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Vol. CXLV, No. 6 MASTHEAD
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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 commemorates 2024 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Hart House holds annual Orange Shirt Day commemoration in The Great Hall
Content warning: This article discusses the genocide of Indigenous peoples, and mentions violence and sexual assault in the residential school system.
On September 30, flags were lowered to half-mast across all three U of T campuses in recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day.
This year marked the 11th Orange Shirt Day, which was started by author and residential school survivor Phyllis Webstad of the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation. The day raises awareness of the intergenerational impacts of the residential school system and Canada’s need to seek reconciliation.
It also marked Canada’s fourth nationally recognized Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which was established as a statutory holiday by the federal government in 2021.
Hart House held its annual commemoration in the Great Hall and live-streamed for virtual viewers.
It featured keynote speaker Shirley Cheechoo — an actor, producer, artist, and chancellor of Brock University. Self-described as a “residential school warrior,” Cheechoo has infused her experiences in residential school and the challenges facing Indigenous communities into her art.
The residential school system
Starting in 1831, the Canadian government operated the residential school system in partnership with Catholic churches, aiming to convert Indigenous children to Christianity and assimilate them into Canadian society. For over 160 years, more than 140 residential schools operated in Canada, and the last residential school closed in 1996.
The residential schools aimed to erase Indigenous children’s identity by preventing them from speaking their languages or practicing their cultures. The children in the residential schools were subject to a lack of food, sexual and physical assault, forced labour, and inadequate sanitation.
In 2015, the National Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) found that the residential school system was a form of cultural genocide. It called for 94 actionable policy recommendations; however, as of writing, only 13 have been completed, while 18 have not yet been started. None of the calls to action related to Indigenous health, child welfare, or education have been fulfilled.
The TRC estimates 6,000 children to have died at residential schools. The former head of TRC estimated that more than 10,000 children had gone missing from residential schools. However, due to the churches’ and federal government’s poor record keeping, it’s difficult to put a number on how many children died in the residential school system.
Commemoration rundown
Around 300 tri-campus community members clad in orange shirts poured into The Great Hall, with more than 350 joining online to watch the commemoration.
Jay-Daniel Baghbanan — a student at the Faculty of Music and the faculty’s undergraduate
association’s vice-president of student life — began with a land acknowledgment.
He recognized that the university has been operating on the traditional land of the Huron Wendat, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the Credit for hundreds of years.
Baghbanan also highlighted the violence that continues to affect Indigenous communities at the hands of Canadian law enforcement.
“It is an injustice to stay silent on the ongoing genocide of Indigenous cultures and peoples,” Baghbanan explained. “Since August 29 alone, nine First Nations people have died in contact with the RCMP or municipal forces in Canada.”
“[As] a highly ranked university, others look to us to set an example,” he said. “The work done by the Indigenous leaders here, [the] students who protest, and the faculty are immense, but we must all continue to hold our institution accountable.”
After Baghbanan’s remarks, U of T President Meric Gertler spoke. This year marks the first time Gertler attended U of T’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
“The University of Toronto community remains committed to advancing reconciliation across our three campuses and we are equally committed to working collaboratively with Indigenous members of the U of T community and the host First Nations,” he said.
Gertler shared that he met with the Chair of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, Ogimaakwe Claire Sault, and plans to work closely with the community to tackle housing and sanitation issues and to encourage Indigenous youth to attend U of T.
Gertler also noted the university’s initiative to cover tuition for students from nine First Nations communities, including those whose territories are adjacent to the land on which U of T is situated.
Acting Vice-President William Gough highlighted the importance of exposing the truth of U of T’s colonial history in his remarks.
“I come from a family with an almost 500-year settler history, with the arrival of my forebearers in 1639. So, I was thinking earlier today, this is personal,” he said. “But, this should be personal for every settler, regardless of how long or what pathway you came to this country.”
Many records related to U of T’s connection with residential schools are nonexistent. However, Wycliffe College, in particular, has a documented history of holding meetings aimed at recruiting students to work in residential schools.
Keynote speaker
As Brock University’s first Indigenous and first woman chancellor, Cheechoo began her remarks by expressing her gratitude to the school. A patron of Indigenous art, Cheechoo founded the Weengushk Film Institute — a centre for Indigenous youth to creatively share their stories with the
world. She noted, “As an Aboriginal woman, I cannot stand aside and watch young people’s lives continue to fall through the cracks.”
Cheechoo remembers a time when children’s voices were always heard in her community. She explained, “The children ran the fields without the fear of being lost or taken by a stranger. Education in our community was the land, the elders, and parents; the whole community was our teachers.”
Cheechoo recounted her experience on the train to a residential school. “We watched as rivers of tears flowed down mothers’ faces,” she said. “I tried not to cry as the other children bang[ed] on the windows, trying to get out. My mother told me not to cry and to be brave and strong. For the first time, I felt empty, abandoned, and [as if] everything [was] clos[ing] in.”
Cheechoo said that, as a child, the abuse she endured in residential schools made her feel like a rabbit caught in a snare. “The more you resist, the tighter the wire tugs your throat,” she explained. “Now, all of a sudden, I have a voice.”
“I must embrace the weight that I carry of the past and stop being a victim of it,” she said. “I am not saying to forget but to let go and move forward.”
Next steps
All speakers at the commemoration agreed that there is more work to be done by all members of the university community.
Benji Jacobs — founder of Studio X, which centres on Indigenous art at UTM — shared that, “[U of T is] very behind in our progress in centring Indigenous voices… as students, we [feel] our institution hasn’t been hearing or listening to us” in an interview with The Varsity.
“I think we need to put a lot more effort and make ourselves accountable,” he said. “Truth and reconciliation is knowing and learning about the tragic legacy that precedes Canada and understanding the ongoing harm that affects Indigenous peoples.”
In an interview with The Varsity at the commemoration, Gertler noted that “our first responsibility is right here at home on our three campuses, making sure that [there] are welcoming spaces for Indigenous students, faculty and staff, and also working in partnership with the First Nations on whose lands we sit, as well as those nearby First Nations.”
If you or someone you know has been affected by the residential school system, you can call:
• Indian Residential School Crisis Line at 1-866925-4419 (available 24 hours a day),
• Hope for Wellness Helpline at 1-855-2423310,
• KUU-US Crisis Line at 250-723-4050,
• Talk4Healing Help Line at 1-855-554-4325.
Madison Truong Caroline Ho
Charlie Bendell Varsity Contributor
U of T community members sit for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation commemoration. COURTESY OF POLINA
“This is what community looks like”: UTM holds annual All-Nations Powwow
UTM welcomes Indigenous groups to campus for its second year
Razia Saleh UTM Bureau Chief
UTM held its second All-Nations Powwow on September 28, just two days before the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Following last year’s considerable turnout, the UTM Indigenous Centre moved this year’s Powwow to the North Field.
A Powwow is an Indigenous social celebration where community members gather to enjoy traditional singing, dancing, and cultural exchange. At the All-Nations Powwow, all community members were welcomed and encouraged to attend to learn about what a Powwow offers. Attendees also had the opportunity to support local Indigenous businesses at the featured market.
The event was hosted by Steve Teekens, who served as the Master of Ceremonies and welcomed guests from several Indigenous communities, including Ojibwe, Cree, and the Oneida Nation of the Thames.
This year’s event focused on environmental sustainability and organizers made a concerted effort to minimize the gathering’s environmental impact.
MJ Singleton — a fourth-year student at UTM studying psychology and criminology law and society — was head Powwow staff volunteer from Migisi Sahgaigan (Eagle Lake) First Nation.
In an email to The Varsity, Singleton wrote, “One of the ways we were mindful of environmental sustainability was through providing guests with a portable water refill station. Water or nibi (in [A] nishinaabemowin) is important because we often say “water is life” in acknowledging our relationship with it.”
Singleton added that by having portable water refill stations, participants contribute to the efforts
to “reduce the use of plastic waste in our environment and Mother Earth without single-use water bottles.”
While the Powwow focused on environmental sustainability, it also served as a space for deeper reflection on community values. Kim Wheatley, an Anishinaabe Head Elder and Water Keeper, also spoke at the Powwow, delivering a heartfelt message urging attendees to connect with the present and future by honouring their ancestors — whom she referred to as grandmothers and grandfathers.
“[The ancestors] are connected to the past, the present, and the future,” Wheatley said. “They teach us about respectful relationships and how to heal our bodies,” she added, inviting everyone to offer gratitude for creation.
Wheatley emphasized the importance of the natural world from the grasses and trees to the animals, reminding the audience to live in harmony with the Earth and not take more than they need. She expressed her gratitude in Anishinaabemowin and said, “Chi Miigwech.”
After the grand entry, Vice-President of UTM Alexandra Gillespie, warmly welcomed the Indigenous community and attendees. She expressed her gratitude for the event’s inauguration and highlighted UTM’s dedication to fostering a community that respects and upholds treaty rights.
Gillespie reflected on the day’s significance, particularly following Truth and Reconciliation Day, emphasizing the university’s role in supporting Indigenous leaders’ calls to action. “We expect even more to join us under the sky today, which is offering us a little beautiful, cleansing rain,” she said.
During the Powwow, a dance was led by head organizer Deanne Hupfield, who organized dances like a hoop dance, — performed by Emilee
Breakdown: U of T’s sustainability initiatives
U of T’s tri-campus efforts towards a sustainable future
Damola Omole
Varsity Contributor
Across U of T, all three campuses have been making strides in their efforts to make a greener campus through various plans and sustainability initiatives. For this year’s climate issue, The Varsity looked at the various initiatives around each campus that make U of T the most sustainable school in the world.
U of T initiatives
In 2024, the QS Rankings awarded U of T the number one spot for sustainability over more than 1,400 institutions across 95 countries. Specifically, the QS Rankings lauded U of T for its commitment to positive social and environmental impact.
Nearly 30 per cent of all undergraduate courses at U of T in 2023–24 are sustainabilityoriented: up from 25 per cent the previous year.
Currently, undergraduate students in all programs can participate in the Sustainability Pathways program, which allows them to explore sustainability from various educational lenses and perspectives. Undergraduate and graduate students can also contribute to real-world sustainability initiatives on campus through the Campus as a Living Lab.
Making the tri-campuses green again
In 2021, UTSG committed to becoming climate positive by 2050. This means not only eliminating all harmful emissions but also removing a percentage of personal greenhouse gas output from the atmosphere. “We will achieve our 2050 climate positive goal through at least
Pitawanakwat — Grass Dance, men’s Traditional Dance, and the women’s Jingle Dress Dance. According to Anishinaabe tradition, the women’s Jingle Dress Dance originated from the Whitefish Bay community and is known as a healing dance.
This year’s special guest was the Māori peoples of Aotearoa or New Zealand, who travelled to participate in the event. In their opening ceremony, they performed a ceremonial Haka, expressing Manaakitanga or generosity: a traditional welcome that embodies the spirit of hospitality and respect.
Nuki Takao, a Māori writer invited to the Powwow, expressed to The Varsity the significance of being part of the event.
“We’re so proud to be here. We were so humbled when we were asked to be part of the open ceremony,” she explained. “We came to honour the traditions of… the Tangata Pino, the people of the land [...]. These experiences [will] stay in our minds and our hearts for generations.”
Takao also noted the importance of learning from other Indigenous peoples. “We’re learning so much about how First Nations celebrate, and… seeing all these generations — children, young people, adults, elders — all dancing
Despite being U of T’s youngest campus, UTM is firmly set in sustainable practices. For instance, with the help of the UTM Sustainability Office, UTM students can now rent bicycles for up to one week free of charge from April to the end of October.
together, it’s magic. I don’t know when I’ve ever seen that.”
For the first time, the All-Nations Powwow featured a special contest for the men’s Traditional Dance. The competition was a nod to Indigenous cultures’ resilience, where storytelling through dance connects generations. The dances signified stories told within their communities, the trials they faced, and how they overcame them.
Singleton also noted how powerful it was to see non-Indigenous students, especially international students, engaging with the culture for the first time.
“I’ve had friends who have never come to a Powwow before, and I’ve spoken with them and [seen] them really engage with the culture. And, especially since a lot of them are international students, it’s really cool to see that they’re learning about us and our First Peoples here on Turtle Island.”
Director of Indigenous Initiatives at the Office of Indigenous Initiatives at UTM Tee Duke expressed gratitude for the opportunity to host the Powwow.
For Duke, “This is what the community looks like here at UTM.”
strengthen collaborations with neighbouring schools to promote sustainability.
80 [per cent] absolute carbon reductions oncampus,” the university claims on its website.
The plan highlights initiatives for 2024 to expand sustainability on campus, including adding more solar panels for buildings such as the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education.
UTM also has a Sustainability Strategic Plan, which aims to “foster the culture of sustainability necessary to become a world leader in sustainable practice.” The five pillars of this plan include academic programs and curriculum; research; campus engagement; civic engagement; and human resources and infrastructure. Some of the main goals are to support campus engagement activities and
UTSC is no different from the other two campuses when it comes to sustainability. It has its own on-campus vermicompost, where food waste is collected, shredded, and then harvested by earthworms. The worms then turn the food into fertilizer, which is redistributed to farms and gardens on campus.
There’s also a Biking for Community — Bike Share Program, a free bicycle rental service that offers students alternatives to getting around campus. Bike Share is open until October 25 and must be returned at 4:30 pm on the same day as the rental.
JISHNA SUNKARA/THEVARSITY
Ceremonial dance outside of the Recreation, Athletics & Wellness Centre. VIRAG TAKACS/THE VARSITY
The Breakdown: Tracking U of T’s climate action plan over 5 years
Updates on developments, strategic changes, and future goals
Asmi Khanna Associate News Editor
In 2019, U of T launched its Low-Carbon Action Plan (LCAP), which was aimed at reducing its tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2eq) emissions per year from 114,265 to 73,684. It was projected that at the five-year mark of the plan in 2024, tCO2eq emissions would be reduced to 85,223 tonnes per year.
In light of the action plan reaching this milestone, The Varsity has broken down the university’s progress in meeting its climate goals.
U of T’s progress
According to the 2023 University of Toronto Assets Management Carbon Footprint Report, the university is on track to achieve its target, having permanently eliminated 33.5 per cent of yearly emissions, standing at 96,760 tCO2eq emissions.
As UTSG has shown steady progress toward the goals outlined in the LCAP, the university extended the plan in 2021 with a newer initiative called Tri-Campus Climate Positive by 2050. The initiative aims to cultivate climate positivity — achieving net-zero carbon emissions — reflecting the university’s commitment to curb greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
With this updated agenda, UTSG aims to reduce GHG emissions 37 per cent below 1990
levels by 2030, along with a minimum of 80 per cent reduction in absolute GHG emissions — the total amount of GHGs emitted into the atmosphere over a specific period. This goal accounts for unexpected growth in emissions and does not rely on third-party offsets — which are purchased to fund projects that lower carbon emissions.
