February 6, 2017

m

Vol. CXXXVII, No. 17 February 6, 2017 thevarsity.ca —— The University of Toronto’s Student Newspaper Since 1880

s n o i t c i v n o c f o h s a l C Conference featuring Jordan Peterson, Ezra Levant, other right-leaning speakers interrupted by protestors Jack O. Denton Associate News Editor

A student-run conference on campus showcasing conservative and libertarian speakers was disrupted and ultimately halted following protests and the pulling of a fire alarm.

Students in Support of Free Speech (SSFS) co-hosted the sold-out 2017 Toronto Action Forum with Generation Screwed at the Sandford Fleming Building on February 4.

Professor Jordan Peterson, who gained national attention in the fall after he released a YouTube lecture series called Professor against political correctness, was one of the keynote speakers, alongside conservative activist and publisher of The Rebel, Ezra Levant.

SSFS is a campus club with Ulife recognition that was founded after an October rally in support of free speech and Peterson was also disrupted. Generation Screwed is the student wing of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, a conservative and libertarian-leaning advocacy group.

The Sandford Fleming auditorium, which seats 222, was mostly full for the event. Although Generation Screwed’s mandate focuses mostly on government spending and taxation, speakers at the conference discussed a wide variety of issues, including supporting

the Canadian oil industry, hydro rates, freedom of speech, and ‘political-correctness’ on campus. Around a dozen attendees could be seen wearing ‘Make America Great Again’ hats.

Protesters at Sandford Fleming About 30 protesters arrived outside the lecture hall at around 4:00 pm, during a talk called “How Political Intervention Has Led to Soaring Energy Prices for Ontario.” By that time, organizers and Campus Police were restricting people from entering and exiting the hall, and they formed a human chain outside one of the exits.

“The speaker that was in the middle of talking while this disruption was happening was talking about how high hydro rates hurt lower class Ontarians more than anybody else, so that was when they arrived,” said Aaron Gunn, Executive Director for Generation Screwed.

Amongst the protesters were community activists Qaiser Ali and Lane Patriquin, who have been active at past protests and counter-protests on campus. Also in attendance was Cassandra Williams, Vice-President University Affairs of the University of Toronto Students’ Union.

Geoffrey Liew, the Vice-President of SSFS and the organizer of the original free speech

rally, told The Varsity that the interruption was not unexpected. “We expected some resistance, but we didn’t expect that it would be that visceral as when it happened,” he said.

The protesters marched towards the doors to the auditorium where the event was taking place, but were blocked by a line of campus police officers. Chants of “Fuck white supremacy!” and “No Trump! No KKK! No fascist USA!” echoed throughout the building.

At one point, a protester could be seen attempting to lunge past the officers.

In response, some conference attendees, including Rebel correspondents Lauren Southern, Jay Fayza, and Faith Goldy began chanting “Trump!” and “Build that wall!”

Ali told The Varsity that they were “protesting the fact that the university has both allowed and sanctioned an alt-right, neo-fascist hate conference starring Ezra Levant.”

Ali alleged that Levant and The Rebel sent journalists to harass transgender students, and that Levant has become a proponent of the Québec City mosque ‘truther’ movement, spreading conspiracy theories saying that another Muslim person carried out the Quebec City shooting.

The Varsity made multiple attempts to reach Levant for comment on these

allegations, but did not receive a response as of press time.

“The university has been made aware by many students of the fact that they have been encouraging or doing nothing to stop far right extremist politics,” Ali went on. “Students [are] afraid to come to class, that has led to students harassed by Rebel Media journalists, that has led to students being doxxed.” ‘Doxxing’ is a phrase used to describe the practice of identifying individuals’ personal information and distributing it online.

Event, protesters move outside Levant, described on the billing for the event as a “Human Rights Activist,” was scheduled to speak at 4:45 pm. About five minutes into his talk, titled “Trumping Trudeau,” the fire alarm was pulled and conference guests were asked to evacuate out a back door by Campus Police.

Chad Hallman, one of the organizers of the event and the Public Relations Director at SSFS, told The Varsity that he “[thinks] they would have protested this regardless of who was speaking. They used [Levant] as a scapegoat.”

The audio equipment and banners were moved outside, and Levant continued his talk to a group of people circled around him.

Conference, page 4

Feature — page 10

Science — page 16

Sports — page 18

#OscarsSlightlyLessWhite U of T Drama Festival entrants on the challenges and rewards of breaking down barriers in the arts

The less noble Nobels The awards that recognize the world’s most ridiculous research

A game of chance or skill?

Rock, paper, scissors competitions are the unlikely sporting events du jour

2 • THE VARSITY • NEWS

news@thevarsity.ca

Photo of the week

Vol. CXXXVII, No. 17 21 Sussex Avenue, Suite 306 Toronto, ON, M5S 1J6 416-946-7600 thevarsity.ca

the.varsity

thevarsitynewspaper

the.varsity

@TheVarsity

The Varsity

MASTHEAD Alex McKeen Editor-in-Chief Mubashir Baweja Creative Director Jaren Kerr Managing Editor Jacob Lorinc Managing Online Editor

editor@thevarsity.ca creative@thevarsity.ca managing@thevarsity.ca online@thevarsity.ca

Ariel Gomes Senior Copy Editor

copy@thevarsity.ca

Tom Yun News Editor

news@thevarsity.ca

Teodora Pasca Comment Editor Rachel Chen Features Editor Reut Cohen Arts & Culture Editor Shaan Bhambra Science Editor

comment@thevarsity.ca features@thevarsity.ca arts@thevarsity.ca science@thevarsity.ca sports@thevarsity.ca

Sean Smith Sports Editor Sophie Borwein Public Editor

publiceditor@thevarsity.ca

Vanessa Wang Design Editor

design@thevarsity.ca

Nathan Chan Photo Editor

photo@thevarsity.ca

Elham Numan Illustration Editor

Walking through UC is a nice way to clear the mind.

THEO ARBEZ/THE VARSITY

illustration@thevarsity.ca video@thevarsity.ca

Shaq Hosein Video Editor Isaac Seah and Tony Lee Web Developers Jack O. Denton, Jenna Moon, Kaitlyn Simpson, and Emaan Thaver Associate News Editors Perlyn Cooper Associate Comment Editor Aidan Currie Associate Features Editor Ben Harrison Smith and Gabrielle Warren Associate A&C Editors Hannah Fung and Connie Liu Associate Science Editors

web@thevarsity.ca

Daniel Samuel Associate Sports Editor Blythe Hunter and Michael Teoh Associate Senior Copy Editors

Campus Police Reportings January 6 to February 1

Missed the turbulence on campus?

Jillian Schuler Associate Design Editor Steven Lee and Stephanie Xu Associate Photo Editors Diana Pham and Mia Carnevale Associate Illustration Editors Vacant Associate Video Editor

Copy Editors Daria Galbraith, Mengqi Jia, Sojourner Ramsay-Taylor, Christy Ahn Lead Copy Editors Nadin Ramadan, Julie Shi, Natalie Marshall, Evan Maude, Lauren Park, Ramsha Naveed, Sophia Savva Designers Piyumi Konara, Jillian Schuler, Alex Hurka, Sissy Hu, Kate Chen, Baichao Chen, Meinemat Chen, Christy Ahn

BUSINESS OFFICE Cherlene Tay Business Manager

business@thevarsity.ca

Kary Cozens Business Associate

kary@thevarsity.ca

Yaakov Spivak Advertising Executive

yaakov@thevarsity.ca

Dan Silveira Advertising Executive

dans@thevarsity.ca

35

2

28

1

26

1

15

1

4

1

2

1

Suspicious person

Theft

Suspicious incident

Mischief

Medical assist

Harassment

Noise complaint

Suspicious vehicle

Assault

Robbery

Fraud

Break and enter

Watch the recording of our livestream of the protests at Sandford Fleming at var.st/23w

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Hussein Fawzy, Saad Hasnain, Mohamed Hammad, German Guberman, Christina Kefalas, Aidan Harold, Jannis Mei, Tom Cardoso, Jade Colbert The Varsity is the University of Toronto’s largest student newspaper, publishing since 1880. It is printed by Master Web Inc. on recycled newsprint stock. Content © 2016 by The Varsity. All rights reserved. Any editorial inquiries and/or letters should be directed to the sections associated with them; emails listed above. The Varsity reserves the right to edit all submissions.

Inquiries regarding ad sales can be made to ads@thevarsity.ca. ISSN: 0042-2789

Follow us on Snapchat at the.varsity

FEBRUARY 6, 2017 • 3

var.st/news

Work on new student government to replace SMCSU underway Committee struck to hold elections in March Tom Yun News Editor

Following a tumultuous year, work is being done to bring forth a new student government to replace the St. Michael’s College Student Union (SMCSU).

In December, SMCSU councillors voted to temporarily prorogue and reconvene in late January.

Last Friday, a meeting took place between SMCSU councillors and the University of St. Michael’s College (USMC) leaders to discuss the future of the union.

“We met with members of the most recent SMCSU administration to seek their help in designing a survey that will ask our students for their ideas to reimagine student government at USMC,” USMC wrote in an email statement to The Varsity.

The university’s statement revealed that the USMC is putting

together a committee and said that there was a “broad consensus... to pursue this course” at the meeting.

“We will set up a committee that will include significant student representation to implement the results of the survey and pave the way for an election in March,” a portion of the statement reads.

Georgina Merhom, who serves as SMCSU’s University of Toronto Students’ Union representative, attended the meeting and explained that the survey is “intended to

start a conversation” with students whom the union had “failed to engage with in the past.”

“My understanding is that USMC is in the process of creating a new Student Government at the University of St Michael’s College,” she said. “This decision was not one that was voted on by the Council of SMCSU, however all SMCSU Council members were invited to help create a survey.”

SMCSU had been marred in controversy since July, when USMC announced that it conducted an

audit into the union’s finances.

In September, USMC President David Mulroney introduced intentions to govern the college’s relationship with its student groups, in response to a history of alleged financial mismanagement within the union.

Further controversy brewed after a series of Snapchat videos involving then-current and former SMCSU council members and depicting jokes about Islam were leaked onto social media in December.

Three UTSU executives, UTMSU Designate denounce CFS decertification statement Vice-President External affirms elected officials “can and do issue statements on behalf of the UTSU” Alex McKeen Editor-in-Chief

Three members of the UTSU Executive Committee and the University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union (UTMSU) Designate have denounced the conduct of the four other Executive Committee members regarding the release of a statement in support of decertification from the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), which was released last week.

Vice-President Campus Life Shahin Imtiaz, Vice-President Equity Farah Noori, Vice-President Uni-

versity Affairs Cassandra Williams, and UTMSU Designate Jackie Zhao released a statement Wednesday calling the CFS decertification statement a “brazen abuse of power” by the other executive members.

The original statement was signed by UTSU President Jasmine Wong Denike, Vice-President Internal Mathias Memmel, VicePresident External Matthew Thomas, and Vice-President Professional Faculties Ryan Gomes.

Imtiaz, Noori, Williams, and Zhao wrote that the statement on CFS decertification had been written and shown to a small cohort of

executives, “with the understanding that the statement would be released pending approval from the Executive Committee or the Board of Directors if events at the OGM [Ontario General Meeting] were seen as unfavourable.”

Their statement goes on: “What actually occurred subsequent to the OGM was that some members of the Executive, without any prior consultation, were instructed that UTSU would be releasing that statement on the CFS, which we had never seen before, irrespective of our own thoughts on the matter.”

The authors, who signed their statement as “The other half of the UTSU Executive Committee,” did not take a position on CFS membership, but stated that they were “against corruption.”

Thomas told The Varsity Thursday that the statement supporting CFS decertification was prepared by him ahead of the OGM and circulated among the UTSU executive, at which point Noori declined to sign, Imtiaz did not respond, and Williams “alleged that the UTSU has never engaged with the CFS in good faith, which is false and offensive.”

Thomas added that the state-

ment was sent to the board of directors of the UTSU before it was released.

“The elected members of the UTSU can and do issue statements on behalf of the UTSU,” Thomas said, adding that the statement he penned was on behalf of Local 98, which does not include UTM. He also expressed skepticism that Wednesday’s statement was not suggestive of a position on the CFS: “The suggestion that this counter-statement isn’t indicative of a stance, at least on the part of some of the signatories, on the CFS is absurd,” he said.

Thousands gather outside US Consulate protesting Trump executive order U of T students among those in attendance, one student assaulted Jack O. Denton Associate News Editor

On the morning of January 30, hundreds of protesters braved the bitter cold and gathered outside the American Consulate on University Avenue.

Their signs presented a dichotomy of love and hate: they were protesting the executive order signed by US President Donald Trump, which bans citizens from seven Muslimmajority countries from coming to the United States.

Their messages, some artfully composed and witty, others hastily crafted with magic marker and deft, welcomed immigrants and refugees and shunned the newly-elected leader of the US whose policies have sewn division in the 14 days since his inauguration.

Throughout the rally, University Avenue was closed from Dundas Street to Queen Street on the west side, with the east side of the boulevard remaining open. Scores of police remained present but inactive, mostly focused on directing traffic and ensuring that protesters

did not cross the barriers that had been set up.

Many students from U of T came out to the protest, some of them joining in on an organized walk from Victoria College.

U of T student Liana Ernzst said that the words of a friend caused her to come to the protest.

“I had a friend who said to me ‘Dude, you went to the Women’s March. Who the fuck do you think you are not coming to this?’ And I was like — you’re right,” she told The Varsity.

Basil Southey, Head of NonResident Affairs at Trinity College, describes having been physically assaulted while protesting at the rally: “Towards the end of the protest I was standing with some friends holding my sign that read ‘What the actual fuck, America?’”

Southey said a man approached him, angry at his sign, and told Southey that he would give him one chance to tear it up before attacking him.

“I said that I do not believe in violence and that I would not tear up my sign,” Southey said. “He then punched me in the face.”

After that, several bystanders grabbed his assailant and held him until police arrived seconds later to arrest him.

By 8:35 am, the crowd had moved across to the east side of University Avenue, outside the US Consulate.

At 8:40 am, the crowd sat down at the behest of the organizers, who said it was to reassure police that they were not there in violence.

“It took days of repressive lawmaking, people being stuck at borders, and a tragedy at a mosque in Québec City to bring out the people,” Sharmeen Khan, the media spokesperson for the organizers, told The Varsity.

Khan made it clear that the protest also included matters of policy that pertain to Canada.

“We still have an agreement, it’s called the Safe Third Country Agreement, with the United States. If refugees who are fleeing violence arrive in the US, they have to apply for asylum there, even if they want to land in Canada,” she said. “And we need to get out of that agreement.”

Further, the protesters called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to take concrete action against the executive order coming out of the United States. “We don’t want him to tweet nice things about how diverse Canada is, we want to make our country more open to refugees and immigrants,” Khan said.

Khan suggested that there were up to 2,000 people present outside the consulate.

NATHAN CHAN/THE VARSITY

The protests began in wake of Trump’s executive order, which bars citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States.

Toronto City Councillor Joe Mihevic of Ward 21 was among the first to speak to the crowds through a megaphone. He said they were all out there to stand “against Trump’s policies and ensure they do not come into Canada” and said that there will be a motion at City Hall to reaffirm Toronto’s status as a sanctuary city.

Mihevic kept his remarks short, ending with the proclamation that “everyone is welcome here, everyone is part of the human family.”

By 9:10 am, the crowd migrated east to City Hall, where they formed around the Toronto sign. Toronto City Councillor Joe Cressy of Ward 20 arrived shortly after and began to speak to the crowd. He ended his speech, which focused on Toronto as a sanctuary city, saying, “We will fight, we will organize, we will love, we will win.”

By 10:00 am, the crowd returned to outside the US Consulate, where they stayed until around 2:00 pm.

Another rally against Islamophobia in front of the US Consulate was also held on Saturday at 12:30 pm.

