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September 21, 2020
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UTGSU impeaches same internal commissioner for a second time Concerns about fulfilment of duties, staff treatment, anti-Blackness cited in removal Lauren Alexander Deputy News Editor
During the September 15 meeting of the University of Toronto Graduate Students’ Union (UTGSU), the council voted to impeach its internal commissioner, Lynne Alexandrova, due to concerns about her inability to fulfill the duties of the position, mistreatement of staff, and “perpetuat[ing] anti-Blackness.” This marks the second time that Alexandrova has been removed from the internal commissioner position. The UTGSU General Council pushed her from office in 2018 following allegations that she did not fulfill her duties as internal commissioner. September 15 meeting During the council meeting, Alexandrova questioned the legitimacy of the impeachment process before the in camera motion began. She introduced a motion to table the discussion of the impeachment on the grounds that the documents she submitted to be discussed during the impeachment motion were not distributed to all the council members prior to the meeting. However, Civics and Environmental Commissioner Danielle Karakas and External Commissioner
Jacqui Spencer disputed Alexandrova’s assertion, claiming that Alexandrova had been asked repeatedly over email and in the executive meeting to submit the documents. Karakas also claimed that the council had extended the deadline for submitting the documents for Alexandrova and that her access to the LISTSERV of UTGSU council emails was revoked due to “negligent” use. Reasons for the impeachment The motivation for the impeachment was discussed during an in camera discussion during the September UTGSU General Council meeting. The impeachment motion alleged that Alexandrova has failed to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of her role as internal commissioner, which has created excess work for other executives and staff members. According to the UTGSU website, the duties of the internal commissioner include “preparing and organizing Director and Executive meetings, chairing both the Policy and Operations Committee and the Building Management Subcommittee, managing records of proceedings, and tracking [its] Bylaw and Policy updates.” The motion alleged that multiple members of the
8 6 Comment Business & Labour Re�lections on working with the public during a pandemic
Hear two competing views on online learning at U of T
10 Feature
council, executives, and staff members of the UTGSU expressed concerns about Alexandrova’s “unprofessional behavior,” along with complaints about treatment of staff and short-term workers. Furthermore, the council alleges that Alexandrova “violated confidentiality and perpetuated anti-Blackness” in her position as internal commissioner. In an email to The Varsity, a council member who asked to remain anonymous due to the confidentiality of the impeachment details wrote that Alexandrova was impeached because she was unable to complete tasks and made people “feel unsafe/discriminated against/overwhelmed with work.” The council member also claimed that Alexandrova “would demand people met [sic] her in-person, which has bad connotations in COVID times. She also would overwhelm people with work that led to a resignation within staff.” In response to a question about the anti-Blackness line of the impeachment motion, the council member wrote that although they are not aware of any racist comments made by Alexandrova, “her actions and accusations of incompetence were usually directed at black people.” The source agreed that Alexandrova should be impeached, writing that she could not effectively lead
Immigrant, �irst-generation students on making connections during COVID
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meetings or complete the tasks required of the internal commissioner. “She has been ousted from this exact position before, but this reflects worse on the voting population of UTGSU as opposed to her,” wrote the council member. Response from Alexandrova In an interview with The Varsity, Alexandrova explained that, as a person with disabilities, it can be difficult for her to attend live meetings and to complete her work. She claimed that the other executives did not want to have an August meeting, and therefore disliked that she put forward an agenda for the meeting. When asked about the allegation of anti-Blackness, Alexandrova responded that the allegation arose from disagreements she had with what other members of the UTGSU wanted to do. Alexandrova plans to continue her work with the UTGSU, which includes presenting motions at council meetings. The UTGSU is in the process of planning a byelection, which will fill the positions of internal commissioner and finance commissioner. The UTGSU Executive Committee did not respond to The Varsity’s request for comment.
Science How your favourite jeans may be contributing to water pollution
18 Sports
Raptor’s retrospective: “still in mourning”
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Priority bus lanes to be implemented near UTSC, Eglinton Avenue East, and Kingston Road
Addition expected to reduce commuter travel time and save the city $2.5 million annually Alexa DiFrancesco UTSC Bureau Chief
On October 11, 8.5 kilometres of TTC priority bus lanes will be added from Kennedy Station to UTSC, along Eglinton Avenue East, Kingston Road, and Morningside Avenue. The lanes are expected to reduce transit time of the TTC’s commuters by two to five minutes per trip. As of 2015, 64 per cent of UTSC students relied on transit to get to school. The City of Toronto is anticipating that this decrease will equate to $2.5 million of savings in operating costs and approximately $6.3 million of savings in capital cost, as fewer buses are needed to ensure the same amount of service on the corridor. Installation costs are expected to be around $7.8 million. The TTC decided to make Eglinton East the first proposed priority corridor based on various factors, including transit reliability, available right-of-way, and transportation equity. Existing high occupancy vehicle lanes on Eglinton Avenue East and curbside lanes on Kingston Road and Morningside Avenue will be reserved for TTC buses, Wheel-Trans buses, and bicycles. However, the central-turn lane on Eglinton Avenue will remain in place. Drivers will be able to use the priority bus lanes to enter driveways and make right turns at intersections. Cyclists will also be able to use these lanes.
A new priority bus lane will be ending at UTSC. SAMANTHA YAO/THEVARSITY
Last December, the TTC outlined a proposal to create priority bus-only lanes in Toronto’s five busiest routes, including the Eglinton East corridor passing through UTSC. Before COVID-19, the five corridors held a shared ridership of approximately 220,000 passengers. Their installments are part of the TTC’s 5-Year Service Plan & 10-Year Outlook, which aims to “improve reliability, speed, and capacity on some of the busiest transit routes in the city.” The City of Toronto has since voted unanimously in favour of the traffic and parking regulation amendments needed to install the lanes at UTSC as part of RapidTO, a network
of priority transit corridors around the GTA. “Installing priority bus lanes as soon as possible on the Eglinton East corridor will help us quickly improve access and mobility for Scarborough residents, help manage congestion, shorten travel times, and improve transit reliability so that residents are even more confident they will get where they need to be on time,” said Toronto Mayor John Tory in a press release. “This is the beginning of the RapidTO network, which will help our transit system recover from the impacts of COVID-19 as quickly as possible and ensure that the TTC continues to be a critical part of rebuilding our economy.”
U of T accessibility report details changes in design standards for physical, virtual spaces Focus on web accessibility, eliminating stigma around disabilities
Marta Anielska Associate News Editor
U of T’s Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) Office released its 2019–2020 report, which discussed physical, virtual, and attitudinal accessibility initiatives. The initiatives targeted multiple areas of university policy to ensure it was in compliance with the AODA and other standards. Highlights include a review of design standards for physical and virtual spaces, events and training aimed at eliminating stigma toward visible and invisible disabilities, and an overview of innovative technology for people with disabilities. Physical and virtual infrastructure In January 2020, the AODA Office began a review of the university’s Barrier-free Design Standards, a set of guidelines that are part of U of T’s broader instruction on planning, designing, and implementing construction projects. The review aims to develop standards that are more reflective of legislative and universal design concepts through a consultative approach. The office will also provide a new guideline on how to meaningfully engage in consultations with people with disabilities. Furthermore, the Landmark Project — U of T’s major reconstruction plan for front campus and King’s College Circle — aims to make these areas more accessible. It will restructure ramps and stairs to have a more gradual slope, create new pedestrian-friendly areas, and incorporate more places for people to sit and rest. The report also tackles web accessibility in a variety of ways. U of T hired a web accessibility specialist to engage with experts and stakeholders through training sessions, consultations, and reviews. Employees involved in content creation and design now have an appropriate understanding of web accessibility principles, and the office continues to support staff in implementing recommendations. In an email to The Varsity, Ben Poynton, the AODA officer at U of T, noted that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the office has redirected its
focus to online spaces. Actions include “website accessibility reviews, support on making updates, and training on web accessibility guidelines and principles.” He added that the AODA has “launched a collaborative space on inclusive and universal design resources for online spaces.” Confronting attitudinal barriers In 2019, Accessibility Services launched a survey to reach out to students and, consequently, started promoting external bursaries and scholarships, providing strategy meetings, and increasing drop-in hours. Students also highlighted stigma as a cause for concern. Since being created in 2017, 13,769 staff and faculty have taken an online training module aimed at addressing this issue. The accessibility office launched several events to both educate students on people with disabilities and to help those affected gain confidence when asking authority figures for accommodations. Moreover, the office made addressing invisible disabilities a greater priority. The report dedicated a
section to explaining a streamlined process for registering service animals for people with physical and emotional disabilities. The report also briefly mentioned recommendations from the Presidential & Provostial Task Force on Mental Health, such as expanding U of T’s partnerships with hospitals and other organizations in the mental health sector. Innovation and technology The report contained details on technology developed by groups affiliated with U of T that will aid people with disabilities in their daily lives. The U of T startup iMerciv created BuzzClip, a device that can be worn by those with vision loss to detect obstacles using ultrasound. Another innovation called MuseGo, developed by three U of T graduate students for a competition, uses sensory information to map indoor environments. This can make public spaces like museums more navigable for the caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder.
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SEPTEMBER 21, 2020
Students write open letter to Faculty of Music with anti-racist calls to action New undergraduate alliance forms to empower voices, advocate changes
U of T enrolment expected to stay similar for 2020–2021 year, despite COVID-19 OUAC numbers reveal decrease in applications, increase in confirmed acceptances
Angelina Zahajko and Lauren Alexander Varsity Contributor and Deputy News Editor
The Faculty of Music building. MEHRAN KARIMZADEH/THEVARSITY
Khatchig Anteblian Varsity Staff
With over 170 signatures from undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty, and staff, an open letter to the Faculty of Music Strategic Academic Planning Committee lists several anti-racist calls for action in order to make the faculty and its curriculum more diverse and inclusive. In the wake of the open letter, a new student group has also formed to continue the momentum of anti-racism work at the faculty. Open letter The letter highlights the inherent Western bias in the way that music is taught and the perpetuation of the idea of Western musical superiority. “The classical music canon taught and performed within this and other institutions is inherently Eurocentric, and a failure to address and actively combat this bias will only promote the image of Western classical music as an exclusive art form, to the detriment of both the music and our society,” the letter reads. It also draws attention to the fact that jazz “was born out of Black American musical traditions and that these traditions are inseparable from the music as a whole.” The letter goes on to propose a list of changes within the faculty. These include suggestions for overall curriculum changes, such as teaching diverse composers and performers in music history classes, requiring students to take at least 0.5 credits of courses that engage with world music or music and race, and implementing a mandatory African American history course for students in jazz, among other programs. The letter also calls on the faculty to invite and collaborate with more diverse guest artists for performances, specifically more Black performers, as well as collaborate with the Anti-Racism and Cultural Diversity Office to introduce mandatory professional development workshops and anti-racism training for faculty, staff, and students. The letter further calls on the faculty to do more outreach to low-income schools and schools with smaller music programs in the GTA and create scholarships specifically for its Black and Indigenous students. Faculty of Music Anti-Racism Alliance In the wake of the letter, a group of undergraduate music students at U of T have recently formed a club called the Faculty of Music Anti-Racism Alliance (FoMARA). Their mission statement says that it “[aims] to create an equitable and safe environment within the University of Toronto Faculty of Music and empower the voices of [Black, Indigenous, and people of colour] members.” FoMARA further intends to bring “to light issues surrounding racism, systemic oppression, and colonialism through activism, education and collaborative dialogue with stakeholders in the Faculty of Music and the broader community.” Nikhil James, Vice-President External Affairs at FoMARA and a second-year student in Indigenous
studies and the classical program at the Faculty of Music, said in an interview with The Varsity, “After the killing of George Floyd, a lot of students and alumni and staff at the Faculty of Music, each on their own, came out with calls to action for the Faculty of Music.” “I wasn’t part of the initial letter-writing effort, but after I saw the letters, I [thought that] this is something that I should really get involved in,” James said. “And I think this could become a more sustained effort that we can continue to have.” James also noted that the club’s work is not complete, and the letter is just a starting point. “I’d like to recognize that this was a reactionary letter to recent events,” James said. “And yes, there’s a lot of time spent on this letter, but it’s by no means comprehensive of all the changes that we want to happen at the faculty and will continue to advocate for.” James added that with all the work that is being done, the club isn’t simply an advocacy group but also an opportunity for students to actively get involved and make their voices heard. “We’re trying to stay connected to the community, take in suggestions, comments, [and] concerns on how to improve our club constantly,” James said. “So, if anyone wants to get in touch, show up for meetings, any of those things, our doors are open; our ears are open.” Responses from faculty members Along with the students who signed the letter, there were faculty members and staff as well. One professor of jazz who signed the letter, Nick Fraser, wrote to The Varsity, “The curriculum for my own private teaching has always been geared towards the study and acknowledgment of jazz as an African-American art form, not only in terms of the study of its historical figures, but also in the inclusion of contemporary black voices.” He noted, however, that there can always be more awareness about these topics. “Of course, recent events have made me consider how to expand upon this and have made me more vocal about accentuating these facts to students,” Fraser wrote. “I do think that this is a responsibility of all faculty.” He also echoed the open letter’s suggestion that more could be done to recruit students from diverse backgrounds to the faculty. The dean of the Faculty of Music has created an anti-racism work group consisting of faculty members, staff members, and two students, including the president of FoMARA. The work group is drafting a response to the letter; however, nothing has come out yet from the group or the dean. “We’re hoping to see that relatively soon because the school year has already started,” James said. Mike Murley, an associate professor of jazz who is part of two anti-racism work groups at the faculty, wrote to The Varsity, “It is certainly the mandate of these committees to move the [Faculty of Music] in a direction more reflective of Toronto’s diversity in terms of the composition of the faculty, staff, student body, curriculum and overall student experience.” The Faculty of Music did not respond to The Varsity’s request for comment.
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As U of T moves forward with a hybrid of inperson and online classes, numbers released by the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) reveal an overall slight decrease in the number of applications and an increase in the number of confirmed acceptances made through the system. As universities across the country open their doors to new and returning students alike, circumstances could not be more unorthodox. Concerns have been raised about how Canadian universities will be financially impacted by the pandemic, as travel restrictions and online learning could be enrolment deterrents for students. OUAC is a not-for-profit service that processes applications for universities in Ontario. It compiles cumulative data on the number of fulltime, year-one applications submitted for new undergraduate students and confirmed acceptances of admission that are submitted through the service each year. According to the September 16 Monthly Confirmation Statistics from OUAC, U of T has seen a 1.6 per cent decrease in the number of applications through OUAC from 2019–2020. Similarly, other universities in Ontario, such as Queen’s University and Ryerson University, also saw decreases in the number of applications, go-
ing down 1.4 per cent and 4.4 per cent, respectively. On the other hand, McMaster University saw a 4.2 per cent increase in the number of applications this year. U of T saw an overall increase of 2.9 per cent in the number of confirmed acceptances for 2020, compared to 2019 numbers. McMaster, Queen’s, and Ryerson all saw increases in confirmed acceptances as well, with increases of 15.9 per cent, 16.9 per cent, and 1.5 per cent, respectively. These numbers are subject to change and admission numbers will not be finalized until later in the fall semester as students decide whether or not to enrol fully. Enrolment numbers are crucial for the university’s operation, as 87 per cent of the university’s operating budget comes from tuition fees. “The uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic continues to make this a challenging year for forecasting enrolment,” a U of T spokesperson wrote to The Varsity. “Based on registrations to date, overall enrolment levels for the university are roughly in line with last year. Our hope is that this basic picture continues to hold, though to reiterate, it’s much too early to draw firm conclusions.” Although there are no final figures yet, the U of T spokesperson wrote that data will be added to a public portal in November.
