October 1, 2024
THE VARSITY
Why three construction companies are suing U of T for more than $9.2
Jessie Schwalb Business & Labour Governance Correspondent
Since January, three construction companies have independently sued U of T, collectively demanding more than $9.2 million in damages from the university.
These companies — EllisDon, BDA Inc., and Terraprobe Inc. — claim that U of T didn’t fully compensate them for work completed on various projects in UTSG. As of the time of publication, the three cases remain ongoing.
At a public Planning and Budget Committee meeting on September 17, U of T Vice-President, Operations and Real Estate Partnerships Scott Mabury did not disclose the amounts the university had budgeted for these projects to the companies it hired. Additionally, the university did not fully disclose the extent of the court cases to the committee.
He also informed the committee that the university hopes to settle these disputes but tends to resist paying additional costs associated with delays. “The debate comes down to: wait a minute, are we over [time] because of something we could have done, or is this something [the companies] didn’t do?”, Mabury said.
Cost contention
Tamer El-Diraby — a professor in U of T’s Department of Civil and Mineral Engineering — who specializes in construction project management, explained in an interview with The Varsity that disputes between owners and contractors over how to adjust costs happen frequently.
El-Diraby said that “litigation is not as common [as changes and disagreements], because people know everybody will be losing.” Litigation consumes time, can delay projects, and forces both parties to deal with lawyers and court fees. However, these types of cases still happen often, according to Benchmark Legal Offices.
From 2019–23, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (OSCJ) database — which displays the court’s active and completed cases — showed that only two constructionrelated companies filed civil cases against U of T: NRK Mechanical Ltd. in 2020 and JR Certus Construction Co. Ltd. in 2021. However, between January and May 2024, three construction companies filed civil cases in the same court, naming U of T as the primary defendant — the party that is being sued.
On January 12, Canadian engineering and environmental consulting company Terraprobe filed a case against U of T for $52,875.51. According to OSCJ court files obtained by The Varsity , Terraprobe claims that it entered into multiple contracts with U of T from 2016 to 2021, agreeing to work on projects including the university’s Landmark Project at King’s College Circle. Terraprobe argued that for each contract, U of T and Terraprobe agreed that Terraprobe would submit invoices for completed work, and U of T would pay within 30 days. Terraprobe claims that U of T failed to fully pay these invoices.
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The Varsity acknowledges that our office is built on the traditional territory of several First Nations, including the Huron-Wendat, the Petun First Nations, the Seneca, and most recently, the Mississaugas of the Credit. Journalists have historically harmed Indigenous communities by overlooking their stories, contributing to stereotypes, and telling their stories without their input. Therefore, we make this acknowledgement as a starting point for our responsibility to tell those stories more accurately, critically, and in accordance with the wishes of Indigenous Peoples.
U of T students, admin spread awareness about spike in sexual violence on campus
Students call on the university to intervene during the Red Zone
Content warning: This article discusses sexual violence and mentions rape.
As the new academic year begins, U of T has entered the “Red Zone” — a period at the beginning of the school year when sexual assault cases spike on campus.
The Prevention, Empowerment, Advocacy, Response, for Survivors (PEARS) Project — a trauma-informed student group that provides support and resources to survivors of sexual violence at U of T — has launched its yearly advocacy campaign to inform students about the Red Zone and resources about sexual violence available to them.
As part of their campaign, the PEARS Project collaborated with the University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU) to educate the university community about ways to prevent sexual assault cases and the reasons behind the spike in sexual violence.
The university administration has also introduced initiatives including consent modules and drop-in programming to support students during this time.
What is the Red Zone?
Canadian colleges and universities use the term Red Zone to describe the first six to eight weeks of the first semester where over half of annual sexual assaults occur at post-secondary institutions.
A 2008 study by American psychology professor Matthew Kimble provides empirical support for the existence of the Red Zone. The study found that women, especially in their first year at a postsecondary institution, report more incidents of sexual violence earlier in the academic year.
Yet, most academic research remains undecided about establishing a time frame for the period. Some studies show that the length of the Red Zone may extend beyond the initial weeks of school, as women are more susceptible to sexual violence in general.
A 2015 study by Stephen Cranney from the University of Pennsylvania concluded that women in their first-year are the most at-risk group compared to upper-years throughout the entire academic school year. This study establishes that the heightened risk of sexual violence primarily affects first-year students.
What are the causes?
According to the PEARS Project, frosh week events are one of the main causes of the increase in sexual assault cases on campus.
“This is due to a variety of reasons, including students arriving at U of T with a lack of comprehensive sex-ed… stark power dynamics between incoming students and upper years or mentors like frosh leaders, increased amounts of parties with a lack of safety planning,” said founder and co-director of the PEARS Project Micah Kalisch in an interview with The Varsity.
Kalisch also mentioned that Greek life on campus, specifically the culture of ‘rushing’ or recruitment among fraternities, adds to the issue. “[Fraternities] are deeply committed to a form of secrecy that protects predators and leads to victim
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blaming,” she said.
She went on to explain that fraternities can become the place of sexual violence because they are the space where newly admitted students socialize. “For many people, Greek life is the first time they engage with party culture. As a result, they may not have a full understanding of their boundaries and practicing autonomy,” said Kalisch.
Is U of T responsible?
Kalisch and her co-director Lusayo Simwaka agree that the university should play an active role in educating their community about the Red Zone.
“U of T is complicit in violence and in the rates of violence during the Red Zone. Their silence allows this violence to thrive,” said Kalisch. Simwaka added that spreading awareness about the Red Zone is a matter of sexual education and U of T avoiding doing so is a major accessibility issue.
Both Kalisch and Simwaka also believe that U of T should intervene in campus Greek life. Although the university officially cut ties with fraternities and sororities in the 1960s, the PEARS Project codirectors believe U of T’s stance that fraternities are institutions independent of the university is “frankly bullshit.”
Simwaka called U of T’s decision not to intervene in Greek life “a form of rape apology.”
They noted that “[U of T] is stigmatizing survivors by treating the actions of [fraternities] like they are something shameful and need to be hidden rather than standing in solidarity with survivors.”
The UTSU has supported PEARS’ stance on the university’s role in protecting students.
“[U of T] has a responsibility to keep students safe, during the Red Zone and throughout the year,” said UTSU’s Vice-President Equity Sakeena Mohammad. “Students have the right to feel safe, and the University has a role to uphold that.”
In a statement to The Varsity, Vice-Provost, Students Sandy Welsh responded to students’ comments, saying that, “while fraternities are independent, self-governing organizations that the university has no affiliation with or oversight over, U of T’s Policy on Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment applies to interactions between U of T community members whether they take place on or off campus, including at fraternities.”
And yet, on September 3, Welsh issued a notice addressed to sorority and fraternity leaders. In the notice obtained by The Varsity, the vice-provost wrote, “The University has become
aware of recent online activity and posters on our campus that include allegations of sexual violence and sexual harassment within fraternities.”
Welsh called on the leaders to promote a culture of consent and provided recommendations “to support [fraternities and sororities’] efforts in this area.”
“Even though your organization operates independently, some of your members may be University of Toronto students,” wrote Welsh. “The University Policy on Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment applied to all members of this community, whether incidents occur on campus, off campus, or online.”
Welsh noted that students may disclose or report incidents and concerns of sexual violence that fall under the Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment policy through the Sexual Violence Prevention & Support (SVPS) Centre, Campus Safety, or Toronto Police Services.
Finally, U of T’s Executive Director, Sexual Violence Strategy, Prevention Support Angela Treglia also shared a statement with The Varsity Treglia wrote that the university is “committed to creating a culture of consent at U of T, an environment where all members of our community can live free from sexual and gender-based violence.”
She further explained, “We do this [with] messaging before students arrive, through orientation activities, with handouts and posters, at resource fairs, and in training sessions for student leaders, staff, faculty and incoming students. This work continues throughout the year.”
Treglia also noted that, as of September, all new students living in residence are required to pass an interactive module on “understanding consent” with a grade of at least 80 per cent. As of writing, nearly 10,000 students have completed the module. She added that more than 4,000 incoming students attended SVPS Centre presentations focused on “setting up, communicating and respecting boundaries and connecting consensually with people” as well.
Throughout September, the SVPS Centre held additional sessions on “managing rejection and queer and trans sex education, along with supportive, drop-in programming.”
“As we begin this new academic year, we would like to remind survivors of sexual violence and harassment that they are not alone,” Treglia wrote. “We are here to support you.”
In issue 2 of The Varsity, an Opinion article titled “U of T’s academic tribunal is rigged” incorrectly stated that the University Tribunal does not follow the same standard of proof as a regular court. In fact, the University Tribunal follows the standard of proof as a regular civil court.
In issue 3 of The Varsity, the crossword "Lights, camera, action!" omitted the clue for 27D, "one serving of cocaine."
In issue 4 of The Varsity, a News article titled “U of T President Meric Gertler sits down with The Varsity for the last time” stated that The Varsity was solely “barred” from attending a press conference during the encampment. This has been edited to clarify that The Varsity was “not invited and barred” from the press conference.
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The Breakdown: U of T Student Equity Census
A deep dive into student identity across all three campuses
James Bullanoff Deputy News Editor
In August, U of T launched its Student Equity Census Dashboard, a comprehensive survey of students’ demographics and identities. The Varsity broke down the census findings and the university’s future plans for the data.
What is the census?
The Student Equity Census is a survey conducted by the university that asks students to identify their gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, Indigenous identity, racial and/or ethnocultural identity, and educational attainment of parents or guardians.
The census began as a pilot in fall 2020 and collected data from 2023 onward through ACORN so that students could have easier access to the survey and increase participation rates. The dashboard notes that the census received a 99.5 per cent response rate, or 93,187 of the 93,655 students across all three campuses. Since February 2023, students have been required to answer the questions. All data is kept private and students can change their answers on ACORN at any time.
The following sections break down the data in six major categories of the survey across all three campuses for both domestic and international students and both undergraduate and graduate students. The census dashboard does not compare numbers across U of T’s campuses, study levels, or domestic and international student populations side-by-side.
Gender identity
As per the data, 50.7 per cent of U of T students identify as women, while 38.7 per cent identify as men. The data also shows a stark
contrast for people who identify as transgender or as part of the community — making up only 1.5 per cent of the population. People who identify as genderfluid, genderqueer, nonbinary, questioning, or two-spirit make up six per cent of the U of T student population.
Sexual orientation
70.9 per cent of students identify as heterosexual or straight while 22.9 per cent identify as 2SLGBQ+, which accounts for asexual, bisexual, gay, lesbian, pansexual, queer, questioning, two-spirit, among others.
Mental health
When asked if students identify with a disability, 81.3 per cent indicated no, while 9.5 per cent indicated yes. 8.7 per cent preferred not to answer.
Of those who indicated yes, 61.8 per cent identified with a mental health condition. This includes schizophrenia, depression, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Furthermore, of those who indicated yes, 37.5 per cent indicated that they have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Indigenous identity
When asked if students identify as Indigenous, only 0.7 per cent — or 653 students — indicated yes. 93.9 per cent indicated no, while 4.9 per cent preferred not to answer. Between the three campuses, UTSC has the smallest Indigenous student population with only 54 students while UTSG has 523 and UTM has 76.
Of those who said yes, 36.8 per cent indicated that they identify as status, treaty, or registered First Nations and 19 per cent identified as non-status First Nations. 27 per cent of students identify as Métis.
