August 12, 2019
THE VARSITY The University of Toronto's Student Newspaper Since 1880
Vol. CXL, No. 1
Business
Online
Conserving the world — one sustainable business at a time
5
Science
Stay opted-in to The Varsity!
Under invasion: Watch out for the Japanese knotweed plant
6
Page 9
15
Arts
Sports
"Women are the most rock ’n‘ roll think right now"
Top Blues teams and athletes to look out for
Downtown Legal Services hit by triple blow from Ford cuts
Finding community, saving money, dating around: everything you need to know to start first year right. Inside this issue and online at var.st/welcome2019, you can find The Varsity’s tips and tricks for surviving your entry into university life.
var.st/events
Editorial
14
The Orientation Issue
Your go-to resource for interesting events, on- and off-campus
Student-run clinic faces uncertain future Andy Takagi News Editor
“A difficult and uncertain time,” is how Acting Executive Director Karen Bellinger described the present and future of Downtown Legal Services (DLS). Recent announcements by the Ford government entailed that Legal Aid Ontario funding would be reduced, that Faculty of Law tuition would be decreased by 10 per cent, and that students now have the option to opt out of DLS’ incidental fee due to the Student Choice Initiative (SCI). All pose heavy consequences for the student-run legal aid clinic. Five staff lawyers, about 120 law students, and volunteers addressed over 650 files last year at DLS, providing free legal services to U of T students and low-income individuals in the community in the areas of housing, criminal, employment, family, and refugee and immigration law. For students, DLS provides free legal services on issues ranging from academic offences to landlord disputes, maintains a free notary and affidavit service, and acts as a training ground for law students. A wide array of students seek help at DLS, explained Bellinger, however, most commonly DLS handles cases of academic offence, housing disputes, and employment issues. A 2011 Globe and Mail report found that international students are disproportionately represented in
18
academic offence cases at Ontario universities, usually due to a language or cultural barrier. Bellinger agrees that this is still the case when profiling the students DLS helps at U of T.
“A very grim outlook”
The first and second rounds of potential cuts came in January. With the announcement of the SCI, students can now opt out of the $3.29 incidental fee that makes up 30 per cent of the DLS budget. The Faculty of Law, which also supports the DLS, will take hits to its budget through a 10 per cent cut in domestic tuition and subsequent tuition freeze, announced at the same time. A $133 million cut to Legal Aid Ontario, announced in April, muddied an already uncertain future for DLS, which now has a majority of its income sources either in jeopardy or already cut. “We’re getting hit from all sides, really, unfortunately. And… it most likely means that we’re going to have to scale down divisions or work, at the very least, if not potentially lose some [divisions]. It’s a very grim outlook.”
What comes next?
Bellinger described an atmosphere of community and support at the DLS office in response to the precarity of its ongoing work, without any information on student levy funding until late September to early October — and a fiscal year that started in March. However, the organization is carrying on with bated breath. The optimistic outcome for Bellinger is for students to recognize that “student groups are essential services.” However, she also acknowledged that economically vulnerable students need to save money where they can. “No one thinks they’re going to need a lawyer. No one plans on that… We’re only needed when something goes badly,” said Bellinger. “[The cuts] are going to mean that people who are the most vulnerable in our society and communities will not have anywhere to turn. The vast majority of our clients are people… who don’t have any other option.”
2
THE VARSITY THE VARSITY NEWS THE VARSITY Vol. CXL, No. 1 21 Sussex Avenue, Suite 306 Toronto, ON M5S 1J6 (416) 946-7600
news@thevarsity.ca
Welcome to News! And the three big news issues you need to know about
Silas Le Blanc sports@thevarsity.ca Sports Editor
Welcome to The Varsity’s News section! I’m Andy Takagi, the News Editor, and along with Deputy News Editor Kathryn Mannie, we hope to keep the News section what it has always been: striving for truth and accuracy, informing students on important issues, and telling the stories that so often go unheard. I used to think that the news never stopped — that we would always have a platform for truth. The Varsity’s News section has shown me that I was wrong, in a sense — the news can never stop because our work is never done. While that might seem a tad dramatic, without the hard work of the folks who contribute to the news section, and to The Varsity more broadly, we wouldn’t have a clue about the school around us, and, even worse, we wouldn’t be able to do anything about it. If you want to write with us, have any tips, or are interested in learning more, you can get in touch with me at news@thevarsity.ca, and Kathryn at deputynews@thevarsity.ca
Srivindhya Kolluru biz@thevarsity.ca Business Editor
See you around,
thevarsity.ca
the.varsity
thevarsitynewspaper
the.varsity
@TheVarsity
The Varsity
MASTHEAD Josie Kao editor@thevarsity.ca Editor-in-Chief Keith Cheng creative@thevarsity.ca Creative Director Ibnul Chowdhury managing@thevarsity.ca Managing Editor Ilya Bañares online@thevarsity.ca Managing Online Editor Ori Gilboa copy@thevarsity.ca Senior Copy Editor Andy Takagi news@thevarsity.ca News Editor Angela Feng comment@thevarsity.ca Comment Editor Kate Reeve features@thevarsity.ca Features Editor Kashi Syal arts@thevarsity.ca Arts & Culture Editor and Blog Editor Adam A. Lam science@thevarsity.ca Science Editor
Megan Brearley deputysce@thevarsity.ca Deputy Senior Copy Editor Kathryn Mannie deputynews@thevarsity.ca Deputy News Editor William Xiao Design Editor
williamx@thevarsity.ca
Vacant Design Editor Dina Dong photos@thevarsity.ca Photo Editor Iris Deng illustration@thevarsity.ca Illustration Editor Nathalie Whitten video@thevarsity.ca Video Editor Kevin Lu kevin@thevarsity.ca Front End Web Developer Stephanie Zhang stephanie@thevarsity.ca Back End Web Developer Vacant utm@thevarsity.ca UTM Bureau Chief Vacant utsc@thevarsity.ca UTSC Bureau Chief
Vacant Associate Senior Copy Editor
Vacant Associate Sports Editor
Vacant Associate News Editor
Vacant Associate Business Editor
Vacant Associate Comment Editor
Vacant Associate Design Editor
Stephanie Bai, Jadine Ngan Associate Features Editors
Vacant Associate Photo Editor
Vacant Associate A&C Editor
Vacant Associate Illustration Editor
Vacant Associate Science Editor
Vacant Associate Video Editor
Copy Editors Abhya Adlakha, Amena Ahmed, Laura Louise Ashwood, Toryanse Blanchard, Jonathan Blumenthal, Elena Foulidis, Amira Higazy, Emily Hurmizi, Jla Starr Johnson, Holly Johnstone, Mary Katharine Kennedy, Valeria Khudiakova, Gina Nicoll, Ashley Manou, Krisha Mansukhani, Maya Morriswala, Elisa Pugliess, Lindsay Selliah, Farheen Sikandar, Teresa Wang, Eva Wissting Cover illustration by Iris Deng
BUSINESS OFFICE Algimantas Janusis Business Manager
business@thevarsity.ca
Vacant Advertising Executive Vacant Advertising Executive
The Varsity is the University of Toronto’s largest student newspaper, publishing since 1880. It is printed by Master Web Inc. on recycled newsprint stock. Content © 2019 by The Varsity. All rights reserved. Any editorial inquiries and/or letters should be directed to the sections associated with them; emails listed above. The Varsity reserves the right to edit all submissions. Inquiries regarding ad sales can be made to ads@thevarsity.ca. ISSN: 0042-2789
Andy Takagi News Editor Volume 140 And, finally, here are three of the biggest issues as we enter the new school year. The Student Choice Initiative, OSAP cuts, and Doug Ford After being elected in 2018, Ontario Premier Doug Ford made sweeping changes to universities and colleges across the province. As public postsecondary institutions, U of T and other Ontario colleges and universities receive funding from the provincial government. Everyone at U of T, including international students, faculty, and staff, face the consequences for the changes made by the Ford government. One of the biggest announcements made by Ford and his then-Minister of Train-
KATHRYN MANNIE
ing, Colleges and Universities Merrilee Fullerton was the Student Choice Initiative, or SCI. You ANDY TAKAGI may have seen its effects already while paying your tuition — the SCI requires Ontario colleges and universities to provide an opt-out option to students for incidental fees. Incidental fees are nonacademic charges to your tuition made by criticizing the limited number of students various clubs, student unions, and student on the announced Provostial Task Force on societies — including The Varsity. Student Mental Health. Ford and Fullerton also announced a 10 This isn’t the first time that U of T’s per cent tuition cut for domestic students, mental health policies have sparked controalongside changes to the Ontario Student versy and protests. Just last year, the contenAssistance Program (OSAP). OSAP, which tious university-mandated leave of absence supported almost 35,000 students at U policy was protested by students for its perof T in 2017–2018, faced unprecedented ceived lack of protection of the agency of changes, many of which are set to decrease students placed on mandatory leave, which the amount of grants and loans bestowed is determined by the university. You can to students. Protests overtook Queen’s Park read more about how this policy has been in January, February, and April. Eventu- used on page 4. ally Fullerton was demoted to Minister of In the first year since the policy’s passing, Long-Term Care in June — replaced by the university reported of eight cases where Ross Romano, MPP representing Sault Ste. students were placed on mandated leave — Marie. and there are no plans to make any changes. You can read our coverage on how these cuts will affect Downtown Legal Services Snow problem and teaching assistants in this issue. In a record-breaking snowstorm that tore In his first year in office, Doug Ford has through Toronto last year, U of T’s snow already made substantive changes to post- closure policies drew attention as adminsecondary education funding. With three istrators were hesitant to close down the years left at the helm of the provincial gov- campus. ernment, the future of postsecondary instiThis incited significant criticisms, which tutions in Ontario has become unexpect- said that the lack of closure during the edly tenuous. storm disregarded commuter students and threatened student safety. Mental health at U of T While the Mississauga and Scarborough “How many lives?” was the question stu- campuses have more straightforward polidents asked out in front of Simcoe Hall — cies for campus closure, St. George’s camhome of U of T’s Governing Council — in pus closure policy remains to be slightly March, after the third suspected suicide of more arbitrary. the year and the second to take place at the In response to the criticisms, U of T Bahen Centre for Information Technol- Vice-President & Provost Cheryl Regehr ogy. After what some termed a lacklustre later suggested at a Governing Council response from the administration, students meeting that students would be able to stay wrote an open letter to the administration at Robarts Library during a snowstorm.
Copy that! A warm welcome to copy editing at The Varsity The often-quoted adage, ‘behind every great man, there is a strong woman,’ is a bit outdated, and perhaps even a little misogynistic. We propose a slight modification: behind every great writer, there is a dedicated team of copy editors, ready to catch every missing Oxford comma, misquoted statement, and Americanized spelling. We are Ori and Megan, and we are thrilled to be serving as The Varsity’s Senior Copy Editor and Deputy Senior Copy Editor, respectively, for Volume 140. While cliché, it is nonetheless true that clear and accurate reporting is more vital than ever. Alongside our wonderful copy team, and through intensive fact checking and copy editing, we strive to ensure that every piece The Varsity publishes is the best it can be. We hope that
this will enable our writers and readers to appreciate the true scope and impact of our reporting. If you’re the person that all your friends turn to for last-minute essay editing, that is critical, yet fair, in their judgements of truth, or that is simply bothered whenever someone uses a double-hyphen in place of an em dash, we’d love for you to join our team. You can contact us at copy@thevarsity.ca and deputysce@thevarsity.ca to get involved. We are looking forward to a great year at The Varsity, and hope that you are too!
ORI GILBOA
Ori Gilboa and Megan Brearley Senior Copy Editor and Deputy Senior Copy Editor Volume 140 MEGAN BREARLEY
var.st/news
AUGUST 12, 2019
3
Meric Gertler on mental health, international tuition, and more U of T President reflects on his sixth year in the job Josie Kao Editor-in-Chief
After an eventful 2018–2019 academic year that was filled with student protests and provincial government changes, U of T President Meric Gertler sat down with The Varsity to reflect on the past 12 months. Gertler spoke on a number of issues, including mental health, international tuition, and truth and reconciliation. The Varsity: One of the biggest stories this past year was students’ mental health, with some students viewing U of T’s action on the topic as lacklustre. What do you say to people who believe U of T should be doing more? Meric Gertler: We were certainly very concerned by the issues that arose during the past year and felt very strongly a responsibility to act. So I took the unusual step of writing to every member of our community. I don’t do that very often, but I just thought that for an issue like student mental health and its relationship to their well-being, it was really important to be able to communicate directly to all of our students as well as our faculty and staff to say, “We’ve heard you, we acknowledge how big an issue this is and how huge a challenge this is, and we’re committing to actually doing something concrete about it.” TV: In the letter that you sent out to all students, faculty, and staff, you mentioned that two of your priorities would be engaging with Toronto resources as well as the province. Would you say that the onus would be more on the province and the city to provide mental health services rather than the university? MG: So, we are not funded by the provincial government to be a health care-delivering organization, even though we deliver a lot of health care services to our students. This has been the subject of a lot of conversations with our provincial government partners. They recognize the challenge that we have. They have allocated additional funds in their last provincial budget towards mental health, in particular with a focus on student mental health. So we continue to expect to see some financial assistance from them. But, also, as your question quite rightly implies, this is a shared responsibility. Obviously, we have primary responsibility for the wellbeing of our students, but it is something that we expect to address jointly with health care institutions that are primarily
funded by the provincial government. TV: Speaking of the provincial government, there have been a lot of changes this past year under the Ford administration to both university operations and university life for students. How do you view U of T’s relationship with the province? MG: I’ll be quite honest here. We were really disappointed that the province did not communicate more openly with us before they made these many changes. That to me was the most disappointing part of the approach of the new government, and we were not quiet in communicating our unhappiness with the whole style with which they interact with us. The Strategic Mandate Agreement changes — which are putting a focus on performance-based funding — in theory, at least, we think this can work very well for U of T. It’s designed to enable each university to come forward and articulate what it thinks its distinctive strengths are, and then to base funding on those strengths. This is actually something we’ve been arguing for for 25 years in many ways and advocating for, so at least on paper, that seems to be very nicely aligned with the approach that we’ve been taking. Other changes, like the 10 per cent cut to tuition we, frankly, think were unhelpful. I know that that particular move has been quite damaging to our budget… Now what are the consequences of that? Well, the consequences are that we have less money available to finance our own financial aid system within the university. TV: On the topic of affordability, international students pay much more in tuition than domestic students. How do you see this issue of increasingly unaffordable international tuition? MG: International students have always paid more than domestic students. That gap has grown over time but this has been true for a long, long time, and it reflects a couple of things. It reflects the fact that we receive no government grants for international students, so there’s no subsidy at all from the province of Ontario for those students… The families of those international students have not been paying taxes in Ontario either, and I suppose that the provincial government may feel that that’s some justification for the fact that there is no grant support for those students. We are, though, mindful of the fact that we want to encourage a diverse
Doug Ford, the Premier of Ontario, and his administration in the provincial government came under fire in January after announcing a slew of changes to Ontario universities without consulting student unions and university administration.
In response to three on-campus deaths in the past year, the administration formed a mental health task force. Students protested both the administration’s inaction on the mental health crisis on campus, and the lack of student representation on the task force.
The Strategic Mandate Agreement governs the funding provided by the provincial government to the university, and sets guidelines for certain university operations like domestic tuition.
In an interview with The Varsity, U of T Vice-President & Provost Cheryl Regehr said that the university would be losing $88 million from its expected revenue from the 10 per cent cut to domestic tuition announced by the Ford government.
Created in 2016 by Gertler, the Steering Committee was formed in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 2014 report. The Committee’s report in 2017 had 32 recommendations including the creation of Indigenous spaces on all three campuses, hiring more Indigenous faculty and staff, and creating Indigenous curriculum content.
A Varsity analysis found that international tuition has skyrocketed in the past decade, overtaking the amount of funding that the university receives from the province.
Meric Gertler is serving his second term as U of T President.