U of T launches mobile ordering service for UTSG
App also expected to increase safety by minimizing crowds Marta Anielska Associate News Editor
U of T has launched a mobile food ordering service for certain food options on the St. George campus. With the app, users preorder food, so they can customize their meal, choose a convenient pick-up time, and avoid wait times by skipping lines. The university began developing the app at the end of 2019 with the goal of releasing it by the end of 2020. However, the benefits of a mobile ordering system during COVID-19 prompted an early launch. Improving student experience In an email to The Varsity, Colin Porter, Executive Director of Food and Beverage Services & Campus Events, wrote that “one of the biggest trends within the food services sector over the past couple of years is the introduction and growth of mobile ordering and pre payments apps.” He explained that people enjoy the “flexibility and instant gratification” that accompanies mobile services and that it helps people maximize the efficiency of their daily routine. “Students have the convenience of when completing a class to then open the app pre-order, pay, and pick up food and beverages between class or returning to residence,” Porter added. The multiple payment options also serve as an advantage to students. Payment options for the service include TBucks, credit cards, or New College or Chestnut meal plans. Students can access the service by selecting University of Toronto through the Transact Mobile Ordering app, which is available for download on the Apple and Google Play app stores. Currently, the mobile-ordering option is limited to Sidney Smith Commons and Robarts Library. Residence dining halls will soon be available as additional pick-up locations. According to Porter, a rewards loyalty program
A new mobile ordering option is available through the app Transact Mobile Ordering. CANDICE ZHANG/THEVARSITY
will eventually be implemented that will allow repeat users to access discounts and special deals on food and beverages. Mobile ordering and COVID-19 The service was released early because of the benefits it could provide students and the university community at large during a pandemic. According to Porter, it provides students with an easy and safe way of avoiding crowds, and it reduces the size of those crowds for those who are ordering in person. Porter concluded that the service “assists in minimizing gatherings and limiting multiple interactions by the way of a touchless pre-order, pay and pick-up solution.”
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UTGSU expands Black Graduate Student Excellence Bursary Award at September council meeting Chief returning officer appointment “controversial,” says former internal commissioner
Isabel Armiento Graduate Bureau Chief
The University of Toronto Graduate Students’ Union (UTGSU) met for its first council meeting of the 2020– 2021 academic year on September 15. The meeting addressed the installment of the Black Graduate Student Excellence Bursary Award and the appointment of a chief returning officer (CRO). The council also voted to impeach Internal Commissioner Lynne Alexandrova over concerns that she failed to fulfill her duties and mistreated staff, and allegations of anti-Blackness. Black student scholarship At a previous council meeting on July 28, the UTGSU passed a motion to create a Black Graduate Student Scholarship Fund that would offer five $2,000 scholarships to Black graduate students each semester. The motion detailed that the UTGSU would allocate $10,000 from the Unrestricted Surplus Fund to this endeavour, an amount that would be matched by the School of Graduate Studies. According to the minutes of the July 28 meeting, External Commissioner Jacqui Spencer expressed that the scholarship would help Black students affected by COVID-19 and racism, among other injustices. The
UTGSU also launched a Black Students Matter campaign earlier this year. At the September Council Meeting, the UTGSU passed a motion proposed by the Standing Committee to change the name of the Black Graduate Student Scholarship Fund to the Black Graduate Student Excellence Bursary and to allocate an additional $5,000 from the Unrestricted Surplus Fund, for a total of $15,000. The Black Graduate Student Excellence Bursary will offer up to 15 $2,000 needs-based bursaries annually to self-identified Black students enrolled in their first year of a master or doctoral program at U of T. The bursaries can be applied on top of any other graduate funding, external awards, or Ontario Student Assistance Program money that the student receives. The purpose of the award, as outlined by the Standing Committee, is “to provide financial support to help improve fair and equitable access to educational opportunities for Black students commencing graduate studies at the University of Toronto.” CRO appointment Another motion was passed at the meeting proposing that the council appoint Adrian Aziz as the CRO for the fall 2020 elections. However, this
choice proved controversial, as Adam Hill, who was the 2019–2020 UTGSU internal commissioner, disputed the motion. Hill claimed that Aziz “has a rather controversial history with the UTGSU and with other affiliate bodies of the UTGSU including the [Ontario Institute for Studies in Education Graduate Students’ Association (OISE GSA)],” referring to the fact that Aziz was the CRO during OISE GSA elections that were under investigation for violating the UTGSU’s constitution. University Governance Commissioner Lwanga Musisi disputed Hill’s claim, calling it “propaganda.” The discussion over the CRO appointment was cut short by the UTGSU Chairperson, Hamish Russell, due to time constraints, despite Hill’s insistence that discussing the motion further “is actually kind of important.” The motion to appoint Aziz as CRO for the 2020 fall elections passed with oppositions and abstentions, though Hill remained afterward to further voice his concerns about the appointment. “There’s not much that can be done because we already voted,” Hill admitted, adding that “it’s really important for legal liability purposes ultimately that [Aziz’s history with the UTGSU] is represented as accurately as possible in the minutes.”
UTMSU-led email campaign ‘EducationForAll’ makes demands for financial accessibility Seven demands include lower tuition, increased support for international students
Hafsa Ahmed UTM Bureau Chief
The University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union (UTMSU) has started an email campaign calling for action to make education accessible for all students, highlighting the barriers that come with postsecondary tuition fees for many students in Ontario. The campaign website prompts UTM students to provide their full name and email address and select the representatives they wish to alert. A prewritten email is then sent on their behalf to senior members of the U of T administration, laying out concerns about high tuition fees along with seven demands. This year, some students have called for a tuition freeze or decrease due to the shift to mostly online learning and financial impacts of COVID-19. These include a call to “immediately reduce tuition fees for all students” and a demand for “fairness for International Students.” The campaign’s goal is to send 400 emails, with 261 sent so far. In an email to The Varsity, UT-
MSU President Mitra Yakubi wrote that international students are left to “fend for themselves” with regard to rising tuition fees, and claimed that while the university takes an interest in recruiting and retaining international students, its services and supports do not back up this claim. The campaign further highlights the implications of high tuition costs, claiming that the “province and institutions are interested in the wealthiest students, rather than the brightest students” and argues that “education now has a price tag that many students can no longer afford.” As Yakubi wrote in her email to The Varsity, “The decision to reduce tuition fees for all students will allow students to better focus on their studies and personal development. Students will be better situated to study, work, and live with these supports set in place.” The campaign email claims that there exists a lack of financial support for students and demands an increase in “Non-Academic Scholarships for All Students,” as well as an increase in “Awards and Grants for Indigenous and Black Students.”
It also calls for “increasing paid Experiential Learning and Internship positions for all departments,” arguing that certain opportunities are inaccessible to some students due to financial costs. The campaign email reads that many students are “left in the dark” and that student services are often “underfunded, understaffed and underrepresented.” It calls on U of T to implement mental health counsellors in every department and improve accessibility services. The UTMSU claims that the lack of improvements in these areas has “discriminatory and detrimental impacts on students.” Yakubi wrote that, moving forward, the UTMSU will continue to lobby the U of T administration in regard to the seven demands listed in the campaign. They also plan to hold virtual workshops and seminars on “access to education and working towards creating more support systems and opportunities for our members.” U of T Media Relations did not respond to The Varsity’s request for comment.
Sustainability, mental health discussed at first UTM Campus Affairs Committee meeting
Planned academic initiatives include robotics program, diverse hiring, programming
The UTM Campus Affairs Committee held its first meeting of the year. HAYDEN MAK/THEVARSITY
Hafsa Ahmed UTM Bureau Chief
The UTM Campus Affairs Committee held its first meeting of the 2020–2021 academic year on September 14 to discuss campus-related initiatives, including sustainability at UTM and mental health and wellness for the student body. Sustainability The meeting began with Amrita Daniere, Vice-Principal Academic and Dean, discussing the committee’s academic plan’s sustainability initiatives. The plan highlights sustainability with regard to intellectual endeavours, especially the incorporation of sustainability into academic programs and courses. It also recommends hiring faculty who are interested in sustainability research and will seek to bridge the academic and practical side of sustainability efforts. For example, Daniere described how the plan seeks to address “the way we advance sustainability as a community” with regard to issues like waste recycling, water use, and energy reliance on campus. Daniere also made mention of an advisory committee that she has been co-chairing with Chief Administrative Officer Saher Fazilat to the principal for the past year. The advisory committee will bring forward a drafted strategic plan for sustainability that will be posted to the UTM sustainability office website and available for comment and feedback. The hope is that the plan be implemented alongside a set of recommendations, which — according to Daniere — the committee believes will “bring UTM to the forefront of campuses and universities in Canada in terms of its sustainability commitments and intellectual reputation.” Academic initiatives Daniere moved on to discuss plans surrounding academic initiatives and program and faculty additions. Several new programs are up for approval, such as a social coding program, a robotics program, and a graduate program in urban innovation. Robotics at UTM is currently categorized under computer science, but the program is looking to hire at least three additional professors to add to its existing four, and is working on building a laboratory. Eventually, students will be able to take a robotics program and pursue a holistic study of the field. A number of courses have already been approved, and plans are in the works to
approve the curriculum and program. Daniere said that the academic plan and the Office of the Dean want to enhance the diversity of the faculty and staff, and, according to her, “in the past three years, UTM [has] gone from having zero Indigenous faculty to six Indigenous faculty.” Currently, discussions are being had surrounding a potential minor program in Indigenous studies at UTM, and, as Daniere said, UTM would like to “enhance and support Black faculty who are already here” as well as increase hires in the future. Mental health Andrea Carter, UTM’s Assistant Dean Student Wellness, Support and Success, spoke about mental health services for students. Carter discussed how the Health and Counselling unit at UTM remains open and operational and that physicians and nurses are available on site for students who may require inperson appointments. Otherwise, the majority of appointments are now available virtually, including all counselling appointments. Carter noted an uptake in this virtual engagement, as well as fewer “no-show” appointments, with more students following through with their online meetings. Carter discussed plans to provide crisis support 24 hours a day and seven days a week and check-in support services through the U of T My Student Support Program. She also plans to launch a mental health website, as part of the Mental Health Task Force suggestions, and a UTM-specific mental health website to provide students with support resources. Carter mentioned plans to launch a portal through Quercus to better assist faculty in maintaining a safe and respectful online environment. Construction Fazilat discussed the Capital Construction Project, which involves the Art, Culture and Technology building, which is “well under design right now,” with the expectation that construction will begin in 12–18 months. It also included the aforementioned robotics lab environment, as well as the science building, currently under construction and expected to be completed in the next two and a half years. The new residence building, which is currently at the phase of narrowing down on a potential architectural firm with the hopes of selecting one by the end of the year, is expected to be designed in eight to 10 months after the firm is selected.
Business & Labour
September 21, 2020 var.st/business biz@thevarsity.ca
TD Bank Group renews partnership with Behavioural Economics in Action at Rotman Collaboration studies pragmatic economics based on irrational human behaviour
Aamyneh Mecklai Varsity Contributor
On September 2, TD Bank Group and U of T’s Behavioural Economics in Action at Rotman (BEAR) announced that they had renewed their partnership, which was first established in October 2018. The collaboration applies behavioural finance research to create practical knowledge in the areas of consumer welfare, private enterprise, and economic policy. Psychology and spending Behavioural economics has recently been in the spotlight, with Richard Thaler of the University of Chicago winning the 2017 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for developments in the field. Whereas traditional economics assumes impeccable rationality and self-interested actors, behavioural economics takes a more pragmatic approach. It takes into account temporal and contextual perceptions, as well as the psychology of money, when evaluating decision-making trends. “One of the foundations of the work at BEAR is that rather than creating knowledge merely in labs and university spaces, we strive to create practical relevant knowledge with our many partners in the areas of consumer welfare, for profit enterprise and policy,” Professor Dilip Soman, Canada Research Chair in Behavioural Science and Economics and Director of BEAR, wrote in an email to The Varsity.
BEAR researches, TD applies Through the BEAR-TD partnership, TD employs BEAR’s research to account for clients’ financial blind spots. This would maximize long-term investment results of clients. In an interview with TD’s MoneyTalk, Lisa Brenneman, Head of Behavioural Finance at TD Wealth — the arm of TD that provides financial planning and wealth management services — said that the bank has been applying behavioural finance to “real-life interactions” in order to help clients improve on their returns. The benefits to TD of this partnership are not limited to direct financial gains. “TDWealth has had a lot of success in various domains in making their processes more efficient as a result of our work,” Soman wrote. “They have improved communications with clients, figured out how to digitally transform processes keeping the end user in mind, and optimized and customized marketing messages.” In her MoneyTalk interview, Brenneman further reiterated that the application of behavioural science and finance has helped TD’s advisors better understand the monetary needs of their clients.
stand how behavioural science can help organizations,” wrote Soman. “Second, we can create unparalleled training and project opportunities for both our graduate and undergraduate students.” Looking ahead The application of behavioural economics as a tool to leverage research and maximize gains is on the rise. While much of TD and BEAR’s collaborative work has revolved around TD Wealth, Soman indicated that other branches of the bank have expressed interest in applying behavioural finance research as well. “Over time, I’d love for us to explore bigger, enterprise-wide questions,” wrote Soman. “I’m also
optimistic that we will be able to address bigger research questions that improve end-user welfare - how can we help customers make better choices; improve transparency; simplify a complex financial landscape and overall improve welfare.” “I think both parties can reaffirm that the most relevant knowledge is co-created by academics in tandem with practitioners, and the continued partnership is testimony to the richness of the outputs!” Soman continued. As the TD-BEAR partnership develops an experimentation- and empirical-based approach to decision-making, it continues to apply academic findings to rectify practical problems.
A mutually beneficial partnership BEAR’s mission is to conduct and bridge academic research and field application. While the partnership’s benefits to TD are evident, Soman pointed out that the agreement is a two-way street. “First, we have access to real world problems, datasets and access to experts as we try and develop our own research agenda of trying to better under-
ROSALIND LIANG/THEVARSITY
The Explainer: Unionization
Know the basics of organized labour — from advocacy to dues
basics of their function, membership, and relevance to modern employment have a common basis.
Anjali Rao Varsity Contributor
Students entering the workforce today are navigating a labour market much different from that of their parents. As the workforce has changed, so too have perceptions of unionization. While unions are varied and always evolving, the
What is a union? A trade union is simply a collective of workers who agree to become a single bargaining unit and unite behind common goals. Organized labour in Canada originated in the skilled trades — such as printing, tailoring, and baking — but can be found today in a variety of workplaces. “There is nothing inherent about being a professional in the field of computers or engineering that says… you could not benefit from a union,” Anil Verma, Professor Emeritus of Industrial Relations and HR Management at U of T’s Rotman School of Management, said in an interview with The Varsity. “Your job is not standardized every month… Your job changes and evolves with knowledge. I think [you] could also benefit from unions, but it would have to be a different type of union than what you would have in a bank or factory or autoplant.” Unionized workers are typically required to pay dues that are calculated as a percentage of their paycheck. These payments are set by union bargaining agents and are distributed within the union to pay for services and to support union members. Union dues are mostly tax-deductible. The exceptions are initiation fees, charges not related to employer operations, and dues paid as a member of a pension plan. Any worker in Canada has the right to become a member of a union under the Canada Labour Code. According to Statistics Canada, 75 per cent of public sector workers belong to a union, along with 16 per cent of private sector workers. Youth in unions Canada’s largest unions rely on a hierarchical approach, which gives preference to seniority and long-standing union membership. This could be one reason for falling unionization rates among youth: the percentage of unionized workers who are 25–44
years old has declined steadily between 1981 and 2014. Another angle to consider is that, according to data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation in the US, full-time workers are more likely to be unionized compared to their part-time counterparts. This could contribute to declining unionization rates because contract and part-time professional work has become more common in the last 20 years, increasing from 1.4 million to 2.1 million jobs. However, this category of workers may be in even greater need of the benefits that unionization brings. “Contract jobs, temporary jobs, part-time work… if you look at their vulnerability and precariousness, it’s even higher than in regular jobs,” Verma said. “It doesn’t matter what kind of work you’re doing. If you need protection — if you need the voice to be able to negotiate with your employer — you can form a union.”
