pay their interns but choose not to. After all, Bell Canada Enteprises enjoyed a $708-million profit in the fourth quarter of 2013, a 46 per cent increase over 2012. Canada is awash in unpaid interns: we have approximately 300,000 of them. The United Kingdom, which has roughly twice the population of Canada, has around 100,000 unpaid interns. That isn’t the only difference between the two countries, however. The uk’s parliament voted overwhelmingly to ban unpaid internships, and Prime Minister David Cameron has quadrupled the fines for businesses that take advantage of young people.
By contrast, our lawmakers have done little, allowing a solid chunk of the next generation to work without pay. In the short term, not paying approximately 300,000 young workers means students will take longer to pay off their loans, and parents will delay retirement as they continue to support their children. Over the span of decades, though, unpaid internships delay adulthood. People without an income can’t afford to start a family or buy a home. They don’t pay income taxes, although they still use tax money through social services. They certainly don’t have the financial security for bold investment or innovative entrepreneurship that the Canadian economy needs to thrive. And it’s not as if the rest of the economic outlook for this generation is particularly positive. Youth unemployment has hovered stubbornly around double the national average since 2008. Almost half of those who are employed work part-time, not earning enough to live on. The work that isn’t part-time tends to be temporary or contract-based, without the benefits or stability that allowed previous generations to get started.
Unpaid internships are the simplest part of this problem, and one that is very easy to fix — mostly we just need to enforce existing laws that already make them illegal. Many companies who choose not to pay their interns are incredibly profitable. Bell is just one company that simultaneously enjoys huge profits and brands itself as quintessentially Canadian, but didn’t bother to pay young Canadians in their employ. Roots Canada advertised two five-month unpaid internships for candidates who, preferably, already had an undergraduate degree. Rogers had many unpaid interns until quite recently, when they, along with a number of magazines, were caught up in a crackdown by Ontario’s Ministry of Labour. Even the federal government doesn’t pay some of its interns. If you want to get in the fast track for a job in the Foreign Service with a prestigious internship in China or Washington d.c., you’d better to be able to live overseas for about six months without getting paid a cent. Although recent reports indicate that there are ever more unpaid interns in Canada and that they are frequently exploited, there are some positive signs. Saskatchewan and Ontario are starting to enforce existing law, insisting
that young people who work must be paid for it. Alberta is facing sustained pressure to do the same, and there are nascent movements in several other provinces. Even the federal government is responding to public pressure, announcing funding for 3,000 paid interns. Lawsuits for back wages are also on the rise, with several young people winning salaries from employers who should have paid them, and many more cases pending resolution. However, more must be done. It’s not just the United Kingdom that’s far ahead of us — the United States Department of Labor has been comparatively aggressive for years in prosecuting employers who exploit unpaid interns. Both countries, with very similar economies to our own, recognized that unpaid internships are immoral long ago. They’ve now realized that unpaid internships are dragging down their economy. If we want to remain competitive, it’s past time we started doing the same. Zane Schwartz is a fourth-year history student who contributes to The Globe and Mail and Maclean’s. He was The Varsity’s news editor last year. His column appears bi-weekly.
Broke? Don’t just blame the system Students need to take more of an active role in planning their financial futures Malone Mullin VARSITY STAFF
If there is any common source of petulance to be found amongst students today, it is being broke. Post-secondary tuition has grown 600 per cent faster than inflation in the last 20 years and, combined with decreased funding, the result has deepened our empty pockets. Although it is defensible to hold governments and universities accountable for our personal money problems, it is not justification enough to reject personal financial responsibility. In my first year of university, I moved into a basement apartment with my partner. I covered half the rent and food on a minimum wage. Working full-time, I had no money left over for tuition, but I didn’t think I had to worry since I had been told repeatedly that government loans are provided to those in need. As it turns out, however, the allocation of these loans is conditional. Even though I was not receiving financial aid from my family, I was still considered a dependent student. It wasn’t until I paid hundreds of dollars in interest to U of T and took two years off that I began to receive full assistance. By that time, I had spent $9,000 for a year of average marks, three credits, and a lot of anguish. Stories like mine contribute to a mentality of financial non-responsibility: as students, we’ll be poor no matter what. If we’re deep in debt, it is the fault of cowardly legislators and greedy administrators, and there’s nothing to be done but complain. I lost time and money due to this very attitude. Had I realized that simply waiting until I fit the Ontario Student Assistant Program’s (osap)'s criteria would end up costing much less, I wouldn't be in so much debt now.
For future advice, I spoke to Preet Banerjee about student money management. Banerjee is a utsc graduate and financial advisor who writes a weekly column for The Globe and Mail. He agrees that it’s tough to be a student, but it's no excuse to perpetuate hardship through ignorance. “There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to debt, but there are some universal rules,” Banerjee explains. “If you have lots of debt, you’re going to want to put more emphasis on paying it off at first.” Then make a future forecast, he continues. If you’re a debt-averse person, you’re going to want to pay it off quickly. If you don’t mind the monthly payments, it may be in your interest to put your income towards appreciable assets, such as further education or real estate. Since osap loans have deductible interest — you can receive a tax refund in some cases — carrying loans for the full 15year maximum is a viable possibility. Debt isn’t necessarily harmful, as long as it’s put towards assets that are likely to grow in value over time. Banerjee warned against irresponsible purchases. Reasonable indulgence is acceptable, especially once a solid monthly budget is in place, but spending the remainder of a U of T Advanced Planning for Students grant on a Cancun getaway is not easily warranted. Rather, if travel is a necessity, working or studying abroad can fulfill the same need with greater payoff. Above all, recognizing that saving up for purchases costs less in the long run is what Banerjee calls “the cardinal rule” of personal finance. When you borrow from banks or credit companies, you’re effectively borrowing from your future — you’re taking your expected increase in income and spending it now. But because interest is involved, over a lifetime this practice can end up costing
JULIEN BALBONTIN/THE VARSITY
tens of thousands of dollars. Making compromises by setting priorities according to individual budgets is key to getting what we want out of life without digging ourselves any deeper. While I’m still fuming over osap rules that disadvantage low-income students, it’s also my own fault for cultivating a mindset of mon-
etary submission. Researching my options and then spending those two wasted years travelling and gaining experience, rather than working merely to pay off interest payments, would certainly be the way I’d do it over again. Malone Mullin is a third-year philosophy specialist.
var.st/comment
VARSITY COMMENT
MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015
11
When is it necessary to for us to ‘check our privilege’? The Question
JULIEN BALBONTIN/THE VARSITY
If you are going to speak up, consider where your ideas come from Shaileen Koranne
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
Some have advantages that other people do not have, and have probably had them since very early on in their lives. These are benefits that certain portions of the population have, while others do not, based on factors such as gender, race, economic situation, place and country of residence, ability, or even less objective things such as your appearance or weight. If you are a white man who has identified as a man for your whole life, you can’t know precisely what it’s like to be a man, woman, or transgender person of colour. Since birth, your life has been shaped in such a way that you don’t have to think about your gender or your race very often. That is the most harmful thing about having privilege — if you have it, you rarely have to think about that aspect of your life. I get it — no one likes being silenced. That’s why a lot of people just stay silent from the beginning when it comes to debates about social justice. However, if you are going to speak up, make sure that what you’re saying isn’t getting in the way of some groups and their advocacy to reach a level of safety that you have had since you were born.
Being told to check your privilege is not the same as being told to shut up, nor does it mean that your opinion is inherently any less necessary. Rather, it’s a plea from more marginalized people for you to step back, evaluate the advantages you have in life that are swaying your argument, and then reconsider what you’re saying. Being told to check your privilege is not forcing you to be politically correct; it’s asking you to come to terms with the fact that you live an easier life than a lot of other people without even knowing it. Check your privilege and be aware of it whenever you can. It’s not difficult to appreciate what you have, and make sure you don’t let it skew the way you view the world. If someone asks you to check your privilege, do it. Try to see something from a point of view that you have never had. It’s almost guaranteed that the things we say are affected by where we’re from and who we are, and as such, others will have life experiences that may differ from yours — so, it’s worth listening when someone with a different perspective or background cries injustice. Shailee Koranne is a first-year student at Victoria College studying English and history.