ANDY TAKAGI/THE VARSITY
community of international students to come to this university. It should not just be international students from wealthy families, but we want to enable all international students if they are academically qualified to potentially come here. So there too we’ve been active in creating scholarships for international students and fundraising for them. TV: U of T has committed to the goals of the federal Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and there was a Steering Committee report released in 2017 with recommendations for the university. Since that report came out, do you see any major gaps that U of T should be filling when it comes to truth and reconciliation? MG: This is another topic that’s near and dear to my heart, and also near and dear to the provost’s heart. We were greatly influenced by the work of our Steering Committee and enthusiastically adopted all of their recommendations. We’ve done some amazing things since then. This past year we have hired 18 new Indigenous scholars, which is a remarkable achievement if you think about it, because every university in Canada is trying to do the same thing so it’s a very competitive labour market right now. We’re thrilled to have this incoming talent. So I would say that’s one area where we have really succeeded dramatically in. In the longer term, of course, we’re looking at the future of First Nations House and how best to accommodate all of the important activities that go on there. There have been discussions underway about whether the current location is the right location or not, and we’re looking at alternatives for that as
well. I think we’ve got some impressive momentum underway, but there’s still a lot of work to be done. TV: Do you think that U of T has any institutional problems with addressing barriers of access for people? MG: We’re one of the most open and accessible institutions in the world. If you think of our 90,000 students, the incredible diversity that we have, measured along any dimension you can think of, whether it’s the language that you spoke at home, the country you were born in, the ethnicity of your parents, your sexual orientation, your political views, you name it. I think it’s one of the things that is most defining of the University of Toronto is not just our academic excellence and the great rankings and we have every year, it’s our ability to combine that academic excellence with an incredible degree of openness and access which very few other universities around the world can match. TV: And then once these students do get here, what accommodations do you think are necessary to make sure that everyone feels welcome at the school? MG: Making sure that everyone understands what our codes of student conduct entail, and what our policies entail with regard to freedom of expression and these kinds of important principles of academic freedom on which a university is based. That does require a little bit of effort to make sure that people understand those principles but I think we’ve got a pretty good system in place. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Josie Kao interviews Meric Gertler, while a Media Relations representative observes. ANDY TAKAGI/THE VARSITY
4
THE VARSITY
NEWS
news@thevarsity.ca
The Breakdown: The CFS–Ontario’s legal challenge against the Student Choice Initiative Levy-funded student union claims Ford government is overstepping autonomy of student groups Amira Higazy Varsity Contributor
The Canadian Federation of Students– Ontario (CFS–O), along with the York Federation of Students, launched a legal challenge against the Ontario government’s Student Choice Initiative (SCI) back in May. The SCI, originally announced in January by Merrilee Fullerton, the former Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU), was part of a broad set of changes to postsecondary funding that requires universities to provide an opt-out option to students for non-essential incidental fees. Postsecondary institutions are required to implement the opt-out option for the upcoming fall semester or face a possible reduction in funding. U of T’s online optout system for non-essential incidental fees is live on ACORN, in compliance
with the Ontario government’s guidelines. In an email to The Varsity, Tanya Blazina, Team Lead, Issues Management and Media Relations for the MTCU, wrote, “as this matter is now before the courts, it would be inappropriate for us to comment at this time.”
The legal challenge
“The government, particularly, the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities doesn’t have the authority to impose a policy upon the memorandum of understanding between the student unions and the college and university administrations,” the National Executive Representative for the CFS–O, Kayla Weiler, said to the The Varsity in an interview. Weiler also added that the collection and remittance of student society fees is determined democratically through student referenda and covered in the
memorandum of understanding between the university administration and student associations. Citing section seven of the Ontario College of Applied Arts and Technology Act, Weiler accused the provincial government of undermining the autonomy of student organizations through the SCI, which inhibits the ability of student governing bodies to collect fees. In addition, Weiler added that Fullerton misled students to believe that they would be able to save money by opting out of incidental fees, as the highest fees are still considered mandatory. At U of T, undergraduate Arts & Science students can opt-out of about 10 per cent of their total incidental fees, totalling around $50 to $70 depending on their college and campus.
What now?
In an interview with The Varsity, Nelson
CAROLINE BIEL/THE VARSITY
Wiseman, Director of the Canadian Studies Program and Professor of Political Science at the University of Toronto, expressed doubts about the CFS–O winning their legal challenge. “My impression is that the students are going to lose this case.” However, Wiseman also added that the courts can make unexpected deci-
sions, citing a judge in September that blocked Premier Doug Ford’s reduction of the Toronto City Council. Multiple student organizations, including the University of Toronto Students’ Union and multiple college and student societies have also responded to the SCI by forming the ChooseUofT campaign at the St. George campus.
U of T’s university-mandated leave of absence policy remains controversial a year after it was approved
The Breakdown: How will TA finances change this year?
Policy has been invoked eight times since its debut, says U of T
Provincial government changes spell out an uncertain future for teaching assistants
Ilya Bañares Managing Online Editor
Ori Gilboa Senior Copy Editor
Content warning: mentions of suicide. Five months ago, approximately 100 students stood outside Simcoe Hall, the seat of the university’s power, to protest what they perceived to be the administration’s inaction in the face of a growing mental health crisis on campus. The day before, a student had died by suicide in the Bahen Centre for Information Technology, the site of another suicide the previous summer. Although protesters gathered in silence, their message to administration officials was clear: despite having at least three suspected suicides in campus buildings in the past year, U of T has failed to take concrete action on the mental health crisis on campus. An aspect of the students’ frustration with the administration is the highly controversial university-mandated leave of absence policy, which allows U of T to unilaterally place students on leave if their mental health either poses a dangerous physical risk to themselves or others, or if it negatively impacts their studies. It’s a hallmark of the university’s mental health framework. Despite heavy public opposition, Governing Council — the university’s highest decision-making body — passed the policy almost unanimously in June 2018, with only three out of over 40 governors voting against. According to Sandy Welsh, U of T’s Vice-Provost Students, the policy has been used eight times in the past year. Six of those cases “involved urgent situations such as death threats with plans including acquiring a weapon, physical attacks and persistent and concerning communications.” While the other two cases also involved threats, “other systems and supports were in place such that the urgent
situations clause did not need to be invoked,” Welsh wrote in an email to The Varsity in late July. Welsh also noted that a medical professional was involved in all eight cases due to serious mental health issues among the students. When the policy debuted, many within the community took issue with the fact that nowhere in the policy were medical professionals required to be involved. As it currently stands, the policy notes that medical professionals “may” be involved but does not explicitly make it a requirement. According to Welsh, two of the eight students placed on leave returned to their studies within six weeks, with accommodations made. The university is working with three others so they can return in the fall. One student is still away, and the remaining two cases are “relatively recent,” she noted. Welsh also wrote to The Varsity that feedback from the families and students involved in the policy has been positive, citing one family who was pleased with its application. “The family had thought that due to the student’s behaviour, their student would have been expelled,” she said. Upon its introduction to the public sphere in fall 2017,
the policy drew condemnation from student groups who criticized what they saw as a lack of consultation with students. Renu Mandhane, Chief Commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission, noted that the initial draft of the policy raised several human rights concerns and fell “short of meeting the duty to accommodate.” The University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU), under then-president Mathias Memmel, initially backed the policy, noting that it was were “impressed” by it. However, the UTSU later withdrew its support due to concerns over the apparent lack of consultations. Speaking to Governing Council on June 25, a year after the policy was approved, U of T’s Vice-President & Provost Cheryl Regehr noted that due to the generally good feedback on the policy, senior administration has no plans to modify the document. Regehr is scheduled to conduct a formal review of the policy in the 2020– 2021 academic year. Read the rest at var.st/umlap2019
Students protested outside of Simcoe Hall in response to inadequate mental health supports from the university. SHANNA HUNTER/THE VARSITY
The provincial government has introduced and passed multiple controversial bills this past year that will affect teaching assistants (TAs) at U of T. Notably, changes to tuition and financial aid structuring and a proposed salary increase cap are a cause for concern. TAs at U of T are upper-year undergraduate or graduate students who lead tutorials, grade assignments, and supervise labs. All are unionized under the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Local 3902. These positions are integral to university classes, and the coming changes have left some with concerns about the long-term impact of the Ford government’s policies.
Tuition and financial aid changes
The Ford government slashed domestic tuition by 10 per cent for all colleges and universities across Ontario for the 2019–2020 academic year — U of T is expected to have an $88 million reduction in revenue compared to the original projections. While TA salaries and hours will likely not be impacted since union agreements guarantee a set of conditions, there is a growing worry about job availability. Individual departments at the university will be the ones to determine budgeting decisions, including job postings, based on their priorities. Because of the inherent precarious nature of TAships, many workers choose to juggle multiple jobs to make ends meet. In an interview with The Varsity, Jess Taylor, Chair of CUPE 3902, said that “those additional contracts that people kind of need to be able to afford to live [are] what I’m worried about. I’m worried that there will just be fewer jobs posted as departments start to feel the pinch.” Further financial strains will be placed on other TAs due to recent changes to the Ontario Student Assistance Program.
While in previous years independent students, who are eligible for more funding, were defined as those who were out of high school for four or more years, the new guidelines increased the time to six years. This means that a master’s student who entered university right after finishing high school is still considered dependent on their family’s finances. Furthermore, the adjustment of the grant-to-loan ratio will mean that students will receive fewer grants than before. When asked about possible support avenues for graduate students, Heather Boon, Vice-Provost Faculty & Academic Life, noted that the university “remain[s] committed” to assisting students. U of T plans to spend $247 million on student aid for this academic year, in part thanks to the Boundless campaign, and is also offering financial advising and short-term financial assistance specifically for graduate students.
Public-sector salary increase cap
The provincial government is on track to pass its contentious Bill 124, or the Protecting a Sustainable Public Sector for Future Generations Act. The bill, first introduced this past June, would place a one per cent cap on pay raises and inclusive benefits for public sector employees across Ontario, TAs included. According to Kendall Smith, a representative from the Treasury Board Secretariat of Ontario, the bill is meant to “manage compensation growth in a way that allows for reasonable wage increases while also respecting taxpayers and the services they rely upon.” Taylor expressed her concern about the bill passing, noting that it would cause employees to lose money over time since the cap is lower than the usual rate of inflation. The collective agreement of Unit 1 of CUPE, which TAs fall under, is set to expire at the end of 2020. If passed, the bill will apply to any new agreement.
Business
August 12, 2019 var.st/business biz@thevarsity.ca
Welcome to Business! At a time when the digital world is upending industries and corporations are gaining significant influence, there is a growing need for the public to understand how businesses function and for journalists to act as their watchdogs. In its second year, the Business section will oversee various aspects of student innovation. We will be launching Student Founders, a recurring column and new
home for stories on student entrepreneurs and their ventures. We will also investigate the various partnerships and finances that U of T is involved in, and what they entail for students. And, as working at academic institutions has become increasingly precarious, we will examine the nature of employment at U of T and will report on labour unions. Numbers and data lie at the heart of a
business story, but so does a compelling narrative. To this end, I encourage you to contribute to the section. You don’t need a business or finance acumen to write — just a willingness to research and an interest in telling impactful stories. Srivindhya Kolluru Business Editor Volume 140
Courtesy of OLIVIA ADAMCZYK
Business Board releases reports on financial statements, university operations
Alternative funding, gender pay gap equity also discussed Reut Cohen Varsity Contributor
U of T’s 2018–2019 financial statements were approved and alternative sources of funding discussed in the June 18 meeting of Governing Council’s Business Board. The meeting included reports on university operations and real estate holdings, human resources and equity, and faculty gender pay equity. Chief Financial Officer Sheila Brown presented U of T’s financial statements to the board, saying that the university had achieved better financial results than what it had projected in January. The university’s net assets grew by $507 million to a total of $6.5 billion. U of T has $809 million in reserves for necessary capital projects and infrastructure over the next few years. Its contractual obligations with external builders are valued at $576 million. Brown called the university’s preference to fund capital projects with its own assets rather than through financing “very prudent.”
University operations
In his annual report, Vice-President Operations and Real Estate Partnerships Scott Mabury discussed the successes of his department, which encompasses several offices including Ancillary Services, Facilities & Services, and Information Technology Services. He also emphasized U of T’s ongoing work on the Greenhouse Gas Retrofits Program and cybersecurity, briefly floating the idea of working together with other universities to build a Canadian Security Operations Centre, not to “win the war,” but to “stay ahead” of bad cyber actors. Mabury specifically highlighted the Schwartz Reisman Innovation Centre, a future hub for artificial intelligence and biomedical innovation created through a $100 million donation in March. He referred to this as an achievement that showcased all aspects of the operations department, calling the media rollout a “beautiful example of managing a narrative.” Mabury also discussed the development of the new student residence to be built at Spadina Avenue and Sussex Avenue, which he said exhibited how challenging the development process can be at times. U of T reached an agreement with the City of Toronto last year to develop the residence, after first proposing it in 2013. Mabury said that the period from the beginning of the project to occupancy of the building will have been approximately 12 years.
Alternative funding
Vice-President & Provost Cheryl Regehr presented a report of the Alternative Funding Sources Advisory Group. The group’s work is structured around what Regehr referred to as U of T’s core strengths: knowledge, real estate and physical infrastructure,
and financial resources. The report contains numerous recommendations for diversifying U of T’s income stream, ranging from developing joint undergraduate programs with a peer university, to investing in U of T startups. Regehr focused on recommendations related to the pillar of real estate and physical infrastructure, including expanding on the Four Corners approach to physical infrastructure that guides U of T’s expansion on all three campuses.
Gender pay equity
Regehr and Hannah-Moffat elaborated on the report of the Provostial Advisory Group on Faculty Gender Pay Equity, which was convened in fall 2016. One of the major findings of the report was that “on average, tenured and tenure stream women faculty at [U of T] earn 1.3% less than comparably situated faculty who are men, after controlling for experience, field of study, seniority, and other relevant factors.” Analysis suggests that U of T’s 12 per cent raw overall difference between tenure-stream men and women is explained by the fact that, on average, these women have fewer years of experience and work in lower-paying fields of study. There is no statistically significant difference between salaries for male and female teaching stream faculty. In her administrative response, Regehr announced that all female faculty who are tenured or tenurestream at U of T will receive a 1.3 per cent increase to their base salary, effective July 1. U of T’s 834 eligible faculty were personally informed of this increase, which will cost U of T $1.8 million in the 2019–2020 fiscal year. This will be taken from the university’s central funds.
Other items
Vice-President Human Resources & Equity Kelly Hannah-Moffat discussed U of T’s smoke-free campus policy, noting that there have been no significant incidents since its implementation on January 1. She added that smoking on campus is not policed vigorously, contrary to previous concerns about enforcement of the policy. The board also discussed the progress of the Sexual Violence Prevention & Support Centre, which opened in 2017. There was discussion of the difference between disclosures and reports of sexual violence. Regehr noted that disclosures of sexual violence made to the centre are often incidents that do not involve a second member of the U of T community, and thus do not fall under university jurisdiction. According to the interim report on human resources and equity, the centre took steps to address 56 reports of sexual violence in the last year under university policy. Disclosure: Reut Cohen served as the 2018–2019 Managing Editor at The Varsity.
U of T Sustainability Innovation Prize showcases 10 standout projects Circular Toys, SoluSave, STP Sports claim $15,000 prize at inaugural event
The pitch competition highlighted ventures that innovated on sustainable practices. MICHAEL TEOH/THE VARSITY
Luc Mvono Varsity Contributor
On June 12, U of T Entrepreneurship hosted the 10 finalists of its inaugural Sustainability Innovation Prize for a pitch competition at ONRamp, a coworking space that supports U of T accelerators. The finalists, selected from a larger pool of applicants, each had three minutes to pitch their innovations to a panel of expert judges in the hopes of being selected as one of the three $5,000 prize winners. The 10 finalists were chosen according to the opportunity, viability and impact, growth potential, innovation, talent, and communication skills demonstrated in their proposals. In April, each of the finalists was encouraged by U of T Entrepreneurship to work with an advisor to prepare them for the big day. Following the 10 pitches, which ranged from energy efficiency innovations to financial services, the judges announced their verdict. Daniel McKee and Lisa Pooley’s Circular Toys; John Russell and Leanna Smid’s SoluSave; and Paulina Szalchta, Samantha Dilorio, and Tom Chen’s STP Sports claimed top honours, each earning $5,000 to be used to support their innovations.
Circular Toys
McKee’s project aims to bring the circular economic model to the youngest members of society. Circular Toys is his answer to the short use of kids’ toys, few of which are recyclable. Circular Toys is a subscription-based, ecofriendly toy delivery service. Consumers would pick from a range of educational toy packages, targeted according to age group, and can expect a continued delivery of five to six toys every three months to their homes. After toys have been used to the child’s satisfaction, Circular Toys encourages its customers to send them back to the company, which they would then refurbish and incorporate them into boxes to send out to other families. McKee told The Varsity that the $5,000 prize would be used primarily for marketing, “getting the website up, and reaching the first hundred [users].” Circular Toys will launch in August.
SoluSave
Life science students John Russell and Leanna Smid’s SoluSave provides a waste reduction solution for laboratories. SoluSave aims to develop and provide technology to recycle used solvents. The two undergraduate students were inspired to develop their startup from having first-hand experience in U of T laboratories. They hope that, once completed, their technology will make its way into more undergraduate laboratories to minimize waste. Russell and Smid, who were participating in their first-ever pitch competition, were surprised that they were selected as one of the winners. “One of our biggest concerns was to make sure that [our pitch] came across as pretty clear, what we were doing, and to have a little bit more of a story,” Smid told The Varsity. “We knew we were not pitching to chemists.
STP Sports
After this year’s NBA championship,Torontonians who have attended sporting events can vouch for the wasteful mess that fills an empty stadium after a game. Paulina Szlachta and Tom Chen pitched a service to reduce the wasteful nature of sporting events through a closed-loop supply chain model that diverts waste from ending up in landfills. The pair had conducted field research, including a trip to Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium and a meeting with its officials. Beyond the excitement of the prize, Szlachta was particularly excited about the fierceness of the competition. “The other pitches got me thoroughly excited about what the future of U of T Entrepreneurship is, from the use of chemical waste to sustainable toys,” she told The Varsity. “[It’s] an amazing space and this competition is coming at a really, really good time.” A good time it was — the pitch competition featured a great variety of pitches, and despite there only being three prize winners, there were no real losers. From searching for solutions to empower women in Afghanistan, to providing portable electricity to families in Western Africa, the 10 finalists truly embodied the standard that U of T is known for.