Unions under COVID-19 Unions around the world have been working to ensure the rights of their workers to safety and compensation during the pandemic. In recent months, non-unionized workers in Canada have been twice as likely to lose their jobs during COVID-19-related shutdowns compared to their unionized counterparts. One prominent example of large-scale job action occurred this past August, when more than 1,400 Dominion employees in Newfoundland walked out in protest of cuts to pandemic pay and layoffs. Dominion — a Newfoundland and Labrador-based subsidiary of Loblaw Companies Limited — employed more than 80 per cent of these workers in part-time positions. “People have been left quite vulnerable through this pandemic,” Verma said. “In places where you have a good union — [where] you have a strong union — [employees have] been able to go and negotiate with the employer [for] protections for certain classes of workers.”
Teaching assistants and other academic workers are unionized at U of T. ANDY TAKAGI/THEVARSITY
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Confessions of a public-facing pandemic worker Some changes are easier to adapt to than others
Ashley Howard Varsity Contributor
“After reviewing your application, I think you’d be a perfect fit to work here, and I’d love to offer you a job as a hostess at our restaurant.” With the economy and employment levels spiralling, hearing those surprising words in the middle of the pandemic lifted financial burdens and worries off of my shoulders. Yet my relief was quick to subside, taken over by the fear and uncertainties that come with being employed at a time like this. As a public-facing worker in the food and beverage industry until recently, I can attest to the constantly changing expectations, increased pressure, and unpredictability in my work routine and environment that COVID-19 has caused. With the new restraints on physical contact and social interaction, I had to quickly adapt to the job responsibilities of someone paid to interact with and serve the public. Some changes were easier to grasp, such as speaking coherently and loudly with a fabric mask on and spending my downtime sanitizing menus, my work station, and the plastic barriers in the restaurant.
ing in my vicinity. The privilege that being able to work every shift granted me was evenly matched by the paired stress and risk of exposure, and I believe this goes for everyone currently working with the public. Nothing about a pandemic is comfortable; working with the public during one is certainly far from it. However, with scrutinizing the struggle of working amid COVID-19 comes the need to acknowledge and appreciate the privilege of being able to work. Halfway through writing this piece, though, I was laid off. The troubling part is knowing that I am not alone in facing the current reality of job loss and insecurity. I was fortunate to have had a job and a source of income in the midst of such uncertain times. It is an opportunity not everyone is given and one that I hope to regain soon. These are unprecedented times for us all, and it’s equally important to recognize our ability to either make it easier or harder for each other. Let this confession serve as a lasting reminder to continuously extend kindness and consideration to the workers in your commuThe food and beverage industry has been hit particularly hard by COVID-19. nity who you come across.
Other practices took a bit longer to get used to. Greeting customers and immediately requesting their contact tracing information initially made me feel invasive, but it quickly became as natural as asking someone how their day is going. I still felt uncomfortable every time I had to tell customers that we couldn’t seat groups of more than six people — more so when I had to explain why. I learned to anticipate the amount of customers coming in based on the daily news. With news of an outbreak or increase in cases, the restaurant would stay quiet, and the majority of my shift would be spent sanitizing any and every possible surface. I slowly realized my own financial security was just as volatile as
the restaurant’s sales, having shifts cut short or cancelled on a moment’s notice. While I received a degree of protection from the health and safety measures enforced by my workplace, every time I went to work I was putting my health at risk. Despite having a mask on, sanitizing my hands, and maintaining physical distance, I gave up the controlled safety of staying at home. I didn’t get to avoid feeling uncomfortable on the bus when someone decided to take the seat right next to me. I didn’t get to avoid the customers who don’t take COVID-19 seriously, much less the inebriated ones coming in on their bar crawl. I didn’t get to avoid fearing every customer sneezing and cough-
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U of T startup Bridge7 using artificial intelligence to improve cancer treatment Company selected by Google for Startups Accelerator Canada
Hao Zheng Varsity Contributor
Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing many industries and the applications of AI are becoming more widespread each day. Launched via the U of T Early-Stage Technology program (UTEST),
Bridge7 is a startup working to apply AI “to improve the quality, consistency, and efficiency of cancer treatments.” On August 19, Bridge7 was announced as one of nine startups selected for the inaugural cohort of Canada’s Google for Startups Accelerator. The tech giant’s Global Accelerator Program was created to foster companies that focus on local issues, helping them address their specific markets and giving them access to Google’s resources.
FIONA TUNG/THEVARSITY
Homegrown origins The company was founded by Tom Purdie, an associate professor in U of T’s Department of Radiation Oncology, and Chris McIntosh, an assistant professor in U of T’s Department of Medical Biophysics. “UTEST has been great providing the opportunity to work and interact with other startups and we have truly benefit from working in the UTEST environment,” Purdie wrote in an email to The Varsity. “We also were part of [the Creative Destruction Lab] at University of Toronto and graduated from that accelerator in June 2018. That was also a great experience and we have made long lasting contacts there, gained valuable advice on fundraising and building our company.” When asked how it felt to see one of UTEST’s incubated companies succeed so well, program codirector Kurtis Scissons claimed that it is one of the most rewarding parts of the job. “Bridge7 is a great example of a company that is led by a highly motivated and technical team which established its first, recurring revenue customer within a year after graduating from the UTEST program,” Scissons wrote in an email to The Varsity. “This is a prime example of success from a UTEST perspective.” UTEST caters to research-based U of T startups, and offers access to domain expert mentors, investment opportunities, and workspaces. Bridge7 was part of the UTEST cohort in 2018. “We provided fundamental business education with our partner MaRS, mentorship and a physical location for the company at our ONRamp facility,” Scissons wrote. “Business introductions were facilitated by the UTEST team that has helped identify new customers and potential investors.” Heuristics for health care Bridge7 uses AI to accelerate the triaging and treatment planning process of cancer patients. Digital protocols are machine learning models
that use algorithms to acquire important features of a case. These attributes are used to shape and define the type of treatment given to patients. The clinical team can confirm whether a patient’s treatment plan agrees with the clinical standards that the model was based on, and discover and correct any errors easily and quickly. Proper triage is crucial when there is a large number of patients with varying degrees of illness or who are in different stages of cancer. As researchers with the University Health Network, Purdie and McIntosh were able to develop and deploy the technology in actual hospitals. Bridge7’s work is now recognized and used in hospitals around the world. “We are also able to collaborate and engage with clinical and technical experts to further research and impact patient care,” Purdie wrote. A promising future Bridge7 is looking to focus on larger customers in the future, with the goal of further spreading its knowledge and making a difference for patient care. In the short term, it is already taking full advantage of its new incubator’s resources. “We just started, this is week 2 but already we have been connecting with experts on both the technical and business side,” Purdie wrote about Google for Startups Accelerator Canada. “That program is a great fit for us in taking advantage of machine learning, cloud, [user interface and experience] expertise, and healthcare APIs and deployment strategies.” Purdie advises entrepreneurs to “stay focused and don’t try and do too many different things.” “If you have a strong, clear message, it is easier to attract investors and customers,” Purdie wrote. “Sometimes startups get very focused on their technology having to always be the best, but user experience and solving the right problem are essential to having a successful business.”
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September 21,2020 var.st/comment comment@thevarsity.ca
U of T, respond to the Scholar Strike — gather data, invest in mental health, revamp course requirements
Challenging anti-Blackness at the university’s doorstep Joel Ndongmi Varsity Contributor
Today’s Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement has transcended far beyond its original focus on police brutality. While advocating for Black lives and the security of Black bodies, it also pushes society to look critically at its relationship with race and its intersectionality with various other issues. The recent protests and demonstrations across North America have led institutions and organizations to reconsider their structures and interactions with Black, Indigenous, and other racialized people. For instance, U of T released a statement condemning racism and other types of discrimination. But words mean nothing when they are not followed by tangible action and evident change. From September 9–10, a number of staff members at U of T were involved in a nation-wide Scholar Strike for Black Lives. The strike demanded that institutions of higher education across the country take concrete steps to promote anti-racism within their campuses. It’s important to understand what BLM means within the context of a university. Similar to all other places of social gathering, university campuses have a culture of racism, discrimination, and dehumanization of Black and brown bodies. While it may feel like an endless and thankless task to build a more equitable world, that larger goal can be kickstarted in our own communities — namely at U of T. The responsibility of dismantling this toxic environment rests squarely on university administrators’ shoulders — but will
also require that each one of us reflect on our own actions and biases. Movements such as the Scholar Strike for Black Lives are important for fostering change because they act as a necessary wake-up call for the administration. This strike brought a larger societal movement right to the university’s doorstep. It packaged a movement calling for the upheaval of all aspects of society and focused it on a specific context. Dismantling racist structures is especially important because, from my experience, racism is pervasive in all corners of society. While U of T may not be actively taking Black lives, it is contributing to and helping perpetuate the systems that do. If governments will not comply with a topdown approach to dismantling racism, individuals and institutions must take it upon themselves to force change from the bottom up. U of T needs to take this opportunity to truly think about the ways in which it can dismantle elements of racist campus culture. For instance, U of T can start by creating an open frame network to gather testimonials regarding the experiences of racialized people on campus. Collecting data related to race and campus experience can form meaningful and progressive conclusions. Those who face racism on a daily basis are the best equipped to discuss it and generate solutions. Additionally, U of T must consider how racism affects the mental well-being of its students and provide extra support for Black, Indigenous, and other racialized students.
The Scholar Strike for Black Lives presents U of T with the opportunity to reform. SAMANTHA YAO/THEVARSITY
For Black students, an inherent sense of discomfort has become the norm at this university, something that a group of students recently highlighted by using The Varsity as a platform to discuss the racism they face at Trinity College. Studies have linked the stress from racism and discrimination to mental health issues across racialized people. These mental health issues can range from high levels of anxiety and depression, to feelings of hopelessness and damaged self-esteem. Racialized students shouldn’t have to deal with this on top of studying at an already demanding university. U of T has once again ranked as the number one university in Canada, but this worldwide standing comes with responsibility. There is no doubt that U of T will develop the next generation of leaders in Canada. If our graduates leave this place with the same prejudices as our parents, U of T will have failed in its mission of education. One way U of T can ensure that this does not come to pass is by re-examining its academic structures.
This means embracing a decentralized and interdisciplinary curriculum that cultivates global citizens. This means identifying and ridding classes of Eurocentric thought. This means welcoming Indigenous knowledge and the works of racialized authors. These measures must be incorporated into the requirements of all our degrees. Students should not have to actively seek out diverse courses — this should already be built into the fabric of all of our programs’ structures. Toni Morrison, a Black writer, compares whiteness to a fishbowl. While we spend our time analyzing our metaphorical buildings in the fishbowl, systems of whiteness permeate all we do. We all work and, to some degree, uphold these systems. Continuing these conversations and organizing against antiBlackness helps us jump out of the fishbowl and swim out into the wider ocean. Joel Ndongmi is a second-year political science and English literature student at Victoria College.
From COVID-19 to BLM — operate responsibly on social media
Bandwagoning, disinformation present challenges among digital denizens Kathy Xu Varsity Contributor
In recent months, I have witnessed critical events grip the world around me in ways that are, for the most part, unprecedented. In particular, the exponentially horrifying spread of COVID-19 and the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement seemed to occur one after the other in rapid succession. This disturbed the naïve peace that many of us are privileged to thrive in and prompted me to examine how news surrounding these events was spread during these times. Specifically, I started to pay closer attention to the usage of social media and how its method of information dissemination has encouraged bandwagon culture as well as mass disregard for objective fact-checking.
Hitching a ride The bandwagon effect is a psychological phenomenon that causes people to act in certain ways primarily because they observe others acting similarly — their actions may even be counter to their own beliefs. In terms of my own observances, this trend increased dramatically in the wake of the George Floyd protests, as well as a myriad of other subsequent social justice movements. I am not saying that those who made novel revelations during these times are superficial. I am asserting that, disappointingly, bandwagon culture has found a new platform in the form of performative allyship. Due to the invisible societal pressures that social media exerts on youth, I feel that many people choose to share information posts in order to be seen by others as conforming to their community’s
One report found that it took six times longer for a news article to reach 1,500 people than disinformation. SAMANTHA YAO/THEVARSITY
norm. This pressure is especially prescient within the context of a university campus, where ostensibly liberal places, such as U of T, can demand that you be on the right side of history. I am, by no means, against people taking the initiative to educate themselves. Sometimes, ignorant actions can still have good intentions. However, sharing something for the sake of feeling a sense of belonging is backward thinking and detrimental for these broader causes. In my opinion, authenticity is integral to propelling genuine social change. Fastlane to false information Beyond its herd mentality effects, social media has sped up the rate at which disinformation spreads. A study in the journal Science revealed that real stories took six times as long to reach 1,500 people when compared to stories disseminating disinformation. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers claim that a concurrent ‘infodemic’ has also blossomed — characterized by the mass diffusion of disinformation, preposterous conspiracy theories, and discriminatory propaganda. Social media is instrumentalized to create divides amongst different racial groups, promote falsehoods, and induce unnecessary panic by those who are not just ignorant, but irresponsible. In times like these, solidarity — and maintaining a critical eye toward the things we consume — is crucial. Fact-checking and source identification are essential to separating falsehoods from fact. Given our human propensity to bandwagon, combined with the alarming rate in which disinformation can be spread, I fear we are headed down a road toward a dangerous kind of collective consciousness — one that can be easily manipulated by online media. I think it is important to remember that the things we share are often based on the lives of actual people. They are neither glorified fictions nor popular mainstream trends that exist to fuel our
performative egos and ignorant minds. Pump the brakes on media consumption If you truly want to heighten your awareness of the world around you, maybe try turning to slower forms of media, such as newspapers or accredited publications. These types of sources usually go through extensive peer review and are held to a much broader institutional standard in our society. Converting to slower forms of media at times is especially integral for students at U of T. As the future leaders of the world, it is vital that information is spread responsibly amongst us. According to the Pew Research Centre, a staggering 90 per cent of 18–29 year olds use social media as of February 2019. Most U of T students fit within that age cohort. As the primary users of social media, we have a duty to use it responsibly. As school reopens in an era of uncertainty, objectivity, fact-checking, and authenticity are the primary tools of promoting positive collective action as a student body. Spreading false information during such turbulent times can have unpredicted consequences, such as ostracizing marginalized individuals, encouraging baseless falsehoods in regard to safety, and dividing diverse communities. I am not suggesting that social media should be made obsolete. Responsible dissemination of information requires the use of both digital and traditional media in conjunction. So, before you share that article or fact sheet, contemplate the reasons you have for doing so. Then, put in the work to ensure that you aren’t contributing to the current alarming wave of false information. As the digital era grows, it is up to us, the young drivers of change, to operate responsibly within it so that we can cultivate a safe learning environment for everyone. Kathy Xu is a fourth-year political science and industrial relations & human resources student at University College.