In argument and discourse, content should matter more than the source Pouya Makki
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
What does "check your privilege" mean? When people are engaging in discourse, sharing their opinions in a respectful, academic discussion, one person may remind another that they are speaking from a point of privilege, and therefore that they ought to be aware of what influences their thinking. For example, Jacob and Aanya are having a discussion about street harassment. Jacob, who is a white heterosexual male, argues that what most would consider harassment is harmless and can even be defended as a form of flattery. Aanya, who is neither male, white, nor heterosexual, disagrees, and responds by telling Jacob to check his privilege. One could question the relevance of Aanya’s response. What does Jacob’s position of privilege have to do with the strength of his argument, or the relative truth of the conclusions he draws? People’s life experiences certainly influence the views they hold and the arguments they support. Furthermore, people with certain life experiences may be more likely to hold certain views. For example, men are probably more likely than women to discard certain comments made by strangers as harmless or friendly. Whether something like “How are you this
morning?” or “God bless you Mami” — as can be overheard directed towards the subject of a recent viral video displaying misogynistic street harassment — should be considered harassment should be unrelated to Jacob’s male privilege. It either is harassment or it isn’t. Jacob’s arguments do not necessarily become any stronger or weaker if a woman made them. Attacking an argument by criticizing the source is nothing short of ad hominem. However, such a reaction may miss what is indirectly meant by Aanya’s response. What Aanya means to say is that Jacob’s view on the subject is biased as a result of his privileged position. In other words, Jacob could not possibly experience women’s issues or share their perspective, nor has he been subjected to street harassment; his privilege affects his thinking undoubtedly. Since the purpose of discourse is to determine whether this sort of statement is true, or whether the possible arguments supporting it are strong, comments and criticisms aimed at the source of the argument are beside the point. If Jacob makes a compelling argument, should it be disqualified just because it came from a place of privilege? In general, we have to remember to remove ourselves from the context of discourse; the focus should always be on what is being said, and not who is saying it. Pouya Makki is a third-year philosophy specialist at Trinity College.
Inde lible art Diverse and expanding, Toronto’s tattoo community puts ink to skin Article by Caitlyn Fleming Photos by Jennifer Su and Jessica Song
Top photo: Chris Price’s chest piece. Arm: Fourth-year student Emily Scherzinger’s tattoos. Sketches: Sketches on display in Justin Murphy’s studio at Adrenaline. Right: First-year student Sidhi Srinivasachar had her tattoo designed by Tegan Rush. JENNIFER SU/THE VARSITY
H
idden beneath clothes and wrought on moving canvases, tattoos are perhaps one of the most common art forms in the city. Toronto is a hub for tattoo aficionados, and behind the doors of the city’s many parlors is a diverse community of people-painters. Toronto’s tattoo scene is large and eclectic, with hundreds of shops, thousands of artists, and tens of thousands of tattooed people. Despite their relatively ubiquitous nature, a conversation with some of the city’s artists reveals the highly individualized nature of the art.
“I worked briefly for a large tattoo shop on King Street a while back but found it to be too much. It was not the working atmosphere I felt I could be the most productive. Imperial provides that workspace. The stuff we do here is often largescale and requires multiple sittings and a quiet environment. We elongate the conceptual process. We work at a relaxed pace,” he says. It was indeed very relaxing. Jazz echoed through the large, open room that held four or five sectioned-off working areas for different artists. Mills’ section was plastered with sketches, displaying his inkling and talent for illustrative tattoo styles. Neighbouring him was an artist who preferred Japanese-style designs. “We are a smaller studio, but we cover all the major styles of tattoos. We do a little bit of everything,” Mills says.
BEHIND THE ART
A CHANGING INDUSTRY
Arthur Mills tattooing a client at Imperial. JESSICA SONG/THE VARSITY
Justin Murphy of Adrenaline Tattoo. JENNIFER SU/THE VARSITY
At one of the city’s most well-known shops, Adrenaline on Queen Street West, we were introduced to two of its 30-plus artists. Chris Price and Justin Murphy have been tattooing at Adrenaline for four and two years, respectively, but both began their tattoo careers outside of Toronto. Price started his artistic career in Vancouver, but quickly moved here to take advantage of Toronto’s growing tattoo scene. Since his move, he has made a name for himself in the city, including being recently recognized by NOW Magazine as Toronto’s best tattoo artist. When asked about the title, Price laughes, “I think that award has more to do with customer service than about artwork. I am talented, but so are many other artists in this town.” Looking around his studio at the sketches on the wall, it is easy to disagree with him. His artistic style is motley and beautiful. Most of his work tends towards an illustrative style, but Price is adamant that, when it comes to style, he is a jack-of-all-trades — an epithet he believes helps him succeed and stand out as an artist. “A lot of tattoo artists specialize in traditional style and that is where a lot of the competition is. I like to be good at whatever someone brings me. I enjoy a challenge. I don’t like to say ‘No, I can’t do that style’ because I could do that. I want to be able to cater to the clients as best I can,” he says. When asked about any restrictions he puts on himself when designing and inking tattoos, Price shows the same enthusiasm: “I don’t normally do super large pieces, but if I could take it on and want it in my portfolio then I will do it,” he says. Murphy’s studio is located a couple of rooms away from that of Price. Murphy is an equally talented though more stylistically specialized artist who has been developing his craft since 2007. He began his career in Halifax but soon moved to Vancouver and then eventually Toronto to immerse himself in the heart of Canada’s tattoo culture. His geographic moves were calculated; Murphy wants his skills to be challenged. “I like the competitive nature of Toronto. In Halifax it was not competitive because of the lack of shops. Nobody is forced to push or improve their craft to the next level because they have no competition. Meanwhile, in Toronto, you basically have to be on the top of your game because if you’re not, somebody is going to sweep the feet out from under you. Some people hate that; I enjoy it,” he says. Murphy specializes in neo-traditional tattoos — bold, graphic, and elaborate types of designs that are gaining in popularity with tattoo collectors. This tattoo style is one of many new types of tattoo design that have emerged in the last decade. Murphy attributes the proliferation and evolution of tattoo designs to things like changes in public perception through certain television shows and technological advances in tattooing equipment; however, the primary catalyst, he
claims, is the recent infusion of fine arts and artists into the industry. “With old-school traditional tattooing, a lot of the guys couldn’t draw to save their life. If they were battling for their soul in hell, they would stay where they were. Now, though, a lot of like painters and different fields of art have integrated into tattooing, especially in the last five years. Now that fine arts have merged with tattooing you can see everything kind of taking off,” he explains. When asked why more artists prefer skin to canvas, Murphy simply states: “It’s more profitable, and more fun.” Murphy started off as a painter but found that not only was tattooing more lucrative, it was also more rewarding. While he was in Halifax, Murphy worked with many women who had undergone mastectomies, tattooing nipples onto scar tissue and ultimately helping his customers recover from the trauma they had experienced. Reconstructive surgery is one of the many ways tattooing has become more normalized in the public eye and has helped change the negative stigma it used to have. “It has become more therapeutic than rebellious,” claims Murphy. “Tattoos are still about self expression but are a lot less ‘Fuck you.’”