4 • THE VARSITY • NEWS

news@thevarsity.ca Conference, from cover

SCSU election poster vandalized Posters of VP Equity candidate Nana Frimpong defaced with racist message Kaitlyn Simpson Associate News Editor

A Scarborough Campus Students’ Union (SCSU) election poster was vandalized with a racist remark last week.

The poster features Vice-President Equity candidate Nana Frimpong, who is part of the UTSConnect slate. Written in black marker, the defaced poster read: “Make UTSC black lower the admission average.”

The poster was originally found in the Humanities Wing building near the southwest hallway elevators by UTSC student Kayne Munroe, who wrote on Facebook that he threw it out after taking a photograph.

Munroe posted the photograph of the defaced poster on his Facebook page with the caption: “Let this be a reminder that racism is still alive and well.” As of press time, the Facebook post has been shared nearly 50 times.

“That comment on my picture wasn’t about me, it was about the people I love, represent, and look like,” wrote Frimpong in a statement to The Varsity. “If there’s one thing I know for sure it is this: Black people deserve to occupy the spaces that we occupy.

To apologize for it is a disservice to the people that did what they had to do in order to see this next generation of leaders, thinkers, and believers.”

Frimpong also wrote that she was thankful for the support she has received since

the incident. “I’ve been overwhelmed by the love,” she said.

On behalf of the UTSConnect slate, presidential candidate Sitharsana Srithas said, “UTSC often romanticizes the diversity on our campus but the reality is, even at one of the most racialized campuses in Ontario, anti-black racism and discrimination is still very prevalent.”

Srithas continued, “My team and I will not rest and will continue to fight antiblack racism and all forms of oppression.”

When asked about SCSU election procedure punishments, current President of SCSU Jessica Kirk said, “Based on our current demerit points system, the only clear distinction of procedures followed in the case of vandalism is that the CRO reserves the right to make rulings on issues and events not otherwise covered in the code.”

“In this case, the CRO has ruled that if the culprit of vandalism is found to be a candidate in the elections, they will be immediately disqualified,” Kirk added.

Kirk also mentioned that the Elections and Referenda Committee will be releasing a statement “condemning hate speech and anti-black racism.”

UTSConnect — which includes five candidates running for executive positions on the SCSU — is currently the only slate running in the SCSU elections, with another three

PHOTO VIA KAYNE MUNRO/FACEBOOK

The photo of the defaced poster, which was shared on Facebook. The text reads, “Make UTSC black lower the admission average.” independent executive candidates vying for five positions total.

Voting will occur from February 7–9 in the IC Atrium, the Student Centre, and the Bladen Wing’s Tim Hortons.

Munroe did not return The Varsity’s requests for comment.

Vigil held on campus for Québec City mosque attack U of T students, politicians, faith leaders stand in solidarity with victims James Hannay and Mohid Malik Varsity Contributors

A vigil was held on Monday night at King’s College Circle in solidarity with the victims of the terror attack that took place at a Québec City mosque.

On Sunday, a gunman opened fire at the Centre Culturel Islamique de Québec, killing six people and injuring 19; Alexandre Bissonette, 27-years-old, was subsequently charged with six counts of first degree murder.

The vigil was organized by the Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations Students’ Union and the French Course Union. Sahal Malek, who is the president of both unions, spoke to The Varsity.

“In situations like these students, they’ll feel it in different ways, and have varying perspectives, reactions, and grievances,” said Malek. “It’s important that we don’t paint them all with one brush, and in this case of course, as students we want to show that many of us have solidarity with Québec, the Muslims of Québec, and the victims and their families.”

Jayne Kitchen, another organizer, stressed the importance of social media as a platform for reaching out to the victims and their families: “I think that it has its limits, but it must be really comforting for people who are far away from us to see the sheer number of people using a hashtag, or to see a large crowd in pictures, and on a bunch of different media outlets.”

In response to the attack, Muslim Student Association President, Dalia Hashim was also involved in the planning of the Vigil and told The Varsity: “We pride ourselves on being a very diverse campus, but with that diversity comes an onus on each and every one of us to educate ourselves, to be there for other

NATHAN CHAN/THE VARSITY

Finance Minister Bill Morneau and Mayor John Tory stand among community members. people, and to be there for other communities when they need it.”

Hashim encourages students to step outside their bubble and speak out against Islamophobia: “If you see something, say something. I know it sounds very cliché but it is very important.”

Representatives from faith-based groups gave their support to the Muslim communities in Québec and Canada.

“We are gathered tonight as neighbours, as friends, to express our grief, and to show our neighbours, the most vulnerable of people in the city tonight, those who are grieving, our Muslim friends,” said Pastor Dawn Leger from All-Saints Kingsway Anglican Church.

“We are here, we love you, we support you. We will work to make sure you have a safe place to worship. We will do that all tomorrow. Tonight we give them the honour they deserve.”

Politicians also attended the vigil in order to express their solidarity during this dark hour.

“We must assure the most vulnerable

people in this time, that we, in this country and in this city, the most diverse city in the world, don’t accept and won’t accept the notion that we divide people, that we marginalize people on the basis of where they came from, who they are, the language that they speak, or their faith,” said Mayor John Tory.

Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau also attended the vigil: “We as Canadians realize that we are so much stronger because of our diversity. That the power of our country, people of different faiths living, working, and praying together, whether Muslim Canadian, or Jewish Canadian, Christian Canadian, or people who have no faith, we stand together and recognize people who have different religious faiths,” Morneau said.

Sandy Welsh, Vice-Provost of Students at UofT, in an address made on behalf of President Meric Gertler, announced that starting on Tuesday, the university will be flying its flags at half-mast to commemorate the lives lost during the attack.

Conference guests and protesters poured outside to the grass bordering the west side of King’s College Road, and a heavy Toronto Police presence materialized.

There were about 37 police officers, some of whom formed a long human chain from the Sandford Fleming Building to the road, effectively dividing the protesters from the conference guests.

Lane Patriquin, one of the protesters, told The Varsity that they were “practicing no-platforming, which is the practice of removing platforms and venues for fascists and crypto-fascists so that they do not have the opportunity to spread their rhetoric.”

Both SSFS and Generation Screwed say that the allegations that they are associated with “fascist” and “racist” ideologies are false. Their professed missions are for freedom of speech and fiscal responsibility, respectively.

While the protesters aimed to remove the platform from Levant, members of SSFS believe that the protesting actions only help their cause.

“What these people have done is they’ve shown, just as they have time and time again, and it’s the same people, that free speech is under attack in universities,” Hallman said.

He went on: “Free speech is not what they claim it to be on campus — they’ve completely legitimized this.”

On Sunday, Generation Screwed released a public statement, calling the accusations of fascism and racism to be “laughable and false” and committing to holding more student conferences in the future.

Event ends amidst heavy police presence Liew said that, shortly after the building was evacuated, he was asked to bring the event to a close.

“The staff sergeant took me aside and then he said, ‘This event is over, the university is no longer able to provide a safe venue, and it’s a concern of security.’ So we were to announce that the event was over and cooperate in all actions of police.”

U of T Media Relations Director Althea Blackburn-Evans confirmed that campus police made the decision to end the event early, due to safety concerns. She explained that room bookings on campus are rarely discontinued, unless there’s “an unmanageable security risk or safety risks or there’s a good reason to believe that unlawful activity will occur.”

SSFS and Generation Screwed brought the audio equipment and banners back inside, and the crowd began to disperse soon after the event was halted.

Gunn told The Varsity that he was “not thrilled about” the university’s decision to end the event, but noted that they were already at the tail-end of the conference before it was shut down.

Blackburn-Evans stated, “This is fundamentally a place where people have the ability to examine and question a whole variety of issues and that happens every day and you see it reflected in many of our central policies, so it means that controversial viewpoints are often shared and that happens at universities, but it doesn’t guarantee that anything said on our campuses is protected.”

“Organizers have a responsibility to ensure that speakers follow the Ontario Human Rights Code, the Criminal Code, and of course, our policies, the policies at the university,” she continued.

Peterson, speaking to The Varsity following his morning talk, said that he doesn’t think anything surrounding the climate of free speech on campus has changed since October.

When asked whether he thinks that the conflict over the limits of free speech will go away, Peterson said, “It can’t go away. I’m not inclined to take a wild swing at any hornets’ nests that I can avoid but it isn’t going away, obviously, it’s not going away.”

He continued, “If anything... this is going to become more intense.”

— With files from Tom Yun.

FEBRUARY 6, 2017 • 5

var.st/news

Toronto School of Theology holds referendum on Student Life fees Referendum marred by accusation of bias against organizers Josie Kao Varsity Contributor

The Toronto School of Theology Graduate Students’ Association (TGSA) held a referendum on whether TGSA students should start paying non-academic incidental fees to the Office of Student Life. Paying these fees would give TGSA students access to U of T’s athletic facilities, Hart House, the Career Centre, the Sexual & Gender Diversity Office, and other Student Life services.

In the 2016–2017 academic year, these fees totalled $416.17 per session for full-time students and $83.25 per session for part-time students. Voting ran from January 20 to February 3 for the 265 TGSA members currently enroled in a conjoint program.

The ‘yes’ and ‘no’ campaigns were led by students on the Referendum Committee, commissioned by the TGSA. The ‘no’ side called the legitimacy of the referendum into question.

Matthew Bowman, who is the official representative of the ‘no’ campaign has criticized the Referendum committee, alleging that it has been unfair to the ‘no’ side. He has also raised questions about the validity of the ballot.

Bowman alleges that TGSA President Allison Murray, who is

on the referendum committee as a neutral member, has failed to be impartial.

A letter Bowman sent to the committee’s Returning Officer & Chair, Carla Marcoccia, on January 26, includes the claim that Murray had censored parts of his statement after she had edited two sections on the basis that they were factually inaccurate.

Bowman argues that Murray had no right to edit his statement and that the parts she saw as factually inaccurate were merely differences between their opinions.

When asked about Bowman’s allegations, Marcoccia stated that she had brought up his objections at a TGSA board meeting on January 31.

“During the meeting, I made them aware of the complaints we had received to date and asked them to weigh in on the validity of the referendum,” said Marcoccia, “A Board motion in support of the referendum process carried with only one vote in opposition.”

Following the committee’s decision, Bowman co-authored a letter to the University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU) detailing his belief that the referendum was being mismanaged.

When asked to respond to the letter, UTSU President Jasmine Wong Denike stated she was aware of students’ concerns and has arranged

for them to bring their issues directly to the Office of Student Life (OSL) and the Office of the ViceProvost Students.

“After personally attending a TGSA meeting, I had some concerns about the way the referendum is being run internally, and whether or not it’s following the correct guidelines,” said Denike.

Bowman further alleges that the PhD conjoint program has not been added to Schedule B, an official list of programs eligible for access to the services. Without this confirmation, the referendum would be invalid.

Those who support the ‘yes’ side feel that incurring the fees would be worth the services that TST students would access as a result.

“Paying Student Life fees opens up access to thousands of dollars’ worth of services,” said the official ‘yes’ representative, Robyn Boeré.

“It’s important to know that these fees are not just about the gym,” Boeré explained. While the fees do include admission to all of U of T’s athletic services, including intramurals, drop-in fitness classes, and women’s only athletic programming, she stressed that TGSA students will be also be able to access bookable athletic and academic spaces, subsidized day care, and international student services, among other services.

REUSHEN AKSOY/THE VARSITY

Students at the Toronto School of Theology currently do not pay fees to Student Life.

Bowman believes that these reasons are not sufficient enough for TGSA students who may not be on campus for the entire year.

The degree structure of the PhD program prevents students from dropping from full-time to parttime status after they complete their coursework.

“This new structure results in students paying full time fees for the duration of their enrolment regardless of whether they are physically present on campus. This could mean paying to access services which geographic distance makes impossible to access regularly,” said Bowman.

He also cited the high cost of graduate education and the TGSA’s lack of representation on the Council of Student Services (COSS), which decides any fee increases, as reasons for supporting the ‘no’ side.

U of T Media Relations Director Althea Blackburn-Evans has stated that the conjoint program was added to Schedule B in November 2016 and applies retroactively until September 2016.

Murray and Boeré declined to comment on the internal proceedings of the referendum.

UTSU reschedules spring elections following dispute with UTMSU Agreement stipulates that the unions make “best efforts” to hold concurrent elections Jenna Moon Associate News Editor

The dates for the University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU) executive and board of directors elections have been moved up following a dispute between the UTSU and the University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union (UTMSU).

Email correspondence between UTMSU President Nour Alideeb and UTSU VicePresident Professional Faculties Ryan Gomes in mid-January, which was obtained by The Varsity, suggests that the two were working to schedule the elections so that they would be held concurrently.

Per the Associate Membership Agreement between the UTSU and UTMSU, the unions are to use their “best efforts to ensure their respective annual general elections and byelections are held concurrently.”

The emails show Alideeb requesting March 21–23 for the UTMSU election due to scheduling issues with other dates. Alideeb notes in her email that “the beginning of March will be difficult for [UTMSU]” and asks Gomes if the UTSU could schedule their elections earlier than originally planned.

In an email from January 19, Gomes confirms that the UTSU would schedule its elections for March 28–30 to ensure UTMSU could hold its elections March 21–23.

When the UTMSU published its election dates online and in posters distributed

throughout campus, the election dates were instead listed as March 7–9.

“In my capacity as ERC Chair, I was required to consult with the UTMSU as to when their election dates would be, and was informed that they hoped to utilize March 21st-23rd,” said Gomes in an email to The Varsity.

Gomes continued: “As those were the dates we were originally intending to use, we selected March 28th-30th so that the elections would overlap… It was shocking and frankly disturbing to find out that we had been lied to and that the UTMSU was going to run their elections on March 7th-9th instead. As such, we are attempting to amend our dates so as to still honour the Associate Membership Agreement.”

Alideeb told The Varsity that she had reservations about the language in Gomes’ emails, and disagrees with his assessment of the situation.

“Ryan Gomes has taken to personally attacking me, accusing me of being deliberately misleading, communicating ‘a blatant lie’ and acting in ‘bad faith,’” she said.

Gomes said that the UTSU plans to file a grievance with the UTMSU on the basis of breach of contract.

“The Agreement remains in place, and the detailed dispute resolution process can be invoked by either party at any time,” Alideeb told The Varsity. “In order words, there is a clear mechanism for UTSU to proceed under the Associate Membership Agreement if it is of the view that UTMSU has breached that Agreement.”

Gomes stated that in emails to Alideeb that he was “shocked” and “frustrated” to learn that the UTMSU set dates that differed from the original agreement and noted that the UTSU would be taking “immediate action” to rectify the matter.

In emails between Alideeb and Gomes, Alideeb stated that she “[had] best interest in mind for [her] 13,000 members. She went on to say, “You should feel ashamed of accusing me of lying and acting in bad faith because I have consistently put my best foot forward.”

According to Alideeb, the fact that the nomination period for the UTSU elections overlapped with the voting period for the UTMSU elections led to voter fatigue last year.

“The proposed schedule would have had the UTSU campaigning period overlap with the UTMSU voting dates, which would likely worsen the problem of voter fatigue, without providing any added benefit, such as the sharing of resources,” she told Gomes.“To avoid voter fatigue and to ensure maximum participation in both the UTMSU and UTSU elections, the UTMSU [Elections and Referenda Committee] proceeded with the voting dates listed on the flyer you sent me.”

“I recommend you keep the voting dates as they are unless you further want to marginalize the voices of UTM students… I implore you to stop searching for reasons to undermine our Associate Membership Agreement.

I have tried to put aside any antipathy shown

by UTSU to UTMSU for the betterment of our

JENNA MOON/THE VARSITY

A poster for the UTMSU election; the elections are scheduled for March 7–9.

members and to improve the relationship between the UTMSU and UTSU, which we all know is strained. But this is ridiculous.”

Gomes confirmed with The Varsity that the UTSU held an emergency board meeting on February 3, “in order to amend the election dates to March 14-16.”

As the UTMSU has already published a notice of their election, they are no longer able to amend their dates.