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Breakout rooms, professor access, evaluation changes — online learning presents many benefits U of T should incorporate positive differences into post-pandemic strategy Talia Shafir Varsity Contributor
While there are clear challenges and frustrations associated with U of T’s recent shift to online learning, these changes do help improve the quality of education in a number of ways. As classes get underway, keep an open mind. You may find Zoom university to be a more hospitable place than the U of T of the past. Given the opportunities the pandemic has given us, U of T should consider how to integrate the positive aspects of online learning back into a post-pandemic campus environment. Breakout rooms Finding a community at U of T is difficult enough without the added element of not being able to meet people in person. But, ironically, the shift to online learning can help you connect with people more easily. Some of the courses that U of T offers, particularly in first and second year, have extremely large class sizes. During some of my large inperson lectures, it was difficult to find seats next to the same people every day, meaning that there was not much consistency in the people with whom I interacted during lecture. In contrast, this semester, breakout rooms in Zoom enable students in large lectures to consistently work with the same small group of students, making it easier to form connections. In one of my lectures — which has close to 200 people enrolled — our professor splits students into the breakout rooms of the same three people every class. Even after only one week of lectures, seeing these same three people has provided a sense of community that my large in-person lectures did not. Access to professors Another way that online learning has improved my experience in big lectures is by making it easier for students to ask their professors questions. During a large in-person lecture, a student who raises their hand to ask a question may not be in the professor’s line of sight, leading to unanswered questions and a general feeling of awkwardness from said student. More commonly, students who struggle with large social settings can find it difficult to speak up in front of an authority figure and in a room full of their peers. In many online lectures, however, students can type their questions into the chat, limiting the chance of missed questions and easing the anxiety of speaking up. Additionally, every student in the class can see the questions in the chat. In the event that a professor is not able to answer a student’s question in a timely manner, another student can jump in. In my education so far, asking questions during lecture has been essential for me to gain a thorough understanding of the course material. Making active engagement more accessible can go a long way in improving a student’s interest level for a particular subject. Changes in evaluation There are two major differences I have noticed in the modes of evaluation for online courses this semester in comparison to the usual methods, and I think that both of these changes are beneficial for students. First of all, I have noticed a shift from having only a few heavily weighted assessments to frequent assessments with course marks distributed more evenly among them. This shift encourages students to keep up with course material more regularly and also
creates a more forgiving grading scheme. For example, in most of my courses last year, my final marks were almost entirely based on the results of two midterms and a final exam. Because I did not have weekly assignments worth a significant portion of my mark, I found that I had difficulty prioritizing habitual review of course material. Instead, I would try to learn everything in the last couple days before a test. I found that having a large portion of my mark based off of a small number of evaluations was unforgiving, in the sense that having a bad day on the day of a test could be a huge detriment to my final grade. In contrast, in an online course that I took this summer, our mark was based off of 11 equally weighted problem sets, with one problem set due each week. Because I regularly had to hand in assignments that were worth a significant portion of my grade, I was motivated to stay up to date with course material. I ended up getting more out of that course than I would have if I had crammed all that learning into only a few days. As well, having 11 equally weighted assessments as opposed to only a few meant that I could mess up a problem set or two and not be penalized too harshly. I have also found that a majority of course grades now come from assessments that are not timed, whereas before COVID-19, the most heavily weighted assignments were often timed tests. Many students I know, myself included, do not do their best thinking when they are under time constraints or are not able to work quickly enough to complete tests within time limits. With a larger emphasis on non-timed evaluations, students’ grades can be more reflective of their understanding of the material, rather than their ability to work under pressure. Variance across programs Some of the new approaches toward education that have come as a result of COVID-19 may be better than the approaches that were used before. However, while my experience may have been positive overall, there is a huge variance in how some professors are choosing to make the switch to online learning. No one individual experience will mirror another’s in these unprecedented times. Students are largely at the mercy of their faculty, program, and teaching staff when it comes to the quality of education this year. Given these lessons, U of T should create a new approach that combines in-person learning with the continued practice of the positive changes that were made as a result of the pandemic.
Where Zoom university falls short, U of T must step up to invest
Quality, cost of education, lost campus experiences pose significant challenges
Andre Fajardo Varsity Contributor
In the wake of the many tumultuous months following the COVID-19 outbreak, new and returning students are settling into an unexpected landscape: a shift to majorly online-only delivery of courses and lectures. These circumstances position us to ask some tough questions about whether an online education is worthwhile. No online alternative to campus life The most pressing drawback regarding the shift to online-only delivery is the closure or restriction of campus and in-person facilities. University life — or expectations of it — will be dramatically different for some, especially when we gravitate away from simply talking about courses and classrooms. Among those chiefly affected are first-year students and upper-years transitioning to U of T, who are facing a slew of adjustments to a traditional experience. Residences across the board will only offer single residency rooms, which strikes out the possibility of living with a roommate and can adversely affect the fostering of close-knit communities — an experience that many first-year students tend to look forward to. While clubs, co-curriculars, and student life events can be organized and run online, a range of their programming — in the form of access to staff support and a host of physical facilities — will be constrained. Restrictions to accessing recreational facilities and the halting of U of T athletics this year will also inevitably hinder students from finding a community through sports and physical activities. The lack of incentives to engage with the wider U of T community in the midst of online course delivery will disconnect students from the social aspects of campus life. In addition, students may feel removed from the unique experience of being on campus. These factors of student life comprise a sizable part of an ideal student life for many. U of T needs to take action to address how a student’s university experience this year will be severely hampered — and acknowledge that a holistic education is more than just a classroom experience. A lower quality of education? While these concerns are pressing, there is also a portion of students whose concerns rest more in the
compromises that online-only formats make. The baseline costs of satisfactory digital access are a real barrier to many, and unsatisfactory access — technical difficulties in the form of connectivity issues or inadequate technical training among teaching staff — will accordingly detract from the classroom environment. Travel restrictions and the complications arising from unsuitable accommodations will strain the efforts of students and instructors alike. Many are forced by circumstance to remain abroad this year and can be bogged down by inconvenient time zones, causing them to participate in their classes at ludicrous times. This poses a huge challenge to effectively engaging in lecture. The university must continue with its pledge to both deliver a quality education and ensure that the needs of its diverse student body are being met. Rigidity of costs Despite strong sentiments for reductions, tuition costs will remain the same this academic year and not reflect the change in course delivery and reduced access to campus facilities. In fact, international fees are still increasing as usual as part of U of T’s budget, while domestic tuition was kept the same following a provincial mandate. The issues surrounding tuition costs are multifaceted and a number of students have taken to The Varsity and social media platforms to express their frustrations. It’s important for U of T to recognize that many students must take stock of their financial situation and budgets before deciding to enrol. The university’s inflexibility to alter its fee structuring for the shift to online-only delivery is the result of a number of complex factors. Nevertheless, this places an extreme burden on many students to decide whether pursuing their education this year is worth it. Many must weigh — to the dollar — the benefits, costs, and risks of enrolling in classes this year. Contrary to the assertions of the university, many clearly see the shift to an online-only delivery as a downgrade in the university experience. The university must uphold its responsibility to safeguard the equality of opportunity for its students, especially those who face the greatest challenges ahead in terms of affordability. To ensure a worthwhile experience this year, the university needs to go above and beyond its normal standards to ensure equity and quality in education in these novel times. Andre Fajardo is a fifth-year political science and philosophy student at Innis College.
Talia Shafir is a second-year cognitive science, math, and writing & rhetoric student at Innis College.
ZACH KOH/THE VARSITY
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SEPTEMBER 21, 2020
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Op-ed: Students, join this year’s Global Day of Climate Action to demand green recovery
COVID-19 underscores the need to hold institutions accountable for the climate crisis James Hannay and Laura Hernandez Varsity Contributors
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted health care systems and economies across the globe. In addition, existing inequalities among vulnerable and marginalized communities have come to the fore in this time of uncertainty. While many have called our current situation the worst event of our time, in actuality, the worst is yet to come. We are on track to experience unimaginable ecological destruction due to the human-driven climate crisis. To counter this and create genuine change, we must fight for a just and green recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The new abnormal The pandemic limited international travel and reduced commuting due to work-from-home policies. These measures led to decreased human activity, resulting in a temporary drop in carbon dioxide emissions. We experienced re-emerging wildlife and soaring oil prices. However, these recent phenomena have had little lasting impact on the climate crisis as a whole — reminding us that only systemic shifts will result in long-term change. As corporations rush to make up for lost profits, we risk a future where high levels of pollution remain the status quo. In doing so, we can expect uncontrollable warming, extreme weather events, and worsening health outcomes. Similarly, governments are desperate for the economy to bounce back from this period of low production. In recent years, the Canadian government has acquired pipelines and rolled back environmental protections in the name of strengthening the economy. The recent approval of the expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline in British Columbia will lead to an additional 400,000 tonnes of extra carbon emissions per year. This is in flagrant disregard of the Paris Agreement targets that Canada agreed to in 2016. Moreover, it has drastically affected Indigenous peoples’ land and way of life. The Ontario government under Premier Doug Ford proposed Bill 197, which removes the need for an environmental assessment on new public infrastructure projects in an array of construction categories. Bill 197 also includes a clause that would deny public appeal on these projects. The pandemic panic has been used to strip environmental protections for the purpose of expediency and convenience to stimulate growth.
This year’s Global Day of Climate Action will take place on September 25. DINA DONG/THEVARSITY
Equity concerns amidst the climate crisis The pandemic and its short-term beneficial effects on the environment serve as a reminder of just how destructive our pre-pandemic systems were. However, that’s not where the injustice ends. Widening income inequalities, racial injustice, the lack of status for migrant labourers in Canada, and neglect for Indigenous rights are all symptoms of a larger governmental and societal disregard of vulnerable peoples. The destruction that the climate crisis brings is not experienced evenly. Without a doubt, those who did the least to cause the climate crisis suffer the worst from it. All the while, multinational corporations who should be shouldering the burden of reversing the damage they have
caused are free to take advantage of state subsidies and weak government regulations. If we do not act on the climate crisis now, future generations who have so far done nothing to contribute to our current state will experience even more extreme effects than what we have already witnessed. Flooding, droughts, and violent storms have already been felt across the globe at a frightening rate, with a looming water crisis on the rise. The Just Recovery movement calls for economic relief provided directly to people, assistance for workers and communities, and resilience building for future crises, both climate-related and otherwise. Without outspoken support for these measures, they will never be realized.
Global Day of Climate Action As Canada and its economy reopens, it is imperative that we do not return to business as usual. In order to champion equity and the health and well-being of its people, Canada must prioritize a sustainable economy. We must all do our part to ensure that Ottawa and institutions like U of T cannot ignore these demands. While COVID-19 dampens the ability to hold climate strikes and protests, the tentative solution for months was to move events online and even suspend them. However, climate activists around the world have said that in-person public demonstrations are crucial. The climate crisis does not wait: we must take action now to mitigate its devastating effects. That is why Fridays for Future (FFF) Toronto, labour unions, and students’ associations are looking toward September 25, the next Global Day of Climate Action. Collective action on this day will allow us to drill home the necessity of a just and green recovery. The FFF movement was started by 15-yearold Greta Thunberg in 2018, and has since spread around the globe. Toronto is no exception. FFF Toronto is committed to sending a message to policymakers and businesses, demanding a safer and sustainable future. U of T students from a variety of programs and backgrounds have worked to build FFF U of T. Our organization serves the purpose of networking amongst student unions and clubs to increase student engagement in climate activism and raise awareness about the importance of Indigenous sovereignty — defending land, water and life, and youth empowerment. The action on September 25 will be a mass sit-in to demand a just, green recovery from COVID-19. A variety of precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 will be taken, including mandatory mask-wearing, sanitization stations, and physical distancing. Last year’s Global Climate Strike in Toronto saw a staggering 20,000 people march in support of climate activism. This year’s event offers our best chance to lobby the systems around us to reform sustainably. James Hannay is an organizer with FFF Toronto and FFF University of Toronto. He is a fifth-year peace, conflict & justice, public policy, and economics student at Victoria College. Laura Hernadez is an organizer with FFF Toronto and FFF University of Toronto. She is a graduate student of urban innovation at UTM. FFF University of Toronto is a youth-led climate action organization that works to mobilize support for the Global Climate Strikes.
Letters to the Editor Re: Opinion: Margaret Wente’s Massey College appointment reflects Canada’s apathy toward racism “It is unfortunate that the article dismisses Wente and her perspectives without giving them a fair hearing. A university is a space for intellectual engagement by all quarters of perspective – which, thus, entails equal academic freedom and scrutiny of these views. The notion that conventional social justice views (e.g. supportive of Black Lives Matter) shouldn’t be challenged is counterproductive to both opponents and proponents – for unchallenged views often lead to groupthink and an inability to determine flaws. In that vein, Wente’s appointment should have been welcomed
rather than shunned. Her resignation, sadly, demonstrates self-capitulation to such misplaced opposition; instead, she should have remained to make her case. Students and scholars need to understand that a liberal education necessitates tolerance – even when views may be uncomfortable – since logical scrutiny of all views (only possible when openly expressed) is of greater utility to society than momentary discomfort. Moreover, even for those fearful of Wente’s views being dominant, the words of philosopher Karl Popper may be reassuring: “...as long as we can counter them by rational argument and keep them in check by public opinion, suppression would most certainly be unwise.” — Arjun Singh (from web)
Re: Meric Gertler on COVID-19, anti-Black racism, tuition “At this point, universities are taking advantage of the pandemic by having less resources available and online classes so they can save money while also keeping tuition the same. It’s pathetic.” — Andrew Carmount (from web) “[ Jefferson] He’s not very forthcoming on any particular stances. [Madison] Ask him a question, it glances off, he obfuscates, he dances.” — Dean Hiler (from web)
Re: Erin O’Toole: a prime minister for youth? “Tax cuts for the wealthy, ridding national debt, or cutting red tape doesn’t directly benefit youth at all” — Andrew Carmount (from web) “The old bald slightly macho conservative guy appeals to youth? that says more about his opposition tbh.” — William Dobias (from web)
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FEATURES
“Putting ourselves out there”: COVID-19’s impact on student networking, professional development Immigrant perspectives on making connections
ABOUT THIS ARTICLE Writer: Asdghig Ayntabli Illustrators: Grace Xu, Gheyana Purgodinginrat Interviewees: Carly Sahagian, Annie Sahagian, Melanie Shimov
For the first time in U of T’s 193-year history, classes are primarily being delivered online. While, this might be the safest option for now, some students are having concerns with the quality of learning that is going to be delivered during the 2020–2021 academic year. For students looking at their prospects after graduation, there are a whole new set of problems. As an immigrant student who has been in the country for less than six years, I wanted to probe these issues further. I spoke to three U of T students of similar backgrounds: two of them are also immigrants, and one a first-generation student. Building your network and making connections as an immigrant student isn’t easy, and the in-person element is crucial to getting to know someone. Research shows that the longer you’ve been in Canada, the easier it is to get a job. According to Statistics Canada, immigrants who had been in the country for more than a decade by 2017 had better chances of getting hired compared to those who had recently immigrated to the country. From these interviews, I surmised that — aside from having to adapt to a whole new learning environment — these students are facing new issues in relation to their professional opportunities. They spoke about their experiences transitioning to online university, touching on issues like a lack of space in their homes. However, their predominant concern is social in nature, as these students are perceiving a lack of substantive networking
and work-study opportunities. As an immigrant student, it is my number one priority to build my network and develop genuine connections. Given that a 2016 US Bureau of Labor Statistics and Yale University study found that approximately 70 per cent of all jobs are filled through networking, building social and professional networks are likely instrumental for gaining a job or advancing professional careers. However, through it all, these conversations have also yielded a strong sense of optimism, as these students are eager and dedicated to adapting to their new normal. Transitioning to online university To understand more about the experience of moving to online university, I spoke with Annie Sahagian — a fifth-year UTSC student double majoring in human biology and media studies, journalism, and digital cultures — and her sister Carly Sahagian, who graduated from UTSC this past June with majors in biology and women and gender studies. Annie and Carly both immigrated to Canada from Syria with their family. Back in March, during the earlier stages of lockdown, switching to online platforms affected many students. Carly discussed how this switch came as a big shock. She was in her last semester, and the rest of her year changed from in-class exams to sending in a voice recording to get marked for a presentation. “That was kind of like, ‘oh my god; this is weird,’ ” Carly said. Carly emphasized that one of the main issues she faced was a lack
of space. She mentioned that it was sometimes hard to concentrate and work in the confined space that she shares with her family. “There’s a lot going on in the house, and I had to remind people that… I’m studying or working,” Carly said. As of early September, there are few solutions to this, as only limited libraries and study areas have opened at U of T with the ability to safely support students, staff, and faculty. UTM, UTSC, and UTSG libraries are open to students who are having a difficult time navigating their classes from home. However, for most places, early booking is required, and space is very limited. On the topic of pre-recorded lectures, Carly and Annie both appreciated the new method of delivery. Annie said that although they allowed her to study at her own pace, she had an advantage as an upper-year student — she could adapt quicker because she knew her learning style. However, if she was in first year, fresh out of Syria, she believes it would’ve been a different story. “First- and second-year students are still figuring out [their learning style], and it’s way harder,” Annie said. What are the social and networking concerns? Reduced social life is a new aspect of university that has affected every student at U of T. Aside from a dwindling weekend bar scene, this decreased socialization has other specific impacts on students’ university experiences. For example, orientation looked
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“When you don’t see a lot of people, [you’re] not socializing… It [can be] a lot.” “As much as I’d rather like to have classes in person, it’s definitely smart to keep it online for now.” very different this year since all three U of T campuses moved their activities online. Annie, who was an orientation coordinator at UTSC in 2019, said how confused she would’ve been if she was a first-year student this year. She emphasized how much orientation helped her navigate through her first year, and how important that experience was for her. “I needed to meet upper-year students and talk to them and even practice my English,” she said. Although first-year students still had a virtual orientation week, the in-person element was still missing and — Annie believes — irreplaceable. The unparalleled quality of inperson communication and connections was a strong theme throughout all the interviews, and the lack of opportunities to network was evident as well. However, due to recent events, it hasn’t been easy trying to network with professionals in order to build a connection. Melanie Shimov, a third-year UTSG student majoring in human biology and double minoring in Jewish studies and biology, and a firstgeneration student, said that she’s found the virtual aspect of this year limiting and inaccessible in terms of networking or socialization. “It’s a different dynamic when you’re going to class,” Shimov said. “For example, third-year classes are supposed to be smaller and maybe a little bit more intimate. I guess on Zoom, you could make that connection [with the professor], and you could email them and reach out, but I feel like it’s not the same — especially if you want to get a position to be a [teaching assistant] or [a] research position.” She pointed out that even though she would love to have an online role volunteering, she’s not even sure where to start looking. In the past, she recalled that professors would mention positions in class, and finding opportunities was much more accessible when she was on campus. “You got to put in the work,” Shimov said, but she noted that there should be clearer communication of the opportunities available to her.