There is no doubt that Imperial is saturated with artistic talent, but due to their lack of advertising and hidden location, one wonders how the studio attracts customers. “Most of our clients hear about us from word of mouth and social networking, but I would also attribute a large part of our success to repeat customers and a growth in the population of people wanting to get tattooed. Right now more people are getting tattooed than ever. Doctors, lawyers, and dentists come to me to get tattooed,” Mills says. Mills, like many artists, attributes the growing
Chris Price, recognized as Toronto’s best tattoo artist by NOW Magazine.JENNIFER SU/THE VARSITY
SELF-EXPRESSION
Tegan Rush recently finished her apprenticeship at Chronic Ink. JENNIFER SU/THE VARSITY
Some of Rosemary Webb’s tattoos. JENNIFER SU/THE VARSITY
About a 20-minute walk westward at Queen Street West and Ossington Avenue, there is a tattoo artist who disagrees. “Tattoos are still inherently rebellious,” says Arthur Mills, an artist from Imperial Tattoos. “Different types of people are getting tattooed now but for the same reasons as before. They want to externalize an internal desire. To be more attractive, to express something, to remember an event or person in their lives,” he explains. “It is done to make you feel a certain way or to make people see you in a certain way. Tattoo is still primarily about vanity,” Mills adds. Mills is an American artist who has been tattooing in Toronto since 2006. He moved to the city to take advantage of its massive population of 20 to 35-year-olds, the prime demographic of tattooees. The parlor he works in is not the standard walk-in tattoo shop, although they do accept walk-ins. Instead, Imperial is on the top level of a modest black-bricked building, giving it a more intimate feel. Mills says it is a more pleasant working environment.
“I think my tattoos really represent my passions and are influenced by different aspects of my personality. Two are for my fascination with the universe and remind me every day of my dream to be an astrophysicist; one is for how important music is in my life, two more represent how much I love baking, tea, and all things cute; one is an homage to video games and geekdom; and one represents my heritage and where I grew up,” she explains. Webb adds, “So yes, they all have some meaning behind them. I think that having meaning behind a tattoo is a great way to start, but now I simply want more art on my body.” Tegan Rush has been tattooing at Chronic Ink for almost two years, completing her apprenticeship and then carrying on as one of the shop’s artists. For her, the decision to become involved in the industry was as personal as it was about art. “I
interest in tattoos to the continuing advances in tattooing technology and, consequently, artistic skills. He also attributes the growth to the corporatization of tattoo art. Brands like Ed Hardy and Sailor Jerry Rum that use tattoo flash as part of their public image have helped push tattoos into the public realm. “There is a lot of corporate interest in tattooing now, which brings more money into the industry. More money means more advances to technique and technology and more interest and time in the public eye,” he says. There is a catch-22 in this situation. The corporatization of tattoo supplies is often managed by people who are not tattoo artists, yet they provide better technology and thus increase the possibilities for artistic expression by the actual tattoo artists. “In general, tattoo artists try to avoid becoming too corporatized or commercialized. They want to keep the money in the industry, but with more money from corporations means better equipment available, which lights a fire under everyone’s feet and makes everyone more competitive,” says Mills. Despite all the industry changes and increase in competition, Imperial has done well with their marketing strategy by focusing more on quality than quantity of artwork.
INDIVIDUAL ART Adrenaline and Imperial are only two of the many types of tattoo studios that Toronto has to offer. Each of the city’s studios has its own niche. U of T student Rosemary Webb prefers Chronic Ink on Yonge Street, where her best friend and one of Toronto’s leading female tattoo artists, Tegan Rush, tattoos her. Webb is an avid tattoo collector, with seven so far and more soon to come. For her, getting tattooed is a very personal experience but also a bit of an addiction.
decided to go into tattooing in my grade 12 year of high school... It’s not something I would have necessarily thought of going into at the time, but people kept suggesting I look into it because my style fits well with tattoo design.” It’s a decision she’s happy to have made. “It turn[ed] out to be a very good fit for me. You get a lot more artistic freedom than many arts jobs in larger industries like animation and illustration and interesting new projects every day,” she explains. Knowing the motivation behind her clients’ desire for a tattoo is important to Rush. “I always ask a client if the tattoo they are getting has meaning to them or is just an image that they like,” she says. The responses she receives are varied. “Some people need a very solid reason to get a tattoo, like a major event in their lives, a person they want to commemorate, or a passion they have. Others choose tattoos just for the sake of the art itself, just an image that they find interesting or fashionable,” says Rush. Regardless of the rationale, tattoos are inherently personal. As Rush explains, “The imagery will inevitably reflect the style and taste of the person, as well as a general mood.”
THINK BEFORE YOU INK Addictive as tattoos are, many artists suggest that they should be chosen carefully. “Be careful when choosing an artist,” warns Price. “Look at reputation and portfolios and of course cleanliness.” “It is not about cost and convenience, but about quality,” adds Murphy. “The worst thing you can do when getting your first tattoo is going to the nearest shop or the first shop that will take you. Research is key.” As the lesson goes, cheap tattoos aren’t good and good tattoos aren’t cheap. But it is not only the price and the place one needs to take into consideration. “Be careful choosing a design,” says Mills. “There are restrictions in the media. Just because it looks good on paper does not mean it will when contoured with your body. It also may not age well. Trust the artist. They know what they’re doing. Take your time and do your research.” Fortunately for her, Webb has been a smart collector. “I have thought deeply about the design, size, placement, and colour of each tattoo. I think that if you spend time thinking about what you want it would be hard to regret them,” she says, adding, “I will never regret mine because they truly are works of art and I will always be happy to be the walking canvas that I am.”
Arts&Culture
VAR.ST/ARTS
12 JANUARY 2015
arts@thevarsity.ca
Finding love in a student space
Whether it's in between classes or on the commute home, U of T students find different ways to make romantic connections across campus
U of T is a big university, but some still manage to find love. RUSABA ALAM/THE VARSITY
Linh Nguyen
VARSITY STAFF
U of T is a big school — it’s a fact we’re warned of before we get here, and one that’s hard to ignore once we are. For many students, the years they spend here can involve a certain degree of loneliness. Friendships are forged amid large classes and hectic schedules. How is it, then, that romantic relationships come to be? "Given how stressful the school year is, and how busy people are with courses and clubs, it's definitely hard to find someone to be romantically attached to," says Saad Khan, a secondyear immunology specialist, "I mean, sure you can make friends and all, but it's hard to think of things like these when you're busy doing something important." Khan is not alone in this way of thinking. "U of T is a big school in a big city, and while you think that would increase the odds of meeting someone, it just makes it, at least in my case, a bit more daunting," says Lisa*, adding, "People can get really absorbed into their own worlds… This is my first time living on my own and I’d like to get to know what kind of a person I am before I enter the dating scene." Jessica*, a student in the Music Faculty, shares how difficult she found the dating scene in first-year, especially with the prevalence of hook-up culture. "As a commuter student with a heavy course load and little time to put into extra activities, it was hard to get to know people in general… classes were big, and everyone has a different schedule,” she shares. “[At pub nights], a lot of times, you might not even talk
enough to know if they're interested in more than a hook-up. Nothing is ever clear in hookups, people say things they don't mean while they're in bed together and can lead each other on. It just leads up to disappointment when you don't hear back from the other person [afterwards],” she explains.
MAKING THE CONNECTION
Still, while some students struggle to make connections, couples continue to meet and flourish at U of T. Perhaps the most hopeful accounts are those that seem to stumble unexpectedly into being. "In a big school like U of T, it isn't so much about meeting people but staying connected once you have met them," says Gabriel Zoltan, a third-year political science specialist. "I think that mostly entails being yourself and involving yourself in opportunities that allow you to express a passion in your life,” he says. Ally Scandolo, a second-year art history major, describes how her relationship with Zoltan took off: "We met on VUSAC [the Victoria University Students' Administrative Council] at the beginning of last year. We talked a few times when we saw each other at meetings or socials, but we only really knew of each other. Towards the end of the year, I was studying alone one night before an assignment was due and he happened to be walking by. I decided to take a 'break' that ended up being four hours of us talking. We found out we had a lot in common, then we just started becoming closer and closer friends since our interests lined
Ben Atkins and Sarah Leaper. Read their story at thevarsity.ca. RUSABA ALAM/THE VARSITY
up so well... We went on our first date the next week during the exam period." Ryan Fan, a third-year computer science specialist, describes how he and his girlfriend, Sharon Wang, also grew closer through campus life involvement. Their relationship grew gradually from hanging out in student spaces, which allowed a forum to connect despite being in different programs. Fan says, "Student spaces are good places to meet people as they are places where people aren't stressed about school work and just want to enjoy some people time. Going to social events whether hosted by colleges or campus-wide is a good place to meet or bring friends to."
