February 10, 2014 by The Varsity

VOL. CXXXIV, NO. 18

INSIDE EDITORIAL

U of T joins web privacy debate An open letter written last month by U of T post-doctoral fellow Christopher Parsons focused on the current state of Internet privacy and government surveillance in Canada. Parsons’ letter emphasized the importance of this issue to our local community at U of T.

PG 13 COMMENT

Why student movements fail

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1880

10 FEBRUARY, 2014

LIFE & LOVE

LGBTQ students share anecdotes, poems, and sentiments from their experiences looking for love at U of T Page 14

The answer is simple: while wellversed in activist ideology and rhetoric, student organizers in Ontario, including myself, all fail to listen to their fellow students. We get so lost in talking and reading about organization that we fail to stop and give students the chance to participate in the movement.

PG 12 ARTS & CULTURE

Bedouin Soundclash’s Jay Malinowski talks new album

Liberals prep high-stakes budget amid calls for more funding CFS-O, U of T, and OUSA offer reform proposals for post-secondary education James Flynn & Salvatore Basilone

PG 16 SPORTS

Picking things up to stay in shape “Do you even lift, bro?” The cry rings out on college campuses across North America. Throughout the continent, 18- to 25-year-olds have discovered the joys and benefits of forcing heavy objects to defy the laws of gravity by making them go in an upward direction.

PG 27

VARSITY STAFF

Members of the post-secondary education community in Ontario are calling on the provincial government to make a number of important changes to post-secondary education in the upcoming budget. The Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario (cfs-o), the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (ousa), and U of T are all making demands Ontario’s pre-budget consultations, which run until February 28. The consultations are an opportunity for individuals and organizations in Ontario to submit their priorities in advance of the upcoming provincial budget. The demands include increased funding for post-secondary education, improved post-graduate employment outcomes for undergraduates, and fair graduate expansion allocations. The current Liberal government — which currently has a minority in the legislature — could fall on the budget, which will likely include policies aimed at appealing to voters ahead of an election. Almost all of the demands boil down to an underfunded postsecondary education sector. According to Cheryl Regehr, U of T’s

provost, Ontario currently has the lowest per-student funding in Canada. Regehr would like to see this funding increased in the upcoming provincial budget. “We understand that there are huge constraints that the province is under,” Regehr noted, referencing the province’s $11 billion deficit. “But at the same time, we are very concerned about meeting the needs of our growing numbers of students.” “Ontario’s research universities make a disproportionate contribution to the provincial economy,” she continued, “we need to look for government support to help us offer the kind of great education that we do.” U of T is also calling for graduate expansion allocation that recognizes the different roles of universities in Ontario. A 2009 provincial government plan called for 6,000 new graduate student spaces in Ontario by 2016, but the report did not specify how the spaces would be allocated among universities. Michelle Johnston, a legislative assistant/issues manager with the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (tcu), brushed off concerns over post-secondary underfunding. “Despite challenging economic times, the government is continuing to build on its invest-

ments in the post-secondary sector to ensure that students, colleges, and universities have the resources they need,” she said. However, Johnston declined to comment on specific elements of the upcoming budget. “We are unable to comment on what decisions the government will make in the future,” she noted. According to Johnston, the provincial government’s operating grant to universities increased by $1.58 billion — or 83 per cent — from 2002–2003 to 2012–2013. Specifically, per-student funding for universities increased from $6,719 in 2002–2003 to $8,605 by the end of 2012–2013 — an increase of 28 per cent. “This confirms the government’s commitment to maintaining and enhancing the quality of education while maximizing the value from each taxpayer dollar,” Johnston noted. Alastair Woods, chairperson of the cfs-o, feels that the level of provincial funding for post-secondary education is still too low. “With increased funding, we can reduce financial barriers for students while also focusing on increasing the quality of education we receive,” he said. The cfs-o is also calling for a 30 per cent tuition fee reduction over

three years, by repurposing money set aside for the Ontario Tuition Grant and education tax credits. Under the Ontario Tuition Grant, full-time post-secondary students may be eligible for 30 per cent off tuition if they are approved for osap, among a number of other conditions. The cfs-o opposes the Ontario Tuition Grant, noting that less than a third of students have accessed it. Under the cfs-o’s proposed tuition fee reduction, the first year is cost-neutral, and will see a 17 per cent tuition fee reduction after reallocating funds dedicated to the Ontario Tuition Grant and provincial education tax credits. The second and third years will cost $550 million, for a further 6.5 per cent tuition fee reduction per year. The cfs-o has successfully influenced provincial education policy in the past — most recently, in the provincial government’s changes to flat fees. However, the provincial government has consistently pushed back against tuition fee reductions. In 2013, Brad Duguid, tcu minister, released a tuition fee policy framework that allows Ontario universities to increase tuition fees by three per cent per year for the next four years — a reduction

CONTINUED ON PG 9

Vol. CXXXIV, No. 18

THE VARSITY VOL. CXXXIV No. 18

21 Sussex Avenue, Suite 306 Toronto, ON, M5S 1J6 Phone: 416-946-7600 www.thevarsity.ca

VARSITY NEWS WHAT’S GOING ON

THIS WEEK ON CAMPUS

Masthead Editor-in-Chief Joshua Oliver

editor@thevarsity.ca

online@thevarsity.ca

Design Editor Shaquilla Singh

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Photo Editor Carolyn Levett

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Senior Copy Editor Catherine Virelli

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News Editor Zane Schwartz

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the week in tweets TIFFANY KUO @TIFFANYKUOO

Production Manager Dan Seljak production@thevarsity.ca Managing Online Editor Murad Hemmadi

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don’t think there has ever been a snow day at UofT, even when the snow covers up to my knees #uoft — Wednesday, February 5

RYAN OLSON @RYANOLSON55

Comment Editor Alec Wilson

comment@thevarsity.ca

Features Editor Danielle Klein

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I love how the evening classes for Ryerson and York are closed but yet U of T would never even think of doing that #UofTproblems

arts@thevarsity.ca

— Wednesday, February 5

Arts & Culture Editor Sofia Luu Science Editor Katrina Vogan

science@thevarsity.ca

Sports Editor Elizabeth Benn

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Illustrations Editor Nancy Ji

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Video Editor Jamieson Wang

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Web Developer Natalie Morcos

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Associate Design Editor Mari Zhou Associate Photo Editor Vacant Associate Senior Copy Editors Lucy Genua Rose Tornabene Associate News Editors Liza Agrba James Flynn Sarah Niedoba Theodore Yan Associate Features Editor Victoria Banderob Associate Comment Editor Samantha Relich Associate A&C Editors Ishita Petkar Corinne Przybyslawski Associate Science Editors Elena Gritzan Emma Hansen Associate Sports Editors JP Kaczur Susan Gordon Associate Video Editor Alexandra Butrón

Writers

Reshara Alviarez, Gabriela Ansari-Correa, Vanessa Barbieri, Salvatore Basilone, Travis Boyco, Michael Carlisle, Alexander Cohen, Emma Compeau, Claudia Dessanti, James Flynn, Susan Gordon, Elena Gritzan, Yves Guillaume A. Messy, Sarah Harrison, Aisha Hassan, Jennifer Hurd, Trevor Koroll, Anthony Marchese, Joshua Miller, Francesca Morfini, Malone Mullin, Linh Nguyen, Sarah Niedoba, Phyllis Pearson, Daria Petrovic, Samantha Relich, Ann Sheng, Abdullah Shihipar, Taylor Stinson, Samina Sultana, Anjum Sultana, Marcus Tutert, Catherine Virelli, Katrina Vogan, Victoria Wicks, Sean Xu, Theodore Yan Designers Kawmadie Karunanayake, Dan Seljak, Shaquilla Singh, Mari Zhou

Photo and Illustration Julien Balbontin, Nancy Ji, Mashal Khan, Timothy Law, Carolyn Levett, Helena Najm, Clare Scott, Ann Sheng, Jennifer Su, Arnold Yung, Karen Zhou, Jacqueline Zimmer

Copy Editors and Fact Checkers Faith Arkorful, Alanna Brousseau, Lucy Genua, Olga Klenova, Sacha Morettin, Malone Mullin, Linh Nguyen, Mark Recto, Rose Tornabene, Kelly Turner, Catherine Virelli

Business Office Business Manager Timothy Sharng

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Advertising Manager Victoria Marshall advertising@thevarsity.ca Advertising Executives Stephanie Lau stephanie@thevarsity.ca terence@thevarsity.ca Terence Leung vanessa@thevarsity.ca Vanessa Wen The Varsity is the University of Toronto's largest student newspaper, publishing since 1880. The Varsity has a circulation of 20,000, and is published by Varsity Publications Inc. It is printed by Master Web Inc. on recycled newsprint stock. Content © 2014 by The Varsity. All rights reserved. Any editorial inquiries and/or letters should be directed to the sections associated with them; emails listed above. The Varsity reserves the right to edit all submissions. Inquiries regarding ad sales can be made to ads@thevarsity.ca. ISSN: 0042-2789 Please recycle this issue after you are finished with it.

SYMPOSIUM ON LOVE: EROS THROUGHOUT THE AGES A series of speakers analyzing the philosophical and cultural history of love, with a reception to follow. Thursday, February 13, 5:15 pm Sandford Fleming Building, 10 King’s College Road Free UTM BLACK HISTORY MONTH: DOLLAR & A DREAM ART GALLERY EXHIBIT

POWERFUL MINDS AT U OF T PRESENTS: CUPID’S SHUFFLE

Showcase of students’ visual art

Charity speed dating and date auction with free food. All proceeds go to Toronto Distress Centre.

Wednesday, February 12, 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm Communication, Culture and Technology Building, 3359 Mississauga Road Free

Tuesday, February 11, 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm Arbour Room, Hart House, 7 Hart House Circle

ICSS DATE ACUTION Come out to the Innis College Café Thursday night to bid on unique dates with Innisians. All funds raised will go to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Thursday, February 13, 8:00 pm Innis Café, 2 Sussex Avenue

RACHEL FREEDLETON @RACHFREEDLETON Disappointed in #UofT’s subpar snow clearing as less mobile individuals get stranded across campus @uoftlibraries — Wednesday, February 5

JON BRADLEY @JONBRADLEY94 #uoft looking like a tundra today. #nofilter #sun #toronto #snow #cold #canada — Friday, February 7

2014 U OF T DRAMA FESTIVAL A week of student-written, directed, produced, and performed theatre. Wednesday, February 12 – Saturday, February 15, 7:30 pm Hart House Theatre, 7 Hart House Circle $10 per evening

BEN MURCHISON @BMURCHIE My first class was too busy. My second class was too boring. This class has just the right amount of wifi. #uoft — Friday, February 7

KRISTINA DOYLE @KRISKAYOO Just walked from #UofT to Union Station because no subway service. Can’t feel legs. — Friday, February 7

THE EXPLAINER SIX WAYS TO MAKE THE MOST OUT OF BEING SINGLE ON VALENTINE’S DAY 1. This is the one day out of the year you can completely un-self-consciously order Godiva’s 70-piece box. Strut into the store, order that $90.00 monstrosity, and ask for every truffle except that weird orange one. If the cashier asks you who the special someone is as she hands it to you, stare her right in the eye, open the box, and stuff five truffles simultaneously in your mouth. Walk backwards out the door, never breaking eye contact. 2. Take the opportunity to spend the whole day sitting in your underwear perfecting your Starcraft II game, specifically your Protoss. Maybe if you learn to cast Psionic Storm perfectly, people compatible with your sexual orientation will begin flocking to you. Maybe. 3. If you’re a little down, channel your sadness into composing the most perfectly flawed music the world has ever seen. Don’t worry about it if you don’t know how to play an instrument. Go buy a grand piano and just put your hands on it. The raw emotion will turn you into an expert classical pianist as you think of everything you’ve ever lost (official The Varsity disclaimer: This will not actually happen).

4. Reblog things on Tumblr 5. A lot of other people also feel pretty lonely on Valentine’s Day. Go to some drinking establishment. See a beautiful human being sitting alone looking morose. Stare at her. Think about what her hopes and dreams could be, about her favourite novels (and her overwhelming distaste for Fitzgerald, in direct contrast to how much you fundamentally adore Gatsby). Think about how she may be the only person you’ve ever met who understands your pain at spending a lifetime falling in love with the idea of people and then having relationships falling apart when they inevitably could not live up to your misguided mental caricature. Think about spending time with her and finally being with somebody who has the capacity to really know you, to ameliorate your overwhelming need for validation instead of putting up with it, to share your weird love for comic books and joyously discover for herself that she loves them as well. Order another drink. Leave before you get it. 6. Ask him out — seriously, why have you not done this already.