6 • THE VARSITY • NEWS

news@thevarsity.ca

U of T responds to US travel ban Faculty of Law extending deadlines, reaching out to affected US students

U of T law students join national initiative to research Safe Third Country challenge Participants hope to pressure government to alter CanadaUS immigration pact in light of Trump’s travel ban Alex McKeen Editor-in-Chief

NATHAN CHAN/THE VARSITY

After the Faculty of Law announced its response to Trump’s executive order, U of T announced that it would follow suit with similar accommodations.

Ilya Bañares Varsity Contributor

Following US President Donald Trump’s recent executive order halting immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries, U of T has been taking action to offer assistance to applicants affected by the ban.

Trump’s order suspended the country’s entire refugee program for 120 days, barred any refugee fleeing the Syrian Civil War indefinitely, and limited the entry of citizens from Yemen, Iran, Somalia, Syria, Sudan, Iraq, and Libya for 90 days. After the decision was signed, hundreds were detained in airports across the country, with thousands stranded around the world, unable to enter.

On February 3, Judge James Robart issued a block on the executive order. As of February 4, the Department of Homeland Security as well as the State Department have stopped enforcing the order and reinstated previously suspended visas. The Trump administration has appealed Robart’s decision.

In a statement issued January 31, four days after the directive had come into effect, Faculty of Law Dean Edward Iacobucci expressed his concern on the matter.

He said, “At the Faculty of Law, we have a special responsibility to champion the rule of law. This week’s seemingly cavalier dismissals of international norms and shared legal understandings by the U.S. President are especially troubling for our community.”

In response to the travel ban, the faculty has extended its application deadline indefinitely for prospective students from the affected countries. This applies for upper-year prospective transfer students as well as firstyear applicants.

The faculty has also reached out to some Canadian law students in the United States about the possibility of transferring to U of T, should they wish to do so.

The National Post reported last Friday that the university plans to follow the example of the Faculty of Law by extending its general application deadline for prospective applicants affected by the executive order.

The initial deadline was on January 13.

The university has not specified what the new deadline for affected applicants will be.

“Targeting and restricting the travel of individuals really doesn’t align with the values that we have here at U of T,” Vice-Provost Students Sandy Welsh told the National Post.

Approximately 700 students and faculty from all 22 law schools across Canada spent Saturday researching ways to challenge the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA), a Canada-US treaty that prevents refugees from making a claim in Canada if they landed in the US or vice-versa.

The coordinated effort, which began at McGill University’s law school in Montreal, comes in the wake of statements by Canadian Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen that the government would not consider suspending the pact, despite pressure from immigration advocates who fear that US President Donald Trump’s immigration-related executive orders and memoranda may prevent refugees from having their cases assessed in either country.

Hussen maintains that since the travel ban imposed by Trump’s executive order — which prevents entry from seven Muslim-majority countries — does not make changes to the asylum system of the United States, there is no reason for Canada to reconsider the pact.

The executive order was blocked by a Seattle federal judge on Friday — a decision that was promptly appealed by the Trump administration.

For Adil Abdulla, first-year student at U of T’s Faculty of Law, the research initiative is a matter of pursuing fairness: “We as law students have an obligation to ensure that people get access to the due process of law and the STCA essentially means that some refugees are simply not going to get their claims adjudicated fairly.”

When the travel ban was active, STCA could have meant that a refugee from one of

the banned countries would be denied entry to Canada from the US, “at which point they would be extradited back to the country they were fleeing,” Abdulla explained.

Abdulla said he is among approximately 50 researchers from U of T’s law faculty who are participating.

“We’ve got people not just who are law students, but alumni and profs so it’s getting a bit bigger,” he noted.

The initiative is being supported by the Canadian Council for Refugees. Abdulla describes three primary aims of the project: to generate awareness and pressure the government to suspend the STCA; to develop a way to challenge the STCA in the courts; and to raise funds in furtherance of the first two aims.

Abdulla acknowledged that if the initiative comes to a court challenge, the process to get there will be lengthy. “I think that no matter how late this comes it’s important that it be done. At the end of the day there is going to be a constant stream of people who are going to be affected by this,” he said.

Abdulla’s personal history is a motivator for his involvement in the initiative. His parents were refugees who fled the abusive regime of Idi Amin, the former leader of Uganda. “Had Canada not been accommodating to refugees at that time I would not be here,” he said.

The energy and motivation among the participants, as well as the magnitude of the national effort, lend Abdulla some optimism: “Getting to work with people across the country who care deeply about this issue has been really heartening — seeing that there is at least some sort of response to the xenophobia and Islamophobia that we’ve seen in Canada and in the US,” he said.

Provincial government moves to tie post-secondary funding to value of degree in labour market Province favours funding based on job skills, graduation, employment rates; U of T prefers institution-specific criteria Lesley Flores Varsity Contributor

Discussions between the Liberal provincial government and post-secondary institutions in Ontario are set to commence as the government pursues incorporation of criteria such as graduation and employment rates in calculations determining the amount of provincial funding a school will receive.

Revisions to funding formulae are being negotiated for both undergraduate and graduate programs.

The funding discussions follow a December 2016 announcement by the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development (MAESD) stating that funding for undergraduate and graduate programs would be increased within new boundaries, and that programs that equip students

with skills valuable in the labour market would be favoured.

The Varsity spoke with Meric Gertler, President of the University of Toronto, regarding the pressure to tie university funding to measures of institutional performance based on student performance in the labour market.

Gertler noted that representatives from the university have “been active in the discussions on the new funding formula” and “in working with the [MAESD] as they consider various options” over the summer and fall of 2016.

When asked if the university had a stance on the new funding formula, Gertler stated, “The University of Toronto has been advocating greater differentiation within the provincial system for many years.”

He emphasized that the university favours “greater recognition by the provincial government of the different strengths and the different roles that each university plays within the system” and holds the position that school funding and performance assessments “should also reflect those differentiated roles.”

Instead of being assessed for rates of graduation or employment after graduation, Gertler said that the university is “urging the provincial government” to individualize perfor-

mance standards in order for each institution to “be assessed according to things that make sense according to our own distinctive roles.”

The trend to tie funding to post-secondary institution’s performance has been making its way across the country. Programs preparing students for in-demand jobs are set to receive a quarter of the funding allocated for post-secondary education in British Columbia, for example.

Gertler said that enrolment at U of T has “seen quite a bit of growth overall” and estimated that graduate enrolment had grown from approximately 11,000 to 16,800 students.

“The biggest growth has been, certainly professional masters programs,” enrolment in which has “more than doubled from about 3,600 to over 7,700 over the last 10 years.” These programs “tend to be less focused on research, more focused on applied areas of work,” he said.

When asked about the rapid expansion of professional masters programs, Gertler stated that the number of these and diploma programs at U of T has grown from “roughly 50 to over 70,” with faculties across all three campuses planning to introduce new programs in the next five years.

Examples of such programs include the Master of Business Administration, Master

of Public Policy, and Master of Global Affairs at UTSG; Master of Sustainability Management and Master of Biotechnology at UTM; and Master of Environmental Science at UTSC. While professional master programs aimed at students’ future employability are proliferating, Gertler told The Varsity there is no university-wide plan to shift undergraduate degrees in a similar direction. “Individual faculties are always assessing the content of their curriculum and trying to make sure that it serves the needs of our students well,” he said.

Although the province “has signalled [an] interest” in linking undergraduate funding to criteria such as rates of employment or graduation, “rather than focusing on specific skills,” the university is “encouraging our individual divisions who teach undergraduates” to build on “the strengths of a liberal education,” Gertler said.

Gertler emphasized that the strength of “a broad-based education at the undergraduate level” is in its ability to “prepare our students for a lifetime of success, not just their first job but their ability to succeed in reinventing themselves multiple times over their careers.”

Comment

February 6, 2017 var.st/comment comment@thevarsity.ca

Collaboration

What makes U of T great?

Contributors evaluate the reasons behind the university’s renowned reputation As we are so often reminded, the University of Toronto constantly makes headlines for topping university ranking charts. We asked our writers to weigh in on the reasons for the university’s rumoured excellence.

VIVIAN TONG/THE VARSITY

Research U of T consistently makes top grades on university rankings for its research excellence.

The university is particularly renowned for its scientific research. Vivek Goel, U of T Vice-President of Research and Innovation, has stated that the university’s “work supports, fosters and promotes the research and innovation culture and activities of our faculty and students across our three campuses, along with our partner hospitals, funding sponsors, and partners in the public and private sector.”

The impact of U of T’s reasearch within Canada’s largest city is truly impressive, as Toronto has one of the largest biomedical research hubs in North America. In 2015, U of T acquired four floors in the MaRs Building, which — in addition to facilitating close connections with some of Canada’s top researchers and innovators — cemented U of T into Toronto’s scientific community.

With a range of research assistant jobs as well as course offerings dedicated to self-led inquiry, students also have the opportunity to take research into their own hands and contribute directly to the maintenance of the university’s intellectual community.

Nicolle Iovanov is a third-year student at Woodsworth College studying Political Science and History.

Course offerings U of T offers a wide and diverse range of programs and courses at all three of its campuses, with approximately 700 programs offered at U of T in total. While comparable programs can be found at other Canadian institutions, many others are unique to the university’s faculties and college system. Although U of T is internationally renowned for being one of the leading universities for research — particularly in the life sciences — arts and humanities programs at U of T also ranked fifteenth in Times Higher Education World University rankings for 2016–2017.

All seven colleges affiliated with U of T are known for offering specialized programs that carry positive reputations. Some of these programs are unavailable elsewhere because of their exclusive curricula, including Writing and Rhetoric at Innis College and Renaissance Studies, Material Culture, and Semiotics and Communication Theory at Victoria College.

This is not to mention that the university’s academic calendar is revised every year to update existing course options and include new arrivals. The 2016–2017 academic year marked the launch of U of T’s new Ethiopian Studies program by the Department of Near and Middle Eastern Studies, as well as a new Master of Social Work program called Indigenous Trauma and Resiliency. What we can garner from this is that U of T is constantly expanding, revising, and offering progressive programs and courses to respond to the educational interests of its student body.

Carol Eugene Park is a third-year student at Victoria College studying English and Renaissance Studies.

Extracurriculars One of U of T’s biggest strengths is the breadth and depth of the extracurriculars that it offers. With over 1,000 clubs and student organizations, there most certainly is something for everyone here, regardless of what you are looking for.

The university’s robust history means that many student organizations carry their own legacies, and students who join these groups have the opportunity to feel like they are positively contributing to something bigger than them, by adding their own markers to the campus timeline.

U of T’s three campuses collectively boast the largest student enrolment of any university in the country, including a large body of international students. The diversity of the student body means that there are opportunities for all types of hobbies, talents, and interests from around the world and that it is easy for students to find organizations tailored to their needs.

With that said, new clubs are still popping up at U of T: the Ismaili Student Association, the MusicBox Children’s Charity, and the U of T Model Parliament Simulation are just a few of the clubs that have started up this academic year.

Jane Wu is a second-year student at University College studying Ethics, Society, and Law and Peace, Conflict, and Justice Studies.

Services U of T offers a number of services and facilities for students that contribute to improving the student quality of life and experience on campus. Not only is there a wide variety of services offered given the university’s size, but as per the U of T student services website, they are constantly being monitored by specialists within each field, speaking to their quality.

Some services in particular should be noted for their excellence. The Sexual & Gender Diversity Office, for instance, has been one of the most successful offices of its kind across Canada. In addition to providing students with services such as Gender Talk and LGBTQ film series, their Positive Space campaign has been fruitful in raising awareness about issues affecting the LGBTQ community. The office has also promoted the Washroom Inclusivity Project, sponsoring a safer and more respectful environment for the campus community.

Furthermore, the Career Centre is managed by experienced advisors who engage students in career planning and help them explore their options for the future. This helps to motivate students and alleviate their anxieties in stressful situations.

Finally, beyond serving as a resource for international students, the Centre for International Experience offers the International Mentorship Program, the Intercultural Learning Program, a wide variety of summer and exchange opportunities, and the Global Ambassador Program.

Ioanna Karcas is a first-year student at Woodsworth College studying History.

8 • THE VARSITY • COMMENT

comment@thevarsity.ca

Rewriting history or recognizing it?

Reactions to the Decolonising SOAS campaign align with the need to critically confront Eurocentrism within university curricula

Write for Comment Tell us what you think.

The Comment section is the perfect place at The Varsity for those who are just itching to express their opinions about what is happening in the world around them. If you want to get involved, here are some things you should know.

1)

You can write about (almost) anything.

Common topics include politics, campus life, pop culture, and university affairs.

That said, you can pitch any ideas you have in mind,

GLORIA ZHANG/THE VARSITY

as long as you can make what you are writing about

Saambavi Mano Varsity Columnist

“‘Ditch white philosophers,’ students tell London university,” reads a headline from UK news magazine The Week. The article, published earlier this year, was one of many released in response to the ‘Decolonising SOAS’ campaign hosted by the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) students’ union at the University of London, which calls for a reshaping of SOAS curricula to include more thinkers from regions in Africa and Asia.

The scathing articles released in the aftermath of the campaign’s launch included testimony from several influential figures in European philosophy and academia accusing the students of attempting to ‘rewrite history.’

The articles were subsequently shared by those in academia and journalism, sparking the usual drivel about the importance, inherent relevance, and universalism of Europe and European thinkers — opinions which also imply irrelevance on the part of African and Asian thinkers.

Students involved in the campaign clarified that Decolonising SOAS was not an attempt to spurn European philosophers, but rather to shift toward a more conscious and critical teaching of them by diversifying curricula to better reflect the nature of the programs offered by SOAS. The backlash to the SOAS students’ union’s statement is just one example of how Eurocentrism is deeply ingrained in academia; any attempt to question the relevance or importance of European thinkers is met with indignant resistance.

It is interesting that the request for teaching about more Asian and African thinkers was construed as a demand for the removal of white thinkers, as though the two are incapable of sharing academic space. Increasing the diversity of thinkers within curricula

would only enhance learning and help the university get a little closer to the well-rounded education that it purports to provide.

Even in the teaching of these European philosophers, however, universities tend to be Eurocentric in the extreme. Professors often gloss over some of the more questionable beliefs of the thinkers being taught. The introductory Philosophy course I took at U of T, for example, was not only dominated entirely by European philosophers, but it also failed to mention that Aristotle was a firm defender of slavery and believed that some people were just born ‘natural slaves.’

This isn’t restricted to philosophy; from political science to English, professors often fail to thoroughly address the fact that the vast majority of the thinkers being discussed held problematic views of the world. To make matters worse, if these views are even presented, they often go unchallenged, dismissed as products of the thinker’s time. The Decolonising SOAS campaign, on the other hand, calls for a more critical discussion of these thinkers and their views as well as an indepth examination of how these views affected and influenced their work.

Let’s consider for a moment the fact that alleged calls for the removal of European philosophers from the curricula of a school dedicated to African and Asian studies even caused this level of outrage. Would it really be so outrageous for students to ask to have European thinkers removed from their courses if they had no interest in learning them? There is, after all, no requirement at most universities — including at U of T — for philosophy students to take courses that discuss Asian and African thinkers.

Yet, there exists an insidious underlying assumption of the universality of European thought and its inherent relevance to all studies in academia — an assumption that is not only entirely false, but also perpetuates colonial legacies of European superiority and the consequent inferiority of other continents.

Sir Anthony Seldon, the Vice-Chancellor of Buckingham University, denounced the Decolonising SOAS campaign in a Telegraph article by claiming, “We need to

understand the world as it was and not to rewrite history as some might like it to have been.”

But this is precisely what the SOAS students’ union is attempting to do: reveal the colonial legacies behind the philosophers they are taught, behind academia as a whole. Seldon’s comment is ignorant and speaks to the pervasiveness of the assumed relevance of European thought in academia.

History has been whitewashed to the point where a Eurocentric education is widely accepted as the ‘correct’ one.