SITES OF CONTACT
While many have the chance to get to know someone through in-person proximity, others find their partners through a more modern forum: online. "I found it pretty tough to meet someone romantically at school, but funnily enough, I had heard of people meeting other students online on [dating sites] like OkCupid," says Sabina Freiman, a fourth-year neuroscience major. "I decided to give it a shot, and to be honest it began to feel pretty hopeless fairly quickly. After a few uninspiring dates, I decided that online dating really wasn't all that great after all, that high percentages online didn't translate into chemistry in person,” she relays. “One night, I wasn't really seriously looking to talk to anyone, I was just browsing through matches randomly giving people high scores, but I kind of felt like this was it, this was the last night and I'd quit. Then I came across a profile for a guy who was also interested in medicine — which is a rare find — and [that] I found quite attractive. I gave him five stars and, sure enough, he liked me back an hour later. We started talking, and what had begun as a last hope ended up being great. The best part was that meeting in person felt just as great. It was the right mix of being exciting, yet natural, that made us work well,” she says. Jenn* describes how a different site, Love at U of T, provided the foundation for a long-term relationship: "I met my boyfriend through an Internet student start up called Love at U of T. I was in my first year while my boyfriend was pursuing his masters. He was the first person I talked to once I set up my account, and I knew from the start that this person was going to be special. After conversing with him for over two months, I finally revealed my name and he re-
Ryan and Sharon. RUSABA ALAM/THE VARSITY
vealed his. To my surprise, this person's older brother mentored me in high school. After contemplation, I finally decided to ask him on a date. He agreed, and we are currently celebrating our third year anniversary." Founded in 2011, Love at U of T was a dating website designed specifically for U of T students. Thousands joined the service and favoured it over more professional dating sites for its smaller and safer pool of candidates. The site is now inactive. Although successful at times, online dating may not be for everyone. "I would only recommend online dating if you feel comfortable revealing information about yourself to a total stranger," the student advises. So while the prospect of finding love in such a big city and school can seem quite daunting, students still manage to bridge the gap and make lasting connections. "I would always recommend to not primarily worry about making romantic connections first and foremost," Scandolo advises, adding, "Sometimes those things can develop from friendships. I think it's most important to forge friendships with people who inspire, support, and interest you. Those people will be able to help you through your time at school. They could even eventually turn into someone whom you want to be with romantically because of your compatibility." *Names changed at students request
VARSITY ARTS & CULTURE
var.st/arts
MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015
15
Judas, baby First-time performer Aaron Williams hits the stage next week in Hart House Theatre’s production of Jesus Christ Superstar
JANICE LIU/THE VARSITY
A bi-weekly film podcast from The Varsity's associate Arts & Culture editors In this week's podcast, Dan and Jake reviewed every single movie they saw over Christmas break — to pull it off, one sentence reviews were necessary. Dan: Inherent Vice — once you get past the fact that you’re not going to understand the plot, Inherent Vice is an excellently made film with a beautiful aesthetic, amazing performances, and a narrative that doesn’t need to be comprehended in order to be enjoyed. Jake: Foxcatcher — although I do regret seeing it on Christmas day, Foxcatcher is a remarkably depressing film about the relationship between two professional wrestlers and a millionaire, which is nonetheless incredibly thought provoking. Aaron Williams landed the role of Judas after his first audition with Hart House Theatre. ALEXANDRA SCANDOLO/THE VARSITY
Joseph Ianni
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
It’s not often that you get the opportunity to go to Tim Horton's with a biblical figure, but when it's Judas, you make the time — and, perhaps, keep a watchful eye on your coffee. Aaron Williams plays Judas in Hart House Theatre's upcoming production of Jesus Christ Superstar (JCS). He’s an alumnus of the University of Toronto with a background in Philosophy, Religion and Music, and History and Culture. With his official stage debut fast approaching, he took some time out of his busy rehearsal schedule to tell The Varsity about his role in the show.
A FIRST TIMER U of T boasts a large and vibrant theatre community, but, until recently, Williams had never found himself involved with it. Discounting “performances in elementary school” he describes this opportunity as his “first real gig.” He cites his free time following graduation and his personal love of the show as the reasons for finally taking the plunge into performing. “I’m finished school. I didn’t know what to do. So now, y’know, I decided to go take some classes at The Second City and Casting Central Inc., acting workshops…And then I heard about Jesus Christ Superstar — JCS is my musical! It’s my show!” Williams explains excitedly. Working among seasoned professionals and veteran performers, it’s easy to feel like the odd man out, especially when you land a leading role at your first audition. In a real way, Williams could find himself in a similar position to Judas as the rouge of the group. But he insists that he’s never felt that way. “Honestly, it’s been really nice. And I had pre-conceived notions and people would tell
me things about theatre people. I’ve been lucky enough not to feel that yet. Everyone has been really nice and really supportive. A lot were shocked it seemed that this was my first show. Everyone’s been great — [a] very welcoming experience,”he says.
POLITICAL PERSPECTIVE Often a focus in productions of JCS are the political and personal relationships that exist between the show’s main characters. Given the many forms of political unrest occurring around the world, now appears to be a particularly appropriate time to put on this production. Both Jesus and Judas can be seen as radicals of their own time period. Williams expanded on this topic in relation to JCS, “Any ‘radical’ approach to making change usually comes with a charismatic leader," he says, continuing, "The issue with a charismatic leader is once the leader becomes more important than the actual movement itself […] that’s the issue that Judas has with the movement that he started with Jesus. He feels that Jesus has now become more important than what their initial goal was.” When asked if he thought the lead characters in JCS are an example of what is expected of leaders in movements today, or if their interpersonal struggles reflect the internal tensions that can exist within social movements, Williams responds unsurely: “Maybe, I’m not too sure. I wouldn’t say so, because they are on the same side. The only difference is the approach which they have decided to take. Judas feels that ‘It’s not about you, Jesus, but you’re letting this get to you’”. This onstage relationship sits in stark contrast to Williams’ experience working with his fellow actors. “The beautiful part… that I’ve learned… is that it’s not about me, it’s not about Jesus, it’s not about anyone who can be said to star in the show. We’re like the least important
people… Everyone’s got to work together. Everyone is trying to put on the show.”
NEXT STEPS In terms of what people can look forward to from the production, Williams says the audience should expect “a certain amount of raunchiness,” an aspect that is perhaps somewhat unexpected in what might be branded as a religious narrative. Williams continues laughingly, “There are a couple parts in the show which are just full-on ridiculous as far as I’m concerned. Which is good. It’s definitely an interesting take [on the show] without giving away too much.” With such a positive first experience thus far, Williams' future as a performer appears bright. Reflecting on his introduction to the theatre world and his further potential, he offers some personal advice for other creative individuals with similar aspirations. “One of the biggest things I’ve learned and which is going to literally carry me on for the rest of my life is if you have any inclination towards performing whatsoever just go do it. Literally, just go do it. It doesn’t make a difference what it is. It’s not a waste of your time because it’s allowed me to feel more focused and just better about living than I have in a little bit. It’s a good bit of fun,” he says. At the close of our conversation, Williams returned to some wisdom passed down to him through an interview featuring Kevin Spacey. He recalls,“He was talking about working in theatre. And he felt the difference between film and theatre is that theatre is where you get to build families. You have to go and see these people all the time and work in close quarters to one another. Even after the show, if I don’t see everybody, I’m always going to have that space and time when I was working with those people. And right now I feel close to a lot of them.”