Editorial
August 12, 2019 var.st/comment editorial@thevarsity.ca
Support 140 years of campus journalism — The Varsity’s levy is worth it Why the student press is vital under the Student Choice Initiative
The Varsity, one of Canada’s oldest student newspapers, is asking students to stay opted-in to its student levy. DINA DONG/THE VARSITY
The Varsity Editorial Board
we hope that you will put your trust in us to keep you informed.
public soon after, shining a light on the important topic.
In 1890, on the 10-year anniversary of The Varsity’s founding, its editors wrote to the student body to thank them for their support of the young newspaper. In words that still ring true to this day, they promised “to make The Varsity a mirror of the events, the lights and the shadows of college life, and moreover a true exponent of the views of the undergraduates of the University of Toronto.” The Varsity is one of Canada’s oldest student newspapers and one that takes its role as a platform for student voice no less lightly. Yet we are presently facing an existential threat: the Ontario provincial government’s Student Choice Initiative (SCI), which allows students to opt out of our levy. After almost a century-and-a-half of serving the University of Toronto community, we are writing to you now to ask for your continued support of our mission to provide meaningful and balanced journalism. Please stay opted in to The Varsity’s levy. We know that this is no small favour. While our per-semester fee is one of the lowest in Canada — $2.87 for undergraduate students and $0.80 for graduate students — there are students for whom opting out of all fees would provide enormous financial relief. However, for those with the means to do so, we ask that you consider supporting The Varsity’s work. This includes our efforts to keep students informed about our community, to act as a watchdog for campus institutions, and to provide a platform for students to speak on the issues of the day. We also provide a wide range of opportunities for students to develop their professional skills, whether through writing for seven different sections, or through photography, illustration, graphic design, and copy editing. Through their contributions, students can be a part of the larger student life and community at U of T. With our consistent record of financial transparency and journalistic excellence,
Our recent work
The SCI as a challenge to student community
Whenever news breaks that affects campus life in a major way, The Varsity is always there to uncover the truth and deliver it to more than 100,000 students, staff, and faculty at the University of Toronto. Consider when the then-Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities and current Minister of Long-Term Care, Merrilee Fullerton, announced the SCI back in January under a cloud of suspicion. Our reporter was the only journalist at the Queen’s Park press conference to ask about an apparent lack of consultation with students and campus organizations in the decisionmaking process. We were also the first newspaper, ahead of other more established media outlets, to publish the unofficial guidelines of the SCI, lifting the veil on what had been a highly secretive process until that point. It was the first time that the public was able to see which groups were specifically targeted. Our reporting has also drawn attention to important administrative decisions on campus. In the fall of 2017, we revealed that U of T was proposing a universitymandated leave of absence policy, which allows the institution to unilaterally place a student on leave from school for mental health reasons. We covered the policy from start to finish, amid strong public outcry from students and even the intervention of Renu Mandhane, the Chief Commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission. And since then, we have been on the ground to document the ongoing mental health crisis on campus. The Varsity’s journalism has also brought along real change. When The Varsity and The Queen’s Journal, the student newspaper of Queen’s University, reported that the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities had come under fire for delaying the results of the provincial survey on sexual violence on campus, the survey was released to the
A student newspaper provides a service central to a campus community from which all members can benefit, as we’ve noted in a past editorial. Levies enable students to collectively pool resources to provide services accessible to all. As noted in that editorial, the opt-out model is problematic because it treats students as private, individual consumers, as opposed to participants in a broader community. Consider Canada’s single-payer health care system: we all pay into and benefit from essential health care services. But the dilemma, as with health care, is that students do not always know that they need a particular service until they actually need it. Even if you do not regularly interact with The Varsity today, you could benefit from our services in the future — such as our ability to hold campus institutions, especially the U of T administration and student unions, accountable. National media outlets also rely on campus newspapers like The Varsity to pick up on campus stories that would otherwise be underreported. We have a track record of doing this, from reporting on Muslims Students’ Association executives receiving surprise visits from law enforcement, to covering protests to student death on campus. These are just two recent examples of U of T stories that have received wider attention. We also understand that students are frustrated that their levies might be abused, especially by student-run organizations. But The Varsity is on the frontline when it comes to student union accountability and financial mismanagement, such as when broke the story about the University of Toronto Students’ Union’s (UTSU) lawsuit against its former executive director and two executives. While student unions such as the UTSU still have much of their levy considered to be “essential” under the provincial government’s guidelines, The
Varsity does not. Staying opted in to The Varsity enables us to ensure that student organizations spend your essential fees responsibly. The opt-out option makes it difficult for us to hold institutions accountable. The challenge is not just the possible loss of our funding. Each year, The Varsity must wait until autumn to determine our funding, rather than be assured of it well in advance. The opt-out option therefore destabilizes our operational stability by creating financial uncertainty and thereby obstructing long-term plans and projects.
Future projects
With the federal election coming up, we hope to be the definitive source of information on student issues for the University of Toronto community. Much like how we covered the recent provincial and municipal elections, we aim to profile candidates running in all three University of Toronto ridings, host debates, and provide political analysis. The Varsity also aims to increase coverage of the crucial issue of the global climate crisis. The University of Toronto is an immense institution and there are a myriad of stories waiting to be unearthed about how the school and the people in it are helping — or not helping — the fight against the climate crisis. Moreover, we hope to continue our expansion of UTM and UTSC coverage, which was made possible with the creation of bureau chiefs for the two campuses last year following a successful levy increase the year before. Having these positions enabled us to break major stories and cover student unions more effectively, and we plan to expand into covering other areas of student life. Finally, there are countless ongoing projects that require more resources, such as our blog, our efforts to highlight marginalized groups on campus, our video coverage of U of T sports teams, and our new events calendar, which we hope will become the go-to place to find a comprehensive list of events around the university. These projects are made possible through our student levy, without which
we would not be able to fund them. We are very excited to bring them to life and others like it, but we need your support to make it happen.
Earning your trust
We are humbled by the past century of trust placed in us by students and we hope to keep it through not only continued truthful reporting but also through financial and governance transparency. On our website, you can find our audited financial statements of the past decade. The Varsity is grateful to be funded by students and we are committed to telling you where your money goes. This includes how we pay our editors a fair wage in line with other student publications and provide professional development opportunities to our hundreds of contributors. The Varsity is also committed to openness in governance, and our Board of Directors, which is run by students and open to all members, provides oversight on our operations. Any student can run to serve on it. Likewise, our Public Editor holds The Varsity accountable and addresses readers’ concerns. For the past 140 years, The Varsity has been fortunate to have had the support of the students it serves, and we hope to be able to continue to provide the U of T community with comprehensive and trustworthy coverage for years to come. The University of Toronto is a vibrant university filled with brilliant, compassionate members from diverse backgrounds. It is only with your support that we can continue to be both a mirror and a spotlight for our community. Students can choose their opt-out selections for the fall 2019 term on ACORN by September 19. To learn more about our work, and why you should stay opted in to The Varsity’s levy, visit var.st/fee. The Varsity’s editorial board is elected by the masthead at the beginning of each semester. For more information about the editorial policy, email editorial@thevarsity.ca.
Comment
August 12, 2019 var.st/comment comment@thevarsity.ca
Welcome to Comment! I am Angela, and I am thrilled to be your Comment Editor this year. Whether you want to write about your favourite club, college faculty, or a news item, I want to hear from you. I am interested in what you think, how you feel, and the change you hope to see on our campus, within our student groups, and amongst our administration and community leaders. A newspaper comes alive in the comment
section as community members bring reporting closer to home through meaningful commentary and opinion writing. This section is all about opinions. Unlike other sections of newspapers, comment writers take full advantage of their points of view to craft well-argued, convincing, and relevant opinion pieces that remind readers of the importance of student voices.
To new writers, I hope to work with you on developing your voice on campus. Opinionated writing is a beautiful skill that follows you in life. Crafting arguments is akin to writing a thesis — one of my least impressive party tricks. My experience writing for this section has helped me become a stronger writer, a more confident speaker, and a generally more self-assured human being. Whether you are a seasoned writer
or someone looking to get their feet wet, I am excited to work with you in bringing your perspective to life. Here’s to a great year! Angela Feng Comment Editor Volume 140
Op-ed: Why you should ChooseUofT this year
U of T students depend on services threatened by the Student Choice Initiative
chooseU OFT ChooseUofT is a student-led campaign that aims to show the value of incidental fees.
Courtesy of CEZZANE ILAGAN
Joshua Bowman, Keenan Krause, Dermot O’Halloran & Devon Wilton Varsity Contributors
When the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities released the official Tuition Fee Framework and Ancillary Fee Guidelines document in March 2019, student societies all across Ontario braced for the changes to come. Here at the University of Toronto, that story was no different. Under the framework, certain incidental fees are considered “essential,” while many other fees that are important to student life have been designated as “non-essential.” These can no longer be charged on a compulsory basis like in previous years. Over the past few months, the University of Toronto’s Office of the Vice-Provost, Students has assessed all student groups to determine which, if any, areas of their budgets could fall into the “essential” categories. Unfortunately, the provincial government’s fee framework does not take into account the importance of some of the programming that is provided by many of the student groups on campus. This has regrettably rendered certain groups with extremely high percentages of their budgets considered ‘non-essential,’ putting their ability to operate at serious risk next year. While many of the services categorized as ‘essential’ are important, much of what has been deemed as ‘non-essential’ by the framework is equally so. Regardless of how important these resources may be for students, the provincial government has inadvertently placed them in serious financial jeopardy. Many services pertaining
to orientation, clubs, and student activity are now classified as non-compulsory. One example of such organization is Downtown Legal Services (DLS), a community legal clinic that offers counselling to low-income community members and U of T students with housing, employment, immigration disputes, and more, all at no cost. Its entire levy has been deemed ‘non-essential’ by the university. Coupled with cuts to Legal Aid Ontario and tuition cuts affecting the Faculty of Law also impacting revenue streams, this places DLS in serious danger of having to drastically reduce the services it provides. Other important humanitarian-based organizations that have been similarly affected include The World University Service of Canada, which, as part of its services, sponsors student refugees to study at the University of Toronto by providing tuition, housing, and employment support. Students for Barrier-free Access, which provides important supports and services for students with disabilities, and the University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU)-run Food Bank at the Multi-Faith Centre which provides food services for low-income students, also face an uncertain future. Unfortunately, the list of threatened services just keeps going. Fees for financial aid bursaries, family care, and housing services are all considered to be ‘non-essential’ under the framework. Students who depend on these services are now subject to the will of individual students, each deciding on their own on whether or not to pay their fees. Since these changes have been so dramatic, and since there’s no concrete way of knowing how these services will be affected this year until September, it is no surprise that talk of
a campaign began to surface when student society executives entered their new roles this past May. Realizing how serious these changes were going to be, many student societies across campus started discussing their planned reactions to these new guidelines. These early meetings kickstarted a series of deliberations that would ultimately result in the ChooseUofT Campaign, which you may have recently spotted on your Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram feed. As a result of collaborative work between the UTSU, Arts & Science Students’ Union, eight service groups, seven colleges, and five faculty student associations, ChooseUofT asks students to consider the value that student groups and their services add to our campus. It asks students to remember their favourite experience from orientation, the night out they might have had at a formal, and the free snack they received at a library during exam season. While we may have had the privilege of these experiences, future students may be barred from doing so in light of these changes. ChooseUofT has given campus groups the opportunity to show students just how essential their ‘non-essential’ fees are, each in their own unique way. Surprisingly, what started out as a dilemma has now given groups the opportunity to look deeply at what they offer to students. We have learned from each other and found ways to improve what we provide for this year and the years ahead. With that being said, the only way we can all benefit from these changes is if we decide to support each other. Now, more than ever, student societies are fighting to keep their services and activities alive. Each of the participating student groups and services is being showcased on the
ChooseUofT website in great detail. It is imperative that we as students support each other and improve our student experience together. Now, more than ever, it is imperative that we ChooseUofT, because the student experience that we take for granted will never be the same if we do not. From the ChooseUofT campaign, we ask that you join us in investing in our student life, and that you consider what a service or fee means to you and others prior to unchecking that box. We ask this for the students who do not have a choice, for the students who rely on these programs, and for the students who would not be a part of our community without them. This fall, we ask that you choose your peers, classmates, and friends. This fall, we ask that you ChooseUofT in the least cliché way possible. There’s so much at stake this year, and it is up to all of us to support our peers and help keep our community great. Students can choose their opt-out selections for the fall 2019 term on ACORN by September 19. Joshua Bowman is a fifth-year Political Science and Indigenous Studies student at St. Michael's College, and the President of the UTSU. Keenan Krause is a third-year International Relations, History, and Diaspora & Transnational Studies at Trinity College, and the UTSU Director of Humanities. Dermot O'Halloran is a third-year student at the Faculty of Music, and the Vice-President of Professional Faculties at the UTSU. Devon Wilton is a fourth-year Human Physiology and Ethics, Society and Law student at Victoria College, and a Chief Executive Assistant for the UTSU. They are members of the Choose UofT campaign.
8
THE VARSITY
COMMENT
comment@thevarsity.ca
OSAP changes threaten equitable access to education Ford’s policies exacerbate the burden placed on students who rely on financial aid Belicia Chevolleau Varsity Contributor
In mid-June, the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) became the top trending topic on Twitter in the GTA. Many students shared how the changes that the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario announced in January will affect their ability to afford higher education. Notable changes include a decrease in grant-to-loan ratios, changes to the definition for independent students who are eligible for more support, and scrapping the free tuition program for low-income students. Some Twitter users posted screenshots comparing past OSAP payments to their current assessments to emphasize the substantial decrease. Hundreds of thousands of students depend on OSAP to fully or partially cover their tuition, easing the financial burden of higher education. These changes may even determine whether students can afford to attend college or university at all. Students should not have to live in fear and trepidation while trying to better their lives. These changes intensify the economic barriers that can prevent promising students from accessing opportunities equal to those of their wealthier peers. Although many students work while going to school, a job may not be able to fully fill the gaping hole left by these cuts. Some students claimed that their final OSAP loan and grant recalculation differed drastically from their initial estimations they received in the beginning of the summer. Twitter user @natashambeckett wrote that her estimate was "8k less than [OSAP] originally totalled," and that she didn’t "have that kind of money" to pay the difference — especially so late in the summer. For me, the estimate did not change much: I am receiving approximately $1,600 less than last year. A glance at my own funding reveals that approximately
75 per cent of my OSAP funding would be through loans. My previous applications indicate that my funding has always been around 60 per cent loans, with the remaining 40 per cent coming in the form of grants. This kind of change from previous years will cause students to accumulate more debt once they leave their higher education institutions. Nonetheless, the most significant change is the overall funding that OSAP will provide. As a full-time student in a deregulated program, my yearly tuition is roughly $13,000. While in previous years OSAP covered about 80 per cent of my tuition, it is now estimated to only cover 65 per cent. With my last year only a month away, there is little opportunity for me to make up for this cost. This is the difficult situation that many students now face. Ontario already has the highest tuition rates in Canada. Additionally, the loans-to-grants ratio has increased, with “a minimum of 50 per cent” of OSAP payment being through loans. If the steep tuition costs did not discourage many potential postsecondary students from enrolling in Ontario’s universities before, the inability of the province’s student aid program to cover a considerable amount of postsecondary education expenses may now. These cuts potentially dissuade many students from pursuing higher education, especially with additional changes to funding eligibility, such as a new definition of “independent” student. In calculations, students who have “been out of high school for six years or less, rather than four years” will have their parents’ income considered in the assessments. This means that students entering graduate programs are expected to rely on their parents’ support, preventing a considerable number of students from receiving aid that they expected. It is also important to consider that students from affluent households already have a greater chance of obtaining a college or university education. Higher
MILLY HONG/THE VARSITY
education is a known pathway to high-income jobs, and yet these OSAP changes threaten to further deepen the wealth inequality between low- and high-income students and serve as a barrier between economically disadvantaged students and tertiary education. According to Statistics Canada, 81.4 per cent of graduates aged 25–64 were “in fields important for building a strong social infrastructure.” A more educated population creates a stronger, more fulfilled society, so placing financial barriers on students’ ability to learn is a poor long-term investment. Students should not have to worry about financing their education. Education should not be something restricted to and exclusively for the wealthy. Currently,
a bachelor’s degree is a must for entry into most midto-high income industry positions. Postsecondary education has become less of an asset and more of a requirement, meaning access to higher education is a necessity. With economic barriers to education, fewer students will enrol in postsecondary studies. Research shows that people with more education lead healthier and happier lives. When people are given access to postsecondary education, they are given the opportunity to forge better lives for themselves and ultimately create a more productive society. Belicia Chevolleau is a fourth-year Communication, Culture, Information & Technology student at UTM.