Racial identity
35.44 per cent of total U of T students identify as East Asian, which includes Chinese, Japanese, and South Korean students. 24.87 per cent identify as white, and 5.44 per cent identify as Black. 60.14 per cent — or 16,768 students — identify as East Asian among international students across all three campuses,
Parent or guardian education
When asked about the highest level of formal education of students’ most highly educated parent or guardian, 28.2 per cent said a bachelor’s degree, while 20.1 per cent said a master’s degree. 14.4 per cent of students said their parents had a post-secondary education below a university bachelor’s degree. Another 12.3 per cent of students said the highest level was high school or less.
Census plans
The Equity Census website mentions that the “initiative aligns with broader institutional efforts that support anti-discrimination and enhanced equity” and addresses “U of T’s response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, recent efforts towards [antisemitism] and [antiIslamophobia], and the Anti-Black Racism Task Force Report, which emphasizes the
For the first time ever, U of T aligns sessional dates across all three campuses
Semester start dates, reading weeks, and exam dates have changed — what does this mean for students?
Mekhi Quarshie Varsity Contributor
For the first time in U of T’s history, the sessional dates for all three campuses have been aligned.
Starting this school year, semester start dates, reading weeks, and exam season dates across all campuses and departments — UTSG, UTM, UTSC, the Faculties of Arts & Science, Applied Science & Engineering, Architecture, Landscape, and Design, Architecture, Music, and Kinesiology & Physical Education — will take place at the same time. Course drop dates remain different across all three campuses.
The alignment is the culmination of years of planning by the Office of the Vice-Provost, Strategic Enrolment Management and yet it presents a drastically new academic environment for students across all campuses. The Varsity decided to look at how the campuses are dealing with the new schedule changes.
What’s new?
The new academic dates have a variety of implications for students across the three campuses.
The biggest shift in the new academic dates is the reading week. Fall reading week will now take place from October 28 to November 1, after the midway point of the semester.
While this new date is only one week earlier than UTSG’s previous reading week, it’s about two weeks later than UTSC’s and UTM’s previous reading weeks.
Outside of the reading week shift, other changes to academic schedules have been minimal. For all campuses, the semester started on September 3 and final exams end on December 21.
Reactions from students and faculty
Some students are not happy with the new academic dates. Ayden Lim — a fourth-year media studies and arts management student at UTSC — spoke to The Varsity about the change.
“Originally, reading week gave [students] time to prepare for midterms, now it’s pushed till after exams, which doesn’t give [students] the opportunity to prepare for exams or distress,” said Lim.
Justin Smith, a fourth-year computer science student at UTM, also expressed concerns about the changes. “I think it will affect students negatively, since now we have a super long eight-week stretch without a break to catch up,” he said. “I already feel overwhelmed in week four, and knowing I’m only halfway to a break doesn’t make it better.”
Other students like Danielle Loranty — a fourth-year psychology specialist at UTSC — feel optimistic about the new reading week dates.
“I think it’s great because I thought it was way too early before: you used to do [one month] of school and you already had a break,” said Loranty.
Loranty stated that she and her friends at UTSG can now hang out because their reading weeks are at the same time.
At UTSG, fourth-year sociology and political science student Emily Mastracci also thought there were some positives to the changes. Although Mastracci expressed her concerns regarding the new midterm dates, she said that the changes allow Halloween to fall on reading week this year, “giving students a little more freedom to celebrate without the pressure of
tests and assignments.”
Professors have also had to adapt to the change in academic dates this year. Rachel Lobo, an assistant professor in UTSC’s Department of Arts, Culture and Media, had to take a different approach to course planning than she usually does over the summer.
importance of collecting demographic data.”
As of August 19, 2024, after feedback from students, the census also includes a question asking students their religious or spiritual affiliation, as can be seen in the U of T Student Equity Census Resource Document.
In a statement to The Varsity , Vice-Provost, Students Sandy Welsh wrote that, “this data will be used to inform decision-making and develop strategies to improve access and provide a more inclusive experience for undergraduate and graduate students.”
Welsh also highlighted some initiatives already in place to address barriers across the university, including the Indigenous student tuition waiver initiative, the longstanding Transitional Year program that provides assistance to students without formal qualifications for U of T’s admission requirements, and U of T Engineering’s Blueprint program for Black high school students to connect with mentors.
“We expect it will take a full academic year for the divisions, dean’s offices and others to assess the data, determine next steps and operationalize new programming or initiatives,” wrote Welsh. “These efforts will benefit our entire community by broadening knowledge and voices at U of T.”
So why the change?
“I didn’t get an announcement about [the sessional date change],” said Lobo, noting that she was only informed about the change by looking at the dates on the registrar’s website.
“Reading week last year was at a nice midpoint in the semester so it gave students a break to do some assignments and catch up on readings. Now that it’s later on in the semester, my midterms are still at the midway point, but students don’t have a study break before the midterm.”
Another change that posed a challenge for Lobo was the reading week change, which caused the shift of UTSC’s drop course deadline from November 20 to 18. Now, Lobo can’t schedule assignments after the reading week break in time for students to get them back before the drop date.
“You only have a two-week turnaround after reading week. By the time you get those assignments back to students, they don’t have a lot of time to decide whether they are going to drop the course or not.”
Students haven’t approached Lobo about the issue yet, but she expects it to become a pressing concern as they get closer to midterm season.
On the U of T Alignment of Sessional Dates for First-Entry Divisions FAQ, the university notes that the reason behind the change included confusion with the “start and end of classes across divisions, the lack of fall break for students and faculty registered/teaching courses across divisions, and inequalities resulting from different payment deadlines and some students writing final exams, while attending courses in other divisions.”
“The decision to align sessional dates for firstentry programs is to address [these] challenges,” wrote the university on the FAQ.
The FAQ also mentions the removal of the 75 per cent refund date, which is to align program fees and refund dates across the three campuses, and the addition of “flex days” — days that can be scheduled as study dates, make-up classes, or meet the number of contact hours.
When registrars committed to aligning the seasonal dates across campuses in October 2022, the UTSC Registrar and Assistant Dean Strategic Enrolment Management Shelby Verboven noted during the October 20, 2022, UTSC Academics Affairs Committee that the different dates across the three campuses caused “confusion and stress” and that each campus would have to “make some concessions,” as a result of the changes.
Canadian Federation of Students campaigns to support food affordability on campus
Students raise concerns about increasing food prices across U of T campuses
Olga Fedossenko Assistant News Editor
Content warning: This article mentions depression and anxiety disorders
With nearly one-third of postsecondary students in the country struggling to afford food, the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) Ontario has relaunched its task force to combat food insecurity in Canada.
On September 11, CFS-Ontario announced in an Instagram post that the campaign’s main goal is to “conduct research on how food insecurity manifests itself on every single campus in this province.” In its post, the group called on students to fill out a Food Experience Survey to “explore [their] needs and wants” regarding campus food services.
Food insecurity in Canada and at U of T Simply put, food insecurity means being unable to afford food. In broader terms, the issue includes the inability to access an adequate quality or quantity of food, a constant worry about running out of food, and buying a limited selection of food because of that concern.
While almost 23 per cent of the Canadian population in 2022 struggled with food insecurity, almost 57 per cent of university students can’t afford enough food according to a 2021 survey of more than 6,000 students across Canada.
As for U of T students, a 2021 research study by the U of T Innovation Hub — a student-led initiative that researches strategies for improving the campus experience — states that 39 per cent of U of T students experience some form of food insecurity.
What’s more, a 2021 national food insecurity study shows that international students and students belonging to a visible minority are more likely to experience food insecurity than other demographics. A 2020 study by a group of researchers from the University of British Columbia recorded that students who experienced two or more forms of marginalization were 2.52 times more likely to be food insecure.
When it comes to consequences, food insecurity affects human health beyond nutrition.
PROOF — a research program at U of T studying policies related to food insecurity — reports on its website that people who struggle to afford food are more likely to experience infectious diseases, chronic conditions like depression and anxiety disorders, heart disease, hypertension, arthritis, back problems, and chronic pain.
Reactions from students and U of T administration
Students acknowledge that food insecurity exists across U of T campuses. Sonja Pušić — a third-year humanities student at UTM — said that even though the school makes food available, that doesn’t mean they make it accessible.
Canadian government announces tighter regulations on study permits, postgraduate work program
Students consider how changes will impact international students at U of T
the Canadian Language Benchmark — a tool used to assess language ability in English.
“While we have a lot of opportunity for students to get food on campus, that doesn’t mean that the food is within the price range that the students can afford,” said Pušić.
This year, students have noticed food prices go up on campus. Jeanne Polochansky — a fourthyear psychology student from UTSG — said that students, herself included, tended to skip meals when they saw an item priced higher than before.
“[Students] will just eat, you know, once or twice a day, just something big in the morning, or only two small things during the day,” said Polochansky.
Pušić and Polochansky said the university is part of the issue, specifically for increasing prices while knowing that students can’t “opt out of eating” and that the campus is the most convenient place to eat.
In response to students’ claims about rising food insecurity on campus, a U of T spokesperson wrote to The Varsity that U of T offers the “most generous student financial aid programs in Canada, offering a total of $380 million in scholarships and bursaries in [2024–25].”
The spokesperson wrote that “food services
at the university are self-funding and set their prices to cover the cost of their operations” and encouraged students who struggle with food insecurity to contact their registrar’s office or apply for emergency funding.
The students noted they haven’t seen too many initiatives coming from U of T to support students. Polochansky said she feels the university’s “general sense of reluctance” and “disconnect” from students regarding the issues they face.
“I think it’s less that the school is stepping up and helping, and it’s becoming more student-driven,” said Pusic.
Both students discussed initiatives to tackle food insecurity at their respective campuses. Pusic mentioned the UTM Students Union’s free breakfast initiative that takes place every other Wednesday, while Polochansky mentioned Victoria College’s “Eat After Eight,” a student-run program that distributes leftover food from the Burwash Dining Hall after it’s closed.
The CFS-Ontario did not respond to The Varsity’s requests for comment in time for publication.
On September 18, the Canadian federal government announced plans to tighten regulations on international study permits and restrict eligibility for international graduate students to acquire work permits.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) aims to reduce the number of temporary residents in Canada, impose employer compliance, and mitigate issues of fraudulent activities.
In interviews with The Varsity , international students expressed their views on the new policy and its potential impacts on U of T’s international student community.
Policy breakdown
In January, the IRCC announced that it would reduce international undergraduate study permits by 35 per cent. The automatic issue of open work permits to the spouses of undergraduates was also discontinued. Canada introduced this student cap as a temporary resolution until 2025, but the policy has now been extended to 2026.
On September 18, the IRCC pledged to further reduce the overall intake of international students from 485,000 in 2024 to 437,000 in 2025. This would amount to a 10 per cent reduction of international students from 2024.
Starting November 1, applicants for the Post-Graduation Work Permit have to pass
University graduates need a score of seven points and college graduates need a score of five points out of 10. Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship of Canada Marc Miller has estimated the number of issued permits to decrease by 175,000 due to this policy measure.
There are restrictions on eligibility for spousal work permits for graduate students, alongside the requirement of obtaining a Provincial Attestation Letter.
Impact on U of T
Since 2023, U of T has welcomed approximately 20,000 undergraduate international students and 5,000 graduate international students from across 200 countries. This means the federal government’s new policies could potentially impact around 25 per cent of U of T’s student body.
Not only do these policies impact future international students but also U of T. These restrictions could potentially harm enrolment rates at U of T as expected international students might not receive their visas.
Student opinions
In emails to The Varsity , international students expressed their concerns about how harmful these policies could be to their future in Canada.
U of T student Nandini Singh wrote that
“these policies will impact the students who now want to stay in Canada and work after their graduation.”
“This is especially because this adds a limit or barrier to people with a language challenge, even if they are skilled and educated in their own field,” Singh added. “Additionally, it will reduce the diversity of international students and the useful contributions of skilled international workers who may contribute to Canada.”