Dan: Unbroken — Roger Deakins' cinematography is pretty much the only saving grace here. Unbroken feels like three movies in one, and its poor pacing and lacklustre script make it little more than really good looking Oscar-bait. Jake: Wild — it’s filled with beautiful cinematography and a commendable performance from Reese Witherspoon. Dan: The Interview — the comedy in The Interview was remarkably lowbrow, even by Seth Rogen’s standards, but it manages to have some genuinely hilarious moments. Jake: Exodus: Gods and Kings — there was enough elaborate CGI to make it acceptable to watch, but also enough overwhelming historical inaccuracy to ruin it all.
Do you have what it takes to write for Arts & Culture? Probably.
arts@thevarsity.ca
16
VARSITY ARTS & CULTURE
Vol. CXXXV, No. 14
arts@thevarsity.ca
Tune in and listen up A guide to today's most popular and engaging podcasts Jacob Lorinc
ASSOCIATE ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR
Disembodied voices are making a comeback. Back in the day, radio provided people with a source of news and entertainment. Nowadays, radio has taken a backseat (perhaps even the trunk) to the modern innovations of TV and computer technology. With our eyes doing most of the work for us, we’ve stopped having to rely on the ears to pull nearly as much weight. Luckily for our already damaged eyeballs, it seems as though radio has begun making its comeback, but this time in a slightly differnt form: the podcast. The podcast can be listened to through any smartphone, computer, or iPod related device, making it easily accessible throughout the day. For some, having people divulge information into your ear may not seem so enticing. But, if you’re anything like me and have an almost obsessive-compulsive need to stay up-to-date on world news, this function of technology can be quite appealing. Podcasts aren’t just for news. They encompass a wide variety of entertainment — from spoken comedy sketches to advice forums and self-help guides. People have
started following their own preferred podcasts, the same way they do with TV, and will stay up to date with the most recent episodes as they please. If you haven’t yet crossed paths with a thoughtpiece on Serial during your recent internet adventures, we’re here to help you get out of the rock you’ve been living under and provide you with a few worthy podcasts to help get you started.
Serial
Easily the show with the most buzz around it, Serial seems to be at the forefront of the podcast revolution. Produced by the makers of another notable podcast series entitled This American Life, Serial is hosted by Sarah Koenig and tells the true story of a high school girl whose body turns up in a city park six weeks after her suspicious disappearance. Detective work ensues. Think Twin Peaks, but with fewer sweaters.
The Moth
The Moth is much like a series of audiobooks, as it consists of different stories being told per episode. Based in New York City, The Moth is a series of live storytelling events that are recorded and put into podcasts for people to enjoy without attending the actual event. Stories range from true tales of prison es-
cape, to stories about coming-of-age in a poverty-stricken country. Unfortunately, The Moth only keeps its five latest episodes on iTunes, so it’s not entirely binge-able.
Savage Lovecast
While Dan Savage’s Savage Lovecast is generally thought of as a relationship advice forum, there's much more to the show than meets the ear. Yes, Savage deals with callers’ love-life woes and offers boatloads of advice, but he also spends quality time talking about important topics such as gender and LGBTQ+ equality. Veering from hilarious commentary to captivating discussions of problems within today’s society, Savage Lovecast becomes weirdly addicting, weirdly fast.
WTF with Marc Maron
He can be irritating at times, and occasionally plain insufferable, but Marc Maron nonetheless runs an entertaining show. Having picked up steam over the years to reach the status of a highly regarded podcast, Maron has the ability to gather well-known celebrities like Louis C.K., Paul Thomas Anderson, and many others to speak on his show. The show usually features a special guest, as well as a bit of time setaside to accommodate Maron’s various antics about his tumultuous life.
JULIEN BALBONTIN/THE VARSITY
Le Show
Hosted by the fantastically soothing voice of Harry Sheerer, an LA native and former member of SNL, Le Show is the best podcast to listen to for political commentary, world news, and current topics of debate. Besides the benefits of having the lowdown ex-
plained to you by a deeply relaxing voice (as if to sooth the pain of what will inevitably be bad news), Le Show also provides plenty of quirky music from around the world, as well as short skits reminiscent of Sheerer’s time spent as a comedian.
U OF T’S PERFORMING ARTS LEADER SINCE 1919
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR Lyrics by Tim Rice Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber Directed by Luke Brown
JAN. 16–31, 2015 BOX OFFICE: www.uofttix.ca / 416.978.8849 Adults $28 / Seniors $17 / Students $15 $10 Student tickets every Wednesday!
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VARSITY ARTS & CULTURE
MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015
17
High fashion, low temperature Students weigh in on whether U of T has a signature style Article by Jeffery Chen
Winter fashion in Toronto can feel like a long parade of thick scarves and ubiquitous Canada Goose jackets. But, with a fashion scene as diverse as the U of T student body, some students are still putting together stylish outfits for the winter weather. This week The Varsity interviewed students to discover what they had to say about their classmates' personal style.
Connor Campbell
Erin Ross
Carol Drumm
When asked to describe U of T students’ general fashion sense, many, including second year student Nicole Morin, commented that they found U of T’s style to be “casual.” Erin Ross, a first year student, agrees, saying that comfort-wear like “sweats and Uggs” seem to be U of T staples. Others, however, observe a wholly different trend. Haris Yaqeen, a self-described fashionista, believes that “fashion at U of T is something that is taken a lot more seriously than at other university campuses; it seems like having a school that is a part of such a vibrant urban fabric gives people motivation to actually put some effort and thought into what they wear.” Lily O’Brien, a second year, agrees with Haris, though she thinks U of T’s put-together fashion scene is less a result of its urban setting and more a reflection of the “high-functioning level of U of T students.” First year Brody Longmuir describes the U of T fashion scene as “preppy,” noting the
pervasive presence of boat shoes and tweed blazers on campus. The reality of the U of T fashion scene is most likely a mix between the relaxed casual look observed by some and the fashionconsciousness seen by others — “lazy prep,” as one student put it.
EMERGING TRENDS
Students were also asked what trends seem to be surfacing on campus this winter. Katrina Li, a first year student, explains: “Last year, it was all about the edgy look, with glam spikes and the rest. Now, for women, we’re seeing feminine silhouettes make a come back, with mid-length skirts that have a romantic look, but with modern fabrics and patterns. Makeup is back to the ’90s — we’re seeing a lot of cat eye and soft-smudged brown. For men, clothing is a lot more lax in terms of cut; we’re seeing looser pant legs. Accessories like necklaces and bracelets are out for men (for the moment).”
Others observe a sudden resurgence of hats, especially wide-brimmed hats, in the student population. For handbags and accessories, many note the prevalence of Michael Kors, kate spade, and MCM merchandise. One student sees the emergence of a “Nylon magazine inspired aesthetic: top knots with the rest of the hair down and platform shoes.” Aphtarsia Nix, a first year student, remarks that while many U of T students take a casual attitude towards dress, there are those who wear formal attire to class. She describes her experience of witnessing students wearing suits and carrying leather briefcases to class, or wearing high heels and dresses to lectures.