To accelerate its objective, UTSG partnered with Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) to finance Project Leap, or theLow Emissions Accelerator Project, a $138-million investment in climate positive infrastructure, which the university believes to be the largest sustainability effort in the higher education sector.
This initiative began in February with CIB financing $56 million and U of T committing to using the financing to cut 50 per cent, or 45,000 tCO2eq, by 2027. The project aims to eliminate the use of natural gases in highfunctioning buildings by completing UTSG’s deep energy retrofit projects: converting gas boilers to electric boilers and installing energy storage solutions.
UTSG’s commitment to climate positivity not only provides a more ambitious approach for achieving rapid reductions in tCO2eq emissions but also prompted UTSC and UTM to make similar commitments toward shared goals.
UTSC is home to rapidly developing climate
The Breakdown: Understanding U of T’s carbon emissions report
Looking back at U of T’s Climate Positive Plan
Eshnika Singh Varsity Contributor
In July, a group of researchers at U of T published a report quantifying the results of U of T’s climate initiatives between 2017 and 2023.
After UTSG took its commitment to becoming climate positive three years ago, UTM and UTSC joined the initiative in 2023. UTM released their report but UTSC has yet to do so.
The Varsity broke down the Carbon Emissions Report and U of T’s commitment to have net zero emissions by 2050.
Climate Positive Plan
UTM’s Climate Positive Plan outlines three key areas where the campus can improve green initiatives: energy consumption, energy distribution, and energy production.
To address energy consumption, UTM plans to introduce energy conservation measures such as heating, ventilation and air conditioning, lighting, and building doors, windows, walls, and roofs. For energy distribution, UTM plans to convert all steam boilers to electric hot water. To produce net positive energy by 2050, UTM plans to continue investing in renewable energy sources — such as solar and
responsible construction projects, such as the recently announced Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health and the Environmental and Related Technologies Hub (EaRTH) Phase 2 facility, part of the EaRTH District initiative in collaboration with Centennial College.
UTSC has also been going green with ongoing construction projects, such as the Sam Ibrahim building and Harmony Commons: the first energyefficient and eco-friendly student residence that features mechanical systems that capture and reuse heat generated by sunlight, cooking, and even body heat.
UTM has launched Project SHIFT, facilitating the transition from natural gas consumption to deep energy retrofits in the central utility
wind energy. The plan also includes UTM’s first geothermal system.
The Climate Positive Plan for UTSG focuses on transforming infrastructure and energy systems to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80 per cent. There are three main goals — “Growth, Renewal and Resiliency” — through which U of T can accomplish its mission of having net zero emissions by 2050.
The first goal is to double U of T’s research, teaching, and community facilities over the next 30 years while minimizing energy use, carbon emissions, and water consumption. Additionally, they will set a strict carbon budget for any new construction projects and expand district energy — a system that distributes thermal energy into buildings within a larger area or a whole neighbourhood — to meet campus needs.
The second goal is to renew aging infrastructure to ensure future performance, longevity, and compatibility with sustainable technologies. By eliminating steam generation, switching to renewable energy, and upgrading generation and distribution
plant, primarily for heating, hot water, and research processes. U of T Vice-President and Principal of UTM Alexandra Gillespie, told the university that through its geothermal system and expanding solar energy projects, the campus is on track to exceed the targets set by LCAP, and is ramping up efforts toward climate positivity.
In an interview with the university, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault noted that, “The University of Toronto is stepping up with their Climate Positive Campus plan, which is aligned with Canada’s 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan.”
“The Government of Canada will continue to support the University of Toronto in pursuing and achieving their ambitious targets,” he said.
systems, the university aims to reduce the carbon footprint and energy consumption of its buildings. The third goal is to build resilient energy infrastructure and technologies. U of T has designed several initiatives to establish long-lasting infrastructure, which includes replacing fossil fuels with electricity to generate thermal energy, creating a network of interconnected thermal and electric energy redistribution nodes, and implementing low-carbon technologies.
U of T President Meric Gertler described the Climate Positive Plan as “a regenerative approach to sustainability that is befitting of an institution dedicated to making the world a better place.”
The Carbon Emissions Report
The carbon emissions report from July quantified U of T’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from 2017 to 2023. The report used the international standard GHG Protocol, which classifies emissions into Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3. Scope 1 includes direct emissions from buildings owned and controlled by U of T. Scope 2 looks at indirect emissions from electricity, heat, and steam to power buildings. Scope 3 looks at indirect emissions that arise from U of T activities such as student and faculty commute, equity investments, or laboratory work. The Climate Positive Plan focuses on initiatives to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions.
In 2023, U of T emitted a total of 526,098 tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions, with Scope 1 and 2 emissions contributing to 20 per cent of the total emissions. This is the lowest amount of Scope 1 and 2 emissions produced together since 2017. Scope 3 emissions constituted the other 80 per cent of 2023 emissions, which were the highest compared to the yearly amounts from the last seven years. Emissions from fuel and energy went down from 47,490 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2017 to 44,902 in 2023. Emissions from waste management and transportation show a similar downward trend. The report highlighted that targeted intervention in these areas has had a significant impact.
The findings stressed the need for ongoing efforts like the Climate Positive Plan to reduce carbon emissions. Additionally, it concluded that assessments of data were crucial to stay on track for U of T’s net-zero emissions goal.
CHLOE WESTON/THE VARSITY
U of T faculty calls on Prime Minister to end financing the fossil fuel sector
On September 26, 73 Canadian organizations and 106 academics, including seven U of T professors, issued a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, calling on his government to stop all public financing of the fossil fuel sector.
The letter, prepared by Canadian environmental advocacy organization Environmental Defence, discusses recommendations for Canada’s need to divest from fossil fuels.
The letter comes ahead of the 29th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, scheduled to take place in November in Azerbaijan — where global leaders will discuss initiatives to tackle climate change.
Keeping it below 1.5 degrees Celsius
The letter stated that the “projected emissions from the use of existing fossil fuel infrastructure already exceed the remaining global ‘carbon budget’”: the maximum amount of emissions the world can produce to avoid exceeding the dangerous 1.5 degrees Celsius warming threshold.
It also stated that to keep global temperatures within 1.5 degrees Celsius, the Canadian government has to stop financing all new fossil fuel projects and retire existing infrastructure.
“The Government of Canada must not use public money to support activities that grow or maintain fossil fuel dependence,” the letter stated. It further explained that the majority of Canada’s financial support to the oil and gas industry comes from domestic public financing of crown corporations.
Crown corporations in Canada are governmentowned organizations structured like independent companies. Some generate their own profits, while others rely entirely on government funding and, indirectly, taxpayers’ money.
In 2023, the Canadian government provided at least $18.553 billion in financial support to fossil fuel and petrochemical companies, according to a report by Environmental Defence. A bulk of $7.3 billion came from a large crown corporation, meaning it was sourced from public finances.
Faculty’s support of the letter
The Varsity spoke to three U of T professors who signed the letter, each expressing concern about Canada’s continued reliance on fossil fuels as its main energy resource.
Christopher Matzner, a UTSG astrophysics professor, said that “the primary issue is that the Canadian government subsidizes fossil fuels to a tremendous degree.”
“Sometimes it’s not a subsidy,” he said. “Sometimes it’s just outright buying of a pipeline.”
Scott Prudham, a professor in the Department of Geography & Planning, supported Matzner’s view on federal subsidies. He noted that one specific source of fossil fuel funding the government targets is Export Development
Canada (EDC): the country’s export credit agency and a crown corporation wholly owned by the government.
Despite the company raising concerns about the climate crisis on its website, EDC remains one of Canada’s largest investors in the fossil fuel sector. In fact, between 2019 and 2021, EDC was the country’s biggest funder of national and foreign oil and gas companies — funding an average of $11.6 billion a year. In 2022, EDC’s input to oil and gas companies reached $18 billion, according to Environmental Defence.
Prudham also mentioned that the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), while not being a crown corporation, is a member of the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation, which is a crown corporation.
“It’s not as though [RBC] is directly involved in extracting, and processing, and selling the products of fossil fuel extraction, but they’re enabling it by lending all that money to fossil fuel companies,” said Prudham. That’s why he fully supports U of T student groups’ advocacy against the presence of financial institutions like RBC on campus.
Students express concerns over varying food prices across colleges at UTSG
U of T professors discuss government subsidies, RBC, loopholes in climate policies Meal prices show food is more expensive overall
from the balance of your T-card.
In September, students took to Reddit to discuss the vastly different prices across U of T college dining halls. Prices across campus for meals and food items vary, affecting those who eat at the most expensive dining halls on campus.
Dining plan usage and cost
Every student living in a U of T residence is required to buy a mandatory residence meal plan that allows them to purchase food and drinks at the university’s dining halls as well as some food places and convenience stores across campus.
Looking at the colleges, New College, University College (UC), St. Michael’s College (SMC), Victoria College, and Trinity College offer dining plan options. The Chestnut Residence also offers meal plan choices for its residents.
Innis College and Woodsworth College don’t offer their own meal plans and don’t have dining halls. For students at colleges without a dining hall, U of T offers a commuter dining plan, which is also available for commuter students and students living off-campus.
The costs for the meal plans vary based on the way students use them. Trinity College, New College, and UC offer a pay-by-item system, meaning you pick a meal item at your dining hall and the cashier will deduct the amount
At SMC, all residents choose between a five-day meal plan, which provides breakfast, lunch, and dinner from Monday to Friday, or a seven-day plan that offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner to students from Monday to Friday, as well as brunch and dinner on the weekends.
Victoria College provides students with a specific number of meals per semester based on the dining plan they purchase, the lowest amount being 336 meals and the highest being 383.
The Chestnut Residence offers a limit of meal swipes — how many times a student can enter the dining hall for a meal — per week depending on the dining plan selected, meaning that there is a weekly cap on meals.
Individual meal and item costs
New College claims that the average weekly spend for its most affordable meal plan should be $180, meaning approximately $25.71 per day.
Trinity College loads 60 per cent of its meal plans’ dollars onto students’ cards in the fall semester — proportional to each student’s dining plan — and the remaining 40 per cent in the winter semester. The total cost of the Trinity meal plan ranges from $7,056 to $7,775, depending on the plan.
UC suggests that for those on the basic meal plan, students should spend $24.20 daily out of the dining dollars loaded on students’ T-Cards for the fall semester.
Effect on students and price disparity
The difference in prices is quite large across campus; even students whose items cost less have to use a significant part of their dining plan’s daily total to serve their nutritional needs.
Olivia Bello — a first-year social sciences student at UC — is currently on the basic meal plan and has two meals a day. “For now, I do not think I am personally affected by the prices at UC. However, that is definitely subject to change,” wrote Bello in an email to The Varsity.
She wrote further, “To my knowledge, I am not sure if the UC dining hall takes our feedback
Loopholes in the existing climate policies
Apart from federal subsidies, the letter raises concerns about Canada’s current climate policies.
“The existing rules… have giant loopholes that allow for ongoing subsidies for [technological fixes] like carbon capture and hydrogen,” wrote Levin. “Carbon capture and hydrogen are great for greenwashing oil and gas, but they won’t deliver meaningful emissions reductions.”
Laura Tozer, an assistant professor of environmental studies at UTSC, said that Canada’s guidelines on inefficient fossil fuel subsidies allow for loopholes like this.
Introduced in 2023, the policy intends to phase out fossil fuel subsidies deemed inefficient by the government. However, exceptions remain: federal funding can still support projects that claim to reduce greenhouse gases and support clean energy and technology.
“And this means things like funding that is supposed to be going toward renewable energy… ends up going towards fossil gas, [liquified natural gas], fossil-derived hydrogen, and other technology like carbon capture and storage… that are actually prolonging our dependence on fossil fuels,” said Tozer.
She explained that loopholes allow for fossil fuel-related projects to qualify for public financing by labelling their technologies as green. For example, although about 95 per cent of the world’s hydrogen is produced using fossil fuels like coal and natural gas, the industry can still market hydrogen as a clean or green technology since its only byproduct is water.
Levin added that subsidies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from oil and gas companies are exempt from the regulations.
“[Crown corporations] are some of the wealthiest companies in Canada,” she said. “They should be cleaning up their own mess, not asking for taxpayer handouts.”
into account, although they regularly conduct student surveys to gauge our opinions.”
Sarah Lu-Liang — a first-year mathematical and physical sciences student who lived for a brief period of time at Chestnut Residence and is now at Trinity College — wrote in an email to The Varsity that she prefers Chestnut Residence’s meal plan because she was able to eat more without being deterred from the high cost and small portions of food at Trinity College’s dining hall.
Jacinta Ceballos-Fernandez — a first-year social science student also living at Trinity College — wrote in an email to The Varsity that the dining dollars loaded onto her T-Card are less than what Trinity College claims on its website.
“[At] the beginning of the year, a few of us calculated on the budget tool and if we had 3 meals a day, we would be almost $30 over budget,” wrote Ceballos-Fernandez.
Olga Fedossenko Assistant News Editor
Fani Kantzavelos Varsity Contributor
The House of Commons, where organizers call on the Canadian government to stop financing fossil fuels.
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Business & Labour
October 8, 2024
thevarsity.ca/category/business biz@thevarsity.ca
More heat, more hunger
Students speak about the impact of heatflation on their groceries
Victoria Man Associate Business & Labour Editor
According to a 2024 study published in the journal Nature, "heatflation”— the portion of inflation caused by the climate crisis — could cause global food prices to rise by up to three per cent annually by 2035.
Heatflation is impacting agricultural yields and supply chains — the process various individuals and companies work through to bring products to the consumer. Supply chain jams and reduced agricultural yields contribute to rising living costs, particularly regarding grocery prices.
The Varsity interviewed four U of T students who are not on a campus meal plan to discuss heatflation and its impact on their experiences.
Supply chain log jams and reduced agricultural yield
Drought has caused water levels to drop in certain locations, such as the Panama Canal — where five per cent of world trade takes place. This caused the canal’s authorities to limit the number of cargo ships that could pass. Shipping companies are consequently either spending more to skip the queue or taking longer indirect routes, which can cost them approximately $30,000 for every extra day at sea. As climate crisis-induced droughts force companies to increase shipping expenses, they consequently raise their in-store product prices to maintain their profit margin.
The climate crisis has drastically changed agricultural yields as drought conditions reduce the growth rates of raw produce, driving prices upward. Kitchen staples such as rice and olive products are examples of food that has become scarcer due to the crisis. In a 2024 study published by ScienceDirect, it was found that “for every 1°C
and 1 [per cent] increase in average temperature and precipitation, rice yield decreased by 3.85 [per cent] and 0.56 [per cent], respectively.”