Second-year economics and political science student Pranav Chaturvedi — who is considering pursuing higher education in Canada, the US, or the UK — feels deterred by the new policies.
Chaturvedi wrote that,“If this policy will truly serve to have heavy-bearing ramifications on any future admissions experience I have with Canadian universities, my desire to attend in
the UK or the US will only increase.”
He added that he anticipates “certain economic implications due to the reduction in study permit offerings,” explaining that U of T will favour comparatively wealthy students who won’t need financial aid over those who are more economically disadvantaged.
“In terms of the impacts felt by the general [U of T] community, I foresee both positive and negative sentiments arising,” Chaturvedi noted.
Vedika Patil, a second-year domestic student studying economics, math, and statistics explained that “Limiting the number of international students would make the job market less competitive… as there would be fewer international students applying for the same jobs,” yet she also noted this would come with reduced diversity on campus.
BANAFSHEH CHERAGI/THE VARSITY
Jivika Bhat
Varsity Contributor
Student shops for groceries at Galleria
Business & Labour
construction company in Canada and the builder of the iconic Rogers Centre — also filed a case against the university, arguing that U of T owes the company more than $7.5 million.
EllisDon served as the construction manager for the Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus: an AI-focused startup space on College Street. According to El-Diraby, construction managers plan projects, adapt to changes, and are often involved in hiring subcontractors.
According to OSCJ court files obtained by The Varsity , EllisDon was awarded the Schwartz Reisman contract in 2019. In 2021, the architects who consulted on the project issued a change order — a notice altering the construction contract — that increased the total contract value from $142,138,904.42 to $154,111,753.44 and extended the planned time by 165 working days. Contract values encompass the total cost of labour, materials, and other necessary elements to the construction process.
However, EllisDon claims that it faced multiple delays during construction, including problems obtaining the necessary materials,
union strikes, and changes to building and ventilation inspectors. According to EllisDon’s submission to the court, the project ultimately took 308 calendar days longer to complete than originally agreed upon “due to the actions and/or inactions of the University.”
EllisDon also claims that it requested U of T to extend the contract timeline and adjust the payment amount. Later, it sought a mediator to resolve disagreements about said costs. However, EllisDon alleges that U of T didn’t acknowledge the requests for increased funding or to modify the contract.
In total, EllisDon claims that the delays amounted to $7,372,954.27. In the September 17 meeting, Mabury presented a slide to the Planning and Budget Committee stating that the university was negotiating only $6.4 million in delays.
When asked about the discrepancy, a spokesperson for the university wrote, “It would be inappropriate for the university to comment on matters that are before the courts.”
Caught in the middle
U of T also became entangled in two cases involving renovations for the 121-year-old Centre for Culture and Technology building, located at 39 Queen’s Park Crescent.
According to court documents obtained by The Varsity , U of T signed a $3.5 million contract with Toronto-based construction company BDA Inc. in December 2022, in which the company agreed to act as the construction manager for the renovations. BDA Inc. subcontracted with electrical contracting firm Interborough Electric Incorporated to complete electrical installations, promising to pay the firm $953,017.67.
October 1, 2024
varsity.ca/category/business biz@thevarsity.ca
Inc. for more than $1.4 million, claiming that they failed to fully compensate the firm for its work. Interborough also argued that BDA Inc. “breached the terms of the contract by causing delays and improperly terminating the contract.” However, on April 15, Interborough dropped U of T from the case.
In its response filed to the court on May 7, BDA Inc. argued that there was “no executed contract” between them and Interborough, and that the delays were outside of BDA Inc.’s control. The company claims that to receive additional funding in light of the delays, it had to submit requests to the university. The response also claimed that the university still had time to review those requests at the time of filing. The case remains ongoing.
BDA Inc. opened its own case against U of T on April 9 for $1.57 million. In court documents, the company argued that it finished the renovations on January 24. However, BDA Inc. claims that U of T still owes the company for both the work originally included in the contract and for additional work requested by the university during construction.
“10 cents on the dollar” Partway through his presentation to the Planning and Budget committee, Mabury told the committee that the final total project costs “are not known by the contractors” and paused the discussion. A slide presented by Mabury revealed that U of T had committed $163.57 million toward construction on the Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus — $9.46 million more than the total cost agreed upon in the updated contract between EllisDon and the university.
presented a similar set of slides, with the total project costs removed.
El-Diraby noted that many owners won’t share their estimates of the project costs with contractors. “Some owners would say, ‘If I let you know what the estimate is and the actual cost is below my estimate, then you will bid and tell me that I’m going to build it as you estimated it,’ ” he explained.
However, Mabury did reveal that the university typically settles these types of cases. “We resist paying the additional and usually settle at about 10 cents on the dollar,” he told the Planning and Budget Committee.
In a slide about the Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus presented to the committee, U of T claimed that it expects mediation with EllisDon later this year. When The Varsity asked Terraprobe whether it had received a settlement offer from the university, a lawyer for the company declined to comment given the active litigation. However, BDA Inc.’s lawyer for the two cases involving 39 Queen’s Park wrote in an email to The Varsity that BDA Inc. is “in the middle of good faith negotiations with the University of Toronto.”
Terraprobe President Billy Singh wrote to The Varsity that the company is currently in discussions with the university, which asked Terraprobe for “further details on [its] invoices.” “We have not reached a stage where we can discuss the settlement details,” he wrote.
When asked whether court cases against an owner could impact their ability to hire construction companies in the future, ElDiraby said that it depends on the owner’s reputation and size. “If the owner is doing that very frequently, good contractors will either not go do the job for that owner or add a premium to make sure that they do not go into a dispute.” Continued from
On February 26, Interborough Electric Incorporated sued both U of T and BDA
In a governing council Business Board meeting the following week, Mabury
ZUHAL OLOMI/THE VARSITY
Opinion
October 1, 2024
thevarsity.ca/category/opinion opinion@thevarsity.ca
Don’t let Rate My Professors determine
which classes you take There’s more to a rating
Athen Go
Varsity Contributor
As Rate My Professors (RMP) establishes itself as the go-to site for researching and rating professors, it’s important to be mindful of its role in shaping our perceptions of them.
According to the website’s ‘About’ page, RMP allows students “to figure out who’s a great professor and who’s one you might want to avoid.” However, I believe this approach is the wrong way to approach the website. We should not let what I see as a flawed system hold so much say in determining whether or not we ‘avoid’ certain professors.
All’s fair in 5.0’s and 1.0’s — or is it?
“I am only giving a 5 to make up for my previous rating of 1 — I believe the average 3 is a much more accurate depiction of professor [redacted]’s teaching standard” reads an anonymous comment on a U of T professor’s RMP page. While I commend the student for adjusting their score, I believe that this comment illustrates how polarizing the site’s numerical rating system can be.
As RMP relies on voluntary self-reporting, a 2021 study on RMP’s data from Texas State University highlights that this type of reporting is often biased and prone to misrepresentation. It tends to overrepresent individuals with strong opinions — particularly negative ones. Consequently, the discourse around the professor and course becomes skewed by impassioned voices that dominate the discourse.
This aligns with my experiences on the site, where I frequently encounter a volley of alternating 1.0 and 5.0 ratings for the same professor. I’m often left wondering what truly makes a professor deserving of such extreme scores.
In an interview with The Varsity, fourth-year economics student Dean Locke said that RMP ratings are “generally pretty accurate.” However, he contemplates that “using the scores of other students to determine how much I’d like a professor almost feels like treating them like an Amazon product.”
Locke makes a fair point. Numerical rating systems can be quite reductive, especially when evaluating a person. While they provide an at-aglance indicator especially useful during the hectic enrollment process — I’ve been there — I believe they ultimately dissuade students from gaining a deeper understanding of a professor’s teaching style. It may prevent students from giving some professors a fair shot.
What’s in a review?
Lucy Borbash — a fourth-year mathematics major — hesitates to use the site. As Borbash stated in an interview with The Varsity, they prefer to form their own opinions without being influenced by reviews that might deter them from trying things out for themself. Upon visiting a “beloved” professor’s page, they were surprised by his reviews, including one that describes him as “unreasonable and oblivious to student complaints.”
Borbash said, “In my experience, he was actually very accommodating… you could email
The NDP must detach themselves from the
Liberal government
How the NDP can seize their golden parachute out of a losing situation
Mitchell Melançon Varsity Contributor
Difficult questions hang in Ottawa as Canada’s scheduled 2025 federal election looms closer, the Conservative Party’s failed vote of non-confidence lingers, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government sits at a historically low approval rating. In my opinion, the question that needs the most urgent answer is: “What’s next for the NDP?”
On September 25, Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre forwarded a parliamentary motion of non-confidence, which if passed, would have triggered an early federal election and potentially ousted the Liberals out of rule. However, the Conservatives needed the support of both the Bloc Québécois and the NDP for the motion to pass. They failed to garner the support, resulting in the motion being voted down by 211–120.
The NDP’s decision to back the Liberals was particularly confusing to me, especially after branding Trudeau and his government as “too weak, too selfish and too beholden to corporate interests to fight for people” on September 4 when pulling out of their supply-and-confidence deal that they co-signed in 2022.
If NDP leader Jagmeet Singh’s plan is to sustain this hypocritical strategy until next year’s scheduled election, the NDP may be in serious trouble. In my view, his hypocrisy alienates the Liberal base, who will brand the NDP as traitors of the ‘left-wing.’ At the same time, the NDP will maintain their negative reputation as Liberal sellouts among the remaining electorate, including NDP voters: a worst of both worlds solution to their precarious position.
The NDP-Liberal relationship
Over the last years, Singh has, for better or worse, inextricably tied his party to the Liberals through the supply-and-confidence deal: an arrangement that pledged the NDP’s unconditional support on all bills that the Liberals attempt to pass.
While this deal allowed the NDP to secure some policy victories — chiefly universal dental care and a National School Food program — it also linked the party to a minority government currently overseeing a catastrophic cost of living crisis in Canada. I am sure that in the eyes of many voters, the NDP is equally culpable in this economic tailspin.
This perceived culpability is particularly noticeable with Singh, who the growing Conservative base often brand as ‘Sellout Jagmeet Singh.’ Although Singh’s recent decision to pull from the supply-and-confidence deal may suggest a tougher attitude on the Liberals, I believe this will do little to change Singh’s image as Trudeau’s ‘yes-man’ among many voters.
The NDP’s dwindling influence is reflected in polling data. The Conservative Party sits far and away in first place, projected by CBC to form a majority government with 218 seats — far ahead of the Liberals, who are expected to secure only 63 seats. Meanwhile, the NDP is sputtering toward a drop to 21 seats from their current 25. Notably, the Conservatives are even leading among traditional NDP strongholds, including union members and young voters.
Party leadership isn’t faring much better. Singh fell from the highest approval rating out of all par-
him and ask about anything, and he [would] periodically check in with us… But if I had read beforehand that he was unsupportive toward his students, I might not [have] ask[ed] for [help].”
I agree with Borbash. If you find yourself with no choice but to take a course with a professor rated 1.0, focusing solely on the negative reviews could do more harm than good. A 2007 study published in the Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education Journal found that exposure to negative RMP ratings led to negative expectations and, consequently, negative experiences for students.
Furthermore, a 2009 experiment published in the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication found that negative expectations generated by simulated RMP feedback resulted in approximately 10 per cent lower quiz scores on lecture material compared to students who read simulated positive comments. The study also indicated that the positive group scored higher than students who were not exposed to
any RMP ratings at all. If the ratings are skewed and affecting academic performances, should we simply avoid the RMP website altogether?