BRIDGET COLEY @BRIDGEOTTO1 Bringing home the banner!! #ouachamps2014 #skillisskill #bleedblue #uoft @Varsity_Blues — Saturday, February 8

See something, hear something? Email

tips@thevarsity.ca CLARIFICATION The article titled “UTMSU to re-run referendum on levy increase” run on Monday January 20, 2014 incorrectly stated that the oﬃce of the vice-provost, students holds the UTSU responsible for the errors that necessitated the UTMSU referendum being re-run. The article also stated that TCard scanners can be loaded with information. Scanners are used as a more eﬃcient method of entering TCard information into an online system.

VARSITY NEWS

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2014

UTM student centre expansion fails in close referendum Heavy campaigning by UTMSU not enough to win vote Marcus Tutert & Samina Sultana VARSITY CONTRIBUTORS

Last week, a referendum held the by the University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union (UTMSU) on the question of raising funds to expand their student centre failed by a tight margin — with 1,548 students voting in favour and 1,618 students voting against the proposed expansion, according to unofficial results. The referendum took place January 28–30, with the utmsu campaigning heavily, urging students to vote yes and expand the student centre. The goal of the expansion was to enlarge the student centre to include multipurpose rooms and club and society offices. According to utmsu president Raymond Noronha, this expansion would have also improved food and other services to try and make the centre more of a hub for students on campus. The current building, built in 1999, can hold 6,000 students, which is less than the number currently enrolled. Students currently pay $12.50 towards the student centre. The

expansion would have increased this to $27 for three years to raise two million dollars, with the university agreeing to match the amount raised. utmsu also wanted the students to pay an additional $10.50 per session as a permanent increase to their fees in order to maintain current operations and increase programming. Consequently, students would pay $37.50 per session, rather than the original $12.50 for the next three years, with the cost being reduced to $23 following the third year. The amount could then only be adjusted by no more than 10 per cent depending on the approval of the utmsu Board of Directors. Last year, utmsu held a referendum posing the same question, which passed with a vote of 2,258 votes for, 1,368 votes against, but was ruled as ineligible to be ratified because U of T St. George students were able to vote. Asked about the outcome of this year’s referendum, utmsu president Raymond Noronha said, “I think that students already are paying high tuition fees. A lot

The UTM Student Centre building. JACQUELINE ZIMMER/THE VARsITy

of students who I spoke to were in favour of the expansion, but thought that the utm administration should pay the entire cost of this expansion rather than part of

it being passed on to students.” Noronha remains optimistic despite the failed vote: “utmsu did want students to vote yes due to the inherent benefits of an expand-

ed students centre. But at the end of the day, utmsu is a democratic organization. We asked students for their opinion via a referenda and a majority voted against.”

Governing Council elections underway Fourteen candidates running for two Arts & Science positions Trevor Koroll & Alexander Cohen VARSITY STAFF

With two weeks remaining until voting closes in the Governing Council elections, the race for the two Arts & Science positions is heating up. In total, 14 candidates have entered the election. In addition to the Arts & Science positions — which represent U of T’s 23,700 fulltime, undergraduate Arts & Science students — there are also seats for representatives from the School of Graduate Studies, professional faculties, and part-time students. The candidates hail from six of U of T’s undergraduate colleges, all three campuses, and the Transitional Year Program. The Governing Council meets approximately six times a year and is the University of Toronto’s highest decision-making body, overseeing the academic, financial, and student affairs. On February 3, Shirley Hoy — Chief Executive Officer of the Toronto Lands Corporation, a subsidiary of the Toronto District School Board that manages the board’s real estate — was acclaimed as vice-chair of the Governing Council, effective July 1. The council is comprised of 50 elected and appointed members, including the president and chancellor, 16 members appointed by the Ontario government, two members appointed by the president, 12 elected faculty members, eight elected alumni members, two elected administrative staff members, and eight elected student members. Of the eight students, four are full-time undergraduates — two of which are from the Faculty of Arts & Science.

The Governing Council chambers. JULIA MALowANy/THE VARsITy

The other four are graduate and part-time students. So far, the campaign has been a low-key one, with some candidates lacking advertising, such as a Facebook page. In candidate statements, posted on the Governing Council website, most speak of fostering student engagement across the three campuses, and creating more opportunities for students after graduation. “Students only have eight out of 50 votes, but we can shift things towards our interests if the governors can engage students with the process,” said Ben Coleman, a full-time undergraduate candidate from New College who served as an Arts & Science at-large director on the University of Toronto Students’ Union (utsu). Coleman said he wants to educate students

about the role Governing Council plays in university life. “Being a part of councils that bring change to education is something that I’m passionate about,” said Cole Dempsey, a full-time undergraduate candidate from University College. “I want to find what people think issues are and bring them to the table,” he said. Dempsey mentioned his past experience in student government as his motivation for running — having spent time, while in high school, on councils with the Calgary and Alberta boards of education. Another hot-button issue is a potential increase in tuition fees. When asked whether they would vote, if elected, to raise the tuition that U of T students pay, the response from candidates was almost uniformly nega-

tive. “I don’t see the need for tuition increases anytime soon,” said Ayla Shiblaq, a full-time undergraduate candidate from Victoria College, “I think we already pay enough to be a part of this institution.” Kriti Bhatt, a full-time undergraduate candidate from Trinity College, echoed Shiblaq’s thoughts. Bhatt stressed that it should be others at the university — not full-time undergraduates — who see their tuition go up. “I’m a believer in the notion that, should funding increases be required, they can be found elsewhere — at the graduate and post-graduate levels, for instance,” said Bhatt. Marc Laurin, a full-time undergraduate candidate from utsc, went even further, noting that “reducing the costs associated with being a student” was his top priority.

Louis Train, a full-time undergraduate candidate from St. Michael’s College, is alone in saying he’ll consider a tuition increase — albeit with caveats. While Train made it clear that he is against an increase in fees for “non-academic purposes, such as recreational services and facilities,” he did say that he would “vote for a tuition increase if, and only if, it would benefit the undergraduate student body.” While students occupy only eight of the council’s 50 positions, student governors often have an important influence. In the past, student governors highlighted important issues and pushed them onto the university’s agenda. Over the past year, Aidan Fishman, a two-term full-time undergraduate student governor, drew attention to the need for greater discussion on the issue of fee diversion. Some candidates have cited other concerns. One common concern was the lack of student life at the university, and the lack of community present on campus. Daniel Szulc, a full-time undergraduate candidate from Trinity College, cited student life as his top priority: “Undergraduate student life has always been, and continues to be, a current problem at U of T in comparison to other Ontario universities.” Bhatt sees the university’s long-term vision as its biggest challenge, saying her top priority would be finding a way to “[agree] upon and [create] a cohesive and universally shared vision for the university’s future.” Voting begins online on February 10 and ends on February 21. Results are expected on February 25.

VARSITY NEWS

Vol. CXXXIV, No. 18

news@thevarsity.ca

ASSU wants private tutors out Campaign urges students to use university services they already pay for Aisha Kakinuma Hassan VARSITY STAFF

In U of T’s high-pressure academic environment, students often turn to private, on-campus tutoring services for extra help. The Arts and Science Students’ Union (assu) recently launched a campaign entitled “Say No to Private Review Companies.” The campaign, launched on November 8, 2013, has gained momentum in recent weeks with the launch of a website and posters around campus and Facebook posts. The campaign advocates using U of T’s free academic resources instead of private tutoring services. The awareness campaign is set to end in midFebruary, though the union may restart it later in the year. assu’s campaign aims to raise awareness of the dangers of relying on paid review services. “These sessions promote dependency, a denial of the problem,” said Shawn Tian, president of assu who is particularly concerned about students who rely on review sessions in large first-year and second-year classes. “In [third-year and fourthyear] courses, when companies don’t offer review sessions, what do you do then?” Jill Matus, vice-provost, students, echoed Tian’s sentiment: “These companies do not have any connection to the University of Toronto, and it is appropriate to encourage students to take a critical view of claims about the validity, relevance, and worth of what is being marketed,” stated Matus. Some of the paid review companies targeted by the campaign include Toronto Life Sciences, ecoman, ULife Academics and

Prep101. Most of these companies claim to know the secrets to doing well on a midterm, and others guarantee students a better mark. For example, ecoman offers a quality guarantee. His webpage promises that customers are: “Guaranteed to enjoy the session, guaranteed easy and quick learning, guaranteed perfect understanding, guaranteed 100 per cent satisfaction, or it’s free!!!” “It was pretty discouraging for me, as someone that runs such a company, to see its name kind of disparaged in such a way,” says Andy Romano, founder of Prep101, a company that aims to prepare students for tests and exams, particularly life sciences and math courses, “I didn’t really feel it captured anything we do…We assume that students go to class and they did learn the material, but they’re struggling with problem solving skills which is why they attend. That’s the niche we try to fill.” assu’s campaign also encourages the use of services that already exist at the university, such as the Academic Success Centre, the Math Aid Centre, and Chemistry Peer Tutoring. “Shawn Tian’s statement about the resources already provided by the university for academic support is one that we would therefore strongly endorse,” said Laurie Stephens, director of media relations. However, these services are typically under-used by students, despite the fact that they are free. “I think it’s great that U of T offers these services and they should use them but it doesn’t mean they should ban alternatives,” said Romano. Another concern raised by the campaign is the companies’ use of on-campus facilities to hold multi-

ASSU’s office is located in Sid Smith on St. George Street. File Photo: carolyn levett/the varsity

hour review sessions for a variety of first-year and second-year classes, such as eco100 and chm138. “[These room bookings] can cause a sense of confusion between students, as if the companies were U of T-affiliated,” said Tian. “We need to clear up this distinction by making sure tutoring companies don’t book space on campus.” Despite ongoing talks with university administrators, Tian is less optimistic about this aspect of the campaign. Companies such as Kaplan and Princeton Review, which are not targeted by the campaign, would be affected because they provide similar review services for students. “It probably won’t be implemented in the near future due to these enforcement problems,” admitted Tian. The administration has not clearly stated an intent to ban paid review services from campus. Ste-

phens emphasizes that external users who rent space at U of T are required to clearly state in their promotional materials that they are not affiliated with or endorsed by the university. So far, Tian believes the campaign has been successful enough to justify keeping campaign posters and flyers in the assu office for the remainder of the semester. According to Tian, since the beginning of the campaign, attendance to some underused services has seen a small but noticeable increase. On whether ASSU’s campaign affects attendance to their sessions, Romano noted that it was a concern, but it is ultimately dependent on students’ individual experiences with review companies, and whether they choose to refer them to classmates — as word of mouth is a major factor in promoting their services.

“If [assu] have legitimate concerns, which they do, I am the first to admit that we are crossing some new boundaries here. The first prep companies came up in the ‘40s and ‘50s for the gmat, lsat admissions tests and the governing bodies that control these admissions tests fought very, very hard to fight these to put them out of business, but now they are a legitimate part of the routine. All we’ve done is taken these teaching models for the undergrad context” said Romano. assu plans to gauge how students reacted to the awareness campaign starting mid-February. “Student awareness should be an ongoing initiative,” said Tian. “But it’s easy for students to get tired of a campaign because the message gets old.” If there is still student support, assu intends to launch a reinvigorated campaign after Reading Week. — With files from Jerico Espinas

Student fee increases proposed at COSS meeting Hart House, Student Life, and Faculty of Kinesiology propose higher student fees for coming school year Emma Compeau VARSITY STAFF

With student life facilities, as with most thing, you get what you pay for. On February 3, Hart House, the Office of Student Life, and the Faculty of Kinesiology delivered the annual budget presentation for the 2014–2015 school year. Anita Comella, the assistant dean for the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education (kpe), proposed a 1.45 per cent budgetary increase from student fees, amounting to $2.24 for each full-time student at the St. George campus. Student fees account for 70 per cent of the overall budget of the kpe, which amounted to $24,672,815 for the 2013–2014 academic year. By contrast, university support amounts to one per cent of the total funding for the faculty. U of T’s financial support of kpe was instated in 1979 when the Athletic Centre opened. It has remained unchanged since. The amount is not subject to increases according to inflation, as student fees are. Rita O’Brien, the chief administrative officer of Hart House, presented

a proposed budget increase of 1.4 per cent. Until the early 1990s, Hart House received 50 per cent of its funding from the university. However, following a financial crisis at the university, the funding for Hart House was cut entirely and never reinstated. Since then, 53 per cent of Hart House’s $16.5 million annual funding has come from student fees. Bruce Kidd, the warden of Hart House, says that the century-old building is facing serious issues, including needing new plumbing and infrastructure. Kidd states: “I would argue that the coss formula has put us in a structural deficit for years and years. The inflationary formula does not allow us to realize the true cost of inflation on the operating side.” “There is a serious problem, not with coss, but the university at large not wanting to support central student services, and Hart House is one of those services,” said Munib Sajjad, president of the University of Toronto Students’ Union (utsu).“To ask students to pay more money for something that the government and university should be funding is unacceptable,” he added.