Carly found that, while she did not feel abandoned by U of T after graduating in June, the effects from the lack of in-person connections manifested in a different way for her. She commented about the many programs available for new graduates, which helped her navigate through networking events and postgraduate life. She participated in the Job Seekers Club at UTSC, which offers many virtual networking events targeted for new graduates. “This was good in the sense that you were not alone,” Carly said. “We were all sharing that experience, and they were helping us to know how to connect.” However, just like Shimov, Carly mentioned that the in-person element was missing and that she was not able to build a genuine unique relationship with professionals. “Everyone is sharing advice and talking, but you don’t really get the same connection when you are in person talking to them,” Carly said. “You’re just receiving information.” In regard to networking and making connections, professional relationships made during these times tend to, unfortunately, be more passive and superficial, which might inhibit the growth of professional networks for students. “I think we should still be putting ourselves out there, and we should still be meeting people,” Annie said. “We never know when this situation like the pandemic situation is going to end — you have to be positive.” The lack of work-study opportunities The work-study program, which usually offers in-person, on-campus jobs, switched to online platforms due to COVID-19. Work studies are great resources as the jobs not only look great on resumes, but they also provide the students with a deeper knowledge of the field they’re interested in. For students looking to pad résumés or develop further connections in their related area of study, work-study positions are a great opportunity to gain experience to help land a job once they graduate. Annie has often relied on her work-study positions at UTSC. “My
first work study was [the] summer [of] my first year, and ever since, I worked on campus,” she said. However, she noticed significant changes from moving work studies online. Annie worked as a research assistant this past summer for the Department of Arts, Culture and Media at UTSC. She highlighted how getting the work study was much more difficult than before. She noted that even though there were more work-study positions available, the process of getting them was more intense since they were open to students from all three campuses. In the past, some positions would usually be geared toward students in a specific program attending one of the three campuses. However, Annie said that moving the work studies to online platforms encouraged many more students to apply, which led to more intense competition for the positions. She also noticed a huge difference between her experiences with in-person and online workstudy positions. Overall, she still believes that even the virtual positions provided new experience and interaction with new people. There remained the ever-present lack of socialization though, which could take a toll at times. “When you don’t see a lot of people, [you’re] not socializing… It [can be] a lot,” Annie said. What has U of T’s response been? Since the cancellation of classes back in March, both faculty and staff at U of T have been working diligently to support and accommodate all students, whether they be international or domestic. In my conversations with these three students, they all expressed that — despite the drawbacks of this virtual year — they were very satisfied with U of T’s response and appreciated the additional support that the university is providing. Although the in-person opportunities are essentially nonexistent, they understand this choice given the pandemic. As a commuter student, Shimov discussed how glad she was that
classes were moved online. For commuter students, transportation is definitely harder now since few students feel comfortable taking public transportation and would be more comfortable learning online. “As much as I’d rather like to have classes in person, it’s definitely smart to keep it online for now,” Shimov said. She found that to get through this year with its limited social contact, she was grateful to be part of a group of friends who take similar classes and would be able to provide support. Annie shared her opinion, saying that she appreciates all the work that staff and faculty are putting in to provide the best possible service to their students. She discussed how much harder their roles as educators are now. For instance, she has noticed the increased frequency of emails and announcements they are sending out to provide as much accommodation as possible, especially for students who are located outside of Canada. Carly and Annie both believe that the additional support, resources, and virtual opportunities being offered by U of T justify incidental fees not being significantly reduced. Although many students circulated petitions to cut these fees, Carly and Annie said that the money is providing the student body with many new virtual resources and services. After all, despite the issues with space, the loss of in-person networking opportunities, and the increased competition for work-study positions, Carly, Annie, and Shimov are still looking for silver linings during this pandemic. Regardless of the shift to virtual platforms, they believe that, ultimately, the community at U of T remains intact — it’s just in another form this year.
Arts & Culture
TIFF 2020
September 21, 2020 var.st/arts arts@thevarsity.ca
Nomadland
Corinne Langmuir Varsity Contributor
An intimate slice-of-life film already generating Oscar buzz
Zhao’s new film is a poignant look into life as a modern nomad. COURTESY OF TIFF
Earlier this month, director Chloé Zhao took home the Golden Lion — the top prize at the Venice International Film Festival — for her new film Nomadland, solidifying herself as a frontrunner come awards season. The accolade is well-deserved with Zhao’s interdisciplinary approach to the production: writing, directing, and editing the film in full. This delicately crafted, slow-crawling character study is a melancholic look at sentiment and what it means to be human. Nomadland centres around Frances McDormand as Fern, a middle-aged widow dealing with the repercussions of the Great Recession. The emotion surrounding the loss of her husband and home, along with the lack of a steady job motivates her to find something new. Packing her life into her van, Fern takes the road less travelled by becoming a modernday nomad. Veering from a traditional film structure, Nomadland is a movie without a plot. The story has no destination in mind, but rather approaches Fern’s situation with acute observations and lack of judgment. In an exchange with an old neighbour, Fern establishes that she is in no need of saving. When asked if she is experiencing homelessness, Fern firmly states she is rather “houseless.” This distinction is highlighted throughout the film without undercutting the difficulties of her financial situation. Simply letting Fern be plants seeds of empathy that Zhao so carefully tends with unwavering earnestness. To support the structureless tale, Zhao intermixes her technical prowess and storytelling talent. The use of rapid and rhythmic scene changes mirrors the fast-paced nature of the lifestyle Fern must become accustomed to.
The odd jobs she picks up to sustain her new way of life come and go as fast as the scenes cut. The striking cinematography captures the American west as more than mere backdrops, but as distinguished landscapes to aid the message of filling empty spaces with meaning. The quality of Zhao’s work is effortlessly matched with a career-best performance from McDormand. The 2018 Best Actress winner is a sure contender for the upcoming Academy Awards. Her nuanced portrayal leads a cast of non-actors and real-life nomads. With the precision of a surgeon, Zhao draws out performances from the non-professionals, further cementing her talents as a director. Nomadland and its docu-fiction film style gently treads the tightrope of constructed reality to illuminate the misunderstood subculture of life on four wheels. Van-dwelling has become a mainstream means of living thanks to its popularity on social media. The seemingly perfect, costeffective lifestyle is highly romanticized with the hashtag ‘VanLife’ accumulating over eight million posts on Instagram. Nomadland could not be further from the Instagram-filtered portrayal of van living. The film details the hardships of this life with a segment on buckets and — quite literally — “dealing with your own shit.” Subtle story beats signify the dangers that exist in living alone on remote terrain. This dignified approach to all qualities of living on the road results in an honest depiction of the lifestyle. The film further pushes its realism with intimate vignettes of the nomads Fern encounters along her way. Seemingly a movie made to change the perspective of the ‘American dream,’ the undercurrents of sentiment and use of real-life characters transform Nomadland into a beautiful portrait of humanity.
Get the Hell Out This zombie film falls flat by neglecting to foster ambiguity in the chaos
The film has no significant character development, creating a zombie flick that feels hollow.
Marta Anielska Associate News Editor
At the beginning of I-Fan Wang’s debut film, Get the Hell Out, the audience gets a dire warning: “A wrong movie will only make you suffer for 90 minutes. A wrong government makes you suffer for four years.” The next and first shot of the movie is a pristinelooking Taipei, the capital city of Taiwan. This contrast between a shiny veneer and a sinister message is gradually deconstructed in this satirical zombie movie that aims to criticize the Taiwanese government and democratic governments around the world. When a zombie outbreak occurs in the parliament building, the politicians exacerbate and prolong it instead of diffusing the situation. While Get the Hell Out manages to mimic the chaos it aims to mock — both through the action and cheeky directing techniques — the ambiguity required of any movie of this kind is absent. Instead, we’re treated to almost two hours of formless character dynamics and decisions, punctuated with barelyintegrated jokes. The setup — based on true-to-life shenanigans that happen in Taiwan’s impassioned partisan parlia-
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ment — is introduced to us by Hsiung Ying-ying, a young, ideological MP. Her parliamentary life is shaped by her only political goal of destroying a chemical plant that has poisoned her hometown. When she’s fired from her position due to a violent incident between her and her primary political rival, she turns to a former classmate, Wang You-wei, whom she hopes to get elected as an MP. However, Wang’s electoral success is quickly dampened; after literally closing all the doors and swallowing the keys during a meeting, a zombie outbreak occurs in an antechamber filled with politicians. The events that follow are typical to the genre: the survival arc, the shadowy figure with a detonator, and the surprise immunity of a main character. But satires are supposed to use tropes to emphasize their main idea. If your main idea is centred around chaos caused by people, a zombie movie is a pretty good choice. All the events listed above are better at showing conflicts between people than they are at showing conflicts between people and the supernatural. The actions of several politicians, including the
key-swallowing farce, do succeed at exaggerating the ludicrous decisions that politicians sometimes make. The message feels even closer to home because of our own outbreak and the political disasters that have accompanied it. The animated character introductions and karaoke jokes serve to quicken the pace and confuse the audience to the same effect. However, a zombie movie is all about the reactions of people in unimaginable circumstances. Despite this, the majority of the characters have one-dimensional personalities and even less inspired motivations, leading to a predictable and seemingly pointless plotline. Instead of a true reflection on the nature of politicians working in a partisan system, we get a blackand-white portrayal of ‘the good guys’ and ‘the bad guys.’ The corrupt politician makes all the selfish decisions we would expect him to make. Wang and Hsiung, though morally grey in the amount of blood they shed, work together rationally to survive, their plans only thwarted by external actors. While the chaos of the events is clear, the chaos
of human nature is less so. The audience walks away with the sense that humans make stupid decisions on purpose rather than due to the complex and ambiguous calculus of the human mind. The result is predictable: the movie doesn’t feel like real chaos. It just feels like the chaos of a badly told story. My confusion was not directed at the actions of the characters; it was directed at the decisions of the writers. At the end of the movie, we’re served with another shot of the parliament building — except this time, it’s on fire. The politicians have destroyed themselves and, ironically, the symbol of good governance which is meant to organize us. The chaos that was barely disguised at the beginning is now overtly obvious. But the seeming inevitability of this exposure clashes with the audience’s very real fear of an unknowable future determined by unpredictable actors. We’re left with something that feels inapplicable to our own more complex reality. As the smoke rises from the blown-up building, a lingering sense of confusion sets in. We’ve destroyed ourselves — so what?
var.st/arts
SEPTEMBER 21, 2020 A necessary film about the atrocities committed against the Mohawk community during the Oka Crisis. COURTESY OF TIFF
Beans
family join their community to defend traditional lands, home to the Kanehsatà:ke and Kahnawá:ke Mohawk communities. This is a recounting of the 1990 Oka Crisis: a standoff between the Mohawk communities and the Canadian government over a proposal to level a forest and a burial ground in order to extend a golf course from the nearby town of Oka. Beans is semi-autobiographical for director Tracey Deer, who was 12 years old at the time of the 78-daylong Oka Crisis. Her coming-of-age story of figuring out her place in the world is condensed into the character of Beans, and events portrayed in the movie
A visceral, semiautobiographical telling of the Oka Crisis from a fresh perspective Eva Cappucine Ferguson Varsity Contributor
Beans opens with the principal of the prestigious Queen Heights Academy butchering the name of 12-year-old Degahandakwa, also known as Beans (Kiawentiio). The story follows Beans as she and her
— like people throwing rocks at her family’s car — come from real-life experiences. The journey that Beans makes from the start to the end of the film is one of strength and bravery, but also one of vulnerability. She faces the complexities of growing up and discovering herself alongside an armed and violent invasion of her community by the Québec government — and eventually the Canadian military. Naturally, being a young girl, she has a vastly different experience from the adults in the resistance. What Beans does experience is the violent racism from the nearby town’s citizens as they yell slurs at her and her family, refuse to let them buy groceries, throw rocks at her car, and attack her people and land. The tension is high, and she senses this — even if she doesn’t fully understand the entire complexity. Snippets of television broadcasts were inserted into the film to give context and a definitive statement that these horrific events were not fictional elements of the film but recent, factual history. In the archived television compilations, the audience sees how Canadians were resentful, hateful, and aggressive toward the Mohawks, one man saying, “I don’t give a shit if they die.” Beans comes to befriend the spunky and tenacious April (Paulina Alexis). Beans asks April how to become tougher, a desire that seems to stem from her wanting to stand up for the rights of her people. April teaches her how to fight dirty, start swearing, dress up, drink, and hang out with the older kids. Through their blossoming and unlikely friendship, April helps Beans develop her confidence and ability to stand up for herself, while Beans helps April to acknowledge the strength in vulnerability. The pain that Beans feels over the hostile mistreatment of her community eventually turns into aggression, partly because of the influence of her new group of friends. However, her mother, Lily (Rain-
The Father
An impactful film that does not shy away from its examination of dementia and aging Savannah C. Ribeiro Varsity Staff
The Father, directed by Florian Zeller, is a portrayal of the loss of mental acuity due to dementia. The film, which is an adaptation of Zeller’s 2012 play by the same name, is ostensibly told from the perspective of the titular character, Anthony (Sir Anthony Hopkins). It is an excellent film with a great cast, and it dives into a frightening facet of the human experience. While the story surrounds Anthony, it does not forget about the impact of the condition on those around him. Interpersonal tension is interwoven into the film from the beginning. One of the opening scenes shows Anthony and his daughter, Anne (Olivia Colman), sitting together as she tries to explain why she is hiring a caregiver for him. She is going to Paris, but she doesn’t want to leave him alone. She certainly doesn’t want to put him in a nursing home, but that unspo-
The difficulties of aging and dementia are highlighted in this star-studded film. COURTESY OF TIFF
ken possibility hangs between them. He tries to convince her — but more so, himself — that he doesn’t need anyone and that he is fine. The tremor in his voice when he asks, “What’s going to become of me?” betrays that he did not fully succeed in his persuasion. Zeller uses cleverly placed cuts and set changes to illustrate the unreliable nature of Anthony’s account of his own life by changing the actors who play the characters between different scenes. First, he is in his apartment’s kitchen, alone. Then, as day seems to melt into night, he finds a man (Mark Gatiss) in the apartment’s living room. The man claims to be Anthony’s son-in-law. Anthony is told that he is living with Anne and her husband, Paul (Rufus Sewell). But he was just in his own apartment before! Anne comes home, but it is not the same woman as earlier —
this time, she is played by Olivia Williams. Some scenes are repeated, with different actors playing the same characters with similar dialogue. Others are ended the same way they began. Anthony’s repeated misplacement of his wristwatch symbolizes the literal loss of his ability to keep time. These stylistic and narrative choices illustrate the confusion and frustration that Anthony must feel. They place the audience in the same headspace, where we aren’t quite sure if these are real memories or imagined. However, Zeller does not give the viewer long to get comfortable in the current reality, changing the set seamlessly from a kitchen with brown drawers to one with white drawers. Hopkins masterfully shifts his acting between jovial and charming to angry and combative. At other times, he is feeble and scared. This shift in
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bow Dickerson) — another central figure for Beans’ development — influences Beans with her resilience and non-violent approach, even in the face of violence. The film showcases the empowerment of Indigenous youth and their continued resilience. By the end, Beans has grown to become a strong and determined individual who knows what she wants. She accepts her admission offer to what she called a “stupid, stuck-up white kid school,” in order to make friends and so people will never throw rocks at her and her community again. She shows up to the first day of class looking into a room of her white classmates, a touch nervous, wearing a hair tie embellished with the Haudenosaunee confederacy belt, and introduces herself using her real name with an unwavering sense of pride. This story was an important one for Deer to tell, and the harsh realities that it shows are important to reveal to a large Canadian and international audience. It is a film about recent history, but it still applies today, as Indigenous people continue to defend their land from pipelines, housing developments, and other infringements. The backlash they receive today from some Canadians is not unlike that which is seen in the film. The Oka Crisis is still part of the collective memory of many Mohawk and Indigenous peoples, in addition to their experience of present injustices. Additionally, the government is as unwilling as ever to acknowledge treaty rights and unceded land, one of the most recent examples being the invasion of the sovereign, unceded territory of the Wet’suwet’en. In an interview with Bonnie Laufer Krebs, Deer said: “As a society, we need to make that space for my people. So, I really want people to leave feeling motivated to go back into their lives… to use that power to help us.”