Rising grocery prices in Canada
As the climate crisis causes supply chain and agricultural yield issues, grocery prices are inevitably rising. The Bank of Canada reported this March that grocery prices had risen by almost 22 per cent between February 2021 and February 2024.
At the beginning of 2024, Eric La Flèche, the chief executive officer of the grocery store chain Metro Inc., explained that suppliers are requesting price increases. Food items like orange juice will see price hikes as orange crops have become scarcer due to droughts. The pressure from suppliers to raise prices in grocery stores is closely related to the worsening agricultural yield and increasing shipping costs due to supply chain log jams.
How much does it cost when a fire alarm goes off? Understanding the finances behind Toronto’s Fire Services
Medha Barath Associate Business & Labour Editor
The sound of fire sirens has become increasingly common in Toronto. In 2023, Toronto Fire Services (TFS) reported 321,795 emergency incidents, marking a 5.9 per cent increase since 2022.
However, a large number of the incidents that the fire department responds to are false alarms. In 2018, TFS responded to over 4,800 false alarms in multi-unit residential buildings.
Such incidents are common to high-rise apartment buildings in Toronto but can pose significant costs to those affected by them. In fact, fire services can require substantial financial resources, with TFS making up 3.16 per cent of Toronto’s operating budget. The Varsity investigated the costs associated with fire alarms and fire operations across the city and UTSG.
Where does TFS’ revenue go?
This year, TFS has an operating budget of $540.4 million. Over 92.8 per cent of these expenditures were dedicated to the department’s fire responses, with additional costs arising from their inspections and fire safety education programs.
Compared to 2023, TFS observed an increase of $17 million in spending, some of which was attributed to labour costs arising from increased salaries and hiring. In their 2024 Budget Notes, the fire department outlined their expectations of increased demand for their fire services over the next two years due to city growth and hopes to decrease their response time by hiring more
workers. TFS also cites various projects to improve their infrastructure as significant cost drivers.
Interestingly, false fire alarm fees played a role in helping the department afford its spending in 2023. The budget notes state that their revenue from these charges — which occurred at a higher rate than expected — helped partially offset their financial pressures.
The costs associated with fire alarms
Currently, TFS does not charge a fee when responding to an actual fire incident, including when the alarm was activated due to accidental damage to the system. However, they require payment to attend to ‘nuisance’ fire alarms — incidents caused by a faulty fire alarm system.
Fees for faulty fire alarm systems are pretty high — TFS charges $1,679.58 per dispatch for these alarms at buildings that are not single-family homes. These dispatches are made up of three Operations Crews and vehicles.
The fire department also requires payment when dealing with ‘malicious false alarms.’ These incidents occur when the fire alarm is activated through negligent or intentional misuse of the fire alarm system. TFS charges $559.86 per vehicle when dealing with these alarms.
U of T has its own Fire Prevention team that is operated by the university’s Facilities & Services: the group behind the maintenance and day-to-day operations at the institution. They work together with TFS and provide various services like fire inspections and system maintenance. However, each federated college — Victoria, St Michael’s, and Trinity — is responsible for its own fire prevention.
Another grocery chain, Loblaw Companies Ltd., is experiencing a similar situation. At the end of 2023, its Chief Financial Officer, Richard Dufresne, stated that, “... with lower supplier costs, we can lower prices on the shelf for customers. Unfortunately, several large global suppliers are still coming with higher-than-expected cost increases in the next year”.
What U of T students think of heatflation
As the effects of the heatflation drive grocery stores to send prices skyward, university students living off-campus who have to buy their own groceries may feel particularly worried.
In an interview with The Varsity , four U of T students who live off-campus without a meal plan agreed that the rising cost of groceries is pushing them to seek less expensive options. Their experiences span various grocers,
including Metro, Loblaws, T&T, Shoppers, Walmart, and FreshCo.
Second-year psychology and neuroscience major Liliana Castiblanco shared, “I am supported financially by my family… so [affording] to live in Toronto is not a major personal concern. If I had to personally generate the income to afford groceries, rent, and tuition, I would find it impossible to continue my studies effectively.”
The other interviewees share similar sentiments about the costs of living and how they turn to more affordable alternatives:
“I use a Chinese [grocery delivery] app… called Xiaohong Mall,” said fourth-year student Alison Mak. Second-year student Megan Huynh also noted that she shops at Metro for the student discount, while first-year student Jianan (Canaan) Li mentioned that he goes to Walmart for better prices.
Huynh mentioned that she knew the climate crisis had “countless horrible effects,” but it never “crossed [her] mind of how it would affect the economy, or consumers specifically.” Li agreed, saying that he was surprised at how the cost of food prices is related to the climate crisis.
On the other hand, Castiblanco shared that she had already recognized that “the increase in price likely came from the climate [crisis] .” She explained that, “as regions are affected by the climate [crisis], it has become harder to predict the optimal seasons for effective agricultural production of different products,” which can create “an issue of food scarcity that likely affects grocery prices.” She further added, “the repercussions of changing temperatures can have more effects on individual lives than most people realize.”
Huynh echoed Castiblanco’s sentiments and called for government action: “I believe that more action on the federal level needs to be taken to slow the rapidly intensifying effects of [the] climate crisis.”
While TFS charges for services like building inspections, the Fire Prevention team on campus provides this and fire system maintenance free of cost for buildings on campus. In fact, U of T’s Facilities & Services team reports to have provided the university with over $19 million in savings in utility costs since 2011.
The Varsity contacted the university for information on fire-related expenses, but they declined to comment.
Fire risk at U of T
There are many fire risks across the U of T campus. For example, science labs can be fire safety hazards as they contain flammable chemicals and equipment.
On September 18, a fire alarm rang at Lash Miller Chemical Laboratories which caused students to quickly evacuate the building. In an email to The Varsity, Vikines Sathiamoorthy — a third-year student studying material science — wrote that he was “part way through [his lab] when the fire alarm started ringing. [His classmates and
he] quickly exited the lab, funnelling towards the stairs. As the door to the stairs opened there was a thickening of the air with smoke drifting down from above.”
According to Sathiamoorthy, a member of a research group was “noticing smoke coming from underneath a room” and pulled the fire alarm. The fire department was called to the scene and the students remained outside until the situation was deemed safe.
Many of the fire risks universities face are associated with student accommodation. TFS points out cooking, overloaded circuits, and space heaters as potential causes of residence fires.
In an email to The Varsity, Kevin Wang, a second-year student studying political science and international relations, wrote that fire “incidents appear to be quite frequent [in residence]. There was… a day where we had to evacuate three times due to the fire alarm.” He also emphasized how using kitchen appliances often caused these alarms, writing that, “a person microwaving popcorn [could] set off the alarm.”
VICKY HUANG/THE VARSITY
VICKY HUANG/THE VARSITY
Entrepreneurs take centre stage at Black Founders Network’s third annual Demo Day Participants showcase startups, win $50,000 in prizes
Aunkita Roy Enterpreneurship Correspondent
September 27 marked the third annual Demo Day hosted by the Black Founders’ Network (BFN) for members of the 2024 BFN Accelerate cohort. BFN Demo Day offers over 10 startup companies founded by Blackidentifying entrepreneurs at U of T access to educational and growth opportunities over the course of four months — culminating in threeminute pitches presented to a panel of judges and live audience on Demo Day. This year’s prizes totalling $50,000 in funding awarded to five competitors allowed entrepreneurs to raise capital without giving up ownership of their companies.
While the audience voted for one People’s Choice winner, the judges — who hold positions at Rally Assets Realize Fund, BDC Capital, and Magnusmode, a Black-founded technology company — determined the recipients of four additional awards.
Spotlighting the pitch day experience
The Varsity at Demo Day about their startups and future goals. Jonathon Bloomfield is the founder of Edventive, a platform designed to streamline all tasks for teachers — such as data entry, marketing, and organization — by integrating them into a unified platform. As a high school teacher, Bloomfield cited the stress of juggling an unsustainable workload as one of the reasons for founding the company.
After four months of coding and collaboration, Edventive soft-launched in September and is currently operating with a small group of teachers as the team works on monetization. Bloomfield’s biggest piece of advice for aspiring entrepreneurs is to try everything.
“[Entrepreneurship] comes from just shooting your shot, figuring out what you need to learn,” and “finding the community,” said Bloomfield.
Merveille Mukoko, founder
of languagelearning app Yekola, shared a similar sentiment with the inspiration behind his startup. Mukoko was attempting to learn his mother tongue, Lingala, when the frustrating lack of resources on existing language apps highlighted a broader gap in the market. According to Mukoko, languages like Lingala are often unavailable or incorrectly translated on most current Westernbased applications.
Yekola focuses on community-driven, audiofirst learning, and aims to teach and preserve African, Indigenous and other endangered
Clothing and fashion brand Afijjio, founded by Doyin Amao, focuses on uplifting and preserving African voices in the beauty and lifestyle markets. While Amao initially struggled to scale Afijio outside of Nigeria, her move to Canada provided her the opportunity to do so. Afijjio aims to cut out the logistics fees associated with purchasing products shipped from Africa to North America. The products featured on Afijjio, are handmade and manufactured
by African-identifying brand owners on the African continent.
Echoing Bloomfield and Merveille, Amao’s advice for aspiring entrepreneurs was to take action and work toward solving the problems they are facing.
Each founder had three minutes to pitch their venture to the audience and judge panel. Throughout each pitch, the audience also had the opportunity to vote on the quality, delivery, and innovation of each presentation as part of the People’s Choice award voting.
[Entrepreneurship] comes from just shooting your shot, figuring out what you need to learn,” and “finding the community,” said Bloomfield.
Prizes and solutions for money management
Afijjio was one of two startups to receive the Top Venture Award, with $5,000 in funding. The other winner was Flip and Floss, a mobile app designed to educate kids and students on money management, in the hope of helping them “save, invest, and break generational cycles.”
The BFN People’s Choice Award went to pharmaceutical company Kare Chemical Technologies, which focused on the research and development of chemically synthesized cannabinoids: a chemical found in marijuana.
Yekola was the recipient of the BFN Innovation Prize, which consists of a Precision 5690 Mobile Workstation laptop supplied by Dell and NVIDIA.
Celebrating Black excellence in entrepreneurship
As the event celebrated the third anniversary of BFN, founder Efosa Obano and program coordinator Faizah Balogun took the opportunity to share the network’s success since its launch.
BFN’s stage-based structured programs and resources have led to the fundraising of over four million dollars in support of Black entrepreneurs and the creation of over $15 million in financial value by BFN companies. Applications for the next Accelerate cohort will open on February 24 for Black-identifying members of the U of T community. The Network also offers other entrepreneurial programs, such as ECHO — a training program for entrepreneurs involved in cardiovascular health. Starting this month, BNF will be hosting information sessions for entrepreneurs throughout the coming months.
Op-ed: U of T’s protest guideline sends a dangerous and undemocratic message
How the university enacts violence on its own students
Anaum Sajanlal Varsity Contributor
Content warning: This article mentions police violence, anti-Palestinian racism, and genocide.
In the wake of a two-month-long pro-Palestine encampment at King’s College Circle, U of T released its User Guide on U of T Policies on Protests in August. The guide, based on preexisting policies, cites the Ontario Superior Court order of July 2 which granted U of T’s request to remove the encampment and stated that “any resistance (physical or verbal)” to Campus Safety could result in the university calling the Toronto Police Services.
These restrictions, ranging from academic sanctions to police violence, could apply to violations as minor as using noise to disrupt university events or sticking signs, posters, and flyers outside designated areas on campus. Additionally, “harassing” individuals at their offices or at governance meetings and protesting at U of T without authorization constitutes a violation.
However, I believe these policies fail to acknowledge the moral responsibility of the university and its employees. If President Meric Gertler is paid $486,192 a year and U of T does not disclose whether their financial investments have potential ties to the genocide in Palestine, I believe students should be allowed to express their anger at his office.
There is no such thing as authorized protests. Resistance against an institution cannot be permitted by that institution. It is abundantly clear to me that U of T’s policies are designed to target student groups and penalize — in some cases even criminalize — individual activists.
I believe these measures and the new user guide signal a larger pattern in which the university prioritizes its public image over students’ needs and demands.
Performative care and the struggle for fossil fuel divestment
I see U of T’s performative response present across activist movements. The university continues to employ sexual predators like Robert Reisz while releasing policy recommendations that advocate groups such as the Pears Project believe do not implement the necessary changes. It continues to defend deploying the police in response to mental health crises and ignores student demands for policy changes.
The university’s performativity is especially clear with the campaign for fossil fuel divestment. U of T proudly claims itself as “1st in the world for sustainability,” while it took nine years of student and community organizing to get it to commit to divesting from fossil fuels in 2021. None of this work is credited to us.
The first student calls for fossil fuel divestment at U of T came in June 2012 with the formation of climate advocacy groups, Toronto350 and UofT350. The official process to request financial divestments requires members of the university community to prepare a brief, get at least 300 signatures, and submit it to the President, who would then establish an ad hoc committee to review the request. Afterwards, the President would make a decision based on the committee’s recommendations.
Therefore, Toronto350 presented a 190 page brief entitled ‘The Fossil Fuel Industry and The Case For Divestment’ to Gertler in 2014. The ad hoc committee he formed eventually recommended targeted divestment from fossil fuel companies.
Yet, on March 30, 2016, Gertler released a report titled ‘Beyond Divestment: Taking Decisive Action on Climate Change,’ where he rejected the recommendations. The report argued that the alternative measures to “promote sustainability” — such as telling the University of Toronto Asset Management Corporation (UTAM) to create more ethical investment policies — would be “ultimately more impactful” than evidence-backed calls to divest.
It was not until after continued protests and rallies that Gertler announced in a letter in 2021 that U
Getting high will make the environment go up in smoke
We need stronger international coorporation to reduce the impact of drug production
Avin De Associate Opinion Editor
In 2022, 292 million people around the world took drugs ranging from cannabis to cocaine.
While the world focuses on the human toll of the war on drugs, an equally devastating battle rages beneath the surface that deserves more attention — one where entire ecosystems are collateral damage: deforestation, toxic waste, and carbon emissions from illicit drug production.
As such, I think we must question if the shortlived escape that drugs offer make up for the irrevocable damage they cause to our biodiversity, water quality, and air quality. If the price of these momentary highs is the permanent destruction of resources necessary for all life, we need to rethink the true cost of our pleasure.
The cultivation conundrum
I believe that the legalization of cannabis has had its positive consequences. Its regulation and commercialization have allowed for safer consumption and cultivation, as reliable sources provide information on how to grow it. Additionally, marginalized communities in the US, for example, have experienced a reduction in over-policing cannabis related crimes.