To combat vaccine hesitancy, we must listen to the social sciences Subverting the emphasis on the hard sciences in favour of an interdisciplinary approach
Long Vuong Varsity Contributor
The World Health Organization ranked vaccine hesitancy as one of the top 10 threats to worldwide public health in 2019. In an effort to combat this issue, U of T has recently opened its own research centre at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, dedicated to maximizing the benefits of immunization through research and education. One may expect that a research centre would emphasize either the hard sciences — which includes the natural and applied sciences — or social sciences when conducting research. But U of T has decided to take a different approach. Dr. Natasha Crowcroft, the Director of the Centre for Vaccine Preventable Disease (CVPD), emphasized the need for a “wider group of experts” from both social and hard science disciplines to advance research, countering the traditional emphasis on biology and immunology in health research. Crowcroft believes that this multidisciplinary approach at the CVPD will help “turn the tide” in the battle against vaccine hesitancy. The CVPD’s emphasis on interdisciplinary research is commendable. Tools from the hard sciences, such as big data, artificial intelligence, and manipulations of the biological mechanisms of vaccines are important for countering vaccine hesitancy. But it is also imperative that the CVPD remain consistent and committed to equal research in social theory and strategy. Only through fulfilling its promise of conducting interdisciplinary research can the CVPD meaningfully address the issue at hand. It can, however, be easy to assume a bias against the social sciences, as much of the wider
scientific community has. This bias could lead policymakers at the CVPD to ignore insightful results from the social sciences, which would seriously undermine their research decisions. For example, Dr. Elisa Sobo, an anthropology professor at San Diego State University, has found that scientific denialism does not play an important role in making someone hesitant about vaccines. A key role is instead the social pressure of fitting in with other parents within the community. This finding indicates that the CVPD must combine science education with additional efforts tasked at changing the culture surrounding vaccine hesitant communities. Thus, it is important for the CVPD
to consider hard and social sciences with equal weight to avoid pursuing ineffective strategies. Through such understanding, policymakers gain valuable insight into how vaccine hesitancy works while simultaneously deepening the scientific community’s knowledge of this problem. As a field that focuses its studies on human behaviour, the social sciences play an important role in making vaccine hesitancy understandable for policymakers and researchers in all fields. It enables them to come up with new strategies to address the many aspects of vaccine hesitancy. In addition, the researchintensive
environment at U of T makes information sharing convenient between the hard and social sciences. Not only is collaborative research logistically easier because of the departments’ close physical proximity, but U of T’s hard and social science departments are among the best in the world, which ensures high quality work between the two to further our understanding of vaccine hesitancy. As one of the top universities in the world, U of T’s social sciences departments rank among the best worldwide. Employing this knowledge pool when understanding a social problem is vital, especially when we consider its strength in research. As a global leader in academia, U of T has a lot of influence over other institutions across the world. Taking a serious stance on interdisciplinary research would send a clear message about the importance of social science in academia, potentially pushing other institutions to do the same. Interdisciplinary research at the CVPD reinforces the importance of social sciences to other academic and social institutions in the world. Vaccine hesitancy is a human problem: it does not operate under the constraints of scientific laws or logic, but is subject to the whims of human irrationality, and requires an emphasis on sociological research. Thus, ensuring that the social sciences continue to be heard at the CVPD is a necessary step for U of T to be truly inclusive of all scientific perspectives. It will also improve the quality of research on the issue, policy-making decisions, and foster a spirit of collaboration in the wider world. Long Vuong is a fifth-year Human Biology and Statistics student at University College.
CAROLINE BIEL/THE VARSITY
Features
Read more at var.st/welcome2019
August 12, 2019 var.st/features features@thevarsity.ca
The Orientation Issue
Letter from the Features Editor
Kate, wearing her glasses (sometimes she doesn't wear them). SHANNA HUNTER/THE VARSITY
Welcome to the centrefold, U of T newcomers! Hi, hello, bonjour, welcome to Features! My name is Kate, and I’m the ‘clever and brave’ editor of this section. Basically, that means I develop ideas for articles, pitch them out to student contributors, and edit their work, which, yes, is as sexy as it sounds. The Features section is unique in that it hosts longer stories that are beyond the scope of a specific section. I’m also in charge of The Varsity Magazine, which is a 68-page bundle of joy. Some of my favourite features from last year included an investigation into the economic privileges of Greek life, a historical overview of radical politics at U of T, and an essay about the pernicious myth of a post-racial society. I’m always looking for new writers and ideas, so if you’re interested in contributing please get in touch with
me! My personal info and SIN number are on The Varsity’s website, so drop me a line or embroil me in credit fraud, whatever. For first-year readers, welcome to the next stage of your life! University is expensive and tiring and demeaning — enjoy referring to yourself by your student number for the next four to six years — but it is also a significant opportunity. Take from it what you can, whether that’s by attending every lecture and tutorial, or by skipping class to drink wine at The Beaches. On that note, the first Features section of the year is themed toward first-year orientation content. If you’re struggling to plan out a cute date, trying to slim down on your budget, or just trying to make friends, check out the articles that follow!
Please sir, may I have a reference letter? How to build positive relationships with your professors Mélina Lévesque Varsity Contributor
When you enter the world of university, professors may appear simply as distant spectres that you will never be able to interact with. The truth is that is really not the case. For those fresh out of high school and in the kaleidoscope of U of T, here’s a guide to building positive and enriching relationships with your professors.
Positive engagement
While sitting silently in the lecture hall in front of your professor surrounded by hundreds of other students, going unnoticed may seem like the easy way out. But what’s the harm in saying ‘hi’? Here is the first step: after a lecture, walk right up to your professor, extend a hand, introduce yourself, and perhaps even share what you’re looking for-
F the freshman 15 How to stay fit as a frosh
ward to in the class. While you may be one face out of the hundreds in your class, it doesn’t hurt to say ‘hello’ and smile. It may take a couple more greetings for your professor to associate a name to your face, but taking that first step by introducing yourself is definitely a solid start.
Emails — keep!n’ !t f0Rm@L
Here’s the thing. Yes, your professor will definitely be the top priority of your mailing list. No, this does not mean that they should become your newest pen pal. When you’re writing emails to your professors throughout the years, the key to positive communication is keeping it professional. Start with a ‘good morning’ instead of a ‘hey what’s up,’ and sign-off with ‘sincerely,’ instead of a peace-out emoji. Trust me, your professor on the receiving end appreciates your choice of words. With even a glance at a blank subject line or a
Caroline Biel Varsity Contributor
The turmoil of university life can really restrict the amount of time we have to move our bodies! Even for people who have always been enthusiastic about sports and fitness, it can be all too easy to relegate exercise to the bottom of our priority lists, especially when our piles of schoolwork often take precedence. Despite our heavy workloads, it’s valuable to dedicate time to fun and enjoyable exercise. Exercise shouldn’t be a chore; once you find activities you’re really interested in, exercise can energize, inspire, and help you focus on your day-to-day tasks. Here are some ideas for where to start:
Join a drop-in activity
JING TEY/THE VARSITY
U of T offers many drop-in, instructor-led classes, from intense, sweatinducing Boot Camp Fun, to invigorating Zumba. My personal favourite is doing a lunchtime yoga class between lectures. Drop-in ac-
They offer guidance and advice as you navigate through your first year. I hope you find courses that are genuinely engaging and inspiring, but I also hope you find people, places, and feelings that change you. Growth isn’t linear! Take it from me: I planned on enrolling in International Relations, promptly failed the first ECO100 midterm, and will graduate with a double major in Near and Middle Eastern Studies and Jewish Studies. I did not see that shit coming at all. So good luck with your first weeks. Focus on making a life for yourself here — there’s no point to any of this without a core of good. You’ll need it when midterms roll around,when your flight home for Thanksgiving is cancelled, or when you get
poorly written greeting, your professor may simply choose not to acknowledge your email. The timing of your message may also add to the pile of make-it-or-break-it emails. If you find yourself confused at the end of a feverish study session at 2:00 am, don’t send your professor a series of separate emails with different questions. Write your questions down, sleep on it, and send an email in the morning. Not only does poised, timely, and organized email writing make your relationship with your professor healthy and professional, but it presents you as a polite and respectful student.
Ask your questions
Raising your hand in a class full of students may seem like the scariest thing in the world at first. You may think to yourself, ‘No one else is raising their hand, so I don’t need to.’ If you think that everyone else in the class understands exactly what the professor just said and is 100 per cent getting it, think again. When you ask a question, you may be receiving the answer that hundreds of other students around you have been pondering as well. So, the next time your professor stops in the middle of a point and asks, ‘Any questions?’ Know that they genuinely mean that.
your first heartbreak. People — whether it’s two or 20, a roommate or a particularily great professor — are what you’ll remember about university. Kate Reeve Features Editor Volume 140
brought up in class as well. Office hours are a chance for one-on-one time with your professor. Remember that cluster of questions that was keeping you up at 2:00 am? Well, here is your chance to ask for clarification on course content that you don’t understand while simultaneously building a healthy rapport with your professor. Your professor’s office hours are there for you, so why not take them up on this offer and drop in for a chat?
Everyone is human
It all comes back to this. At the end of the day, your professor is just as human as you, so treat them like you would like to be treated: with respect and kindness. This way, you are not only creating a positive and comfortable experience for yourself in class, but also for your professor.
Office hours, office hours, office hours It’s written down on the syllabus sheet and it is probably
tivities are free for students — well, they are included in our incidental fees. They’re offered at the Athletic and Goldring Centres, as well as at Hart House. You can find the class schedules on their respective websites.
Check out a recreational club at U of T
U of T hosts a variety of recreational clubs, including groups that explore the outdoors, go scuba diving, practice martial arts, and do hiphop. Recreational clubs are not only a fun way to exercise, but also to join a community of new, like-minded people.
Sign up for an intramural sports team
Soccer, basketball, volleyball, ultimate frisbee, and flag football are just some of the many intramural sports offered at U of T. Intramural teams compete against other colleges and faculties within the university. Signing up for an intramural means finding a team and committing to playing games throughout the semester. This is a great option for those who have a competitive streak!
MICHELLE KIM/THE VARSITY
Find an exercise friend
Finding a friend to exercise with can be a great way to stay fit. Personally, having exercise buddies makes me feel supported, especially when my motivation is running low. Walk and talk, go rock climbing together, go for a refreshing swim, or reserve a badminton, squash, tennis, or table tennis court.
Consider registering for MoveU. HappyU
Physical activity can boost your mood and help reduce negative feelings. So, if you’re struggling with your mental health and want to improve your level of physical activity, I highly recommend the MoveU.HappyU program. Participants develop skills to stick to an exercise program and improve physical and emotional well-being through goalsetting, planning, and self-monitoring. It can be difficult to achieve a balance between personal life and school while in university. It can also take a while to figure out what kind of physical activity suits you best at this point in your life. The real secret to staying fit as a frosh is as cliché as it sounds: keep exploring and don’t stop trying new things until you find something you enjoy.
THE VARSITY
FEATURES — THE ORIENTATION ISSUE
Where to eat, drink, and be merry A Myers-Briggs for the romantically active Jack Denton Varsity Contributor
If you’re new to Toronto, or even just the downtown core, it can be tough to navigate the best dating spots. And, of course, who are you to go on a subpar date? Before you know it, the hot and heavy beginning of the semester will be over, so don’t miss your chance to ask out that person you made awkward eye contact with in tutorial. Here’s a dating guide to the city, tried and tested and tested and tested by yours truly. Broken down by personality type for your convenience:
You’re a classic U of T student who has either just discovered the Annex or a neighbourhood rideor-die
Don’t mistake any snark in the subheading for a disdain for the Annex; I fall into the latter category described above. My highly-specific recommendation is to not eat at Sakura Sushi — I used to live above it. Instead, focus on the neighbourhood’s archaic but charming stores. BMV, with its books and records, is a place to get lost in before finding yourself asking how Queen Video is still around. Inti Crafts is a fun place to look for quirky bits and bobs (hey, do you want to come back to mine and decorate?). Grab dinner at Victory Cafe or Sushi on Bloor Street West before drinking something cheap at The Lab, likely in excess. Definitely finish the night with cake at Future Bistro.
You’re appropriately hip with a flair for art and vintage
Hit up the Art Gallery of Ontario and take advantage of the free admission deal, before swinging down to Queen Street West for thrifting at Black Market and a meal at Queen Mother Cafe. Proceed to join the throngs of tourists and suburbanites for the parade west on Queen until you grow tired. If you make it to Bellwoods, you win — pass GO and collect $200.
You’re appropriately hip with a flair for art and vintage AND willing to travel
Hit up the Museum of Contemporary Art and think hard about taking advantage of the partner deals at the nearby Henderson Brewery and the Drake Commissary — before doing just that. Try your hand at thrift shopping at the Bloor Street West and Lansdowne Avenue Salvation Army and, if it’s a Thursday, don’t miss the Dufferin Grove farmer’s market. Be sure to hit up Sugo for dinner — be prepared to wait — and Burdock Brewery for drinks. If you walk back east: trust me, Christie Pits Park at night isn’t as romantic as you’d think — probably the harsh lighting or something.
You’re bougie — or at least your parents are
Admittedly out of my own wheelhouse. Start with the most expensive coffee ever at Goldstruck, before browsing Bloor Street West’s luxury shops and hoping you’re the sugar baby in the relationship. Have dinner at — and these are unironic, good picks — Alobar Yorkville or Trattoria Nervosa. The Gardner Museum and Toronto Reference Library provide some lighter culture and architectural interest on the fringes of this neighborhood. But that might spoil the vibe.
You’re a genuine foodie and want to get stuffed
Toronto is a great food city, and I can’t just recommend a restaurant or two. If you want to sample a wide variety of goods, and more generally immerse yourself in food culture, I’d tell you to start in Kensington Market. Sanagan’s is the best butcher in the city and is next to maybe the best bakery, Blackbird Baking Co. Nearby is Global Cheese Shoppe, Wanda’s Pie in the Sky, and a few minutes away is Carlos’ House of Spice. From there you can easily make your way into Chinatown to lose yourself, or walk along Dundas Street to find whatever the coolest new eat is.
Guide to the UTSC campus Where to eat, study, and hang out
You’re dedicated to making a park hangout work as a date
You have two fundamental choices to make: west or further west. Pick up drinks and food along Queen Street West — takeout tacos from Grand Electric will not let you down — and cross the street into Trinity Bellwoods. If you’re a bit more adventurous, get on public transit and head to High Park, which is a much bigger, better, and more private park. There are some great bars and restaurants in nearby Roncesvalles, with Bar-Que, La Cubana, or Bandit Brewery being my recommendations, and I guarantee your classmates won’t have been to any of them.
You’re sporty and actually healthy
You think I fucking know? Go do hot yoga and eat the less-tasty things on the menu at Urban Herbivore.
You’re obsessed with the outdoors
The relative isolation of urban nature spaces may not be the best call for a first date. But who am I to tell you what to do? Ride your bikes through the Don River Valley to the Evergreen Brick Works for a picnic and pose for hot Insta pics. Depending on the day there could be some pretty cool events there, like the Saturday Farmers Market. For something a bit more strenuous and away from the hustle, ride out to the end of the Leslie Street Spit through Tommy Thompson Park — the best place for birdwatching in the city. Plus, what if we kissed at the southernmost tip of mainland Toronto?
A catch-all winter edition because the cold equalizes all personalities
Browse the bustling St. Lawrence Market, where the only game in town for lunch is Carousel Bakery or Mustachios. Then go buy some of the best groceries at the city to cook later in the warmth of your shitty apartment or dorm. Recommended nearby activities include ice skating and hot chocolate at the Harbourfront Centre.
Khyrsten Mieras Varsity Contributor
UTSC has lots of amazing places on and around campus to check out when you’re not in class. Here is a look at some of my favourite spots to visit for food, to study, and for entertainment.
Food options
To start off my day, I normally head to the Meeting Place to get my morning calories and caffeine servings from Starbucks. A White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino and a cheese danish help get me through most early mornings. Gathering Grounds, a recently opened café in UTSC’s newest building, Highland Hall, also has some great options for breakfast and lunch. For a healthy lunch option, I’ll sometimes stop by Fit for Life in the Student Centre for a sandwich or veggie wrap. If I’m feeling a bit more indulgent, I’ll go to Rex’s Den in the basement of the Student Centre for a classic poutine, or to Nasir’s Gourmet Hot Dogs, which is just outside of the Student Centre. Just note that most food places on campus close early, so be sure to grab a bite earlier during the day!
Study spaces VERA USHEROVICH/THE VARSITY
HANNAH BOONSTRA/THE VARSITY
10
My go-to study spot on campus is the UTSC library, which has a lot of places to study — from the computers and group study rooms on
Disclosure: Jack Denton was the 2018–2019 Editorin-Chief of The Varsity.
the first floor to the quiet study areas and silent study rooms on the second floor. There are even more study spaces scattered across campus. The most recent additions are located in Highland Hall, which was designed with lots of common areas and study nooks. Since its construction, the building has been furnished with desks and lounge furniture for students to sit, study, and hang out.
Entertainment
After I’m finished with my classes and studying, I like to spend time with friends by trying out different activities on campus and around Scarborough. I like to integrate exercise into my day by working out at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre. This extensive sports centre has various classes and sports that you can sign up for, like yoga, swimming, and indoor soccer. If you’re more of a nature person, taking a walk through The Valley behind the Marketplace in the Humanities Wing, or in the nearby Morningside Park, is a great alternative to stay active. Both have incredible views of Highland Creek and the surrounding forest, especially in the fall. I also love going to the Scarborough Town Centre to end the day with a night of shopping, dining, and movie-watching at the Cineplex theatre. You can get there directly by the UTSC bus stop, which makes for an easy trip.
features@thevarsity.ca
A guide to UTM Your four-stop guide to survival at U of T’s deer-filled campus
nology (CCT) buildings are the way to go. If you opt for a frozen or iced caffeine hit, prepare to wait for at least 10 minutes in line at the Tim’s in The Meeting Place. Alternatively, you can join the queue at the Starbucks across the Hazel McCallion Academic Learning Centre — or what us mere mortals just call the library. The only coffee places without much of a wait are the Second Cup in the Kaneff Centre and the coffee vending machine in the Instructional Centre (IB).