Lucy Fromowitz, the assistant vicepresident of Student Life, proposed a fee increase of $9.08 for full-time students at the St. George campus and a $1.82 increase for part-time students at the St. George campus. UTSC and UTM have their own offices of Student Life and do not pay fees to that of the St. George campus. The fees to Student Life go towards departments on campus in addition to occupancy costs for student space. Student ancillary fees cover approximately 60 per cent of the overall costs of Student Life, while the other 40 per cent is collected from central funding, grants, and revenue sources such as ohip. Susan Froom, the president of the Association of PartTime Undergraduate Students (apus), amended the agenda to put forth a motion to recommend changing the location of the Transitional Year Programme (typ) from 49 St. George Street to one of the 87 university owned houses in the Harbord-Sussex neighborhood. Fromowitz objected to the proposed recommendation, stating that it was not within the jurisdiction of coss.

Yolen Bollo-Kamara, utsu’s vicepresident, equity, supported the recommendation stating: “These are student services, and this body should look at fair access to services for all students so that they can succeed while they are at U of T.” After submitting a motion to recommend the investigation of the relocation of typ to a new space in the Harbord-Sussex neighborhood, coss decided six votes to four to make the recommendation. This recommendation which will be discussed in upcoming university meetings. Negotiations with the typ committee have been ongoing and are being dealt with by the Academic Board and Business Board of Governing Council. coss will vote on February 26 whether or not to approve the fee increases; however, the final say will be up to the University Affairs Board, which may recommend approval of the operating plans to Governing Council. Governing Council can in turn enact temporary increases. coss has not approved any fee increases for kpe, Hart House, or Student Life in five years.

BY THE NUMBERS PROPOSED BUDGET INCREASES Student life Full-time UTSG

$9.08

Part-time UTSG

$1.82

UTM and UTSC are not eligible. Hart House Full-time UTSG

$1.12

Part-time UTSG

$0.22

Full-time UTSC!UTM

$0.03

Part-time UTSC!UTM

$0.01

Physical Education and co-curricular sport Full-time UTSG

$2.24

Part-time UTSG

$0.44

Full-time UTSC!UTM

$0.20

Part-time UTSC!UTM

$0.05

VARSITY NEWS

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2014

Culture shock: international students adjust to life in Toronto Support for international students differs based on size of cultural community Sarah Niedoba & Claudia Dessanti

WHERE ARE U OF T’S STUDENTS FROM?

IN MILLIONS

A MAP TRACKING THE HOME COUNTRIES OF U OF T’S INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS, AS WELL AS A SELECTION OF TRIVIA FROM THE 10 LARGEST CONTRIBUTORS TO THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT POPULATION.

TORONTO & SHANGHAI POPULATION

1.5 1.2

0.9

790 mm

4,473 mm

0.6

Number of Students 0

1-25

26-50

51-200

201-1000

0.3

0.0

CANADA & UNITED KINGDOM RAINFALL$YEAR

1001+

TORONTO & TOKYO DOWNTOWN RENT$MONTH

TUITION COST U OF T & HARVARD IN THOUSANDS ($)

For Katerina Valle the biggest cultural shock when moving to Canada was not being able to speak her first language. “You miss speaking it,” explained Valle. “It’s not something you think about, especially when you can speak English, and you go to an English school, but you miss it. It’s a part of your personality, it’s like losing a part of yourself.” Valle is from Peru and came to the University of Toronto in the fall of 2010. She said she chose U of T because Toronto appealed to her as a large international city. Though she’s happy with her decision now, she wasn’t in her first year. Valle, like many first year students, found that U of T could be cold and overwhelming. She missed the fresh local food that was the centre of social life in Peru. She eventually found a community with the people in her residence — there were a few Latinas in her building who would eat late dinners with her and speak in Spanish. Now, Valle is involved in the Latin American Students Association, and credits it as giving her a real sense of community in university. “At U of T, if you want to have friends, I think clubs are the way to do it,” explained Valle. U of T has 29 students from Peru, and even more from Latin America as a whole. However, not all international students at U of T have a support system for the students to fall back on. Shilpa Nagarajan came to U of T from Singapore. While she lived in Montreal for seven years when she was growing up, she still struggles with adjusting to life in Canada; from little things like stores closing early, to people being able to express their thoughts and opinions with freedom. Nagarajan was lucky enough to live in a residence building with a number of Singaporeans including the executive members of the Malaysian and Singaporean Student Association. But she says that she doesn’t actively try to find people from her native country. “It helps that there is such a vast diversity of students from different cultures going to this university,” explains Nagarajan. “It feels like home when I meet other international students.” U of T currently has 10,276 international undergraduates. This makes up 15.3 per cent of the total undergraduate population. Toronto itself is a city where half of it’s citizens were raised outside Canada. Chinese students make up 48.9 per cent of international students at U of T, with 4,476 students. There are twelve distinct campus groups that cater to Chinese students with activities ranging from debate, to music, and volunteering. There are 22 countries that have only one student attending U of T. Iraq, Estonia, Moldova, Paraguay, French Guiana, and Bolivia have no student association at U of T, but there are groups that cover several countries such as the European Students Association, African Students association.

IN THOUSANDS ($)

VARSITY STAFF

50 40

TRANSIT FARE (ONE WAY) TORONTO & TEHRAN

30 20 10

0 $3.0

$0.22

AVERAGE TEMPERATURE IN FEBRUARY CANADA & SAUDI ARABIA

- 6 C

CANADIAN & MALAYSIAN INTERNET USERS (%)

86%

CANADIAN & SOUTH KOREAN SCHOOL TERMS

11 C CANADIAN & INDIAN AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD SIZE

2.6 PEOPLE

SOURCE FOR STUDENT DATA: ABOUT U OF T, QUICK FACTS

10%

5.3 PEOPLE

JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER

Vol. CXXXIV, No. 18

VARSITY NEWS

news@thevarsity.ca

Eating safe: which nearby campus restaurants pass the test? Sammy’s, Gabby’s, Dumpling Queen among several who have faced trouble with food inspectors Taylor Stinson & Victoria Wicks VARSITY STAFF

Toronto Public Health’s DineSafe program was established in 2001 in an attempt to empower and educate the city’s restaurant customers. The program provides restaurants with green pass, yellow conditional pass, or red fail stickers based on the results of health inspections. Over the past two years, a number of U of T student favourites surrounding the St. George campus have performed poorly in their inspections. “We monitor everything from convenience stores to hot dog stands, food courts, school cafeterias, and more,” explained Kris Scheuer, media relations consultant for Toronto Public Health. “We have more than 17,000 food premises ranging in risk. Low risk entails non-hazardous foods like bagged items, and high risk usually has to do with serving more vulnerable populations. Low-risk vendors receive one inspection a year, and high-risk facilities receive three or more inspections a year depending on whether or not they pass.” Although most restaurants are required to put their coloured sticker in the front window of their establishments, school cafeterias don’t have to follow to the same guidelines. Brian Thompson, manager of Toronto Public Health’s Healthy Environments division, explained that this is because school cafeterias do not require a City of Toronto business licence. “A Public Health Notice is required to be posted only at food premises that have a City of Toronto business licence. Public Health does, however, provide inspection information on the DineSafe website regarding their history,” said Thompson. Located inside Hart House, Sammy’s Student Exchange is one school food outlet that received a Conditional Pass in February 2012. The infraction resulted in a $500 fine for failure to maintain hazardous food at proper temperatures. “You can’t always control what time of day [the inspectors] arrive,” said Sabrina Salhiya, general manager at Sammy’s, “Sometimes the health inspector comes in at the wrong time . . . and you haven’t gotten to clean up to get ready for the next thing.” In reference to the inspector who gave them a Conditional Pass, Salhiya claimed:

GABBY’S BAR AND GRILL

HOME OF HOT TASTE

A LA CARTE AT THE GARDINER

SUSHI CLUB

DUMPLING QUEEN

AJI SAI PLUS RESTO LOUNGE

DINER’S CORNER POPEYES WEST END RESTAURANT CAFE

NOT JUST NOODLES

ALI BABA’S

These restraunts near the St. George campus have recieved at least two conditional passes on their Toronto health inspections “He was fresh and new and wanted to do things differently, and that’s all there is to it, really.” She also cited that Hart House is an old building, making it difficult for the establishment to present themselves as polished as other restaurants. Dumpling Queen, a Chinese restaurant at Yonge and St. Mary, cited similar problems. Dumpling Queen has had five infractions, as of January 17 — one “minor” and four “significant.” Vincent Wu, the owner of Dumpling Queen, noted that the results of inspections often come down to the nature of the inspector. “Different house inspectors have different points of view,” he noted. Wu also explained that one inspector arrived unexpectedly, catching the restaurant owners at an inconvenient time after the Christmas and New Year’s rush. “We didn’t expect them. I know that’s not an excuse, but we tried our best. If it was a major problem, [the inspector] would have shut us down.” Wu said the restaurant has since changed their pest control company and has in-

PAPAYA

creased the number of weekly cleaning sessions. Like Salhiya, Wu mentioned that his restaurant is located in an old building, and the worn walls mislead some to believe the establishment is not safe. Both Salhiya and Wu claimed they have never received complaints from consumers. Scheuer stated that restaurants cannot reopen until all problems identified in Conditional Pass inspections are addressed. Reinspection of the premises occurs within 24– 48 hours. If restaurants are cleared to reopen, they may receive more follow-up inspections — all of which are surprise inspections. “We are not in the business of shutting down restaurants,” said Joe Mihevc, chair of Toronto’s Board of Health, in a recent cbc report. The report emphasized that DineSafe stickers allow and encourage consumers to make informed decisions about their restaurant choices. In some cases, restaurants are required to close. Gabby’s on Bloor was closed in October 2013 due to failing a health inspection, with DineSafe citing pest control issues. Todd

Sherman, the owner of Gabby’s, argued that the health inspector made a mistake. “We have had a stellar record up until that inspection. We believe Toronto Public Health has made a great error,” explained Sherman. “We had just changed locations, and there was a great deal of construction on that street. There were a few dead insects in one of the delivery areas, and the inspector, who was new to the job, decided that it warranted a closure.” “The reason health inspectors close a food premises is to remove or eliminate a health hazard. Infestations of rodents or insects are some of the hazards that can cause a closure. To re-open, the operator must prove to the inspector that the hazard has been removed or eliminated,” Thompson explained. “The next routine inspection will depend on the risk categorization of the food premises. Additional inspections may be required if there are any further complaints,” Thompson said. Gabby’s closed October 30 and re-opened 2 days later, passing inspection on November 1.