However, legalization has led to increased cannabis consumption, which amplifies its environmental impact.
According to a 2015 research paper from the Oxford University Press, California cannabis grows
of T would divest the four billion in fossil fuel investments remaining with UTAM at that time. However, this did not include investments by the three federated Victoria, Trinity, and St. Michael’s Colleges — who agreed to fully divest only in 2023.
And importantly, three months prior, UTAM transferred the management of many of U of T’s investments in fossil fuels to the University Pension Plan: a joint pension plan for several Ontario universities, which made the funds more distant from U of T.
To me, this nine year community struggle makes one thing very clear: U of T’s response to student protest is dismissive, disingenuous, and greedy. Protests are essential because there are no other mechanisms that can effectively hold those in power accountable. Yet, in my view, the existing university structure could never lead to meaningful change because they leave total power to someone who is not accountable to students — the President.
A policy of violence and oppression
Despite the university’s historical mistreatment of student protests, I believe it is not widely viewed as the oppressive institution that it is because it uses the police to do its dirty work, while the university’s tangible influence is relatively subtle.
For example, throughout the pro-Palestine en-
destruction too. One kilogram of pure MDMA results in 10 kilograms of toxic waste, and opium harvesters in Afghanistan continue to divert water toward drug production during an existing water crisis in the region.
Overall, the misuse of water only underscores the urgent need for sustainable practices and international collaboration to mitigate the longterm damage caused by the drug trade.
campment on campus, the university implied that the protest was illegitimate because it was not “peaceful.” This implication of protestors being violent is what I think ‘excused’ Campus Safety officers shoving student protesters around a moving car when attempting to talk to Governing Council members outside Simcoe Hall in June. I see the same rhetoric repeated to justify police violence against students at UTAM’s office on September 6.
As a student who has been involved in organizing protests on campus, the new user guide and the school’s protest policies seem to me like another way for the university to enact violence on its students. This is especially concerning, given that the police historically use more force against racialized people, and the colonization of Palestine specifically affects racialized people.
In my opinion, the public’s characterization of this university must convey it as an oppressive, greedy, and violent institution that consistently endangers its students and values profit first. Until then, it will continue to take undemocratic and dangerous actions — like these protest policies — with near complete impunity.
Anaum Sajanlal is a third-year student at St. Michael’s College studying history and critical equity studies. They are a part of ClimateJusticeUofT and the South Asian Liberatory Collective.
contaminating water sources, degrading soil, and harming both legal agriculture and biodiversity in the region.
Genuine improvement requires exchanging data on deforestation, monitoring carbon emissions from illicit crops, and providing funds for the restoration of harmed ecosystems.
in remote watersheds where each plant needs around 22 litres of water per day. This increases to up to three billion litres per square kilometre of greenhouse grown plants between the June and October growing season. In some cases, the required water volume can exceed the flow of a river, draining streams and disproportionately impacting aquatic ecosystems.
Now, about cocaine. 43 to 58 per cent of deforestation in two regions of Colombia is linked exclusively to the coca plant — the main ingredient in cocaine. Coca harvesters, in the process, destroy animal habitats and increase the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Moreover, the carbon emissions per kilogram are 30 times greater than those for cocoa beans and 2,600 times greater than for sugar cane, making cocaine an extremely environmentally destructive product.
Methamphetamines have begun to affect fish as well. A study published in the Journal of Experimental Biology found that brown trout exposed to disposed drugs in water now have a preference for methamphetamine-drugged water.
Aquatic habitats are disrupted, as fish frequently gather where drugs are discharged. The fish have even begun to ignore their natural instincts, including aversions to reproduction, eating, and avoiding predators. Their offspring may be affected as well, as another study from scientific journal Aquatic Toxicology suggests addiction is genetic among fish too.
MDMA — also known as molly and ecstasy — and opium cause unique environmental
The far-reaching consequences
The processes of drug trafficking have their own environmental effects. As US counter-narcotic operations gained traction, traffickers decimated land to facilitate transportation through Central America. This involved encroaching on Indigenous land, protected areas, and deforesting local agriculture.
When Hurricane Mitch hit Central America in 1998, deforested areas intensified floods and caused the deaths of more than 11,000 people.
While this may seem like a tenuous connection to drug production, we should note that illicit crop cultivation often drives deforestation and weakens natural defenses against extreme weather events.
Ultimately, I believe we need international cooperation to reduce the long-lasting environmental impacts of the drug trade. However, this collaboration must move beyond the punitive and reactive tactics that have characterized the war on drugs to date, such as the USbacked Plan Colombia which used herbicides to destroy coca crops. While this plan intended to reduce drug production, it resulted in widespread environmental damage
International trade agreements should also penalize environmental infractions connected to drug production, and promote sustainable land usage. Economically vulnerable countries which rely heavily on drug production should receive financial and technical aid to transition towards sustainable economies. The environmental harm associated with drug production does not respect borders, meaning remedies must transcend national interests and address the situation at a global scale. A worldwide framework must strike a balance between environmental restoration and enforcement to safeguard both human life and the ecosystems that support it.
Avin De is a third-year student at Rotman Commerce studying finance and economics. He is an associate Opinion editor at The Varsity
A Pierre Poilievre government would mean a climate catastrophe
Why “axing the tax” is a recipe for disaster
It seems as though Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre has made “axe the tax” his party’s new mantra. From T-shirts to posters and even motions in Parliament, the mantra has become widely recognizable as one of Poilievre’s primary political goals.
By threatening to end the price on pollution, more commonly known as the carbon tax, I believe Poilievre would reverse significant progress that our nation has made since we signed the 2016 Paris Agreement: an international treaty committed to limiting global warming. Though his infamous catch-phrase may appear harmless, the Conservative’s plans to “axe the tax” without any alternative system would ensure a future of what I believe to be a climate catastrophe.
The carbon tax explained
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau first announced his promise to implement a “price on carbon” during the 2015 federal election campaigns. The Liberal Party fulfilled this promise by passing the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act in 2018, which creates a tax system to disincentivize fossil fuel use and reduce Canadian carbon emissions. This carbon tax sets a price for each tonne of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions that Canadians produce, and the price increases over time to promote the gradual transition
towards renewable energy.
Poilievre argues that the carbon tax “is an existential threat to our economy and our way of life.” He believes that due to the tax, “inflation would run rampant and people would not be able to leave their homes or drive anywhere,” which would lead to “mass hunger and malnutrition.”
However, what Poilievre fails to mention is that the carbon tax also returns money to Canadians through the Canada Carbon Rebate, which provides tax rebates in eight provinces to offset the cost of the additional tax at the pumps. Despite what Poilievre might want Canadians to think, around 80 per cent of households receive more money from the rebate than they pay in tax.
I believe this rebate program demonstrates that carbon pricing does not have to come at the expense of working- and middle-class Canadians, and that we can both reduce greenhouse gas emissions while avoiding Poilievre’s potentially alarming future.
In 2019, the former President of the United Nations General Assembly María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés said “We are the last generation that can prevent irreparable damage to our planet,” stressing that we have until 2030 to “to avert catastrophe.” It is evident that the decisions governments make — or fail to make — in the next decade to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will define our planet’s climate for generations to come.
A 2024 study by the Canadian Climate Institute indicates that Canada is on track to reduce emissions by as much as 50 per cent by 2030, largely thanks to the price of pollution. This means we will achieve up to 90 per cent of our 2030 emissions target.
This is considerably better than the average of the 195 countries that signed the Paris Agreement, which — if no changes are made — are predicted to collectively increase global greenhouse gas emissions by nine per cent within the same timeframe.
Future forecasts
To my surprise, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh ended the supplyand-confidence agreement with Trudeau’s government on September 4. The supply-and-confidence deal, signed in 2021, pledged the NDP’s support for all budget votes and confidence motions that the Liberals attempted to pass.
Although it does not seem likely that the NDP will vote with the Conservatives on future non-confidence motions anytime soon — which could topple the Liberals and replace them with a Conservative government if passed — we should still caution against the looming threat of an early federal election as Poilievre continues to table more motions of non-confidence.
Furthermore, recent polling from CBC projects that the Conservatives have a 96 per cent chance of winning a majority government in the next federal election, which I believe could exacerbate the environmental crisis. Hundreds of thousands of Canadians across the country are already facing the realities of the climate crisis, with weather-related disasters becoming three times more common in Canada between 2010–2019 compared to the 1980s. Events like these have already cost Canadians over $18 billion in insured losses within that decade. As climate disasters rise, this cost is bound to increase.
I urge Canadians planning to support Poilievre in the next federal election to critically consider the potential long-term environmental impacts. Although the Conservative Party may promise to “axe the tax” to cut costs for Canadians, this short-term gain will lead to long-term consequences for many Canadians — affecting both their pocketbooks and the planet they call home.
Ahmed Hawamdeh is a third-year student at Trinity College studying public policy, political science, and French. He is the Domestic Affairs Columnist for The Varsity's Opinion section.
Bicycles and paper straws won’t save the climate
Constantine Vrachas Matthaios
Lead Copy-editor
I used to ride my bicycle for the climate. My cycling helmet was my badge of honour. I told myself that if I didn’t drive, I would emit less carbon dioxide and slow down the climate crisis. It’s the same logic that I assume many people apply to veganism, consumer choices, or other lifestyle changes.
However, when I did the math to quantify my impact, I realized how misguided I was. I’ve come to realize that personal lifestyle changes, however noble they may be, are a misdirection of effort — and exactly what fossil fuel companies want us to do.
The history of the carbon footprint
I assume everyone has probably heard about carbon footprints. But how did this concept enter our vocabulary?
The concept of measuring the environmental cost of our lifestyles has existed since the 1990s, but rose in popularity after 2004. That is when petroleum and gas company giant British Petroleum Amoco (BP), popularized the term “carbon footprint,” and introduced an online carbon footprint calculator for individual consumers.
The initiative was a resounding success. Newspapers ran hundreds of stories on consumer choice in response to the climate crisis, and “Carbon footprint” became the 2007 Oxford UK Word of the Year. As I’m sure many of you can attest to, it became part and parcel of science education in Ontario to talk about your carbon footprint. By getting the public to think about their consumption choices, BP somehow had finally done something good for the climate. Or so it seemed.
The individualized and consumer-focused carbon calculator shifted the focus from corporate responsibility to individual responsibility. The effect of this is twofold. First, it misdirects people’s
Political action against big corporations is the solution
focus from the real culprit of emissions: fossil fuel companies.
Many harmful industries, such as oil and gas, have used deflecting tactics similar to those of the plastic industry. The plastic industry, for example, promotes individual recycling as a solution to plastic waste rather than addressing the root issue of single-use plastic production — despite 8 million metric tons of plastic still entering our oceans each year.
Secondly, I believe that the concept of a carbon footprint has the potential to hinder any sort of meaningful climate action. The insistence that we must live less conveniently alienates people from real climate action. Try telling a motorhead to give up their car, then try asking them to support environmental reforms. I don’t think that will go well.
In this way, the carbon footprint and calculator is yet another oil industry campaign to resist and delay life-saving climate regulations.
Carbon calculations
It may seem that with a problem as severe as climate change, every little bit counts. But the numbers say otherwise. According to Oxfam, an independent British organization focusing on alleviating poverty, if you divide carbon emissions by income, the richest one per cent of earners emit over 15 per cent of global emissions or nine per cent of the carbon budget: the maximum levels of carbon dioxide the world can produce while limiting global warming.
That’s more than the total emissions of the European Union.
Even if the lowest 90 per cent of earners dropped their emissions to zero tomorrow, the richest 10 per cent would use up the entire carbon budget before 2030.
The same phenomenon can be seen when we divide emissions along the lines of industry versus individual. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when
virtually everyone stopped driving, global emissions only dropped six per cent. Industries kept grinding on, accounting for the remaining majority.
So what do we do?
It’s clear to me that if we approach climate change as consumers, we have no real power.
But when we approach climate change as a collective of citizens, that’s when things can change. Coming together and demanding change is what makes a difference. Climate solutions like renewable energy, electric vehicles, and forest conservation already exist. We just need the political will to implement them on a global scale.
When scientists discovered the hole in our ozone layer, when acid rain threatened our forests, when smog choked the streets of Los Angeles — no one drove less. But if people sounded the alarm and pushed for systemic change, we could win corporate regulations
that reduce human impact on the environment. The climate crisis is no different. I believe that the only way we can make real progress is to come together to demand regulations that safeguard our health and future. Protest, write, debate, demand. And most important of all: vote. To get the world off fossil fuels, we need to elect climate-serious governments, not drive less.
So, by all means, ride a bike instead of a car. Go vegan, shop green, fly less — these can all give a resounding feeling of control over an issue that is out of our individual hands.
But if you want to make a real difference, you know what to do.
Constantine Vrachas Matthaios is a secondyear student at New College studying human geography and Book & Media Studies. He is the VP Communications Assistant at Regenesis UTSG and a Lead Copy-editor for The Varsity.
Current climate projections
Ahmed Hawamdeh Domestic Affairs Columnist
CLIMATE ACTIVISM AND THE CASE FOR THINKING SMALL
How digital activism creates societal stonewalling
Anika Brigant Varsity Contributor
There was a time in my life when I could be defensive and easily angered. I believed with an insufferable intensity that personal acts of protest had to be staged at my dinner table.
During this period, I would abstain from drinking water if I had forgotten a reusable mug and wasting food triggered visions of methane compounds and landfill fires. I used expensive, clumpy mascara and bar shampoo because it came from a ‘zero waste’ store. I only ate vegan food and purged my house of products with palm oil. I ran a waste audit at my high school. I watched Greta Thunberg’s TED Talk — and many other TED Talks. This was a time in my life when I considered myself a climate activist.
If I am being honest, I can say with gratitude that these behaviours were confined to a short period of my life: an adolescent ‘phase’ not unlike my friends spending their minimum wage pay at Hot Topic and watching all the installments of Paranormal Activity. During this period, I saw all of my actions as paramount. I weighed them in a moralistic tally that was not only exhausting for me to track, but made me live with the haunting belief that if each move was not executed with perfection, we could not save the climate.
While I can now look back on this phase and grimace in hesitancy and laugh, I must also admit my disappointment in the supposed activism of my youth. It feels like my energy could have been better spent. The fact that I completely ‘spent’ my energy toward climate action shows a fatal flaw in my 15-year-old tactic — if my actions truly aligned with my morals, I shouldn’t have so easily lost my drive to continue with my activism. Yet here I am, not using a Diva cup on my period.
The spontaneous nature of how my teenage activism started and ended is still a question to me. I truly had a deep concern for the environment, but the further I invested in these habits and products, the more performative I began to feel.