After all, Canadian universities feel it sufficient to teach extensively about British and French colonial history given their imperial enterprises on the continent, yet fail to properly educate students on Indigenous history or the ways in which colonial processes have extended to Indigenous lives to this day.

Furthermore, the initial misconstruing of the Decolonising SOAS campaign in various news articles cannot be dismissed as a coincidental stream of bad journalism. When a group of students band together to ask for more thinkers who are people of colour and for more critical teachings of white thinkers, they are immediately treated as threats to ‘true’ education, which speaks to larger, underlying efforts to resist change and maintain the status quo.

The erasure of the rest of the world’s contributions and the undervaluing of this work in an attempt to justify that erasure forms the basis of a very real attempt to rewrite history. The SOAS students’ union should be applauded rather than attacked for their efforts to decolonize their education, especially at an institution that claims to be “the world’s leading institution for the study of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.”

In turn, universities in general, including U of T, should be making real efforts to move away from Eurocentric teachings.

Students are wholly justified in demanding these kinds of changes.

Saambavi Mano is a third-year student at Victoria College studying Peace, Conflict, and Justice Studies. Her column appears every three weeks.

relevant to students, The Varsity’s primary audience.

2)

You aren’t writing a diary entry or an essay.

University students often get caught up in the meanderings of descriptive writing or the rigid mechanics of academic style. Journalistic opinion writing is short, snappy, and chock-full of persuasive language.

3)

You need proof.

We only publish content that is substantiated. Examples of commonly cited evidence include statistics, other newspaper articles, and realworld examples.

4)

We’ll work with you.

Writing for The Varsity means getting edited, but we aim to make the process as collaborative as possible. We will offer thorough feedback and suggestions on all pieces you submit before publishing.

To get started, email our Comment Editor, Teodora Pasca, at comment@thevarsity.ca.

Alternatively, The Varsity is located at 21 Sussex Avenue — swing by the second floor during Teodora's office hours from 12:00–2:00 pm on Mondays.

FEBRUARY 6, 2017 • 9

var.st/comment

Debate Club

Public Editor

Should more young people run for office?

Sophie Borwein Public Editor

Zach Rosen and Sam Routley weigh the merits of political candidates who have yet to find their first grey hairs

Show your work The Varsity News Editor, Tom Yun, on the making of a story

PRI SHARMA/THE VARSITY

Zach Rosen and Sam Routley Varsity Contributor and Varsity Staff Debate Club is a column that pits writers head-to-head on questions that matter to students. Though it lacks the shaky knees and microphone feedback screeches that typically accompany any oratory competition, rest assured that Debate Club is not for the faint of heart.

ZR: Ours is a time of widespread political instability and acute mistrust in traditional political institutions. Lack of political experience has become an asset for a political candidate — a trend that may soon continue here in Canada if Kevin O’Leary gets his way.

What is needed now is not more of the same; old-timers well-versed in the dos and don’ts of politics will no longer gain the public’s trust easily. We need new blood, new ideas, new visions, and new dreams. We need a revitalization of the system and a renewed faith in politics itself. More young people in politics would help bring about these changes.

SR: Though one may contend that the political landscape needs to be refreshed, this is not to be done by young people, but by experienced and mature adults. I agree that we don’t need more career politicians; we need the new perspectives of businessmen, diplomats, soldiers, doctors, academics, artists, industry workers, and all sorts of other professionals.

Young people are in the profession of learning, not governing; most do not yet possess the life experience, the knowledge, and the maturity to hold the authority that political office brings.

Instead, young people can bring their ideas to the table through other means of political activism, and in doing so, gain the necessary experience and knowledge for eventual political office.

ZR: According to the Parliament of Canada website, the average age of a Canadian parliamentarian is 51.5 years old, with only six out of 335 members being under the age of 30. While I concede that high school seniors are not likely to be fit to lead government, but I certainly believe that people under 30 have a tremendous amount to contribute. Let’s be clear that I’m not talking about Parks and Recreation’s Ben Wyatt of ‘Ice Town’ fame or Sam Oosterhoff of homophobic notoriety.

As to the point about ‘learning the ropes’ through political activism, I can imagine no better training for politics than politics itself.

SR: Yet in most cases, young people who may have just graduated from post-secondary studies are just beginning their exposure to the real world. Though to a lesser degree than students, they do not possess the life skills and knowledge of experienced professionals, who can bring their accumulated assets from a lifetime of work. For instance, young people rarely have the experience of running a successful business through several financial

Resolution: “Be it resolved that more people under 30 years of age should run for political office.”

In favour: Zach Rosen (ZR), first-year History and Philosophy student at Trinity College Opposed: Sam Routley (SR), second-year Political Science, History, and Philosophy student at St. Michael’s College.

shifts and recessions, something that for the most part comes only with time.

The role of young people should be to learn from those who have years of experience, before taking over themselves. In any professional situation, we do not seek out or readily trust those who are just learning on the job. Why should we not expect the same from our leaders, particularly considering the stakes of many political decisions? Politics can be learned from working with politicians, internships, and volunteering for campaigns — it does not have to be through governing.

ZR: Yet, the ideal young candidates for political office are not stoners who live in their parents’ basements or loafers who haven’t worked a day in their lives — in fact, they may be exactly the young businessmen, doctors, academics, and professionals referred to above.

Frankly, I just don’t buy the notion that someone in their 20s doesn’t have the intellectual capacity to contribute to government or to be a leader. In fact, they may bring with them a fresh perspective that is often sorely missing in political circles full of older individuals, particularly when it comes to creative or technologically innovative solutions to age-old problems.

Let’s also not forget that we are debating whether more young people should ‘run’ for office — if a young person is unqualified due to a lack of experience or knowledge, then we ought to let the constituency elect someone else, perhaps someone older. Participation should always be encouraged, not disparaged.

SR: It is certainly a good thing for young people to participate in politics — holding political office is just not the best means to do so. Some of the best examples of how young people can influence political decisions are by participating in social movements or campaigns.

Yet, the authority of political office — and the final decision-making role — is best held by those with the experience and wisdom gained only from a long life. Young people are best suited to participate through other means, support their ideal candidates, and take the time to learn and gain experience before taking such significant responsibility upon themselves.

LAST WEEK’S RESULTS: Is Robarts the ugliest building on campus?

Robarts is hideous: 54.7% I’ve seen worse: 45.3%

45.3

54.7

I’ve read many lamentations to the media in recent weeks from people who think serious journalism is withering away in today’s post-truth world, where emotion — not empirical reality — shapes public opinion, and ‘alternative facts’ are on offer to those who don’t like the ones the mainstream media report.

But I’m upbeat about journalism’s future. Here’s why: as the media deals with its crisis of confidence, it is also confronting, head on, questions of what it takes to keep faith with its readers, while staying committed to comprehensive, accurate, and fair reporting.

Media powerhouse Reuters, to give just one example of how outlets are responding, has pledged greater transparency in its reporting. It promises to tell more of the stories behind its news stories — how they get investigated, written, and finally, corroborated.

It is in this spirit that I sat down last week with The Varsity’s News Editor Tom Yun to bring to readers our own version of Reuters’ pledge.

Yun walks me through The Varsity’s reporting process and weekly production cycle. I ask him how he finds out about events unfolding on campus.

“Every now and then we get tips,” he says. “The job would be much more difficult if it wasn’t for the eyes and ears of our contributors and our readers.”

Mostly, though, “it is knowing where to look.” Every week, Yun sorts through the meeting agendas for U of T’s governing bodies — Governing Council, the University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU), and the like. Sometimes, he’ll get a heads up about unfolding events from the university’s Media Relations team. Other times, he’ll go down to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to sift through statements of claim filed against the University, looking for leads.

Yun tells me about breaking the news of leaked videos documenting prejudiced behaviour among St. Michael’s College Student Union (SMCSU) representatives, in a story he co-wrote with The Varsity staff Helena Najm. “It was actually an anonymous Twitter account that had been set up just to post the videos… and they mentioned The Varsity,” he says. The Twitter post gave his team a brief start in investigating the videos, but the story quickly blew up on Facebook, attracting a flurry of reactions from the community.

The controversy erupted late on a Friday evening. To ensure fair and balanced reporting, journalists give parties impacted by a controversy the opportunity to comment. The Varsity is printed early Monday morning, Yun tells me, “so when something hits us at the end of the week, we are sort of hamstrung with time constraints.”

Despite having less than two days over the weekend to get statements, The Varsity secured responses from the parties directly affected by the video leak. The story went to press with comment from the students who made the videos, the student whose house they were filmed in, SMCSU’s then-president, and the administration at St. Michael’s College. UTSU and the Muslim Students’ Association also issued public statements, which were included in the reported story.

I ask Yun about the use of the word “Islamophobic” in his column. Some readers felt the word was too strong of a label for the actions of SMCSU’s representatives. Yun points out that the article used the term only with reference to UTSU’s statement, which condemned SMCSU for “appointing an executive that engaged in Islamophobic and racist practices,” and the Muslim Students’ Association statement, which called for the dismantling of campus Islamophobia, “whether intended or unintended.” Still, Yun thinks that how a story gets reported should boil down to how the affected community responds. “If you have a lot of groups on campus who have been hurt by these videos,” he says, “then that is serious, and we should address it how it is.”

The SMCSU story — like all other reporting at The Varsity — passed through a team of fact checkers before going to print. Fact checkers examine reporters’ full interview transcripts to make sure no one is misquoted and substantiate other sources used in the story. At a time when the media is contending with President Donald Trump’s brazen fabrications, fact checking has taken on heightened salience — as the last safeguard against inaccuracies in reporting, which can undermine readers’ trust.

Yun’s commitment to The Varsity’s journalism — and to campus reporting more generally — is palpable. His job, he tells me, is to ask himself, “Why are people reading our paper instead of The Globe and Mail?” He thinks The Varsity’s unique strength is holding the university’s authorities and governing bodies accountable. U of T’s governing structures attract limited attention in Canadian reporting, but Yun points out that students pay considerable money to their university and student governments, “and it is important to hold these powers to a certain set of standards.”

It is this accountability role for campus reporting that makes Yun optimistic that, no matter how many Buzzfeed-style global media outlets emerge, The Varsity will continue to have purpose and place within the U of T community.

Cue differences, spotlight experiences Exploring how diverse voices are gaining traction in the entertainment industry through the upcoming U of T Drama Festival and Academy Awards Daniel Samuel Associate Sports Editor

I

f theatre has any supreme ability, former U of T student actor and theatre aficionado Jane Smythe knows it is the power to share and heal.

“I had a lot to get off of my chest a couple years ago, so I started doing playwriting because it was the only type of writing I felt I could engage with,” Smythe said.

“I wanted to tell my story in an art form I thought… could possibly express the way I could want it to be. For me, the idea of theatre is the opportunity to do whatever type of art form you want to do — you can sing, dance, [move], or literally paint a picture on stage and it could be part of your play.”

In its twenty-fifth year of existence, the University of Toronto Drama Festival will serve its audiences from February 9–11 with nine unique plays: Family Portrait; Swipe Right; Just the Fax, Ma’am, Just the Fax; A Lullaby and Apology; Suzanne; Mama; A Perfect Bowl of Phö; Monsters; and Touch.

As an accurate reflection of life in Toronto and the university’s eclectic student population, diversity exists within each play; it is channelled through their writers, casts, crews, and subject matter. ‘Diversity’ feels like the perfect word for 2017. It’s grown up from its previous existence as a buzzword used insincerely for the purpose of sounding progressive to a phrase that more meaningfully denotes inclusion.

REPRESENTATION IN STORYTELLING Each theatre production varies in script, actors, and directors, but they all serve the ultimate purpose of helping us to better understand the human experience.

Smythe is a veteran of the Drama Festival, having directed the UC Follies production Swim To The Moon in 2015 and winning the IATSE Award for Technical Achievement.

She also wrote and starred in their 2014 festival entry, The Sessions, as the character 21, a woman struggling with the traumatic experience of having been raped at the age of 13.

Her current theatre troupe, Glass Reflections Theatre Collective, maintains a mandate that promotes inclusion and diversity. Smythe serves as General Manager, and she co-founded the troupe with Artistic Producer Deborah Lim, Artistic Director Stephanie Zidel, and Assistant Artistic Producer Grace Poltrack.

Through writing and performing in The Sessions, Smythe was given the opportunity to engage with her peers and tell her own personal story, one of the paramount benefits of the art form. Lim directed the show.

“She told my story in a way that was incredibly vivid and was a therapeutic experience for me to share my vision… and kind of see the transformative nature of working with a group of people and having a collective understanding of things and kind of understanding that their feelings are valid,” Smythe said of Lim’s direction. “There was kind of this healing effect between everyone who worked on the show.”

This year at the Drama Festival, Swipe Right touches on a common topic — bad dates. The play explores how microaggressions surrounding identity shape online dating and people. For co-writer Savana James, a priority is allowing performers to explore their own identities in their characters, and to create stories minority audience members can relate to.

“I love that with Swipe Right, we wrote roles that belong to diverse performers, because it gives them opportunity that doesn’t often exist,” James said, “As a storyteller, I feel like I have a responsibility to create these stories that don’t exist, to start new conversations and opportunities in theatre. I want to tell stories that haven’t been told before. The types of stories I wish I had got to hear.”

The play Touch, written by Marium Raja, analyzes the different types of physical contact that are made between people and the importance behind what many deem to be a simple act. The play follows the main character, Florence, her difficulties making contact with others, and the different people and relationships she encounters throughout her journey.

“This play follows the stories of her and people she knows — not necessarily all friends, some are acquaintances, some are strangers, but all of them brush shoulders as we all do in our daily lives. Brief moments of contact, some shining, others we’d rather leave behind in the dark,” Raja said.

When Raja sat down to write Touch, she wanted to prioritize diversity in the process of casting the play, as Florence was written to be played by a person of colour.

“None of the characters were specifically written with specific races in mind, but I knew beforehand that I wanted to prioritize genderqueer actors and actors of colour,” Raja said, “This play is meant to reflect the universality of everyone’s experiences with physical contact, and I wanted the characters to be representative of the people I have come to know at this university.”

CONTROVERSY OVER THE OSCARS Diversity may be the toast of Hollywood at the upcoming eighty-ninth Academy Awards, as black-led films Moonlight, Hidden Figures, and Fences have helped diminish last year’s #OscarsSoWhite controversy.

The controversy, a shared outcry that Hollywood is racist, was fuelled in part by host Chris Rock’s introspective monologue as he demanded that “black actors receive the same opportunities as white actors.” Rock’s single mistake was not demanding a more intersectional mandate in which all people of colour should be made a priority.

Raja doesn’t believe that the racism in Hollywood has been solved in the short period of a year simply because films featuring black actors are being nominated for Best Picture.

“It would be simplistic to think that years of systematic racism have been erased just because the Oscars just managed to ‘tie’ with their 2007 record of seven non-white actor nominations,” Raja said.

Manchester by the Sea, Director Kenneth Lonergan’s family drama, fits the standard mould of a seminal Best Picture winner, led by a gleaming pair of past,

present, and likely future Oscar nominees in Casey Affleck and Michelle Williams. Like in Good Will Hunting 20 years ago, it illuminates a story about white male grief in contemporary Massachusetts.

While Smythe wasn’t interested in seeing a film starring “Ben Affleck’s younger brother,” she doesn’t feel like Manchester By the Sea should be shunned just because it is considered by many to be a traditional heteronormative “white film.”

“I don’t think white films are invalid, or films that are made by white people are invalid, there just needs to be support for different types of films,” Smythe explained. “When you look at all of these blockbusters, they’re primarily white and that means that other types of movies aren’t being supported as much... I think the issue is the fact that there’s not enough money being spread around to these different types of productions and different stories.”

Affleck is a divisive figure to anyone who seriously cares about film. He’s an individual who can be mesmerizing as a grief-stricken janitor and who can also encapsulate all the wit and charm that is required to host Saturday Night Live. The 41-year-old is likely to win Best Actor this year, over his fellow nominees Andrew Garfield, Ryan Gosling, Viggo Mortensen, and Denzel Washington, the lone person of colour in the category.