Your second stop: food, because the
Zeahaa Rehman Varsity Contributor
Welcome to UTM, the University of Toronto’s second-largest campus! While it is possible to survive U of T’s one-of-akind postsecondary experience without any sense of direction — I am living proof — it might be easier if you let me guide you through the four cornerstones of your stay here at UTM.
Your first stop: caffeine, the unhealthy
addiction that will stay with you well into your mid-thirties! If you want hot bean water without breaking the bank, the two Tim Hortons Express locations in the Davis and Communication, Culture, & Tech-
Freshman 15 won’t gain itself. If you want overpriced and undercooked food, feel free to head to the Temporary Food Court in Davis, Oscar Peterson Hall, or the eateries at Deerfield Hall and the new North Building. If you want to consume food without bankrupting yourself, The Blind Duck — the University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union’s student pub — is the place to go. Its meat is halal, it has vegetarian options, and it’s neighbours with Chatime, meaning you can go get your bubble tea fix after your meal. The Subway in the IB and the Pizza Pizza in Davis also provide edible food. However, if you want to go the fast food route, take either the 110N, 101E, or 1CE buses to the South Common Popeyes.
How to keep money in your pocket Make your tuition work for you Stephanie Bai Associate Features Editor
This article was written while listening to “Money” by Cardi B on repeat. I recommend playing it as you continue, to enhance your overall reading experience.
General
University of Toronto Students' Union (UTSU) coupons: If you’re looking for the hub of student savings, the UTSU website’s student discount page is it. Need a refresher from studying? Cineplex tickets go for $10.25, and a Night Out deal that includes two tickets, two drinks, and one popcorn goes for $32. Need an adrenaline rush to make you feel alive after chugging four Monster Energy Drink to write an essay that is due the next day? Canada’s Wonderland tickets here go for $45 including tax — compared to the $53.99 plus tax online. Scream therapy included, free of charge. Student Price Card (SPC): Now, this card requires a $10 fee for a year-long membership, but as any good business course will teach you, sometimes you’ve got to spend some to save more.
How to survive a lab Tips and tricks for scientific success Oviya Muralidharan Varsity Contributor
VICKY BILBILY/THE VARSITY
You’ll get exclusive discounts at a wide variety of stores and restaurants, from Roots — 15 per cent off with a SPC card and student ID — to Pizza Hut —10 per cent off regular price.
Transportation
PRESTO transit discount: As a general rule of thumb, don’t pay more if you don’t have to. If you are aged 19 or under, go to a Shopper’s Drug Mart and change your TTC pass fare for cheaper with your ID. You’ll pay $2.15 instead of $3.10 per ride, which seems like a small difference, but trust me — it adds up. If you are aged over 19, consider purchasing a student monthly TTC pass, which goes for $112.25 — much cheaper than the regular selling point of $151.15. Greyhound: Planning a first-year reading week trip to Montréal so that verybody can drink without breaking a sweat over fake IDs? As a student, you get 10 per cent off tickets with a student ID and an enrolment form, class schedule, or any other documentation verifying enrolment. Time to break out your middle-school level French.
Food
Future Bistro: Located 10 minutes away from cam-
VERA USHEROVICH/THE VARSITY
You can get a sandwich for $4.49 on Wednesdays, which includes lettuce and tomatoes with your fried chicken, so you won’t feel like you’re completely poisoning your body. If the nagging feeling of guilt after eating is what you’re going for, then head to the Pita Land next door, which offers The Cheesecake Factory cheesecake slices for $4.99!
Your third stop: study, because you need
a 1.50 cumulative GPA to remain in good standing. The library is the best and quietest place to study at UTM if you need to access technology and WiFi. However, if you don’t want to rub elbows with plebeians from York, Ryerson, and McMaster — who sometimes also come study at UTM — there are many desks and couches available on the upper floors of the IB, Deerfield, and the new North Building. If you work best amidst noise, the Meet-
Your fourth stop: sleep, the only place
where U of T won’t haunt you — much. The Student Centre has a nap room, but I cannot vouch for whether or not it is… appropriate. The best places to rest your eyes are either the couches in the basement of the library or those on the upper levels of the IB. Wherever you choose to sleep, however, remember to BYOB — bring your own blanket. Disclosure: Zeahaa Rehman was the 2018–2019 UTM Bureau Chief of The Varsity.
ELHAM NUMAN/THE VARSITY
pus, this place is a safe haven for broke university students. They usually have a discount for all-day breakfast meals, from Monday to Friday, if you have a Toronto student ID. So that means you can have breakfast for dinner, which is university living at its finest. Metro on Bloor Street West and Spadina Avenue: Need a place to pick up groceries? You get a student discount on your heart’s desire on Wednesdays and Thursdays with your student ID. Shoppers Drug Mart on Bloor Street and Bedford Road: Need a more conveniently located place to pick up groceries as a Vic or St. Mike’s student? There’s a 20 per cent discount on Thursdays for all students here as well.
News
U of T libraries free newspaper access: Log in on the U of T Libraries site and get free access to The Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star. These won’t be the most recently published articles, but you’ll still be able to access older articles for no charge. Free Toronto Star subscription: Stay updated on the upcoming federal election. Make sure you know all the breaking news, because why not, it’s free! The Toronto Star is giving postsecondary students a free subscription until October 31 so they can be informed voters. We love the healthy intersection between patriotism and the lack of paywalls.
Entertainment and lifestyle
Criterion on Demand: Sure, you have illegal streaming websites for all the movies not on Netflix. But how exciting would it be to do something
What are labs? Awful three-hour block of red in your timetable starting at 9:00 am on Mondays? A torture chamber for life sciences students? Not always! Yes, labs are terrifying. Yes, they are often a lot of work. But they can also be fun if you know what you’re doing. I had so many questions before my first lab: What do I do during the lab? What am I supposed to do before a lab? Why is a lab worth 25 per cent of my grade? But I’m here to tell you to relax, firstyear life sciences students. All you have to do is read up on how to survive your first lab and maybe, just maybe, you’ll even enjoy it.
when you’re done ahead of time while everyone else is still confused and running after your teaching assistant.
1. Be prepared
3. Write everything down
Do your pre-lab readings and prepare your notebook! Preparing for labs not only means that you will ace your pre-lab quiz, but it will also make the lab work feel like smooth sailing — which is the best feeling ever, trust me. You’ll thank yourself
ing Place in the Davis building just got a facelift. If waiting forever for your Wi-Fi to connect is more your vibe, try Kaneff, and if you want your laptop to die on you because none of the outlets work and there is no place to charge it, the CCT is perfect!
2. Don’t do lab on an empty stomach and four hours of sleep
Get some sleep, caffeine, and breakfast. Imagine trying to get through a three-hour lab with a grumbling stomach and constant yawning. You’re just asking to break that watch glass, miss an observation, or forget a crucial step — and, consequently, redo your trial. Instead, be nice to yourself and go to bed! You have a lab notebook for a reason — use it! Write down all the steps, record all reagents and materials used, observations made, and data recorded. Not only because it’s worth marks, but also because it will help you in solving your post-lab blue sheet,
legally? Now, all U of T students can be the true law-abiding citizens that they’re destined to be with the extensive free film collection on Criterion on Demand. Log in with your U of T account, and you won’t even notice all the due dates looming closer and closer until it’s too late, like the rest of us. Amazon student discount: Are you too tired to walk to the Shoppers a couple of streets down from you to buy that bottle of shampoo? Is it abnormally cold outside — which it will be, for many months? Amazon Prime it. If you sign up as a student, you get a free six months of Prime, which will score you access to Prime video, shipping, and more. When the six months are up, you get 50 per cent off Prime. Spotify Premium: The only thing worse than doing work in the library on a weekend is doing it to the sound of keyboards clacking and dull silence. Get a Spotify Premium for $4.99 per month instead as a student. Enough said.
Nights out
Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) Tuesday nights: Do you want a date night that fulfills the two most important criteria for love: cultured and cheap? Go to the ROM on Tuesdays for free as a full-time university student. The Dance Cave: Blow off some steam on Friday nights to take full advantage of the 19-and-over drinking law in Ontario. This club has free cover for students with student ID, which I wager is a better bet for all you guys out there so you don’t have to pay that extra $10–20 fee at frats. Equality, people — it’s beautiful.
writing your discussion and reviewing for exams; yes, you can be tested on your labs.
4. Start early, and don’t be afraid to ask for help
Nothing is more stressful than sitting down the night before and struggling — and maybe crying — over pre-lab problems that you could have solved a week ago at your teaching assistant’s dropin office hours. They are an awesome bunch and always willing to help, you simply have to reach out.
5. Have fun!
Very cliché, but very true. Get close to your lab partners. You don’t have to be best friends, though you absolutely can be, but say “hi” outside of the lab and work together on those pre-labs. Get to know your teaching assistant as well. They’re super involved in some really cool research in your area of study and are usually very willing to share. Connect and enjoy!
12
THE VARSITY
FEATURES — THE ORIENTATION ISSUE
Where to find community at U of T It’s important to nurture a sense of belonging — here’s how Shahd Fulath Khan Varsity Contributor
Roseto, a small town in Pennsylvania, drew the attention of scientists in the 1950s for its peculiarly low rates of heart disease. When compared to the neighbouring towns, there were no noticeable differences between the diet, exercise, water supply, income levels, or race of residents. In fact, Rosetans smoked, drank, and had a high cholesterol intake. Employment often entailed hazardous conditions which sometimes led to diseases and industrial accidents. So, what was Roseto’s secret? It was a tight-knit community. Researchers called it the “Roseto Effect,” a phenomenon in which a group experiences decreased rates of heart disease because of their communal bonds. Everyone in Roseto felt welcomed, supported, and, most of all, healthy. As you embark on a new academic experience, one of your main priorities should be finding a community in which you can grow and learn. In other words, finding your own group of ‘Rosetans.’ On a campus as large as U of T, it can be difficult to find a space where you feel like you belong, so we compiled a list of helpful, but often overlooked, places to find a supportive and welcoming community of your own.
Small classes
First-year students have a wide variety of small classes to choose from during their studies. The most notable ones are the First-Year Foundation Ones Programs and First Year Seminars. These classes cover a myriad of interesting topics, including representations of the underworld in classical mythology, cell and molecular biology portrayal in the news, time travel narratives, and popular culture in the digital age. Small classes are excellent places to build relationships with like-minded peers, engage with professors, and find your spot at U of T.
Faith
Campus faith groups are some of the most active clubs at U of T. Many of them even have their own orientation events! Engaging with groups such as Power to Change, the Muslim Students’ Association (MSA), or U of T Hillel is a great way to find people who make you feel welcomed, regardless of your religion or level of faith. There are several rooms and meditation spaces around campus where you can drop in to relax, pray, or meditate in between classes.
Hobbies, leadership, and arts
There are over 800 clubs across all three campuses at U of T, and members present their clubs twice over the course of September during the Clubs Carnival and the Street Festival, in addition to college- or faculty-specific fairs. Making the choice as to which club to join may be overwhelming simply because of the sheer numbers. One strategy is to reflect on your interests and narrow them down to one or two you would like to engage with. Then, use those as a guide to help you find the best club through the Ulife database. Being a first year also gives you access to year-specific opportunities, such as acting as a first-year representative in a club you care about. Check out Hart House and Ulife clubs for announcements about applications opening for first-year representatives. Such experiences will enhance your leadership skills and introduce you
How to report sexual assault on campus Know the resources available to you Jadine Ngan Associate Features Editor
Content warning: discussions of sexual violence. It’s no secret that university campuses continue to experience high rates of sexual assault and harassment. UTSG, UTM, and UTSC are no exception. As you begin your time as a U of T student, it is important to ensure that you are well-informed of potential avenues for action should you require or choose them. Don’t be too alarmed though. We all share space with and responsibility for one another, and people know to keep an eye out for their fellow students. However, if you experience sexual violence as a student, know that you are not to blame and that you have agency moving forward. Sexual violence survivors are not obligated to pursue formal resolution, nor to disclose their experiences to officials affiliated with the school. They may want to consider seeking safety and support from their family or close friends, visiting a hospital, or getting in touch with a shelter. But should you ever need or wish to access the resources which are available to you or report a sexual assault as a student, here’s what you should know:
Recognizing sexual violence
The University of Toronto’s Policy on Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment defines sexual violence as “any sexual act or act targeting a person’s
sexuality, gender identity or gender expression, whether the act is physical or psychological in nature, that is committed, threatened or attempted against a person without the person’s consent.” This also includes acts committed online. In short, “sexual violence” is an umbrella term which includes both sexual harassment and assault. If you are uncertain whether your experience qualifies as sexual violence, harassment, or assault, you can consult the University of Toronto’s Sexual Violence Prevention & Support Centre (SVPSC).
To disclose or to report?
The university has two distinct avenues of response for sexual violence: disclosing and reporting. The decision to carry out one, both, or neither is entirely up to you. However, it can be useful to seek independent legal advice when weighing your options. Disclosure occurs whenever you share your experience with any member of the U of T community, including students, faculty, staff, and postdoctoral fellows. Deciding to disclose your experience allows you access to support and resources from the university itself. These can be helpful for coping with the complex emotions that result from assault or harassment. A report occurs when a disclosure is made with the intention of pursuing a formal response through either the university or the criminal justice system. When a report is made, it may result in an investigation with measures to be implemented depending on the findings. You
to like-minded people. Being around people who share the same love you have for holding a brush, playing basketball, or standing on a stage can be empowering. Also, many clubs, such as the Hart House Debating Club and the U of T Improv Club, have excellent opportunities for travelling to compete or perform.
Classmates
The people you sit beside in class are people who share your goals, struggles, and curiosity. Overcome your fear and social awkwardness by turning to the person next to you and asking them how they found the lecture or assignments. You can form study groups, attend office hours together, and help each other with course material. The stranger you sit next to on your first day of class could very well be your lifelong best friend.
Orientation and mentorship
Orientation is an excellent pathway for finding your place at U of T. Regardless of what people tell you about orientation, you should not miss out on it. You will be surrounded by lots of other first-year students who are all looking to make connections. Each college and faculty hosts their own orientation, but there are also academic, religious, and accessibility orientations in order to ensure that all students feel welcome. Another option is U of T’s mentorship programs. The university has several mentorship programs that pair first-year students with upper-year students who can guide them through the year, answer any questions they may have, and provide advice regarding their classes. Your mentor can be a great resource for both academic help and finding communities in which you can grow and learn.
Culture
One of the advantages of being at a big university is the diversity among students. There are over 157 countries represented in the U of T student body and dozens of cultural clubs for members of different ethnic and racial groups, such as
can report an incident of sexual violence if you so choose. To make a report to the university in a nonemergency situation, you can get in touch with the SVPSC. Consequences for offenders may include imposition of disciplinary measures, like expulsion, based on investigative findings. The university may take further steps to prevent interaction between you and the respondent, or they may grant you academic or workplace accommodations. It is also possible to file a report with campus or local police. This report, and any resulting police investigations, remain separate and distinct from any processes you undertake with the university, although the university will be notified that the investigations are ongoing. Reports to the police differ from the SVPSC reports in that they may lead to criminal proceedings, thus allowing for any resulting sanctions to be imposed by the legal system. Making a police report is appropriate in both emergency and non-emergency situations — if you are in immediate danger, contacting the police may be a wise course of action.
Your resources
If you encounter sexual violence as a member of the U of T community, you can reach out to your closest SVPSC. The SVPSC staff are trained to provide confidential consultation sessions for students who have been affected by sexual violence or harassment. SVPSC staff members are able to provide support in the aftermath of sexual violence, as well as guide you through your options, which may vary based on your circumstances. A consultation can provide you with advice regarding the processes of disclosing or reporting, referrals to resources like counsellors, instruction on self-care techniques, and more. Speaking to the SVPSC does not constitute making a report unless you want it to. You can call the SVPSC at 416-978-2266.
the Black Students’ Association and the Middle Eastern Students’ Association. There is also the Centre for International Experience’s Language Exchange and the Sidney Smith Commons’ Global Language Café, where you can drop in and practise a language with fellow students at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. Whether you are interested in improving your Spanish skills or reconnecting with your roots, these clubs always welcome new members! Drop by the Student Life Clubhouse or find them during the Clubs Carnival or Street Festival. FIONA TUNG/THE VARSITY
Volunteering
Your community might not necessarily be found on campus. There are several great organizations and groups in Toronto that always welcome university students to join their team. Volunteering at homeless shelters, local food banks, or community beach clean-ups is a great way to connect with your community. You could meet amazing people, while also working on great causes that give back to the Toronto community. As the new academic year approaches, be open to seeking your own group of Rosetans that can drive away your heart disease, fend off your mental struggles, and be the shoulder you can lean on during this journey. Disclosure: Shahd Fulath Khan was the 2018– 2019 Secretary of the MSA at UTSG.