While I don’t believe the site’s ratings and reviews should be the determining factor in choosing courses, I think RMP can be incredibly useful for gauging what to expect in a class. It’s important to be mindful of how we wield the site. We should disregard extreme comments and focus on the information about how the class is conducted. Additionally, it’s important to discern between subjective and objective reviews.
Prioritizing comments such as “This professor requires weekly quizzes,” over one’s like “This professor is a boring lecturer,” will be more productive in the long run — both for managing your expectations and for setting yourself up for success in the class.
Athen Go is a fourth-year student studying architecture, English, and visual studies. She is editor-in-chief of Goose Fiction.
ty leaders at 39 per cent in early 2022 to second lowest at 33 per cent in 2024. He is ahead of only Trudeau, who is currently at an abysmal 24 per cent. Furthermore, the Liberal government — which holds a historic low approval rating of 33 per cent — faces the Conservatives’ constant efforts to call an early election, including an attempt on March 21. These attempts failed due to the NDP and the Bloc Québécois’ support of the Liberals.
This sums up the NDP’s trajectory over the last 10 years. From former NDP leader Tom Mulcair to Singh, I think the party has presented a middling and inoffensive platform along with an electoral strategy that has failed to capture any opportunities afforded to them.
My opinion is that Singh is wasting a golden opportunity to position the NDP as the clear leftist alternative to the unpopular Liberal party. Instead, Singh is steering the party toward a much worse fate: a potentially catastrophic loss in 2025 and, in the long term, political obsolescence and redundancy alongside the Liberals.
What now?
To get out of this tough position, the NDP must do everything within their power to distance themselves from the Liberal government.
The first step is for the NDP to vote in favour of the next motion of non-confidence, which has been tabled by Poilievre just a day after the September 25 vote. While this may not actually trigger an election — as the Bloc Québécois currently seems to support maintaining a Liberal government — it will represent the NDP’s substantial act of defiance from the Liberals.
Secondly, I believe the NDP must drop Singh. Whether he finally reads the writing on the wall and resigns like Joe Biden, or party members vote him out at the next leadership convention, Jagmeet Singh must go. I see potential replacements ranging from former Alberta NDP leader Rachel Notley, to former NDP leadership contender Niki Ashton, to Hamilton-Centre MP Matthew Green — though any candidate with a fresh start and clean slate will do.
This course of action may be the NDP’s last opportunity to jump ship from a deeply unpopular government, providing a golden parachute to escape the downward loss of voters. The NDP must get back on course from their decade-long slump.
Mitchell Melançon is a first-year student at Woodsworth College. He is a former Ontario NDP staffer.
JAYLIN KIM/THE VARSITY
I frequently encounter a volley of 1.0 and 5.0 ratings for the same professor. ABBY RUSSCHEN/THE VARSITY
Do celebrities have
a responsibility
to participate in social activism?
The Varsity asked three writers to reflect on celebrity culture in the political age
Zaneb Asad, Jovana Radin, and Mari Khan Varsity Contributors
Movie stars and singers are not politicians who have direct control over national and international affairs, but it is undeniable that celebrities have a platform that could easily motivate people to put pressure on the decision-makers. However, just because they have the power to do so, does that necessarily mean they have the responsibility to?
We asked three students about their opinions on the merging roles of celebrities and social activists.
Celebrities should take a stand
With the rise of social media, the world is more connected and accessible than ever. Young people globally are engaging in social activism, raising awareness on critical issues such as the genocide in Palestine, climate change, women’s reproductive rights, Indigenous peoples’ rights, and many more.
I believe that celebrities, like the rest of us, have a responsibility to speak up about socio-political issues. While most of us are not social or political scholars, we still take the initiative to learn and spread awareness. Social activism is less about who has the merits to educate others and more about encouraging people to educate themselves.
As the saying goes, “with great power comes great responsibility.” In my opinion, neutrality is complacency, and remaining silent in times of needed action is both unfeeling and cruel.
Celebrities who have spoken up on issues have inspired others to take action. After Taylor Swift endorsed Kamala Harris during the September 10 US presidential debate, vote.org, a website for U.S. voter registration, saw a 585 per cent spike in users compared to the previous eight days. Vote.gov also received nearly 406,000 visitors within 24 hours through a link that Taylor Swift shared on her Instagram. Additionally, actress and activist Jane Fonda raised nearly 2 million USD and helped get 42 climate
advocates elected to office.
When speaking out is pressing and imperative, remaining silent is more than a missed opportunity — it’s a choice. I believe true humanity is not about fame or popularity, but about how one acts when in a position of power or when aid can be provided. Celebrities, with their vast reach, have a responsibility to use their platforms to raise political awareness. In moments of injustice and crisis — which seem perpetual and unending — silence speaks volumes, but action can make all the difference.
Zaneb Asad is a fourth-year student at UTM studying English.
Celebrities should stay out of politics
While it is important for everyone to engage in socio-political activism, there is a right and wrong place for it — and having the power to exert political influence does not necessarily justify its use. I believe it is unethical for celebrities to use their platforms to pressure the public about politics. They hold too much power with too little accountability.
Celebrities have platforms of mass influence, but those platforms were not created for political discourse. They earned their influence through talent as entertainers, not through political education or engagement. Therefore, I question whether they are qualified to broadcast their personal political interests through relatively unregulated public platforms such as Instagram or X.
Apart from that, the relationship between celebrities and their fans is sometimes rooted in their fans’ blind admiration and uncritical loyalty. In my view, using their platform to politically influence fans would be an abuse of that relationship. Given how globally interconnected digital media has become, it is especially easy for a celebrity — whether unintentionally or not — to spread misinformation that could lead to harmful consequences.
Just look at Jamie Lee Curtis, a beloved actress with 5.9 million Instagram followers. On October 9, 2023, she posted a picture of children looking at the sky in fear, captioned “Terror from the skies” with an Israeli flag emoji — presumably to raise awareness about Hamas’ attacks against Israel on October 7. But, the picture in fact showed Palestinian children running from danger — not Israeli. After Curtis was made aware of her mistake, she deleted the post. But who knows how many of her followers were already misled by it? I wonder how many already donated money to fund a genocide because of what they thought they learned from this post.
In a democracy, every person’s voice matters. However, I believe it is undemocratic for a celebrity to exploit their fans and the unregulated nature of social media to exert their unsolicited and unreliable political influence.
Jovana Radin is a third-year student at University College studying philosophy and ethics, society, and law. She is a board member of U of T Moot, and a copy-editor for The Varsity.
Viewers should do their research on celebrities
In the age of misinformation and an age when celebrities have large, impressionable followings that will listen to their every demand, I argue that it’s our responsibility to do our research on the celebrities’ backgrounds and the social causes they support.
Expecting celebrities to step away from activism is unrealistic and even inhumane. When celebrities have personal experiences related to a social cause, it makes sense for them to participate in activism. For example, in 2016, Canadian-Ethiopian singer The Weeknd donated $50,000 to fund U of T’s Ethiopian Studies Program. In 2018, he co-found HXOUSE, a Toronto-based organization that
offers mentorship opportunities and access to “real-time information on how to accelerate entrepreneurial endeavors” for BIPOC youth.
Celebrities can have personal ties to activist causes. Ariana Grande, for instance, is a public ally of the LGBTQ+ community. In 2022, she pledged to match up to 1.5 million USD in donations to a fund she co-created to combat anti-trans bills. It makes sense that Grande would advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, as her brother and many of her friends are part of the marginalized group.
Additionally, someone who has pursued multiple levels of higher education and is succeeding in their field is someone I can trust to provide accurate information. Actress Bridgit Mendler, for example, is a startup CEO for aerospace research. She holds a master’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and recently graduated from Harvard Law School. While Mendler is not actively engaged in activism, her educational background could lend credibility to her arguments if she ever chooses to get involved in social causes..
Naturally, there will be exceptions to this. For example, Elon Musk also pursued higher education and is a co-founder of SpaceX. However, considering how he recently spread misinformation about Kamala Harris’ campaign, I doubt I would trust his activism, especially if he cannot comply with his own platform’s policy that bans the sharing of manipulated media that can mislead viewers.
As participants in activist causes, we have a say in who represents us — especially those with large platforms. If a celebrity advocates for climate change but then takes a private jet every other week, I hope we’ll reconsider our support for their activism.
Mari Khan is a third-year student at UTM studying geographical information systems. She is a copyeditor at The Varsity
Food insecurity on campus Navigating community support in a cost of living crisis
Brooke Schilling Varsity Contributor
Navigating adult life is a difficult task. Balancing a part-time job alongside academics has left me feeling anxious and withdrawn from my education. Assignments and readings become an afterthought because I’m stuck calculating whether or not I have the means to sustain myself financially.
Underneath the lights of Sidney Smith, my mind slips into peril as I wonder if I’ve worked enough hours this month to pay rent. My thoughts spiral, and I begin to put off buying groceries to save money. I’m hungry after class, and I spend a good amount of time staring at the food trucks lined up on St. George Street, wondering if I can spare the cost.
If I cave into hunger, I feel guilty for spending the money I don’t have. Whenever I’m tempted to get quick bites of burgers and fries on campus, I remember I’ve been avoiding the grocery store on the streetcar rides home, and I feel guilty. I take my bag off my shoulder, unlock my apartment door, open my barren fridge, and pace — hoping food will manifest itself while I anxiously avoid hunger. I can’t afford to feel hungry — or overly full.
I know I’m not the only one who feels like this: hungry, embarrassed, and waiting for some miraculous food God to drop a bag of fresh fruits and vegetables in my fridge. According to the collective hunger-relief organization Feed Ontario, over a million people visited food banks in Ontario between April 2023 and March 2024.
Some communities come together to provide for those in need. I remember all those toy and food drives in elementary school where you’d count cans for kids in need of a Christmas meal. But what happens when the kids who used to bring cans to school suddenly find themselves with yet another costly grocery store run?
Walking past the long lines outside my local food bank, I feel scared. Community resources can become overwhelmed by high demand if food scarcity is not addressed by the provincial government. There is a growing concern amongst Canadians about where our next meal will come from, but as people grow anxious and resources grow strained, the provincial government seems increasingly avoidant.
The statistics: What issue are we actually facing In March 2023, there were over 1.9 million visits to food banks in that month, according to Food Banks Canada. In that year, the organization also found a 32 per cent increase in visits from 2022, and a staggering 78.5 per cent increase from 2019. From their survey data, the most common reasons contributing to food insecurity were the cost of food, cost of housing, low wages, and decreases in scheduled hours of work.
The COVID-19 pandemic played a major role in rising food insecurity since 2019. Delayed food supply, understaffed agricultural farms, and new regulations in food services all contributed to a destabilizing food industry during the pandemic. A destabilized food industry meant it was difficult to meet the demand, which was also in flux during this tumultuous time. Consequently, food insecurity and increased visits to food banks have been a climbing issue.
To many, this surge in food bank visits may seem unsurprising. In large cities like Toronto, the average cost of living often surpasses what a person can make in one month; a quick browse on the U of T Student Life website shows that current student housing options cost between $1,100 to $2,700 a month. Food and grocery
“
Along with other expenses such as internet, water, and electrical utility bills, students face a cost of living far beyond what they can provide themselves while pursuing their studies. ”
costs are projected to cost around $340 a month.
Along with other expenses such as internet, water, and electrical utility bills, students face a cost of living far beyond what they can provide themselves while pursuing their studies.
Although government assistance programs exist — such as the Ontario Student Assistance Program — the loans students receive for tuition do not account for their monthly cost of living.