While Affleck’s performance in Manchester by the Sea is brilliant though, the Oscars seem too satisfied with allowing the same voices to repeat throughout history, telling the same narratives.

And glamourizing Affleck’s appeal is particularly worrisome because of the sexual harassment litigation he settled in 2010. A combination of his privilege and talent allowed him to be a subject of debate on whether deplorable behaviour should outweigh the gravity of a performance. This further pushes common logic towards the ultimate question: what is the point of the Oscars anyway?

Raja is interested in the Oscars advancing diversity; she argued for a more diverse group of judges and for the inclusion of quotas, which could be beneficial strategies to help bring about meaningful, fundamental change.

“Having a more diverse Academy panel is a start,” Raja said. “Having quotas, as aggravating as the term is to me, is a start. It is difficult for marginalized voices to effectively call out to be heard, because, well, they’re kind of marginalized. When those in power, those with affluence and the ability to open up opportunities for people who have the same qualifications and talents as their privileged peers, actually use their positions to create those opportunities, that is when more diverse work can be created.”

Smythe recalls the elation her Iranian friends shared with her when A Separation won Best Foreign Language Film in 2012, but she later wondered why it wasn’t also nominated for Best Picture. “It just seems that really mainstream films get nominated for Oscars, like, what’s the point of Best Foreign Language Films and why can’t those films be nominated for Best Picture? Because those films have the diversity you’re looking for,” Smythe said.

COMPARING FILM AND THEATRE Raja, James, and Smythe find that the assumption of theatre being more diverse than film is a loaded one and not entirely accurate.

“There needs to be change,” Smythe said, “I think that theatre has a long way to go in terms of diversity. There’s incredible work being done by Indigenous people and people of colour, people who identify as a part of the LGBTQ, people with mobility issues, and the deaf community; it’s not mainstream, all the mainstream stuff is still white.”

Raja has the same mentality. “As a queer person of colour, it’s fairly important to me,” Raja said. “The more intersections you have, the farther you are from being a cis white straight male, the less you are represented in most forms of media.”

James noted that the call for more representation has been answered, but it is not enough.

“I don’t think the difference [between film and theatre] is as large as people may think,” James said. “I think while theatre has seen a growth in diverse storytelling, much like in filmmaking in recent years, there is still much work to be done. Sure, we have shows such as Hamilton, which swept the [Tony awards] last year, but we cannot pat ourselves on the back for one good year. We need to make sure going forward that the inclusion of marginalized people is considered every year.”

Smythe feels there is a lack of funding for films relating to people of colour.

Raja adds that people of colour face abhorrent and direct racism when they do break down barriers and ‘succeed’ in major Hollywood productions.

“When you see the significant backlash that actors like John Boyega and Leslie Jones have gotten just for doing the work they do, when you look at the fact that the top contender for a biopic about the Persian poet Rumi is Leonardo DiCaprio, it’s glaringly obvious that we have a problem,” Raja adds.

The underlying truth about both art forms, regardless of their stylistic differences, is that in the mainstream neither have been very diverse. At least U of T’s Drama Festival presents a forum for theatre to shine through in its best light, as a kaleidoscope of the voices of real and diverse students.

“The great thing about the idea of pushing for further diversity is that there is literally nothing bad about it. People can afford to be a little more aware of their privilege, because everyone has privileges,” Raja said. “It is up to us to be aware of it and use it so that those who do not can be heard as well,” she added.

Swipe Right premieres at Hart House on February 9, the opening night of U of T’s Drama Festival. Touch premieres February 11, the closing night of the Drama Festival, also at Hart House. This year’s Academy Awards are on February 26.

Arts&Culture

February 6, 2017 var.st/arts arts@thevarsity.ca

Operating in a place between pleasure 6ix hidden gems to up your DJ and author Jace Clayton on how digitalization has changed the musical landscape

fashion game

From Queen West to Kensington, here are six clothing stores that deserve a closer look

PHOTO COURTESY OF EREZ AVISSAR

Jace Clayton is the author of Uproot and performs under the name DJ /rupture.

Adam Piotrowicz Varsity Contributor

In 2017, our existence is arguably defined by our membership in a networked civilization. From omnipresent smartphones and social media platforms to the malicious Stuxnet virus, the endless ways in which we currently use technology serve as proof that humans are now a cyborg species. We use technology to enhance our natural capabilities and to achieve things that we could not on our own.

The digitalization brought on by the World Wide Web has irreversibly restructured our universe. In culture alone, digitalization has forever altered the way we perceive, produce, and share content of any kind — and there’s also way too much of it.

According to Jace Clayton, who is alternatively known as DJ /rupture, technology’s current reign is a sign of the changing times: a new playing field that defines what it means to be human in the twenty-first century. His new book, Uproot: Travels In 21st Century Music And Digital Culture, discusses the implications of the digital age across music, art, and culture in our globally networked state.

Uproot is part cultural analysis and part autobiography; its critiques are anchored by Clayton’s experiences around the world as a DJ. In addition to writing and lecturing on global culture around the world, Clayton has performed music under the moniker DJ /rupture for nearly two decades. He came into his own as an artist during a pivotal moment at the turn of the century: the globalization of the Internet and the creation of the MPEG-3 format for audio compression. “If globalization didn’t exist, MP3s would have needed to invent it,” he writes.

“The speed with which digital audio zips from one place to another has shrunk the world,” writes Clayton. “[My] tour travels in the early 2000s were kick-started by a paradigm shift in how music itself moves around.”

Clayton’s seminal 2001 mixtape as DJ /rupture, Gold Teeth Thief — a 68-minute global odyssey that juxtaposes the likes of Missy Elliot, Venetian Snares, Barrington Levy, Wu-Tang Clan, Kid606, Paul Simon, and countless others across three turntables — was originally uploaded by Clayton as a downloadable MP3 to his website, pioneering the format’s use.

Upon its release, the mixtape quickly became a worldwide critical hit, garnering awards from countless music publications and securing him a steady string of concert bookings across the globe.

“The logic that put together that mixtape — the logic that allowed all of those sounds to gather there… it hadn’t really entered the world yet, in a sense,” says Clayton, “I had to really, physically hunt down [each sound].” Indeed, in a world linked by file-sharing and streaming networks, anyone can create anything using content sourced from the Internet. It’s all a click away.

In one of Uproot’s case studies, Clayton explores the

ELHAM NUMAN/THE VARSITY

Riel Flack Varsity Contributor

popularity of Auto-Tune software, from its corrective use in Western recording studios to the role it currently plays as an aesthetic element in various musical styles across North Africa.

The process that began with Auto-Tune’s usage in Cher’s 1998 hit single “Believe” and subsequent popularization by Lil Wayne, has been followed by its use in recordings of the Berber folk music of Morocco. These artists use Auto-Tune in a manner that Clayton refers to as a “cyborg embrace” in Uproot.

Clayton calls this “a recognition of the fact that we’re no longer as individual as we’d like to think we are.” No longer do we believe that we can simply manipulate our own tools.

Rather, he says, “the tools are talking to us… they’re transforming the way we see and look and experience the world.” The relationship between humans and technology is increasingly becoming a two-way street, a byproduct of our digitally-networked existence.

This sort of technological dependency, as well as encroaching fear of it, has been prophesied about for as long as humans have used devices to assist them. It’s been written about by figures from Marshall McLuhan to Isaac Asimov and William Gibson, who reminded us that our actions are determined by these computers’ behaviours just as much as we try to determine their output.

What is the future of music in our networked world, where each piece of data is rendered equal by digital processing? According to Clayton, though the array of music that we may access is vast, we often access it with much of its metadata stripped away. He describes this as “a kind of fundamental confusion between signal and noise… the sheer amount of communication [means] that the misunderstandings multiply as much as the connections do.”

Indeed, digitalization means that ignorance and confusion can travel as fast as the creativity and ideas that bring us together.

However, the rapid and often fragmented way in which digital information and technology spreads worldwide — what Clayton calls “Babeltronics” — does breathe a sense of optimism into what might otherwise be read as a bleak digital future. “We have all these different points of data and modulation and transforming that are pressing on us,” says Clayton. “The world is so interconnected... that all sorts of strange cultures result as a way of this.”

Music provides a starting point for discussion of technology’s equalizing powers. “Music operates in this interesting place between... pleasure, and what works, and what doesn’t… that’s one of the reasons why it’s such a rich topic to discuss,” Clayton says.

In our linked state, the possibilities of what can be done seem to be limitless. While we might be trapped by digital technology, we can still find ourselves in a web of potentials.

Allow the 501 streetcar to guide you to Toronto’s fashion mecca: Queen Street West. Shopping at any of the stores on this street will ensure that you’re on your way to becoming the coolest kid on the block — or at least in Con Hall.

Durumi 416 Queen Street West This store is for your inner fashionista, offering a similar style to Aritzia, but more affordable and unique. Durumi’s exclusive and high quality pieces guarantee that you’ll never be seen wearing the same thing as anyone else.

Must have: the Moschino phone case, of course, or any of their statement sweaters paired with some dainty but edgy jewelry.

Untitled&Co 438 Queen Street West This urban unisex spot makes their clothing in the basement of the store, so customers can feel good about contributing to the local economy. All of Untitled&Co’s apparel is branded, which may give the store a Calvin Klein-esque vibe.

But walking in is sure to make you feel as if you’ve entered the dopest Yeezy pop-up shop ever. From its neutral colours to oversized graphic shirts and hoodies, sexy sheer crop tops, and hats emblazoned with slogans like “waste ting,” there’s no denying that you’ll look like a ‘grade A’ Bella Hadid or A$AP Rocky after shopping here.

Two classic looks: a matching suede Calvin Klein-style bra and below-the-knee pencil skirt, or an oversized long-sleeved graphic tee.

Exclucity 552 Queen Street West Sneakerheads, look no further, because I have placed the Holy Grail of streetwear sneakers before you. After entering this futuristiclooking store, you’ll feel as though you’ve scored front row tickets to OVO Fest, complete with blaring

hip-hop music about to burst your eardrums. The shoes might be expensive, but you want to look good, right? This is a major upgrade from Foot Locker. Exclucity carries the classics with a unique twist, and the rarest shoes you can find.

Must haves: Adidas blush pink Tubular Doom PKs, Nike Air Max Uptempo 2s.

TSOQ aka The Store on Queen 662 Queen Street West This chic, colourful, bright ladies’ boutique immediately brings to mind Honey or Mendocino. Its friendly and complimentary customer service is top notch. Prices range from affordable to ridiculously expensive, leaving you with a lot of choices, depending on what type of bills you’re paying that day.

Classic look: whatever suits your style; every piece here is an incredibly rare find.

F AS IN FRANK 418 Queen Street West This vintage boutique definitely makes its hip-hop streetwear style known. While mostly for the male Urban Outfitters-types, many women also shop here. F AS IN FRANK is your go-to place for the sickest selection of graphic tees, plus incredible customer service from some very friendly people.

They also carry walls of baseball caps, jerseys, windbreakers, and all things ’90s streetwear.

Must have: a graphic tee paired with a varsity jacket.

Sub Rosa Vintage 16 Kensington Avenue This affordable haven for vintage lovers everywhere is a major upgrade from the popular Black Market. It might not be situated on Queen Street, but I couldn’t keep this mom-jean-addict’s den all to myself. Look for the store with an orange ribbon tied to the door and do your best not to be creeped out — you’ll be fine.

Classic look: the choice is all yours, you hipster, you.

FEBRUARY 6, 2017 • 13

var.st/arts

No animals were harmed in the making of this article Despite reassuring captions, animal actors still face dangers on set Siobhan Spera Varsity Contributor

In both film and television, animals portray some of the most beloved characters. From Lassie the Rough Collie to Babe the pig, animals have embodied some of the most iconic characters in popular culture.

It is crucial to ensure that these animals are always treated with care and respect.

On January 18, 2017, a video from the set of the recently released film A Dog’s Purpose was leaked by TMZ; it showed a German Shepherd resisting to enter a pool of turbulent water. After finally being coerced into the waves, the dog struggles to stay afloat and submerges below the waves at the end of the video. At this point, the crew presumably rushes over to remove the dog from the water.

The video instantly went viral, with several allegations of animal abuse levelled against the filmmakers. Ultimately, a third-party investigation concluded that there was no harm done to the animal actor.

Star Dennis Quaid, producer Gavin Polone, and the author of the film’s source material W. Bruce Cameron had all denied having witnessed any form of animal mistreatment and claimed that the video had been taken out of context. Additionally, there was speculation that it was rather suspicious that the video, which was filmed in 2015,

was leaked immediately prior to the film’s release.

Nonetheless, the video managed to renew conversations about the treatment that animals face on film sets. In recent years, several incidences of animal cruelty in the entertainment industry have been publicized.

A video released in 2015 showed animal trainer Michael Hackenberger whipping a Bengal tiger and proclaiming his enjoyment for intimidating the animals.

Hackenberger had served as an animal trainer on the set of Life of Pi, the film that was the subject of an email by the American Humane Association (AHA) — a group that supervises the safety of animals during production — which revealed that a tiger on set had almost drowned in a water tank. Despite these incidents, the film was still labelled with the AHA’s ‘No Animals Were Harmed’ disclaimer.

During filming for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, it was reported that 27 animals, including sheep and goats, had perished due to causes including exhaustion, dehydration, or drowning in gullies, even while under the supervision of New Zealand trainers during a filming hiatus.

The disclaimer that the film received was worded carefully: “[The AHA] monitored all of the significant animal action. No animals were harmed during such action.”

S

We don’t deserve dogs. MUBASHIR BAWEJA/THE VARSITY This isn’t to say that all films that use animal actors inevitably place them in dangerous situations. Many films using animals boast a clean record. But despite the AHA’s presence on film sets, incidents of animal cruelty can still occur, especially if precautions are insufficient.

Other organizations, such as the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA), have also stepped in to provide further support on film sets, and ensure the safety of animal use in international media. The DSPCA provides guidelines for the ethical treatment of animals, consultation services, and onsite representatives to oversee animal training and film shoots, in addition to the services provided by the AHA. CGI technology is also becoming a popular option for filmmakers. Its ability to produce realistic images makes it an option for replacing an

animal actor when a scene involves a dangerous or risky stunt.

CGI has even been used to replace animal actors altogether when necessary, not only to cut expenses, but also to avoid the dangers that come with overseeing and training animals that may be difficult to tame. CGI may also enable animal characters to perform actions they are not naturally capable of.

Fortunately, the harm done to animals tends to decrease when awareness is raised surrounding this issue. In fact, since the AHA has become involved with film production, the number of reports of animal abuse caused by film production has dropped significantly. While the problem of animal mistreatment in the entertainment industry has not been eradicated as of yet, public discussion of this problem can only continue to find solutions.

Love trumps hate, so does art A student’s perspective on the role of art in the fight against discriminatory bans Kiana Shahbazi Varsity Contributor

On January 27, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that included the following provisions regarding entry to the United States: an indefinite ban on all incoming Syrian refugees, a 120day ban on all refugee admissions, and a 90-day travel ban applying to citizens from the seven Muslimmajority countries of Libya, Iran, Iraq, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.

While the legality of the executive order is currently in limbo after the Justice Department filed an appeal on Saturday on a federal judge’s order to block the ban, it is still worth examining the effects of such a ban on artistic freedom and creative expression.

Institutionalized discrimination based on nationality means that artists must take on greater responsibility in their work and focus on aligning themselves with a more vocal and vulnerable style of activism. This becomes especially important in the face of a media that has been tainted by ‘alternative facts.’

Sentiments of grief and confusion must, above all, be transformed into action. This point was

ELHAM NUMAN/THE VARSITY

articulated well by revolutionary artist Dread Scott, who remarked: “The more important question is not what Trump will do, but will we do.”

Jen Catron of the performance artist duo Jen and Paul shared a similar sentiment, saying, “We mourn, and then we take action.”

Creating art alone will not suffice — we must aim for mobilization and solidarity in our efforts to resist and counteract the cowardice produced by such discriminatory bans.