Alternatively, you can visit one of its locations: UTSG: Gerstein Science Information Centre, 9 King’s College Circle, Suite B139 UTM: Davis Building, 1867 Inner Circle, Room 3094G UTSC: Environmental Science & Chemistry Building, 1065 Military Trail, Room 141 Hours of operation for all three campuses: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Wednesday 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Your off-campus resources
The SVPSC does not provide immediate medical care, but it recommends that you seek out medical care regardless of whether or not you’re aware of any injuries. You can do so at Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Care Centres. These centres are equipped to gather forensic evidence in cases of sexual assault. Evidence is best collected within 72 hours of an incident. Waiting longer than that, changing your clothes, or taking a shower will make evidence collection more difficult, but not impossible. The process of evidence collection does not automatically initiate a report with the university or police, but can be useful if you choose to open one. UTSG: Women’s College Hospital, 76 Grenville Street, Acute Ambulatory Care Unit, Room 1256 416-323-6040 UTM: Trillium Health Centre, 100 Queensway West, Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Services 905-848-7493 UTSC: Scarborough Health Network, Birchmount Site, 3030 Birchmount Road, Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Care Centre, third floor 416-495-2555
Arts & Culture
August 12, 2019 var.st/arts arts@thevarsity.ca
Welcome to Arts The best ideas are born after a cup of tea I have come to understand that Arts & Culture is truly the most versatile section of The Varsity. If you are unsure as to where an article fits — whether it’s a piece for our Overlooked column written whilst high in McDonald’s at 1:00 am, a sex playlist, or a review of a film from Toronto International Film Festival — more often than not, it will fall under Arts. The scope of the section is endless, and this
year I want to continue pitching and publishing content that reflects the stories of the students. In other words, Arts & Culture is a platform for you to write articles, provide commentary, and have your voice heard through our pages. I am delighted to be taking on the role for another term, and I look forward to cultivating a relationship with you all. I have an open door (and inbox) philosophy; so please drop in for a
The Varsity’s summer send-off playlist
For the hour after golden hour… and every hour after that
MIA CARNEVALE/THE VARSITY
Liam Bryant Varsity Contributor
Jumping into the new school year is exhausting. Between course selection, tying up loose ends, and trying to make the most of the weather — when it’s not so oppressive — we trudge into September with well-worn bags under our eyes.
Attend it for the culture
Spice up yo’ student life with these fun and free events Cheryl Cheung Varsity Contributor
It’s true — you can, in fact, have fun at U of T! The campus is home to much more than pre-exam dread and hallways filled with lecture handouts. Take your focus off of class by slipping these events into your calendar.
Street Festival and Clubs Carnival
Yes, it’s just as good as it looks in those cheesy college movies! Catch a glimpse of student life at U of T by stopping by the brochure-laden tables and booths of various student groups. The Clubs Carnival will take place at King’s College Circle from 3:00–7:00 pm on September 4, while the Street Festival will run along St. George Street 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Septem-
Not to worry, though, because this summer The Varsity’s Arts & Culture section has handpicked 10 summer jams to cure your end-of-summer blues and give you an extra spring in your step. No, we are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration, and no, our research on this matter is not published — yet. But these songs are guaranteed to work wonders on a brain wracked with the exhaustion of doing
ber 11. The size and location of these events make them impossible to miss and easy to swing by. Learn about what the school’s electric car-racing team has been up to, realize your passion for contemporary films, or improve on your debating skills! This is your opportunity to find extracurriculars that will keep you motivated throughout the school year. Not to mention, there will be plenty of corporate tables that hand out free goodies like sunscreen samples and cup noodles. These events are not only for incoming students, but for anyone who wants to see what student life at U of T is all about.
Winterfest
This annual week-long festival includes cross-campus events and activities exclusively for U of T students. Celebrate the winter (even though it’s hosted during the post-holiday-season!) with free pancakes, drag shows, open mic events, and club nights! Events are often hosted by different colleges, so be sure to follow their Facebook pages to keep track of event details and updates. The shows hosted during this week are fantastic opportunities to show off your poetry and drag style. You can attend as a spectator or participant. Winterfest is the upsized spirit week your high school wished it had.
Annual book sales
Find the right book at the right price at these on-
cup of tea and a chat. Thank you for perusing the first issue of Volume 140 of The Varsity. I am confident that you will stumble upon something that you like. Warmly, Kashi Syal Arts & Culture Editor Volume 140
nothing for four months! Peruse our prescriptions below. Take them with a spoonful of sugar if you must, but, either way, relax to the beat of a summer well spent, starting with the exuberant chords of Sir Woman. Sir Woman’s single, “Highroad,” matches bright, upbeat R&B motifs with a brass section fit for any open-air jazz bar. Her lyrics float in and out of sweeping melodies that build into a cheerfully sunny musical narrative bustling with selflove and gumption, matched only by Lizzo herself. Complementing the gentlewoman is the effervescent Kaiit, performing “Miss Shiney,” an expository R&B perusal into her artistic process with beats reminiscent of ’90s hip hop, with an 808 drum to boot! Her consistent flow and ad libs add structure to an otherwise weightless song. Its minimalist production value, despite itself, manages to fill the room with gorgeous volume. Look no further than “Seventeen” by Peach Pit for an accompanying aperitif: a cool beach rock serenade that will leave you bouncing your foot despite yourself. Its charming chord progression keeps the song simple enough to love on the first listen, while its vocals grant it a unique calling card that makes playing it again a pleasure. Kevin Abstract of BROCKHAMPTON wields a syrupy-sweet rhythm guitar in “Peach,” bouncing along to a steady snare-kit beat that whips the whole ensemble into a warm summer daze. You can practically see this song lounging on a Muskoka chair. Contrasting the rolled-back instrumentals of Abstract’s performance, Ocean Heights’ “Out the
campus book sales. Taking place every fall, Victoria College, St. Michael’s College, University College, and Trinity College each host their own sale, with proceeds going to their respective libraries. Each year, these sales collectively offer hundreds of thousands of donated books, music, movies, and other items. Overwhelmed? Don’t be! The materials are sorted by volunteers to fit into an array of scholarly and general categories. The variety and arrangement also make these sales a popular place to spot signed first editions, unique art books, and curious tales. Donations for the sales are accepted on a year-round basis, so drop by to donate and buy for a good cause. Your experience at U of T is a product of your agency. Events across three campuses are hosted for your enjoyment and your benefit, so take advantage of them! Though the school is known for its academic rigour, that doesn’t
SHANNA HUNTER/THE VARSITY
Way” leans into production and instrumentation to administer a dose of smooth, pop-R&B perfection. Ocean Heights’ vocals drape over the crisp melody like caramel, complementing its layered manufacture to produce one sweet earworm. “U Used To” by Charlie Burg embraces the cool tones of summer’s palette, propping itself up on popy notes and synth-shades to paint a fresh image of a summer fling. Don’t let its high production fool you — its acapella ad libs break through the chorus to give Burg’s foray into summer a sincere and palatable note. Similarly sincere but with an added tender glean, the abstracted “Freakin’ Out on the Interstate” brandishes Briston Maroney’s distinctive voice alongside killer guitar and a meaty bassline to deliver an experience evocative of those erratic summer nights. And what kind of mixtape would it be without songs to dance wildly to? “Honestly” by The Bantams forms one edge of a rug-cutting triad completed by Hounds’ “Shake Me Up” and The Lost Boys’“Sober (feat. Griff Clawson).” All three bank on their upbeat tempos and lyrics to get you on your feet and moving to summer’s final beats. Strewn throughout the mixtape, these songs bring you back to basics to remind you what the best summer music’s all about. With these songs you’re practically destined to make it through the first two weeks of school. Don’t worry if it’s a slow start to begin with — just think of it as a slow burn to a climax worth waiting for. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and soak up the summer! We at Arts & Culture will catch you on the flipside!
Fun events to partake in around campus! Coming back is great! SHANNA HUNTER AND NATHAN CHAN/THE VARSITY
mean you have to forgo the fun in pursuit of a degree. Pick and choose your courses, events, and extracurriculars wisely to make your U of T experience the best it can be.
14
THE VARSITY
ARTS & CULTURE
arts@thevarsity.ca
Summers are meant for Discussing the band’s past, present, and future
The Beaches are a Canadian alternative rock band. They're all about good music and girl power. Courtesy of FELICE TRINIDAD
George Moshenski-Dubov Varsity Contributor
Traversing the roads of Toronto in an all-black SUV is one of Canada’s newest and most exciting rock bands. While they are not yet a household name, the group did spend an entire day going from one interview to another. It’s no surprise that people cannot get enough of The Beaches, and yes, they’re named after the Toronto neighbourhood — The Beaches — which they call home. The band, which consists of Jordan Miller’s vocals and bass, Kylie Miller’s lead guitar, Eliza Enman McDaniel’s drums, and Leandra Earl’s keyboard and guitar, officially started in 2013 with their first studio album released in 2017. Since then, the band has continued to grow their success through hit music and captivating live shows. For one of their many interviews that day, The Beaches sat down with The Varsity to discuss their newest EP, opening for some of the biggest bands in the world, and snacking on tour. The Varsity: Firstly I’d like to congratulate you on your new EP, The Professional. Can you tell me a bit about it and how it came together? Jordan Miller: The Professional is really exciting. It came together really fast. We’ve had a few crazy years where a lot of things have changed for us, so we’ve been really inspired. Our last album, Late Show, was sort of a collection of four years worth of material. The Professional — excluding “Lame” — was essentially written in the last six months. We’re really excited about it. TV: Having known each other for many years at this point and finally
getting the recognition and accolades that you deserve, can you speak on the challenges individually or as a group that you’ve faced in the last couple years? Kylie Miller: I think right now rock music hasn’t been as prevalent, which is disappointing. So being an all-female rock band in this time has been a little bit challenging, but it’s also been exciting because we’re starting to see younger people become interested in rock music and coming to live shows and supporting this whole movement. It’s kind of like a rose and a thorn. JM: We’re definitely a unique band in that we play everything live. We’re dedicated to making sure that our performances are unique each time we play the songs. We’re creating an experience, not just pressing a button on a computer. TV: Do you think it’s an untraditional or traditional way of doing it? JM: Well, it used to be the traditional way, but it’s sort of become weird, you know? KM: Yeah, it’s a dying breed. Eliza Enman-McDaniel: We’re trying to bring it back. Women are the most rock ‘n’ roll thing right now because there aren’t enough women in rock ‘n’ roll. So, that in itself, being a woman in rock ‘n’ roll, is just the coolest. TV: Toronto in recent years has pushed out a high-level of musical talent. How has this city helped to shape you, apart from just your band name? KM: I think we are so lucky to be able to live in this city and to be able to go and experience shows here. We have a really great community of Toronto musicians and friends in bands, and we all
support each other. It’s really kind of helped us grow individually, as friends, and as a band. JM: There’s a totally collaborative and supportive music scene here. People go to each other’s shows… share each other’s music and offer advice, and help when it comes to making choices within your own career or even with your own songs. KM: And this doesn’t really happen in a lot of other places. For instance, in Los Angeles, New York, even Montréal, everything is really competitive, and yet in Toronto, everyone is really supportive. TV: Last year you won the JUNO Award for Breakout Group of the Year. Tell me about that experience, going up and accepting your award. It seems almost like you were surprised that you won. JM: It was such an honour to be recognized by our community and peers. I think it was especially an important moment for us because we’ve been sort of a band for about four years, and a lot of our friends have graduated from university and are coming back to their families with degrees. And so we got to come back and sort of give our parents this sort of symbol of all the work that we’ve done. TV: 2018 was a big year for the band. Apart from the JUNO Award, you also released a couple of hits. I’m also interested in hearing about your experience opening for the Foo Fighters and playing at the Rogers Centre. EM: That show was crazy for so many reasons. When I walked out by myself as we opened our show, I walked out to 55,000 people. I sit down and this massive full pint of beer comes hurtling
through the air, knocks one of my sticks out of my hand — and I’m playing at the time. I have to find a way to get my second stick. So, it was a mess. KM: It really kind of was crazy because that’s never happened to us as a band before. It was eye-opening, and it proved that we can be put into really shitty circumstances. But somehow we’re that close and that connected as a band that we can just pull through and not let that affect our performance. TV: What do you hope to achieve, learn, or experience when you open for other big bands, for instance, when you opened for The Rolling Stones in June? JM: Something that’s very interesting between The Rolling Stones and The Glorious Sons is that I’ve heard that they both have… an improv-ish type of show; it’s not a very formulaic set. They don’t really pick a setlist until like 20 minutes before their show. Sometimes they’ll do super long jams in-between songs even though they won’t plan for it, but they’re like such tight performers that they’ll just sort of be able to look at each other and do stuff that’s very spontaneous like that. So, it’s interesting to see how our sort of theatrical, sort of prepared, cohesive set works with their more jamming sets. EM: I think just being able to play rock music in front of a crowd that’s there for rock music, and to expose our music to people who haven’t heard our music before. Just keep trying to keep rock music alive. I think that’s what’ll be the best outcome. TV: Do you have a goal in mind for the end of 2019? EM: We’re planning on releasing an-
other body of work, hopefully by the end of the year. I’d love to just tour, travel to more places, and play for more audiences that haven’t seen us before and just keep touring. Leandra Earl: Canada has been very nice to us, but moving toward the UK and the US are a goal. KM: We have a lot of support here — it’s amazing — but it’s also important to establish yourself in other places. So, going to Europe, going to the UK, maybe going to Australia at some point early next year, and then hitting the US again for a headlining run. LE: Take The Beaches worldwide — ‘International Beaches.’ TV: Before you go, I have one final question. Following your Twitter, I’ve noticed your go-to fast food is Taco Bell. What is your go-to Taco Bell order? EM: Crunchwrap Supreme and a side of a Soft Beef Taco. JM: Crunchwrap Supreme with Ghost Pepper Sauce. EM: Oh, Fire Sauce, always! LE: The whole tour I’ve been having two crunchy beef tacos, but on the last day, I tried a Crunchwrap Supreme — and woah! That hit me. So next time, it’s that. EM: We’ve been telling her all along it’s the best thing, but she had to try it for herself. KM: Crunchwrap Supreme, and always Dr. Pepper. Always. That’s the best thing. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. The Professional was released on May 16, 2019.
Science
August 12, 2018 var.st/science science@thevarsity.ca
Welcome to Science!