What I can say is that my philosophy became increasingly nihilistic as my years of eco-friendly living seemed ineffectual next to the damaging climate reports I was absorbing through
Thunberg’s urgent rhetoric. To clarify, I am not blaming Thunberg for my disengagement with climate activism. I was young, tired, academically pressured, and focused on friends — something that ‘eco-friendly living’ did not complement without consistent efforts.
With this compounded exhaustion, although my exposure to the climate crisis itself had not diminished, the physicality of my climate-related anxiety and fears had. Eventually and inevitably, my climate activism streak wore itself out.
Activism in the digital age
Digital activism is a method for raising awareness and incentivizing action through online actions such as messaging servers, social media posts, hashtags, and petitions to name a few examples. As with any medium, there are advantages and disadvantages that can raise debate over its potency.
Like wearing a pink ribbon in solidarity with breast cancer patients, or making donations to humanitarian aid organizations participating in digital activism, for many of us, represents our care for a cause. Digital activism spreads information, and stimulates discourse. When things go viral online, the barriers to what is deemed conversationally appropriate tend to break down. The rapid spread of awareness can, in turn, spark mass mobilization and fundraising efforts. But can it be captured and relied upon to effect lasting change?
People frequently ask the question of digital activism’s lasting effect, for there may be an issue at the fundamental level: social media’s goal is not to alter our societal systems but to keep you engaged. Engagement requires a novelty that goes against the primary requirements for lasting change: measurable and steady commitment.
This was a point underpinned in an email conversation I had with Hanna Morris, an assistant professor at U of T’s School of the Environment, about the effects of social media on climate crisis awareness.
“In our current digital environment characterized by hyper-capitalistic social media companies owned by just a few billionaires with no real stake in democracy,” she wrote, “these platforms are
becoming less and less viable as a tool and terrain for climate movement-building.”
I am not discounting the lucrativeness of digital activism for short-term campaign efforts, but I want to warn against its potential ramifications when sustained support is required. As digital activism takes hold, the methods of communication that older movements of activism relied upon, such as door-to-door campaigning, have given way to more targeted resources, like podcasts and social media accounts. This is not necessarily a bad situation. Smaller efforts make a difference, but it is a difference that is difficult to track. When activists’ campaigns want to change systems of power where impacts will be sustained on a global scale, these smaller tactics have to be applied in innumerable and varying directions, which makes it hard to have a unified voice.
There is also the factor of anonymity that digital activism seemingly affords: it is as easy to join online movements as it is to leave them, and in either case, your external identity is rarely scathed. We don’t necessarily have to commit to a cause, but can pass through them like tourists — sacrificing depth — and the functional connections required for effective activism may not form in the same manner online.
Alternately, we may form strong parasocial relationships with various activists and organizations online, and then struggle to mirror that passion in our daily interactions. In both cases, one becomes exposed to the possibility that information is not effective in the way it needs to be: there is a risk of disconnect, a stratification in our awareness of crisis.
Cyclic overexposure
Over the history of climate crisis activism, we see a trend of placing moral responsibility onto the consumer and not on the system — from the anti-pollution 1970s ‘Crying Indian’ ad which depicted an Indigenous man crying at the sight of air pollution and factory smoke, to the 2010s ‘zero waste lifestyle.’
Sometimes, without regularly checking myself, I still find myself slipping into subliminal selfaccusation about the climate crisis and its effects: “This is about you, because of you.” Rarely do I
think, “it is up to me,” and even more seldomly, “it is up to us.” Like something out of an adventure story, when I am told the future needs saving, I see myself as the individual saviour.
It is not difficult for the unpinned scale of the climate issue, with cities subjected to unfightable fires and mass migration, to reach a state of incomprehensible destruction on par with Greek epics or The Lord of the Rings
As it happens, there is a perceived ‘culture of martyrdom’ among some activists that makes their vocation uniquely pressured.
There is an internalized criticality targeted at one’s own ability to succeed, which criticality outdoes a personal desire to ‘do well,’ as the expectations that activists are told to meet are becoming increasingly defined by words such as “urgent,” “global,” and “justice.” Climate activists in particular are also posed with a challenge that may cause a more radical and pressured sense of individual importance. For the standard person, the significance of our climate problem is only comprehensible through platforms that can make the global platforms like news networks, systemic reviews, and social media. But even after one accomplishes some form of cerebral understanding, the effects of the global climate crisis go generally unnoticed for many of us in our daily lives.
Societal Stonewalling
To make the point clear: the climate crisis, while very real, must be felt internally rather than externally experienced. We must place responsibility on climate activists and media to sustain awareness in populations that might not otherwise grasp their immediate vulnerability. Given that awareness is now primarily raised through social media, sustaining attention on the climate crisis can easily lead to news oversaturation and fear-mongering, as movements try to maintain algorithmic favour.
“This is a real problem,” Morris wrote, “Without understanding how certain climate impacts have come to be, nihilism can creep in when apocalyptic images proliferate across newsfeeds, [making it] seem like nothing can be done about it.”
A certain sort of pressure builds when your internal existence is at odds with the environment
around you — when you fear the extinction of animals you’ve never encountered, dread the possibility of your ordered food arriving in Styrofoam, or realize the news sources your parents read do not tell them they are in a crisis. When I seek to relieve this pressure, I am told by the Canadian government that “fuel switching, increases in efficiency, the modernization of industrial processes and structural changes in the economy” are the main contributors to emission reductions: solutions in which I play no individual role.
Our constant access to large-scale climate crisis issues may leave us feeling hopeless rather than empowered. When we see statistics affecting thousands or millions of lives, witness progress only through United Nations (UN) initiatives, or observe harms occurring thousands of miles away, our individual efforts may feel insignificant.
A 2024 study from the Journal of Environmental Psychology shows that when collective efforts to address the climate crisis are perceived as ineffectual, we experience climate-related anxiety, which can lead to paralysis, and in this state of paralysis, we disengage. This process is similar to stonewalling, where an individual withdraws to preserve a sense of control in an event of fear — but in this case, it is about control and fear on a global scale.
In 2021, a Pew Research Center survey found that nearly seven in 10 Gen Z individuals who engage with climate crisis content on social media are more likely to feel anxious about the future. As part of this majority, I ask myself: how do I counteract a stress response meant to protect my well-being? How do I cope with my feelings of lost agency and the urge to reclaim that agency through withdrawal?
How do I stay engaged and yet unharmed?
Action as remedy
Studies on activists’ well-being often highlight a recurring theme: pragmatism and collective action serve as buffers against burnout. This is where I recognize a nuanced weakness in my teenage choices; while personal actions, when implemented collectively, can make a measurable impact, the problem arises when we measure our
But when we go online, we are fed a compelling montage of exceptionalism — stories favoured by the algorithm because we want to match the extraordinary evils we see in the world with extraordinary good. " "
personal impact against the collective. According to a 2022 study led by the Yale School of Public Health, when we focus solely on individual changes like recycling and turning off the lights, we are no more likely to mitigate climate-related mental health issues. Without collective, tangible engagement at the social level, the impression that our actions are insignificant persists, increasing our likelihood of burnout.
But where does collective action start?
The case for thinking small I notice a dissonance between the calls for action from activists and governments online, and people’s awareness of how they can contribute to change. People are bombarded with information about the climate crisis’ dire consequences, much more often than being informed on what can be done on an individual level to confront the crisis.
So, I asked Morris how one can feel empowered to take consistent action while navigating our current digital environment. Her response: “Put down your phone and go outside and meet-up with peers in person!” Okay!
I decided to attend U of T’s volunteer fair this September in 28.8 degrees Celsius heat — nearly
seven degrees above the seasonal average — and meet students working in their communities to promote climate crisis awareness. Here is what I found that day:
Human Nature Projects Ontario organizes park cleanups, invasive species removals, and tree plantings, and creates educational podcasts about the climate crisis.
Bikechain offers free bicycle rentals for students and runs bike maintenance workshops. Here, you can help promote student participation in the community or volunteer in ‘the shop’ to fix bikes.
Climate Justice UofT is advocating for the university’s divestment from fossil fuels. They have participated in climate strikes, organized multiple sit-ins on campus, and pushed for “fossilfree” financing: an initiative to ban the fossil fuel industry from funding climate research at U of T.
While talking to students at this event, I noticed a pattern that exemplifies my research linking climate anxiety and collective action.
Kiyan Sajadi, a first-year Rotman commerce student and executive member for Human Nature Projects Ontario, said in an interview with The Varsity, “One really important thing that I live by is [that] it’s not about a few people making big changes; it’s about a lot of people making small changes. That’s how we will defeat global warming and the environmental issues.”
However, when I talked to students near the event, I noticed a stark difference between their views of the climate crisis. “I feel like we get a little bit overwhelmed when we see such a big problem, when we are the future,” Riyanna Persaud, a criminology and socio-legal studies student said to me. “It’s kind of scary to think that we have to handle that, but I don’t know… I just feel like it can be a little discouraging when it seems like such a massive problem.”
As I talk to students, conduct research, and revisit some of my past choices — choices that I can only describe as ‘young’ — I find a recurring point I must now dwell upon. There is a moral to this story, a conclusion best summarized in a four-word sentence written by Professor Morris: “Collective action is crucial.”
It has become clear to me while writing this that when the call for action is framed as either
too big or too difficult, we should approach it with skepticism. There is an ingrained notion communicated daily through our movies, fictional stories, and even love songs — that passion means acting against our best interest, against our health. This is a troubling foundation upon which to build anything, especially activism.
But when we go online, we are fed a compelling montage of exceptionalism — stories favoured by the algorithm because we want to match the extraordinary evils we see in the world with extraordinary good. However, this often leads to a glorification of the activist, redefining their work to standards impossible for anyone to meet, and then we ask them to meet these standards continuously.
Here is where I propose to create a distinction between individual action and personal habits, shifting our focus to local or small-scale actions: efforts that don’t feel so easily undone by a fast food order. When I research how to reduce my carbon footprint, I want more than just tangible recommendations about shopping second-hand and travelling by train.
It is through connecting with our neighbourhood communities, learning the names of city and regional officials, and following local news that we discover important initiatives needing our support — initiatives like protesting against Highway 413, opposing new quarry approvals, and challenging the province’s decision to abandon the idea of a deposit-return system for non-alcoholic beverages.
Unlike national and international climate targets such as the UN initiatives and Canada’s emission reduction report, the average citizen can become the ideal candidate to run a campaign on the local level, and their success would be palpably felt in their community.
You see, with all the places to go off-track, burn out, numb out, or be guided into making repetitive actions with forgettable results, many can approach the precarious desire to productively and adequately save our planet. We need to push for an accessible online blueprint that directs the masses to effective, local, and system-changing initiatives — because, if we know where to look, the options are already there.
JAYLIN KIM/THE VARSITY
Arts & Culture
October 8, 2024
thevarsity.ca/category/arts-culture arts@thevarsity.ca
Our fascination with Moo Deng the pygmy hippo
The obsession with "bouncy pork" reveals deeper issues about wildlife, conservation, and captivity
entertainment. With other examples of this being Pesto the Penguin and Harambe the Gorilla, Moo Deng’s fame doesn’t come as a coincidence. Her zookeeper, Atthapon Nundee, spent years cultivating the online presence of animals at Khao Kheow Open Zoo. Moo Deng’s rapid rise as an internet star surprised everyone, but that was the plan all along.
First, let’s address the fact that Moo Deng and Jona, her mother, are zoo animals kept in Thailand — a country far from the forests of West Africa where pygmy hippos originate. Their ancestors were likely part of a zoo exchange or breeding program, a common practice in wildlife conservation aimed at increasing the survival and population of endangered species that may struggle in the wild due to habitat deterioration.
However, while zoos often frame this as part of a broader conservation effort, it raises ethical questions about the displacement of wild animals from their natural habitats for human entertainment. Pygmy hippos are critically endangered, with fewer than 3,000 remaining in their natural environment, largely due to habitat destruction, mining, and illegal hunting.
Moo Deng’s recent internet fame. Just imagine that many people sticking their cellphones in your face, eager to take pictures and make you the next internet meme. On the bright side, the zoo uses Moo Deng’s image to raise more funds for its conservation and breeding programs. As Chodchoy stated to The Associated Press, “After we do this, we will have more income to support activities that will make the animals’ lives better.”
However, our fascination with Moo Deng isn’t just about her cuteness; it is tied to our collective desire to engage with animals in ways that are, frankly, voyeuristic. Moo Deng becomes an object of human consumption — not just in the figurative sense of viral media, but almost literally, with people discussing her cuteness, her slippery flesh, and her “endless” body rolls as if she is food to be devoured.
a circus animal performance, with zoo visitors documenting every instance of her swimming, eating, biting, and falling — turning a sentient animal into a spectacle. The zoo has responded by installing security cameras and limiting visitor time to avoid further harassment.
Pygmy hippo populations are so small, and their habitats so fragmented by tree logging that researchers struggle to study them at all. Bolt added, “On one hand, it’s always a good thing when a particularly charismatic animal makes the general public more interested in a threatened species… on the other hand, many of the viral videos of Moo Deng show human-hippo interactions — like Moo Deng chewing on the knees of the zookeeper caring for her — which can lead to misconceptions about the natural behaviour of pygmy hippos in wild settings.”
swallow her whole. After all, her name translates to "bouncy pork." Pygmy hippos are not native to Southeast Asia, so how did Moo Deng and her mom Jona, end up in Chon Buri, Thailand? There’s an overlooked narrative at play here, one in which Moo Deng is the central spectacle in a discussion between conservation and exploitation. Our collective cultural obsession with Moo Deng exemplifies the bizarre relationship humans have with animals paraded in enclosures for our
Seeing Moo Deng should inspire awe and a sense of rarity since, in the wild, pygmy hippos are quite camera-shy. However, it should also prompt reflection on how this spectacle is only possible in a controlled, artificial environment.
While marketed as a conservation effort, Moo Deng’s zoo presence also draws crowds. As Khao Kheow Open Zoo director Narongwit Chodchoy said in an interview with The Independent, “Normally on weekdays and in the rainy season — which is a low season — we’d be getting around 800 visitors each day,” but lately, that number has soared to 20,000 during weekends due to
The forest within
From sanctuary to liminal space, forests have long captivated our imaginations
Mehek Berry
Varsity Contributor
Growing up in Jakarta, Indonesia — a sprawling, urban landscape where towering skyscrapers replaced the trees of the tropical rainforests — my encounters with nature never went beyond the occasional turf fields at my school and on family holidays. The concrete jungle was my norm, and forests were only familiar to me through novels and films, portrayed as mystical places that felt more like dreams than reality.
Though I remained far removed from the rainforests of Sumatra, the various species of Shorea, Ficus, and Dipterocarpus trees captivated me, becoming larger-than-life in the stories I read and the films I watched. They were places where characters went to hide, discover themselves, or confront the unknown.