Trump’s immigration order represents a threat to artistic diversity and cultural exchange. The limitation on the free flow of art and ideas

is detrimental to institutions that rely on collaboration.

Notably, the Los Angeles County Museum of Arts and the Metropolitan Museum of Art both recently released statements expressing concern for their upcoming exhibitions.

Philip Himberg of the Sundance Institute Theater Program professed similar sentiments of loss regarding Sundance’s annual workshop exchange, which has relied on contribution from 60 Arabic-speaking teachers and professionals for four years.

Further impeded are the multitude of Academy Award nominees that hail from the seven affected countries. This list includes As-

ghar Farhadi, the Iranian director of Best Foreign Language Film nominee The Salesman; Hala Kamil, a Syrian actress who appears in the nominee for Best Short Subject Documentary Watani: My Homeland; and Khaled Khateeb, Syrian cinematographer of documentary The White Helmets, which follows first responders in the Syrian civil war.

Farhadi has already announced his intent to boycott the Academy Awards ceremony, even if the difficulties surrounding his travel to the US can be resolved.

The consequences of Trump’s executive ban for the arts are stark.

Any kind of discrimination that limits the flow of individuals, and consequently their ideas, is unfavourable to society as a whole.

Ai Weiwei, a Chinese artist that boldly embraces his complementary role as an activist, is famously known for saying, “My favourite word? It’s ‘act.’”

We must go further and assert that creative actions need to be inclusive of as wide an audience as possible. By avoiding exclusivity, artists can help deepen the discussion on discrimination and instill hope on a larger scale. Love trumps hate, and so does art.

I D E S

B-Sides is a weekly feature where we pose a question about the arts to generate discussion about the role of culture in our everyday lives.

This week’s question is: What is the ideal album listening experience?

In my opinion, it depends on the artist and the album. When I listened to Mogwai’s Atomic, I started at the beginning and listened to the whole thing. It’s a very instrumental album, and each song flows into the next.

I wouldn’t necessarily say the same about a Drake album, where I would most likely skip the songs with lyrics I didn’t particularly like.

– Rueshen Aksoy

If there’s an album I’ve really been looking forward to, I will sit down as soon as I can with the lyrics for each song up on Genius while I’m listening through. Annotations give context, which provide the music with more meaning. Also, I will live-tweet my experience. If I’m vibing, the world must know.

– Sarim Irfan

Recently, I’ve been really bad at keeping track of my favourite bands. When I do find out about an album release, though, I usually scream out of pure excitement. I then proceed to listen to the whole album in order, on repeat, for at least a week. You have to truly listen to the songs in order to get the full effect.

– Rachel Chen

I’ll still buy a record if I want to support a favourite artist, but I mostly stream albums now.

First, I’ll give an album a passive listen all the way through.

Then a second one where I listen more intently. If the record sticks with me in any way, it stays on regular rotation during my daily routine. Late night listens with no distractions are saved for my absolute favourites, the ones that pass all the other tests. Most recently, that’s been Frank Ocean’s Blonde.

– Edgar Vargas

14

ADVERTISEMENTS

2017 Governing Council Elections Student Candidates’ Statements Voting Period: Monday, February 6, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. to Friday, February 17, 2017 at 5:00 p.m.

Online voting will take place on U-elecT at voting.utoronto.ca and through a secured website for graduate medical trainees.

Full-Time Undergraduate Students – Constituency I (Faculty of Arts and Science; University of Toronto Mississauga; and University of Toronto Scarborough) Ebun Akinsanya I am a third year international student from Nigeria pursuing a double major in International Relations and Political Science. During my time in U of T, I have been an executive member in various student organizations and volunteered in student-focused programs such as orientation. I have also had the opportunity to work in the Office of Student Life and in my college. Going into my final year, I want to leave an impact on UofT, which I believe I can do through the Governing Council. My goal is to represent my peers and work towards a better UofT! Jina Aryaan VOTE JINA ARYAAN! I’ve represented you at multiple ArtsSci Council Committees, and now I want to represent you on Governing Council, where I can fight for: reducing tuition costs, establishing a policy against sexual violence, increasing research opportunities, scholarships, financial grants, healthier food options on campus, and creating a transparent link between students and the administration. I want to engage YOU as a student in being a part of the change YOU want to see. I’ve got the passion, commitment, and leadership experience to speak out on all issues concerning my peers. Let me represent, work hard, and speak out for you!

David Boshra The University of Toronto, in particular, UTM, is my second home and I strive to keep it at its excellent academic and social standing.

With my experience in different leadership roles on previous governing councils in different institutions, I plan on keeping the student voice strong within our UofT Governing Council and am seeking your support to get there. It’s important to have a say in what directly affects us, and I believe I can make a successful difference by providing room for effective change and voicing our concerns and dis/approvals of certain decisions and/or regulations. Together for competence!

Germán Andres Guberman My name is Germán Andres Guberman. I am entering my last year of studies at the University of Toronto Scarborough. Born and nurtured in Buenos Aires and Montreal respectively, the transition to Toronto was not an easy one. Perhaps the single most helpful experience in my undergraduate degree has been the opportunity to conduct academic research in support of institutional initiatives or publication efforts of individual professors. I will seek during my tenure in the Office of the Governing Council to expand research opportunities and support initiatives for the research groups that have provided countless students with invaluable academic experience.

Amanda Harvey-Sánchez Vote Amanda Harvey-Sanchez for Governing Council! As an active third-year student studying Environmental Studies, Anthropology and Equity Studies, I coordinated the UofT campaign for Fossil Fuel Divestment and mobilized students in opposition to pipelines. As an organizer for 350.org, I facilitated community engagement in Canada-wide government consultations as part of the People’s Climate Plan. If elected, I will advocate for environmental justice and sustainability on campus and more affordable education. I will also call on UofT to address fair student wages and rising student debt.

For more information, visit my website at amandaharveysanchez. ca. From February 6-17, please vote online at voting.utoronto.ca!

Karen Hakim As a full-time undergraduate student, I feel the responsibility to contribute to enhancing the overall student experience at the university. As I have previously been committed to establishing

a strong student voice by holding various positions on Student Councils, being elected to serve a two-year term as Student Trustee for previous School Boards, and further contributed by serving as representative for Southwestern Ontario students on a Provincial scale. Through these experiences, I have learned the importance of involving students in school affairs, and bringing student voice to the board table as the tool for ensuring future success.

Changmo Kim It is with great passion that I submit my application to serve on the Governing Council as a Full Time Undergraduate. I have current experience serving on student affairs of various magnitudes as both an executive member on the Neuroscience Association for Undergraduate Students and Athletics Commissioner on the New College Student Council. I am also well versed in intercampus relations as Coed Vice Chair of the Intramural Sports Committee. In serving these committees, I have gained insight and understanding on handling issues and challenges. I would be honored to uphold and shape the interests of the University.

Marc Marlo Laurin The University of Toronto is Canada’s oldest, largest, and highest ranked university. It’s no simple task upholding a prestigious reputation, facilitating superior education and ensuring opportunities for learning and personal growth are available to all students, regardless of status, ethnicity, culture, sexual identity and/or disability. I will ensure the interests of students are represented when advocating on issues that affect us. I will engage the community and promote positive change through involvement, awareness and action. I hope every student can enjoy and benefit from their experience at the University of Toronto, please visit http://www.votemarc.ca for more information.

Marc Lavigne Marc Lavigne is currently a public policy Co-Op student. His community involvement includes serving as student trustee for CSDCCS, vice-president of the francophone student trustee association, board member of Reflet Salveo (government mandated organization advising Local Health Integration Networks), representative council for FESFO (Franco-Ontarian organization), and the Ministry of Education’s Student Advisory Council. Also, he attended numerous conferences on secondary/ post-secondary education. Volunteered locally at TPASC and as Toronto Zoo Ambassador. On campus, he is a representative for Students of Sociology, member of Model United Nations Club, improvisation and intramural sports. In secondary, was member of 7 sport teams and improvisation captain.

Elizabeth Limanto I am a first year in the Faculty of Arts and Science, hoping to pursue Global Health and Pharmacology. I think the governing council plays an important role in the university because elected governors, as students, get to have a voice in the decision making about issues that concern their peers and fellow students. I hope I can bring some of my experience as secretary of my school’s student council to the table, and I look forward to learning and gaining even more experience during my time of service.

Alexander Markovic Hey University of Toronto students! Ticking the box next to my name may not seem like a critical action, but it will bring me one step closer to sitting on the Governing Council and it doesn’t take up a lot of your time. I am an ambitious and passionate student at Victoria College. My reason for running is to instigate change and represent your vital opinions and voices at this institution. Engaging with the students that make up our university in order to create a vibrant and successful community is the utmost priority for me during my mandate!

Abdulla Omari As a third year student who has served on a series of bodies and groups at UofT, I would like to bring my extensive knowledge and seasoned focus to Governing Council to develop a series of realistic policies that advocate for a series of changes. These include a Text Book Subsidy and a Student Help system that will centralize support for students with stresses in the financial, educational and situational realities of our lives. While simultaneously providing ongoing support to campus based efforts and groups to address the rising parking, food and residence costs which fall under campus council purview.

Nikita Roy Nikita Roy is in her third year at UTSC completing a major in Health Studies and a double minor in Biology and Applied Statistics. She currently sits on the UTSC Campus Affairs Committee, the Council on Student Services and chairs the Health and Wellness Advisory Committee. She works as a peer mentor program developer and coordinator for the English Language Development Centre, as well as a committed member of the Emergency Medical Response Group at UTSC. She firmly believes in creating opportunities for students to engage in the community. To get to know Nikita, visit: www.nikitaroy.net.

Michael Warchol Michael is a fourth year student pursuing a Bachelor’s degree with a double major in Political Science and European Studies and a minor in Polish Studies. This year, Michael invests his leadership skills as the President of the Association of Political Science Students.

He has experience with previous leadership roles, including being a Deck Supervisor, a Standard First Aid Instructor, and a Communications and Events Coordinator with the OISE Alumni Association. Michael is running to be your undergraduate student representative on Governing Council and is determined to be a vocal advocate and a genuine spokesperson for student needs at UofT. https://www.facebook.com/Michael-Warchol-759227670895776/ Robert Xu 1. School should never start on Thursday. 2. Dramatically increase investment in undergraduate education. 3. People are suiciding.

Students should not be treated like numbers. Health and Wellness Center needs to be improved instead of causing further frustrations for students. 4. The Student Union is incompetent, cut cost, decrease size, fix election procedure. 5. Vote against any tuition rise. 6. More awareness on climate change. 7. More free fitness lessons instead of costly ones. 8. Upper-year students need support for social life on campus. 9. No academic record for late withdrawal. 10. Robarts needs beds.

Sayeh Yousefi It’s due time that students at UofT were listened to. Currently, with the several allegations of malpractice targeting college administrations, there is a growing degree of division among students and administrators. This issue needs to be addressed by increasing the transparency and communication among students and administrators, and by doing so creating a mutually beneficial relationship that can allow students to flourish. Having worked with both local youth councils as well as the advisory council to the mayor for several years, I believe I have the necessary qualifications to effectively pursue the goals and wishes of the student body. url: https://www.utoronto.ca/news/robot-soccer-exotic-pepperssocial-justice-and-more-why-these-undergrads-are-u-t-s-newestloran

ADVERTISEMENTS

Full-Time Undergraduate Students – Constituency II (Professional Faculties) Aidan Fishman Between work, fun and maintaining your GPA, do you ever feel like a fish out of water? If so, Aidan Fishman is your candidate! I’m running for re-election to Governing Council because I believe that students in professional faculties like engineering, law and pharmacy need a wise, experienced representative looking out for our interests. As an undergraduate member, I fought successfully to expand campus wi-fi access and hold fee-collecting groups accountable to students. We can’t stop now – please send me back to push for a better university. Every school (of fish) needs its leader – vote the Fish for Governing Council!

Stephanie M. Hovdestad Hello my name is Stephanie Hovdestad I’m a first year undergraduate student in Kinesiology. I’m from Calgary, Alberta. I came to the University of Toronto because I was intrigued by the vibrance of the city, the opportunities and the student life at the University. After having spent my first semester here I would not have gone anywhere else, the University has become a new home for me. I want to make a positive influence to the University and give back to the community that so warmly welcomed and supported me.

Lina Khairallah My name is Lina Khairallah. I am currently a third year Pharmacy student at the University of Toronto. I have a bachelor degree in Microbiology and Immunology and a Master’s degree in Experimental Medicine from McGill University in Montreal. I have held a number of community leadership roles, including Chief of Finance and Fundraising at University of Toronto’s Interprofessional Student-run clinic (IMAGINE). I am currently working on a Quality Improvement project at Saint Elizabeth Health Care in Toronto. I am a passionate and hardworking individual who promises to vocalize the student perspective during council meetings.

Sam McCulloch As the finance director of LGBTOUT, and the sponsorship director for the engineering society, I have made it my mission to make students’ lives better. The dentistry, engineering, medicine, and law programs are known for their professional integrity and the quality of education they allow students. On governing council I pledge to maintain this integrity by protecting tuition caps, improving academic appeals, and respecting student governments. In my term bureaucracy and poor policy will never affect a students education.

The power of governing council should only be used to enable education, and better the student experience.

Peter Singh I will push for the policies of increased TA to student ratio, smaller classes and that the university focus on undergraduate education.

To us, the students, learning and transcripts matter most. The question is why our transcripts are often bad and learning inadequate?

I do not expect to change university, but I will ask these and many more questions. I will ask all those things, which you want to ask the people, who are running U of T. Twesh Upadhyaya I am excited to bring you the strong influence that Professional Faculty students deserve on Governing Council. I support a lower tuition cap, more consistent TAs, and investment in campus nap spaces. I serve on the UofT Engineering Society’s Board of Directors, the Finance and Election Committees, and chair the Policy and Structures Committee. In Grade 12, I was the Student Trustee for my region; representing thousands of students directly to the School Board. I recently received the Best Representative award from the Engineering Society. Vote Twesh for experienced, effective, and trustworthy leadership. Vote Twesh for Governing Council!

Thank you. https://www.facebook.com/events/366199630416684/

ly near PhD-completion, I’ll leverage off comprehensive experience representing and inspiring students in policy-making rights-protection, coalition-building – UTGSU By-Law/Policy, Finance, Equity bodies; SJE- and OISE-wide student constitutions, elections; department- and faculty-level Curriculum and Research Committees, restructuring, constitution-upgrades. I’ll be your winning voice for augmenting real job opportunities domestically and internationally; fostering (non)academic communities for Equity and Sustainability; energizing Canada’s Indigenous-&-non-Indigenous shared future! Platform, governance-strategy, etc.: https://winningwithlynneagain.wordpress.com/

the GPLLM program, he is an experienced leader in governance, strategy, and city-building. Kevin has served as the voice for over 330,000 young Torontonians at City Hall, Co-Chair of the Toronto Youth Equity Strategy, and on multiple boards including the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto. He has also represented Canada at the G8 & G20 Summits. For his service, Kevin has been named one of Her Majesty The Queen’s Young Leaders and Canada’s Top 30 Under 30. More about Kevin: http://kevinvuong.ca/, https://www.linkedin.com/in/vuongkevin.

Isabelle Babici My name is Isabelle Babici and I’m hoping to represent the graduate voice while working on a MEd at OISE. Coming into this prospective position, I offer 5 years of advocacy in Student Services at college level and 7 years of volunteering as a liaison in critical/intensive care at Sunnybrook Hospital with a personal focus on equity and social justice. I believe strong stewardship in a BOG position leads to a university that can better act/react to the challenges of globalization, precarity and the pressures of performance as an institution known internationally for its research and educational leadership.

Arman Ghaffarizadeh My name is Arman and I am currently a master’s student at the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering. During my undergraduate studies at UofT, whether as a representative of the Faculty Standing Committee or as a member of various student organizations, I tried to enhance my student life as well as improving the community I was a part of. Being a governor enables me to share the concerns of graduate students in different aspects such as supervisor interactions, budgeting, and academic issues. I believe a healthy environment would benefit both students and the university as a united organization.