ANDY TAKAGI/THE VARSITY
Hi everyone, it’s Adam. Recently, a team of undergraduate engineering students completed the construction of a solarpowered race car, which will race across Australia in October. Master’s students won first place at an international artificial intelligence competition in May. Meanwhile, PhD students won prestigious Vanier scholarships in June for their innovative research that may save lives. These achievements by the University of Toronto’s student body in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields have been documented and celebrated by writers of The Varsity’s Science
section. Thousands of students at U of T are in the STEM fields, and it’s a pleasure for the writers and myself to provide a record of their endeavours. Writers in the section also explore ideas, bringing you stories about how the world works. How do physicians invent new surgeries? How has science fiction influenced modern-day devices? How has artwork in the Art Gallery of Ontario inspired researchers at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre? We’ve also explored issues such as mental health, reporting on the crisis with studies and initiatives advocated for by researchers. We further report on the human experiences
of science, with series such as Women in STEM, exploring challenges faced by STEM students and researchers, and how to overcome them. It’s a mighty wonderful duty to serve as this year’s Science Editor. I’m excited to support our writers’ submissions, and I hope you’re excited too. Adam A. Lam Science Editor Volume 140
Under invasion! Watch out for the Japanese knotweed plant
Aggressive species can penetrate concrete and starve local plant species of resources Sherry Eskander & Tahmeed Shafiq Varsity Contributors
UTSG is under invasion by an unusual suspect — a thoroughly aggressive plant. The culprit is Japanese knotweed, also known as Reynoutria japonica, which is a flowering bamboo-like species that has spread across Ontario and the rest of Canada. Its population threatens infrastructure and native plant life, as the plant can penetrate concrete and rapidly overtake other plants in the race for nutrients and sunlight. Knotweed, a plant native to East Asia, is thought to have been introduced to the rest of Canada through Nova Scotia in the 1880s. By 1901, it was grown in Niagara, Ontario for ornamental purposes. Its reach extends widely — an online map lists 63 sightings in Toronto alone. Its large leaves can block sunlight from plants that grow closer to the ground, starving them of an essential resource for survival. Layers of decomposing stems and leaves shed by the plant can obstruct growth of native species. The space it takes up can reduce wildlife habitats too. Knotweed also poses a threat to infrastructure because its roots can penetrate concrete. In one case documented in England, the plant grew through a wall and into a couple’s home — slashing the property’s retail value by over $400,000. Now, it has invaded UTSG as well. The Varsity has confirmed two sightings of knotweed on campus: a very large plant has overtaken sections of a garden attached to a student residence at St. Michael’s College, and a smaller plant is growing on Sussex Avenue behind Robarts Library. Two other clumps of knotweed dot the western perimeter of UTSG on either side of Spadina Avenue. One is at 698 Spadina Avenue, which is the site for a planned student residence building finalized earlier this year. Controlling the spread of knotweed can be very difficult. The plants primarily grow offshoots through an underground plant stem, or ‘rhizome,’ which can reach a length of up to 18 metres. The rhizome can be found as deep as
two metres underground — meaning that overturning the entire top layer of soil is the best way to prevent the plants from spreading. St. Michael’s may be home to the largest knotweed plant on campus The knotweed patch at St. Michael’s College is impossible to miss. It is in the alley between McCorkell House and Sullivan House at 2 Elmsley Place and 96 St. Joseph Street, and Maritain House and Gilson House at 6 and 8 Elmsley Place. All are student residences. It can also be seen from the quad behind Teefy Hall. Knotweed plants have a distinctive appearance. Their hollow stems resemble bamboo once they mature, reaching up to three metres in height. They have broad leaves shaped like a heart with a flattened base, which grow off the stem in a zig-zag pattern. The node where the leaf meets a stem is reddish-purple. The plants blossom in late summer or early autumn, growing tufts of small white flowers. At St. Michael’s College, the largest plant is over two metres tall and spreads out over about five metres, and is pressed onto the side of a building. Knotweed is growing on both sides of the paved alley, clearly demonstrating how its roots can push through and around concrete obstacles. Three other locations nearby The other Japanese knotweed plant on UTSG is growing at the privately-owned house at 16 Sussex Avenue and near other homes. It is also close to the Robarts Library and the Sussex Clubhouse, which houses many student organizations such as The Varsity and the Sexual Education Centre. Another privately-owned property at 15 Glen Morris Street has knotweed plants growing in its backyard. The plants are sandwiched between Graduate House, a residence building for graduate students, and the Early Learning Centre, which provides services for children of U of T students, staff, and faculty. The final location is just off-campus,
Japanese knotweed has invaded a garden attached to a student residence at St. Michael’s College, as indicated by the arrow. DINA DONG/THE VARSITY
at 698 Spadina Avenue, beside the nowclosed Ten Editions bookstore. It will be the site of a new student residence. The difficult task of eradicating knotweed Knotweed spreads through stem cuttings and can quickly grow to colonize a new area, especially in a moist environment. Once entrenched, the plant is very difficult to remove. Weather is no impediment, as it can endure harsh conditions and even survive floods. The plant is especially effective at reproduction when growing alongside rivers. Its roots can break off and travel downstream, enabling it to start new growth in a different location. This is one of the ways it can spread quickly in a city near bodies of water. Controlling knotweed populations with herbicides can take three to five years. Physical removal alone is an ineffective strategy One of the more common ways to eradicate invasive plant species is to cut the plant to reduce its height and diameter. However, this physical method is not lethal to knotweed, as it can grow back again the following year. It can also make the problem worse. “Cutting could increase the chance of knotweed spreading,” noted Tyler Jollimore, a Master’s student at Dalhousie University’s Department of Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences. “People (more specifically children) may pick it up and play with [the plant remains], resulting in it being moved to
another area,” he wrote to The Varsity. Ecologists are currently studying effective means of knotweed control. Jollimore noted that according to the findings of a recent study he was involved in, “injections of glyphosate — a [herbicide] — can provide significant reduction in knotweed stem density in the year following the treatment.” In this approach, every stem of the plant needs to be injected for the treatment to work. This can be labour-intensive, especially if an area contains a high density of knotweed. “Using cutting and then spraying a herbicide to [prevent] regrowth one month later,” wrote Jollimore, could effectively reduce knotweed populations. Any removed portions of the plant must be disposed of to reduce the risk of spread via the cuttings. Glyphosate is controversial as a likely human carcinogen. Ontario law has prohibited the use of glyphosate for plant eradication conducted for aesthetic purposes since 2009. But the Ontario Invasive Plant Council, an advocacy group, wrote that the ban does not apply to glyphosate usage for knotweed removal. The plant’s eradication is motivated by the need to prevent damage to infrastructure and biodiversity, wrote the Council, which qualifies the plant as an exception to the ban. However, as “glyphosate-based herbicides are significantly better than all other herbicide groups currently used for knotweed control,” according to Swansea University scientists, the herbicide’s application may still be the best ap-
proach for knotweed removal. Invasive plants at U of T “physically removed” if discovered Every treatment method against knotweed will require time and careful planning. Most treatments will damage the stems after the first year of treatment. To prevent the spread of knotweed in the first place requires vigilance by local residents and plant owners. “Be careful [when] accepting fill soil,” wrote Jollimore, adding that people should “use a keen eye when purchasing plants, as occasionally knotweed may be labeled as something else such as bamboo or Chinese rhubarb.” Knotweed growth is hardly restrained by “unorganized, poorly thought out management strategies,” he continued. “You want to work smart, then hard — not the other way around.” Mark Simpson, University of Toronto Director of Building Services, Grounds and Trades responded to The Varsity’s inquiry about sightings of Japanese knotweed on campus. “The grounds department does, from time to time, find invasive plant species such as Japanese knotweed on University of Toronto property,” he wrote. “Such plant species are physically removed whenever they appear.” In the case of the St. Michael’s College’s infestation, it appears not. It’s important to report any sightings of the Japanese knotweed online, as earlier recognition of this invasive plant can help suppress its further growth.
16
THE VARSITY
SCIENCE
science@thevarsity.ca
Dunlap Institute celebrates 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 Moon landing SpaceTime event featured talks, games to commemorate first spaceflight to land humans on the Moon
William Maxwell King, a Master of Applied Science candidate at the U of T Institute for Aerospace Studies, speaks as part of the SpaceTime event commemorating the Apollo 11 landing. ADAM A. LAM/THE VARSITY
Spencer Y. Ki Varsity Contributor
On Saturday, July 20, U of T’s Dunlap Institute for Astronomy & Astrophysics celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing with a SpaceTime event at the Daniels Spectrum. The public event took place precisely 50 years to the day that astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to take “one small step” onto the lunar surface at the climax of the Apollo 11 mission. Accordingly, the event focused on milestones in crewed space exploration, particularly surrounding the moons of our solar system. The key attractions were three talks presented by experts in the space industry and academia. Interspersed between the talks were shorter anecdotes on spaceflight, chosen to augment the main features. Audience members were also able to participate through show-
Enlightened minds, illuminated research How the AGO’s art inspires researchers at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Reena Ahluwalia Varsity Contributor
What does scientific discourse have to do with artistic expression? For a research team at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, the answer is “everything.” We once thought of our right and left brains as separate forces responsible for logical and creative thought, respectively. But scientific progress has shown us otherwise, as mental processes require that the whole brain works together in harmony to approach a task. Just as the corpus callosum brings our hemispheres together as a band of nerve fibres, so too should science and art harmonize — so believes Dr. Mathieu Lupien, a Senior Scientist at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Lupien incorporates art into his professional sphere to generate creative discourse between his close-knit team of researchers. He offers a unique approach to team-building by inviting his team to take a stroll through the Art Gallery of Ontario. Each team member takes the time to walk through and choose a piece of artwork that speaks to them.
style games involving trivia and artwork. The evening’s first speaker was William Maxwell King, a Master of Applied Science candidate at the U of T Institute for Aerospace Studies. King’s presentation was titled “Spaceflight: A Human History,” and took the audience on a journey from the first rockets to the first Moon landing. Beginning with the origins of modern rocketry in the aftermath of World War II, the accompanying slideshow featured photographs of early rockets such as the United States’ Bumper 2, which was based on the German V-2 rocket. Similar pictures showed early Soviet successes in space before the triumph of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)’s Apollo program. King selected a historical angle for his talk to showcase the incredible progress that human ingenuity made over a very short span of time. “I think the lesson that I see in the Apollo lega-
cy is that there is no challenge too great to tackle,” wrote King in an email to The Varsity. “Especially as our world faces catastrophic issues such as climate change, the Apollo program shows that we can indeed construct technological solutions to seemingly impossible problems.” The second talk was thematically closer to the present day, as Dr. Jamil Shariff, an engineer at MDA Corporation, an aerospace company, presented the opportunities that the Moon will allow humanity in the near future. In his talk titled “The Moon: A Gateway to the Future,” Shariff went into detail on the Lunar Gateway Project, an international collaboration to build a permanent space station in the moon’s orbit. Shariff particularly highlighted Deep Space Exploration Robotics (DSXR), which is Canada’s planned contribution to the endeavour. The Canadian Space Agency and MDA Corporation have developed concepts for a new pair of robotic arms — the large eXploration Large Arm (XLA), and small eXploration Dextrous Arm (XDA) — for use on the Lunar Gateway. The arms will be analogous follow-ups to the large Canadarm2 and small Dextre arms that currently service the International Space Station. “The relatively careful, stepwise approach that NASA/ESA/CSA/Roscosmos are taking with the Lunar Gateway is to use ‘cislunar space’ (the space between the Earth and the Moon) as a proving ground,” wrote Shariff in an email to The Varsity. “In this environment, the effects of long term habitation in space and increased radiation exposure can be studied and mitigated. Experience can be gained operating in a self-sustaining manner with no resupply from, and limited communication with, Earth.” Information gained from studies along this vein could be applied to hypothetical missions such as crewed deep space explorations and Martian missions. Closing the evening was Dr. Michael Reid, an Associate Professor and the Coordinator of Public Out-
reach and Education at the Dunlap Institute. Unlike the previous two speakers, Reid was less focused on the Moon, as a definite and singular, in favour of moons, as indefinite and plural concepts. Reid’s talk, titled “To the Moons,” advocated for increased interest in the many natural satellites of our solar system, which number in the hundreds, instead of continued fixation on our eight neighbouring planets. Reid used slideshows of photographs to argue that exploration of nearby moons would provide a broader understanding of the possibilities that alien worlds hold. Saturn’s moon Titan was in particular focus during the presentation, given its thick atmosphere and liquid oceans of water and hydrocarbons. Combined with an atmospheric pressure and low gravity that is favourable to humans, Reid cited it as an example of a nearby celestial body which could prove agreeable to colonization. “What I was trying to do was encourage people to think about places in the solar system we could go beyond planets,” said Reid in an interview with The Varsity. “Titan is one really good example, particularly if you’re thinking about human colonization or travel. But it’s only one, right? There are other places you could go depending on your motives. In general… the places in the solar system that might [possibly] be compatible with life are probably actually not planets.” Despite the astronomical subject matter of the talks, the Dunlap Institute made it clear in advance and during the event that people of all educational backgrounds, including children, were welcome. “I think the easiest way for laypeople to get involved with space exploration is to come to events like this,” wrote Master of Ceremonies Dr. Mubdi Rahman, a Project Scientist in the Dunlap Institute, in an email to The Varsity. “[These events are opportunities] to actually chat with people actively working in the field, and there are often surprising collaborations that come out of these meetings.”
Lupien then has the team come together as a group to share their chosen piece and engage in dialogue about what inspired them. “I get to see the world from their perspective and they get to see mine from theirs,” said Lupien in an interview with The Varsity. The process helps the researchers better understand how they see the world through different lenses. Lupien expresses that this is an exercise in using something creative, like art, to share who we are as scientists. It gives the team a glimpse into each other’s worlds. For example, if a member really enjoys the intricate detail in a piece, we can understand that the fine details they reflect in their own work are something they value. This helps us interpret the work they do in a more meaningful way. “Our imagination is the only way to explore the unknown,” said Lupien. “We are working in uncharted territory sometimes, so creating an environment that is conducive to open, creative thought is important for our work.”
How can students integrate art and science into their own research methods?
Lupien describes that translating scientific works in an intelligible way is an art in itself. Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics can be highly complex areas, full of jargon which can be intimidating for many students interested in the field. Using creative expression is one way to translate complexities in an imaginative way. He demonstrates this idea in his description of his research on epigenetics: the study of how the activity of our genes can change, without changing our DNA sequences. He describes the genome as six billion letters of DNA that form words that are different in nature. When they are organized into sentences, each of them tells a unique story. In order to form specific parts of our body, such as muscle and brain tissue, we organize our genome, represented here as letters, in different ways to create distinct sentences. The folding process is guided by
Inspiration from experiencing artwork could lead to new avenues in scientific research. KASSANDRA NERANJAN/THE VARSITY
epigenetic events, or post-it notes, which highlight the regions of our genome that need to be read. Perhaps we can say that art relates in the same way. Each stroke of the brush or strike of the pen creates a unique image, and the artist goes over certain areas of the painting with these tools to highlight parts of the piece. Sometimes this disrupts the image, which can create chaos. Other times, this enhances the image with clarity. Like epigenetics, one must follow these fine lines or broad strokes to understand how the larger image, or genome, has come to be. Lupien emphasizes that fostering creative thought can open a world of possibilities for all walks of life. “Bringing these values into your everyday practice as a researcher can serve to nourish your approach to work,” he said. Experiencing art can also serve as time for our
ideas to incubate, perhaps creating a period of unconscious processing for approaching problems in research. Taking from the famous 1929 works of Graham Wallas, The Art of Thought, incubation allows us to process problems in a manner whereby no direct effort is exerted. We can optimize the way we process pre-existing knowledge by exposing ourselves to creative mediums such as art. This may lead to new approaches in scientific work. Ultimately, generating a scientific discourse with the expression of art can bring forth creative magic that inspires research. “In research, there are two things of value — there is knowledge and creativity,” said Lupien. “You need to have balance. Never shy away from engaging in creative thought. You never know where it will take you.”
var.st/science
AUGUST 12, 2019
17
How physicians in Canada invent new surgeries
A conversation with Dr. Sunit Das on ethical oversight in surgery innovation
Ethical practice requires doctors to fulfill certain responsibilities when offering experimental treatments to patients. IRIS DENG/THE VARSITY
Caroline Biel Varsity Contributor
rently, there is a four-step process in place for approving new surgical techniques in Canada.
Taking risks and testing new ideas are the cornerstones of advancing science and technology. But when it comes to developing new surgical techniques, experimentation can be a matter of life or death for patients who volunteer. To understand how and why surgeons innovate, The Varsity interviewed Dr. Sunit Das, an Assistant Professor at U of T’s Department of Surgery and neurosurgeon at St. Michael’s Hospital.
The stages of surgical innovation
Why innovate?
Although the practice of surgery has come a long way, there is considerable potential to improve surgeries in order to make them safer, quicker, more efficient, and less expensive. “Engineers talk about the fact that it’s the existence of problems that drive their work,” explained Das. “And, in a way, surgical innovation could say much the same.” Of course, innovation inevitably carries the risk of failure. Das explained that part of the ethical dilemma of surgical innovation stems from weighing the benefits of testing an unfamiliar technique against a proven and well-known procedure. The difficulty of this decision depends on the effectiveness of existing procedures. When surgeons test a new technique against one that is rarely effective, ethically it might not be a costly risk to take. For example, according to Das, physicians can often test new chemotherapeutic agents with patients who have recurrent cancers, since there are usually no effective alternative therapies for their conditions. New surgeries for these conditions are often worth the risks. It is much harder to try to innovate when a technique that is relatively safe and effective already exists. For any innovative procedure, ethical practice requires doctors to fulfill certain responsibilities when offering experimental treatments to patients. Cur-
Surgical innovation begins with preclinical work and the development of a technique. Stage 1 follows, at which surgeons use the experimental technique for the first time on a human patient. In this early stage, the goal is to determine the safety and efficacy of the procedure in a small, select group of patients. In Stage 2, surgeons apply the surgical procedure to a broader selection of patients to determine the reproducibility of Stage 1’s results. They also determine how to best apply the intervention, as well as develop the technique’s efficiency. Throughout the development of any new surgery, patients and their caregivers must give special consent to receive it. This suspends or modifies the duty of surgeons to minimize harm. By the conclusion of Stage 3, the new surgery becomes a standard procedure, removing the need for physicians to require special consent from patients.
How do experimental surgeries receive ethical oversight?
Monitoring the progress of surgical innovation is critical — a lack of oversight could lead to mistakes that present patients with unnecessary risks. For many hospitals, Research Ethics Boards (REBs) ensure experimental techniques meet ethical requirements. When surgeons intend to make an experimental procedure available for patients, they must submit a clearly defined protocol to an REB for approval. However, there are drawbacks to placing an REB in charge of surgery. To start, REBs often do not have surgeons on them. Service on an REB is a time-consuming responsibility and “time is one of the things that surgeons tend to lack,” said Das. An REB’s oversight can also substantially slow the development of a surgical technique, said Das, in ways he believes are unnecessary.
To develop a surgical technique, explained Das, researchers undergo a process that is iterative. That is, surgeons often apply an experimental technique, learn how they could improve it during the process of the surgery, and change the protocol to reflect the improvement. “The nature of an REB is antagonistic to [iteration],” said Das. Under an REB’s oversight, each time the surgeons decide to alter their protocol, they need to apply for an amendment, causing their application to require review by the REB. While Das noted that the additional review does ensure that the REB is on the same page as the surgeons, he believes that an alternative approval process could increase the efficiency of surgical innovation.