tone and behaviour is so subtle that it doesn’t actually feel like a performance. Sometimes it is something as small as a slightly quivering lip, a slow shuffling as he wanders down the hall, or a slight change in posture. At other points, Anthony rambles about his cruel and manipulative daughter — even while she stands next to him, her eyes filling with tears. He appears to age rapidly as the film progresses, but the audience is left uncertain as to the passage of time. Glimpses of Anne’s struggle are shown throughout the film, along with the tension she has with her husband, who brings up the awkward suggestion of putting Anthony in an “institution.” She seems to be the one who carries most of the burden of her father’s care, and she has to make difficult decisions with little support from Paul. Like her father, she is frustrated and scared, and Colman’s heartbreaking and raw performance makes for a believable and tragic character. Anne eventually hires Laura (Imogen Poots) as Anthony’s caregiver, and she reminds him of his other daughter, Lucy, who never visits. Laura is also subject to Anthony’s biting comments, but she is at first charmed by him, especially since she’s not quite sure which version of Anthony she will get each day. The Father is one of the most accurate portrayals of dementia that I have seen. This accuracy is also what makes it painful. Near the end of the film, Anthony asks his nurse, “Who exactly am I?” When this kind of illness appears, you don’t know what is going to become of your loved one any more than they do. You and the caregivers know who they are, but answering that question still hurts. Watching this film feels a lot like that. You are merely watching as it unfolds, and you know that you cannot change the ending. The Father will likely stick in my mind for a long time because it hits close to home in two ways. Firstly, my own grandmother suffered from dementia. There were times when she could not recognize me, much like Anthony seems to confuse names and faces. Second, this loss of mental function is something that many people fear. It is frightening to think that it could happen to you. The Father is simultaneously a dramatic examination of the loss of identity and of the psychological horror that accompanies it. It may be hard to watch, but it is absolutely a must-see.
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ARTS & CULTURE
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Shiva Baby
Love, sex, food, and mourning — or, what it means to find your authenticity Eden Prosser Varsity Contributoror
What do you get when you combine a directionless college student, a traditional ceremonial gathering, and a complex relationship or two? Some might call it a waking nightmare. Others, just another uneventful day. As for everybody else, they just call it Shiva Baby. Emma Seligman’s New York University thesis takes on a life of its own in this expanded, cinematic production. Immediately, we’re thrust — quite literally — into the action: the film opens on a shot of our protagonist, Danielle (Rachel Sennott), finishing up a session with her sugar daddy, Max (Danny Deferrari). Through quips of clever dialogue and a series of artful wide shots, two things are made explicitly clear. One, our protagonist Dani is trying to save money to afford to go to law school. And two, either Max and Dani really, really like to give extended hugs, or they have feelings for one another. Cut to the titular shiva — a ceremonial
A whirlwind shiva spirals out of control in Seligman’s feature. COURTESY OF TIFF
gathering of mourning — where we meet the overbearing, yet concerned Debbie (Polly Draper) and her ditzy, scatterbrained husband Joel (Fred Melamed). They are Dani’s parents and the catalysts for the dominos that are about to topple. It’s bad enough that Dani has not the faintest clue who she is meant to be mourning at the shiva. The subsequent appearance of her ex, Maya (Molly Gordon), adds a little more turmoil and pain. But when Max shows up, revealing that not only that he used to work for Dani’s father, but that he’s also married — with a baby, no less — things begin to spiral out of control. On a superficial level, Shiva Baby is the story of how, during one fateful shiva, Dani’s life completely falls apart. Yet at its heart, this film is an examination of the human condition: what constitutes a strong, healthy relationship, and how to present your most authentic self in a world that constantly tries to tell you that what you’re doing is not enough. These themes culminate halfway through the film, when Dani glances at her strong-willed mother and murmurs something along the lines of: I know I’m not the daughter you expected. But answer me — do you think I’m a disappointment? In this moment, Dani transforms from a cynical, childish, attention-seeking character into a young woman who may be emotionally struggling but has heart. The nail-biting, tension-inducing violins cut out, the camera zooms in on our lead, and suddenly, the movie becomes less of an amusing romp down
the rabbit hole of destruction and more of a social commentary — grounded in reality, touching upon everybody’s dreams, desires, and confusions. Though Dani is clearly the star of the show, one of the film’s greatest strengths lies in the phenomenal acting of the secondary ensemble cast. From Max, with his eyes ever-flitting between Dani and his wife, to Maya, with her warm smile, sharp tongue, and not-so-subtle flirtations, every character is portrayed with commitment, skill, and poise. The supporting cast brings light and life to Dani’s despair, grounding the film in humility and warmth. Admittedly, you’re left with a few questions by the time the credits roll. The final scene leaves off on a pseudo-cliffhanger, precariously teetering between sufficient resolution and unadulterated conflict. Yet this moment is pulled off with grace and perfection. The lead-up is comedy at its greatest, leaving viewers with one final laugh, and the ambiguity of the final scene — creating an ending that’s open to viewer interpretation — is both unconventional and brilliant. Quirky, relevant, and unflinchingly real, Shiva Baby is a film that’s sure to bring a tear to your eye and a smile to your face — likely at the same time. It’s quick. It’s sharp. It’s character-driven, and it’s fun. This might be the first time you’ve heard of director Emma Seligman, but it definitely won’t be the last.
Enemies of the State
Another Round
Midlife crises, alcohol use disorder, Danish high school teachers in Thomas Vinterberg’s latest Will Gotlib Varsity Contributor
Another Round — originally titled Druk — is the newest film by celebrated Danish director Thomas Vinterberg. He’s a regular at the Toronto International Film Festival, with five of his films featured over the years. His previous film, Kursk, was a little underwhelming, but Another Round is excellent. The film stars Mads Mikkelsen as Martin, a high school teacher in Denmark who is part of a group of friends who are also teachers. They’re all miserable and moving through their lives very mechanically, lacking the spark or passion they once had in their work, families, or interests. One night, while out to dinner together, a theory is raised that purports that human beings should constantly maintain a mild blood-alcohol content. Initially incredulous, desperation and curiosity lead the group to embark on an excusatory study of their “social and professional performance” while growing increasingly drunk for entire days. The premise of watching teachers, who are enthusiastically inebriated, lead oblivious classes sounds pretty funny, but Another Round’s greatest strengths are in its tactful and delicate mixing of its comedy
A sobering comedy surrounding a group of Danish high school teachers. COURTESY OF TIFF
with authentic drama. Despite the seemingly ridiculous premise, Vinterberg directs with restraint. The tone bounces around with ease, and rather than feeling erratic, each of its contrasting moods strengthens the other. Anything that’s easy to laugh at is always accompanied by discomfort in the back of your mind that keeps it all grounded. That’s not to say it’s not still very entertaining. The humour comes pretty much entirely out of just watching the usually dour and unenthused characters come alive and somehow successfully fumble through awkward situations. The humour can sweep you up so much that the anxiety almost melts away, leaving you to question what the correct response is when it eventually pulls the rug out from under you. It’s a fine balance to strike, and the film only works as well and as believably as it does because of the ensemble of fantastic elements. The script, co-written by Vinterberg, is very natural and understated. Everyone in the cast puts in excellent and nuanced performances, but Mikkelsen is a standout. The cinematography and editing are excellent. The characters’ drunkenness is sometimes reflected in some interesting ways, but it’s never overbearing. Like most of the movie, it understands where the line between effective shock and showing off lies. Usually, Another Round ends up doing a little too much, rather than going too far in any specific place. The constant ups and downs can step on the toes of powerful moments a bit, especially near the ending. There are also a few moments when the film pushes your suspension of disbelief: characters delivering lectures to a more than mild student response is generally pretty unconvincing. A lot of Another Round’s other power comes from its ruminations and interesting conclusions on the positives and negatives of alcohol, which tie further into themes of age, friendship, and conventions of masculinity. Considering how morose it often is, the movie’s perspective on these ideas is surprising and refreshingly positive. It’s definitely not a celebration of alcohol use disorder, but it’s also not at the other extreme of that spectrum. It’s genuinely interesting to think about what the movie has to say. Disclosure: Will Gotlib is a member of the Victoria College Council.
This thrilling and paranoia-inducing documentary will live up to your conspiracy theory fantasies The documentary is an uncomfortable but fascinating watch. COURTESY OF TIFF
Ana Pereira Varsity Contributor
Director Sonia Kennebeck’s new political documentary Enemies of the State is one of the 50 selection titles that premiered last week at the 45th Toronto International Film Festival. With plot twists worthy of fictional thrillers, Enemies of the State is a captivating story that provides far more questions than answers. Kennebeck takes you on an investigative journey through the lives of an American family and their ‘hacktivist’ son Matt DeHart, who claims to have been tortured by the US government in 2010 for his alleged espionage and association with Anonymous and WikiLeaks. However, the prosecuting attorneys argue that the main reason for the investigation is suspicion of DeHart’s involvement with child pornography. After spending 21 months in prison, DeHart is released on bond and decides to seek asylum in Canada with his parents, Paul and Leann. In a sea of inconclusive evidence, the viewer has to take on the role of the judge in deciding Matt’s innocence or guilt. We learn about Matt’s mysterious persona mostly through the perspective of his friends and parents. In one of the early scenes, a high school friend recalls a time when Matt spitefully put a dead fish in the ceiling of the student council office after having lost an election, claiming “victory through integrity.” Cleverly, Kennebeck suggests right off the bat that there is something fishy about Matt’s narrative: to what lengths would the DeHarts sustain a lie to protect their integrity as a religious
family with former ties to the US Army? At the same time, the portrayal of incredibly bold images of actors reenacting torture and the inclusion of multiple videos of Matt’s childhood suggests that this bizarre case deserves the audience’s sympathy — even as he is charged for child pornography. In a world where the absence of social justice seems to be ubiquitous, and the desire for a hero to do justice with their own hands is on the rise, this sympathy is almost guaranteed with a mainstream audience — and Kennebeck endorses this with clean shots of the DeHarts in moments of raw vulnerability. Amidst the secrets and lies, the only one who can guarantee some transparency in this documentary is the director herself, as she quotes Oscar Wilde in the very first scene: “The truth is rarely pure and never simple.” This sentiment persists throughout the entirety of the film, as you’re immersed in a truly journalistic experience: understanding the order of events will not always be easy, and information is rarely complete. The plot is frustratingly confusing at times, and you might need a notepad and a pen to follow the steps of the investigation. Though it is not a leisurely watch, Enemies of the State will certainly satiate your thirst for conspiracy theories with hackers, court hearings, foreign embassies, the Central Intelligence Agency, whistleblowers — you name it. It will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end and leave you questioning, even if only momentarily, the absolute truths that support your reality.
var.st/arts
SEPTEMBER 21, 2020
Oliver Atherton Varsity Contributor
In New Order, writer and director Michel Franco serves up a gruesome depiction of class struggle and corruption in protest-ridden Mexico City. Unfortunately, as its runtime elapses, the film’s attempt to offer thrills and insight is drowned out by its unrelenting violence and pessimism. The film opens with a series of quick shots depicting acts of violent rebellion and piles of corpses covered in green paint, a substance that serves as a symbol for the unrest pervading Franco’s Mexico City. We then see protestors raid a hospital, pulling patients from their beds to make room for rebel wounded. After these disturbing vignettes, the film suddenly switches gears, planting viewers at an upscale wedding. Wealthy family members give gifts and chat affably as if thoroughly insulated from the chaos depicted in the film’s first minutes. The juxtaposition is effective, if obvious. Despite the party’s idyllic atmosphere, however, subtle details suggest that mayhem is encroaching. The first signal comes when the bride’s mother turns on the tap to find it running green — the same colour used by protestors to spray paint their revolutionary slogans. The same shade is then found threateningly spewed on a guest’s car. This wedding sequence,which takes up the first
New Order
act, is
The film starts strong, but gets lost in the carnage A film about class struggles falls flat through its repeated depiction of violence. COURTESY OF TIFF
where the film really excels. Franco creates a palpable sense of hidden danger that seeps into every corner of the party, much like the green paint that clings to the streets of New Order’s Mexico City. He then ratchets up the tension to its shrieking climax, when ragged protestors clamber over the mansion’s walls and terrorize its occupants.
The rest of the film, however, is less inspired and impactful. The bride-to-be, who left the wedding to help an ailing former employee, ends up kidnapped by soldiers for ransom and imprisoned with scores of others who have been abducted by the military. From this point on, the film is a whirlwind of violence and death.
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In scene after scene, Franco forces the viewer to watch as various characters are sexually assaulted, beaten, electrocuted, and shot. As the film wears on, these sequences feel more desensitizing than they do powerful or shocking. Character development also virtually ceases, except for the string of surprise betrayals that populate the film’s second half. But these are just as wearying as the violence; a character revealing themselves to be duplicitous, corrupt, or lying simply does not have the same emotional impact the third time around. By the end of the film, nearly every major character has either been killed or revealed as unscrupulous, making the final scene correspondingly grim. For all its gruesome set-pieces and double-crosses, New Order never quite recaptures the level of tension that characterizes its first act. Moreover, the film gets so lost in depicting the depravity that flourishes in the chaos of class conflict that it forgets to make an actual point about class, corruption, or anything else. Instead, the audience is left with little insight beyond the impression that inequality and corruption are ‘bad’ and that violence is likely to follow from them. Save for its opening third, unfortunately, New Order is all indulgence and no insight, all intensity and no impact.