As I reminisce about my childhood, I wonder what about these fictitious trees brought me comfort: Are they merely backdrops for Edward Cullen to show off his sparkly skin to Bella Swan in Twilight? Or do they hold a deeper significance?
The forest as a sanctuary
In many fictional stories, forests serve as sanctuaries, providing shelter and protection as characters escape danger or seek solace. These spaces appear to offer a natural retreat away from the chaos of the human world. The Shire in The Lord of the Rings franchise is an idyllic, forested location where hobbits can live their little lives in peace, protected from the forces that lurk beyond. Alternatively, in The Chronicles of Narnia franchise, the Pevensie children flee wartime Britain and fall upon a mystical kingdom through the doors of an enchanted wardrobe, where forests teem with magic, talking animals, and hidden — nay, mysterious — wonders. These literary portrayals of green life evoked my
desire for tranquillity — a place where I can find sanctuary from the anxieties, claustrophobia, and ceaseless noise of concrete jungle life and ultimately find myself. Forests in these stories are more than just collections of trees; they are safe havens where people, and perhaps we as readers and viewers, may recover our fundamental impulses and sense of belonging.
The forest as a liminal space
While forests may provide refuge, they also serve as liminal thresholds, spaces between two or more worlds and realities. Beyond the forest’s edge, the ordinary becomes extraordinary, the rules of reality break down, and protagonists encounter unknown, often otherworldly forces.
In horror films like The Blair Witch Project, a group of students explores a forest only to be overtaken by its terrifying force. Here, the woods symbolize terror and uncertainty: an unknown place with dark secrets where fantasy and horror collide, leading wanderers and thrill-seekers to succumb to disorientation, entrapment, and ultimately, violent consumption.
This portrayal challenges the romantic notion of nature as inherently benevolent and maternal, reminding us that, like humanity, the natural world can be both beautiful and terrifying; nurturing and capable of tremendous destruction. Such depictions serve as a caution, highlighting the potential consequences of underestimating nature’s power.
The forest as an ecological symbol
Contemporary stories place forests in a vital new role, representing our planet’s endangered ecosystems and the urgent need for environmental action towards reforestation and conservation.
Richard Powers’ Pulitzer-winning novel, The Overstory, captures this with a haunting vision of ancient sentinels interconnected by vast, secret
Then there is our insatiable desire for “nice things” and constant entertainment, which has driven visitors to throw objects at Moo Deng while she naps. In an interview with NowToronto, U of T anthropology professor Laura Bolt said, “It is very problematic that zoo visitors have thrown shells at Moo Deng and sprayed her with water because they want her to be active during their visit.”
Pygmy hippos are naturally both nocturnal and secretive, so I wonder if being surrounded by noisy crowds negatively impacts her development. In some ways, Moo Deng has been reduced to
Our fascination with Moo Deng reveals much about the contradictions inherent in humananimal relationships. “As we learn more about the intelligence and emotional lives of animals, it becomes increasingly difficult to justify keeping them in captivity.” Harambe’s tragic death in 2016 is a stark reminder of what happens when wild animals, confined for our entertainment, are forced into unnatural environments. We want to protect yet we exploit; we want to connect yet objectify. Overall, Moo Deng’s story is part of a much larger narrative about wildlife conservation, captivity, and the commodification of nature.
root networks amid the threat of human annihilation. Powers transform trees into characters striving for survival as civilization and climate crises ravage their habitat.
James Cameron’s film Avatar also depicts forests importantly as battlegrounds in the fight between human capitalist greed and conservationism.
Pandora’s lush, biodiverse woods serve as both a home for its Indigenous people, the Na’vi, and a war zone, illustrating the existential stakes in environmental preservation. Meanwhile, human intervention corrupts nature, providing a terrifying reflection of what occurs when humans exploit the natural world.
These narratives personally compel me — and all of us — to understand our responsibility in nurturing or destroying the world’s valuable ecosystems. Forests are not merely literary emblems but actual metaphors for a planet in peril.
The forest as a cultural symbol Forests are rich with cultural and spiritual meaning. They represent sacred spaces in several Indigenous traditions across the world, believed to be the dwelling places of ancestors,
spirits, and Gods. These traditions cherish forests as sources of life, knowledge, and healing rather than merely as natural resources.
The forest also becomes a space for the characters to confront their inner selves and gain a better world perspective. Ursula K. Le Guin’s novella The Word for World is Forest focuses on the link between Indigenous cultures and their woods, delving into subjects such as colonization, environmental degradation, and cultural survival.
Such associations elevate forests from simple story backdrops into characters in their own right — places representative of shared memory and identity. As spaces of safety, profound metamorphic transformation, and mystery, forests embody our greatest fears and our aspirations for survival. These stories urge us to consider our wider relationship with nature in complex ways. They teach us that forests are more than just backgrounds for storytelling; they are living, breathing creatures that have influenced human consciousness for millennia and continue to do so today, both in fiction and reality.
KAISA KASEKAMP/THE VARSITY
An eco-anxious forecast for Lover Girl Fall
“YOLO!” experts say
Divine Angubua Arts & Culture Editor
Surprise, surprise! Following the hottest summer on record, experts predict that this fall may be the warmest fall in the history of falls. “So don’t tuck those bikinis away just yet!” experts said. Instead, experts recommend incorporating warm footwear like UGGs or Steve Madden fur boots into your prolonged summer wardrobe to help mitigate the cooler evenings. This approach not only sexily captures the ethos of the truly unprecedented times we are living in, but might even bring you some unprecedented romance too!
Deduce, refuse, do not recycle
Our experts understand that we are biologically programmed to seek the warmth of others to regulate our body temperatures during the cooler months. Sadly, this fall-winter season is not looking very wet and cool. In fact, it is predicted to be quite warm and dry on most days. So, it may not be in your best interests to pursue “true” love at this time, as you risk generating too much heat around the house and crashing into a deep, sweaty, unsexy lethargy.
Nonchalant, no-strings-attached romance is perfectly fine, though! Experts insist that you look on the bright side, and take this as your sign to continue being emotionally unavailable
and avoidant, as you have been since summer of 2016, which experts say was the last “true” summer of our time!
The question of love (and sex?)
If you insist on finding true love during this time, which experts robustly discourage, they recommend investing in a great air-conditioning system first. Sex is only going to get sweatier and stickier, experts say, and you will need to cool things down a bit.
It is true that air-conditioning is one of the biggest contributors to rising global temperatures due to its energy use and greenhouse emissions. But what else can you do? Plant 10 trees and wait 15 years for transpiration to cool things down? Rebuild your entire condo with sustainable material that ensures better insulation? Pressure your governments to make effective policy changes? “YOLO!” experts say.
Epistemologies of ignorance
For younger people who still have their lives ahead of them, experts recommend turning off the news more often and practicing a bit of ignorance for the sake of mental health. Some experts disagree, insisting that if people don’t stay informed, no one will get the weather forecast or be prepared for the ‘impending doom’ approaching. In response, the first group of experts said, “There’s nothing we can do about the impending doom… so you might as well turn it all off and
simply exist in the context of all in which you live, and what came before you.”
Experts also argue that the stress of constantly pivoting from one tragedy to the next isn’t good for your gut health. As you navigate romance during this warm fall, the constant pressure of the world’s problems may make you gassy, burpy, and poopy, which is especially embarrassing during lovemaking and while out on dates. “It’s just not a good look,” experts said, “or a good smell.”
Take walks
Experts said that this warm fall and delayed winter will actually present more opportunities for long romantic walks on the beach. If you prefer forests, walks with your lover will be even more romantic, as more peckish and bloodthirsty
insects like mosquitoes, itch mites, and ticks will thrive in these conducive temperatures. These little parasites will ensure that there is never a dull moment between you and your lover. “How exciting!” experts said.
Lastly, warm walks during the fall will also compensate for the summer days that were just too hot to trudge through or get freaky in. This is especially true compared to the month or so during last summer’s wildfire season when you couldn’t even have sex on the balcony during the day, or in the park late at night because you literally couldn’t inhale the rancid air without melting into immense panic. Although, the spectacle of the burnt, wounded, orange sky was sort of beautiful in its own way.
Big Oil kindly sponsored this weather forecast, by the way.
Transforming awareness into action against soft climate denial
How effective are we in addressing the climate crisis if we’re soft climate deniers?
Climate crisis denial has evolved into various forms, particularly among young people in academia. One of the most insidious forms is known as ‘soft climate denial,’ where individuals acknowledge the reality of the climate crisis but fail to translate that awareness into meaningful action.
This is a phenomenon exemplified by people like my friend, whom I’ll call Bobby from British Columbia for the safety and perception of his moral character. Despite his passionate advocacy for environmental causes, he often finds his personal habits contradicting his beliefs — much like other soft climate deniers.
Understanding “soft climate denial”
Climate writer Michael Hoexter defined “soft climate denial” as the acknowledgment of the climate crisis’s existence without recognizing its anthropogenic causes — pollution and environmental degradation — or taking action to mitigate its effects.
This form of denial grants individuals the smug moral comforts of feeling informed and responsible, which then allows continued remorseless behaviours that contribute to environmental degradation.
MacEwan University researchers Shelley Boulianne and Stephanie Belland conducted a study comparing attitudes toward the climate crisis in Canada and the US, and found that approximately 21 per cent of people from the US and 12 per cent of Canadians exhibit soft denial tendencies, highlighting a significant challenge for climate justice efforts.
Bobby: an example in contradiction
As a postsecondary student, Bobby is aware of environmental issues and often discusses sustainability with his peers. However, his personal choices sometimes contradict his expressed values.
For instance, Bobby frequently uses disposable coffee cups while criticizing singleuse plastics and wears fast-fashion clothing despite acknowledging the need for sustainable production methods.
This disconnect raises a crucial question: if we espouse values of sustainability but fail to consistently practice them, how effective are we in addressing the climate crisis? It is true that figuring out one’s own balance between political action and personal actions can be difficult, and Bobby’s behaviour reflects this struggle — revealing how even well-intentioned individuals can become ensnared in cognitive dissonance.
The psychology behind soft climate denial is complex and multifaceted. Psychiatrist Dr. Dragana Favre indicates in her research article that implicit denial occurs when individuals accept the scientific consensus on the climate crisis but fail to act due to various psychological barriers.
Psychological barriers to climate action
A 2023 study from the University of Porto’s Center for Psychology in Portugal examined how psychological barriers moderate the relationship between environmental attitudes and climate action. The study identified five key psychological barriers that contribute to the gap between attitudes and behaviour: finding change unnecessary, conflicting goals, interpersonal relationships, lack of knowledge, and tokenism.
Boulianne and Belland published another study in 2022, which showed that political ideology plays a crucial role in shaping attitudes toward the climate crisis. Their research found that Canadians’ views on climate issues are more influenced by ideological positions than those in the US, even after accounting for trust in political leaders. The study showed that approximately 21.19 per cent of the US sample and 12.33 per cent of the Canadian sample
believed that the climate crisis was naturally caused: a form of soft denial.
In the US, the soft denial was more closely related to trust in political figures like former President Donald Trump as a source of information about the climate crisis. In contrast, ideological positions strongly drove Canadians’ climate crisis views. These findings highlight the importance of understanding the role of political ideology and trust in information sources when addressing climate crisis attitudes and developing effective communication strategies.
The prevalence of soft denial presents a significant challenge for climate education and activism.
To combat soft denial effectively, climate education must focus on bridging the gap between knowledge and action. Strategies could include promoting critical thinking by encouraging individuals to evaluate their beliefs and actions critically. We could also address psychological barriers by providing support for individuals struggling with cognitive dissonance. Or, if we decide to highlight collective responsibility, we can emphasize that individual actions are part of a larger systemic issue.
Moving beyond soft denial
Bobby’s situation could apply to any of us, and his contradictory actions could serve as a reminder that even those passionate about environmental issues can fall into the trap of soft denial. By recognizing our own inconsistencies and striving for better alignment between our beliefs and actions, we can contribute more meaningfully to the fight against the climate crisis.
In a world where every small action counts, it’s crucial for individuals like Bobby — and all of us — to transform awareness into actionable change. As we navigate these complexities together, we must remember that acknowledging our shortcomings is the first step toward genuine progress in addressing one of the most pressing challenges of our time.
NABILA IRREZA/THE VARSITY
Matt Lee Varsity Contributor
October 8, 2024
thevarsity.ca/category/science science@thevarsity.ca
Fungi: Nature's plastic-eaters
How harnessing the power of fungi can mitigate plastic pollution.
Siriah Subit Varsity Contributor
The global plastic pollution crisis surge has led to a relentless search for new strategies that could reduce plastics’ detrimental impacts on the environment. According to Our World in Data, an online publication for global problems, the production of plastic has increased significantly in the past seventy years. In 1950, global plastic production was two million tonnes, but it has now increased to over 450 million tonnes.
Plastic debris in the environment can cause a significant threat because it does not decompose quickly compared to other materials. It resists natural processes like sunlight exposure, heat, physical forces, and even microorganisms, allowing it to persist in ecosystems for long periods.
Traditional waste management methods such as recycling and incineration have been futile in reducing the amount of plastic in the world, creating a need for novel directions. Scientists are delving into the fascinating world of fungi to learn what power these species wield to degrade plastics and potentially revolutionize how they impact our world.
Fungal diversity and role in ecosystems
Fungi are a diverse group of microorganisms — consisting of approximately 144,000 known species. They’re one of the most widely distributed organisms on Earth. While many fungi independently reside in soil or water, others establish parasitic or symbiotic relationships with plants or animals.
In a symbiotic relationship, fungi and bacteria work in tandem to disintegrate organic matter, releasing carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus into the soil and atmosphere. Fungi have demonstrated an impressive ability to break down synthetic materials — such as plastics — proposing a sustainable and environmentally friendly strategy to combat the large amounts of plastics in our environment.
Fungal enzymes: Plastic’s doom
Synthetic plastics are hydrophobic, nonbiodegradable large molecules — or polymers — consisting mainly of crude oil. Fungi has one of the most efficient microbial biodegradation of plastic polymers, which means they can break down plastic. In the presence of optimal environmental factors, fungi grow on the surface of the plastic,
has positioned them as integral contributors to industries like pharmaceuticals and food and beverage production.
Tapping into fungal potential
A recent publication in the journal Science of the Environment investigated the potential ways fungi can be employed for their bio-remedial effects — the use of microbial species to decontaminate physical environments — in the context of plastic and rubber waste. Specifically, the study focused on identifying fungal strains capable of degrading three common synthetic plastic types: polyurethanes, polyethylene, and tire microplastics.