LOOK BY LOCATION
According to some students, U of T’s eclectic fashion can be broken up into subgroups, especially by college. Yaqeen observes that Trinity students overwhelmingly prefer “traditional and often preppy clothing in the
Anglo-American vein,” as opposed to the “modern or ‘stylish’ streetwear” he believes is favoured in other parts of campus. Nix also notices style differences between the colleges, saying: “UC students’ style seem more casual than Trin, but most can dress smartly if the need arises. I’ve never seen anyone in UC overdressed.” Lily O’Brien of St. Michael’s College, says SMC students generally prefer a more “practical style, with lots of collared shirts with or without sweaters.” U of T is home to a wide-ranging mix of styles, and whether or not they are truly demarcated by college, it is clear that U of T’s fashion scene is as vibrant and diverse as the rest of its campus life. PHOTOS BY JAY BAWAR/THE VARSITY
Science
VAR.ST/SCIENCE 12 JANUARY 2015
science@thevarsity.ca
U of T researcher improves “spray-on” solar power The key to making solar energy ubiquitous and affordable
Clinical Research Seminar by Dr. Jordan Feld Hosted by the U of T chapter of the Canadian Liver Foundation, this seminar will share cutting-edge liver research. Monday, January 12 4:00–5:00 pm University College (room 177) Free; no registration necessary
Alternative Models for Consent and the Management of Study Data in Emergency Research: Survey of Current Canadian Research Ethics Board (REB) Practices The presentation will be delivered by Dr. Blair Henry, an ethicist at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. Wednesday, January 14 4:00–5:30 pm Health Sciences Building (room 108) Free; no registration necessary
You’re Next Career Fair With more than 80 employers, including Microsoft, Home Depot, Nvidia, and Accenture, this may be where you land your summer internship. Friday, January 16 10:00 am–4:00 pm Examination Centre Free; no registration necessary
Healing and the Heart: Conference on Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine
Dr. Illan Kramer and fellow researcher Gabriel Moreno-Bautista. JESSICA LEE/THE VARSITY
Shaan Bhambra
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
In a few years, we may see cars and roofs everywhere generating electricity, all due to the work of Dr. Illan Kramer, a post-doctoral researcher with the Sargent Group of the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering. Kramer’s work focuses on the use of a material known as colloidal quantum dots (cqds). cqds are nanocrystals of semiconducting material that function uniquely at the quantum scale, where they take advantage of the laws of quantum mechanics. The results of Kramer’s research have led to the discovery of a novel process to produce cqd solar cells, which is far more cost-effective than previous manufacturing tech-
niques. He has dubbed his process “SprayLD.” SprayLD can be used to coat flexible films and wraps to fit objects of odd shapes, such as cars or roads. In theory, SprayLD can make nearly anything an energygenerating machine. cqds have previously been investigated as a technology by various research groups around the world for their ability to produce flexible solar cells. Since cqds are suspended in solution, they can be deposited into films using spraycoating techniques. However, up until now, manufacturing these cqd solar cells required an arduous process known as drop-casting. “Until SprayLD, this process was done one drop at a time, by hand, a very laborious process with a large amount of variation
from sample-to-sample. We found a way to automate it and implement it using fine mists of spray,” explains Kramer. He developed his manufacturing process while searching for a more cost-effective way to make cqd solar cells. What makes SprayLD such an interesting breakthrough is its focus on cost-effectiveness. SprayLD can produce cqd solar cells over a large area and at low cost. SprayLD is especially cost-effective as it does not need expensive infrastructure to produce solar cells covering a large area. “If we expect, as many people do, that we are going to solve the world’s energy needs through solar cells, then we need to get to a place where we can quickly and cheaply cover large swaths of land in solar cells. SprayLD can, with some fur-
ther process development, get us there,” says Kramer. Astoundingly, this increase in cost-effectiveness does not come at a cost to electrical efficiency. In recent publications in Advanced Materials and Applied Physics Letters, Kramer demonstrated that his method does not decrease solar-cell efficiency when compared to other cqd production methods. In the future, Kramer says that he hopes to see his technology become something as ubiquitous as “wallpaper that you could unroll onto any surface you like — maybe a rooftop or a car hood or an airplane wing.” Soon, we may see our world coated in films generating solar power, in part due to the pioneering research done at U of T.
The Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology Student Union’s annual conference will include two lecture sessions and a panel discussion on ethical issues surrounding the topic. Saturday, January 17 8:30 am–5:15 pm Medical Sciences Building, MacLeod Auditorium (room 2158) Free; register on Eventbrite
My Virtual Dream Watch scientist transform the brainwaves of volunteers into a virtual spectacle of colours and sounds. Saturday, January 17 & Sunday, January 18 Starts at 11 am; performances run every 45 minutes throughout the day Ontario Science Centre (Imperial Oil Auditorium, Level 1)
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VARSITY SCIENCE
MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015
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A lawyer in your pocket U of T students create artificially intelligent lawyer using IBM technology
ROSS placed second in the IBM Watson Cognitive Computing Competition. PHOTO COURTESY OF JIMOH OVBIAGELE
Jeremy Li
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
“In Ontario, can courts pierce a corporate veil where a corporation has misappropriated funds?” asks the introductory webpage for the International Business Machines Corporation’s (ibm) new legal expert. In a law firm, questions like these are usually assigned to associates who perform research to help the firm win cases. Recently, University of Toronto undergraduate students have developed a program that can do so much faster than any regular attorney — meet ROSS. ROSS is a computer program that performs
legal research through artificial intelligence. Its name was inspired by Mike Ross from the popular TV series Suits. “ROSS enables lawyers to conduct their legal research faster and more thoroughly than is currently possible,” says Jimoh Ovbiagele, one of the students working on the project. Ovbiagele is a computer science student at U of T. He has been programming since the age of 10 and works full-time in technology consulting while studying part-time at U of T. The team includes four other students as well: Shuai Wang, Akash Venkat, Pargles Dall’Oglio, and Andrew Arruda. Lawyers can ask ROSS any sort of legal question in natural language and ROSS will try to come up with an answer. Unlike a regular
search engine, ROSS is able to derive meaning and knowledge from legal texts and decisions and use that knowledge to answer questions. ROSS was developed as part of a competition hosted by ibm challenging students to put the company’s artificially intelligent computer system, called Watson, to work. U of T is one of 10 universities invited to participate. ibm’s Watson is capable of deriving meaning from information stored in regular text and using that information to answer questions posed in natural language. It made headlines in 2011 for winning a game of Jeopardy against former Jeopardy champions. “Watson is a cognitive technology that processes information more like a human than a computer – by understanding natural lan-
guage, generating hypotheses based on evidence, and learning as it goes,” reads ibm’s “Smarter Planet” website. Traditional computers make decisions based on rules and logic, and work best with data that is highly structured. However, the defining bulk of human knowledge in the form of books, articles, and blogs is abstract, unstructured, and often deals in the vernacular. The true meaning of these texts can only be derived based on grammar, context, and culture. Making use of this data requires learning and rationalization, which is what Watson is designed to do. ROSS, based off the Watson computer system, is fed a body of knowledge in the form of Ontario corporate law decisions and statutes, which it processes and analyses. Right now, ross has access to a repository of publicly available legal documents, but may take on more legal content in the future. It processes and learns this body of knowledge to answer legal questions. ROSS is also capable of monitoring new legal decisions that could have a bearing on a case. While ROSS is not meant to replace attorneys, these students say that it is sure to leave its mark on the legal profession, greatly improving the way research is done. “Lawyers fear missing crucial pieces of information in the research process, such as a new court decision that could support or, worse, hurt their client’s case,” says Ovbiagele. “What lawyers receive is fast, thorough, around-the-clock legal intelligence anywhere they are,” he adds. The students involved in this project will visit New York City this week to pitch ibm for $100,000 and continued access to Watson. “Me and the team are off to nyc on Thursday to pitch to ibm for seed capital, so we are grinding,” says Ovbiagele.
An ecological concern European fire ant disperses seeds of invasive plant species Jasleen Arneja SCIENCE EDITOR
Researchers at the University of Toronto have found that an invasive species of European fire ant plays a key role in the proliferation of alien plants, which are threatening the local ecosystem. Alien plants are those that are not native to the environment in question. The fire ants — known in the scientific community as Myrmica rubra — are native to European ecosystems, acting as effective seed dispersers. However, the research conducted suggests that the fire ant favours the dispersal of harmful invasive seeds over native ones. In Eastern North American Forests, 30 to 40 per cent of herbs such as the violet, trillium, and bloodroot spread their seeds through “myrmecochory”, or a mutualism between plants and ants. In such a relationship, both organisms benefit from the activity of the other. The ant gets to feed on the plant and the plants’ seeds are dispersed. A team of scientists at U of T investigated how effective invasive Myrmica rubra ants are at dispersing native and alien plant seeds. The principal investigator of the study is Dr. Megan Frederickson, an associate professor at the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. “Ecologists think invasive species might help each other to spread, but there are few good examples,” Frederickson said in a University of Toronto press release. Frederickson also mentions a term called “invasional meltdown,” which she says re-
fers to the very rapid takeover of ecosystems by invasive species if these invaders assist each other. The experiment was conducted at U of T’s field station, the Koffler Scientific Reserve, where 42 small plastic pools served as miniecosystems that could be controlled. Each pool contained four plants: three native and one invasive species, as well as both a native ant colony and a Myrmica rubra colony. The results of the study are published in the journal Proceedings of The Royal Society in a paper titled “Mutualism between co-introduced species facilitates invasion and alters plant community structure.” “Even though both of the ant species in our study belong to the same guild of seed-dispersing ants, they were not interchangeable,” the authors write in their paper. Although they displayed similar behaviour, the two species seemed to spread the invasive and native plant seeds quite differently. Both the invasive ant and the native ant preferred the alien plant, but the spread was more predominant with Myrmica rubra. Kirsten Prior of the Department of Biology at the University of Florida is a co-author of the paper. Prior said in the release, “Unfortunately, as a result of humans rapidly moving species around the globe through trade and traffic, most ecosystems are now home to numerous invasive species.” Prior explains that the existence of more than one species can lead to an accelerated invasion process such that the invasive species becomes dominant.
JULIEN BALBONTIN/THE VARSITY
20 Vol. CXXXV, No. 14
VARSITY SCIENCE
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Geological discovery sheds light on events of World War II UTM professor takes to the trenches Alice (Xia) Zhu
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
utm lecturer David Passmore recently led a geo-archaeological expedition to the battlegrounds of World War II. Passmore and his team covered the sites of battles that took place in northwestern Europe from June 1944 to February 1945. It was believed that the archaeology of radar sites, bombing decoys, airfields, and factories in Britain had already been uncovered and studied. However, it soon became evident to Passmore’s team that the forests and woodlands of northwest Europe were unexplored. There has been little research conducted previously that pertains to the events of the time period. In an attempt to offer more information about the history of the Second World War, Passmore and his team conducted a survey of the forest and woodland terrains of
northwest Europe using archival documents, aerial photographs, and field visits, among other tools. Passmore published his findings in the journal Antiquity in a paper titled “Second World War conflict archaeology in the forests of northwest Europe.” According to the paper, Passmore’s team was able to add to the current knowledge base of the geography of “munitions and fuel depots and their archaeological potential in woodlands” in northwest France at the time of the Normandy campaign (the invasion of Normandy by Western allied forces in 1944). Passmore and his team also conducted studies on the forests that bordered Belgium, Germany, and Luxembourg, where large-scale combat operations are believed to have been held. The paper also notes that the surveying of this area can offer knowledge of not only the military history of specific combat events, but also allows analysis of field fortification
practices to strengthen armies in preparation for battle, including the establishment of bomb shelters and trenches, as defined in their study. When asked to describe the significance of his research, Passmore said in a LiveScience interview, “The logistics depots provide a picture of exactly where and how the Germans established their support network for armies before the allied invasion of Normandy, how they developed this network during the invasion and how the depots were overrun.” Using the knowledge gained from the research, the team is now interested in understanding whether the allies knew of the fortifications, and, if so, what strategies they undertook to keep them out of German reach. Passmore also emphasized the importance of preserving the archaeology of these battlegrounds, as they offer insight into the region’s rich history. UTM professor David Passmore explores an archaeological site. PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVID PASSMORE.
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Sports
VAR.ST/SPORTS 12 JANUARY 2015
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Student reactions to the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport Students are asked about their thoughts about U of T’s newest athletic facility Sean Xu
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
Toronto is always under construction and it seems as though not even our esteemed university can escape this trend. This past year, work was finished on the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport. The sports complex is advertised to accomplish the task of bringing together all members on campus, including non-athletes. It features a 2,000-seat basketball and volleyball field house, as well as research and teaching labs. The centre also offers a variety of services, such as the David L. MacIntosh sport medicine clinic and drop-in classes. These features come beautifully wrapped in floor-to-ceiling windows at a $58-million price tag. When framed in terms of student contribution, it is important to determine whether this centre is used by the student body in a manner both reflective of and beneficial to the diversity we find on campus. What distinguishes the Goldring Centre as a unique facet of student life? The Varsity spoke to students to find out what they think about the centre, its services, and their experience using its facilities.
Travis Southin first-year, Munk School of Global Affairs Master’s It’s all about Goldring’s windows for Southin. “There’s no windows in the Athletic Centre — which is depressing,” he says. Southin aims to visit the facility two to three times a week, and he’s found the centre to be fairly supportive. “They sort of come up and give you tips on how you’re doing it correctly or incorrectly… if you welcome that. If not, they leave you alone, which is probably good too,” he explains.
Kat Ouzounian fourth-year, English and philosophy
Peter Harris third-year, human geography
Ouzounian decided to take yoga classes at Goldring because the session they offered fit her schedule best. “I didn’t actually expect to be in the building much, so I was kind of surprised when a class that was catered to me was offered — I’m definitely not a high performance athlete by any stretch of the imagination,” she says. Though she loves the newness of the building, Ouzounian believes that the Goldring Centre, “could use some better signage and directions, but that’s a pretty common problem in all of the university’s buildings. I guess it could be helped a bit more by the sort of signage they use at Robarts.”
As a member of the tootball team, Harris comes to the Goldring Centre fairly regularly — about four to five times a week. Verdict? “The facilities here are impeccable. They’re really second to none, especially the weight room and basketball court,” he says. Harris also praised the centre’s location; it’s right next to the track after all. “During the warmer seasons you can go over [to the track], do a couple of runs, work on the field, and then come over here and do a lift or whatever exercise you want,” he says. But his favourite part about the centre so far is the basketball court. “I’ve watched a few basketball games already, and it’s quite the atmosphere to be here when the crowds are going crazy,” he describes.
Alina Usataia fifth-year life science
Alex Jeong first-year, Rotman Commerce
Areeba Imran and Seong Lee first-year, life science
Usataia’s first time at the Goldring Centre was a matter of convenience; she had originally been heading to Hart House. Speaking about the intimidation factor experienced at some at U of T’s athletic facilities, she says: “Here, I think the intimidating part is that it’s a brand new building, so you’re assuming all the varsity athletes come here, but it wasn’t that bad.”
For his first time at the Goldring Centre, Jeong came looking to play intramural volleyball. Alex finds the building “a lot nicer” than most of its competition. “The ac seems a bit less well-kept, and the courts on the top floor of the ac are not really suitable for what I’d be looking for. I’m kind of more into sports involving hardwood floors,” he says.
This was Imran’s second time at the centre. She liked it so much that she brought a friend. “The view is so much better, much brighter that it just makes you want to work out even more,” she explains. As commuter students, Imran and Lee appreciate that the centre is close to St. George station. Imran hasn’t experienced crowding at Goldring like some have at the other athletic facilities.
When asked whether students would be coming back to the centre, the answer was an overwhelming “yes.” The convenient location of the building benefits commuter students and devoted athletes alike. The staff is clearly making the effort to entrench the centre into the U of T community through support and services. Booking off levels for Varsity athletes or other groups and leaving other levels public takes away from the potential intimidation factor. The practice also takes away from crowding; and Goldring’s presence on campus inherently affects crowding at the other athletic facilities as well. In the future, the Goldring Centre could benefit from improving its signs and promoting its services. Some students were unaware that the centre offered drop-in classes. Students share the burden of maintaining the centre’s worth. As Harris put it: “As long as we have it to our availability as students, we should probably be using it.”
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VARSITY SPORTS
22 Vol. CXXXV, No. 14
(Graduates or Graduating Seniors) Corporate world is looking for you but you must have the right skill set and experience SAP (or any ERP), Excel Modeling, BI (Business Intelligence), Budgeting and Reporting experience a must
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Coach profile: Liam Fox Student Liam Fox coaches Varsity Blue nordic ski team
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Liam Fox is not the average student athlete. More than the obligations that come with both, Fox also coaches the nordic skiing team. His responsibilities can be overwhelming, and in order to manage all of them, he must prioritize certain aspects over others. “With 20 hours per week of training, plus having to teach new skiers, dole out equipment, plan out the race season, and still get 8 hours of sleep, it’s not rare that my school work comes to a grinding halt,” says Fox. The team’s previous coach, Hans Fischer, had 12 years of combined experience as an athlete and a coach. When he stepped down from the role two seasons ago, Fox and former cocaptain Mary Qiu stepped up to fill his role. Fox recalls, “We had to recruit new athletes, go to an absurd number of meetings, manage team finances, order team clothing, and many more mundane administrative tasks — all while trying to teach a group of novice athletes how to ski.” The nordic ski team trains athletes whose skills range significantly.
Despite the variance, Fox emphasizes that the goal is to have all athletes racing as soon as possible. “I’ve found that… the best learning outcomes occur when you’re in the thick of it, making your own mistakes, acknowledging them, and becoming a better athlete as a result,” says Fox. To be competitive with schools that have advantages over U of T’s team, such as Carleton University, Fox insists that athletes start training with the team in September. He emphasizes the need to start the season early and build a sense of team interdependence. Fox is a firm believer that while attitude may not be everything, it certainly is a factor in athletic success. “We don’t necessarily love waking up at 5:30 am to roller ski down Lakeshore. We do it because that’s what it takes for us to be successful, and we still complain about it, from time to time,” he says. Fox realizes that he and his teammates are students first and athletes second. “None of us expects to make the Olympics; we’re all just out here to have a good time and be as fit as we can,” he says. Fox believes that this season is different from the last, which he describes as a “rebuilding year.” “We now have a core number of
athletes who I believe will stick with us for a few seasons,” he explains, adding: “The nature of sport involvement at the university level is transient, as most of us are only here for four years, and many of us have other priorities besides skiing. I imagine that in some regards, every new season will be a ‘rebuilding year’, but I’m happy now that we have this core,” Fox adds. The Nordic Skiing team, along with many “third tier” varsity teams, faced funding cuts this year after the release of the new sports model. Fox recognizes this as a problem, stating that: “Most sports that don’t draw the kinds of crowds that a football or hockey game will draw. As corporate entities, universities understand well that their brand won’t be promoted as effectively through their nordic ski teams.” While unsure of how the team will overcome this challenge, Fox urges the university for support. The Nordic Skiing Team trekked to Collingwood for the World Junior/u23 Trials at Highlands Nordic this past weekend, and continue to compete in both the Ontario University Athletics championships and the Ontario Cup series. Fox is confident that U of T will have one podium finish this year.
Review: Flexibility fusion Hart House fitness class offers an hour of relaxing stretches Matthew Manhire
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
Recently, I trekked over to the Exercise Room at Hart House to join in the weekly Flexibility Fusion class, held at 10:00 am. My body was exhausted from weathering the onslaught of winter and I was yearning for an hour of quiet, reflective, and relaxing stretching; I was not disappointed. The class setting of vintage wood grain décor is warm and inviting, bringing participants back to the 1940s. A soundtrack of babbling water played softly as I entered the room and placed my mat on the floor. The small class size was a welcome bonus and made it easy to feel comfortable while contorting my body in
all sorts of unflattering ways. My only initial qualm was that the room could have been just a touch warmer. The instructor, Debbie, had a calm presence and guided the intimate class through a series of stretches and mobility exercises that tickled out pops, creaks, and groans from my muscles. She focused a great deal of attention on hip-openers, holding poses for what seemed like an entire class length. The pelvic area of the body is known to be a vault of stored tension, and it was pleasing to focus a great deal of mindfulness on this part of the body, allowing the strong tendons to release their stresses. The instructor’s voice walking you through the physiology of the movement added a mental element to the sensory-rich experience.
While going through the class, I did wish that the lights had been dimmed or turned off entirely, just to enhance the ambience of the space. In the future, I will also make sure to bring a thera-band or some sort of rope so that I can deepen and modify the stretches and poses. Flexibility Fusion offers an experience true to its name: a chance to align your body, create space between the joints, experience a deeper range of mobility, and engage safely in a conversation with one’s physical self. This is not a class for those seeking intense cardiovascular or muscle-building training. But if you would like to begin or end your week in serenity by enhancing your body awareness and recovery, then Flexibility Fusion may have what you seek.
Hart House offers a range of fitness classes free for students. JENNIFER SU/THE VARSITY
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How it works: K-tape The popular athletic tape, explained Anthony Piruzza VARSITY STAFF
Recovering from injuries and alleviating pain are of importance to highlevel athletes whose goal is to return to action as soon as possible — ideally, without the help of painkillers. A modern response to this persistent problem is Kinesio tape (K-tape), the colourful bands of tape that have exploded in popularity among athletes of all levels over the last five years. K-tape originated in the work of Kenzo Kase, a Japanese chiropractor who developed the kinesio taping method in 1975. Numerous competing companies have since sprung up to offer kinesiology tape, including KT Tape and RockTape. These K-tape companies saw publicity on an international scale at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, where athletes and their trainers began to adopt Kase’s taping methods. The popularity of K-tape intensified after top athletes, notably biker Lance Armstrong and volleyball player Kerri Walsh, began using the distinctive coloured tape during competition at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. K-tape targets injured tissue by raising a layer of skin and muscle, allowing for increased flow of bodily fluids to reach the injured area. These fluids, including blood and lymphatic fluid, are essential to the healing process, thereby shortening recovery time. While this process reduces heal-
ELHAM NUMAN/THE VARSITY
ing time, K-tape also alleviates pain and supports the muscle during movement. Proper taping increases a targeted muscle’s ability to contract properly, stabilizes the muscle, and reduces the pain associated with moving the tissue. Although taping was used by athletes to treat injuries before Kase’s developments, K-tape differs from
traditional taping techniques. Prior to K-tape, traditional tape was used to restrict the mobility of injured body parts in order to reduce the risk of aggravation. This method was effective in preventing further injury, but it limited blood flow and slowed down the healing process. K-tape aims to stabilize the inflamed tissues without restricting its motion. The modern
tape was designed to have an elasticity that replicates human skin. This elasticity allows for ease of motion and for the tape to apply pressure after it has been stretched. Dr. Doug Richards, a sports science professor at the University of Toronto, says that the primary difference between the two taping methods is the elasticity of the tape.
“‘K tape’ is highly compliant both along the length of the tape, and across its width. Standard ‘trainer’s tape’ is relatively stiff,” says Richards. The popularity and visibility of Ktape brought increased levels of scrutiny over its unconfirmed medical claims. This skepticism was summed up in a 2012 study, published in the journal Sports Medicine, that reviewed existing research on K-tape. The study found inconclusive evidence supporting K-tape’s claims to pain relief and a widened range of motion. Richards argues that top-level athletes are looking for immediate improvements to their performance and they are not willing to wait for scientific research to be published. “When we lack evidence-based Rx, we follow heuristics. The prime heuristic is ‘do no harm’ — that is, you may not know if you are helping, but at least don’t make them worse. I suspect K-tape is pretty safe, so I don’t think of it as a harmful practice,” says Richards. Another response to the criticism of K-tape is that its effects are psychological. Wearing the tape allows athletes to compete with less fear of aggravating their injured muscle, resulting in improved performance. Despite the concerns surrounding the science behind K-tape’s claims, its popularity suggests that it is here to stay as a viable alternative for athletes facing the wear and tear of competition.
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