Priscilla Mak As a Master of Public Policy candidate with a Bachelor of Business Administration, I am an active member of the U of T community strongly committed to advocating for policies that support the needs of graduate students. Throughout the past 6 years, I have served the university and represented community interests in diverse roles, working previously with the University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union and currently with the Mississauga Public Library Board. With this experience, I am eager to strengthen the graduate voice at the table to prioritize and work on important challenges on behalf of my colleagues. https://ca.linkedin.com/in/makpriscilla Soheil Milani My name is Soheil Milani and I’m studying Global Affairs at the Munk School. I’ve come to know U of T as a home away from home as I’m sure you have too. I previously sat on the board of directors for the Canadian Political Science Students’ Association, where I represented Ontario students’ interests at the national level. I’ve also advocated for students’ rights at City Hall as a member of the Toronto Youth Cabinet and as an elected councillor for the LYAC. I’ve come to understand how to manoeuvre the minefield of student politics and get things done!

Michelle Mohabir The University of Toronto contributed immensely to my growth and development. It was here that I completed my undergraduate degree, which provided me the opportunities to start my career. Returning to attend the Rotman School of Management, I would like the opportunity to be your Graduate Student representative. As your representative, I will be the voice for the graduate students to ensure that your concerns are being heard; this includes lobbying for increased funding, equality among students, equality among departments, and increased resources to ensure that your graduate experience is a memorable one.

Mama Adobea Nii Owoo Mama Adobea Nii Owoo is a PhD student at Ontario Institute for Studies in Education researching Multilingual Mother Tongue Based Education. She has taught K-12 and served in student government and advising capacities across four continents. Before attending OISE, she was a Translator and TA at the Universidad de Sevilla, Ohio University and University of Ghana. She has a BA in Political Science and MA in Spanish and was an Ohio University Graduate Student Senate representative, Secretary of Rotary International’s Rotaract Club of Adentan, and Student Delegate at Universidad de Cienfuegos in Cuba. She has recently been elected President of OISE’s International Student Association.

Part-Time Undergraduate Students The following two candidates have been acclaimed for the two (2) Part-Time Undergraduate Student seats on Governing Council for 2017-2018: Susan Froom (Trinity College) and Mala Kashyap (Woodsworth College) Graduate Students – Constituency I (Humanities and Social Sciences) Lynne Alexandrova As your Governing Council rep, I’ll mobilize rich Canadian-international perspectives from (non)degree studies, teaching at 5 universities, 4 different countries. Conference-funding, GAs, ODSP, OGS have propelled numerous presentations, conference-organizing, (co-)authoring, and (co-)editing. UofT-affiliated since 2006, current-

FEBRUARY 6, 2017 • 15

Tony I stand to confront the indifference and incompetence of the Governing Council and to challenge its vision of a failed future – our future. My candidacy aims to disrupt the closed-door meetings of the most powerful decision making body at the U of T, to interject our voice of dissent and jam the process itself. I DEMAND IMMEDIATE DIVESTMENT FROM ALL FOSSIL FUELS AND IMMEDIATE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING WITH CUPE 3902 FREE FROM ANY DISSEMBLEMENT, PREVARICATION OR FALSEHOOD. With lovingkindness (Pali: metta) in all directions, I shall stand up for this generation of students and for the imperiled generations to follow.

Kevin Vuong Kevin Vuong is a graduate law student pursuing the Global Professional Master of Laws. As the Faculty Council Representative for

Graduate Students – Constituency II (Physical and Life Sciences)

Faizan Khalid Mohsin I completed my undergraduate studies at UofT, during which I was a member of the sciences curriculum committee, vice president of the statistics student union, did research and had a part time job to support myself. I know the difficulties and challenges students face. And I know, firsthand, how they are viewed by the University: They are last on the list of priorities. I will be a loud and just voice for students. I will push for internship and coop opportunities, more awards, scholarships and funding, for lower fees, for repeat-to-replace grade policy. I will dedicate myself to your success.

Sandhya Mylabathula Currently a PhD student (Exercise Sciences), I am dedicated to improving the graduate student experience. I developed leadership and communication skills through serving in graduate student governance for 4+ years, as an executive member of 5 student groups, and as Chief Steward of CUPE 3902. I am committed to increasing representation of graduate student concerns, and support improved graduate student programming and services, mental health initiatives, and graduate funding and working conditions. I hope to bring my experience and enthusiasm to Governing Council, and would be honoured to have your vote on ROSI/ACORN February 6-17 as your Division III/IV representative. http://individual.utoronto.ca/sandhya/ Olagoke Vladimir Oladejo I feel absolutely privileged to be at this institution. With its rich history and reputation, its alumni and their global impact, there’s no other place I’d rather be. I’m hoping to contribute to the progress of the university by joining the Governing Council. Planning and strategizing are huge interests of mine, and I’m confident of being an effective representative. In past years, I’ve been a general secretary, vice president and GSU representative (current). Apparently, there’s never been a representative from the aerospace department. Let’s show some love to UTIAS, even though we seem located in another part of the world. https://www.linkedin.com/in/olagoke-vladimir-oladejo-90210 Emeli (Li) Zhang Beside an academic role as a PhD student in the Department of Medical Biophysics, I have extensive board experiences in various organizations, spanning from departmental Graduate Student Association, Southern Ontario Tsinghua Alumni Association, to international non- profits. As a former international and current domestic graduate student, I will be a unifying voice with emphasis on improving financial assistance, diversifying academic experiences, and enhancing availability of and access to career development activities for graduate students. Please vote for Emeli (Li) Zhang on ACORN between Feb. 6 and Feb. 17. See me on LinkedIn. https://ca.linkedin.com/in/emelizhang

QUESTIONS? Please contact the Chief Returning Officer, Anwar Kazimi at 416-978-8427 or anwar.kazimi@utoronto.ca, or the Deputy Returning Officer, Patrick McNeill at 416-978-8428 or patrick.mcneill@utoronto.ca.

Science

February 6, 2017 var.st/science science@thevarsity.ca

Ig Nobels recognize hilarity in science Seventeen Canadians have earned this ironic accolade Andrew Kidd Varsity Contributor

With more than seven million scientists exploring the world around us, it seems inevitable that some would stray from important scientific theories to the silly, the superfluous, and on rare occasions, the stupid.

For the last 26 years, Annals of Improbable Research, a scientific parody magazine, has awarded researchers with Ig Nobel Prizes, a pun referencing the acclaimed Nobel Prizes, to recognize the most ridiculous scientific work. The awards ceremony takes place at Harvard University — where scientists have won an impressive 49 Nobel Prizes — and recognizes “achievements that first make people laugh, then make [people] think.” The awards are often handed out by Nobel laureates.

Seventeen Canadians have won these somewhat humiliating prizes.

The 2015 Ig Nobel Prize in Physiology and Entomology was awarded to Canada’s Justin Schmidt, who “painstakingly” indexed the relative pain caused by different insect bites

and precisely quantified the amount of misery of a bite.

U of T’s own Kang Lee won a Neuroscience Prize in 2014 for studying the brain activity of people who see Jesus in the burn patterns of toast.

More recently, 2016’s Ig Nobel Peace Prize recognized professors from the University of Waterloo, Sheridan College and elsewhere, who published a study On the Reception and Detection of PseudoProfound Bullshit — bad news for procrastinating students across the globe that might not be able to disguise and submit their pseudoprofound essays now.

These professors’ efforts might not be appreciated by the authors of 2012’s Literature Prize-winning paper on Actions Needed to Evaluate the Impact of Efforts to Estimate Costs of Reports and Studies.

The Ig Nobel Prize described it as “a report about reports about reports that recommends the preparation of a report about the report about reports about reports.”

Possibly more interesting than studies on the intricacies of reports are the awardees of some biology-

related prizes. Studies recognized by the Ig Nobels range from documentation of the first recorded case of homosexual necrophilia in mallard ducks to the exploration of how dung beetles can use the Milky Way as a reference to orient themselves when lost.

In 2015, other Ig Nobel-worthy studies included the discovery that mammals of all sizes empty their bladders in 21 seconds — give or take 13 seconds — and the observation that attaching a stick to the rear of a chicken results in the chicken walking like a dinosaur.

Perhaps the most surprising of the 2016 prize winners is a British writer who was awarded an Ig Nobel Prize in Biology for his time spent living in the wild as “a badger, an otter, a deer, a fox, and a bird” — unfortunately, not simultaneously.

Prizes are not only awarded for research into parts of science that might seem funny, but also for studying classically humorous situations.

In 2014, the Ig Nobel Physics Prize went to Japanese researchers who explored the friction between shoes, banana skins, and floors — a

MIRKA LOISELLE/THE VARSITY

noteworthy contribution to practical jokes of all varieties.

This is the quintessential Ig Nobel Prize winner: a study that appears incredibly comical at first glance, but a moment’s thought reveals truly important scientific consequences.

The interactions between banana skins and moisture under pressure, regardless of if this pressure is provided by the foot of someone about to fall flat on their face, are similar to those found in membranes where bones meet and in mechanically-engineered joint prosthetics.

Just as important was the 2012 Ig Nobel in Fluid Dynamics, awarded for research into the dynamics of liquid-sloshing in the context of a person walking and carrying a coffee cup, helping us protect our caffeine supply from the threat of spills.

The insights we gain from the research highlighted by the Ig Nobels can be invaluable, even if they result from science that some would deem laughable. This is the idea that lies at the heart of the Ig Nobel Prizes: we can both laugh and learn, if we let loose a little with science.

Resuscitating evidence-based policy A case for the scientist-turned-politician Geith Maal-Bared Varsity Contributor

The scientific community stands among those who have been disrupted by the recent political turbulence in the US and around the world. US President Donald Trump has not shied away from rejecting empirical evidence, as demonstrated by his willingness to fuel unsubstantiated apprehension toward vaccines and downplay the reality of climate change.

Recent statements from the transitional head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Myron Ebell, are unlikely to assuage concerns over the integrity of the federal body and its data repository.

In an interview with The Guardian, Ebell insisted that any retraction of EPA data, research, and reports was likely, arguing instead that “a great deal of what the EPA puts out in the way of so-called ‘climate education’ — some of the research that they’ve not necessarily done but promoted — does not meet the minimal standards legally required by the federal information quality act. It therefore needs to be changed or withdrawn.”

Given the administration’s promulgation of ‘alternative facts’ and Ebell’s nondescript definition of what constitutes ‘climate education’, prospects for the protection of information at the EPA seem bleak.

It is not clear that the withdrawals to which Ebell referred would exclude the wealth of climate research on the EPA’s website. According to Ebell, “President Trump said during the campaign that he would like to abolish the EPA or ‘leave a little bit’. It is a goal he has and sometimes it takes a long time to achieve goals. You can’t abolish the EPA by waving a magic wand.”

The administration’s stance on the EPA is one of several examples illustrating the depreciating value of science at the executive branch of governments. As a result, a March for Science is in the works and has been scheduled for April 22.

The Washington-based protest has already spawned planning of sister marches that will extend beyond US borders.

Some have jumped headfirst into the realm of American politics. The not-for-profit organization 314 Action is aimed at facilitating the political success of those very individuals. Founded by Shaughnessy Naughton, a chemist-by-training who ran for office in the 2014 and 2016 Democratic primaries, the organization’s overarching goals include defending scientific integrity, increasing STEM education, and bolstering the role of scientific evidence in policymaking.

Speaking to The Atlantic, Naughton argued that scientists are often under the impression that their

work is “above politics,” leading them to overlook the politicization of science. She cautions, however, that “politics is not above getting involved science… We’re losing, and the only way to stop that is to get more people with scientific backgrounds at the table.”

The organization tasks itself with outreach and engagement activities, while also providing the means and know-how for running a campaign. “Partly, we’re making the case for why they should run — and Donald Trump is really helping us with that… Then, we’re showing them how to run, and introducing them to our donor network,” Naughton said.

Naughton’s efforts through 314 Action — as well as her congressional bids — seem to have established a science-conscious constituency and a loyal base of donors. The organization will hold an online training session for political aspirants with a STEM background on March 14; over 1000 people are currently signed up.

One may argue that the organization’s commitment to exclusively back Democratic candidates invites criticism. After all, organizations that stem in part from the unwanted politicization of science may appear hypocritical if they align themselves exclusively with one party.

At the same time, it seems to be the case that the Democratic Party is

TROY LAWRENCE/THE VARSITY

more favourable toward science and data-driven policymaking, while Republican members of congress are more likely to express skepticism toward climate change. This may explain 314 Action’s choice.

Science is a highly collaborative practice that often transcends national borders. The US National Science Foundation (NSF) reported a considerable increase in the proportion of multinational publications in recent years. In 2003, journal articles resulting from international collaborations amounted to 13.2 per cent of published papers. In 2013, the figure rose to 19.2 per cent.

Given Canada’s ranking as America’s fifth most frequent collaborator, Canadian scientists will undoubtedly feel the ramifications

of Trump’s policies and spending cuts. Furthermore, Trump’s immigration policies are likely to impact attendance at international conferences, whether they occur in Canada or the US. Science is no beneficiary of isolationism. The adoption of isolationist policies puts countries at risk of falling behind in the progressive knowledge bandwagon. To overlook the economic and diplomatic setbacks of such a scenario would be naïve or short-sighted, at best.

The recent surge in protests highlights the following reality: Trump’s ascent to the Oval Office – and the consequent anxieties felt by many — provides fertile ground on which the politically engaged can sow their movements.

FEBRUARY 6, 2017 • 17

var.st/science

Toronto doctors remove woman’s lungs to save her life Machines kept woman alive until donor lungs were available Farah Badr Varsity Contributor

“I did not believe them because I was not even in pain,” said 33-yearold nurse, mother, and Burlington resident Melissa Benoit on Newstalk 1010, after she woke from a “last minute” double lung transplantation of unprecedented measures. For six days, Benoit was in the Intensive Care Unit of Toronto General Hospital without either of her lungs.

As a victim of the genetic disorder cystic fibrosis, Benoit has been chronically coughing her entire life. Cystic fibrosis results from a mutation in a gene coding for a salt regulator found in many of the body’s cells. Salt is involved in a complex pathway required for mucus production, and in cystic fibrosis patients, the disruption in salt regulation results in the formation of thick, sticky mucus, which causes patients to suffer complications in the respiratory, digestive, and reproductive systems.

Benoit recalls that, like other cystic fibrosis patients, she was prone to having aggravated respiratory infections which resulted in hospital visits. The dense mu-

cus acts as a breeding ground for microbes and stands in the way of the immune system. During Benoit’s latest infection, things took a grim turn.

An antibiotic resistant bacterial attack followed by a bout of influenza left Benoit in severe oxygen shortage, or respiratory failure, as her severely inflamed lungs were filled with blood, mucus, and pus. To make matters worse, the infection had spread to the rest of her body, leaving her in septic shock — when rampant infection, or sepsis, results in a life threatening drop in blood pressure and organ damage.

Mortality rates for septic shock can be as high as 50 per cent. On Last spring, Benoit lost consciousness as a result of sepsis.

Benoit’s family agreed to have Benoit undergo a double lung removal without an organ donor in sight. Adding Benoit to the transplant list at that point in time went against hospital protocols, which dictate that patients with sepsis are ineligible for transplants.

Through a nine-hour procedure involving 13 physicians, Benoit’s lungs were removed, and she was connected to a Veno-Atrial Extra-

corporeal Membrane Oxygenation device (VA-ECMO), and a ‘Novalung’. The ‘Novalung’ receives oxygen-poor blood from the heart and delivers oxygenated blood back to the heart to be delivered to the body.

The VA-ECMO acts as a ‘secondary heart’, pushing blood through this artificially constructed circuit.

Within 20 minutes, the sepsis showed signs of clearing, making transplantation conceivable. Although lung transplantation is not an unprecedented procedure, longterm survival rates are low, even with the immediate availability of donor organs.