Researchers aimed to pinpoint the mechanisms
leading to the secretion of extracellular enzymes like hydrolases and oxidoreductases, which will degrade the plastic.
The polymers’ hydrophilic — or water-loving — properties relate to the substance’s ability to attract and engage with water. The hydrolase enzymes enhance the water-attracting traits of polymers, while the oxidoreductases break down the polymers into smaller particles, which allow them to pass through the fungal cellular membrane.
The process’s effectiveness increases when biodegradation occurs after the plastic breaks down due to interactions with light and heat.
Fungi’s innate ability to decompose organic matter
Celebrating World Rivers Day
Saving our planet’s most precious resource
Santhija Jegatheeswaran
Varsity Contributor
When was the last time you saw a river? They’re the backdrop for weekend hikes, a source of drinking water, and so vital to the environment. Now, imagine our rivers in five years: overflowing with plastic waste, drained by droughts, and struggling to support the ecosystems surrounding it.
On September 22, we celebrated World Rivers Day, sharing the importance of one of Earth’s most precious resources. Canadian river advocate Mark Angelo founded World Rivers Day in 2005, and it is now celebrated in over 100 countries — promoting awareness about the importance of rivers and freshwater ecosystems.
A world without water?
Only 2.5 per cent of the world’s water supply is freshwater. Of that small percentage, even less is accessible for human use, with much locked away in glaciers or underground. Rivers, lakes, and wetlands provide the vast majority of the freshwater we drink, as well as resources for human economic activities. Everything from crop irrigation to hydropower, and sanitation usage requires water.
According to the World Wildlife Fund, not only will two-thirds of the global population face water shortages as soon as 2025, but 1.1 billion people lack access to water today. The problems of water shortage are not just about whether you’ll
have enough water to make your morning coffee — water is crucial to global food security and agriculture.
Why should you care?
You might be asking yourself: why should you — a university student juggling classes, internships, and a social life — care about rivers? Well, the answer is simple. Water is life and freshwater scarcity could seriously disrupt your future.
There is good news: students are already stepping up. Co-President of the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Undergraduate Union Silas Peters discussed his work on aquatic ecology in an email to The Varsity.
“My initial research was on how two different road salts are impacting aquatic communities… this is super important to understand, especially in urban areas, because there’s huge amounts of road salts entering our aquatic ecosystems every year. This can have massive impacts on organisms’ development and the composition of communities, and it’s imperative we understand how different road salt alternatives can also impact aquatic ecosystems.”
When too much road salt leaches into a freshwater ecosystem, it can create biological dead zones, which are fatal to the organisms in the water.
What can you do to contribute?
You don’t need to be an environmental science
involved in fungal plastic degradation and determine the factors influencing the plastic decomposition rate and efficiency. After isolating and identifying 18 fungal strains using molecular sequencing — a laboratory process that involves the determination of the exact species using their DNA — researchers observed and measured the fungal strain’s ability to degrade as a function of oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, and changes in fungal biomass.
Researchers used infrared spectroscopy — which measures how matter such as fungi and plastic absorb, emit, or reflect infrared radiation — to better understand changes in fungal
Day
growth across different plastic types and conditions. Then, researchers looked to see how strongly a certain strain of fungal biomass and dissolved plastic.
The study revealed that all 18 strains grew on plastic particles, but only 11 of the 18 fungal strains showed ligninase activity, which is crucial for breaking down complex polymers. Respiratory assays — tests conducted to measure the metabolic activity of cells, organisms, or tissues by monitoring their oxygen consumption or carbon dioxide production — revealed that fungi degraded polyurethane the most effectively, with the Fusarium tricinctum and Penicillium crustosum species being the most active during the first two weeks of incubation, consuming 98.6 per cent and 94.2 per cent of the oxygen, respectively. This innovative exploration represents a leap forward to a transformative solution for the plastic pollution crisis and a more sustainable future.
A promising future for fungal biodegradation
Despite the recent success in mycology, there remain considerable gaps in our understanding of the fungal biodegradation process.
Further research must address limitations, including the restricted number of plastic polymers studied under controlled laboratory conditions, which may not accurately replicate real world environmental factors or their effect on fungal biodegradation rates. Long-term experiments are crucial to assessing the long-term effectiveness of fungal biodegradation in natural settings and identifying any potential negative environmental impacts, such as the release of toxic byproducts. Despite these limitations, exploring the biodegradation potential of fungi presents an opportunity to innovate sustainable plastic waste management strategies. Future directions can include improving fungi’s biodegradation capabilities through genetic modification and integrating synergistic approaches, combining fungal biodegradation with other waste management tactics for more holistic outcomes.
Understanding fungi’s capabilities can positively contribute to developing practical and sustainable methods for plastic waste management and influence the research and applications of plastic-degrading fungi to inform global and local sustainable practices better.
the
major to make a difference. Small, everyday actions add up — and there are plenty of ways you can help protect our rivers and freshwater ecosystems.
Start cutting down on single-use plastic. Rivers around the world are filled with plastic waste and, for all you know, your old toothbrush could be floating around in the Pacific Ocean. Start by switching to reusable bottles, straws, and bags.
Mind your water usage. Whether it’s turning off the tap while brushing your teeth or cutting down shower time, every drop counts.
With winter right around the corner, you might be stocking up on road salts. However, according to Peters, “Trying to reduce the amount of road salt [you] use in the winter is one super easy thing that
people can do [to protect water bodies]. You often need less than you think you do, so it’s important to check the packaging to see.”
The ripple effect:
Your role in a global movement
Rivers are the lifelines of both human civilization and natural ecosystems, and their survival depends on collective action — from international policy changes to individual efforts like yours. Whether you’re conducting research, leading river clean-ups, or simply making more conscious water choices, you’re part of the solution.
As Angelo says: “rivers are the arteries of our planet; they are lifelines in the truest sense.”
World Rivers
celebrates
sources of freshwater in over 100 countries. MEDHA SURAJPAL/ THE VARSITY
U of T Latin American undergraduate and medical students collaborate for second annual healthcare symposium
The event featured discussion panels on the socioeconomic factors of healthcare, led by Toronto-based Latin American health workers
Mehar Singh
Varsity Contributor
On September 17, the Organization of Latin American Students (OLAS) and the Canadian Association of Latin Medical Students (CALMS) at U of T hosted two student-led panels spotlighting Latin American healthcare workers throughout the GTA. The second annual event took place from 5:00–8:00 pm at the William Doo Auditorium.
OLAS aims to share Latin America’s diverse culture with the student body. CALMS U of T is the St. George chapter of an organization dedicated to addressing the under representation of Latin American medical students in Canada.
OLAS President Juan Diego Areiza and CALMS President Pablo Gonzalez founded the annual symposium titled “Bridging Past, Present, and Future in Latin American Healthcare.” Although Gonzalez was not part of this year’s initiative, two current U of T medical students and CALMS executive members — Nichole Sanchez Diaz and Ray Martinez-Rodriguez — stepped in to help organize and lead discussions as Temerty Faculty of Medicine representatives.
The organizers divided the panels into two sessions: the first focused on social determinants of Latin American health, while the second explored the need for cultural competence among healthcare workers, which is crucial for Latin American patients. For Latin American patients, in particular, immigration status and language barriers are prevalent challenges to receiving effective treatments.
Social determinants refer to aspects of the social and physical environment that impact health, such as education, food security, housing, and medical accessibility. Cultural competence concerns a set of values and behaviours that inform effective and respectful cross-cultural communication.
Panel speakers included GTA-based prominent community workers, researchers, and physicians. The event emphasized that health inequity plagues every country, including Latin American countries, and is not limited to developing nations.
Key points from the panel
Dr. María Luisa (Malú) Romero, the ONCARE Cancer Center medical director of clinical research, highlighted the systematic barriers and hesitance among patients without immigration status. Out of fear of being flagged or even deported, these patients may second guess the necessity of booking medical appointments or sharing confidential information with doctors.
Dr. Romero also discussed her experience creating the Latin American COVID Task Force, a team dedicated to administering vaccines and providing COVID-19 care in Spanish. The organization focused on building trust and making health information accessible to Hispanic communities because “even if you don’t have migratory status, you still are human. You [shouldn’t] need an OHIP number to receive a vaccine.”
Panelist and U of T PhD candidate Marianne Lahaie Luna emphasized social determinants of health and the potential of community representation to break cycles of inequality. She cited a grim statistic: Latin American boys have the lowest rates of on-time high school graduation in Ontario, attributing this to a lack of representation.
Luna also mentioned that without prominent role models, students may lose motivation to pursue higher education. “As we all know, level of education is correlated with health outcomes… [as it] leads to higher socioeconomic status.” She praised the efforts of both student groups for inspiring the next generation of Latin American healthcare leaders by hosting this event.
As students, tuning out the chaos of the world to lock in for that upcoming midterm is a common reality. For some of us, music certainly helps poise our minds for attention, concentration, and ultimately better learning.
Researchers at the University of Pavia found that older adults’ ability to store, process, and utilize information — a psychological phenomena known as cognitive processing — while listening to upbeat and classical music resulted in better performances on a vocabulary test than those who worked in silence. Since all types of learning require cognitive processing, this could change how we study.
A 2022 study demonstrated that the average grade of students who utilized background music while learning was significantly higher than those of a control group who learned without music.
OLAS community building and future endeavours
The symposium ran smoothly. Dinner included Latin American favourites such as tacos and empanadas, and the event concluded with a friendly networking session toward the end, where I had the chance to speak with OLAS Vice-President Maria Andrea Morelos Andrade. Instantly warm and welcoming, she asked me about my favourite parts of the evening, and we soon began chatting about the inspiring speakers.
When asked what prompted the organization of this initiative, Morelos highlighted the need for Latin American experiences and perspectives in the healthcare industry to be shared and showcased by Latin Americans, for Latin Americans.
The symposium’s goal was to create a space for Latin American students — any students of Latin American origin or descent — to come together
Does listening to music make learning math easier?
Insights into how musical interventions can faciltate mathematical skills
ers encounter in the classroom. Just think about it: music involves identifying patterns and predicting notes.
In math, patterns are seen in solving equations and problem sets. Similarly, numbers and ratios are linked with musical concepts such as beat and rhythm. Performing music can reinforce parts of the brain activated when solving math problems.
On top of this, musical learning involves training the working memory to hold information for future use. Math also utilizes working memory as we keep numbers in our heads and manipulate them in various ways to arrive at an answer.
Many people struggle with understanding math, so perhaps music can make studying easier.
and learn from health professionals who share their identity, allowing them to find role models in a field predominantly centred around Englishspeaking healthcare professionals.
I also asked about future initiatives that students can expect from OLAS. Morelos shared that Latin American Heritage Month — which is every October — is just around the corner, and the team is planning a festival to celebrate the diverse identities within Latin American cultures across the continent.
Many non-Latin American people tend to assume cultural homogeneity within and around South America, so Morelos stressed that it’s important for the organization to accurately represent the variety of languages, celebrations, and cuisines that the region has to offer. After all, practicing cultural competence in healthcare starts with acknowledging diverse identities and needs.
math instead of traditional approaches like textbook readings — had the largest impact on performance overall, with an astounding 73 per cent of students outperforming those who learned in contexts lacking music. In addition to a majority of younger students benefiting from musical interventions, students with neurotypical development improved mathematical skills significantly more than those with developmental disabilities.
How have Akin’s findings been translated into the real world? A 2021 study demonstrates that using music integrated math learning activities in an introductory statistics course led students in the course to achieve a higher GPA. Next time when your grades are slipping in applied courses, try listening to music!
Music and stress relief
Apart from the numerous benefits of mathematical skills associated with music, music can act as a powerful stress reliever. Music therapy is offered in many hospitals in addition to other treatments. This is fascinating as music is easily accessible, making it a great stress management tool for all students and disciplines.
Math behind the music
In recent years, more studies have looked at the intriguing intersection of how certain types of music can enhance learning and performance in other academic subjects, such as math, by relaxing the brain and enhancing concentration. In 2023, researcher Ayça Akin from Antalya Belek University took a deep dive into exactly what the trends tell us about music and math. Akin reviewed 55 studies dating from 1975 to 2022 to decipher a possible trend between music learning and math performance.
Arithmetic skills such as numbers and ratios are essential for the disciplines of math and music within the elementary school curriculum. Basic concepts in math — such as fractions and ratios — are also conceptually present in music. Being able to draw conceptual connections between two different academic disciplines may help children learn one or the other better. Identifying patterns is an essential skill that young math and music learn-
The reason behind the rhyme Akin combed through studies that indirectly integrated music through formal music lessons, instrumental lessons, and directly integrated music woven into math learning sessions. She found that more than half of the 77,595 students who listened to music while working on arithmetics performed better than those who did not listen to music.
In a separate 2007 study, researchers from the Stanford University School of Medicine show that this could be due to the attention-activating effect of music. It could even be due to music serving as a helpful tool for stress management which frees up energy to focus on more important things, potentially enhancing productivity.
According to Akin’s review, both standardized music and classical musical interventions had a practically significant influence on math performance, but utilizing music-math integrated interventions — using musical activities to teach
If students are stressed about their math work and skills, listening to music will not only help them improve their performance but may also enhance performance by reducing stress and allowing them to focus on the problem set with more ease.
If you find yourself struggling with math, maybe try creating a playlist of songs from your preferred streaming service to solve equations or complete assignments with. Although some studies use classical music, why not try pop music or soft rock instead?
U of T also has plenty of amazing resources to check out, including UTSC Math and Stats Support. They have tutorials, exam support office hours, and review sessions. The Department of Mathematics at UTSG also provides drop-in sessions for many first-and second-year math courses. UTM also has a compilation of math tip sheets online and the Math Learning Centre, where students can casually congregate to collaborate on coursework.
OLAS and CALMS hosted their second annual symposium for Latin American students in healthcare. JUANITA ARANGO/ THE VARSITY
Ann Treesa Manoj Varsity Contributor
For some students, listening to music can be a helpful study aid.
DOGA BASKAN/ THE VARSITY
Sports
Samantha Nelson Varsity Contributor
Golf is a sport known for its green landscapes and carefully maintained courses.
October 8, 2024
thevarsity.ca/section/sports sports@thevarsity.ca
Behind the fairways: Understanding golf's environmental impact
An exploration of sustainable solutions for a greener future in golf
carry chemicals into nearby bodies of water, ultimately contaminating and destabilizing the local ecosystems.
However, behind the beauty of its fairways, there’s an important conversation to be had about its environmental impact. Although golf provides recreational and economic benefits, it can also have a significantly negative environmental impact. From water usage to threatening biodiversity, it’s important to understand how the game is impacting the environment and what steps can be taken to make it more sustainable.
Water usage
To maintain and keep a golf course green, a large amount of water is required. According to a 2014 study on water use at golf courses in Ontario, during a climatically normal season, on average 50.5 billion litres of water were used to irrigate Ontario golf courses.