Landslide victory for Students First at UTSC Tashin Chowdhury wins presidential race with 67 per cent of the vote Joshua Miller & Gabriela Ansari-Correa VARSITY CONTRIBUTORS

Elections for the Scarborough Campus Students’ Union (scsu) took place February 4–6. Unofficial presidential results were announced last Friday. The election was contested primarily by two slates: New Political Student Party (npsp), led by presidential candidate Habiba Desai, and Students First (sf), led by Tashin Chowdhury. sf filled 15 of the 17 executive and directorial positions for 2014–2015, with all incumbent members of the team being reelected. Chowdhury won the presidential election by 1101* votes to Desai’s 369. Chowdhury outlined sf’s priorities for the next year, proposing “Healthier food options on campus. We kind of don’t have a lot on campus; we just have Booster Juice, so it’s not too affordable,” he said, “we’re also try-

ing to get a shuttle bus to and from the St. George campus. I think that’s something we actually had not too long ago, but the population of the university wasn’t nearly big enough to accommodate that kind of shuttle bus service, but we’ve nearly doubled in population since we last had it.” He argues that this would help the many utsc students who take classes downtown, as well as help clubs at the St. George and Scarborough campuses coordinate activities. Other sf plans include creating an events forum to help integrate campus life, as well as continue to advocate for lower tuition, more study space, and more multi-faith and programmable space on campus. Desai describes what the NPSP should have done differently during the election: “Just engaging more students, because during the elections we knew there was apathy on campus, but just looking at the voter turnout, it

was higher than before, but it was still not that great of a turnout,” she said. “Only 15 per cent of our student population turned out to vote. So it was like 15 per cent of the student population ended up deciding what would happen for the whole entire student population.” “We really hit the floor early,” said Chowdhury, explaining the success of his slate’s campaign, “we tried to talk to as many people as we can and really heard what they had to say before we hit the floor and started asking people to vote for us. So we did a lot of research, I would say, just getting to know our student population, a lot earlier than the other party, I would say.” Desai, for her part, remains committed to her plans. “We want to do the things that we wanted to do as scsu. Some of these ideas didn’t even involve a lot of money. They were just simple small changes to make campus life better. For some of

these things we don’t need scsu to accomplish them, and that’s what we’re going to look towards until next year and then run elections again.” “In terms of their platform ideas and whether they can deliver, I think the expectations for results are going to be much higher this year than they’ve ever been,” said Desai, “because students voted for them and now students are going to say, ‘Well, we voted for you, so did you do these things?’ If they can accomplish them, then great, but if they can’t, then I think there’s going to be more accountability for sure.” Other executive members of the winning slate include Nicole Dionisio for vice-president, academics and student affairs; Guled Arale for vice-president, external; and Sabrina Azraq for vice-president, equity. *All vote counts unofficial until ratified

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Vol. CXXXIV, No. 18

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GSU elections finally underway Most positions remain uncontested despite extending nomination periods twice Anthony Marchese & Sarah Harrison VARSITY STAFF

After twice extending the nomination period twice, campaigning has officially started for the University of Toronto’s Graduate Students’ Union (gsu) election. After the initial nomination period closed on January 24, the positions of External, Academic and Funding (Divisions 1 and 2), and Finance and University Governance Commissioners had no candidates. After one week, there was still no candidate for the Academic and Funding Commissioner, reopening the nomination period. Of the six positions up for grabs, four have a single candidate. However, in the case of single candidates, the gsu mandates a vote of confidence, similar to the University of Toronto Students’ Union (utsu) procedure on elections. Unlike utsu elections though, gsu candidates cannot run in slates. To mark the start of the campaign, The Varsity reached out to all the candidates to discuss their platforms and the issues, including defederation from the Canadian Federation of Students (cfs). Academic and Funding Commissioners primarily address academic issues with faculty and students within their field of study. In Divisions 1 and 2, which focus on humanities and social sciences, Walter Callaghan is the sole candidate. As of press time, Callaghan has not responded to requests for comment, nor had he posted a candidate’s statement on the gsu website — as most other candidates have. Michael Jones and Hussain Masoom — both phd students in chemistry — are the two candidates for Divisions 3 and 4, which address physical and life sciences Both Jones and Masoom listed graduate stipends as an important problem facing graduate students. “Instead of the university paying more to make up for the minimum, they’re just getting more work,” said Jones. Masoom also called on the university “to take steps to realize the importance of graduate students on campus” to improve the graduate student experience.

Graduate Students’ Union building. CArolyn levett/tHe vArsity

Jones also listed other goals he would like to accomplish, including “[making] the processes around fees and university bureaucracy more accessible and more streamlined for the graduate student populace, and [engaging] the physical and life sciences more when it comes to student governance.” Masoom offered a different set of priorities: “I will tackle the issue of timely graduation through shared accountability with the supervisor and student [to] ensure that graduate students can graduate within the given timelines of their degree. I also want to help institute more effective professional development for graduate students as faculty positions become scarcer.” Civics and Environment Commissioners primarily address issues of civic engagement and environmental responsibility. Susanne Waldorf, a phd student in sociology of education, is running unopposed. She is also the sole candidate running for reelection. If elected, Waldorf hopes to continue the work she started this year. “I think public transit in Toronto is a key graduate student issue, and I will continue

to engage with community organizations which are working for better and cheaper public transit in Toronto,” Waldorf said. “I will also continue advocating for better housing in the area of the university and on campus for graduate students.” She also hopes to accomplish her goal of getting a shuttle bus between the St. George and Scarborough campuses. Waldorf also addressed the issue of gsu defederation from the Canadian Federation of Students. “I believe it is important that students decide whether or not to continue our membership with the cfs,” Waldorf said. “I hope to see the cfs disaffiliation referendum happen this year, but if the referendum doesn’t happen in March, I will continue to pressure cfs to hold true to their bylaw and organize a referendum.” The Finance and University Governance Commissioner primarily communicates with University administration and student representatives on financial issues, and oversees audits. Soaleha Shams — a phd student in Cell and Systems Biology at the University of Toronto Mississauga — is the sole candidate.

Although Shams did not respond to The Varsity’s request for an interview, her platform focuses on lowering tuition and increasing funding for graduate students. The External Commissioner oversees lobbying efforts and implements campaigns for organizations with which the gsu is involved. The candidates are Leah Bender and Bethel Woldemichael. Woldemichael’s platform addresses mental health. “One of the biggest issues facing graduate students today is the lack of awareness on students’ mental health,” Woldemichael noted. Woldemichael also addressed the CFS: “I plan to take direction once all graduate students’ voices have been heard... the best decision made will be birthed out of what graduate students would like to happen.” Bender’s platform addresses tuition fees and mental health. “Two issues I hope to address if elected are reducing tuition and fees for phd students who have finished their coursework and comprehensive examinations, and increasing support and resources for all graduate students with mental illnesses or in any time of great emotional need,” Woldemichael said. Bender also addressed the CFS: “While the move to defederate is certainly a bold one, it is not imprudent, as there are very few benefits to be gained through continued affliction.” The internal commissioner primarily liaises with course unions. Nickie Van Lier, a Master’s of Education student at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, is running unopposed. “I want to make sure that student groups on all three campuses are not only aware of issues being taken up by the gsu, but also that they have a way to ensure their ideas and concerns are being heard at the highest level of student representation,” Van Lier said, adding: “To that end, I will be open to meeting regularly with student groups to increase gsu visibility.” The gsu’s All-Candidates Debate is on Thursday, February 13 at University College room 161, from 4:00–6:00 p.m. Voting takes place from February 25 to February 27.

Mayoral debate draws crowd at UTSC SCSU-organized event sees contenders spar on transit, environment, and homelessness Anjum Sultana

VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR

On February 5, the first mayoral candidate forum for the upcoming 2014 Toronto municipal election took place at the university of toronto scarborough. Organized by the Scarborough Campus Students’ Union (scsu), the debate was held in Rex’s Den, utsc’s pub-restaurant. Two hundred students were present. The venue soon reached maximum capacity, and more students were accomodated in the food court upstairs. Himy Syed, co-organizer of the forum and past mayoral candidate, invited all 24 mayoral candidates to the event, however, only five were able to attend. Rob Ford, Toronto’s current mayor, shared the stage with David Soknacki, a former City of Toronto councillor. A number of other largely unknown candidates attended the event, including Robb Johannes, a social justice activist and musician; Al Gore, a former employee at Toronto Hydro; and Richard Underhill, a jazz musician. The event took place in the midst of utsc’s own student union elections. Sarah Worku, president of scsu, hosted the event as a platform for student concerns in the upcoming municipal elections. “Contrary to popular belief, students do care a lot about municipal politics,” Worku

said, “especially because of the immediate daily realities such as transit.” Throughout the evening, candidates were asked a variety of questions, including alleged racial profiling by the Toronto Police of “black and brown youth,” vote recall, the environment, the lack of homeless shelters for queer and trans youth, how to make the lives of students more affordable, and transit for Scarborough. Rob Ford received a mixed reaction from the crowd. His speech focused on tax cuts, boosting the economy, and public transit. Transit is a hot-button issue at utsc. In 2010, students approved $30 million in funding for the new Pan Am/Parapan Am Aquatics Centre and Field House on campus. At the time, some students believed that a light-rail transit (lrt) line would be built to the campus along with the facilities. However, the line is now cancelled, with students still footing the bill for the facility. Ford assured those in attendance that a transit system to Scarborough is on the way. “I said we are getting a subway to Scarborough — we are getting a subway to Scarborough. We have the provincial government on board, and the federal government on board.” Soknacki restated his belief that the lrt was the best transit solution for Scarborough — and, by extension, utsc —

Candidates spar at SCSU-organized debate. Anjum sultAnA/tHe vArsity

based on the cost and potential ridership in the area. Overall, utsc students — such as Moosa Raza, a second year mental health studies specialist — were happy to see the forum at UTSC, as it gave them a chance to engage in the political process and understand candidate platforms. “I think the scsu did an exceptional job in making this possible,” said Raza. “I didn’t

even know what Rob Ford and the other candidates’ platforms were, and I want to thank the scsu for bringing them together to raise a sense of political awareness among the student body.” Voting for the election begins on October 27. A number of prominent potential candidates have yet to declare, including Olivia Chow, and John Tory.

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2014

Divisional leaders question UTSU’s financial arrangement with UTMSU Some say same relationship should be available to societies at St. George campus Theodore Yan

ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR

Some divisional student leaders are voicing concerns about the utsu’s arrangement with utm. utm students pay fees to the union, but utsu then transfers some amount of those fees to the University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union (utmsu). utm students are members of both utsu and utmsu. The utsu by-laws, available on the union’s website, require that utsu remit fees to the utmsu “according to the signed contract.” “I think it’s obvious that this agreement is pretty unfair,” said Rhys Smith, president of the Woodsworth College Students’ Association, “utm students have the same voting rights in utsu elections as St. George students do, despite having their fees returned to their local student society. I believe that this agreement should be terminated, or offered to other student [societies] as well who have expressed concerns about being adequately represented by the utsu.” Mauricio Curbelo, president of the Engineering Society (EngSoc), shared that opinion. “It is not appropriate that students whose fees are diverted to another organization have an equal say in the utsu as students on the St. George campus whose fees actually fund the utsu’s operations,” he said. Curbelo argues that the arrangement between the utsu and utmsu is effectively fee diversion — the arrangement which EngSoc and the Trinity College Meeting (tcm) are seeking, and one of the key points that the ongoing Student Societies Summit is designed to address. EngSoc’s request for a similar arrangement to utmsu’s during the 2010–2011 school year was rebuffed. Like Smith, Curbelo