It was after six days that a matching lung was found, making Benoit the person to have survived the longest period of time without lungs.

During that period, doctors tried to determine whether her brain function was still intact. Benoit’s mother was insistent on getting a response from her daughter and urged her to stick out her tongue. After 20 minutes of trying, according to Benoit, she managed a little quiver which was spotted by her mother and the doctors.

Although Benoit was unconscious during the ordeal, being a nurse, she understood the gravity

IRIS DENG/THE VARSITY

of her situation. “It could have been a death sentence, this trying procedure, or they could have let me have a compassionate death in the intensive care unit… it just seems so science fiction,” she said during an interview with the CBC. Along with receiving a lifelong supply of immunosuppressants to prevent her body from attacking the new organ, Benoit had to endure months of physiotherapy before she could walk again. Additionally, her kidneys were damaged by the infection.

She currently relies on dialysis to clear her body of toxins, but she is scheduled to have yet another

transplant, this time a kidney donated by her mother.

Benoit’s case has offered medical professionals the confidence to attempt this arrangement with future patients in similar positions. During an interview with City News Toronto, Dr. Shaf Keshavjee, Surgeon-in-Chief and director of the lung transplant program at the University Health Network, said, “When we got into [her] predicament before, we would just sort of give up and basically talk about comfort and dying, and turn the machine off, so it is a very radical step to say… there is one more option.”

Curing disease with scientific literature Chan Zuckerberg Initiative acquires AI-powered science search engine Meta up with my sister, Amy Molyneux — who happened to be an incredible developer with experience developing large-scale online platforms — and together we took on the challenge of building an online platform that would solve the problem of literature overload and allow people to stream and discover the literature in a more organic way,” wrote Molyneux. “Sciencescape, and eventually Meta, was born from that challenge.”

STEVEN LEE/THE VARSITY

To stand on the shoulders of research giants, we need to access their scientific research first.

Sheryl Montano Varsity Contributor

Meta, a search engine powered by artificial intelligence (AI), is in the spotlight after news of its recent acquisition by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI). Co-founded by U of T alumnus Sam Molyneux, Meta has the implicit mission of “curing all disease,” unlike other charitable foundations that tend to be disease-specific.

By acquiring this powerful scientific search engine and providing it for free to

all researchers, the CZI steps closer towards achieving its main goals: “To foster collaboration between teams of scientists and labs across multiple universities over long periods of time, to focus on developing tools that are geared toward eradicating diseases rather than simply treating them, and to improve and expand scientific funding writ large.”

In a blog post, Molyneux writes that the idea for his company stemmed from his attempt to address a common hurdle faced by many researchers: literature overload. “So I teamed

Meta’s impact on the research experience In an interview with The Varsity, Michael Guerzhoy, a Machine Learning Professor at U of T’s Department of Computer Science, noted Meta’s potential.

“There was enormous progress over the past ten or so years in terms of making the body of human knowledge searchable and accessible.

You used to hear stories about graduate students working on a research idea for a long while before accidentally discovering that someone already published the same idea. Finding research papers, both old and new, that are relevant to your research used to be laborious.

“Meta aims to facilitate and, more excitingly, automate these processes,” said Guerzhoy.

For all students interested in pursuing a career in machine learning, Guerzhoy imparted the following advice: “For people who are just starting university, my advice is to learn as much math as possible.”

Guerzhoy notes that math is fundamentally what’s behind the “magic” of machine learning.

To him, “it’s kind of amazing that you can use calculus and linear algebra to get insights from data.” He advises students to “take the most

challenging math and statistics courses that you can handle, take an interest in them, and make sure that you deeply understand the material.”

Guerzhoy makes it clear that data is everywhere. “We are surrounded by data — election results, sports stats, financial news, etc.”

However, Guerzhoy makes it clear that theory needs to be practiced by students. “Once you have got a bit of a background in machine learning — through taking a U of T course, or perhaps through taking one of the several excellent online courses that are available because you couldn’t wait until your third or fourth year, start working on machine learning projects,” he suggests.

“In the past several years, a lot of excellent machine learning frameworks, such as Google’s TensorFlow, have become available,” notes Guerzhoy. “They make it relatively easy to build machine learning systems that perform very well. Right now, someone who successfully implemented an interesting machine learning system and can talk about it during a job interview would not have trouble getting an offer. Especially if you are considering graduate school, try to work on a course project or a summer project with a research faculty member.”

News about Meta has generated a lot of excitement and interest about AI among the U of T community.

“It’s great to see that U of T is still a hub for AI innovation,” says Matthew Scicluna, Statistics Lecturer at UTM and a machine learning enthusiast. “It’s very encouraging for future students who want to study machine learning, or use it in their business.”

Sports

February 6, 2017 var.st/sports sports@thevarsity.ca

We all #BLEEDHOCKEY What we mean when we say it’s our national sport

Raghad A.K. Varsity Contributor

There’s no doubt that hockey is Canada’s national sport. It’s the sport that’s played countrywide, from the indoor hockey rinks of St. John’s, Newfoundland to the frozen ponds of Kamloops, BC. Every Canadian has their own unique experience with the sport, whether it’s mourning the Toronto Maple Leafs at the end of another dreadful season or rooting for the Habs to go all the way in the playoffs.

It’s therefore no surprise that Canada’s Olympic hockey teams have dominated the sport. The men’s team has taken home a total of nine gold medals, and the women have

ZAHRA DANAEI/THE VARSITY

earned five, far more than any other national team in both cases.

Canada is not alone in its quest for hockey supremacy; the United States, Russia, and Sweden also have strong hockey teams, but they don’t have the rich history of the game that Canada does.

Despite being home to only seven of the 30 teams in the NHL, Canada still produces the majority of the NHL’s best hockey players, with the sensational Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby leading the pack.

The game actually goes beyond the realm of sports and has deep ties within Canada.

It has helped form our national culture and become a sacred institution that exists everywhere, from our warmest childhood memories, like reading Roch Carrier’s The Hockey Sweater before bed, to sharing a box of Timbits from Tim Hortons.

Tim Hortons, in itself, is a great example of the intersection between hockey and Canada’s national identity. The coffee chain is synonymous with early mornings, productive afternoons, and even late nights. Tim Hortons is not just a coffee shop: it is also a major sponsor of chil-

So You Think You Know Sports: Professional rock, paper, scissors With grim determination and unmatched severity, full-grown men and women battle each other at a child’s game Barry Sangha Varsity Contributor The world of sport is far more diverse than what you see offered at sports bars. This series will profile the lesser-known, the more interesting, and the downright peculiar sports that you haven’t heard of until now.

Straight from our childhood memories of carefree days spent playing capture the flag, hide-and-seek, and other simple kids’ games comes an absurd distortion: the noholds-barred world of professional rock, paper, scissors leagues.

Matti Leshem founded the professional USA Rock Paper Scissors League. Although Leshem is the man behind the growth and development of this league in the United States, the fan following and production value is still a far cry from the leagues in Japan and the United Kingdom, where the game has a status similar to North America’s more conventional professional sports leagues.

Whether or not this sport has any longevity is questionable, but what is certain is that its market value is soaring.

NATHAN CHAN/THE VARSITY

“In order to obtain the impossible, one must attempt the absurd.”

One may be forgiven for asking, what exactly is professional rock, papers, scissors? Thinking back to my childhood days, it seems a little odd to be training and practicing like it is some craft that requires dedication to master. To the naked eye, it looks as if there are just three options that

an ‘athlete’ can pick from.

The idea is to ‘outsmart’ your opponent in what seems to be a game of chance. But Brad Fox, producer and referee of the Rock, Paper, Scissors Society, argues that this is not the case. He states, “There is absolutely a gradation of skill,” implying that strate-

dren’s charities and sports tournaments.

The franchise is named after legendary Leafs defenceman Tim Horton, after all.

While hockey is known by many to be Canada’s sport, it’s not clear when or where it originated. The first recorded organized men’s indoor game was played at Montreal’s Victoria Skating Rink in 1875 and during that time, women started playing too.

The answers to these uncertainties, however, aren’t very important. Hockey is our sport, and it is ingrained in our cultural consciousness.

gies and tactics like those of poker or chess are applicable here too.

Fox acknowledges that there have been a handful of individuals who have never practiced the sport before but have managed to come out victorious in tournaments, but he also asserts that it is not a random occurrence that the same individuals who appear in the last few rounds of championship play frequently.

Perhaps Fox is right that a few gifted individuals are better at parsing the world of probability than others. It could be analogous to writing a multiple choice exam. If three answers in a row are of the same letter, the student is less likely to select that letter a fourth time in a row regardless of whether it seems correct. This concept can be applied to professional rock, paper, scissors.

If one were to pick rock, it seems unlikely that they would select the very same move again. Thus, moves can be narrowed down and selections can be chosen from an extrapolation of previous data to make the best play — or perhaps not.

Rock, paper, scissors may seem like a strange sport to popularize, but with prominent leagues emerging, it is indeed becoming more popular. Major broadcasting companies such as ESPN have shown interest in displaying this, some may say ridiculous, content on the airwaves.

If you’re planning on picking up a new sport anytime soon, don’t hesitate to test out your rock, paper, scissors game — just beware of the threat to your dignity.

FEBRUARY 6, 2017 • 19

var.st/sports

What you can expect from the 2017 U of T Sports Industry Conference This year’s conference brings students together with industry leaders Vanessa Wallace Varsity Contributor

The first day of the sixth annual Sports Industry Conference, hosted by the University of Toronto Sports and Business Association (UTSB) and Rotman Sports Business Association (RSBA), will be Friday, February 10.

For the first time, Desautels Hall at the Rotman School of Management is hosting the conference over a period of two days instead of one.

Unlike the criticism the NHL has received about franchise expansions, the 2017 Sports Industry Conference does not suffer from talent dilution.

As the conference approaches, more panelists and speakers are still being announced. Torontonian and international hockey fans alike will be able to mingle with sports industry household names, including keynote speakers Brendan Shanahan, President and Alternate Governor of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Michael Rossi, President of Adidas Group Canada.

Panels can be expected to provide experiencebased insight from a variety of perspectives within the industry, ranging from league and partner branding to retired athletes or growing amateur sports leagues such as USports.

Jillian Svensson, Vice-President, Business Operations and Development of You Can Play Project, was a 2016 Sports Industry Conference

This biannual international competition is the Olympics of university sport

Brendan Shanahan to speak at this year’s conference. ZAHRA ZAHRAVI/THE VARSITY panelist in the ‘Community and Partnerships’ stream. Svensson says that her panel had “some very senior level executives and you don’t really get to hear that much from people who are behind the scenes.”

In addition, Svensson says the experience exposed her to “a lot of incredibly bright and engaged young professionals. It shows me that the sports business landscape has an exciting future.”

Svensson adds that a major selling point for the conference is leaving with the understanding

of “why decisions are made and what it takes to be a leader in the industry, [which] is valuable information for those just starting out in their career.”

While a growing interest in the sports industry is a contributing factor to the conference’s expansion, Svensson remarks that “[Professional] sports is a very transient business and it’s a small industry.” She emphasizes that to stand out in the competitive industry, you need to “volunteer, intern, and find those opportunities that others aren’t hustling for. This will differentiate you.”

You Can Play and NHL host month-long event for equality in hockey This February, all 30 NHL teams will host events to engender a level playing field for all athletes

NATHAN CHAN/THE VARSITY

The oftentimes exclusive world of professional hockey opens its doors to You Can Play and the quest for equality.

Blythe Hunter Associate Senior Copy Editor

The National Hockey League (NHL) launched a new month-long initiative on February 1: Hockey is for Everyone. Its goal is to use the league’s “global influence” to promote equality in the hockey community with respect to race, religion, disability, socio-economic status, and sexual orientation.

The initiative consists of a variety of activities wherein NHL teams will interact with their communities in order to encourage inclusivity and bring awareness to minority groups in the hockey community.

The NHL collaborated with You Can Play, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to

U of T sends Chief Medical Officer to Kazakhstan for 2017 Winter Universiade

ensure LGBTQ athletes, coaches, and fans are given “fair opportunity” and are judged “only by what they contribute,” to put on the event.

The organization was co-founded by the NHL Director of Player Safety Patrick Burke, in honour of his late brother. Brendan Burke had been a gay athlete at Miami University who died in a car accident only months after coming out. During those few months, however, he had used his platform to call for acceptance in the hockey community.

On You Can Play’s website, Patrick Burke remarks that his brother “taught [him] what the locker room can be like for young LGBT athletes, then showed [him] the difference one person can make by standing up for what’s right.” His hope is that “as each per-

son or team stands up, LGBT athletes everywhere will become aware that they can be themselves without fear.”

This hope is championed by the Hockey is for Everyone initiative. Each NHL team has a You Can Play ambassador who has committed to being a “leader in the locker room and in the community on diversity, equality, and inclusion.”

Select teams will also be designating one home game as a You Can Play night in celebration of local LGBTQ community members.

The Toronto Maple Leafs will host their You Can Play night against the Buffalo Sabres on February 11 at the Air Canada Centre.

2013 Universiade in Kazan, Russia.

THE KREMLIN/PUBLIC DOMAIN

Adit Daga Varsity Contributor The Universiade is the paramount competition in college and university sport. In fact, apart from the Olympics, the Universiade is the largest multi-sport event in the world, with a combined total of 11,500 student-athletes from over 170 countries, competing in 28 different sports in both the summer and winter events.

It follows that for the University of Toronto, sending Dr. Lee Schofield as Canada’s Chief Medical Officer is an honour.

Focusing on sport and family medicine, Schofield is University of Toronto’s only representative this year. His role is well deserved; Schofield has been representing Canada since 2013. Moreover, he was a member of the core Canadian medical team at the Pan Am Games. Prior to that, he practiced medicine at St. Michael’s Hospital, which he still does part-time.

This year’s Universiade is taking place in Almaty, Kazakhstan, from January 29 to February 8. The Chef de Mission, Ari Grossman, commented in an OUA interview: “From the competition venues to the athletes’ village, everything is ready for what will be an outstanding games in Almaty. We’re excited to get there and compete.”

In the 2015’s Winter Universiade in Granada, Spain, Canada won five medals, including bronze in women’s alpine skiing, women’s short-track speed skating, and men’s hockey, and silver in women’s curling and women’s hockey.

Since Canada started participating in the games, our teams have won the men’s hockey gold in all years but one.

Schofield’s job is not an easy one. He will be responsible for overseeing injuries and logistics for all Canadian athletes. Schofield has ample experience in these areas, since he works with U of T athletes at the David L. MacIntosh Sports Clinic and teaches in U of T’s Department of Family and Community Medicine.

This year’s Team Canada will compete in six sports: biathlon, cross country skiing, alpine skiing, snowboarding, hockey, and curling. Fans can stream the games online.

FEBRUARY 6, 2017 • 20

ADVERTISEMENTS

WANTED: WANTED:

Copy Editors editors Copy No No experience experience required required Training, good good times, times, and and TImbits Timbits provided Training, provided Grab your pens and email copy@thevarsity.ca for more details Grab your pens and email copy@thevarsity.ca for more details

DAILY TAPS Features

Craft

Live

MUSIC/DJ THURSDAY to SATURDAY

2016/2017

U OF T’S PERFORMING ARTS LEADER SINCE 1919

Hart House Theatre Season

A Weekend of Competitive Theatre: Student written, directed, produced & performed Adjudicated by David Yee

FEBRUARY 9–11, 2017

7:30 pm curtain

COMPETING GROUPS

St. Michael’s College Troubadours Trinity College Drama Society UC Follies UTM Drama Club Woodsworth • Innis • New • Drama Society / WINDS Victoria College Drama Society Hart House Theatre and The U of T Drama Coalition Present the 25th Annual

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

DRAMA FESTIVAL

BOX OFFICE Adults $12 / Students & Seniors $10 416.978.8849 / www.uofttix.ca

www.harthousetheatre.ca

Season Sponsors: