Vol. CXXXVIII, No. 14 January 15, 2018 thevarsity.ca —— University of Toronto’s Student Newspaper Since 1880
Protests hit local Tim Hortons as franchises cut workers benefits Workers at U of T’s four locations not affected Josie Kao Associate News Editor
A recent decision by some Tim Hortons locations to cut employee benefits in response to the rise in minimum wage has elicited strong responses from members of the U of T community and the general public. The news first broke on January 3 that a Tim Hortons in Cobourg, Ontario would be ending paid breaks and some benefits, such as full dental and health coverage. The branch, which is owned by the children of Tim Hortons’ co-founders, said that the cuts were due to the provincial government’s decision to raise the minimum wage from $11.60 per hour to $14 per hour, effective January 1, 2018. The changes were also blamed on “the lack of assistance and financial help from Head Office and from the Government.” While Tim Hortons has called these cuts the actions of a “rogue group” of franchisers, the news prompted backlash from members of the U of T community, including employees at the
Winterfest in review
university’s own Tim Hortons. An employee at the Tim Hortons located in the Medical Sciences building, who asked to remain anonymous, told The Varsity that though her location wasn’t being affected by the cuts, she could not be sure that it would remain that way. “We’re happy with everything here... but I’m very unhappy about the other ones… [the labour board] should step in and so should the government,” said the employee. According to U of T Director of Media Relations Althea BlackburnEvans, “The Tim Hortons locations at Sidney Smith, Medical Sciences, UTM and UTSC employ unionized workers, so they would not be exposed to the kind of cost-cutting measures that may be taken by other franchises.” At the Tim Hortons location in Sidney Smith, an employee said that they were not allowed to comment on the issue. In response to the cuts being made by some locations, labour groups in Ontario held demonstrations at over a dozen Tim Hortons locations across the province on January 10. Tim Hortons, page 3
Marking delay in some courses leaves students without first-semester grades
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Arts & Science registrar says marks should be posted by mid-January Aidan Currie Deputy News Editor
Students in at least seven undergraduate courses have yet to receive their marks from the first semester, a delay that has not been explained by the university as of yet. The Faculty of Arts & Science registrar has tweeted that grades should be available on ACORN by mid-January and has thanked students for their patience. Students took to online forums over the past week to voice their concerns regarding the missing grades, largely among Computer Science classes. “So, I’m over a week into the winter semester, and I don’t know whether I should be re-attempting the course (in order to get into the POSt), or continuing my studies in computer science,” wrote reddit user DMihai on the U of T subreddit. “I was hoping I would be out of this limbo soon. Since admission into the computer science post is already incredibly stressful, releasing CSC236 marks this late is
insulting.” Komania, another Reddit user in a different computer science course, CSC324, wrote that prior to writing their final exam on December 16, the class had only 20 per cent of their total mark returned. “I’m venting because I’m really annoyed. I just wish there would be some communication but [the professor] just ignores all of us. I pay $13,000 in tuition and they can’t hire enough TAs to adequately mark.” Reddit user jjstat4 expressed concern for students who have to decide on back-up courses if they fail CSC236, “as the wait-list end date and drop date rapidly approaches.” As of press time, marks for CSC165, CSC236, CSC324, CSC411, STA347, JAV200, and ARC251 have not been posted to ACORN. If you are a student who has been affected by the grading delay, The Varsity would like to hear from you. Email deputynews@thevarsity.ca with tips.
EDITORIAL
SCIENCE
SPORTS
FEATURE
Playing favourites with finances
Free pharmacare?
On and off the ice
Your brain on Adderall
The TCM’s latest decision is disappointing and perplexing
The pros and cons of the new OHIP+ plan
Toronto Furies’ Danielle Gagne talks hockey
Widely used as a ‘study drug,’ the effects of ADHD medication are largely understudied
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2 • THE VARSITY
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Until January 26
JANUARY 15, 2018 • 3
var.st/news Tim Hortons, from cover The events were planned by the Ontario Federation of Labour, which represents 54 Ontario unions, and Fight for $15 and Fairness, a group that focuses on protecting workers’ rights and defending labourers from the “attacks by the corporate lobby and right-wing politicians.” One of the protests was held at the Tim Hortons at Bedford Road and Bloor Street, just off of the UTSG campus, and was well attended by students and labour groups. Demonstrators could be seen carrying picket signs that read, “I love donuts but not pay cuts” and chanting “Hold our sugar, hold our cream, Tim Hortons don’t be mean.” Julia DaSilva, a student representing the U of T chapter of Fight for $15 and Fairness, said that it was impor-
tant to stand up to the “scare tactics” being used by some franchisers. “Companies like Tim Hortons rake in massive amounts of revenue and are using tactics like these… in order to create fear around this rise in minimum wage that should be benefiting workers and easily could be,” said DaSilva. Enver Harbans of the United Food & Commercial Workers International Union said that he was there to oppose the “draconian measures” being taken by the company. “We’re here to let Tim Hortons know and corporations know that as a movement, we’re always going to be in support of workers, and we’re always going to be struggling for workers.”
Some locations’ reactions to the minimum wage increase sparked protests like this one at Bloor and Bedford. JOSIE KAO/THE VARSITY
In conversation with Adrian Huntelar CAMH receives record and Ammara Wasim $100 million from anonymous donor The Varsity sits down with the newest UTSU executives to discuss appointment, transition, upcoming student life and advocacy projects
Wasim and Huntelar were both appointed, not elected, to their positions.
SHANNA HUNTER/THE VARSITY
Ilya Bañares Associate News Editor
This past semester saw two University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU) executives step down from their posts. They were replaced by Adrian Huntelar, formerly one of the union’s General Equity Directors, and Ammara Wasim, Vice-President Communications of the Muslim Students’ Association. The Varsity sat down with both new executives to discuss their new positions and their future plans. Unelected student politicians In an op-ed that appeared last December 3 on The Varsity’s website, Huntelar, who is serving as VicePresident University Affairs, wrote that he understood that some students may have some concerns over the fact that he did not go through the democratic process of election. “I’m a political science major, so I know very well that appointed leaders rarely have the time or the mandate to get anything meaningful done,” he explained at the time. Huntelar further addressed this concern in the interview. “I think the best way to address those students’ concerns is just to make myself as open as possible, listen to as many students as possible, to be in as many open forums as possible for students to raise their concerns with the UTSU.” Wasim, the new Vice-President Campus Life, took the same view, but she maintained that it was less about their qualifications and more about
the necessity of having someone fill their roles during the academic year. “As a student,” she said, “I would want someone to be in my position rather than having the position being vacant for three months.” Transition process Huntelar described the past two months as being “very informative,” detailing the learning curve he was initially met with. “I’m learning about just how many different aspects of university policy and governance actually influence students’ day-to-day life,” he said, noting that many factors like textbooks or accessibility accommodations fall under his portfolio. Wasim highlighted the help the other executives and full-time staff have provided throughout her transition into the role. “They’ve been really nice and really supportive and helpful with everything,” she said. She also thanked her predecessor, Stuart Norton, for meeting with her and helping her out. Both Huntelar and Wasim understood the limited amount of time left in their posts, but they underlined their commitment to make improvements on campus. “There isn’t a lot of time left, three months isn’t a lot of time to do a lot. I think it’s better to just focus on what really needs to get done and enhance what’s there,” said Wasim. Student life and advocacy projects Huntelar also spoke about food security, one of his top priorities. He
said that the UTSU is working on multiple projects to raise awareness within the university and provide related services. “We’re working to create an online grocery store, so that students can purchase their groceries online on utsu.ca and have them shipped to the office,” he said. The online grocery store concept will involve working with FoodReach, an organization that connects community agencies, like the UTSU, with wholesalers who provide foodstuffs. “It offers a benefit to students who are pressured for time and money,” he said. “The main group that this supports is those who live off-campus without access to a dining hall, but also who are responsible for essentially making their own food.” Wasim will first be focusing on the UTSU’s Winter Week of Welcome. In an earlier interview with The Varsity, UTSU President Mathias Memmel mentioned that one of the reasons why the hiring process was sped up was due to the need to have someone in the post by this week. Wasim noted, “[Norton] had the plan in place already, I’m marketing and promoting mainly, and I’m attending all the events and running them on the day itself. I’m taking care of the smaller details, logistically.” She also highlighted her intention to concentrate on the Campus Life Commission, which she chairs as part of her portfolio, and looking through requests for clubs funding. “I have to try to expand upon the Campus Life Commission in a way where it doesn’t necessarily have to be sitting down to a meeting,” she said, adding that she wishes to make meetings less “boring.” With the UTSU elections coming up in March, Huntelar declined to comment on his intentions to run for a position or not, while Wasim mentioned being undecided at present. “I would tell you if I knew myself,” she said. “Right now, I have to figure out my course load that’s already hectic.”
Gift to be used for supporting research, new mental health initiatives Ilya Bañares Associate News Editor
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) announced on January 11 that it received a $100 million donation from an anonymous donor. According to a statement posted on its website, this is the largest donation ever given to a mental health centre in Canada. “We need to invest in the fundamental research and the clinical innovation that will improve the health of individuals and populations, locally, nationally and globally,” wrote Dr. Catherine Zahn, President and CEO of CAMH, in the statement on the CAMH website. “This gift will make that a reality.” CAMH is a mental health teaching hospital that provides health services and does research, with three main sites in Toronto. The donation will be used to endow the Discovery Fund, which will recruit top-tier scientists and medical research professionals to CAMH. The fund will also provide
capital for any future research projects on mental health. The Discovery Fund, according to CAMH’s website, will prioritize three different areas: developing the next generation of scientists focusing on mental health, furthering the centre’s understanding of mental illness and diseases, and using data to put research findings into practice. “I believe CAMH is wellpositioned to make a transformational impact in the field of mental health research,” read a statement from the donor. “I have seen the devastating impact of mental illness on individuals and their families; I want to provide support to the next generation of researchers and scientists to pursue the research that will directly transform care.” The anonymous donor also highlighted that the gift will be used to support “high-risk, highreward research.”
CAMH’s location at College and Spadina is Ontario’s only 24-hour emergency psychiatric hospital. STEVEN LEE/THE VARSITY
4 • THE VARSITY • NEWS
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Winterfest and Frost Week events kick off second semester at St. George Events ranging from pub nights to LinkedIn profile reviews among welcome-back festivities Hannah So Varsity Contributor
Students at UTSG were in for some frosty fun last week when the St. George Roundtable hosted Winterfest. The festivities are set to continue this week, with the University of Toronto Students’ Union’s (UTSU) Frost Week events taking place January 15–19. “Winterfest is… [a] week of events
Basset, Newcomer, Rocket Bomb, and the ultimate champions, Dorval. Thursday’s events were a drag show and board game night. Winterfest closed on Friday with another pub night at Tequila Jack’s. Throughout the week, students had the opportunity to eat free pancakes, which were served at individual colleges. At Frost Week, students will get to decorate donuts on Monday, attend a
The annual Battle of the Bands at Lee’s Palace saw four bands compete for the title. WENDY WEI/THE VARSITY
meant to welcome U of T students back to school, reminiscent of Orientation. We hope to give back a little to the community,” wrote Winterfest co-chairs Albert Hoang, Yolanda Alfaro, and Samantha Douek. Winterfest kicked off on Monday, January 8 with an open mic night. On
LinkedIn profile review on Tuesday, sing with Choir! Choir! Choir! on Wednesday, see Young MA in concert on Thursday, and eat a free vegan breakfast on Friday. “Most of the time, the programming is similar to Orientation,” wrote UTSU President Mathias Memmel of Frost Week. “The idea is to
ARE YOU A
Do you have a habit of worrying about many different things (e.g. work, health, finances, day-to-day tasks)? Does worrying interfere with your life? Do you find it difficult to control your worrying? Are you: 18 to 65 years of age?
Free pancakes were served at the individual colleges. STEVEN LEE/THE VARSITY
Tuesday, students were able to attend either a screening of Norwegian Wood, an adaption of a movie by Haruki Murakami, or a pub night at Supermarket in Kensington Market. Wednesday’s highlight was the Battle of the Bands at Lee’s Palace, featuring local bands
help ease students into the new term. Still, next year’s team should consider re-imagining Frost Week. Whenever an event becomes a ‘tradition’, opportunities for growth and improvement are lost. It’s good to start from scratch every once in a while and invite in collaborators.”
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PARTICIPATE IN A PAID RESEARCH STUDY! For more information please contact Shreya: Phone: 416-979-5000 ext. 2182 Email: caplab@psych.ryerson.ca Study Name: Training Mental Habits Study • • •
All proceeds from the Drag Show went to LGBT YouthLine.
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All queries are confidential. You will be compensated for your participation if you are eligible. A phone screen (which participants will not be compensated for) is required to determine eligibility
JANUARY 15, 2018 • 5
var.st/news
Front Campus snowball fight sees New Bachelor of limited participation due to bad weather Information program pending approval from New organizers of snowball fight, Delta Upsilon, wanted to bring community together Governing Council Aidan Currie Deputy News Editor
The tri-campus snowball fight returned after a year’s hiatus, as roughly 60 students made their way to Front Campus on January 10 to participate in the event. Organizers attributed the low turnout to bad weather and poor snowball-making conditions. In 2015, the snowball fight was organized by Madina Siddiqui and Frishta Bastan, who said at the time that they hoped it would become an annual event. That year reportedly saw 400 students gather on Front Campus, with 2,600 saying they
would attend on a Facebook event. The next year, 4,200 students said they were interested in or going on Facebook. This year there were over 2,000 people in total who indicated their interest on Facebook; however, the turnout was not what was expected given the social media response. “Given the freezing rain aspect, I’m gonna take what we have,” said Evan Price, President of Delta Upsilon, the fraternity that organized this year’s event. “It’s still fun any time you get this many people doing one thing at U of T. It’s always a good thing.” While the snowball fight has
never had an official affiliation with the university, UTSU President Mathias Memmel wrote to The Varsity, “In 2016 we provided paramedical support, hot chocolate, and music in the form of Disney’s ‘Frozen’ but none of these services were requested by the event hosts nor do they appear on our website.” Price said that he and the other members of Delta Upsilon had been thinking of events to hold for the first week back at school. “We didn’t see anyone taking initiative on it, and we just thought we’d do it, bringing out some hot chocolate and trying to get some people together.”
The snowball fight returned to Front Campus after a one-year hiatus. SHAHD FULATH KAHN/THE VARSITY
Interdisciplinary degree will combine social science, humanities, computer science Imani Stewart Varsity Staff
A new two-year Bachelor of Information (BI) degree program at the Faculty of Information may begin in September 2019, pending approval and confirmation by Governing Council’s Academic Board and Executive Committee, respectively. The proposal was positively reviewed by the Academic Policy and Programs Committee of Governing Council on January 11. The new BI program at the Faculty of Information, also called the iSchool, will be a twoyear second-entry professional undergraduate degree program consisting of 11 credits. Students are expected to apply during their second year of first-entry undergraduate studies. The BI will combine social science, humanities, and computer science to tackle the study of a data-intensive society. According to the proposal, “Students will study how data is generated, exchanged, transformed, deployed, and used, and the way that these processes mediate and are mediated by cultural, legal, economic, and technical structures and institutions.” Its point of difference from other iSchool programs is its broad focus on three core areas: techniques of digital practice, how information practice is organized at many social and political scales, and information, power, and culture. The proposal also notes a strong focus on social justice.
Wendy Duff, a professor and Dean of the iSchool, said that the BI will mix lectures, studio courses, and a practicum. “You’re learning skills, but you’re also reflecting on what you’re learning in those large classes,” she said. “Then you take that knowledge and skills that you learned and then you go do another course.” Duff said that the practicum part of the program will give students real workplace experience as they head into their second year. A large focus of the program is giving students both the theoretical and hands-on knowledge that will prepare them for employment in fields such as web publishing, interactive media design, and business. As the proposal states, “We aim to produce graduates who can not only understand, but also make and do.” The structure and design of the new program relied on feedback from students, external reviewers from two different universities, and faculties like Arts & Science and the Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design. The university plans to accept 25 students at first, increasing the number admitted per year to 100 in 2023. At the moment, the university is in the process of searching for two teaching stream positions and one tenure stream position. The faculty is also developing scholarships and bursaries specific to this program. The proposal will go before Governing Council’s Academic Board for approval on January 25 and the Executive Committee for confirmation on February 6.
Online survey details 16 accusations of sexual harassment at U of T Inappropriate touching, making comments about appearance most common forms of anonymous allegations Alex Tough Associate News Editor
Most responses detail male professors harassing female graduate students.
STEVEN LEE/THE VARSITY
A crowdsourced survey created by student advice website The Professor Is In revealed 16 anonymous accusations of sexual harassment within academia at U of T. The survey, which has so far documented more than 1,900 accusations of sexual harassment in academia worldwide, shows that 15 of the 16 accusations of harassment at U of T were of male professors harassing female graduate students. The other case involved alleged predatory action of a postdoctorate toward a grad student. Almost all of the accusations involved multiple forms of sexual harassment. Half of the cases alleged inappropriate touching, and a quarter
of them alleged making comments about the complainant’s appearance. One of the accusations cited stalking, and another two alleged bragging about sexual ability. Talking about sexual activity, posting or showing sexual images, asking for dates and not taking ‘no’ for an answer, making sexual jokes, showing genitalia, bullying based on sex or gender, demanding hugs, and sexual assault were all listed among the accusations. The accusations also reported significant impact on the mental health of the complainants. In five allegations, the complainant noted anxiety following the harassment, and in three cases stress. Two of the accusations also detailed self-blaming and depression. Eating disorders, drug use, feelings of embarrassment, resentment, difficulty trusting people,
anger, bitterness, feelings of humiliation, nervousness, lack of confidence, and feelings of shame also appeared among the survey responses. In all of the accusations, it is alleged that there were no career consequences for the harasser. In six cases, the complainant did not note any impact of the alleged harassment on their life choices, but in another three cases they claimed to have changed research focus. An additional three complainants left academia altogether. The Professor Is In serves to help recent PhDs search for tenure-track positions. It was founded by Karen Kelsky, a former professor who taught at the University of Oregon and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
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University proposes change to revenue distribution in copyright policy Change sees authors make more money when university commercializes work Zeahaa Rehman Varsity Contributor
Nearly a decade after the Copyright Policy was approved in May 2007, an amendment has been proposed by Professor Vivek Goel, Vice-President Research and Innovation, to provide consistency in the handling of copyright revenues. The amendment calls for harmonizing their distribution with the Inventions Policy, which governs the commercialization of inventions through the university. Under this amendment, the author’s share of copyright revenue will increase to 40 per cent from 25 per cent when the university commercializes their work, but it will remain unchanged from 75 per cent when the author commercializes their own work. Due to the introduction of online education via platforms like edX and Coursera, Goel said that “a very small
amount of work gets commercialized.” Goel hopes that the amendment will clarify sharing of revenue and make it more advantageous for authors creating work by giving them a better incentive. The university owns any work created by an author during their employment at the university under the assumption that the work created in an author’s course of employment made substantial use of university resources. Work does not include any research or books published by authors during their course of employment. Rather, it refers to works by authors where they are tasked to create learning material — like video or learning audio. The author’s actual share in revenue through the university’s commercialization is 60 per cent, but the author must pay a 20 per cent management fee. The rest of the revenue is distributed to the author’s academic
Over 30 U of T community members named to Order of Canada Faculty, alumni honoured with prestigious award recognizing contributions to Canadian society
These are Order of Canada medals. One day, you too may have one. Photo by SGT RONALD DUCHESNE, COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
division, the author’s department, and to the Connaught fund — a reserve dedicated to research. “We don’t engage in this to make money,” said Goel, adding that the purpose of the Copyright Policy is to ensure that the products created by authors affiliated with the university are used in a way that stops people from taking their work. An author, as the policy defines, includes any member of the university’s teaching staff, administrative staff, librarians, postdoctoral fellows, students, or any visitor to the university. Defining postdoctoral fellows as authors is one of the major proposed amendments. Previously, according to Goel, there was confusion regarding the copyright status of work created by students or trainees, which this amendment clears up. The university, where it does not own copyright, still has a right to re-
Silas Le Blanc Varsity Staff
On December 29 last year, over 30 University of Toronto faculty members and alumni were named to or promoted within the Order of Canada. The order is the second highest honour a Canadian citizen can receive, behind the Order of Merit, and it is the highest that is limited to only Canadians. U of T’s Vice-President and Provost Cheryl Regehr told The Varsity that she was impressed with the representation of U of T community members receiving the Order of Canada — they counted for approximately 26 per cent of the 125 people named to the order. “One thing that is very clear is that we have absolutely astounding faculty, staff and alumni,” wrote Regehr. “This recognition highlights the incredible quality of people here at the University of Toronto, people who are associated with The University of Toronto, and the impact that our staff, fac-
FIONA TUNG/THE VARSITY
ceive shares of the net revenue generated by the work, as well as use, revise, and modify the work for research and teaching purposes within the university. Goel said the university asserts some rights over these works to provide them on a royalty-free basis for educational purposes. If the authors were to do that themselves, it would be easy for a for-profit publisher to take them.
This proposed amendment to the Copyright Policy came about after the university began reviewing its current practices; the revision process to this policy began in 2016. Goel proposed this amendment to Governing Council’s Committee on Academic Policy & Programs. The governance path will take it before the Academic Board, Executive Committee, and finally to Governing Council for approval on February 14.
ulty and graduates have on our community, on Canada and on the world.” There are three levels to the Order of Canada: the lowest level is Member, which recognizes those who have greatly contributed to their local or regional community; the second level is Officer, which recognizes national achievements; and the highest honour is Companion, which recognizes international achievement or national pre-eminence. Professor Molly Shoichet was named as an Officer of the Order of Canada for her contributions to the field of biomedical engineering, as well as her efforts to advocate for more women in science and to promote scientific literacy. Another notable appointee was poet and author Lee Maracle, an instructor at U of T’s Centre for Indigenous Studies and an Elder at First Nations House. She was named an Officer of the Order of Canada “for her influential voice in cultural relations between Indige-
nous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada.” Maracle has written multiple novels and short story collections. “Lee Maracle is a really valued member of our community. She has been engaged for many years here at the University of Toronto and she has a real leadership role with the university in assisting us and adhering that indigenous voices are heard, and helping us make the university a better place for indigenous students, staff and faculty and in linking us with our community,” wrote Regehr. U of T alumnus Bernard Sherman, Chairman and CEO of Apotex Inc., was also named as a member of the Order of Canada for his contributions in the pharmaceutical industry and philanthropy work. Sherman provided support for children’s education and other notable charitable causes. Unfortunately, Sherman passed away on December 15 and was unable to receive this honour himself.
U of T’s five-year strategic research plan expands research themes, goals Revisions based on extensive community feedback Nouran Sakr Varsity Staff
The 2018–2023 Institutional Strategic Research Plan (ISRP), which will define the direction of U of T’s research for the next five years, will include more provisions for intersectional research. External funding agencies, including the Canada Research Chairs program and the Canada Foundation for Innovation, require the university to revisit the plan every five years. Modi-
fications to the ISRP are made to keep up with changes in the diverse fields of research at the university. It was presented to Governing Council’s Planning and Budget Committee for review on January 10. After being reviewed by the committee, Vivek Goel, Vice-President Research and Innovation, will present it to the Academic Board. Its final release will be on January 25, 2018. Goel’s office organized town halls to solicit feedback from the U of T community throughout 2017. In
March and April, Goel held around 30 sessions where faculty, students, and staff across all three campuses provided feedback about research at the university; an online survey was also circulated. Principals, deans, the Council of Aboriginal Initiatives, and the Connaught Committee were among those who responded. Based on the community response, the university released a first draft of the ISRP in the fall of 2017 for a final round of feedback. According to Goel, the plan has two
parts: research themes and strategic objectives. The updated objectives include broader themes to allow for intersectional areas of research that do not fall into typical domains like history, chemistry, and philosophy. Research themes are now more aligned with current and potential future research areas. As per the recommendations from the community feedback, the ISRP has increased its focus on equity and diversity, Indigenous research, knowledge mobiliza-
tion, and the link between research and teaching. Goel added that, as the most research-intensive university in Canada, research is at the core of the admissions process and student life at U of T. “The character of the student experience is really meant to be influenced by the research enterprise.”
Comment
January 15, 2018 var.st/comment comment@thevarsity.ca
If the internet isn't free, neither are we How the FCC's decision to nix net neutrality in the US affects us all — as students and Canadians
2007–2009 AT&T forces Apple to block Skype from iPhone interface in order to avoid competition
2008 Bell sued for intentionally slowing down, or throttling, Internet services
2010 Windstream Communications redirects Google Toolbar search results to its own search engine
2011 MetroPCS allows YouTube to exclusively stream video over its 4G network
2011–2013 AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon block other mobile payment systems in favour of Isis Wallet, in which all three have shares
2012 Verizon blocks mobile users from using tethering applications and dodging $20 fee
2012 AT&T blocks FaceTime from iPhone users without a subscription to pricier text-andvoice plan
2015 Net neutrality laws passed by the United States Federal Communications Commission
2017 Net neutrality laws repealed
ELHAM NUMAN/THE VARSITY
Zeahaa Rahman Varsity Contributor
On December 14, 2017, the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted three against two to repeal net neutrality laws introduced during Barack Obama’s presidency. FCC chief Ajit Pai, one of three Republican members of the five-person panel, had proposed the repeal of net neutrality on November 21, 2017, stating that the current rules were overly restrictive for consumer and service providers and did not allow them to offer different tiers of internet service. Put simply, net neutrality requires internet providers to treat all online data in the same way and not discriminate based on content, source, or platform. As such, it protects internet freedom and preserves user agency. It ensures that profit-driven providers do not block or slow down traffic to certain websites or apps, and that users and developers are not required to pay more to gain access to content posted online. Without net neutrality in place, US telecommunications giants like Comcast, AT&T, and Verizon can effectively become gatekeepers of entertainment and information, gaining the ability to demand more money for faster internet, as long as the companies state that they are doing so beforehand. The repeal of net neutrality might affect Canadian internet users as well. For instance, Canadians might have to pay extra for their favourite US-based streaming services like Spotify and Netflix, as those companies in turn will have to pay more to stay in the US internet providers’ fast lanes. More concerningly, unbeknownst to many Canadians, Bell Canada, one of the country’s leading internet providers, is also pushing to repeal net neutrality. According to CANADALAND, Bell recently submitted a proposal to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). If approved, this proposal would allow Bell to create an organization called the Internet Piracy Review Agency (IPRA), which, in alliance with US movie studios and broadcasters, would blacklist certain websites on the grounds of combating piracy. Bell’s proposal has since been endorsed by Cineplex, and Rogers is also considering granting it support. However, given Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s recent affirmation in favour of net neutrality, it seems unlikely that the CRTC will accept Bell’s proposal. Nonetheless, Pai’s proposal has understandably thrown the internet into an uproar. Users have flooded various social networking sites, urging American internet users to file
complaints with the FCC or to contact their local senators or representatives in Congress. Those who were hesitant to go through those probably long and arduous processes were implored to text a service line and to sign a widely circulated petition to ensure that net neutrality remained in place. Raising various defences to his actions, Pai has stated that repealing net neutrality “is not going to destroy the Internet,” is “not going to end the Internet as we know [it],” is “not going to kill democracy,” and is “not going to stifle free expression online.” These statements ring hollow given that before net neutrality rules were established by the FCC in 2015, telecommunications companies took advantage of the lack of regulation. From 2007–2009, AT&T, which then had the exclusive rights to sell iPhones, forced Apple to block Skype to avoid competition. In 2010, digital subscriber line provider Windstream Communications started redirecting search results made from the Google toolbar to Windstream’s own search engine. In 2011, wireless carrier MetroPCS announced that it would only allow streaming from YouTube over its 4G network. In 2012, Verizon blocked its mobile customers from using mobile hotspot applications, forcing them to pay Verizon’s $20 tethering fee. From 2011 to 2013, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon blocked mobile payment systems — Google Wallet being a notable one — since they competed with Isis Wallet, a mobile payment app backed by the three companies. In 2012, AT&T blocked FaceTime from its iPhones unless customers subscribed to a more expensive text-and-voice plan. All these instances highlight that the repeal of net neutrality will hinder competition rather than promote it. In 2015, the FCC forced telecommunications companies to stop blocking services, and net neutrality rules demanded that they start being transparent and stop paid prioritization and unreasonable interference. Now that the rules are no longer in place, telecommunications companies have free reign to block websites and apps that offer services in direct competition with their own, be they search engines, mobile wallets, voice and video calling apps, or music and video streaming services. It should also be noted that Pai formerly held the position of Associate General Counsel at Verizon, one of the giants that stands to benefit from the repeal of net neutrality laws. Given this, one might wonder whether Pai is really acting in consumers’ best interests or whether he has ulterior motives. We are living in a time when internet communication and open access to information is necessary to fact-check
every statement made by the President of the United States, to mobilize movements and protests, and to decry and spread awareness of injustice in public forums. Accordingly, the loss of net neutrality is potentially devastating given the possibility that telecommunications companies will deliberately withhold information from users in order to turn a profit. Despite Trudeau’s support of net neutrality, it is worth noting that Canada could hypothetically meet the same fate as the US on the matter. Bell has violated rules of net neutrality in the past: it was forced to amend the pricing model for its mobile TV app after the CRTC found that Bell allowed consumers to use its mobile TV app for longer durations than other mobile streaming services without incurring extra charges. Bell was also sued for throttling internet speeds in 2008. It would be dangerous for the CRTC to approve Bell’s proposal to create an organization able to block websites on grounds of piracy — the websites that the proposal would apply to could very well be those websites in direct competition with Bell’s services. This concern arises whether or not the claims of piracy are justified. It should be noted that when Verizon blocked Google Wallet from its smartphones, it tried to use “security concerns” as a guise for preventing other wallets from competing with AT&T, T-Mobile, and the Verizon-backed Isis Wallet. In today’s political landscape, and given that students rely so heavily on the internet to stay informed, it is nettling to find it held captive by corporations — especially given that much content on the internet is created and distributed through US-based channels. One source of potential relief, however, is that US internet providers will probably not block numerous websites or slow down surfing speeds at once — it is more likely that customers will be eased into a system of multi-tier service, meaning American internet users will likely not see a drastic change in the quality of their internet coverage anytime soon. Given that the FCC is being sued by multiple US state attorneys, the hope is that net neutrality will be reinstated before that time comes. Zeahaa Rehman is a third-year student at UTM studying Linguistics and Professional Writing.
8 • THE VARSITY • COMMENT
comment@thevarsity.ca
Excessive board absences undermine the UTSU’s commitment to accountability The UTSU needs to hold directors responsible for their lack of commitment to the board
Angela Feng Campus Politics Columnist
Attendance has long been an issue for the University of Toronto Students' Union (UTSU). The Annual General Meetings typically attract only a small fraction of the student body, and a recent analysis in a Varsity news story revealed that this issue is prevalent among Board of Directors members as well. Based on the UTSU Bylaw X.2 on “Abandonment of Office,” 29 per cent of this year’s board can be assumed to have resigned from their positions for excessive absences. This bylaw excludes members of the Executive Committee, General Equity Directors, and University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union directors. The attendance of directors is crucial to fair representation. While the members of the student body may not have the time or means to attend meetings, the directors who are elected to represent them should be committed to the responsibilities of their roles. UTSU executives are held accountable by a board of directors whose members are either elected or appointed to their positions. These directors are expected to influence UTSU decision-making according to the varying needs of their constituents. In the case of the seven General Equity Directors, they are specifically responsible for advocating for marginalized groups within the student body. Consequently, attendance is necessary to ensure that constituents are being fairly represented at these meetings and that they are informed of the board’s decisions. It is important for directors to be present and to make informed decisions with their constituents in mind. This is not to mention that each director has a perspective and mandate that is unique to their position — meaning that directors are absolutely critical to maintaining checks on the actions of the executive committee. Holding executives accountable is an important aspect of the director role, as they are required to stay mindful of executives’ conduct as well as the content of their decision-making. In 2015, the UTSU board impeached a director for excessive absences that resulted from a “lack of involvement and representation” on the part of that member of the board. Former UTSU President Ben Coleman justified what had happened by saying, “The UTSU board has often been criticized in the past for not taking absences seriously, and this strikes a different tone where the expectation for representatives are much higher.” In contrast, on the recent absences, current UTSU President Mathias Memmel said, “The role of the board is to hold the executives accountable, so it would be inappropriate for us to start disciplining directors or trying to
remove them from the board.” Memmel’s approach suggests that the board holds substantial power over the executives. This ignores the representational duties that absentee directors are neglecting, as well as the reciprocal nature of accountability between executives and board members that underlaid Coleman’s previous leadership. Admittedly, it can be difficult for all members of the board to get highly involved with UTSU affairs. As Vice-President Internal Daman Singh wrote, “There is a small group of very involved directors but a larger group of directors who are less involved… it’s difficult for individual Directors to feel meaningfully engaged in the work of the organization.” Although the sheer size of meetings can indeed be daunting and might explain why some directors are less present than others, it does not provide an excuse for absence. In choosing to hold office, directors have a responsibility to engage in these meetings for their constituents. This does not require every director to be vocal during debates, but they should at least be physically present and actively listening to the discussions. The accountability role of directors on the board arguably plays a more important role than ever today, as the UTSU Executive Committee has filled two vacant seats with appointed representatives following multiple resignations. Carina Zhang, one of two elected executives who were not part of the Demand Better slate during the 2017 UTSU elections, resigned in September. She was replaced by Adrian Huntelar, a former General Equity Director. Similarly, former Vice-President Campus Life Stuart Norton, who resigned late last year, was replaced by Ammara Wasim. The UTSU now faces accountability concerns in two respects: poor attendance on the part of elected directors, and two of its current executive members not having been democratically elected at all. Without a strong board whose members are both engaged in its politics and present for its meetings in the first place, the UTSU may be left vulnerable to issues of accountability and abuses of power. Likewise, directors must be held accountable for their actions by the other members of the board. If the UTSU does not comply with its own policies by removing absentee directors, then it brings the legitimacy of all of its actions into question. Repercussions for absences and tighter regulations on director attendance at meetings will reinforce the UTSU’s commitment to maintaining accountability and equitable decision-making. Angela Feng is a second-year student at St. Michael’s College studying History and Cinema Studies. She is The Varsity’s Campus Politics Columnist.
TESS KING/THE VARSITY
OPIRG-Toronto: Opt-Out Notice University of Toronto full-time and part-time undergraduate students who have paid the OPIRG fees and who wish to opt-out of the Ontario Public Interest Research Group-Toronto are able to claim a fees refund with proof of enrollment for the Winter 2018 academic term. Refunds during this period will be available only to students who have become full-time students or part-time students by reason of transferring status in the preceding Fall term. Please contact the OPIRG-Toronto office at opirg.toronto@utoronto.ca for further information. If you are eligible to opt-out during the Winter 2018 term, the opt-out schedule is below: Monday, January 15 to Monday January 22 Location: 563 Spadina Crescent, Room 101 Time: Monday to Thursday, 11AM to 7PM. (Note: The OPIRG office is closed Friday).
Editorial
January 15, 2018 var.st/comment editorial@thevarsity.ca
Playing favourites with finances apparently not a concern at the TCM Voting down a motion to preserve impartiality in clubs funding was a disappointing move The Varsity Editorial Board
The prospect of favouritism in clubs funding has become a topic of particular interest at Trinity College. At the year-end Trinity College Meeting (TCM) on December 4, an amendment to the constitution of Trinity’s student government was brought forward seeking to remedy the disproportionate allocation of funding by the Finance Committee (FC) to clubs whose past or current executives are sitting members of the FC. The underlying principle of the motion appeared quite reasonable. It was a preventative measure, intended to preserve impartiality for those handling finances. Should it have passed, FC members would no longer have been allowed to vote on matters pertaining to the budgets of levied or non-levied clubs of which they are current or previous executive members or signing officers. “Furthermore,” it read, “no member of the FC shall be present during any in camera discussion of the budgets of levied or non-levied clubs of which they are current or previous executive members or signing officers.” Yet, counterintuitively, the motion failed. There were a number of reasons cited by Jessica Rapson, who brought forward the motion, for the failure from the TCM: voter turnout was low, the reliability of the data that led to the suspicions of favouritism was questioned, and much of the debate was preoccupied by seemingly minute details. The TCM also requires two consecutive two-thirds majority votes in order
to pass an amendment, significantly raising the bar for motions such as Rapson’s. The decision of the TCM is both disappointing and perplexing. It seems only obvious that measures should be put in place to avoid favouritism in the allocation of student funds. Such an act of favouritism contradicts the democratic ideals of impartial representation of constituents, and it is, by its very definition, a conflict of interest. When it comes to student government, money matters. The sums allocated to student groups for funding are not solicited by free donation but by student levy — a process in which students consent to be taxed with the expectation that their money will be returned to them in the form of events or services. It is expected that the allocation of this money will be determined fairly, without bias, and with the primary interests of the society’s constituents in mind. The consequences of ignoring such a mandate are no clearer than at the St. Michael’s College Student Union (SMCSU), which, less than a year to the current date, was discovered to have spent sizeable quantities of its collected levy on activities that can only be described as frivolous. The example is different, of course, but no more concerning. The notion that money students willingly give to their unions may be spent in ways that serve to unduly benefit those who administer it is, quite frankly, unsettling. Our befuddlement toward this decision is further stoked by the nature in which those involved in this decision avoided explanation. TCM Chair Leila Martin, FC Chair Amanda
An attempt to remedy biased funding recently failed at Trinity College. SHANNA HIUNTER/THE VARSITY
Cutinha, Co-Head of College Bardia Monavari, and Co-Head of Arts Lukas Weese all declined to speak to The Varsity on the motion and its outcome. Co-Head of Arts Julianne de Gara, CoHead of Non-Resident Affairs Katrina Li, and Co-Head of College Victoria Lin did not respond to The Varsity’s requests for comment either. Transparency from student representatives is most necessary in instances like this. A simple acknowledgment of their commitment to accountability or a comment on the findings and potential for conflict of interest would have at least served to meet the bare minimum of a response to students. It’s disappointing and notably suspect, then, that so many student representatives refused to com-
ment on the outcome. More than anything else, incidents like these, and like those at SMCSU, bring to mind the necessity of proper accountability mechanisms, issued specifically by those whose money is collected by these institutions. The motion presented at the TCM, were it ratified, would have served as a safety mechanism to ensure the prevention of improper action — something that student governance and its members should collectively and agreeably work to avoid. 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.
Public Editor
Mistakes matter in journalism But everyone makes them — including me Sophie Borwein
Newspapers take mistakes very seriously, for good reason. A mistake printed and circulated in an issue of a newspaper cannot be erased. With most newspapers having now migrated online, it is much easier to correct mistakes or remove content completely. Despite this, most newspapers follow the practice of not ‘unpublishing’ online content. The belief is that a story or column, once published, belongs to the public record. To change a story is to change history. Still, mistakes inevitably get made, and newspapers usually have fairly clear guidelines for dealing with them. The Varsity outlines its policies for corrections in the “Recourse and Remedies” section of its Code of Journalistic Ethics. If the mistake is only a typo or grammatical error, an editor will simply update the online story, and the error will be left to stand in the print edition. Anything more substantive is dealt with through an “Editor’s Note,” “Correction,” or “Clarification.” These notes appear at the bottom of a story when online content has been altered to fix an error. They outline both what was removed and what was added to a story in the process of correcting it.
I wanted to see how often The Varsity has issued notes so far this year, so I counted them. From September 1, 2017 to January 8, 2017, I found 18 instances where the newspaper issued an “Editor’s Note” and two instances where it issued a “Correction.” How serious were these mistakes? At least a few were quite minor. Take, for example, the note that appeared at the bottom of a story published on October 2, covering Toronto band Birds of Bellwoods’ debut album, Victoria. The Editor’s Note that later ran informed readers that “an earlier version of this piece did not make mention of Victoria’s release date.” The story was updated accordingly. Another minor correction was the Editor’s Note issued on an October 2 story on U of T’s Human-Powered Vehicle Design Team’s participation at the annual World Human Powered Speed Challenge. The note clarified that “a previous version of this article incorrectly stated that the team placed third in the competition,” and the story was amended. I worry more about mistakes that might negatively impact the reputation of a person or organization. I was particularly concerned about two of The Varsity’s Editor’s Notes for this reason. The first, for an October 1 comment piece on the controversy at St. Michael’s College (SMC), was needed to clarify that two
facts in the original story — that SMC’s Director of Student Life planned orientation and that he supervised the lip-syncing contest to ensure songs were appropriate — did not in fact occur. The second corrected a mistake made in a story about an alleged assault by a former researcher with U of T’s Citizen Lab. The original story stated that the alleged assault occurred at a Citizen Lab event. In fact, it only coincided with the event. The Editor’s Note that worried me most is the one issued on a November 19 op-ed on the referendum to defund the controversial Ontario Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG). In a rare move, The Varsity pulled the published column from its website completely, explaining that “it was discovered that substantial changes — including a factual inaccuracy — were included in this oped during a stage in the editing process.” The column was replaced with a different version. As the Editor’s Note mentions, the story was pulled for two reasons. The first was because, in editing the story, one of The Varsity’s editors made more significant changes than should have been the case, in particular, by rearranging several paragraphs. Opinion pieces reflect the voice of the person who writes them, and they should not be changed in this way.
The second was because a fact-checker accidentally put in the column that undergraduate students contribute $138,000 to OPIRG. The accurate figure is $38,000. Which brings me back to the topic of mistakes, because I’d like to point out one of my own. I should have communicated the OPIRG column corrections to readers when they were made. At the time, I discussed the Editor’s Note with The Varsity’s Editor-in-Chief, Jacob Lorinc, and thought it was sufficient. The reorganization of the paragraphs had not substantially changed the author’s argument, I told myself, and the misreported figure of $138,000 had not affected the referendum outcome — it failed to achieve quorum. I made a mistake. It is for good reason that newspapers so rarely remove content once it has been published. When they do, it is a serious matter, and it deserves more attention than an Editor’s Note at the bottom of a page. Readers should have heard more from me on this mistake, given its gravity. A final note about the corrections The Varsity has so far issued. Half of these notes were issued in the first month, which I take as evidence that the newspaper’s journalists are learning from mistakes they made early on, or admitting less of them, though I hope not. I’d like to see this trend continue.
The Adderall age A student with ADHD explores the science behind ‘study drugs’ By Nouran Sakr
Photos by Min Ho Lee Illustrations by Elham Numan
I have ADHD. After receiving my diagnosis a year ago, the first person I told was my mother, who happens to be a physician. She wasn’t nearly as surprised as I was, mainly because my excessive distractibility, impulsiveness, and restlessness could hardly go unnoticed. The need for a diagnosis, however, was masked by my high marks in school, which hit rock bottom when I started at U of T. When I informed my mum, the first thing she told me was not to take the medications my doctor suggested. “You know [ADHD medications] are highly addictive and classified as a Schedule III drug, right?” she told me. “It’s basically a descent into drug addiction.” While she strongly advised me to avoid these meds due to their highly addictive nature, the psychiatrist who diagnosed me — and whose opinion I highly valued — was quick to suggest I start taking the medication. He told me that if I followed my prescription exactly, I would be
unlikely to form a dependency on it. Unsure of what to do, I decided to research. After rummaging the internet for hours, I discovered that ADHD medications were commonly abused by students and employees when working under pressure. Curious, I decided to learn what prompted those who don’t have ADHD to take these highly addictive pills.
‘SPEED’ IN SCHOOL The main type of ADHD medication is stimulants of the central nervous system (CNS), which are also used to treat narcolepsy. Stimulants fall into two main categories: amphetamines and methylphenidates. Amphetamine brands include Adderall, Dexedrine, Vyvanse, and others, while Ritalin and Concerta are common methylphenidate brands. Since U of T is a competitive and highly stressful environment, I looked to find people who had tried these drugs among my peers. Finding students who had taken
‘speed’ pills at least once was easy, but not many were willing to have their stories published. All the students I talked to had used Adderall, Vyvanse, or both. Sara*, a fourth-year student, experimented with Adderall twice. The first time, she obtained the pill from her friend’s boyfriend. After keeping it in her wallet for a while, she decided to use it one night when she had to write an essay on deadline. She found she was able to focus on her readings more than usual. “It was a class I really hated,” she said. It was only the next day that she decided to research the chemical she had ingested the night before. Unlike Sara, Nate*, also a fourthyear student, did not have a very productive experience with Vyvanse. He tried it in his third year, after his friend suggested it. He decided to test the drug in hopes of finishing his 2,000-word essay the night before it was due. But it was a counterproductive experience. “I was scrolling
through Twitter,” he said, “I’d suddenly look up and three hours have passed.” “I was really zoned out; it was an out of body experience. I was almost too focused. It was too much.”
contest this belief. “Although some people have the ability to stay on task [and are] not distracted for long periods of time, others may be less so, but still within normal limits.” The diagnosis of ADHD requires
The body is tricked into thinking that it needs to respond to a lifethreatening situation — blood vessels tighten, heart rate increases, and blood flows to the limbs. DIAGNOSING ADHD In my pursuit of students who had used these pills, it seemed common for people to justify their actions by thinking, ‘Everyone has a little bit of ADHD anyway, so why not just take these meds?’ Dr. Paul Sandor, a psychiatrist at Toronto Western Hospital and a professor in the Department of Psychiatry at U of T, was quick to
Photocap. PHOTOCRED/THE VARSITY
that symptoms impair normal activity and have been present for a long time in more than one setting. A student who recently started to notice an inability to focus in a classroom does not necessarily have ADHD. Dr. Michelle Arnot, an associate professor who teaches a course about drug misuse in society and the Undergraduate Coordinator at U of T’s Department of Pharma-
— is a factor that affects the potential of addiction. The faster this euphoria is achieved, the more addictive the drug will be. For example, injected heroin has a faster onset and offset than methadone taken orally because it goes straight into the bloodstream rather than the digestive system. Thus, due to its very slow onset and offset, methadone has a lower abuse liability. Vyvanse has a duration of 10–12 hours. It has an onset of two hours, meaning that its speed is slower than Adderall, which has a duration of only four to five hours and an onset of 30 minutes to an hour. When injected, methamphetamine — or meth — has an onset of a few seconds to a minute and is the most addictive of its drug family. Although Vyvanse and Adderall XR — a version of Adderall that lasts approximately 12 hours — have slow onset and offset speeds, they are still controlled substances and have adverse effects at high doses. They may cause psychotic episodes, insomnia, and cardiovascular complications. Since they may be fatal for people with cardiovascular diseases and other medical conditions, a physician should know a patient’s medical and family history, especially pertaining to strokes, hypertension, hyperthyroidism, heart and blood circulation diseases, seizures, sub-
of sleep. REM is crucial for forming and consolidating memory. Due to its sleep-altering ability, this agent is used to help students stay up at night to cram for a test or finish an essay. “It doesn’t suppress the need [for sleep], it artificially stimulates the release of neurotransmitters which overrides those driving forces of sleep,” emphasized Arnot. As a result, the misuse of amphetamines is counterproductive and worsens memory.
UNDERSTUDIED AND OVERRATED I was surprised to learn that the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Canada’s largest mental health and addiction teaching hospital and one of the world’s leading research centres in its field, had not conducted any research specifically relating to the impacts of ADHD medications as cognitive enhancers among students. I contacted them to ask for any Canadian studies on this topic, but there weren’t any. “That would be part of the problem,” said Sean O’Malley, Senior Media Relations Specialist for CAMH. “I think it’s just an understudied issue.” The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction also had no experts to speak about stimulant misuse among university students.
“I was really zoned out; it was an out of body experience. I was almost too focused. It was too much.”
cology and Toxicology, agrees. She said that a little inattention is normal, adding that our bodies are not designed to “sit in front of a screen for five hours.” However, she mentioned that people with ADHD have trouble controlling their attention or behaviour even when they want to. Arnot believes that drug therapy is only acceptable if there is a significant impairment or an inability to control behaviour and pay attention, and a formal diagnosis has been received.
YOUR BODY ON ADHD DRUGS In your brain, neurons communicate with one another by releasing chemicals called neurotransmitters. Dopamine and norepinephrine are two neurotransmitters whose release is affected by ADHD medications. Amphetamines inhibit and sometimes reverse the reuptake of dopamine and norepinephrine; as a result, communication between these cells is prolonged. Feeling anxious on amphetamines is not uncommon, and most of the students I talked
to also reported a loss of appetite, sleeplessness, and an increased heart rate. In addition to the CNS, amphetamines also stimulate the sympathetic division of the peripheral nervous system, which is responsible for the fight-or-flight response. As a result, the body is tricked into thinking that it needs to respond to a life-threatening situation — blood vessels tighten, heart rate increases, and blood flows to the limbs. The digestive and urinary systems are also suppressed. Once the drug is out of their system, a person starts to experience withdrawal effects, which are the opposite feelings they had on the drug. For amphetamines, sleepiness and agitation are common. Kalai*, who took 10-milligram pills of Adderall throughout his first year as a Life Science student, said that the day after he took Adderall, he felt anxious, sluggish, and unmotivated. His withdrawal symptoms would disappear around two days after taking the pill.
A DANGEROUS DEPENDENCE With time, a person on amphetamines may become desensitized to the dose they’re used to taking and need to increase it to achieve the same effects. This tolerance is one of the three aspects of drug dependence. The other two are the ‘reward pathway’ and the speed of the drug’s onset and offset. The reward pathway is a dopamine pathway that involves the mesolimbic system of the brain — an area that reinforces learning and behaviour. Food and sex are both activators of the mesolimbic system. “It is important because it provides a sense of euphoria,” said Arnot. “It makes us want to do something again.” “I don’t like to use this term but drugs ‘hijack’ that pathway,” she explained. The artificial increase of dopamine in the space between neurons caused by amphetamines and other stimulants results in an aboveaverage euphoria, which the brain associates with this drug. As a result, the person may seek this ‘high’ again by taking more of the drug. Additionally, the speed at which the drug reaches and affects the brain — called the onset of the drug
stance use disorders, and mood or mental disorders. Medical tests must also be conducted before prescribing these drugs. Without the consent of a physician, taking Vyvanse or Adderall can be extremely dangerous for someone whose family has a history of medical conditions. “There’s a lot of energy spent right now looking for that magic nootropic, cognitive enhancer, whatever you want to call it,” said Arnot. Amphetamines are studied because of their ability to increase dopamine and norepinephrine between neurons in the areas of the brain responsible for controlling attention, memory, and learning. Research suggests that amphetamines have no significant effect on the performance of people without ADHD. Although they slightly increase alertness and focus, they have mild to moderate impacts on memory. Arnot said that the results may also have been linked to a placebo effect. “If you took [the drug] and thought you were going to do well because of taking it, you did better than if you think you were getting the null drug.” Amphetamines also shorten the rapid eye movement (REM) stage
Besides the obvious health disadvantages associated with taking Adderall, Vyvanse, or other stimulants to advance studies, consuming these substances without a medical reason is not as effective or appealing as it might seem. Methylphenidates are classified as Schedule III drugs in Canada. They have a high potential for abuse and may lead to severe psychological and physical dependence. According to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, and depending on the specific drug, possession of amphetamines or methylphenidates without a prescription or license is an indictable crime and may result in up to seven years in jail, while offenders found trafficking, importing, exporting, or producing these drugs could receive life imprisonment. While the urge to cram in some extra study time may be strong, science is saying that these drugs don’t improve performance for non-ADHD brains, are dangerous for your health, and are illegal — the cons far outweigh the pros. * Names have been changed at individuals’ request
Arts&Culture
January 15, 2018 var.st/arts arts@thevarsity.ca
Dorval takes home the gold at Winterfest's Battle of the Bands The band competed Wednesday night against Newcomer, Rocket Bomb, and Basset Rachel Chen Managing Editor
Once again, Battle of the Bands was a Winterfest highlight, with four bands competing to take home $500 and a gig at University College’s Fireball dance. Act I: Newcomer The night opened with Newcomer filling out the Lee’s Palace stage, and an early crowd reluctant to move too close. After the first song, lead singer Matias Gutierrez invited the crowd to “dance or bounce around,” and bassist Joshua Sofian did his best to fuel the hype by jumping up and down himself. They played a few new songs, including a particularly catchy number called “Rushed.” Marty Camara stood out on drums, especially during lead single “Zeitgeist.” Gutierrez also caught the crowd’s attention when he threw in a 'ting goes skraah, pap, pap, ka-ka-ka' from Big Shaq’s “Man’s Not Hot.” Despite the band's best attempts to pump up the room, however, only a few brave souls danced beyond the invisible barrier. Act II: Rocket Bomb It wasn't until Rocket Bomb came on and lead singer Jagger Cleeves called out people for “still sitting” that the audience began piling to the front of the stage. Playing popular covers of songs like Bruno Mars’ “Locked out of Heaven" really got the crowd dancing. Drummer Daniel Kiss kept up audience interaction by asking everyone to turn on their phones' flashlights for a slower, original song, in which Cleeves sang poetically, “This is my uncomfortable place.” Act III: Dorval As the ‘redemption’ band competing a second time, Dorval was definitely the most prepared for Lee’s Palace. Their use of stage lighting drew attention to different band members, topping last year's performance. Dorval’s
Rocket bomb performs at Lee’s Palace. WENDY WEI/THE VARSITY
stage presence had also matured even more — perhaps it was the added presence of bassist James Yoannou, perhaps simply another year of experience. Daniel Lewycky’s vocals were on fire, bringing to mind blues-rock artist Barns Courtney. Midway, Yoannou announced that it was Lewycky’s birthday, and the audience sang "Happy Birthday" to him. Dorval’s energy was unstoppable for the whole set, with drummer Adam Moffatt actually standing up to play. Act IV: Basset Basset rounded out the night with a softer indie folk set. Yasmine Shelton immediately captivated the audience with her powerful voice in a rendition of “Feeling Good.” The rest of the set alternated between original songs and unexpected rearrangements of classics like Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This).”
Daniel Lewycky of Dorval performs at Lee’s Palace. WENDY WEI/THE VARSITY
Watching ensembles perform is quite different from watching rockers. Basset was not rocking out per se, but their shared smiles let the audience know they were enjoying their performance, making them a delight to watch. Musician Sam Clark was proof of their versatility, slinging his mandolin over his back in order to pick up his violin during seamless transitions from one instrument to another. Notably, Shelton was the only woman to perform at the event, and the first woman to be part of a competing band since 2015’s Battle of the Bands. Even the emcee, Kaitlyn Ferreira, noted that there were “a lot of men performing” at the event. Last year, The Accolades had a female guest singer join them, but for the most part, male artists have dominated the event. Shelton said that at U of T at least, she rarely sees women in bands, though she is not sure why this is the case. She encouraged women
and non-binary people to join ensembles, saying that she does think “there are people who are open to having them there.” “Maybe it’s just not their first instinct to reach out, but I think having the courage to go out there and find people, maybe that’s what’s lacking,” said Shelton. “But I think it’s worth it.” “I would say if you are going to join a band with men, make sure they’re great people because the music industry isn’t necessarily known for being particularly great for women,” she added. “The further you go, in a weird way, the fewer options you have in terms of picking your people based on character as opposed to skill level.” At least on Wednesday night, everyone on and off the stage appeared to be having a good time. The night ended with the judges announcing Dorval as the winners, to the sound of cheers from the audience.
Overlooked: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Despite its Golden Globes success, the show remains under the radar of most audiences Avneet Sharma Varsity Contributor
Overlooked is a new feature in the Arts section where a contributor makes the case for a piece of pop culture they feel doesn’t get the acknowledgement it deserves. It can be anything — an album, a book, a film. Have something in mind? Email arts@thevarsity.ca to argue for your pick. For a show that has received widespread critical acclaim and numerous accolades, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is still something of a tough sell. Sure, ‘It’s a show about a Jewish Upper West Side housewife in the 1950s whose husband leaves her, so she pursues a career in stand-up comedy’ doesn’t exactly sound like prestige television, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth watching. Despite winning the Golden Globe
Award for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy, and lead actress Rachel Brosnahan snagging the award for Best Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy, it seems like the show has remained under the radar in terms of popular success. On one hand, this is unsurprising, as it mirrors the mediocre popularity level of Mozart in the Jungle, another Amazon Video series that received the same number of Golden Globes two years prior yet has not found a wider audience. On the other hand, it’s disappointing since, to be frank, Maisel is absolutely astonishing. It’s thoughtful and inspiring, showcasing a significant aspect of Manhattan culture that is often unexplored in media. The show is actually a period drama that places an emphasis on creativity, activism, and creating a dynamic cast of characters. Brosnahan
as Midge, Marin Hinkle as her mother, and Tony Shalhoub as her father do a wonderful job playing off each other, creating a vivid family dynamic that hasn’t been seen since creator Amy Sherman-Palladino’s Gilmore Girls. Maybe Maisel is such a hard sell because it’s relatively niche. The show adopts a brand of understated feminism that works well in its 1958 setting but that wouldn’t be as resonant today. Its premise isn’t necessarily exciting or riveting, though the show itself is. Its humour is of that distinct Sherman-Palladino style of fast-talking, pop culture references, and peculiar characters — the traits responsible for both Gilmore Girls’ cult following and the disdain and mockery it received from some viewers. If you were to ask me whether or not I would recommend The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel to everyone I know, the answer would be no. It’s not for everyone, and I
would definitely understand if someone disliked it. However, for those who would love the type of female-driven quirky comedy that it provides, the show is magical. You can decide for yourself, as the first e p i s o d e is free to watch on YouTube. Hopefully, you’ll fall in love with this show as deeply as I did.
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var.st/arts
Exploring the potential of superhero comic books to shape our morality Whether as propaganda or ethics lessons, the impact of the medium is worth thinking about Sonali Gill Varsity Staff
As children, we tend to absorb the things we hear and see around us. Now, in a culture of constant consumption, today’s children are hooked on some form of media from an early age. The stories depicted in superhero comic books are a perfect example — having been transposed onto the big screen and brought to large audiences, they can be powerful messaging tools. Though children may be more susceptible to the influence of media messaging because they are impressionable and trusting, comic book culture can subtly influence individual and collective opinions on right and wrong among adults and children alike. It is no secret that comic book characters were used as instruments of state propaganda during the Cold War. The evils that these fictional crusaders took down were derived from the real world. Captain America encouraged patriotism among young Americans by taking on Hitler. Similarly, Superman was once depicted as flying Hitler and Stalin to the League of Nations to be tried for their crimes — this was published even though Stalin’s Soviet Union was an ally of the United States during World War II. It is not difficult to determine good and bad in a comic book, but that black-andwhite determination does not often transfer well to real events. A consumer of comic lore might easily identify the Nazis or the Japanese as the ‘bad guys’ and the Americans as the ‘good’ ones, glossing over the many
shades of grey that constituted the historic conflict. This further underlines the power of these depictions, as unwitting consumers might begin to view history in binaries and fail to think critically about damaging Allied actions such as the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. Another aspect to consider is the stereotyping of certain groups within comics, which has the potential to influence popular opinion. The medium has historically included discriminatory portrayals of ethnic minorities, including caricaturing their appearances, depicting Black characters as uncivilized, or Asian ones as shifty and calculating. These stereotypes are not limited to comic books. In the post 9/11 era, many western movies, such as the popular Clint Eastwood film American Sniper, showed their heroes taking on terrorists from the Middle East, contributing to the idea that all terrorism stems from the region. Regrettably, such portrayals connect a phenomenon that can occur in any part of the world — war, destruction, and the loss of innocent lives — solely with Islam, making it seem as though Muslims and Arabs are the single largest threat to humanity. The emotions and conflicts conveyed in comic books are another reason we should study their impact closely, through their depiction of how certain choices impact their characters. The famous line uttered by Peter Parker’s Uncle Ben, “With great power comes great responsibility,” is something most people are introduced to early. The fact that Peter loses his beloved uncle, prompting him to don his crime-fighting costume,
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draws attention to the price of ignoring this advice. Bruce Wayne’s alter ego, Batman, is another example of a traumatized hero who is unable to let go of his past, using it to fuel his current fight for justice. Even the villains in these renditions are as interesting and recognizable as the heroes; for instance, Batman rogue Two-Face displays a dual personality
and an obsession with duality. These conflicts represent the intricacies and frailties of human interaction, making superhero comics compelling forms of media. Comic books have the ability to teach morals — this teaching may be intentional or unintentional, and the morals may be commendable or less so. It would be unwise to ignore their impact in either case.
Why nice guys finish last on television Cynical characters hate everything, but we can't help loving them Kevin Yin Varsity Columnist
An increasingly popular American television trope is the archetype of the lovable cynic. These are your Bojack Horsemans, your Harvey Specters, your Tyrion Lannisters and Bronns of Blackwater, and your Ricks of C-137. They hate the world, yet the world adores them for it. It’s counterintuitive that such unlovable men are such lovable characters — so why can’t we stop watching them? Take Bojack Horseman, with its titular character playing the quintessential Hollywood cynic. Writer Raphael Bob-Waksberg imbues Bojack with all of his own political mistrust and existential angst, making Bojack a successfully angry voice of reason. Despite all his personal issues and career failings, he is generally one of few characters within the show who can aptly critique life, Hollywood’s failings, and Todd Chavez’s ridiculous business plans. When Bojack compares people to marbles “bouncing around... in the game of Hungry Hungry Hippos that is our cruel and random universe” and notes that “life is just a series of closing doors,” the audience is left with a question: is the world worth braving at all? We celebrate Bojack and his contemporaries because he’s a mouthpiece to express what we are often too afraid to express ourselves. The lovable cynic is symbolic of our own nihilism, our own anger, but also our own latent badassery. His flaws, in particular
fury and hatred, are compelling because they are relatable. The cynic shines not because he is good but because he is rarely good. We view this light-through-the-crack goodness in relation to all his other actions. Once you’ve established that a character does not care about others or what they think, softening those traits throughout the series becomes an easy way to draw a compelling character arc. And yes, the lovable cynic is nearly always a guy, because the notions of masculinity and its subversions are closely intertwined with his character. Californication solidified the trend 10 years ago with David Duchovny’s portrayal of Hank Moody, the alcoholic, sharp-tongued, and aloof author of God Hates Us All. Moody is a serial womanizer, adulterer, and statutory rapist, sleeping with a girl he later discovers is 16. Among his best known quotes is, “I probably won’t go down in history, but I will go down on your sister.” Yet for all of the accusations of misogyny leveled against Moody by fictional and reallife activists alike, what draws people to his character are the moments in which he displays genuine care for women. It may be his loathing of self and all else that make him interesting, but it’s his love for his daughter, Becca, and ex-wife, Karen, that redeem him. Rick of the animated series Rick and Morty also embodies the concept of growing out of one’s cynicism. The show varies between portraying Rick’s love for Morty
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and complete disinterest. Another alcoholic egotist, Rick is careful never to show much positivity or emotion, even for what may be the only thing he actually cares about: his stuttering grandson. The best evidence we have that Rick feels anything for Morty is in the episode “Close Encounters of the Rick Kind,” in which Rick is about to die and cries watching videos of himself and Morty. But scenes like this are often counterbalanced with claims that his true motivation throughout the series is his quest for Szechuan sauce, or his drunk confession that a minor character named Noob Noob is the only one person he truly values. Discerning which is the true Rick is part of the fun. We love Rick’s cynicism and existentialist attitude, but we also love not knowing if that’s really who he is. The arc of Community’s Jeff Winger, another Dan Harmon creation along with Rick and Morty, follows this format too. A disbarred lawyer, Jeff enrolls at Greendale Community College so that he can graduate quickly and return to the legal profession — I’m not certain that Harmon understands
how the bar works. Jeff begins the series as a manipulative, selfish narcissist, creating a fake study group in an attempt to sleep with a girl. He proclaims in the pilot, “If I talk long enough, I can make anything wrong or right. So either I’m God or truth is relative.” But for a god, Jeff becomes incredibly benevolent as the series progresses. He befriends the study group, saving them many times over from rivals and from one another. The tension of Jeff’s character development hinges on straddling the line between benign leader and selfish asshole. The less savoury aspects of his character keep us on our toes, making his moments of kindness seem all the more special. So yes, nice guys finish last in television, and yes, we are guilty of falling in love with characters that hate the world around them. But it’s not a coincidence that bad people make great characters. What these shows have in common is their anger, but also their message of underlying humanity. Though the anger scratches an itch, the humanity makes everything a little more bearable.
14 • THE VARSITY • ARTS & CULTURE
arts@thevarsity.ca their hearts on finding the cure to a rare disease. Since there are still at least two more months left until cuffing season is over, here is a guide to surviving cuffing season at U of T.
How to survive cuffing season at U of T Could we possibly have been cuffed all along?
Go on ACORN and look at your GPA U of T is a prestigious school, and only the smartest, brightest high school students are admitted each year. Despite being the most intelligent group of individuals in the country, U of T students are not immune to the feeling of loneliness and the overwhelming weight of singledom. When feeling sorry for yourself due to your lack of a significant other, log onto ACORN and admire your 4.0. Non-U of T students find us intimidating because of our genius minds — it’s not our fault people can’t handle our brains. A 4.0 will always be sexier than being cuffed.
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Carol Eugene Park Varsity Staff
Cuffing season is upon us, which means millennials are sliding into DMs at 2:00 am on a Wednesday night, trying to convince themselves that being ‘cuffed’ isn’t as bad as they initially thought. Or they’re tweeting Tumblr quotes and reposting Insta-poetry to combat the emptiness of being incredibly single. Cuffing season refers to the period of fall
and winter during which singles will attempt to find a relationship in an attempt to be cuffed during the colder seasons. In the past, non-University of Toronto students have told me that the best way to survive cuffing season is to party all day, every day. The internet’s suggestions include buying body pillows, binge drinking, and going for brunch. But none of these tips are suitable for the average U of T student taking a full course load, overworking themselves with endless extracurricular involvement, and setting
Find love with Northrop Frye The saying goes, “Men always cheat and, eventually, leave,” or so I’ve been told by the Polish ladies at my job. But living at Victoria College has assured me that this sexist statement is inaccurate. Since my first year at U of T, a lot of men have disappointed me, and many did abandon me. But Northrop Frye has always been my constant. He’s always been there for me. When I fail to make time for him, he doesn’t take my absence personally. He has definitely cheated on me, but cuffing season only mandates a relationship — not a serious, monogamous one. More importantly, he’s a great listener.
GPAs and keep making ignorant and hurtful memes based on our mantra of being the number one school in the country. When you start to feel an inkling of loneliness, remind yourself how romance has historically ended at U of T — like Reznikoff, for example. If he and another man hadn’t fallen in love with the same woman, he wouldn’t be haunting the halls of University College. The correct lesson to draw from this is that U of T students who try to pursue love will end up haunting the campus for the rest of their lives. Remember: at convocation, you will acquire a U of T degree Shortly after graduating, you will be receiving pamphlets from U of T asking for alumni donations. U of T is in it for the long run, and everyone knows commitment is important for a healthy relationship. In the book Is He or Isn’t He?, John Hall claims that “sometimes what you’re looking for is right under your nose and you don’t even know it.” That could not be truer for U of T students — U of T has literally always been here for us. We wear U of T’s clothes, talk about U of T to our friends and family, and all of us have been inside U of T. Maybe we’ve been in an intimate, committed relationship all along, and we didn’t even know it. Happy cuffing season!
Recall Ivan Reznikoff Romantic love and U of T don’t always work well together. We have to maintain our
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Science
January 15, 2018 var.st/science science@thevarsity.ca
Free pharmacare — if you’re younger than 25 Is the new OHIP+ program really a step in the right direction? WENDY ZHANG/THE VARSITY
Spencer Y. Ki Varsity Contributor
If you were to ask random passersby for examples of distinctly Canadian things, you would be sure to collect an eclectic mish-mash of responses. These would likely be topped by maple syrup and hockey, perhaps with an honourable mention of colourful money and the CN Tower. Among these answers would likely be our universal healthcare system. Given that nearly all developed nations, with the noticeable exception of the US, have adopted some form of free, accessible, universal healthcare, it may be considered odd that Canadians take such pride in a system that is not unique to them. Statistics Canada reported in its 2013 General Social Survey that our health care system was our second greatest source of national pride, tied with Canada’s armed forces, with 64 per cent of Canadians polled reporting being proud of it. Yet, despite the lavish praise, Canada’s national health care system lacks what many systems in other developed countries have: a subsidized prescription drug program. Approximately one in 10 Canadians are
forced to forego prescribed medication due to financial difficulties. Such difficulties are one of the many issues that the Government of Ontario chose to tackle in its 2017 budget with the introduction of the new OHIP+ program. Having come into effect on January 1 of this year, OHIP+ provides more than 4,400 medications — that were only partially covered by the existing Ontario Drug Benefit plan — free of charge to anyone under the age of 25 in Ontario with a health card number. “Young people aged 19-24 are less likely to have access to prescription drug coverage or the financial means to pay out-of-pocket due to higher unemployment and lower incomes,” wrote David Jensen from the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care’s Communications and Marketing Division. “The unemployment rate for youth (aged 15-24) in Ontario is almost three times higher than the unemployment rate for adults over the age of 25.” Dr. Danielle Martin of U of T’s Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation and the university’s School of Public Policy and Governance sees OHIP+ as a step forward for the province. “The introduction of OHIP+ is an amazing accomplishment for young people and their
families in Ontario. Doctors often see families in our offices who cannot afford to pay for their prescription medicines, and sometimes those medicines are lifesaving or critical to a child or youth’s quality of life,” explained Martin. Martin is one of the authors of the Pharmacare 2020 report, which calls for universal national coverage of some medications, and she has defended single-payer health care systems before the US Senate. She made it clear, though, that this program is just the first step. “Covering prescription medicines for people up to age 25 is a critical step on the road to universal pharmacare in Canada, and it will make a big difference for a lot of people. Now we just need to close the gap between ages 25 and 65.” Painting OHIP+ as the best step toward a universal pharmacare program is not the most accurate depiction. A recent Parliamentary Budget Officer report shows that introducing a fully universal program right off the bat would in fact be cheaper than OHIP+ in the longterm. This has prompted some criticism of OHIP+. U of T’s Dr. Jessica Ross is among its critics, stating that “OHIP+ is a small step forward, but not a smart one” in an opinion piece
published by the Toronto Star. Instead, Ross supports the adoption of free pharmacare for Ontarians of all ages. There are also concerns about how the province will pay for OHIP+ — with a $465 million price tag, the expansion will not come cheap. Despite being included in what the Liberal Party describes as a balanced budget, the $465 million figure is dubious, as a breakdown is not included in the budget document itself. This caused Ontario New Democratic Party leader Andrea Horwath to postulate that the expansion was a last-minute addition to the budget. Regardless, the reception among some U of T students has been warm. “OHIP+ is a net positive for students everywhere,” said UTSU Vice-President Internal Daman Singh. “We expect it to complement the UTSU plan, and we don’t foresee any negative impact.” The more cynical among us may wonder about the timing of the expansion. It is not out of line to think that the introduction of OHIP+, in conjunction with the minimum wage hike and recently improved OSAP benefits, is a play by the Liberals to woo young voters before the upcoming provincial election this summer. How effective is this move? Only time — and the ballot boxes — will tell.
The truths and myths of Blue Monday Although recognized as pseudoscience, the phenomenon sheds light on SAD Paige Chu Varsity Contributor
The holiday cheer has finally worn off and we find ourselves in the most bleak time of the winter season. According to former Cardiff University lecturer Dr. Cliff Arnall, there are certain factors that make the third Monday in January the most depressing day of the year. Arnall determined this date, dubbed ‘Blue Monday,’ through a series of mathematical calculations that take into account other potential causes of a dismal day. These include the arrival of post-holiday credit card statements, broken new year’s resolutions, and the age-old distaste for Mondays. But the calculations behind Blue Monday have been criticized for being pseudoscientific. Arnall was commissioned to develop his equation by a British travel agency in 2005 and was tasked with determining when people were most likely to book a summer holiday — the rationale behind this being that people are more likely to book a summer vacation when sad. While the factors that Arnall used in his equation are depressing truths, there is hardly scientific legitimacy to one day of the year being more depressing than all others. As useful
as it would be to see depression coming from a mile away, the illness is too complex to be predicted in such a way, and Arnall’s mathematical jargon is useful only as a marketing gimmick. Still, the entire concept is not a complete myth, as there is one component with some merit that deserves attention: winter weather can cause mood fluctuations — and this can be serious. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) — colloquially dubbed ‘winter depression’ — is a mood disorder subtype that many understand to be a result of the colder weather. “There are [biological] theories as to why that is... which have to do with some people having a brain that is more wired to be sensitive to changes in light,” said U of T psychiatry professor Ari Zaretsky. It has been hypothesized that serotonin levels are affected by light and that during the wintertime, the system is insufficiently activated due to decreased sunlight hours. The consequently lowered serotonin levels can lead to unregulated moods and depressive episodes. Zaretsky explained that the occurrence of SAD can vary based on geography: approximately one per cent of Florida’s population develops SAD in the fall and winter, whereas
almost nine per cent of the population in areas such as Yukon or Alaska experience it. For Toronto, the number lies at three per cent. Light therapy is a common treatment method for SAD, which involves exposure to a light that gives off the same wavelength as sunlight for a minimum of 20–60 minutes each day, preferably in the morning. Treatments for this disorder, unlike its causes, are not strictly biological.
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Psychological and behavioural interventions are just as effective — Zaretsky pointed out that patients participating in cognitive behavioural therapy developed specifically for SAD have demonstrated significant improvements. “It’s important to recognize that just because something has a biological basis doesn’t mean that psychological interventions or behavioural interventions can’t make a difference — they can.” There is a misconception that SAD is not as distressing as classical clinical depression, and myths like Blue Monday can perpetuate these flawed assumptions. Critics of the Blue Monday phenomenon have become more vocal about their concerns, fearing that it is skewing public knowledge of mental health and discounting the gravity of depression. “I think [Blue Monday] develops a life of its own because there is a kind of fundamental truth to the fact that people find it difficult to face day upon day of darkened lighting circumstances,” said Zaretsky. “It’s almost like something that becomes part of the culture through media [and] advertising.” Being faced with yet another year of companies capitalizing on bad science, there is hope that Blue Monday might at least generate conversations about and bring awareness to mental health.
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science@thevarsity.ca
Modern computer processors have severe security flaws Malicious exploits Meltdown and Spectre could abuse speculative execution to steal data Kevin Lu Associate Senior Copy Editor
Two bombshell research papers recently revealed a pair of crippling security flaws, called Meltdown and Spectre, that are present in practically every modern computer processor running today. Meltdown affects almost all manufactured Intel chips and some Arm chips, whereas Spectre likely affects all major brands: Intel, AMD, and Arm. Intel and AMD chips are used in personal computers, while Arm chips are used in smartphones. As a result, most devices are vulnerable. Both flaws abuse an advanced processor feature known as speculative execution. As your device runs an application, it also looks ahead at decision points in the code, guesses which direction the application is likely to follow, and runs the code preemptively. Modern processors are surprisingly good at guessing in which
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direction the application will go. If the application follows the predicted path, valuable processor time is saved, as the results will have already been computed. If not, the results are discarded. The speculative execution feature does not have an effect on the outcome of an application’s task if it follows a different path than predicted. However, the application can detect that it took slightly longer to perform certain instructions. From this information, the nature and content of data in a device’s memory can be deduced. For example, JavaScript in your browser could steal saved passwords using this method. This has implications for institutions like U of T. “If an attacker successfully gets malware on a U of T device, that malware could use these vulnerabilities to steal passwords or keys being used on that device,” said David Lie, a software security expert and professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. The studies’ researchers actually discovered the flaws last year and privately told large technology firms to start preparing for software patches before the release of their findings. Fortunately, software companies are now rolling out security updates at the operating system (OS) level, which users are highly advised to install in order to protect against these vulnerabilities. Meltdown is reason-
ably simple to patch in software, although Spectre is much more difficult. Unfortunately, these OS patches come at the cost of performance. Most programs will be hit with a slight slowdown, with the theoretical worst-case scenario being a 50 per cent reduction. Operations such as disk access may be significantly affected as well. Older processors, unfortunately, do not have the ability to selectively disable features as specifically as recent models. “There is collateral damage as the patches have to disable… features that are [not at risk] to ensure that the vulnerable features are also disabled,” said Lie. Therefore, older processors will see a more significant slowdown as a result. U of T’s Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions (EIS), which operates the campus network backbone, also manages servers for cloud computing. EIS informed its users via email that it has “actively taken steps to secure our cloud services.” Most of their servers have already been patched, although “customers will also need to update the OS as soon as possible.” Aside from certain technology firms, it appears that no other organizations were warned ahead of time. “There was no advance knowledge besides the public release of the information,” said Michael Wiseman, Acting Director of
Charmaine Nyakonda Varsity Staff
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Information Security at U of T. According to Wiseman, U of T will be following all recommended procedures to fix the security flaws, including installing patches. While the world is now aware of these vulnerabilities, and organizations are taking the steps to fix them, there remains a lingering fear. Since researchers have been aware of Meltdown and Spectre since last year but only released this information in 2018, it is possible that malicious exploits have taken advantage of these flaws already. Lie dispelled these fears, noting that although the vulnerabilities are powerful, exploiting them is not easy, nor could it be done quickly. “If an attacker has several vulnerabilities they could use, Meltdown or Spectre may not be the first one they reach for unless the other vulnerabilities have been patched.” Wiseman agreed, noting that the sophistication of Meltdown and Spectre suggests that it is unlikely that an attack involving these vulnerabilities has occurred as of yet. “Now that the information is out, we all have to be a bit more concerned,” said Wiseman.
The heart-stopping truth about smoking cessation drug
As of 2014, approximately 5.4 million Canadians smoked daily or occasionally. The fight for smoking cessation has largely been made possible by varenicline, a prescription drug used to reduce the effects of nicotine. A recent study spearheaded by Andrea Gershon, Lung Health Lead at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) and an associate professor in U of T’s Department of Medicine, pointed to some alarming side effects of varenicline. According to the study, the use of varenicline is associated with an increased number of serious cardiovascular events in the 12 weeks after starting varenicline use. The study reported a 34 per cent increase in risk of cardiovascular events in patients who had previously experienced cardiovascular episodes and a 12 per cent increase in those who had not. In this study, serious cardiovascular events referred to heart-related conditions such as heart attacks,
insufficient blood flow to the heart, heart failure, ischemic heart disease and stroke, abnormal heart beats, and peripheral vascular disease. The researchers also looked for possible neuropsychiatric effects of varenicline, but no serious effects were observed. Approximately four patients out of 1,000 experience critical vareniclineinduced cardiovascular events. Yet the difference between relative increased risk and absolute increased risk should be noted. “If the risk to begin with is pretty low, then [even with a high relative risk,] the absolute risk will also be low,” said Gershon. The study was observational in nature, and Gershon took advantage of extensive patient data that was at her disposal. “Every time somebody goes to see a doctor or goes to the hospital, someone or some institution gets paid, and all that information is collected in the large health administrative databases.” This data, run through the ICES, was collected prior to and after patients went on the medication, and then it was analyzed to determine
the rate of incidence of cardiovascular events in patients. This method was relatively beneficial due to the large sample size, which reduced bias. In general, using observational data can save time and money and increase the study’s scope. There are, however, limitations — observational studies cannot determine causation. Observational data cannot determine whether patients were using other drugs to help quit smoking, or whether the patients quit smoking while taking varenicline. Gershon stressed that this study addressed limitations commonly associated with an observational study, and she said that the paper underwent “a very strict peer review” process. Though the study’s authors suggest that more research is required to confirm their findings, until evidence emerges to prove otherwise, it can be assumed that varenicline does increase the risk of cardiovascular events. In a 2013 review published by the Cochrane Tobacco Addiction
HealthEDGE Lunch and Learn Series: Intellectual Property Basics The Health Innovation Hub will be hosting a workshop on intellectual property. It will give attendees an overview of the challenges scientists and entrepreneurs face in protecting their ideas. Date: Monday, January 15 Time: 12:00–1:30 pm Location: Old Admin Building, 263 McCaul Street, Main Floor Auditorium Admission: Free with registration ASSU Presents: Arts & Science Undergraduate Research Conference This full-day conference will showcase undergraduatecentred research projects by U of T students from a diverse range of academic fields, including the natural sciences, quantitative sciences, humanities, and social sciences. Dr. John Vervaeke of U of T’s Department of Psychology will be a keynote speaker. Date: Friday, January 19 Time: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Location: Sidney Smith Hall, 100 St. George Street Admission: Free. Donation of a non-perishable food item for the UTSU Food Bank is encouraged
U of T prof finds varenicline to have adverse side effects Melissa Giblon Varsity Contributor
Science Around Town
FIONA TUNG/THE VARSITY
Group, varenicline was found to be the most effective drug for smoking cessation. Smokers were more than twice as likely to quit on varenicline than on a placebo, making it a commonly prescribed smoking cessation aid. “I think quitting smoking is really important... the benefits of quitting smoking outweigh the risks of this medication,” said Gershon. “It’s complicated — just because somebody takes varenicline, that doesn’t mean they’ll be successful in quitting smoking. How motivated are they? How committed are they? What are their risk factors? It’s hardly an easy decision.” Every patient is different and extraneous factors such as being predisposed to adverse cardiovascular events will influence how they will react to varenicline.
HealthEDGE Lunch and Learn Series: A Primer on Regulatory Affairs with Thas Yuwaraj of Synaptive Medical Dr. Thas Yuwaraj, a biomedical engineer, will be hosting a talk on regulatory strategies for medical devices. He will focus on how publicly available information can be used to benefit early-stage startups in regulatory planning and product development. Date: Friday, January 19 Time: 12:00–1:30 pm Location: Old Admin Building, 263 McCaul Street, Main Floor Auditorium Admission: Free with registration
Sports
January 15, 2018 var.st/sports sports@thevarsity.ca
The journey of a professional women’s hockey player Toronto Furies forward Danielle Gagne talks her life on and off the ice
Danielle Gagne has her eye on the puck. STEVEN LEE/THE VARSITY
Daniel Samuel Sports Editor
The faint scent of stale hockey equipment emanates from Danielle Gagne’s bag. It’s an aroma that, while generally unpleasant, can trigger memories of past victories and dressing rooms. Gagne admits the smell could be far worse, alluding to her swollen left ankle visible above her low-top sneaker. “I wish I would’ve hurt it doing something cool, it was the stupidest thing, we were doing a warmup for CrossFit, we were doing hurdles, and I was clearing them all no problem,” she says. “I didn’t jump as hard, and it was just that stupid thing that my toe clipped it, it landed, and I landed and I immediately felt like I was going to throw up because it hurt so bad.” “I’m tough, I don’t cry,” she adds. In mid-November, the Toronto Furies boasted a .500 record ahead of their twoweek trip to China. The 2017–2018 Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL) season marks the first time in the league’s history that players will be paid, a step forward made possible by an influx of cash from new sponsorships and the league’s new Chinese teams, the Kunlun Red Star and Vanke Rays. Still, the salaries — ranging from $2,000–$10,000 — don’t provide a livable wage. As a result, Gagne works full-time at a software company in her hometown of Bolton, Ontario. In her second season with the Furies, Gagne has steadily grown into her role, developing a brand of confidence that only comes from hard work and overcoming adversity. Her first CWHL career goal came in a 4–2 loss to the Boston Blades. “I still can’t believe it took me that long to score, but I’m glad I finally broke down that mental block in my head,” she says. The journey that changed her life Despite hockey’s place at Gagne’s core, it’s not everything in her life. She defines the 4K for Cancer bike ride across America she endured in 2015 as the most important moment of her life. Gagne began the ride with the intention of honouring her late grandfathers, who both died of cancer. That all changed eight months from the start of her trek, when she learned her then-three-yearold cousin Otis Spencer had been diagnosed with brain cancer. “My cousin Alex, they have three kids... and ended up having [another child] Darius when Otis was in the hospital going through chemo,” she says. “It’s always nice to celebrate him because he’s an amazing kid and my inspiration.” The daunting ride presented Gagne with
a daily opportunity to triumph over adversity. The Baltimore to San Francisco route saw her bike up and over the Rocky Mountains and sleep on an air mattress on various church floors in Nebraska. She even got lost for eight hours in the Oregon desert. “We were so dehydrated, I felt drunk for the next two days and I got so sick, but that
of Hockey Canada’s Olympic centralization ahead of the 2018 Winter Games in PyeongChang. Natalie Spooner, Erin Ambrose, and Renata Fast are all absent from the Furies. A combination of factors contribute to the Furies’ 11-game winless streak, but it mostly stems from their inability to score — the team is second from last in the league in
Gagne overlooks Guardsman Pass in Park City, Utah. COURTESY OF DANIELLE GAGNE AND FAMILY
was the worst part. Everything else was awesome,” she adds. “Everything we ate for the whole trip was based on donations, so we’d go to restaurants and asked if they’d give us food,” she says.
goals scored. Toronto has also struggled to find the back of the net in the absence of Spooner, the team’s leading goal-scorer with 13 in the 2016–2017 season. Alongside Olympic cap-
Gagne supporting Hockey Fights Cancer with her cousin Otis.
COURTESY OF DANIELLE GAGNE AND FAMILY
“Utah was beautiful... I remember the biggest incline was 15 per cent, and you’d have to keep moving because you’d fall over.” “The day that my bike ride ended, [Otis] was said to be clear as of that day, which was the weirdest coincidence ever,” she says. “I just started bawling my eyes out.” Teammates that inspire Each CWHL franchise has felt the effects
tain Marie Philip-Poulin and fellow alternate captain Brianne Jenner, Spooner serves as one of the faces of women’s hockey in Canada. This time of year, Spooner’s image can be found on cereal boxes as Canada’s women’s hockey team is poised to earn its fifth consecutive Olympic gold next month. Spooner’s talent and leadership isn’t new to Gagne, who played alongside her during her freshman year at Ohio State. “She’s just
unbelievable,” recalls Gagne. “I remember being at U18 tryouts for Team Canada and she was U22 at the time, and she had the highest score for strength and one of the highest scores for cardio. That’s unheard of.” The college experience The warmth in Gagne’s voice increases as she reflects on the people she’s played with during her collegiate career. “God, she’s so fast,” she whispers, referring to the speed of Amanda Kessel, the former Minnesota Golden Gophers star who routinely terrorized Ohio State. The only time Gagne defeated Minnesota was via a nine-round shootout in early 2014, a miraculous result that upset a high-ranking program. The win earned her team a shoutout from ESPN’s SportsCenter anchor John Buccigross and a place on the network’s top 10 college plays of the week. The Buckeyes celebrated with ice cream and milkshakes at Annie’s Parlour in Dinkytown, while Kessel — absent from the Minnesota roster — was training with the US national team ahead of the Sochi Olympics. “We were pumped, I don’t think we got undressed for about 45 minutes we were just running around the dressing room,” she laughs. “Minnesota was always the worst because you always thought, ‘Yeah we’re ready,’ and they’d just come and kick your ass so bad.” Gagne says that every game against the University of North Dakota (UND) was competitive, mentioning in particular her experience battling against the Lamoureux twins. “One time I went for a Hail Mary breakaway pass, [one of the twins] caught it and tried to bring it down, and I should’ve gotten a penalty for this, but I two-handed her in the arm and the puck went through her legs, and I picked it up went on a breakaway and scored, so that was unreal.” She questions UND’s decision to cut its women’s hockey program last March, a program that developed a wave of Olympians, including the Lamoureux twins, who contributed to its initial stardom both transferring to UND in 2010 and after their freshman season at Minnesota. “Again that goes toward helping women’s hockey grow, just kidding, we don’t want you at our school anymore,” adds Gagne. “[UND] women’s hockey is top five in the nation every year but they had to cut it… But the men’s program is still there.” Gagne couldn’t imagine a life without hockey. She admits she cried when she visited Ohio State’s campus in early November, overwhelmed by the incredible memories she made over her four years in Columbus.
18 • THE VARSITY • SPORTS
sports@thevarsity.ca
She asked for more: Ashley Wagner, the sports media complex, and female anger What the Wagner controversy shows us Kate Reeve Associate Sports Editor
Ashley Wagner is a mainstay of US figure skating — a veteran of the international competition scene and a household name. She left the Sochi Olympics with a bronze medal, placed second at the 2016 World Championships, and is a threetime US National Champion. At 26, Wagner is one of the most senior athletes involved in the US figure skating program — which made her qualification bid for the upcoming Olympics all the more critical. But Wagner failed to qualify on January 6, coming in fourth behind rising up-and-comers Brandie Tennell, 19, Mirai Nagasu, 24, and Karen Chen, 18. Besides her elegant and performative style, Wagner is known for her outspokenness — at the Sochi games, she broke with official US policy and openly criticized the Russian government’s discriminatory policies toward their LGBTQ+ citizens. This tendency was sparked again after her failure to qualify, unleashing a storm of media attention. Following the event, she told reporters, “For me to put out two programs that I did at this competition as solid as I skated and to get those scores, I am furious, and I think deservedly so.” Wagner acknowledged that judges should be strict on technique, and she attempted to explain that
her issue was with the specific segment of scoring that impacted her overall result — the subjective component score. Wagner received a 68 on her component, or artistic, performance, while winner Bradie Tennell landed a 69.71. Tennell, though technically strong, has the “emotional range... from the bottom to the top of a shrug,” according to journalist Dvora Meyers. This discrepancy led USA Today columnist Christine Brennan to lambast the US Figure Skating Committee on Twitter, writing, “Tennell is an amazing jumper and talent, but not in Wagner’s league on components, not even close. Judges here clearly wanted to dump Wagner.” The compelling aspect of this controversy is the broader reaction to it. Wagner has been virulently attacked on Twitter. This response exemplifies how frequently public expressions of female anger or frustration are vilified. Compounded by the institutionalized gender inequalities in sport — which include unequal distributions of funding, media attention, and a male monopoly on perceived biological norms that underscore athleticism — Wagner’s outspokenness is a challenge to general patriarchal norms of female behaviour and perceptions of female athletes. Prominent women in sport are often treated as if they arrived by chance — and as such, should display eternal gratitude for being
awarded the right to exist on such a plane. A strong consensus exists among the scholarly community, expressed by Eoin J. Trolan at the PSU-USM International Conference on Humanities and Social Sciences, that women are “still viewed as women first and athletes second, while their male counterparts have no such concerns.” Moreover, the sports media complex is instrumental in the reinforcement of this gendered hierarchy of value. Today, sports media extend far beyond television to include endorsements, advertising campaigns, and the more general use of sportbased imagery or rhetoric as a commercial tool. The glut of advertising and overall spectacle of the Super Bowl is a clear example of the normalization of this phenomenon. Janet Fink of the University of Massachusetts Amherst explains that since “mass media [have] become one of the most powerful institutional forces for shaping values in modern culture,” the images and narratives looped across the world carry incredible power. For example, the Amateur Athletic Foundation of Los Angeles reports that 98 per cent of American boys between the ages of eight and 17 consume sports media. This means that generations of young men are shaped by misguided and damaging interpretations of sport and athleticism, as well as the role of women more broadly.
MIA CARNEVALE/THE VARSITY
When female athletes are portrayed, the focus is rarely on their athletic achievements; rather it is on “their physical appearance, femininity, and/or heterosexuality.” Fink posits that these differences in media coverage create, foster, and disseminate stereotypical gender roles, “producing a variety of economic, social, and political limitations that intensify the patriarchal power structure still so sharply entrenched in our culture.” The fallout of this patriarchal dominance extends beyond athletes to coaching staff, trainers, and even female reporters, as recent allegations against ESPN highlight. In the summer of 2016, a complaint against the media giant was filed at the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, alleging vast inequality between male and female employees. Beyond fair pay, the allegations included instances where “men have made unwanted sexual propositions to female colleagues, given unsolicited shoulder rubs, and openly rated women on their looks.” In one horrific example of the power of this culture, a former female anchor reportedly performed a scheduled broadcast while having a miscarriage to prove her commitment to the job — that she could ‘tough it out.’ In light of this, the response to Wagner’s comments make sense. In challenging the terms of her judgement, she violated the terms of her acceptable existence as a relatively prominent female athlete. She displayed unfeminine, unattractive attributes: she was not gracious, quiet, or grateful. She publicly voiced anger and frustration. She asked for more. A conservative analysis of the situation might argue that no, this was not a factor of gender, but rather a violation of basic norms of sportsmanship. Wagner lost fairly, and she shouldn’t have run her mouth about it. However, Wagner never criticized other skaters and has been
publicly supportive of the winners, tweeting “Congrats to the lovely ladies of the team, you’ve got me in your cheering squad now!” Further, in an interview with NBC on January 10, Wagner stated that the judges “absolutely made the right call with this team,” but she stood by her initial reaction. University of Toronto Varsity Blues figure skating team co-captain Lila Asher agrees that it is “important for athletes to be gracious whether they win or lose, out of respect for their competitors.” However, she also explained that considering the timing of Wagner’s initial interview, which immediately followed an emotionally intense performance, “I think she is justified in expressing her genuine frustration.” Asher highlighted the intense pressures faced by female figure skaters to “perform a specific type of femininity,” and she mentioned how damaging this can be for young athletes, regardless of gender. She also pointed out the rampant homophobia in figure skating more generally, demonstrating how prejudice impacts the entire gender spectrum. Thus the real nucleus of the Wagner controversy is not this obtuse notion of sportsmanship, but the backlash her post-performance comments generated — and the sports media that fed it. The complex is both a reflection of and a contributor to our patriarchal society, which is instrumental in reducing sport to a privilege too few can experience. Women are not the only victims of these imbalances; men and nonbinary individuals are also undermined by constructed notions of gender identity. As powerful men fall from grace across industries, the time is ripe for systemic change in sports media. Return next week for Kate’s article on the steps needed to make significant and lasting change in sports media.
JANUARY 15, 2018 • 19
var.st/sports
Inclusivity in sports: the Change Room Project How U of T is promoting LGBTQ+ participation in athletics
WEEKLY BOX SCORES BASKETBALL MEN’S January 12 Varsity Blues
January 13 Varsity Blues
62–58
82–101
Nipissing Lakers
Laurentian Voyageurs
WOMEN’S January 12 Varsity Blues
January 13 Varsity Blues
71–53
76–82
Nipissing Lakers
Laurentian Voyageurs
HOCKEY MEN’S January 11 Varsity Blues
January 14 Varsity Blues
5–7 Ryerson Rams
3–2 Brock Badgers
WOMEN’S January 12 Varsity Blues
January 13 Varsity Blues
The Change Room Project highlights the experience of LGTBQ+ students in locker rooms.
3–1
0–3
UOIT Ridgebacks
Guelph Gryphons
STEVEN LEE/THE VARSITY
Jackie Emick Associate Sports Editor
Growing up, sports always made me feel at home — my teams became my family. I thought sports made others feel the same way until high school, when there was outrage when an openly gay male student wanted to join the cheerleading team. There were no gender restriction rules, but the girls on the team were still mad. Their main concern was where he would change. He eventually ended up on the team. The LGBTQ+ community has experienced extensive abuse and harassment when it comes to sports. There have been recent breakthroughs, including the 2014 NFL drafting of openly gay player Michael Sam and the International Olympic Committee’s 2016 decision to change its policy and become more inclusive to transgender individuals. Though the international sporting community is becoming more aware, there is still more to be done in the progression of LGBTQ+ inclusivity in the sporting community. At the University of Toronto, one of the most visible campaigns is the Change Room Project, a joint initiative with the PanAm Pride leadership group. The project involves
displaying comments or stories, written by LGBTQ+ students, around and outside the change rooms at the Goldring Athletic Centre. All the statements reflect on individuals’ experiences in the locker room, shedding light on the troubles that they have faced and continue to face. The project “places the words of LGBTQ students in the very spaces where they are underrepresented,” reads a brochure. It seeks to build awareness of and investigate how social and physical experiences of LGBTQ+ people in athletic facilities impact their participation levels, giving a platform to marginalized people who would otherwise feel uncomfortable or fearful entering or using the facilities. One of the more publicized comments was made by Luca Nagy, a lesbian student with more masculine features. In her statement, she explains the harassment she has endured, including unwanted stares and people telling her she doesn’t belong in the women’s locker room. Recently, the university stated that it is “committed to equity and wellness” and acknowledged that “there is still much work to be done when it comes to creating safe, inclusive locker room spaces.”
VOLLEYBALL MEN’S January 12
1–3
Varsity Blues
(21-25, 27-25, 21-25, 20-25)
Varsity Blues
(25-21, 25-21, 25-16)
Varsity Blues
(25-14, 25-8, 25-16)
Varsity Blues
(11-25, 14-25, 18-25)
January 13
3–0
Windsor Lancers
Ryerson Rams
WOMEN’S January 12
January 13
3–0
Windsor Lancers
0-3
Ryerson Rams
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JANUARY 15, 2018 • 20
THEAND HEDWIG THE ANGRY INCH CRUCIBLE
THE CRUCIBLE By Arthur Miller Directed by Michael Rubinstein
JAN. 19-FEB. 3, 2018
U OF T’S PERFORMING ARTS LEADER SINCE 1919
2017/2018 HART HOUSE THEATRE SEASON
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