For example, a student will be making $16.20 an hour in an average minimum-wage job as of October 1. If a student were to work 20 hours weekly for an entire month, they would take home around $1,300. If their rent is $1,100 and groceries cost $340, a student would be $110 shy of the income needed to sustain themselves. For the entire year, they’d have to take $1,320 out of their loan money just to meet rent and sustain themselves.
Digesting this information is overwhelming.
For many students, starting university is their introduction to adulthood and responsibility — naturally accompanied by anxiety about making the right choices. However, students cannot be expected to adequately focus on their education under surmounting stress about their next meal or lack thereof.
How the UTSU can help
Staff and students from across campuses can go to the University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU) Food Bank: a service founded in 2001 to combat food insecurity year-round. The food bank seeks to support students with consistent access to food and asks clients to respect the confidentiality of other attendees.
The food bank requires you to have your TCard or a current timetable with you to prove that you are a registered student. Registration opens every Wednesday at 9:00 am, and the food bank runs on Fridays between 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.
If you are not able to be present during the food bank’s operating hours, you may assign a trusted family or friend to attend on your behalf.
In an interview with The Varsity, UTSU VicePresident Public & University Affairs Avreet Jagdev confirmed that, as of August, the food bank can accommodate between 55 to 60 students weekly. She emphasized that the union is committed to accommodating the demand.
Jagdev also commented on the effects that Toronto’s rising living costs have on the student body. “The rising cost of living across our city and country is exacerbating financial pressures on students,” she said. “One way in which this rising cost of living has manifested is in the lack of affordable food options on campus.”
In 2023, UTSU published a Food Insecurity Report on information about post-COVID food insecurity among post-secondary institutions in Canada. The report documented the popular consensus among students that the food on campus is unaffordable. In a 2021 survey by the Canadian charity Meal Exchange that the report refers to, 55 per cent of university students from 13 universities across Canada require access to low-cost food options, and 32.4 per cent are willing to skip meals to make ends meet.
Jagdev also said that the purpose of the union’s food bank is to counterbalance the unaffordable food options in and around campus. The UTSU Food Bank is one of the 207 programs across Toronto that partner up with the Daily Bread Food Bank organization to distribute food to those in need. As a member of Daily Bread, the UTSU Food Bank receives additional donations from the organization on top of the donations they receive directly.
Students facing the anxiety and vulnerability of food insecurity do have options within the U of T community. While there are other community outreach programs operating throughout Toronto that seek to combat food insecurity, the provincial government fails to address the issue.
What is Ontario doing?
Food Banks Canada puts out an annual Poverty Report Card, which grades each province on their initiatives to combat food insecurity for Canadians. As of 2024, Ontario holds a “D” grade.
The organization’s data reveals that 45.7 per cent of Ontarians spend more than 30 per cent of their income on housing alone, and that 47.1 per cent of Ontarians feel they are financially worse off than the year prior. The data also suggests poverty reduction is not at the top of the provincial government’s list of priorities, with little expansion in social services and community aid so far. Instead of directly addressing poverty with policy changes, the Ontario government puts a bandaid on food insecurity with increased public funding for food charities, rather than directly addressing provincial food and living costs.
Food Banks Canada reports that “while the Ontario government made early and modest progress toward supporting struggling households with the introduction of its LowIncome Workers Tax Credit in 2018, it has not treated poverty reduction as a major priority.”
The current poverty rate in the province stands at 10.9 per cent. The cost of food has increased 4.1 per cent from 2022 to 2023. With little to no updates on any adequate strategy to combat poverty and food insecurity in Canada, many are left to their own ambition to create community change.
The people fight back Mutual aid efforts seek to rely on collaboration to provide access to goods and services within the community. In response to the mounting pressure on Toronto food banks, one emerging mutual aid initiative — Community Fridges TO — seeks to
COVID-19. Initiatives like Community Fridges TO are a reaction to the lack of action from elected officials and the government.
Tell ‘em how you really feel Canadians are tired of struggling and many are taking matters into their own hands when it comes to enacting positive change within their neighbourhoods. Communities forming inside and outside the student body represent the need for collective action.
As of writing, the Ontario government has no detailed plans to directly tackle food insecurity
— but people do. Despite the anxieties I feel surrounding my own financial struggles, the prospect of community allegiance to tackle food insecurity comforts me. The first time I heard of Community Fridges TO was when they were collecting donations at my local farmer’s market.
Although we should not rely on food banks and mutual aid organizations as permanent solutions to Canada’s food crisis, they are a powerful force and show what can be accomplished through community outreach.
We are being called to care for one another and collectively strive for a better future.
While governments change and society’s circumstances may improve, the opportunity to participate and help your community is a constant force that pushes us onward.
Next time I’m crouched on a park bench, eating a hotdog, and wondering whether I should’ve spent the seven dollars on it, I know to remember I’m not alone. I know I don’t have to be ashamed about the difficulty I face in sustaining myself. I know I’m not the only student working part-time and crossing my fingers I’ll have enough to cover rent. I’m not the only student whose mind wanders in lectures as to how I’ll be able to afford
dinner. And I’m not the only student who feels an immense amount of indignity and is willing to do something about it.
It’s important that even through all the stress of being a student, you have the ability to take the time to make sure your body is nourished. If you’re reading this and you’ve got the time and resources, donate to your local food bank or the one at the UTSU Student Commons. Drop by the Community Fridges TO in the Annex on Lowther Avenue. Give what you can, take what you need and remember: there is nothing to be ashamed of, you’re not the only one.
CHLOE WESTON/THE VARSITY
Arts & Culture
October 1, 2024
thevarsity.ca/category/arts-culture arts@thevarsity.ca
Between the notes: Trin and Vic’s Next to Normal adaptation masters the power of the unsaid
Next to Normal pushes you out, only to reel you back in
Marija Buzanin Varsity Contributor
Content warning: This article discusses substance use, bipolar disorder, and PTSD.
Art is not in the music or the story, but in the spaces between.
Sitting in the basement of the Faculty of Music with the cast of Next to Normal, I understood that art is not in the music or the story, but in the spaces between. When we discussed the story’s themes
and pitfalls, my impressions were that they were charismatic, personable, and multi-faceted actors and students who were deeply passionate about their art.
Ahead of Trinity College Dramatic Society and Victoria College Drama Society’s production at Theatre Passe Muraille from September 12–15, I sat in rehearsal ready to watch an emotional journey through the struggles of mental health. Soon, however, I was shocked by the jaunty and upbeat music blaring from the orchestra behind me. By the time the second song played, I understood what the cast had been trying to convey during our interviews. The show is engaging not just because it is fantastical or theatrical, but because it is real. The music and drama dress up the story while also laying it bare.
A raw and unsettling experience
The cast’s inimitable storytelling resonates with the audience. Alongside the sounds of their incredible voices, the characters’ poor decisions, bad judgment, and awkwardness imbue the audience with a feeling of ‘shit, I’ve been here before,’ — making their tragedy ours.
Introversion in university University student life as
an anxious introvert
The stage work was partially done by Theatre Passe Muraille: a spectacle described by the play’s director Paul Meyer as “walk[ing] into the building and thinking, ‘yeah, this is it.’” Much of the heavy lifting happened before the crew stepped foot into the historic space, and set designer Aria Kowal took over.
Meyer said that his job as director was to create a space where the actors could choose how to feel, leading to varying narrative interpretations that leave the audience hanging on every word, spoken or unspoken. Technical director Samara Tower and stage manager Caitlyn Grant were present during both the rehearsal and the show, building the atmosphere to entrench the audience in an intense emotional experience.
Minimalist yet evocative, the crew’s use of the stage and the catwalks above the stage mirrored the disjointed layers of the characters’ internal chaos. Dim and warm lighting in moments of familial intimacy become harsh and punishing as the main character Diana (Emma Kidd) descends deeper into clinical depression, guiding the audience through these mental landscapes.
The story’s soul is captured by the moment Diana performs a slow waltz into her seeming tragic end. She dances alone, eyes closed — until she is caught just in time by Gabe (Nomi Parsai), who acts as Diana’s undoing. The haunting choreography by Gabby Noga works in tandem with lighting designer Shunsho Ando Heng’s dramatic lighting and music director Jo O’Leary-Ponzo’s music to blur the line between reality and delusion.
Sound and music: Conversing with emotions
As for Gabe, filling the empty space left in his character’s story is a challenging task for any actor. As only Diana can see him, Gabe’s role is unclear. Is he a villain or a spectre? The whole team worked to build his ghostly presence: changes in his shirt colour, for example, demonstrate the vilification of his omnipresence in Diana’s life, but much of his power is in his voice or lack thereof. We see this spectral significance in his silent presence in the background of the second act, during which he has been mostly eliminated from Diana’s mind through electroconvulsive therapy.
When Gabe spends much of the second
act offstage, his ability to entirely fill a space reverberates with the audience as the space he used to occupy feels empty.
Vocal director Frank Yu describes this dynamic as an act of “vocal storytelling.” The sonic layers of urgency in a character’s voice as they approach the more intense moments, the ticking of a clock punctuating an intense silence, and the overwhelming energy as all characters sing at once bring the audience into Diana’s world.
Music I had originally marked as being at odds with Next to Normal’s subject matter not only disarms the audience but also performs a larger function: it leaves empty space between what is expected and what actually occurs. After expecting sombre tones during the heavier moments, I was shocked by the upbeat melodies which allowed the lyrics’ darker undercurrent to hit harder.
Mired in misconceptions:
Discussions of mental health
Diana and her family maneuver through her borderline personality disorder diagnosis, which spirals outward to affect every part of her life. She neglects her daughter, becomes estranged from her sometimes heavy-handed but always well-meaning husband, and gives in to her delusions caused by her BPD. During pre-show interviews, the cast detailed how they trained with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, staff at Sunnybrook Hospital, and intimacy coordinator Corey Tazmania to sensitively and realistically portray Diana’s struggles.
On September 15, halfway through the first act on closing night, I found myself crying into my notebook, having disposed of my judgments. Despite my initial knee-jerk reaction, the cast are not unaware of the weight they carry when they strap their characters’ histories to their chests.
Striking a delicate balance between dramatic intensity and moments of quiet and lonely sadness, Trinity and Victoria Colleges’ drama societies made Next to Normal their own, demonstrating what they understood from the beginning: a story told not just in words or song, but in the spaces between.
Disclaimer: The chair of The Varsity’s Board of Directors, Paul Meyer, was the Director of Next to Normal.
What makes us unique as humans are our differences. Some people are socially active and enjoy constant interaction, while others prefer solitude and minimal social connections. Even introverts — often perceived as disliking social interactions — can vary in their confidence level and ability to engage with others.
According to WebMD, there are four types of introverts: social, thinking, anxious, and restrained or inhibited. I will focus mainly on anxious introverts, individuals who “seek out alone time not just because they like it, but because they often feel awkward or shy around people.”
There’s no shame in being an anxious introvert, even if one may perceive you as antisocial or unwilling to cooperate with other people. In fact, an article published in Time demonstrates that introverts are great listeners and observers. However, being an anxious introvert in university is no easy feat, as it can present many challenges in university, where constant interactions may significantly impact one’s post-graduation prospects.
Fear of networking
Networking is often said to help students foster professional relationships, broaden work opportunities, and learn inside-industry practices. While the concept of networking offers many benefits for one’s career prospects, the same cannot be said about its execution. Since networking requires social interactions
— something anxious introverts shy away from as it causes some to overthink and stress — it’s no surprise that they may avoid it. While some anxious introverts are capable of socializing, they may avoid doing so to stay away from interactions with unfamiliar people while pursuing connections.
Unfortunately, universities and society as a whole struggle to provide anxious introverts with diverse ways to connect in the professional world, leading the introverts to sacrifice future opportunities to maintain their own comfortability.