The Surgeon-in-Chief as an alternative source of oversight
Das believes in placing the burden of responsibility on the Surgeon-in-Chief of a hospital to ensure that experimental surgeries meet ethical requirements. The expertise of the Surgeon-in-Chief addresses the first perceived shortfall of REBs — that such boards lack physicians directly experienced in surgery. He noted that “there are nuances to the idea of surgical innovation [that he believes] are more available to a Surgeon-in-Chief than they necessarily might be to an REB.” This could allow the Surgeon-in-Chief to have a better grasp of how an experimental procedure works. Das also addressed the issue of REBs reducing efficiency. He said that a Surgeon-in-Chief with the onus of responsibility would allow “a type of communication and a type of nimbleness to change that simply is not inherent to the way that something works with an REB” and would therefore support iterative development. “I think Toronto has been a leader in the world in terms of thinking about this problem [of obstacles to iteration],” said Das. In fact, he noted that the model of placing the Surgeon-in-Chief of a hospital in charge of oversight, instead of an REB,
evolved at Toronto General Hospital. Since then, institutions, such as St. Michael’s Hospital and Toronto Western Hospital, have adopted this model of ethical approval. As an advocate of this approach, Das has co-authored a paper about this in The American Journal of Bioethics. He acknowledged, however, that the model does have shortfalls. “One of the inherent dangers to placing the oversight element to innovation with a Surgeon-in-Chief is that there might be [conflicts of interest] that could get in the way of proper oversight,” he said. A conflict of interest, said Das, could result from the promise of prestige of a successful innovation overshadowing the Surgeon-in-Chief ’s responsibilities to the hospital, surgeons, and patients to ensure proper oversight when approving experimental procedures. “For me, being involved in surgical innovation has had beneficial effects on my career and on my standing in the international community of neurosurgery. I gain prestige by work that I do as an innovator… and the hospital gains prestige from the work that I do,” said Das. “There’s the danger that those risks, those responsibilities could be clouded by the possibility of benefit in terms of prestige to a surgeon and to a hospital by innovation.”
Always innovating
Surgeons think about research ethics to address the conflict between the goals of securing patient safety and improving patient outcomes by developing new procedures. They cannot advance what they offer patients without stepping outside a place that is comfortable and known. Taking risks is fundamental to making progress. “Surgical innovation in a way is deciding to do something differently, despite knowing that we have a way of doing things safely and well,” said Das. “It’s simply that we think we can finally do something that, in a way, will be safer and be better.”
Sports
August 12, 2019 var.st/sports sports@thevarsity.ca
Welcome to Sports! It’s an honour to be able to serve as the Sports Editor for this year’s volume of The Varsity. I am very much looking forward to covering all of the talented athletes that represent this university and chronicling their stories. This year I want to focus on why we, as a community, love sports. This summer we saw the new heights that the Toronto Raptors were able to reach and what a
tremendous impact their playoff run had on our city and our country. It highlighted the amazing journeys that everyone took to get to that point. These are the types of on-campus stories that I want to highlight going into this year. There are so many amazing athletes here at U of T, each with a unique story or background. It is important to highlight these stories because sports serve as a microcosm for
our society: issues that impact culture and politics impact sport, and vice-versa. This year I also plan to continue the focus on video coverage to highlight the more niche sports on campus. I want to cover lesser-known sports, and give organizers and athletes a platform to grow their sport on campus. Any U of T student is eligible to write for The Varsity as well, and anyone who
is interested should feel free to contact me at sports@ thevarsity.ca. Let’s make this a great year! Silas Le Blanc Sports Editor Volume 140
ANDY TAKAGI/THE VARSITY
Varsity Blues athletes and teams to look out for
There are many new faces on several Varsity Blues teams, all looking to make an impact this season Joshua Chua Varsity Contributor
With a new school year on the horizon come brand new seasons of U of T sports — and there’s a lot to look out for. Whether in basketball, football, or hockey, the Varsity Blues athletics programs provide a platform to showcase the accomplishments of student athletes throughout the university. Watching Varsity Blues games is also a great way to spend time on campus by cheering on fellow students and peers. Here are some of the top teams and athletes to look out for in the 2019–2020 school year:
Men’s hockey
Seeking redemption for last year’s roundone playoff loss to the Ryerson Rams, the Varsity Blues hockey team will be looking for outstanding play from the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Male Rookie of the Year-nominee David Thomson, a forward who finished his last season with the Blues with nine goals and 16 assists. Expect another great season from Captain Aidan Wallace, who teamed up with Thomson this past summer to deliver a bronze-medal finish for Canada at the International University Sports Federation Winter Universiade in Russia.
Women’s hockey
As the focus turns to a new season, the women’s hockey program has a lot to be excited about, with the addition of four new first-year forwards: Natasha Athanasakos, Lauren Ball, Lauren Hancock, and Nikki McDonald. With a few key players graduating, including Clara Benson Honour Award-nominee Kassie Roache, the team will look to these new players to provide energy and speed across the lineup.
Men’s football
With new offensive coordinator Irv Daymond, who coached the Laurier Golden Hawks for six years, and top national quarterback prospect Kinsale Philip set to join the team for the 2019 season, the Varsity Blues men’s football team looks to rebound after a disastrous 0–8 season. In 2017, Philip helped his high school team — the New Westminster Hyacks — win the AAA British Columbia provincial championship title. The Blues are hoping he can continue this success throughout the rest of his university career.
The Blues women’s hockey team hopes that their newest additions will lead to success.
THEO ARBEZ/THE VARSITY
Women’s swimming
After their strong performances in the 2019 FINA world championships in Gwangju, South Korea, a new Canadian records for medals was set by U of T alum Kylie Masse and current U of T swimmer Rebecca Smith. It's safe to say the team is a part of a golden generation for swimming in Canada. Look out for events throughout the year leading up to the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, where Masse and others hope to defend their spot on the podium.
Men’s basketball
Fresh off an inspiring offseason, courtesy of the Toronto Raptors, the Varsity Blues men’s basketball team will be entering this season with one goal: playoffs. Second-year player Iñaki Alvarez, who averaged 12.9 points per game and garnered recognition for his significant contributions as a first-year student, will look to build on his strong start and help the Blues contend in the OUA East division.
The problem with specialization in young athletes Can playing less basketball actually be the key to a healthier career? Barry Sanhga Varsity Contributor
A “performance paradox,” as Dr. Mike Clark — founder of the movement efficiency and injury prevention program Fusionetics — calls it, has been a recent topic of discussion amongst NBA circles. The fact of the matter is that the newer generations of NBA players are experiencing an unprecedented decline in musculoskeletal stability and an upsurge in biomechanical
problems relative to their predecessors. The culprit for these performance defects? Specialization: the tendency of athletes and their parents to remain fixated on a single sport all year round while neglecting other sports. Dr. Neeru Jayanthi, Associate Director of the Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship at the Emory University School of Medicine, considers children to be specialized in a particular sport if they can identify their primary sport, train in it for more than eight months a year, and have ever
quit a different sport in order to better focus on their primary sport. Though specialization may sound harmless or even prestigious and impressive, Jayanthi reports that children who are characterized as ‘highly specialized’ in a single sport may have a 125 per cent greater risk of experiencing overuse injuries, particularly cartilage and ligament injuries, relative to unspecialized children. Similarly, David Bell, the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Director of Injury in Sport Laboratory, and a team of researchers, found that highly specialized high school athletes are over twice as
likely to suffer lower joint injuries, such as around the hips or knees, relative to their unspecialized counterparts. Can anyone be blamed for this situation? Top athletes in major sports are some of the highest-income earners. Simply put, the motivation behind these high levels of specialization at such an early age likely stems from the allure of lucrative athletic careers. Parents, coaches, and athletes alike all push for a great extent of sport-specific practice to attract the attention of scouts and talent evaluators who can advance the athlete’s career goals. Though sound in logic, the route of early child sport specialization comes with varying consequences. Clark offers an analogy to describe the contemporary athlete: the athlete is like a car with a carefully-crafted and powerful engine, but one that lacks suspension and braking, thereby making the engine futile as it can never be used to full potential. In other words, as skilled as modern athletes may be, their bodies, particularly their ankles, hips, and core, are broken down to the point where they may never be able to demonstrate their full range of athletic skills. IRIS DENG/THE VARSITY In response to
this growing biomechanical epidemic, NBA commissioner Adam Silver and USA Basketball released guidelines for youth basketball players to follow in hopes of minimizing developmental injuries. These guidelines ask parents and coaches to delay specialization in youth basketball until the child reaches 14 years of age, limit high-volume training, mandate rest from organized basketball for at least one day per week, and authorize an extended leave from organized basketball during the offseason. However, issues still remain. The NBA has not yet managed to get other major North American sporting bodies, namely the NFL, MLB, and NHL, to co-sign onto its guidelines. In other words, the NFL, MLB, and NHL have yet to address the severity of specialization in youth sports, which may undermine the message that the NBA is trying to put out. Additionally, there are no adequate means of enforcing such a specific set of instructions upon the entire youth basketball landscape. The mantra of ‘giving your very all to your craft,’ as glorified by Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, will seamlessly reign supreme over any anecdotes offered by commissioner Silver. However, kudos should still be given to the NBA for pioneering and mobilizing the movement against specialization.
var.st/sports
AUGUST 12, 2019
Opinion: The beautiful game? Not anymore An account of racism in soccer Aman Udeshi Varsity Contributor
It was a chilly evening in London on December 8 — the setting for one of the biggest clashes of the English Premier League, between Chelsea and Manchester United. But when Manchester’s star winger Raheem Sterling went to the byline for a throw-in, he was meted out abuse by a fan. An unapologetic, gory insult to his skin colour. That’s when Sterling decided it was enough. “The way they were looking at me, I had to see where all this anger was coming from,” he said. “I was listening in to hear what they were saying.” He said he dismissed it immediately:
“Nah, that can’t be what I heard.” This is not an isolated incident either. Danny Rose, an English defender for Tottenham Hotspur, expressed looking forward to retirement, as the politics of racism are frustrating. “There is so much politics and whatever in football and I just can’t wait to see the back of it, to be honest.” Players are being called ‘monkeys,’ and obscene chants and gestures are directed at them for no other reason than the colour of their skin. What’s worse is that media outlets and sports broadcasters shine a negative light on young Black players. Sterling, 24, is a successful player who earns as much as, or even more
than, most of his white contemporaries. However, news reports circulate showcasing him as a flashy, brash youth with no regard for his hardearned wealth. The truth is, he owns a single car, and his partner owns one more, like millions of white, suburban families in the UK and around the world. “When people are making the public believe you are a character you aren’t, that is hurtful, and it is degrading,” the young star said. Solidarity among players, including the white ones, is a step in the right direction, though this doesn’t happen often, with Moise Kean’s treatment serving as the prime example. An 18-year-old player with Juventus, he was faced with racist chants in a match against Cagliari. He took a leaf out of Sterling’s book and raised his outstretched arms to the opposition fans. This didn’t go well with his teammates, especially Leonardo Bonucci, a stalwart of Juventus and the Italian national team, who said the blame lay “50-50” with fans and players, especially if the fans are taunted.
19
He was widely condemned for these comments, and later backtracked on them, but the damage was already done. A young player was left alone and shamed by his mentor on the team. The Italian Football Federation has confirmed that Cagliari and their fans will face no disciplinary action. After England’s game against Montenegro, when many players of African origin were abused, Tottenham Hotspur’s Danny Rose said, “It’s sad, but when countries only get fined what I probably spend on a night out in London, then what do you expect?” This problem runs far deeper than stringent, superficial measures. Unless it is acknowledged, studied, and systematically purged by FIFA, UEFA, and other bodies, it will fester underneath, robbing the essence of the game.
Raheem Sterling has been the victim of racist taunts on multiple occasions.
BRAD TUTTEROW/CC FLICKR
play at BMO Field in Nations League A against both Cuba and the United States on September 7 and October 15, respectively. Tickets for each game start at around $25. Despite their historic struggles, the Canadian men’s national games always have a fun atmosphere. Fans in the supporters’ section are always jumping around and singing lively chants. While the stadium doesn’t always reach capacity, there is still typically a good turnout, especially considering how little promotion these games get. The women’s team has generally performed better than the men’s team, and sometimes play friendlies at BMO Field, although none are currently scheduled.
Toronto Blue Jays
Affordable sports events for students Where to find the perfect combination of cheap tickets and a lively atmosphere
The Jays have been having a disappointing year, but one upside is the cheaper ticket prices. ZHU/CC FLICKR
Kartik Rudra, Michelle Krasovitski & Silas Le Blanc Varsity Staff
Toronto is a city brimming with athletic talent: from hockey, to baseball, and yes, even soccer, our teams are nothing to scoff at. Unfortunately for the budgetconscious student, finding seats at prices that won’t break the bank can be a challenge. So, to help you out, we’ve compiled a list of teams which offer great games at great prices.
Toronto Marlies
Based out of the Coca Cola Coliseum, the Marlies have helped many current Leafs players develop their game and make the step up to the NHL, including the likes of William Nylander, Travis Dermott, and Kasperi Kapanen. Fans will get the chance to watch the next generation of prospects looking to
receive a call-up from the Leafs in action, most notably players such as Jeremy Bracco and Rasmus Sandin. The experience of watching the Marlies play, albeit in a smaller arena, is comparable to a Leafs’ game, with intermission events including skills competitions and puck tosses. The atmosphere — created by the 7,779 seats which fans occupy during the game — helps replicate the atmosphere created within NHL venues and serves as an enjoyable day out for hockey and non-hockey fans alike. There is also a wide range of food options within the arena, and the venue is easily accessible by public transit. Season ticket prices for the upcoming 2019–2020 season range from as low as $608, or $43 per month, and up to $1,558 for glass tickets, $109 per month. Tickets are also given out for free through Leafs Nation Network, where members can enter contests for Marlies
tickets as well as Leafs tickets, memorabilia, and other prizes.
are also included.
Mississauga Steelheads
Although being one of the more painful Canadian national teams to support, the men’s soccer team is currently in the midst of a golden age, with a wave of young talent coming into the system. The star of this youth movement is FC Bayern Munich winger Alphonso Davies, who set a Major League Soccer record transfer fee in his move from Vancouver Whitecaps FC. He is accompanied by the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Gold Cup Golden Boot winner Jonathan David, as well as Anthony Jackson-Hamel, Lucas Cavallini, and Cyle Larin. The men’s team finished the qualifying round for the CONCACAF Nations League where they won all four of their games. They are scheduled to
Another affordable sporting option for students — especially UTM students — is the Mississauga Steelheads of the Ontario Hockey League. When watching the Steelheads, fans get a chance to witness hockey players hoping to get selected in the NHL entry draft and become future stars. The Steelheads franchise has produced several notable current NHL players including Jason Spezza of the Dallas Stars and Alex Pietrangelo of the St. Louis Blues. Single ticket prices range from $18.90–27.80, which is a bargain, with student discounts available. Season tickets are also relatively inexpensive, with passes ranging from $429.20–650.44. Perks such as discounts on merch and concessions as well as exclusive access to league events
Team Canada Soccer
It’s unfortunate that this team needs to be included on this list, but it’s a reflection of the state that the Blue Jays franchise it in. The Jays’ roster is rather unimpressive, and has only been weakened with team traded franchise icons like Marcus Stroman and Aaron Sanchez. However, the Jays have some exciting rookies like Cavan Biggio, Bo Bichette, and the phenom generating the most hype, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who not only livens up otherwise uneventful matches, but remind fans, one game at a time, that the future of Toronto baseball looks bright. Something to consider when buying tickets is the layout of the stadium: since the Rogers Centre offers seats around the entire field, choosing the right seat depends on what you want to get out of the game. If you’re hoping to catch the coveted home run ball, you will need to sit in the outer 100 sections — seats between 108 and 136 are the most optimal. If you aren’t determined to leave the game with a free souvenir, the sections behind both dugouts and home plate are the best choices, as they offer a neartotal view of the diamond. The seats in the 500s sections are the cheapest, with tickets ranging from $20–40, though they also tend to sell out first. The seats in the 200s and 300s sections are a little bit more expensive, usually around the $80 mark. Try to stick to the western and northern sides of the stadium, since those offer the best views of the CN Tower when the roof is open — quick reminder: home plate is always west.
20
THE VARSITY
DIVERSIONS
ACROSS 1. Little jerks 5. Head downtown? 10. Help in a holdup 14. Balming target 15. Beyond partner 16. Screenplay direction 17. T-bone region 18. Medical research goals 19. Every family has one 20. Illuminated 23. Holiday follower? 24. Skiiers challenge 25. Unlike a litterbug 27. Palindromic windmill part 30. End of two state names 33. Scratch, say
36. Better copy? 38. Bahrain bread 39. Passed with ease 41. Genetic info carrier 42. Arboreal abode 43. Things to rattle 45. Fishtail, e.g. 47. Daydreamer’s limit? 48. Fit to be fare 50. Killed, as a dragon 53. Tux accessory 54. Prepare for hanging 57. Wrestling area 59. Serving as a diplomat 64. Beer selections 66. Hindu grouping 67. Tat-tat intro
AUGUST 12, 2019
68. Folk facts 69. Pagoda roofing 70. Black cat, some think 71. It may come before “we forget” 72. Failed as a sentry 73. Bird’s perch, perhaps DOWN 1. Chaucer bit 2. They may be clicked on 3. Flu symptom 4. Grad-to-be 5. Bushwhacker’s tool 6. Go to the edge of 7. The good olde days 8. Cooking place 9. Transmit anew
10. Back on a battleship 11. Crooners, often 12. Creation location 13. “High School Musical” extra 21. Main mail drop (abbr.) 22. Disconnected, as a phone line 26. Like siblings 28. Chances in Vegas 29. Roller Derby milieus 31. Checklist item 32. Pretentiously stylish 33. Attack deterrent 34. Military sch. 35. Enrolls 37. Barbary ape’s lack 40. The red 44. Inner city concern
46. Most absurd 49. Official orders 51. Emotion of the miffed 52. Long and thin 55. Sight from Biscayne Bay 56. Gourmand 57. Shoppers’ site 58. Ubiquitous lily relative 60. Place for some polish 61. “Cast Away” setting 62. Manual component 63. A driver may change one 65. Firm or fixed