CONTINUED FROM COVER from previous five per cent increases. Since 2006, tuition fees have increased by as much as 71 per cent in Ontario, according to the cfs-o. Like the cfs-o, the ousa is calling on the provincial government to reallocate tuition and education tax credit funding to improving existing financial assistance programs. According to Chris Fernlund, vice-president of university affairs with ousa, only one in three students earn enough money to make use of the government’s education tax credits while pursuing their degree. Johnston affirmed the provincial government’s commitment to equitable access to post-secondary education. However, she declined comment on upcoming funding initiatives from the provincial government. “Helping Ontario students with their costs is part of the government’s plan to keep post-secondary education within the reach of all families, while building the best-educated workforce in the

argues that the arrangement must be offered to other student societies or terminated. Raymond Noronha, president of the utmsu, takes issue with these arguments. “University of Toronto students registered at the utm campus are members of both the University of Toronto Students’ Union and University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union,” he said, “As members of both organizations, students have rights prescribed in the constitutions of both organizations… I would like to encourage our friends from other student societies to respect the will of students that have decided to participate in the organizations they choose to affiliate with in a democratic manner.” Noronha argues that there is no unfairness in an arrangement that “guarantees all members of any organization” equal rights in those organizations governance. “Undergraduate students enrolled on the Mississauga campus such as myself are not second-class members of the utsu,” says Munib Sajjad, president of the utsu. “We pay into the utsu to receive the services we do, just like any other student, and deserve democratic representation and the opportunity to become involved, as I have.” Sajjad was previously an executive on the utmsu, before successfully making the shift to utsu — last year as vice-president, university affairs, and this year as president. Student leaders at the Student Societies Summit have also complained that few details of the contract are available to the public. Particularly, they wish to know what percentage of utm students’ fees the utsu remits. They allege that this represents a lack of transparency. “Regarding the specifics of the contract, I don’t know and nobody else seems to know either,” said Ben Crase, co-head of Trinity College. He explains that faculty representatives and presidents at the summit last semester

requested those details, but that Agnes So, utsu’s vicepresident, university affairs, and Yolen Bollo-Kamara, its vice-president, equity, have not provided those details for the past two meetings. So and Bollo-Kamara have represented the utsu at the Student Societies summit. “utsu representatives at the Summit refuse to make the actual contract available, claiming that contracts are confidential and only the people who signed the contract can see it. Not even Board members of the utsu have been allowed to see the contract,” says Curbelo. “Apparently the current executives haven’t seen it either, since Yolen and Agnes are unsure what percentage exactly of the utm students’ utsu fee is being returned to utmsu.” Crase agrees that So and Bollo-Kamara simply do not seem to know the details of the contract. He notes further that, though he is a member of the utsu’s board, even he has not seen the contract. Sajjad contends that these claims are inaccurate: “utmsu collects a fee directly from utm students, just like any other divisional students’ society as it is an amalgamation of the utsu and the former ecsu [Erindale College Students’ Union]. Insofar as the utmsu is providing services to our members, utmsu is the utsu.” Sajjad states further that “there is nothing remitted to utmsu for it’s [sic] own use.” While a publicly available utmsu budget for the 2011– 2012 school year lists utsu membership fees as a revenue source for the utmsu separate from its own membership fees, the utmsu’s 2013 Financial Statements do not. These concerns will almost certainly be raised at the next Student Societies Summit meeting, which will be held Monday, February 10. There are two more summit meetings scheduled for this year, on February 22 and March 14, respectively.

world,” she noted. More than 370,000 students — half of all fulltime post-secondary students in Ontario — received student financial aid during the 2012–2013 academic year. Both the ousa and cfs-o are also calling for changes in the labour market. The cfs-o wants the province to collect statistics on unpaid internships and end unpaid work terms in the public sector, while the ousa wants the province to assist in increasing paid co-operative education opportunities for undergraduates. “ousa is asking the province to provide funding that will encourage the expansion of paid co-op opportunities in nontraditional programs in the arts and humanities, social sciences, and sciences,” Fernlund said. Fernlund noted that students who participate in co-operative programs had higher post-graduation employment outcomes than other students, and make $2–$3 more per hour upon graduation. Johnston addressed student concerns over unpaid internships. “The fact that a young employee is called an ‘intern’ by someone they work for does not mean that he or she is

not an employee for purposes of the Employment Standards Act,” she said. “The Ministry of Labour is always reaching out to employees and employers to make sure that they are aware of their rights and responsibilities under the Employment Standards Act.” U of T is also calling on the provincial government to expand funding for post-secondary entrepreneurship and experiential learning opportunities. U of T currently has a number of entrepreneurship opportunities such as campus-run accelerators, and experiential learning opportunities, such as cooperative opportunities and service learning. Johnston pointed to the government’s Youth Jobs Strategy — a program designed to help youth find jobs or start their own businesses — as evidence of its commitment to providing employment opportunities for youth. The strategy included four funds aimed at generating employment opportunities for youth. One fund, the Ontario Youth Entrepreneurship Fund, provided $45 million to connect young people with mentorship and seed capital to start their own businesses.

NEWS IN BRIEF Proposed law school says its religious Winnipeg mayor sues student newspaper Posters at Spadina and Harbord prompt freedom challenged calls for donations Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz is suing The Uniter, a student newsTrinity Western University (twu), a private faith-based university in British Columbia, has come under fire for its ban on gayintimacy between students. The university’s proposed new law school, planned to open in 2016, has been opposed by from lawyers and academics across the country. Scott Campbell, vice-president of alumni for twu, called on graduates and lgbt alumni to join the conversation and support the new school. It has been approved by the Federation of Law Societies of Canada, and the bc government. However, opposition to the school is urging provincial law societies to review the matter. The societies have the authority to delay accreditation to graduates, which could seriously hinder the twu law school. Nova Scotia Barristers Society is currently undertaking a review, and Ontario may follow suite. Bob Kuhn, president of twu, released a video address in which he stated that opposition to the new school “strikes at the very heart of religious freedom in Canada.”

paper at the University of Winnipeg, over an article that appeared in the paper in December. Katz is also suing the article’s writer, Josh Benoit, and the university. The article has since been removed from The Uniter’s website. A statement in the article’s place said: “Because this matter is presently before the Courts, this article is temporarily unavailable.” Uniter managing editor Nicholas Friesen stood by Benoit. “I can’t say much, but what I can say right now is that we continue to stand by the author of the piece,” Friesen said in an email to iMediaEthics. “With respect to the mayor’s comments in the media, we’ve retained legal counsel and our lawyer, Bob Sokalski, is in contact with the Mayor’s lawyer.” Katz is seeking an apology, and does not believe he will receive any financial compensation due to the financial resources of The Uniter: “You have to look at the entities, and if you take out the University of Winnipeg, there’s nothing there,” he noted.

Hand-drawn posters alluding to a fatal collision at Spadina avenue and Harbord street are prompting calls for donations to surviving family members. David La, a 27-year-old with Down syndrome, was left without his mother, Grace Yang-Sim Kim, after she was struck by a van on November 7 of last year. Kim succumbed to head injuries resulting from the accident. Her eldest son, Eugene La, is now David’s fulltime guardian. Eugene created a trust fund to sustain his mother’s wish that David may be financially secure in the absence of a family to support him. The trust will also alleviate outstanding funerary fees and protect David’s ability to receive public disability funding.

Sarah Niedoba — With files from The Globe and Mail

James Flynn — With files from CBC News and iMediaEthics

Malone Mullin — With files from The Globe and Mail

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The myth of gender equality

What the underrepresentation of women in STEM programs reveals about our beliefs Victoria Wicks

VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR

Individuals may be legally equal in Canada, but our society is by no means equitable towards both genders. A patriarchal culture still exists, resulting in the underrepresentation of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (stem). Women currently represent the majority of both non-stem students and university graduates overall. However, Statistics Canada recently published a study that showed women enrolling in university are less likely than men to choose programs in stem, regardless of mathematical ability. Why are women refraining from pursuing stem programs? Some critics still argue that women and men are physiologically different — men are naturally better at studying these disciplines than women. Yet, these biological determinist claims are weak rationalizations. Many cite that men have superior 3D spatial and visualization skills, which are considered crucial for success in stem. While men are reportedly more likely than women to pass spatial-visualization tests, research shows these skills are easily improved over a short period of time, and are not necessarily a function of biology. Students’ average scores on the Purdue Spatial Visualization Test: Rotations (psvt:r) rose from 52 per cent to 82 per cent — the mean

engineering student’s score — after simply taking a 40-hour spatial-visualization course over ten weeks. Any deficiency in spatial-visualization skills is easily overcome, and consequently should not be used to justify the lack of female representation in stem. The study also showed that students who played with erector sets, 3D computer games, or enrolled in mechanics classes were more likely to score well on the psvt:r. Such activities are typically represented as “masculine” — more men than women engage in them, and thus men inevitably improve their spatial-visualization skills. The gender difference in such skills, is therefore more likely a result of persistent gender norms than physiology. Other analyses concerning men and women’s differences in iq, brain structure, and hormonal effects on cognition are largely inconclusive. In contrast, many contemporary reports show a rapidly shrinking, sometimes even non-existent gap in general performance levels between women and men. Women are just as capable of pursuing stem subjects as men. The reluctance to do so is not a matter of ability, but one of socialization and stereotypes. People may have stopped actively barring women from pursuing stem subjects, but our subtle biases still exist, disproportionately encouraging men to enter stem work areas over women. Harvard’s online Implicit Association Test found that over 70 per cent of half a mil-

TIMOTHY LAW/THe VArsITY

lion participants from around the world more readily linked “male” with science, and “female” with arts than the reverse. Further studies show that people consider women less likeable if they are in “masculine” fields, especially if they are clearly competent. Competence and likability are essential for succeeding in any field, so women pursuing stem are caught in a Catch-22. While we may consciously support gender equity, our actions reflect implicit biases in ways that ultimately deter women from pursuing or succeeding in stem. The lack of female role models recorded in stem history perpetuates these implicit biases. Nettie Stevens, Jocelyn Burnell, and

Chien-Shiung Wu are all among the women who have made contributions to stem and who eventually won Nobel Prizes, but male counterparts ended up receiving the official awards and public recognition. These women need to be given proper credit, so as to create a narrative where women have their rightful place in stem. It is imperative that women are properly represented in stem — if not to fulfill democratic principles of equity, then to harness a hugely untapped potential, maximizing innovation and competitiveness. Products of stem fields are crucial to the national economy and society; without women, stem outputs are ill-suited to serve all users. The first

automotive airbags were calibrated to adult male bodies, resulting in preventable deaths of women and children. Early voice-recognition systems only picked up male voices. We have a responsibility to recognize that the legacy of sexism still lingers in our society, detrimentally affecting the lives of at least half of our population. We need to be conscious of our implicit biases, and how they translate into gender inequity. Only with this awareness can we begin to effectively dismantle society’s patriarchal structure which deters women from pursuing stem. Victoria Wicks is a first-year student at Trinity College studying philosophy and political science.

Federal government looking to double the number of international students Influx promises not only financial gain, but also cultural growth Francesca Morfini

VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR

U of T is practically bursting with international students, adding to Toronto’s cultural diversity. The Canadian federal government wants to increase the number of international students coming to the university, aiming to double the current number of international students by 2022. This announcement is a significant source of controversy for Canadian students, given the possible threat to their participation once there is a surge of international students occupying schools across the country. As an international student, the idea is ultimately welcomed. The direct benefit is obvious: the chances of us studying abroad and competing with North American citizens are increased. But there are wider issues to be considered. Particularly, it will provide Canadian students who don’t get the chance to study abroad with a window to foreign cultures. With amplified globalization taking place, this exposure is not just fun and interesting: it’s necessary.

Yet, is this what the government is really concerned with? In 2012, international students spent $8.4 billion in the Canadian economy, between tuition, accommodations, and additional costs. A policy to increase international student enrolment will feed the nation, creating economic development without exhausting the government’s resources. The government is investing in this policy, as the plan envisions $5 million spent yearly on marketing Canada as an attractive, cultural, and thriving destination for education. Doubling the number of incoming international students will result in an estimated 450,000 foreign students all over Canada, bringing an estimated $16.1 billion into the economy. This will sustain hundreds of jobs through increased employment at universities, as well as expanded academic opportunities. Furthermore, there will be a cultural boom as foreign students bring their own ideas and perspectives to the country, making universities more open-minded. Establishing global connections is another factor to be

Increases in international student enrollment could increase the burden on resources, such as the Centre for International Experience. HeLeNA NAJM/THe VArsITY

considered; Canadians will have more opportunities to work abroad as universities have a chance to team up with other schools internationally. As part of the project, another $13 billion in scholarship funding was promised in the most recent federal budget to bring foreign students here and send Canadians abroad.

From the perspective of an international student, it’s important to take note of Canada’s competition. The US, along with the UK and Australia, offers equally rigorous programs, often at similar tuition fees. European universities in Italy, France, and Scandinavian countries have begun to offer degrees in Eng-

lish, giving ample choice to students pursuing this same path. Canada needs to differentiate itself, and the money being spent under this policy is vital to do so. Initial reactions to this policy are pessimistic, as it paints the Canadian government in a negative light. Why should the government take advantage of our higher tuition fees, when we gain the same benefits as Canadian students? Even so, while Canadian citizens benefit from foreign exposure in a passive way, international students do so in a active way. We are paying more, but we are also experiencing more when we move to a new country. Despite this policy’s economic goals, it means facilitating visa processes for students who wish to gain these experiences first-hand by coming to Canada to study. While the government is considering its own goals, it’s helping students around the world to achieve theirs. Francesca Morfini is a second-year student at St. Michael’s College studying international relations and history.

var.st/comment

VARSITY COMMENT

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2014

THE QUESTION

What will a hike in the minimum wage mean for Ontarians?