Feeling left behind
As an anxious introvert, it can be easy to feel left behind while extroverts latch onto networking opportunities and other social events to promote themselves. Their pathway to success may seem easier compared to anxious introverts because some extroverts don’t struggle with developing feelings of awkwardness or anxiety.
As a result, watching fellow students in the same year grow their portfolio and professional experiences at a faster rate can be demotivating and upsetting. Even as some introverts navigate university academics with ease and achieve high Cumulative Grade Point Averages, they may lag in social activities, which makes it harder to appeal to employers who look for outwardly confident and passionate students — especially those leading clubs and participating in extracurriculars.
Even among introverts, it can be overwhelming or upsetting to watch others easily socialize to advance their careers. Research in the journal
Frontiers in Psychology found that “introverts with high social engagement have higher self-esteem than introverts with low social engagement.”
Finding your strength
Despite all the issues presented, introverted students can still shine in their own ways. Many successful individuals such as Steven Spielberg and Eleanor Roosevelt are introverts. Yet, they were able to work with others to promote human rights, engage in large speaking events, and create some of the greatest movies in our lifetime.
This goes to show that even introverts can leave a mark in the world in their own ways.
As someone who considers themself to be an anxious introvert, I struggled to find my place when I first started university, but with
time I found ways to grow as a student and began building my own portfolio. For example, I started writing and editing for various U of T student publications such as Mindwaves , The Vision Journal , and The Varsity
Through my own successes as an anxious introvert, I would like to encourage other anxiously introverted students at U of T to keep fighting and to not to lose hope. Everyone has their own paths in life — it just may take longer for some than others to be filled with successful stories.
While they may be challenging to find, there are many activities where anxious introverts can strive for success. Even though it may require a conversation or two with professors, as long as you lead with intention, you will eventually find the right place to learn and further yourself, even as an anxious introvert.
Maram Qarmout Varsity Contributor
The music and drama dress up the story while also laying it bare. AUDREY PERSAUD/THE VARSITY
Censorship or Protection? The rise in book bannings across North America
Danielle Lee Varsity Contributor
As a university student, I vividly remember the books that shaped me during my younger years. Growing up attending a small school, I enjoyed the freedom to pursue these books without restriction, which expanded my horizons, providing important knowledge and necessary perspectives far beyond the school’s curriculum.
Therefore, the recent wave of book bans in the US concerns me. With a record 4,349 occasions of book bans across 23 American states in the second half of 2023, censorship unnecessarily prevents students from learning and forming their own opinions on crucial topics, and I am also compelled to consider the risks it poses to a neighbouring country like Canada.
According to the Canadian Library Book Challenges Data, Canadian libraries reported 118 intellectual freedom challenges between 2022–2023, which is up by 55 per cent from the previous year. Most of these challenges involve books containing information about gender, racism, and sexuality. Some of the most banned titles in the US include Angie Thomas’s The Hate U Give, Maia Kobabe’s Gender Queer: A Memoir, John Green’s Looking for Alaska, and Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye: books that were challenged in Canada but never banned.
Many parents and politicians who support book banning claim they do so to protect children. While I believe parents should have a say in what their children choose to read, children
should still be free to engage with books on what some claim to be sensitive issues. Under the guidance of parents, guardians or teachers, complex discussions over sex, sexuality, race, and political ideology can be demystified, and important lessons can be learned. Parenting your own children is one thing, but imposing your parenting rhetorics and biases on other people’s children is another.
Additionally, I believe that the people who have not read the banned books in question impose these book bans by relying on secondhand information from the internet, which often misrepresents the texts’ content. If one were to actually read these books, they would find that books that deal with “sexual content” actually concern identity, self-discovery, and expression, rather than explicit material and depictions of sex you might find in an adult romance novel like Fifty Shades of Grey — which I don’t believe should be banned either.
People often overlook the fact that there are real human experiences behind the books we read. Their nuances, from minor characters to complex protagonists to the worlds that they inhabit, all come from a place of deep vulnerability, authentic humanity, and truth. You may have noticed that the “banned books” section in your local library promotes awareness of challenged books. Familiar books like The Hunger Games, To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower have all been banned in different countries at various points in time.
Libraries are supposed to represent respect for diverse ideas and are spaces where people seek knowledge and find inspiration. Conversations about books elevate our understanding and ensure our growing capacity for sensitive issues and ability to function more civilly. Choosing to close the door to the past by banning books shuts down opportunities for learning and growth.
I acknowledge that there are books written in the past that do not reflect the historical knowledge we have in the present. For example, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Despite its anti-slavery message, Mark Twain’s portrayal of Black people and his use of the n-word relay harmful racial stereotypes that may often perpetuate racism rather than counter
Escape into science fiction
it. Yet, banning such classics means missing out on critical historical context and important discussions about progress and change.
I believe that every great story will find its own defense. Stories are not only powerful communicators, but also bring us comfort — expanding our knowledge and providing access to diverse perspectives.
No book should be banned. Everyone should have the opportunity to read and form their own opinions. Parents may fear their children encountering ideas they disagree with, but shielding them from such content does more harm than good. Instead, let us encourage open discussions, critical thinking, and allow young people to navigate the ideas with guidance rather than censorship.
How science fiction and literature is a necessary means of social commentary
Fiona McKay Varsity Contributor
For a science fiction writer in the ’70s, people currently live in a world with an incredible futuristic landscape. We have technological advancements allowing individuals to talk to a friend on the other side of the world, seeing them lit up by the same sun that is setting outside their window. There is an invisible online world that is an unparalleled resource, with forums, websites, and scientific information about every topic — way more than a single person could ever truly research in their lifetime.
Despite all of these incredible advancements, the actual future isn’t going so well. When news headlines are filled with protests, fears around inflation, and academic institutions threatening police action against students who pay them thousands of dollars to attend classes, it seems natural to turn to science fiction as a form of escape from reality or relaxation.
In the heyday of pulp fiction — graphic, punchy, stories popularized in the mid-twentieth century that were either printed on cheap paper or wood pulp, hence the name — what was popular reflected the social fears or triumphs of the decade; see aliens and space invaders during the Cold War.
Even science fiction novels like David Brin’s The Practice Effect posed a ’what-if’ for the state of affairs at the time of writing, asking how the world might be different if one minor thing was changed. Brin’s novel flips the rule of entropy — where the more an object is used, the better it functions or appears, instead of wearing out — resulting in items that are centuries old and in better shape than a chair that was made the day prior.
Science fiction gives us options for imagining alternative realities. When there’s no limit to worlds that can exist — or restraints on space travel — these fictional characters can be whoever they’d like and live in ways we might not want to admit we’re deeply envious of.
There is a pervasive sense of disenfranchisement and disillusionment with the current state of affairs. Turning to literature or other forms of entertainment is one way to
handle things — to escape a dysfunctional world and give ourselves a necessary mental break.
Kelly McCullough, an author who has written for science fiction magazines like Uncanny and created comics with NASA, argues that “the idea that escape is inherently tainted is fundamentally an argument of privilege made primarily by people who have never been in a position where they needed to escape from a situation when actual escape was impossible.”
The science fiction realm allows audiences to abscond from everyday horrors, but it is not all pure fantasy: after fleeing reality, audiences are then equipped to confront it.
As much as the galactic worlds of Star
Wars or Star Trek offer aesthetic pleasure, the themes that appear in the genre also bear solid reflections in the real world. While we bring our own experiences to the page when reading, these stories also reflect our lived experiences to us. Therefore, people use the long-standing tradition of storytelling to explore their own failings and anxieties, which functions as a way of engaging realism in their narratives.
Science fiction is our world, but with a viewer or reader’s agency, it is a fantastical, turmoiled world that we choose to be immersed in. The reader’s freedom to explore new themes or experiences without consequence allows them to have a sense of agency and safety.
Though the future isn’t looking to be as bright
as writers like Brin hoped for, I’d like to argue that the divide between what we imagine and what is real about our possible reality is thinner than we think. Just because technology like the hyperdrive from Star Trek hasn’t been invented yet doesn’t mean that fictional worlds don’t have real-world implications, inspiring the next generation of writers, scientists, or engineers whose creativity and visions might even save lives.
We have the ability to write the realities we want to see, whether for aesthetic reasons or to see ourselves represented in the real world as in literature. Hopefully, as the world progresses, we can use science fiction to escape into a better future.
NILIMA PAUL/THE VARSITY
Parenting your own child is one thing, imposing your biases on other children is another. JULIA DEDDA/THE VARSITY
October 1, 2024
thevarsity.ca/category/science science@thevarsity.ca
Spotlight: Engineering student Rafiq Omair on the DREAM lab
Highlights from a third-year making research more accessible to students
Adam Mainella, Izhaan Junaid Varsity Contributors
Rafiq Omair is a third-year mechanical engineering student who has become a prominent figure within the UTSG engineering community. Having Palestinian roots and growing up around dozens of relatives in Jordan, Omair cites this cultural dynamic as a significant factor in his personal development. He had to be “loud” if he wanted to be heard by everyone — which eventually shaped his social and outgoing personality. Omair’s roots and personality pushed him to pursue research and eventually join an engineering lab at U of T.
The Varsity sat down with Omair to discuss his involvement with the Durable Repellent Engineering Advanced Materials (DREAM) Laboratory, his efforts to make undergraduate research more accessible, and the recognition he has received for his extracurricular involvement.
The Varsity: How did you first get involved with engineering research?
Rafiq Omair: I was very fortunate that I knew what I wanted coming into school. I knew that I wanted to go into research, so that allowed me to start reaching out to professors early to start getting in touch with people [and learn] about their work.
TV: What is your research focused on and who do you work with?
RO: I work with Professor Kevin Golovin from the Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering in the DREAM lab. My work is heavily focused on creating energy-efficient methods of de-icing systems for airplanes, wind turbines, and anything else which could be
affected by ice accumulation at higher altitudes. We also research superhydrophobicity — the tendency a surface has to repel water, sweat, and other forms of de-icing — using materials or coatings that are slippery or do not require energy to de-ice.
[The DREAM lab] is the only lab at U of T that does heavy work with textiles, microplastics, and microfibre shedding. Washing synthetic fabrics causes friction, which releases microplastic sheddings into the washing water. These sheddings are environmental pollutants that take a long time to degrade. We design coatings to stop microplastics and microfibres from shedding, and we work on coatings that stop microplastic sheddings in general.
One of our research focuses is creating hydrophobic surfaces, which we use for companies such as Lululemon. We replace the materials that they’re currently using for their water-resistant jackets — which could harm the environment — and create new chemicals for newer coatings, which would tackle all the environmental problems that their current coatings offer.
TV: You’re a strong believer in making undergraduate research more accessible to students. What have you done to advance this goal?
RO
: For most people, getting into school is more about taking the ‘normal’ engineering path. We see a lot of career fairs, which are mostly focused on industry jobs. Not as [many] people focus on research career paths, so I wanted to change that.
I was part of its organizing committee for the Undergraduate Engineering Research Day last year, and I was fortunate enough to be one of
this year’s co-chairs where we had more than 150 presentations.
I’m [also] starting a new program that will help students match up with professors who will give them tips and general advice about how to approach conducting research as an undergraduate, [and to those] who [are] still unsure if that’s the kind of career [they] want to commit to.
TV: How did you manage to get so involved in the engineering community?
RO: It was honestly very similar to research: I narrowed down what I wanted to do or what I wanted to be involved in, and through that, I started reaching out [to supervisors]. I started
with the bigger clubs, and if I liked [them] enough, I climbed my way up into [their] executive positions.