Under the Open Sky
A character study of a formerly incarcerated person succeeds despite long runtime Amelia Waud Varsity Contributor
Without the usual bells and whistles of the TIFF Bell Lightbox at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, I was instead left with a faulty wi-fi connection as I sat down beneath the roof of my student apartment to watch Under the Open Sky, written and directed by Miwa Nishikawa. With alluring, striking visuals and the strong acting performance by Kôji Yakusho, Under the Open Sky — despite its dragged-on narrative — represents multitudes of loneliness and camaraderie in times of personal growth. Released from his 12-year prison sentence, Masao Mikami (Yakusho) leaves behind his life of crime and attempts to turn over a new leaf. This transition, as one can assume, is not
so easily done, and Masao struggles to fit into a society he has never found solace in. In Masao’s attempts to change his actions, he realigns himself with the values of his friends, both old and new. One of these new friends is a director, Tsunoda (Taiga Nakano), who, despite plans to exploit Masao’s story for television, begins to form a close and reciprocal bond with him. The title of Nishikawa’s eighth directorial feature film, Under the Open Sky, provokes a certain grandeur that is lived up to through the film’s cinematography. The icy cool colour palette translated well onto my Samsung screen, so I can only imagine the striking effect that the visuals would have had in a theatre. At the beginning of the film, the cinematography is layered with symmetrical shots inside prison walls, and then moves outside to similarly lonely scenes of Tokyo. These sterile
In the film, a formerly incarcerated person goes on a redemption journey. COURTESY OF TIFF
images accompany the film’s dominant feeling of isolation but also open gateways to moments of new beginnings. Warm tones amongst the cool backgrounds communicate the connection between characters as they grow alongside one another. Under the Open Sky effortlessly switches between feelings of isolation and intimacy. At one moment, Masao finds himself at his wit’s end, feeling completely alone. Yakusho’s performance in these times of dejection and frustration are as captivating as they are distressing. In one scene, during a street fight, Masao bites a man after losing himself to anger — sorry for the spicy spoiler. However, after moments of upheaval, Masao finds a way back to positive growth through the help of his friends. Weighing both moments of isolation and companionship, Under the Open Sky speaks to the peaks and troughs of growth and change.
I thoroughly enjoyed following the back-andforth displays of emotion. However, after the hour-and-a-half mark, not only was I exhausted by my wi-fi cutting out, but also by the fact that this movie simply wouldn’t end. It passed through too many opportunities to finish, and Masao’s difficulties began to feel repetitive. Under the Open Sky confronts its spectators with questions of the practicality of change in an isolating society, while also placing emphasis on the importance of friendship and communal support. Though I’m cautious not to draw too many parallels between the reality of incarceration and the COVID-19 lockdown, this film does remind one of the current moment of our physically distant world. However, I would exchange this sliver of relatability with the opportunity to see this film in a real theatre, rather than through an internet connection.
Science
September 21, 2020 var.st/science science@thevarsity.ca
The environmental footprint of your jeans How your jeans can be found in remote parts of the Arctic
U of T researchers found denim microfibres in water bodies in the Arctic circle. SAMANTHA YAO/THEVARSITY
Jennifer Zhong Varsity Contributor
Once used by workers due to its high durability, blue jeans have become a fashion icon worldwide. The denim fabric industry alone was valued at approximately 90 billion USD in 2019, and was expected to grow to 105 billion USD by 2023. You probably have at least one pair of jeans in your wardrobe, if not more. But your favourite pair of jeans may be contributing to Canada’s water pollution. A recent paper affiliated with the University of
Toronto reveals the widespread range of denim microfibres in aquatic environments ranging from the Great Lakes to the Arctic Archipelago. Co-author of the paper Samantha Athey, a PhD candidate in the Department of Earth Sciences, spoke to The Varsity about how pervasive microfibres are and what we can do to minimize their production. What are microfibres? Microfibres are microscopic fibres that are released
when textiles are degraded through washing, wearing, and more. They can be further classified into synthetic, semisynthetic, or natural, depending on their source material. Although they seem inconsequential, microfibres make up the majority of humanmodified particles in the environment. Natural microfibres may sound eco-friendly, but the name is misleading. They are derived from natural materials such as cotton and hemp, but they are artificially modified with chemical dyes and additives. Researchers have also found that they are more abundant than synthetic fibres in environmental samples. As such, these ‘natural’ fibres may present a new frontier in the relatively new field of microfibre pollution research. Tracing your jeans’ path In their different areas of microfibre research, Athey and her colleagues often found indigo-dyed cotton fibres in their samples from arctic sediments to fish in the Great Lakes. While speculating on their origins, they looked down and realized they were wearing blue jeans. With that hypothesis, the researchers set out to trace the source and distribution of the microfibres across Canada’s waterways. The team conducted a series of controlled washing experiments to show that the fibres released from 100 per cent cotton jeans were very similar to those found in their samples. Through these experiments, they found that a single pair of used jeans can shed roughly 56,000 microfibres per wash, depending on a number of factors. Distressed jeans, with holes and frayed edges, were found to shed more than nondistressed jeans. They then examined levels of denim microfibre in different aquatic environments in southern Ontario and the Arctic Archipelago. There were a variety of different sources in Ontario, including wastewater
being discharged to Lake Ontario and fish samples from Lake Ontario and Lake Huron. Arctic sediment samples were taken across the archipelago, from offshore Alaska all the way to offshore Greenland. Worryingly, microfibres appeared to be equally distributed across the Arctic, far from any potential sources such as waste treatment plants. This indicates that the particles are capable of long-range transport, making them more difficult to trace. Many of the effects of microfibre pollution are still unknown, but we may not have time to wait for more results before acting. While denim fibres do not last as long as plastic in the environment, they last long enough to be ingested by fish or make it into deep sea sediments in the Arctic. Minimizing your carbon footprint Although this discovery is concerning, the researchers are not telling people to get rid of their jeans. All fabrics shed microfibres — denim fibres are just easier to see and trace than other materials, according to Athey. One way you can protect and minimize the footprint of your jeans is by washing them less. In fact, President and CEO of Levi Strauss & Co Chip Bergh even recommends that you don’t wash your jeans or reduce the amount of times that you wash them and spot clean for stains as needed. Another way is to shop for used clothing. The researchers found that new jeans release more microfibres than used jeans when washed, making secondhand clothing a better choice for the environment, the fabric industry, and your wallet. “We need to be thinking of how to stop the microfibres from being released by any fabric into the environment,” Athey said. “The switch to natural fabrics… the solution’s just not that easy.”
Mitochondrial dysfunction at the centre of Parkinson’s disease, explains UTSC literature review Pamella Alamilla Varsity Contributor
U of T publication shows how essential mitochondria are to neuron health
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a widely recognized disorder of the nervous system that develops when neurons in the brain die or become damaged. Some symptoms of this disease include tremors, body stiffness, decreased mobility, and impaired balance and coordination. It affects approximately two per cent of adults over 65 years old and affects men about 1.5 times as frequently as women. A recent literature review published by researchers at UTSC aims to explain the role of mitochondrial function — or rather dysfunction — as it relates to Parkinson’s disease. What do mitochondria do? Mitochondria are the cell organelles responsible for generating chemical energy for the body. They also regulate ions in the body and are essential to the well-being of neurons. An oft-quoted internet meme is to refer to them as “powerhouses of the cell,” a common phrase from many high school textbooks that highlights how important they are to the body. The lead author of the review is PhD candidate Dennison Trinh, a member of the Nash Lab at UTSC. Trinh’s research focuses on the changes in mitochondrial function in rat models of PD. In his publication, Trinh describes how PD was first linked to mitochondrial dysfunction in the early 1980s, when heroin addicts experienced PDlike symptoms after inadvertently taking heroin laced with a substance called MPTP. Researchers hypothesized that the mechanisms behind MPTP-induced neurodegeneration might be similar to those that cause PD. PD and mitochondria Postmortem studies performed on the brains of patients with PD have shown the impairment of their mitochondria. Together, these conditions have been shown
to compromise the function of mitochondrial DNA, the formation of proteins and lipids, and the regular functioning of associated pathways for biochemical reactions. Mitochondrial dysfunction was also shown to have been caused by a rise in membrane permeability to calcium. The excess calcium impairs mitochondrial function, sometimes resulting in cell death. A genetic component Currently, about five to 10 per cent of PD cases have been linked to genetic mutations, many of which impact mitochondrial function directly or indirectly. Take the Parkin enzyme for example, which plays an important role in mitochondrial quality control. More than 100 mutations of this enzyme have been linked to PD. These mutations negatively affect Parkin’s enzyme function, preventing the removal of damaged mitochondria. Evidence also shows that Parkin directly regulates the immune response and that damaged mitochondria are unable to induce an immune response. So Parkin mutations could be triggering the dysregulation of the immune response in patients with PD. Over 90 additional genetic variants have been identified, which may eventually be used to predict a person’s risk of developing sporadic PD. Analyses of the different gene variants may indicate not only susceptibility to PD, but also disease progression. However, for now, Trinh wrote that “the best predictor of a person’s likelihood to be diagnosed with PD is their family history of the disease.” And yet, Trinh wrote that a family history of PD “only increases the risk from 1-2% to 3%.” Presently, it is very difficult to accurately predict a person’s predisposition to PD.
Post-mortem studies of patients with Parkinson’s disease have shown damage to their mitchondria. TOM WOODS/FLICKR
Mitochondrial enhancers Mitochondrial enhancers, therapies that boost mitochondrial function, are being seriously considered in the battle against PD. Preclinical trials have demonstrated the success of some enhancers. One such mitochondrial enhancer is idebenone, which has shown to alleviate PD-like symptoms and lengthen the lifespan of mouse subjects. “Since familial and sporadic forms of PD both involve mitochondrial dysfunction at the center of the pathology, we do believe mitochondrial enhancers are key therapeutic agents for treating the disease,” Trinh wrote. Trinh wrote that “by maintaining or restoring mitochondrial function, the affected neurons
should be able to avoid cell death and remain healthy.” Additionally, improvements in the penetration of the blood-brain barrier are likely to facilitate the delivery of mitochondrial enhancers. With so many clinical trials already analyzing treatments for PD, Trinh predicts that a clinical therapeutic could be available within the next five years. “The greatest takeaway from this review is that PD is a complex disease with many causes, but regardless of cause, central to its pathology is the dysfunction of mitochondria,” Trinh wrote. He goes on to say that in order to develop effective new therapies to combat this disease, “we need to further our understanding of mitochondrial signaling pathways in PD and how to modulate them.”
var.st/science
SEPTEMBER 21, 2020
Planet Party: a virtual astronomy event hosted for space and non-space enthusiasts alike Viewing Saturn, learning Indigenous constellation names
The Dunlap Institute’s annual astronomy event went online this year. SAMANTHA YAO/THEVARSITY
Candice Zhang Varsity Staff
On September 12, the Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics at the University of Toronto hosted its annual Planet Party in collaboration with the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. A livestream of telescopes across the country accompanied talks from multiple guest speakers, including astronomers and graduate students. Participants tuned in online to learn about topics ranging from black holes to moons of Uranus with Shakespearean names. A recording of the event was also made available on YouTube. Astronomy made digital The event kicked off at 8:30 pm with attendees from all over the world. Dr. Michael Reid, an associate professor and public outreach coordinator at the Dunlap Institute, narrated the first few portions of the event, reading an Indigenous land acknowledgement before introducing the attendees to many amusing activities. Reid was also the main organizer of the event, and he worked with partners to create a good virtual experience. “[Reid] took on trying to turn what has been an
important event that we’ve run annually in person and turn it into an online event,” Dr. Mubdi Rahman, a research associate at the Dunlap Institute, wrote in an email to The Varsity. “So you can imagine the challenges of doing this, especially when everyone is a little tired of Zoom and the like.” My experience attending the event was different, but rather intriguing. At first, I wasn’t sure how the event would go as space-viewing sessions tend to be more engaging in person as opposed to online. But as it turns out, I was mistaken. “We had a great turnout,” Rahman wrote. “Thousands of people from across the world tuned in and were looking at the planets… with us!” Saturn, stars, and screens There were numerous platforms for students to view different planets, one of them being an app called Stellarium Mobile Sky Map, also offered as a website. The application was introduced by Michael O’Shea, a graduate student at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, and the session mainly consisted of finding Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, and a few stars. The website fascinated many students as it was just like viewing the sky from a digital telescope. “Stellarium reminds me of Google earth, but instead of showing a 3d map of the world, it shows
the night sky,” wrote Pragathy Krishnan, a fourthyear student. After exploring a new software, students were able to look at the planet from a variety of perspectives and locations. Some speakers were situated in Toronto while others resided an hour away from the city. The differences in location showcased dissimilar visuals; some places were cloudier than others, whereas some were clearer. Even though the sky on that particular night wasn’t as clear as previous weeks, the speakers shared different photographs from the previous night, showcasing the planets. “We’ve all seen professional pictures of Saturn, but when you see it as it comes out of a telescope, it’s like no other experience,” Rahman wrote. Indigenous constellations: the hunter and the bear Learning about space and exploring the unknown through a computer was a fascinating process. I enjoyed hearing about Jupiter’s 400-year-old hurricane while exploring black holes, but there is a story that I can never forget. After the gaming session, Thomas Deer, a
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member of the Mohawk Wolf Clan, explained the perceptions of space from an Indigenous point of view. He told a story about the constellation of the hunter and the bear — known also as the Big Dipper. In the story, two brothers hunting a bear find themselves ascending into the sky during their pursuit. Along with their hunting dog, they form the ‘handle’ of the Big Dipper, and the four stars that form the ‘spoon’ stand in for the bear. Even though I enjoyed hearing about different stories and cultural aspects, every attendee had their own opinions about the sessions. For Rahman, one of his favourite memories was witnessing the pictures taken from the sky. “I think my favourite part of the event is having people see Saturn for the first time,” Rahman wrote. Although a virtual event may be different from a physical experience, there was a lot of knowledge to gain from the Planet Party. Fortunately, the Dunlap Institute plans on hosting more similar events in the future. “The planet party itself is an annual event, so we do intend to keep going with it after the pandemic,” Rahman wrote. Krishnan agreed that the event exceeded expectations, writing that “this event brings awareness to the night sky to local Torontonians.” This event has been a valuable contribution to a city where the stars aren’t often visible.
ZEANA HAMDONAH/THEVARSITY
STEM gems: lesser known programs and courses to keep on your radar It’s not too late to switch into these interesting options
Biodiversity and conservation biology major With the United Nations pronouncing 2020 as the “super year for nature,” it is prime time to learn about global changes in — and how to conserve and protect — biological diversity. This program focuses on equipping students with resources to support the fight for biodiversity conservation. Animal physiology major This program prepares students to compare the physiological mechanisms of different species or those of the same species in different environments. With the help of seminars and laboratory courses, students learn about a plethora of animal adaptations under different environmental or biological stressors.
SAMANTHA YAO/THEVARSITY
Nutritional sciences major Nearly two in every three adults in Canada have body mass index scores that classify them as obese or overweight. Fatalities from nutrition-related diseases have grown in the last century. The program takes a multifaceted approach to nutrition and combines ideas from the physical, biological, and social sciences, acknowledging national and international standards of optimal health.
Even if one overcomes ACORN crashing, as well as the waitlist ordeal, picking the best courses and programs is no easy feat. The following is a compilation of a few of the many academic gems buried in the great depths of the course and program calendars to keep on your radar.
Mathematics and philosophy specialist Mathematics and philosophy are both logic-driven subjects. Students of this program explore the deep intersection between the two disciplines. Intensely challenging and rewarding, this program is ideal preparation for graduate studies in mathematics or philosophy.
Lesser known course offerings including STEM-related courses in the Department of English.
Amna Noor Varsity Contributor
The phrase ‘back to school’ is generally associated with stationery shopping, summer glow-ups, and excitement. However, at the University of Toronto, alongside these comes the dreaded enrolment period.
ENG102H1 — Literature and the Sciences The course zooms in on the overlapping area between literature and science, and it aims to teach students scientific problems, methods, and technology through a literary lens. PSL190H1 — Biomedical Research at the Cutting Edge Open to students who have less than four credits, the course starts with presentations by two different researchers who highlight recent advances in physiology. The lectures are designed to guide students through the development of a hypothesis, design of a study, and interpretation of results. CSC303H1 — Social and Information Networks This course introduces the mathematical principles for much of modern network technology, including graph theory and game theory. Concepts such as the ‘six degrees of separation’ and the ‘wisdom of crowds’ are studied alongside contexts such as social networks. This is a valuable course for anyone interested in developing social network platforms. MIE346H1 — Analog and Digital Electronics for Mechatronics This Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering course introduces some of the principles of semiconductor devices such as diodes and fieldeffect transistors. Dylan Machado, a mechanical engineering student who used to take the course, said that by the end of the term, students learn how to solder and can put together their own printed circuit board from scratch.