Students among those most affected by minimum wage increase, recently announced by the provincial government. MICHAEL CHAHLEY/THE VArsITY

Minimum wage increase sparks pre-election posturing in Ontario Yves Guillaume A. Messy VARSITY STAFF

A few days ago, the Premier Kathleen Wynne's provincial government stood behind the decision to raise the minimum wage in the provinc from $10.25 to $11 as of June 1, 2014. Students are sure to be among those most affected by the imminent increase. While most are heralding the move as a progressive step in the right direction, the increase is not as generous as originally hoped for. Economic growth remains tentative after the 2008 financial crisis in the United States, both federally and provincially, and pushing for $14 an hour, the amount recommended by various grassroots groups, could negatively impact Ontario's growth momentum. Premier Wynne's decision to support an increase to $11 per hour proves to be a sensible decision when poverty alleviation and business confidence are both reasonably considered. Fully understanding why Premier Wynne settled on the increase requires particular awareness of our current political context. About a year ago, grassroots groups, mostly counting on the National Democratic Party's (ndp) support for their efforts, launched a campaign to battle poverty by tackling the minimum wage in Ontario, as this issue is at the forefront of many voters' priorities. This is all the more important given that the provincial elections season is fast approaching. The provincial Conservatives' stance on this issue is no surprise — they firmly oppose any tinkering with the supply-side economics of Ontario's economy, and they fear that any increase whatsoever will ruin Ontario. This is mostly an exaggerated stance, the result of pre-election posturing. On the other side of the spectrum, the Liberals, newly concerned with economic competitiveness as much as the Conservatives, aim for

a balanced approach that reconciles the most urgent priorities of poverty alleviation with the mainstream determinants of solid business confidence. Further on the political left, one would expect an ndp that strikes a dissident note, calling for at least $14 as the first shot in the battle against what should be Ontario's first priority: poverty alleviation and employee protection. This, however, is not the case. Ontario ndp leader Andrea Horwath keeps a low profile because the party stands much closer to the Liberals — by a dollar it turns out, in their recommendations for what the minimum increase should be. In doing this, the provincial ndp aims to expand their core voter support base with a warmer touch to commercial and business lobbying interests. There is another issue to consider: how does the rest of the job market react to this proposal? A quick survey of workplace sentiment regarding this issue reveals a worry that a $14 increase is slanted against skilled labour and the number of years workers spend reaching cherished higher wage levels. Is it fair to higher skilled workers, excluding ceos, to see minimum wage increasingly trivialized their specialized skill sets? Or is a $14 wage fair to the rest of Ontario's economy, which might suffer from decreased business confidence and go down in global rankings as a destination for foreign investment? There are many such considerations against the grassroots campaign's advocated wage hike. Wynne's decision is ultimately being supported by the majority of critics for taking inflation, and fluctuations in the annual consumer price index into account. It may not be what we hoped for, but its something. Yves Guillaume A. Messy is in his final year, specializing in political science. He is a political commentator on CTV National News.

Hike in minimum wage lacks maximum impact Samantha Relich

ASSOCIATE COMMENT EDITOR

Last week the Ontario provincial government announced an increase in the province’s minimum wage to $11 per hour with a proposal to adjust the wage annually according to inflation rates. The announcement received mixed responses, with local businesses expressing concerns over the economic impact of the increase and anti-poverty activists claiming that the 75 cent hike was not enough to bring workers above the poverty line. The province’s decision struck a compromise between these voices, with Premier Kathleen Wynne saying, “This is a fair adjustment to the minimum wage and it gives businesses predictability.” To put this into perspective, the increase for individuals working 40 hour weeks, 52 weeks per year, amounts to $1,560. While workers putting in 20 hours per week will experience an increase of about $780 in their yearly income. While not an insubstantial increase, the reaction among struggling workers, including many students, is clear; it’s a step in the right direction, but a greater leap is needed to make minimum wage a livable wage. As students, we are faced with a multifaceted conundrum. Our living expenses are inextricably bound to general inflation and other fluctuating costs, tuition being one example. In the 2010-2011 academic year, the first year of Ontario’s minimum wage freeze, tuition for first year Arts & Science students at U of T was $5,216. In 2013-2014 these same students paid $5,809. Over the past four years, tuition for these students has increased by $593 while minimum wage has remained frozen at $10.25. When combined with other annual increases such as the cost of living in Toronto, public transportation fares for commuters, and the

costs of course materials, it is easy to see how students are deeply impacted by changes, or lack thereof, to the minimum wage. The upsurge in unpaid internships means that growing numbers of students find themselves working for free in order to gain valuable experience in their chosen fields — leaving them unable to work full-time during the summer months to offset costs incurred during the year. In a climate where so much of our future depends on strong academic performance, extracurricular involvement, and relevant work experience, students are forced to choose between financial security now and making advancements for their future. Some businesses facing decreased profit margins as a result of the minimum wage jump will be forced to cut back on staff size and cut workers’ hours to compensate. Wynne’s proposal to tie future hikes in minimum wage to inflation promises to mitigate these side effects, which are magnified by periods of stagnancy followed by large increases. However, this policy does nothing to palliate the financial crunch businesses will experience come the wage hike on June 1, 2014 — just when many students are hunting for summer jobs. So yes, the recent increase is welcome news to those working for minimum wage, but is it enough to make a revolutionary difference for students? Not even close. With students' expenses growing annually, this increase merely reduces the deficit created by the four-year wage freeze, but still leaves students caught juggling career objectives and financial pragmatism. Samantha Relich is The Varsity’s Associate Comment Editor. She is a third-year student at Victoria College studying criminology and political science.

VARSITY COMMENT

Vol. CXXXIV, No. 18

comment@thevarsity.ca

Why student movements fail Organizers need to do more to engage students directly Abdullah Shihipar

VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR

Over the past few months in the city of London, UK, hundreds of students have been taking to the streets to protest the forced closure of the University of London Union — the University of London's central students’ union. Throughout the demonstrations, the students have faced aggression from the authorities, been arrested, and have had their right to protest severely curtailed by the university administration. In contrast, when it comes to mobilizing against cuts to university education in Ontario, the situation is dismal. The now-defunct annual protest to “drop fees,” organized by the Canadian Federation of Students (cfs), could only ever muster luke-warm support, while students certainly don’t like paying high fees, there is little enthusiasm to do anything about it. One doesn’t have to go far to see student mobilization in action. In 2012, Quebecois students went on strike in response to a proposed tuition fee increase of 75 per cent. Student activists across the province have posed the question of why Ontario students can’t replicate Québec’s results. The finger is often pointed towards the apathetic masses of students, who do not take part in the work towards affordable education — either consciously or out of ignorance. And so organizers spend most of their time during the year appealing to students through rhetoric and buzzwords to encourage action and involvement. While this sense of apathy does exisit to a certain extent, with respect to mobilizing for education, students are far from being disengaged members of society. Both inside and outside the classroom, many students are actively involved in issues they care about — whether the issue is tackling the stigma around hiv/aids, or examining the effect municipal policies have on the city’s working class; students are involved. The problem does not lie with students, but with the student organizers. We are asking the wrong questions. Rather than assuming students are as apathetic as we think they are, we should be asking how we came to that conclusion in the first place. The answer is simple: while well-versed in activist ideology and rhetoric student organizers in Ontario, including myself, all fail to listen to their fellow students. We get so lost in talking and reading about organization that we fail to stop and give students the chance to participate in the movement. It is not a case of merely forgetting; when students try to participate in the process and present alternative ideas, they are either shunned, or treated with hostility. Often those who dissent, regardless of political affiliation, are referred to as right-wingers bent on pursuing a campaign of unionbusting. It is true that there are political parties that do try to undermine the work of student unions, but, for the most part, the threat is exaggerated.

Students participate in a "drop fees" protest. FILE PHOTO: RYAN KELPIN/THE VARsITY

While claiming to speak for students, organizers continue to maintain a condescending attitude that gives the impression that they know

the best practices to guide the student movement, and that the student body is too ignorant to contribute effectively. The status quo of ignoring

voices in student movements needs to change. We need to radically rethink how we organize ourselves on campus. We may not agree with

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all the ideas presented to us, but we need to attempt to include as many voices as we can. Theory is important, but without the involvement of students, it is meaningless. In addition to listening to students, we need to restructure our systems of participatory democracy to ensure students have more of a say more often. One such model exists in the direct democracy model, applied in general assemblies of the Québec student movement and the Occupy Wall Street protests. Direct democracy allows people to vote on specific policies, as opposed to leaving all of the decisions to a representative executive. Organizers in Ontario have rejected the model, suggesting that such a structure would disenfranchise minority voices. However, as Occupy has successfully demonstrated, direct democracy can be put into place with controls to ensure that minority voices are adequately represented. If we do not take these steps, students will continue to be disenfranchised, organizers will continue to boast about victories, and tuition fees will continue to increase. Abdullah Shihipar is a third-year student and an Arts & Science Students' Union execuitve. The views expressed here are his own.

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EDITORIAL

VAR.ST!EDITORIAL

U of T steps into Internet privacy conversation

NANCY JI/THe VArsiTy

FEBRUARY

2014

comment@thevarsity.ca

LETTERS TO

THE EDITOR Vol. CXXXIV, No. 17 | February 3, 2014 Re: Verve’s sweet deal Wow, too bad the author only got one perspective and didn't do more research that one would expect before publishing such an article. I've been with Vemma for three years now and have found it to be an amazing company and opportunity if one follows the policies, procedures, and best practices that are in place. All Vemma affiliates essentially act as independent contractors and are responsible for marketing the products and the brands ourselves, but unfortunately some younger affiliates get a little overzealous in their approach, but the company cannot be faulted for this. Vemma corporate goes to great lengths to instruct us to behave professionally and ethically. Vemma was never presented as a "get rich quick" scheme. This is business that allows one to recoup their investment quickly, and then build it over time, just like any other business. I have managed to match my full-time engineering income in 3 years, but, as we say, results are not typical. Networking is not perfect, but it is a great way to supplement one's income. — Rick Duque (from web) Re: Former U of T president nominated to corporate board This article is ridiculous and doesn't address any of the real concerns that people have voiced about the Naylor appointment, as outlined by the "Munk out of UofT" campaign. This Naylor appointment brings into new suspicion the highly irregular process by which the Munk School was created in the first place, which involved by-passing the Governing Council with a secret contract that gave Munk considerable oversight of the school. Add that to the fact that the School's director, Janice Stein, turned the head of the Student Union over to Barrick's lawyers for associating with the Munk out of UofT campaign. This is all very well-documented and the author best read the actual criticisms of the school before writing her defenses. They obviously have taken no time to understand people's concerns — Sakura Sanders (from web)

The vast majority of the medical student body are well aware that they pay fees to the utsu. The vast majority of medical students are well aware of the services supplied by the utsu, as well as the other stated “benefits” of being under the utsu umbrella. This is simply the first time that our current constituency has been polled on their use of utsu services. We intend to continue to work with the other student groups at the summit to ensure our student population derives the greatest benefit from their student fees. The possibility of fee diversion is an option, as are other potential solutions to this complex governance issue. — Kim Blakely (from web) Re: Minimum wage in Ontario rises from $10.25 to $11.00 Theodore Yan reports that reaction to the raise of the minimum wage to $11.00 is mixed, with some businesses praising the predictability of the proposed inflation-based indexing and some expressing worry about the costs. It is useful to consider this legislation in its proper context. The minimum wage has been frozen since 2010. This “increase” to $11.00 merely takes into account the changes in the Consumer Price Index (cpi) in the past four years. Fixing the minimum wage to the regular rise in cpi is commendably fair; it ensures that the same number of hours worked will purchase the same amount of goods and services from year to year. However the new legislation still allows for the discriminatory “Student Minimum Wage.” Those under the age of 18 need only be paid $10.30 per hour, even if their work is identical to that of an 18-year-old who must be paid $11.00. The argument given in support of this is that parents will help to support younger workers, and that therefore they need not be awarded equal pay for equal work. Those who are aware of recent labour history will recognize that similar arguments were used as recently as the 1970s: since their husbands helped to support them, women need not receive equal pay for equal work. The argument was wrong then and it is wrong now. Workers under 18 are often struggling to pay tuition, and cover basic living expenses; sometimes they are helping to support their families. If a 17-year-old is able to do the same work as a 20-year-old, then he or she should receive the same pay as the 20-year-old. The Canadian Federation of Students, together with the student unions at U of T, have been calling for an end to the discriminatory “Student Minimum Wage.” Students who wish to express their concerns regarding this legislation should contact their Member of Provincial Parliament. If you don’t know your mpp, you can find out here: http://fyed.elections. on.ca/fyed/en/form_page_en.jsp. — Susan Froom is president of the Association of Part Time Undergraducate Students