When I first received the email that I [won] the Engineering Society semi-centennial Leadership Award, I was surprised. I’m glad that I won it, but those awards have never really been my focus. I think the most fun that I have through these roles is when I get to work with the younger students. The mentorship and teaching aspects of being in academia [are] a huge part of why I want to break into it and why I want to stay in research.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Beyond the heteronormativity: The spectrum of animal sexuality
Exploring non-heterosexual attraction in the animal kingdom
Shivangi Roy Varsity Contributor
Who says love is only heterosexual?
Animals of all shapes and sizes engage in same-sex behaviours — from playful pairings to lifelong partnerships — showing that diversity in sexual relationships is not just a human invention. Homosexual behaviour is a well-documented phenomenon across the animal kingdom, as it is observed in hundreds of different species. Homosexual behaviour is widely considered to be a ‘Darwinian paradox,’ which suggests that while nature selects traits that benefit survival and reproduction, many species exhibit behaviours
that seem to have no evolutionary advantage.
These behaviours are not exclusive to mammals but are also found in invertebrates like insects and other vertebrates like fish, birds, and reptiles. The reasons behind homosexual behaviours are still being debated by scientists, but a Nature study from 2023 analyses a few hypotheses.
Exploring possible explanations for same-sex mammal behaviour
The study, published in the scientific journal Nature Communications by José Gómez and colleagues at the University of Granada, Spain, explored several hypotheses, including the
need for social bonding — where same-sex relationships play a role in strengthening social ties within groups, enhancing cooperation between groups, and overall reproductive success.
Another study by Kimberly Jennings at Stanford University also discussed hormonal influences, where hormonal level fluctuations in the brain propel sexual behaviour in mammals as a biological urge irrespective of the partner’s sex. They also explored same-sex behavior in mammals as practice for other heterosexual encounters, to maximize the chances of reproductive success and breeding.
Finally, they explored same-sex behaviours as an adaptive by-product in evolutionary mechanisms, where it might be a result of genes otherwise beneficial for the survival or reproduction of the species.
The researchers adopted various techniques to investigate the likelihood of these hypotheses, such as extensive literature reviews of historical and current occurrences of same-sex relationships in different species, field observation experiments of such relationships in their native habitats, and individual hormonal level testing to detect a correlation in breeding natures.
Same-sex sexual interactions: Current findings
The results from these experiments depict a historic tapestry of relationships in nature. The researchers observed same-sex sexual interactions in over 1,500 mammalian species, suggesting that it is a common phenomenon in nature.
In many of these species — including species
with very high genetic similarity to humans like bottlenose dolphins and bonobos — same-sex interactions appeared to strengthen social bonds and reduce group conflict, supporting the social bonding hypothesis. Moreover, fluctuations in testosterone and estrogen levels were correlated with increased same-sex behaviour in some species of certain genders such as rams and female macaques.
While not entirely substantiated, there are some minor indicators toward the theory that homosexual relations could be a ‘practice’ to ensure reproductive success. The study found that same-sex sexual behaviour was more prevalent in species where males compete for mates, suggesting that same-sex sexual behaviour may very well be practiced for mating skills or it could be used to establish dominance over other males. Certain genetic markers were also associated with a higher likelihood of same-sex behaviour, suggesting a potential evolutionary basis for this characteristic.
What do lizards, dolphins, and macaque monkeys have in common?
Beyond this study, there are many instances of non-heterosexual relations between animals in various species of the animal kingdom, including whiptail lizards, bottlenose dolphins, Laysan albatrosses, and Japanese macaques to name a few. The researchers’ findings challenge simplistic notions of sexual behaviour in animals and highlight the complexity of nature’s approaches to reproduction and social interaction.
This research directly contributes to a more nuanced understanding of evolution in and around animal behaviour. Thus, it challenges us to reconsider our assumptions about the purpose and expression of sexuality in the natural world. Same-sex relationships within the animal kingdom are a reminder that love is a complex and beautiful thing, and hardly binary by any standard.
So let’s embrace the diversity of love in all its forms and celebrate the fact that love knows no boundaries — not even in the animal kingdom.
Rafiq Omair is a member of the DREAM lab at U of T, focused on de-icing materials.
HANNAH CHUA/THE VARSITY
KATE CARACCI/THE VARSITY
How close are we to deleting traumatic memories? The neuroscience behind memory erasure
Santhija Jegatheeswaran Varsity Contributor
Content warning: This article discusses anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other trauma-related mental health conditions.
Imagine a world where we could erase the painful memories that keep us up at night. Whether it’s a traumatic event, an inconvenient phobia, or your MAT137 final exam, erasing it sounds like something out of the sci-fi movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind , right? Well, the science behind memory erasure isn’t as far-fetched as you might think. Researchers have been looking at the brain’s memory systems, and one of the most promising approaches involves disrupting the reconsolidation process — the phase in which the brain reactivates and alters existing memories. But how close are we to actually deleting memories and what could this mean for treating mental health conditions like PTSD?
The science of memory reconsolidation
Like play-doh, our memories are flexible and moldable. When you recall a memory, it temporarily becomes unstable as your brain brings it into your consciousness. This is when the reconsolidation process kicks in.
During the process, memories can be modified, strengthened, or even disrupted. While scientists have had trouble figuring out the exact conditions that determine when memory gets rewritten in the brain, this could potentially help treat anxiety disorders, PTSD, or other trauma-related mental health conditions.
While it hasn’t been directly tested on humans, scientists may soon be able to alter memory’s emotional or psychological impact, meaning a person may no longer feel anxiety, fear, or stress when recalling a specific memory.
Optogenetics is a biological technique that allows scientists to control the activity of cells using light. Scientists can alter the genes of neurons to be photosensitive — to activate in response to light. Depending on what the specific neuron’s purpose is, this means scientists can use light to switch that function on and off. What scientists are now attempting to do is to take things a step further — to disrupt the reconsolidation
Like play-doh, our memories are flexible and moldable. When you recall a memory, it temporarily becomes unstable as your brain brings it into your consciousness.
process by using light to switch specific brain cells involved in memory on and off. By activating or deactivating specific neurons through optogenetics, scientists have managed to erase or even recover memories in mouse models. It was demonstrated that a fear-based memory in mice could be erased and then brought back, essentially flipping a switch in the mouse’s memory in regards to their emotional state. Although this technique is still relatively new and mouse brains can’t compare directly to humans, it offers potential for replication in human models.
Some think that some forms of drugs could produce similar results. Another study used propranolol — a drug that blocks stress hormones — to reduce the emotional impact of traumatic memories in humans. While it hasn’t always been effective, it has shown promise when administered before memory reactivation.
Could this help people with PTSD?
Symptoms of PTSD can cause people to repeatedly relive flashbacks and stress responses surrounding traumatic experiences. Current treatments — like exposure therapy — can help, but the fear can return with certain triggers, like objects that are associated with the traumatic experience. By targeting reconsolidation, researchers are trying to suppress or completely remove the traumatic memories that trigger PTSD symptoms. Some studies have shown that disrupting the reconsolidation of fear-based memories could provide a more permanent solution than
traditional therapies.
Memory reconsolidation techniques might help with managing symptoms of PTSD, anxiety disorders, or even phobias. Imagine being able to erase your fear of heights or spiders with just a few sessions of targeted brain therapy.
While it sounds a bit scary, imagine how that could change the lives of folks who can’t leave home because of social anxiety or those who’ve never used the subway because of a fear of loud noises. These treatments could one day become a reality that makes the lives of these individuals easier.
Ethical dilemmas
While there appear to be potential benefits of memory erasure for conditions like PTSD, like any area of science, there are ethical implications. If we could delete traumatic memories, what would happen to the parts of our identity tied to those experiences? Would altering memories make us less authentic versions of ourselves because our personalities and behaviours aren’t being shaped by these memories?
There’s also the question of consent and control. What if this technology is misused? These concerns aren’t just theoretical: researchers argue that we need to address them before memory modification becomes a commonplace tool
Do individuals have the right to erase their traumatic memories for personal well-being or
would that change how society views suffering and healing? Would we start hearing people argue things like “why didn’t you just erase that memory rather than let it control you?” or, “I told you not to erase that memory, look what happened again because you didn’t learn from it.”
The natural process of recovering from trauma, growing stronger, and learning in the aftermath might be overshadowed by the desire to simply erase the pain
The future of memory manipulation
Though we’re still far from offering memory erasure as a regular treatment, the science behind it is progressing. With continued research into optogenetics and drug-based interventions, we could soon create the tools to selectively target and erase specific memories for those who need treatment for PTSD, anxiety disorders, phobias, and more.
Alongside these advancements, we must have ongoing ethical discussions. How do we balance the benefits of erasing traumatic memories with the risks of misuse? Should there be limits on what kinds of memories can be erased, how much can be erased, and who can administer the treatment?
The neuroscience of memory erasure has the potential to change the way we think about mental health, trauma, and growth from our experiences. So, while we might not be living in the world of Eternal Sunshine just yet, we soon could be.
Sports
October 1, 2024 thevarsity.ca/section/sports sports@thevarsity.ca
Run it back: The Leafs are ready to win
A preview of the Toronto Maple Leafs 2024–25 season
Taimoore Yousaf Varsity Contributor
It’s that time of the year again.
Hockey season is right around the corner, bringing with it the eternal hope that the new season for the Toronto Maple Leafs inspires. After an offseason filled with multiple changes, fans are eager for another strong season and a deep playoff run that culminates in a Stanley Cup. It has been 57 years since the Leafs last lifted the elusive trophy — a stat that every fan knows all too well. However, with a new head coach and a bolstered defense, the team hopes that 2025 will be the year when the parade can finally be planned.
For all the criticism that the Leafs face regarding their playoff woes, it is still difficult to make it to the postseason. Since superstar Auston Matthews was drafted in 2016, the Leafs haven’t missed the playoffs once. They have made the dance for eight straight years — a league-best active streak. Furthermore, they have enjoyed three consecutive 100-point seasons, regularly finishing among the top teams in the NHL.
The question, of course, is whether the Leafs can make a run in the playoffs, where the games really begin to matter. The team is at a point where the regular season arguably doesn’t matter anymore; it’s all about what happens in April and beyond.
Off-season moves
The Leafs didn’t grab too many headlines with their offseason moves beyond the hiring of Stanley Cup winning coach Craig Berube and the constant trade rumours surrounding star winger Mitch Marner. However, in his first full offseason as Leafs General Manager, Brad Treliving managed to make some savvy acquisitions to improve the team under his vision of surrounding his star players with “snot.”
The most notable free-agent signing was defenseman Christopher Tanev, who projects to be a physical, hard-nosed right-hander who will pair excellently with longtime Leaf Morgan Rielly. A six-year contract is lengthy for the 34-year-old veteran, but it allowed Tanev to sign for a lower
cap hit of $4.5 million, which is essential for a Leafs team paying over $10 million per year to each of its “Big Four” of Matthews, Marner, William Nylander, and John Tavares.
Other defensive signings included Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who experienced a run of good form en route to a Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers this past year, and Jani Hakanpää, whom the Leafs hope is a penalty-killing powerhouse despite injury concerns. Between the pipes, the Leafs made an excellent signing in goaltender Anthony Stolarz, who also won the Stanley Cup with the Panthers and looks to form a solid tandem with recently extended goalie Joseph Woll. The hope is that Woll takes the next step after showing promise in his past two seasons to compete with division rivals like Sergei Bobrovsky, Andrei Vasilevskiy, and Jeremy Swayman, with Stolarz as an exceptional insurance policy.
Another big storyline for the team was the change in captains from Tavares to Matthews, in a clear sign that we are firmly in the Matthews era. With only a year left in Tavares’ contract, it’s unclear just where the former captain stands in the team’s plans.