Sports
SEPTMEBER 21, 2020 var.st/sports sports@thevarsity.ca
Toronto Raptors season in review
The highs, the lows, and everything in between
went 34-48. Finally, the 1991 Lakers with Magic Johnson went 58-24 while the next year without him, their record was 43-39. I recently walked around the downtown campus and Chinatown asking students what they remembered about this year of Raptors basketball. Nobody mentioned our game seven loss. It wasn’t what stuck out this season and it shouldn’t taint anything. Let’s look back on our record-setting year.
Avishai Sol Varsity Contributor
Another year — gone. As far as Toronto Raptors seasons go, this was a pretty good one. And yes I am still in mourning, but I’m just saying, keep it all in perspective. You have every right to be bummed out — heck, I am, too — but let’s appreciate that the Boston Celtics series, even in defeat, was one for the ages. It’s an awkward position we’re in right now. As a city and a franchise, we’ve never had to deal with Pascal Siakam’s ascendance losing the title before. I even found myself caught We were worried about how Pascal Siakam would off guard by our playoff elimination: we haven’t hold up as our number one guy. We’d seen him been eliminated from the playoffs since May 7, thrive off the ball and as a complimentary star next to Leonard, but his improvements last year were 2018. We were spared asking ourselves, “What went startling enough; we couldn’t expect him to do it wrong?” last year because nothing did. We reached again, right? Well, from game one he was proving the the mountain top. Now, however, we find ourselves back with the rest of the doubters wrong. On opening night, league, climbing to be back at the Siakam put together a complete show: he even gave all four of top. the frumpy, white league exBut I’d like to remind ecutives hugs on his walk all of you of something that is very important up to receive his chamas a sports fan, Rappionship ring. He then tors fan, and really in turned around and any competitive situdropped 34 points, ation. five assists, and 18 rebounds in a win over We’re not going to the New Orleans win every year. We just had anPelicans, all the while other amazing season. giving us that signaWe had the second ture toothy smile. best record in the league after losing our number one guy. Do Who is Terence you know what other Davis? teams look like when Have you ever they lose a player the caliasked yourself, bre of Kawhi Leonard? “How many G The 2018 Cleveland CavaLeague guys have liers had a 50-32 record with SIT Y LeBron James while the 2019 team without VAR E H G/T him had a 19-63 record. The 2004 Los An- IRIS DEN geles Lakers went 56-26 with Shaquille O’Neal while the 2005 team without him
the Raptors found or turned into quality NBA players?” Since its inception in 2015, the Raptors 905, the G League team affiliated with the Toronto Raptors, have produced many NBA players. As if we needed any more evidence that Masai Ujiri is the second coming, Terence Davis went from going undrafted to receiving 30 votes for NBA All-Rookie first team voting. On top of being a top tier athlete and a strong three-point shooter, Davis attacks fearlessly like the ex-football player he is. His rise is just the latest in the long line of rags-to-riches stories from the Raptors. The injury cloud Due to injury, Siakam missed 11 regular season games, Kyle Lowry missed 14, and Serge Ibaka missed 17. Several others have also missed multiple games to injury. We still won more games than the Lakers, the Los Angeles Clippers, and the Miami Heat. Chew on that. The comeback game December 22, 2019 was just a run-of-the-mill, regular season match against the Dallas Mavericks. Both teams were missing key players. Nobody expected much. I know I didn’t. With two minutes left in the third quarter, the Raptors were down by 30 points. I remember turning to my dad at this point and saying, “We’re cursed! Whenever we go see a game in person, the Raptors lose. Remind me never to buy playoff tickets.” People started to walk out as the quarter ended. I was so bummed I even considered leaving to try and get ahead of the post-game traffic — but I’m glad I stayed. Long story short, Lowry went supernova in the fourth quarter, and the Raptors rallied back to complete a very memorable, statistical comeback in franchise history. Winning is hard, and it doesn’t happen often. Sometimes it doesn’t happen at all. So, I know that loss to Boston was bitter, but keep faith! We had an amazing year, and it won’t be the last.
Out of Left Field: The importance of intramural sport, from a former coach Where average Joes can feel like professionals
The 2018 intramural basketball finals. FAZLUR REHMAN MALIK/THEVARSITY
Guiller Lorenzo Cenizal Varsity Contributor
Almost exactly a year ago a close friend of mine asked me to help coach the intramural team he was tasked with captaining. Basketball had been a common interest that drew us together in first year. Naturally, as someone who loved the sport and was seeking a respite from the rigors and vagaries of academic life, I accepted. Fast forward a few months later to December: exams were winding down, and we were fresh off of missing the playoffs due to a technicality and an extremely questionable foul. Some of the guys
had the good fortune of finishing exams early, and one of them was returning home to Australia because his exchange was ending. An end-of-season dinner would be a perfect way to see the team before the winter holidays and would double as a send-off. Not all of us could make it because we are, first and foremost, students. But I remember thinking at the end of the night how seldom I actually saw most of these guys — at most, two times a week for two and a half months. Yet, I thought of how natural it felt to be around them. I quickly realized these were the bonds of a team. A team that, though not competing at a professional or even amateur level, had tasted the bitterness of defeat and the sweetness of victory as one. The season in the second semester saw new faces join the old. That semester yielded great success and promise in the standings but was cut short before the finals game in March due to the impact of COVID-19. This was not simply an unceremonious end to some intramural basketball season at some college; this was the abrupt end of being around the sport I love, meeting new people, making new friends, taking a break from studies, and feeling a
sense of camaraderie in a university setting notorious for inspiring feelings of alienation. A few of the guys had played extensively in high school — sometimes at very high levels — and thus were inclined to keep playing, while some had never participated in a team sport until then. A close friend of mine said that intramural sports gave him the chance to feel like a professional despite being an “average Joe.” The title of this article is a reference to the Oscar Wilde play The Importance of Being Earnest, a satirical play about Victorian sensibilities where the protagonists escape social burdens by maintaining fictitious personae. This is a fitting title when discussing an escape from academic pressures. Average Joes moonlighting as professionals: decidedly serious people — students — benefiting from a little triviality in their lives — something as simple as organized sports once a week. Out of Left Field is the Sports section’s newest column. Ever wondered if the university has more to offer than Varsity sports? Out of Left Field will explore the wackiest, weirdest, and most underrated athletic opportunities at U of T.
What the Health?
The Varsity’s health and fitness hotline Jessica Han Varsity Contributor
Drinking water is a basic human necessity. Yet do we really know how much water to drink in a day? An easy and common way to remember how much we should be swigging back is to use the eight-by-eight rule, where you drink eight eight-ounce cups each day. It’s not exactly backed up by evidence, but it gets the job done. Now, if we want to get specific, according to The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, the average daily water intake should be 3.7 litres for men and 2.7 litres for women. Keep in mind that drinking the right amount of water depends on each person. A fitness guru would drink way more water compared to those who aren’t exercising as much. If you’re having a bad case of diarrhea, you’re going to be chugging a lot more water than normal. Beware though, as it is possible to drink too much water. It can lead to water intoxication and hyponatremia — or overhydration — where the sodium level is too low in the blood. If you’re flooding your kidneys with heaps and heaps of water, your kidneys won’t be able to get rid of it, causing mild to life-threatening consequences. It’s more prone to happen to athletes and soldiers, but it’s very rare — emphasis on ‘very.’ Don’t worry about overdrinking. When you’re thirsty, drink water, and go get that extra bathroom break in. Send in your health and fitness questions to sports@thevarsity.ca for a chance to be anonymously featured!
FIONA TUNG/THEVARSITY
var.st/sports
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Maintaining a regular workout routine during a COVID-19-ridden school year Striking a school-gym balance
Benjamin Ding Varsity Contributor
With the return of the regular school year in the midst of a pandemic, U of T’s gyms have been forced to adapt. Instead of being able to enter freely to work out both whenever and however they want, individuals must book a meagre 45-minute session online in advance to access a limited set of equipment. This is just another novelty to which we’ll have to adjust. But maintaining a healthy school-gym balance is far from impossible. As someone who loves exercising, here are some of my best tips and tricks to make the most out of your workout under these new conditions. Follow a workout program or plan your session beforehand With only 45 minutes per session, your time is already limited. The most effective counter is to plan exactly what movements you’re going to do, as well as how many reps and sets per move. If you’re a newbie to fitness, try looking up a fitness program online. Be sure you have the right
equipment for your session, as the Athletic Centre offers different equipment for separate sessions. You may also want to consider booking consecutive sessions to access all the equipment you need. Be specific with your fitness and academic goals Unless you’re a Varsity athlete or looking to build muscle, you’re unlikely to be spending upward of an hour or two in the gym. Ask yourself how much time you’ll need for the gym and plan accordingly. It’s okay if you need to dedicate more time toward studying than exercising, but remember, exercising can actually assist you in studying, which leads me to my next tip. Use your workout as a study break or destresser I’m willing to bet that a university student’s idea of a typical break usually consists of scrolling through social media or watching YouTube. But studies have shown that such activities only worsen your focus. Contrastingly, exercising has been shown to immediately relieve stress hormones and release endorphins. In particular, aerobic exercise — better known as cardio — has been shown to reduce risks of
With a little forethought, you can eat healthy on residence Maintaining a balanced diet on a meal plan
MICHELLE KIM/THEVARSITY
Tahmeed Shafiq Science Editor
If you’re moving into residence, whether for the first time or as a returning resident, you might have questions about the food. How do you stay healthy on a meal plan? Options aren’t always as varied or nutritious as what
you might find at home, but if you’re mindful of what you eat, you can still stay healthy on a meal plan. Maintain a balanced diet Try to look for healthier options in the dining hall: proteins, green vegetables, and foods that are high in fibre. Many dining halls have salad op-
Healthy takeout at UTSG
The unofficial list of the best and healthiest eats on campus Laura Ashwood Sports Editor
We’ve all been there: you’re sitting at Robarts Library, hitting the books, and all of a sudden, all you can think about is what you’re going to eat for lunch. You’re on campus, far away from your kitchen — where to eat? Even during COVID-19, sometimes all you need to keep the pep in your midterm prep is some delicious takeout after weeks of monotonous home cooking. With the wealth of restaurants and food trucks around campus, it can be hard to find the cheapest, healthiest, and yummiest places. Well, look no further! Below are The Varsity’s superlatives for price and taste, without compromising health and sustenance. Remember, no food is ‘bad’ food. Alongside each listed takeout place is a description of the best way
to optimize it according to your health and fitness goals. Happy — and healthy — eating! Best bang for your buck: Salad Days Located in Yorkville, minutes away from Victoria College, Salad Days is a salad and wrap bar that makes your lunch from scratch to order. With fresh veggies each day and an emphasis on healthy options, this spot will give you no other option but to eat your greens. More importantly, though, a typical large salad is only $6.20! Also, Salad Days emphasizes speed and efficiency, so you can grab lunch and return to your study session in a matter of minutes. Veggies are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and fibre, so they are an easy way to boost your antioxidants and fill you up before your next meal.
REBECA MOYA/THEVARSITY
depression and anxiety, steady and uplift mood, lower tension levels, and better both sleep and selfesteem. These are certainly benefits students could use during exam time! Block out a time of the day to work out You may find exercising on a regular basis tedious. By setting aside a specific time of the day, you create a habit, which will make working out feel less like a chore and more like a routine or inevitability. Make sure you have no other commitments during this time. tions — eat them regularly. Advice from Harvard Medical School suggests having a salad made out of lean protein, such as chicken, tofu, eggs, or cottage cheese, as well as a small amount of fats like nuts and seeds. Just don’t load up on pre-prepared, high-calorie dressings. Be mindful of your consumption of processed foods. There’s nothing wrong with a good burger now and then, but dining halls will often use frozen foods where possible, so try not to depend on foods that might have been made in a factory or come from a freezer. Look around — you might find there’s a grilled chicken breast you can put in your burger instead. Similarly, while muffins and danishes can make excellent breakfast foods, pastries often contain sugars or saturated fats. Try a healthy cereal option or steel-cut oats — but not the sweetened, instant kind. Snack better When high-calorie snacks like chips and pop are readily available, it can be hard to resist temptation. But watching what you eat doesn’t mean you have to avoid snacking entirely. Many residence dining halls carry healthier snack options like nuts, fresh and dried fruit, or yogurt. Consider loading up on these snacks and keeping them in the open where you can see them. That way, you might be less tempted to grab a pack of chips when the late-night snacking urges arrive. Best carbo-load: Daddyo’s Pasta & Salads A student classic, Daddyo’s on Spadina serves up heaping helpings of pasta to those who are hungry after hours of hitting the books. Offering a variety of options — including vegan and gluten-free accommodations — all for under $15, you can’t go wrong here. Simple carbs like pasta and bread — staples in large quantities at this Italian eatery — are great pre-workout meals. Carbohydrate loading, also known as ‘carbo loading,’ is the practice of eating simple carbs before a workout to increase your energy stores. You can help yourself feel more energized by eating a carb-rich meal, like anything from Daddyo’s, the day before exercising. Best antioxidant rush: The Organic Press Take a quick trip to Kensington Market for some healthy, dessert-like breakfast from The Organic Press. Although they offer fresh juices and a plethora of houseplants for purchase, the real stars of the show are their gigantic smoothie bowls. They offer a multitude of flavours, each chock-full of fruits and vegetables, and the sheer size of them will ensure that you stay full until lunch. Fruits and vegetables are staples of a healthy, balanced diet: full of fibre, vitamins, and minerals,
If time doesn’t allow for the gym, work out at home We may not always have time to head to the gym, particularly during midterm or exam seasons. If that’s the case, exercise from home! YouTube is a great source for simple, repeatable routines; my personal favourite is Yoga With Adriene. Home fitness programs, like P90X, are suitable as well. You could also consider running or biking if it’s nice outside. Getting started is always the hardest part. But once you get into the rhythm of exercising regularly, it becomes much easier. Enjoy your workout! Set regular meal times In a 2018 survey, 35 university students identified time constraints as one of the leading barriers to a healthy diet. Here’s where online classes might work in your favour. With recorded lectures, you have more leisure time to grab food when you want to, rather than whenever you have a break between classes. Set a breakfast time — use it as a motivation to get out of bed. Make time to grab lunch, and try to eat dinner at a fixed time. You can even use food as a study motivator by telling yourself that you’ll accomplish a certain number of readings between lunch and dinner, and then, you can treat yourself to dessert afterward. Treat yourself! Residence food options go in cycles. As a result, everyone has their favourite that only comes around once a while. Whether it’s the butter chicken at Trinity College or the veggie breakfast sausages at University College, find that thing you like and eat it! Similarly, you want to find a more common go-to for days when the available options aren’t so appealing. That can be a wrap you love, a smoothie that always gives you energy to continue through the day, or even that stash of ice cream sandwiches you keep in the freezer for a much-needed pick-me-up. Eating healthy is important, but student life is hard, and we’re in the middle of a pandemic, so you’re entitled to your favourites. they increase the antioxidants in your body. Regular consumption can also reduce the risk of stroke, heart disease, and some cancers. And when they taste like ice cream, like they do at The Organic Press, there really is no downside! Best cheat day meal: The Clubhouse Sandwich Shop Right next to the University of Toronto Bookstore, this sandwich shop offers the best subs on campus. With delectable options like a fried calamari sandwich filled with tzatziki, honey-roasted tomatoes, and arugula — or a buttermilk fried turkey club with cranberry-cilantro coleslaw and smokey mayo — there is literally no way you can go wrong. Many diets fail, in part, because of an ‘all or nothing’ mentality that puts overly strict barriers on what someone can or cannot eat. Health and wellness goals should always include considerations of mental well-being, too. Food is more than just a tool for fitness. It is a source of culture, comfort, and contentment, and your happiness should be as important of a determining factor in what you eat as your physical health is. So, treat yourself every once in a while to mouth-watering foods! It’s good for you.
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THE VARSITY
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SEPTEMBER 21, 2020
Join us at The Varsity’s Fall Open House! Thursday, October 1 Find out how you can get involved with U of T’s tri-campus student newspaper of record since 1880! Catch us on Zoom for… - Presentations from Varsity editors - Advice on getting involved - Information about networking opportunities
Find the event page at facebook.com/thevarsitynewspaper