An open letter written last month by U of T post-doctoral fellow Christopher Parsons focused on the current state of Internet privacy and government surveillance in Canada. Parsons' letter emphasized the importance of this issue to our local community at U of T. The letter, which was sent to each of the country’s major phone and internet service providers (isps) — including Bell Canada, Telus, as well as Rogers and its subsidiary Fido — requests that the companies publicize the extent to which they provide customer information to intelligence and law enforcement agencies. In the post-Snowden era of Internet privacy, Parsons and others are continuing the often difficult and unpopular work of pulling back the veil of government surveillance. Students across the country, continent, and indeed, the world, are aware of the new status quo, but may not have considered the full privacy implications of increased access to information online. It is, unfortunately, easy to ignore the droning of television anchors or the frequently updated headlines of news sources as they appear on Facebook and Twitter, especially when the medium lends itself to distraction. The irony, of course, is that as these stories appear, they are swiftly buried under an infinite stream of online information. Last month, The Varsity published a comment piece about the administrative backdoors of Blackboard Portal, U of T’s ubiquitous online class organization service. The article noted that the online learning tool allows course administrators to see how often students in their courses access readings, the syllabus, and other materials; this effectively allows professors to keep tabs on students’ engagement without their knowledge. It is unclear how many U of T professors use the website for that purpose, nor is this aspect of Blackboard a secret. Nevertheless, many if not most U of T students don’t know that their habits can be monitored in this way. This is an example of the relatively superficial understanding most people have of their own online presence. Canada’s government is also implicated in the surge of revelations relating to Internet and wireless communication privacy over the past year. Our own federal government has been tied to international spying efforts, as well as the sharing of metadata with foreign agencies through the Communications Security Establishment Canada — our equivalent of the American National Security Agency. It remains uncertain how much work has gone into building a national surveillance infrastructure similar to that of the United States, but what is certain is that our government — and by extension, the governments of other countries — have some access to Canadians’ online activity. It is encouraging to see that Canadians like U of T’s Christopher Parsons are using legitimate channels to combat unjustified surveillance in Canada. Whether or not our elected government should be given the power to keep track of our movements and online presence is a valid and pertinent question. Those who suggest that these stories are harmless — or that they are the product of the natural progression of security in the information age should not pacify us, just as those who cry foul and indulge in Orwellian conspiracy theories should not panic us. Setting the boundaries of privacy, particularly online, is a defining issue for our generation. The precedents we set today will be hugely influential. How our society debates and implements Internet privacy mechanisms now will undoubtedly have lasting effects for the future, as the scope of the Internet continues to expand. It is imperative that young people educate themselves on this process, while also being wary of what they are willing to share online. A vast network of complicated communications hides behind the familiar graphic interfaces of our mobile messengers, our Facebook profiles, our email, and so on. True power lies in citizenship. Whether or not our personal information is being used for good or bad, it is ours, and we have a right to hold those who would take it from us to account. The work already being done by concerned members of the U of T community should act as a model for those with their own concerns. It is crucial that these decisions be made in the light of day, and any efforts to pull them into the spotlight — and to inform more people — are positive. The waters remain murky, but it is only by wading in that we can start to judge their depth.

Re: Seventy one per cent of medical students use no UTSU services, says MedSoc I'm not sure what Theodore is trying to achieve with this article, although I can say that it is not representative of the medical student opinion on this situation. This is simply one article in a series of articles written by The Varsity, that takes a very complex issue and puts a simplistic, ill-informed spin on a few out of context quotes. “The Medical Society (MedSoc) discovered that their members paid fees to the union, and felt that they should not have.” If you wish to report on this issue, please report the correct facts:

The Varsity's editorial board is elected by the masthead at the beginning of each semester. For more information about The Varsity's editorial policy, email comment@thevarsity.ca.

Letters to the editor should be directed to comment@thevarsity.ca. Please keep letters to 250 words. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

“Couples making out &

LGBTQ students share anecdotes, poems, and sen

ROOMMATES (FOR AMI) A’s hair smells of ginger soap her toenails scratch my sleeping feet and sometimes she looks very young standing in the snow

A is moving in with me I’ve hung paper moons on plaster holes peeled the wallpaper down to make room for her books I have filled our drawers with birthday candles My grandmother knows we go on dates — but not with each other — to dimly lit rooms I would gladly trade my parents’ hate for our quiet Valentine’s I could watch her dress all day When A comes home, exhausted she’ll cast their anger off with unwed socks to be lost in laundry baskets and we’ll sleep like cats all winter With great plans for the thaw — Kate Burnham, second-year, english

THREE TIMES I KISSED A GIRL (SORT OF)

FIRE

I fell in love with fire, and of course, I got burned. I fell in love with words that broke in my hands and kisses that left scorch marks on my lips. I traced her back while she slept because I was afraid that if I closed my eyes, she would disappear. Turns out, she left when my eyes were wide open. I tell myself, all you have to do is let it go. Let it go. — Nicole Doucette, fourth-year, mineral engineering

The first time, she was a friend of mine and we were on the dance say we would never be caught dead in. Some guys were hassling u hers, laughing. We made out briefly, and it hardly served its pur between ourselves and our unromantic suitors. I had red lipstick a The second time, she was my dearest and oldest friend in the cit the careless honeymoon phase of an inevitably doomed social grou kisses on the cheek. She put a pretzel in her mouth and offered me and they tasted like salt. The third time doesn’t really count. I wanted to kiss her and times before, when it was just an intimate moment with a friend t thing small and fleeting. My heart was beating, faster. This time first time, I really, really wanted to. — Anonymous, fourth-year

& me EatINg CheETos”

ntiments from their experiences looking for love at U of T

AND I LIKED IT

e floor at a club that we would later us, and she pulled my face towards rpose of creating the desired space all over my face. I didn’t wipe it off. ty and we were drunk and happy in up. We shared secrets and wine and e the other half. Our lips met briefly,

I did not — but it wasn’t like the turned something more, but somee, I didn’t kiss her because for the

THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY It began on the last weekend of Reading Week last year. I was bored, since none of my friends had returned to the city yet, so I decided to snoop around OkCupid. One profile caught my attention in particular: a tall, green-eyed, muscular, oliveskinned man. I decided against sending him a message out of fear of rejection. The next morning I awoke to a message from the man I had viewed the night before and I was ecstatic. We messaged all of Saturday evening and exchanged numbers. We planned on meeting the following weekend, but the very next day we decided we could not wait an entire week and we met that afternoon. We grabbed coffee and wandered around Queen West in frigid February, talking for what felt like 30 seconds, but in reality was several hours. We talked about everything, from why he decided to move to Canada to philosophy and religion. We just clicked. Several weeks went by and I was enjoying every single moment spent with him — but then things took a sharp turn. The company he worked for was going through a rough patch and laying people off. His hours were cut in half. His Canadian citizenship application would not be processed for a year, and he was worried he would not be able to find another company that would be willing to sponsor him so he could acquire another work visa. His was set to expire in a few months. The stress caused the relationship to unravel, and we ended on poor terms. After a month, he reached out to me and apologized for the way things ended, and asked if we could give it another try. We tried, but the stress wore us down once again. I have not been in contact with him since. It hurts to think about what could have been if we were not faced with the stress of immigration and the fear of uncertainty. I think about him all the time, and I don’t even know if he is still in Toronto. I wish him the best, and in all honesty, I wish we had just one more chance. He’s the one that got away. — Anonymous, fourth-year

PIZZA AND BOOBS: A SERIES OF TWEETS November 15: why does everyone talk about rob ford when we could talk about pizza and boobs November 20: wildly attracted to girls wielding a large weapon or a large pizza November 24: this party has turned into couples making out and me eating cheetos December 31: people say the sexiest curve on a girl is her smile but it’s her butt January 15: I’m making a girlfriend out of pillows and watching rom coms with her if you guys wanna join, should be rowdy January 19: u of t is offering gay and lesbian softcore parkour lessons for beginners this friday, what a time to be alive

NICE JEWISH BOYS

I was doing my thing in a free modern/ballet dance class in the gay village and decided to see what the story was at a gay Jewish event held next door. The room was full of really hot athletic guys and I was like, “wow.” I went up to a group of people, started chatting, and I noticed they all had accents — maybe British. One of them asked: “Are you here for the rugby club?” A bartender then informed me that the Jewish event had been relocated to a bar down the street. I finally got there and sat down next to this guy around my age. He was one of the executives of the gay Jewish organization. To my surprise, he was rather close-minded. He didn’t seem to understand that intersex people existed, or that bisexual people need to be taken into account when running a queer organization. Out of nowhere, this drag queen shows up, drunkenly exclaiming: “I heard there was a party in here!” Somebody explained that it was a gay Jewish event, so she asked if everyone was circumcised. I wanted to leave, but also really wanted to see what would happen next. She started flirting with me, and mentioned she was a redhead — and I love redheads. She asked for my number to send me a photo of her out of drag, and the picture was really cute, so I decided to see where it would go. The reason I went to this event was to prove to my mom that I would not find a nice Jewish boy there — done. — Jonathan Hadad, third-year, political science and sexual diversity studies

— Hannah Reinsborough (@makeitreinss), third-year, criminology and sociology

ONLINE: A guide to student-friendly gay bars in Toronto’s Church-Wellesley village at var.st/gaybars

ARTS & CULTURE

VAR.ST"ARTS

FEBRUARY

2014

arts@thevarsity.ca

“And then there were the stories” Former Bedouin Soundclash frontman Jay Malinowski discusses new album and ancestry

Jay Malinowski opens up about the influences behind Martel. jennifer su/THe VArsiTy

Catherine Virelli VARSITY STAFF

Jay Malinowski & the Deadcoast, fronted by Canadian artist and former Bedouin Soundclash lead singer Jay Malinowski, will soon release their first album, titled Martel. The album is inspired by the life and times of Malinowski’s sailor ancestor, Charles Martel, whose adventures at sea were often retold to Malinowski as he grew up. In anticipation of Martel’s release, The Varsity sat down with Malinowski to talk about the album’s namesake and production. The Varsity: Your ancestor, Charles Martel, is the inspiration for the album. Can you elaborate on how you came about choosing that topic? Jay Malinowski: Charles Martel was a household topic for my grandfather. So originally, it was my grandfather telling me about the past as I was growing up — where we’d come from; that was really important for my grandfather. When I was young, I remember being really interested in it, but when it came to actually writing this record, the questions [became]: Why do we become the people we become? Why do we make the choices we make? Are they based on our self-definition, or a set of vast, vast circumstances that were decided maybe 300 years in the past, or 600 years in the past, by our parents? I can’t control where I was born, but do I also have characteristics from something that’s way deeper? That was where it came to me from. And that’s the question that Martel asks; it’s the spirit of Martel on the record, as he goes through the oceans.