Young guns
Given the Leafs were second in goals per game last season, the forward group didn’t undergo as much of an overhaul. Instead, they’re focusing on development from within. After a strong rookie season and playoff performance, Matthew Knies is expected to form a formidable first line with Matthews and Marner. Bobby McMann became a lineup regular last season and will look to build on his role, while Nick Robertson, after a failed trade request, hopes to see consistent playtime among the Leafs’ top players.
Other prospects are also vying for roster spots and could provide valuable depth for the Leafs’ forward group. 2023 first-round pick Easton Cowan is a player to watch after he excelled in the Ontario Hockey League last year, as is Fraser Minten. The Leafs have signed forwards Max Pacioretty and Steven Lorentz to professional tryout contracts; their preseason performance will determine if they secure full-time NHL contracts.
Every training camp has an under-the-radar
standout, and eyes are on Nikita Grebenkin, a fifth-round prospect who impressed in his first preseason game against the Ottawa Senators. Secondary scoring is hard to come by in the NHL, and if a few of these forwards can step up and improve their game, then it will bode extremely well for the Leafs.
Overall, the Leafs made sound improvements to their roster and are primed for another great regular season. However, no discussion of this team is complete without mentioning the core four. The group underwent heavy scrutiny over the summer, with endless calls from fans and media for them to be split up via trade. However, Leafs
is hard to find in the NHL, and Treliving seems to recognize this. He has supplemented his stars with an array of complementary forwards and defensemen who play with a physical edge and will do anything to win.
Both Marner and Tavares have a year left on their contracts, making this year pivotal for the Leafs. A run that ends in anything significantly less than a championship would raise several difficult questions. Playing in a tough Atlantic Division doesn’t make things easier. However, this team has a new energy. Matthews is the new captain; Berube brings competitive, team-first leadership to the organization; and the defense is the best it has been in years — perhaps ever in the Matthews era. The road to glory will be tough, but the Leafs are ready to win the Stanley Cup in 2025. After a litany of playoff woes, the time for this team to break through and silence the noise is now. Let’s see if they seize the opportunity.
Blues men’s baseball take on the York Lions in a doubleheader game
Varsity Blues face York Lions for the first time in their 2024–25 season.
Alexis Siklis Varsity Contributor
On September 22, the Varsity Blues men’s baseball faced the York Lions in this season’s first doubleheader game at the Blues’ Dan Lang Field. In the first game of the doubleheader, the Blues unfortunately lost 7–4 to the Lions. However, they bounced back in the second game, securing a 7–6 victory.
First game
During the first game, the Blues had a rough start when the York Lions’ catcher Colin Shier singled, scoring one run in the first inning. Shortly after, the Blues gained support from their teammates in the dugout, leading infielder Carter Hercun to single in the second inning — equalizing the score at 1–1.
Toward the end of the third inning, the Blues came in strong when infielder Ryan Hsu singled, putting them ahead 2–1. This gave the Blues an upper hand for the remainder of the inning.
Neither the Blues nor the Lions were able to score during the next three innings, keeping the Blues ahead 2–1.
Suddenly, in the seventh inning, the game
took a drastic turn when the Lions scored five runs on four hits, taking a 7–2 lead. Unfortunately, the Blues were unable to regain their momentum to tie the game in the
Second game As the second game began, the Blues entered with renewed motivation to secure a victory.
Like the first game, the Blues faced a rough start. However, they quickly rallied, taking a
inning with contributions from infielder Aaron Kreithen, who doubled; outfielder Ricardo Reyes, who singled; utility Owen Taylor, who grounded out; and pitcher Kevin Angers, who also singled — altogether scoring four runs for the Blues.
The Lions unexpectedly took a 6–5 lead in the sixth inning. With outfielder Daniel Carlino and pitcher Aidan Darien each hitting singles, and outfield Ryan Freeman drawing a walk, the inning resulted in three runs for the Lions.
Shortly after, the Blues regained their lead in the bottom of the sixth inning when Hsu singled and Kreithen walked, each scoring a run to end the second game at 7–6 in favour of the Blues.
Pitcher Matthew Baici was a tremendous asset for the Blues during the second game, allowing zero hits or runs over one-third of an inning while striking out one and walking two. Altogether, the Blues collected 14 hits, stole eight bases, and turned one double play.
What’s next?
The Blues are back in action at their home field on Saturday, September 28, as they go against TMU Bold in hopes of securing a win in their first face-off against them this season.
BRENNAN KARUNARATNE & AKSAAMAI ORMOBEKOVA/THE VARSITY
Varsity Blue pitcher Josh Neposlan loads up for a pitch. COURTESY OF NATHAN ORIBHABOR CC VARSITY BLUES MEDIA
Jake Takeuchi Sports Editor
Varsity Blues defeat Trent as team sends off graduates
Electrifying two-try games from Yang and Adewa grabs win
On September 28, the Varsity Blues women’s rugby team secured a well-deserved win, defeating the Trent Excalibur 33–22 with an impressive firsthalf performance at the Varsity Stadium. Before the game, both teams had a 1–3 record but the Excalibur was ahead by a bonus league point awarded for games decided by a difference of seven points or fewer.
Before the match, the Blues celebrated their graduating players — Tristan McElrea, Emma Yang, Sadie Kabrhel, Anne Lee, Lillian Clayton, Kristen Borja, Katie McLeod, Kenzie Wass, and Hafsa Ezzo — as they took to the pitch for their last-ever home game as Blues.
What happened?
The Blues had an explosive start to the game, with flanker Yang scoring a try within the second minute.
Kahbrel followed up with a successful conversion, almost immediately putting the team ahead 7–0. In the opening 10 minutes, the Blues’ forwards applied intense pressure on the Excalibur line, keeping the ball firmly in Trent’s half. The team’s defense could only be described as Hydra-like: when one player got beat, two more rushed in to cover — leaving the Excalibur with almost no time on the ball.
At the 13-minute mark, fly-half Sydney Heighington’s tenacious running down the wings paid off with the Blues’ second try of the game. Just three minutes later, prop Mary Adewa continued the offensive onslaught, as she burst through the Excalibur backline to score another try. Scrum half Kabhrel’s conversion brought the score to 19–0, with the Blues seemingly on the verge of a blowout. The first half closed with the Blues in complete control — often forcing the Excalibur to clear the ball with drop-kicks to relieve
the waves of the rushing Blues forwards.
However, the second half saw a revitalized Excalibur mount what seemed to be their burgeoning comeback. A scrappy start to the half led to the Blues conceding a try on Excalibur’s first threatening play of the day, six minutes in.
On the subsequent restart, Adewa flew through the air to reclaim a Blues kickoff, proving to be an absolute force for the home side. She claimed her second try of the night on the next play with a gorgeous fake pass to split the Excalibur backline. Kahbrel’s successful conversion extended the Blues’ lead to a comfortable 26–5.
Unfortunately, after Adewa’s try, all momentum shifted to the Excalibur as they stacked three tries
and a conversion, bringing the score to 26–22 and putting them within one try of the lead. As the crowd held their breath for a nerve-wracking ending to the game, Yang stepped up once again — cutting through Excalibur’s defense with blistering speed to score on the final play. Kabrhel successfully converted four of six attempts from the kicking tee after her last conversion of the night.
What’s next?
With their latest victory, the Blues improved to 2–3, leapfrogging the Excalibur to sit sixth in the league, although both the Waterloo Warriors and the York Lions have a game in hand. The Blues will play their final game of the regular season on October 5, away at York.
Small shorts and fiery courts
This article contains spoilers.
It’s been nearly six months since Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers hit theatres, yet the sports dramedy of the year continues to spark discussions — especially as the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) brought film fever to Toronto last month. Guadagnino’s next feature film Queer — a historical romantic drama centred on the relationship between an American expatriate (Daniel Craig) and a younger man (Drew Starkey) in 1950s' Mexico City — had its North American premiere at TIFF 2024. In anticipation of Queer’s festival release, revisiting the summer heat and homoeroticism of Challengers can present an opportunity to rally once again and think critically about the portrayal of love and competition in the world of professional tennis and situationships
— and, of course, to see Josh O’Connor’s smile again.
Challengers follows the journeys of three American tennis players — Art Donaldson (Mike Faist), Tashi Duncan (Zendaya), and Patrick Zweig (O’Connor) — as they navigate their youth, college, and professional careers as both competitors and lovers. Donaldson and Zweig, once teammates and friends, have a falling out over their competing romantic interests in Duncan, who suffers a careerending injury in college and resolves to marry and coach Donaldson.
After each struggle as elite-level competitors, Donaldson and Zweig meet in the finals of a Challenger tournament: the second tier of professional tennis. Here, their historically intertwined relationships with each other, Duncan, and the sport they love converge in an intensely sweaty grudge match. The friends-turnedcompetitors each win one of the first two sets, both struggling to maintain their advantage amid faults and code violations for letting their emotions run high. The final set features lengthy rallies, intentional double faults, more code violations, and
a shockingly memorable ending to the game that you’ll have to see for yourself.
Told in alternating time periods — from the present-day Donaldson vs. Zweig match to key past moments in the character’s lives — the film’s structure mirrors that of a tennis game: every point, every serve, and every move is interconnected, weaving together chapters for an ending that never seems to arrive. The final 30 minutes of the final set arguably ventures too far into overdramatization, with a comically timed windstorm and slightly drawn-out match point and tiebreak.
Zoomed-in camera shots of sweating and physical touch, obscene in-game moments, and an electric score highlight the competitive and erotic nature of both tennis and romantic partnerships in the lives of the three main characters. This intensity is to be expected from Guadagnino, who has shown his fascination with all-consuming intimacy in works such as Call Me By Your Name (2017) and Bones and All (2022).
Although Challengers is a fun watch that explores urgent issues surrounding socioeconomic insecurity and queerness in sports through the characters’ relationships with tennis, it is by no means a perfect film or a complete portrayal of tennis as a sport and culture. The challenger match features code violation after code violation, a sequence of events that, while not impossible, seems conveniently allowed for plot purposes.
It is always interesting to ponder the commercial longevity of box-office hits like this, considering its young, rising cast and themes surrounding queerness in elite sports. Perhaps future audiences will see through the sweaty sexiness and recognize apparent inaccuracies in tennis and plot inconsistencies. Or, perhaps they too will be blinded by Zendaya’s beauty and O’Connor’s and Faist’s undeniable chemistry. I suppose we’ll just have to wait and see.
A review of Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers
Anna Baker Varsity Contributor
Emma Yang turns on the jets as she flies by Trent defenders. JAKE TAKEUCHI/THE VARSITY
1. Bottle your emotions
. Battle where Davy Crockett was killed
“Reading
31. Crime lab evidence
33. Bonnie and Clyde, e.g. 35. Swear words? 36. Surpass
. Is it French?
39. City nicknamed the Jewel
. Office note 43. Greek letter resembling a trident 44. ____-Rutherford diagram 47. Words of clarification
49. Mountain where Noah’s Ark landed
50. Tea used as a folk remedy in Northern Europe
51. Beach resorts, in British slang
52. It’s used to repair weapons in Minecraft
53. South Asian silk garment: Variant
55. Indian yogurt dish 56. Abalone shell
57. Used by an orchestra
60. Roadside bombs, for short 63. Greek letter resembling a capital “T” 64. Units of measurement: Abbreviation
. Salon employee, say
. They make the calls
. A drop of golden
. Places to blow off steam
. Opposite of ‘ON’ a switch
. What a polygraph tries
Ashley Wong Varsity Contributor
Kaiyo Freyder Varsity Contributor