Many golf courses are now exploring ways to become more sustainable with their irrigation practices. This includes solutions like recycling water through greywater systems and collecting rainwater instead of solely depending on municipal water supplies.
Use of pesticides
Pesticides and herbicides help control pests and promote healthy grass growth, but they can also have harmful effects on the environment. Run-off from golf courses can
Montréal is working toward more sustainable golf courses in the city, with plans to implement a ban on most pesticides that are used at golf courses beginning next year.
In a news release, Marie-Andrée Mauger — the mayor of Verdun, a borough of Montréal — said, “We must lead by example by further limiting the use of pesticides throughout Montreal, including on its golf courses.”
Energy consumption
Golf courses are consuming huge amounts of energy to light clubhouses and power irrigation systems. The courses also rely heavily on fossil fuels through petrol-powered
machinery used for mowing, trimming, and transporting materials, which is further increasing golf’s carbon footprint. Furthermore, the development of new courses uses heavy machinery to clear land, which releases significant amounts of greenhouse gases.
Introducing solar energy can help reduce the impact of energy consumption on golf courses. Solar panels can be installed on the roofs of
clubhouses as well as maintenance facilities for all power operations. With a shift toward electric cars, there is also an opportunity to implement electric golf carts in place of current gas-powered ones.
Destruction and deforestation
The construction of new golf courses frequently requires large pieces of land, which can lead to deforestation and the destruction of natural ecosystems. Golf courses are known for clearing forests to make room for their golfing lawns. They then add imported turf into the space to maintain the beautiful green grass you often see. This practice not only affects wildlife by destroying natural habitats but also reduces carbon storage or carbon sequestration — a method for removal of carbon dioxide from the air — which contributes to the climate crisis. However, a growing movement toward creating ecofriendly courses focuses on reducing land clearance and protecting existing ecosystems during the design and development phases. A simple solution to this issue would be to reduce the usage of turf. By allowing native plants, shrubs, and trees to grow in certain areas of the golf course, we could see natural ecosystems flourish while also having lower-maintenance courses. These spaces would require less water, less chemicals, and ultimately minimal upkeep.
The future of sustainable golf Golf’s negative environmental impact is undeniable, however, the sport’s relationship with nature truly offers an opportunity for positive change.
When golf courses embrace sustainable practices, they can evolve into eco-friendly recreational spaces that benefit both the players and the environment. Water conservation, lawn care, wildlife-friendly areas, and renewable energy are just a few of the many solutions that can make golf greener.
For the sport to thrive, golf must find a balance with the ecosystems that it often affects. With increased awareness and action, golf can support environmental preservation rather than pose a threat to the environment. The path to sustainable golf is not only necessary but very attainable. By taking action now we can ensure that future generations can enjoy the game without compromising the planet’s health.
Can Formula E be a climate-friendly alternative to Formula 1? Carbon
emissions and greenwashing
in racing
A sport where turbocharged engines are pushed to the limit around the tarmac for an hour and a half does not scream eco-friendly from the get-go. So, in an era of climate consciousness, is the Greenpeace cousin of Formula 1 (F1) really a viable alternative?
Formula E (FE) is the world’s first all-electric international single-seater championship. If you go to the official FE website, you’re sure to see them boast that it is the first global sport with a net zero carbon footprint — a title they have held proudly since 2020. But, how do they achieve this exactly?
According to its website, FE invests in projects aligned with the United Nations sustainability goals, such as wind power energy generation projects across the globe. Although these initiatives may seem noble and like a step in the right direction, they beg the question of how much of it is ‘greenwashing’ and how much is valid.
Formula E’s carbon footprint
An interesting statistic about FE is that out of the 24,800 tonnes of carbon dioxide produced in its most recent season, only one per cent of the emissions came from cars, and 73 per cent came from freight transport. This ratio is not unique to FE, as F1 also presents similar statistics: in its 2022 season, the actual racing only produced 0.7 per cent of its total emissions. The rest comes from spectator travel, powering F1 race tracks — especially in dark conditions, freight transport, car production and repair, as well as track maintenance.
Compare that with a sport like the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR), which ditches clever compact hybrid engines for V8 engines, and their carbon emissions come at 1.8 million kilograms for all the races. Though the NASCAR season is longer than both that of F1 and FE and allow refuelling during races, NASCAR requires less freight or air travel as the entire season is set domestically in the US.
If FE and F1 really want to reduce their carbon footprint, reducing their global travel by making it geographically linear can help. It makes more sense to start their races in the US and then move to Europe and Asia instead of jumping between continents throughout the season.
of-life phase of batteries — a point at which EV batteries fall below 70–80 per cent of their rated value — it becomes difficult to have any use for them. Most countries also do not have a proper recycling system for the batteries.
Mark Winfield, a professor of Environmental and Urban Change and co-chair of the department’s Sustainable Energy Initiative at York University, stated that the fact there is no public policy on the disposal of EV batteries is concerning because a number of the chemicals and components used to make EV batteries, such as cadmium, arsenic and nickel, are listed as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act and simply can’t be thrown into a landfill.
The future of Formula E
EV batteries
In the defence of F1, the technology often used in the sport trickles down to our everyday road cars, making them more safer and fuel-efficient. For example, the hybrid power units and turbochargers now common in everyday cars were refined and tested in F1 over the years.
This is where things get tricky for FE. Regarding FE’s electric vehicle (EV) batteries, former fourtime F1 Drivers’ Champion Sebastian Vettel said that, “The battery technology that is being developed has nothing to do with the technology that a normal car could use.”
Batteries also aren’t easily repurposed: while internal combustion engines are made of metals such as aluminum and cast iron, batteries consist of highly reactive lithium. During the end-
The final big issue FE faces in its challenge to keep things ‘green’ is that they cannot race on most established circuits — yet. Battery technology is not powerful enough for larger and longer races, and to gain popularity, most FE races take place in intercity circuits — meaning they shut down public roads to have a race. Notably, in the 2015–16 FE season, a race hosted in London ended up damaging parts of heritage-protected Battersea Park and FE was required to pay a fine of 1 million British pound sterling.
So, what is the conclusion?
In short, the technology in FE is simply not established enough. In its current state, FE acts more like a greenwash to show that motorsport is moving away from fossil fuels. Instead of having investment in various projects around the world and spreading the organization thin, perhaps FE should invest in more projects which aim to fix its current issues.
Are golfers worrying about the wrong kind of green? RYAN LAU/THE VARSITY
Samm Mohibuddin Varsity Contributor
KASEKAMP/THE VARSITY
Blues fall to Lakers in a 13–2 blowout at Varsity Stadium
Clarke’s early goal and strong defence couldn’t stop Nipissing’s surge
In a tough Saturday evening match on October 5, the U of T Varsity Blues men’s lacrosse team faced a crushing 13–2 defeat against the Nipissing University Lakers. Held at the Varsity Stadium at 6:00 pm, the game started with a spark from the Blues scoring the first point of the game, but quickly saw the team struggle as fatigue and errors mounted. The game wrapped up around 7:45 pm, leaving the Blues with much to think about before they complete in the second of a back-to-back match on October 6 against McMaster.
What happened?
The Blues wasted no time, scoring within the first minute as they capitalized on the Laker’s disorganized defence. Within the first five
minutes, the Blues consistently pushed into the Lakers’ half, with forward Daniel Clarke proving a constant threat on offence. However, despite the early pressure the Lakers quickly reorganized — ending the first period with a tie.
By halftime, the Lakers pulled ahead with a 4–2 lead and the Blues struggled to regain control. The match’s physicality increased in the third quarter, leading to a breakdown in strategy from the Blues who conceded several goals in quick succession.
As the match entered the final stages, the Blues appeared to be overwhelmed by the Lakers’ aggressive play. By the end of the fourth quarter, the final score stood at 13–2, leaving the Blues frustrated and exhausted.
In the post-game interviews, Blues head coach Kyle Robinson reflected on the match, saying that there was not much to say after a game like that. However, he did contend that the
‘Greenwash’ the games!
Examining carbon footprint of major sporting events
Nandini Singh Varsity Contributor
When we’re sitting on our sofas, watching sports games, and supporting our favourite team or players, the carbon footprint of the sports games we’re watching may seem like a trivial afterthought. Especially in the larger picture of the climate crisis, how harmful could a global sporting event like the FIFA World Cup or the Olympics be?
Corporations in the sports business will often deceive society through greenwashing. These corporations will make misleading claims to publicly showcase environmental concerns and efforts while simultaneously barely taking any real sustainable actions.
Environmental hazards of Qatar 2022 World Cup
Before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, FIFA claimed that the event would be “fully carbon neutral”. However, climate experts have shed doubt on this claim, as FIFA’s carbon offset scheme doesn’t remove carbon from the atmosphere. Further, FIFA’s calculations undervalued emissions by disregarding the carbon footprint of constructing
seven new stadiums in preparation for the World Cup.
In July 2023, advertising regulator Swiss Fairness Commission upheld complaints from five European nations, and ruled that FIFA could not prove its claims about the tournament’s carbon neutrality and used controversial calculations that did not comply with Swiss standards, where FIFA is based.
In their sponsorship with QatarEnergy to promote liquified natural gas (LNG), FIFA labelled QatarEnergy as “responsible for the development of cleaner energy resources.” However, using LNGs delays the transition to renewables, and therefore has negative environmental consequences. While considered a cleaner fossil fuel compared to coal and oil, as it produces less air pollutants when burnt, LNGs still produce a significant amount of methane in extracting, refining, and shipping.
Moreover, Qatar lacked the necessary infrastructure to host the World Cup, which led to constructing stadiums, transportation, and a multitude of hotels for attendees. To address this mass construction, World Cup host countries aim to keep the tournament venues in use after the event to distribute the carbon impact in the coming
October 6 game is an opportunity for the boys to dig deep and show what they are made of.
“[I] told them to rest up, we’ve got ice for recovery and make sure they get lots of sleep and come ready with a clear mindset. They got a new 60 minutes tomorrow to show what they can do,” he said.
Midfielder Benny Konishi also weighed in on the team’s performance, saying that it was “Not great, like it was clear on the scoreboard… but I don’t think [the busy schedule] is an excuse” — in reference to how this game was the second of three
years. However, the stadiums in countries less known for their soccer culture, such as Qatar, can become wasteful and unproductive investments.
Numerous stadiums built for the World Cup remain unused and abandoned, even countries with a thriving soccer culture like Brazil, Russia, and South Africa, that “have been left with a herd of white-elephant stadiums” — leaving behind landscapes straight from a post-apocalyptic film. Additionally, continuously changing hosting countries means that it is quite unlikely that the stadiums will be used for the same purpose again.
Challenges of a sustainable Olympics
The Olympics have been another relevant topic of sustainability in the sports industry. A longitudinal study of the Olympic Games from 1992 to 2020 disclosed that the sustainability standard of the games was moderate. On top of that, the environmental impact of the Olympic Games has worsened over the years.
The study also suggests a general negative trend in sustainability, as the more recent Olympics, such as 2014 Sochi and 2016 Rio, have been the most environmentally concerning games.
In the months leading to the 2024 Paris Olympics, whether the games would be any different had been a pressing matter. Like the World Cup in Qatar, the Paris Olympics advocated for cutting carbon emissions. However, the event is too recent to have significant research published on its sustainability.
games in this week’s busy schedule.
Despite the disappointing result, the Blues remain determined to bounce back. When asked about the game plan for the upcoming game, Konishi’s hope was simple — to win.
The Varsity Blues sit sixth in the Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association West division with a 2–4 record with four games remaining in the regular season.
The subsequent match for the Blues Lacrosse team was against McMaster University on Sunday October 6, at 7:00 pm in the Varsity Stadium.
The Paris Olympics made honest efforts toward sustainability, as they limited the construction of new facilities, used bio-sourced resources, reused and recycled materials and created a sustainable plan for food services. However, environmental watchdogs Carbon Market Watch and Éclaircieshave criticized Paris 2024 for failing to provide detailed frameworks and thorough monitoring.
Solutions for eco-friendly hosting of sports events
While juggling between the same few countries is one solution, it could entail relying on the same few places that have historically contributed significantly to global carbon emissions. Instead, Jules Boykoff, a professor of political science at Pacific University, suggested decreasing the games’ size, creating eco-friendlier supply chains, and restricting the number of tourists travelling to the host country as potential solutions. Both the World Cup and the Olympics make it apparent that appointing different hosts for any sports event can amplify carbon emissions.
Stepping on a plane to watch your favourite players is an unforgettable experience, but we tend to overlook the fact that travel alone made up approximately 50 per cent of the carbon emissions from the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Most importantly, Boykoff encourages host countries to be more transparent with their environmental records to allow for greater accountability.
Janelle Gunaratnam Varsity Contributor
Midfield Justin Ranger looks for options on the field. JAKE TAKEUCHI/THE VARSITY
Photo October 8, 2024
thevarsity.ca/section/photo photo@thevarsity.ca
Happy 60th birthday to UTSC
A love letter to the Scarborough campus on its
anniversary
James Bullanoff Deputy News Editor
Happy Birthday to UTSC!
On October 6, UTSC officially turned 60 with the campus celebrating its deep history and continued
expansion. I’ve always loved this campus: for both its brutalist architecture and sense of community. As I reflect on my final year, I think it’s about time for UTSC to get some love and appreciation for the beauty it holds. Join me on a journey through its oldest buildings.
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these buildings. Their sharp edges and strange, concrete shapes draw me in. I remember being immediately drawn to the concrete structures during my first time on campus. Now we enter SW. There are many study spots on the main floor, but I prefer to explore the depths of the building. Having a class in the basement of SW is like a rite of passage at UTSC.
Originally, UTSC was called Scarborough College and began construction in 1964, with an expected opening date in 1965. However, a construction strike delayed its first incoming class’ entry until January 1966.
The original campus was made up of what was known as the Andrews Building, named after building designer John Andrews — who also designed the CN Tower. The building is what we now know as the Science Wing (SW), Meeting Place, and Humanities Wing (HW).
The building’s unique design has been featured in many television, film, and music video shoots over the years. This includes movies like Total Recall, The Shape of Water, Resident Evil, and the music video for “Secrets” by Scarboroughborn artist, The Weeknd.
people have strong feelings about these buildings, especially because of the brutalist architecture. I’ve personally loved
The ceiling of Meeting Place never gets old, and I can’t help but look up on my walks through the campus. While SW has more sharp corners, HW has more jagged edges. There are random staircases and classrooms with no natural light, but the walls and ceiling still have so much character.
CROSSWORDS
47 th Annual Book Sale
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6 The ___ & the Papas
Ashley Wong Varsity Contributor