TV: Do all of the songs refer to real or reimagined experiences of Charles Martel? Or did you integrate your own experiences into each of them? JM: [I integrated] my personal experiences. I was seeing a pattern develop. I’d always been transplanted my whole life: I was born in Montréal, my parents are from Toronto, I grew up in Vancouver, and my grandfather is from Cape Breton. So there was this period of displacement; I’m sort of from Montréal, but really, I feel strongly towards the Pacific Ocean. Even in the choices I was making in life, I was seeing a pattern with Charles Martel and with my grandfather. Maybe I wasn’t a sailor, like all the other Martels, but then, how different was my life, really? I was travelling a lot… I was always in transit. So I related so much to the story [of Martel]; I found [it] fascinating… I wanted to make something that, for me, was drawing on the history of my family... [Charles Martel] started in Lyon, his mother was beheaded, his life was upheaved, he came across to the new world, fought against the country he was from, and then ends up becoming a Justice of the Peace in Main à Dieu. With all those events that transpired... How does someone survive? His was a very dramatic section of life, but I think we all do that — we all find ourselves having to survive — so that’s something I related to. TV: How did you go about researching for the album? JM: For the beginning of it, it was all through my grandfather. My grandfather left behind all these notes… I think it was

a generational thing for him too — family trees were important… He left behind all this genealogy... He had this line [of Martels] that he had written out, and then there were the stories. And so I went to Louisburg, and then his house…and I corroborated all the stuff I had been reading about. There's a writer at the Cape Breton Post who's a Martel historian as well, so there was a lot of stuff that I could get for it. And then you actually see it in person; [there are] graveyards, all the anchors — they're right by the seashore — for all the Martels dating back. [The process] was profoundly moving. TV: There’s a heavy use of strings and piano in Martel, more than there is in your other work. How did your experience working with these instruments differ from that of your previous works? JM: Strings were key — it was all piano and strings — which was totally different for me; before it was always guitar. Arranging with [strings] was very different. I remember the first time we played a song and [the band members] were like: "Okay, that's great, but we can't do that twice,” and I was like, "Well, that's the chorus — that has to happen at least three times." For classical musicians, where you stop is just as important as the chorus; if you're a pop musician, you're like, “Well, that area's kind of grey, but don't worry about it — the chorus and the verse, that's it, and whatever happens there is kinda alright,” whereas [for classical music] everything's very written out and transcribed, so it was a completely different process.

TV: In addition to the album, you’ll be releasing a novella. What gave you the idea to add this as an accompaniment to the album? What can we expect from the novella? JM: I had all the background to all the songs, which slowly became novels that I was sending to my publisher. And so I would go through the lessons of each song, and my publisher said: “Maybe you should think about giving these to people who are gonna listen to the record.” I went to art school, but music became the communication tool — it was so much more effective — and this was the first time that I was like: “No, there needs to be a written component to communicate.” 'Cause the record does get it, but [the novella] is a huge tool in understanding the background and everything. …My grandfather [passed] me down stories, but then there were all these little notes and scribbled things that I never got to ask him about, so I'm going on this kind of treasure trail of things that he'd left. I kind of use that as the basis for Martel as a sailor, writing to his granddaughter; for the first time, it kind of tempers his rugged personality. Each letter has a lesson at the end, although the first chapter, “Skulls and Bones,” really just lays out the historical places — who Charles Martel is. The rest are sort of like dark fairy tales that actually happened; they correspond to songs… Some of them are based on my own experiences, some of them are based off of what my grandfather would tell me, but they all fit into the spirit of Martel. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

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VARSITY ARTS & CULTURE

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2014

Wyrd Distro bridges the distance to bring music home Canada-centric music blog launches new distribution service after winning FACTOR grant

REVIEWS ALBUM: Flesh & Blood by John Butler Trio Flesh & Blood is the sixth album from Australian folk band John Butler Trio. Many listeners have eagerly awaited this release since 2010’s April Uprising. John Butler Trio has developed a reputation for playing soulful folk infused with traces of funk. In previous albums, like Grand National, this signature style combined with bohemian attitudes bought the band success. In Flesh & Blood, we see a maturing band with the same level of boldness. John Butler Trio has pushed towards an established grace, while staying true to their roots. “Spring to Come” or “Only One” have amazingly uplifting compositions. Various tracks on Flesh & Blood resonate classic John Butler Trio. “Livin’ In The City” and “Devil Woman” have the potential to give even The Black Keys a run for their money. Flesh & Blood maintains the freespirited attitude that the band has honed and proves that folk music is alive and well. — Travis Boyco

FILM: Harry Dean Stanton: Partly Fiction

Team Weird Canada: executive director Marie LeBlanc Flanagan and founder Aaron Levin. colin medley/mediA PHoTo

Elena Gritzan

VARSITY STAFF With the prevalence of music blogs and online tools to discover music from even the most remote locations, it would be easy to believe that the days of struggling as an independent band are long gone. The reality is much more grim. Those who wish to sell physical copies of their art to fans in far-off locales face steep shipping prices, a mountain of marketing work, and the challenge of getting to a post office which is often closed outside of daytime work hours. Weird Canada is here to change that with Wyrd Distro, a new distribution service that provides an easier way for emerging bands to get their records in the hands of eager listeners. Artists can apply to have their work in the distro, which is essentially a central online store for all kinds of weird and wonderful Canadian music, and makes the process of getting a record from point A to point B exponentially easier for musicians. The distro will be dependent on the dedication of local music communities. Artists can drop their albums off either at the Weird Canada offices in Kitchener or with Weird Canada representatives in Toronto while visiting

or touring through. They will then make their way to record stores and individuals country-wide as enthusiasm and interest demands. The audience for off-kilter Canadian music certainly exists. Weird Canada is a blog that was founded in 2009 and has grown immensely in line with its mission statement: “to encourage, connect, and document creative expression across Canada.” It is fuelled by hundreds of volunteers who do everything from writing to editing to translating the entire site into French. In 2013, they released a 35-item long list of objectives they would like to accomplish. Right at number 31 is the creation of a nationwide electronic distribution service. The idea is a powerful one and has the potential to make a huge difference to both musicians and fans. “By removing the barriers that artists, labels, record stores, and consumers face in reaching each other, the [Wyrd Distro] will foster nationwide connections and expand the market reach of artists across the country,” said Marie LeBlanc Flanagan, Weird Canada’s executive director. The project is being financially supported by FACTOR, an arts funding agency that has faced a fair amount of criticism for its money allocation. With a goal of supporting Canadian

talent, FACTOR provides grants for sound recording, music videos, marketing, business development, and more. Many criticisms of the organization have been made, including their focus on a small number of already successful bands centred around Toronto. It is tempting to see Weird Canada’s $50,000 grant to create the online site for the Wyrd Distro as a step in the right direction for FACTOR. Part of the reason marginalized or independent bands rarely receive funding may be a lack of knowledge on how to write an effective grant application. In an interview with Hazlitt, an online literary magazine, Weird Canada founder Aaron Levin said that “one of the big hurdles we found while writing the grant is not really knowing what the granting agencies are looking for, reading these pages and pages of definitions and needs, but not having any idea of what the finished product should look like.” With that in mind, Weird Canada has open-sourced their application, making it available for anyone who wants to learn what information to include and emphasize — selling their idea to FACTOR. They are promising to host other organization and individual’s applications, successful or failed, in order to further that goal.

Doing research and reaching out to the agency can make the difference between getting the grant or not. “Call them. Talk to them. They’re human beings on the other end of the phone, and they can tell you about grants that might be relevant to you or not. Problems they can see. Talk to them early, long before the grant is due,” said LeBlanc Flanagan in an interview with blogTO. As for the distro, it is set to go live on February 15. The occasion will be marked with a nationwide launch party, with community gatherings organized by Weird Canada volunteers in a long list of Canadian cities, from St. John's to Iqaluit. Each event will feature live performances and a chance to participate in a discussion with LeBlanc Flanagan and Levin through webcam, with multiple cities interacting at a time. The event fully captures the spirit of the widespread communication between disparate parts of the country that the distro will facilitate. Toronto’s iteration, co-presented as part of the Wavelength Music Festival, will take place on Saturday, February 15 at 4:00 pm at June Records on 662 College Street. Bring your questions about the distro, thoughts about community, and your enthusiasm for Canadian music.

Harry Dean Stanton is probably one of the greatest living actors. Harry Dean Stanton: Partly Fiction is an impressive documentary that takes its audience into the life of the iconic actor. Through interviews, archival footage, and clips from Stanton’s vast filmography, we are shown very intimate moments of his life. Director Sophie Huber does an exceptional job at allowing Stanton to express his innermost thoughts onscreen. He is an utterly fascinating man — at the age of 87, we can clearly see that Stanton has acquired a wealth of knowledge and wisdom. Throughout the picture, Huber splices brief yet fascinating interviews with people like David Lynch, Wim Wenders, and Debbie Harry, all individuals who know Stanton very well. Overall Harry Dean Stanton: Partly Fiction is a remarkable film that celebrates the life of one of cinema’s greatest treasures. — Michael Carlisle

ALBUM: So Long See You Tomorrow by Bombay Bicycle Club If you thought you knew where Bombay Bicycle Club was going with their newest release, you were probably wrong. In their fourth studio album, So Long See You Tomorrow, the UK-born indie band has managed to reinvent their ever-changing sound yet again. From the album’s opening track, there is an infusion of international sounds combined with catchy melodies reminiscent of 2011’s A Different Kind of Fix. Frontman and producer Jack Steadman used his recent travels to India as inspiration for the new record, sampling Bollywood rhythms and pounding percussions in songs like “Feel” and “Overdone." The result, well, it just makes you want to dance. Mellower moments in “Home By Now” and “Eyes Off You” provide a dream-like backdrop to Steadman’s bittersweet vocals, balancing the spirit of the album. It’s hard to know where the band is going next, but if their latest album is any indication, we’re in good hands. — Daria Petrovic

Vol. CXXXIV, No. 18

VARSITY ARTS & CULTURE

arts@thevarsity.ca

LOVE BEHIND COMMERCIAL GLASS Valentine's store fronts near campus: a photo essay by Clare Scott

Driven by passion An interview with Jemel Ganal of Humans of the University of Toronto Phyllis Pearson

VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR I recognize Jemel Ganal without ever having met her before. Her tool is what gives her away — a Canon 70D camera that hangs from her neck. Ganal is a secondyear cinema studies student and the individual behind “Humans of the University of Toronto” — a photographic census of those affiliated with the university. Ganal was driven to begin her project by a desire to try something outside her comfort zone: “All I knew is that I wanted to do something outside my box. I wanted to connect with people, and try and help create unity. I originally called the project 'Strangers Smiling,' but when I realized most of my photos were of people on campus, I decided to make it one of the “Humans of” pages since Humans of New York was what inspired me. Over the course of our conversation, Ganal recounts story after story, managing to remember the names of everyone she talks about. She’s taken about a hundred photos in the past few weeks, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she remembers the names of everyone she’s met. She tells me a bit about how she approaches people: “I don’t start by introducing the project. I want to genuinely get to know people, so I start by just talking to them. Sometimes we end up talking for an hour. I learn so much.”

Ganal is incredibly driven — she sets goals for herself and pursues them with admirable zeal. She isn’t afraid to talk about the future: “I want to go to New York City,. I want to already have an international portfolio when I make the transfer to New York.” Her short-term goals illustrate her commitment to keeping Humans of the University of Toronto honest and up-to-date. She tries to take six photos each day, taking around fifteen portraits on Fridays in order to be able to keep uploading throughout the weekend. Thus far, the response to her work has been outstanding. We talk about the nature of success, and she gives me two pieces of advice: success requires passion and a bit of spunk: “You won’t succeed if you aren’t passionate. You can’t know what will happen, and that’s something you have to be okay with. All you can ever know is that you’re doing what you love, and that alone should be enough. In order to succeed, you have to go for it — just do it. You can’t sit around thinking ‘should I really do this?’ Just do it.” The project is only two weeks old and has garnered over 3,500 Facebook likes. I thank her for the advice and for agreeing to meet with me. As our interview comes to a close, she stops me. “Wait,” she says, “now I have a question for you. Would I be able to take your photo?” Honoured, I smiled wide for the camera. I continue smiling for the rest of the day.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HUMANS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2014

22 Vol. CXXXIV, No. 18

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Hart House Theatre and The U of T Drama Coalition Present the 22nd Annual

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

DRAMA FESTIVAL A WEEKEND OF COMPETITIVE THEATRE: Student written, directed, produced & per formed

Adjudicated by Matt White

FEB 12–15, 2014 7:30 PM CURTAIN

COMPETING GROUPS: Har t House Players St. Michael’s College Trinity College Drama Society UC Follies UTM Drama Club Victoria College Drama Society

www.harthousetheatre.ca BOX OFFICE: www.uofttix.ca / 416.978.8849 Adults $12 / Students & Seniors $10 Season Sponsors:

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SCIENCE VAR.ST!SCIENCE

FEBRUARY

2014

science@thevarsity.ca

You’re Next in tech Eighty startups will attend the February 25 job fair to search out U of T talent Jennifer Hurd VARSITY STAFF

Looking for a summer job? Or are you graduating in the spring and looking for full-time work? Interested in working for a company that is pushing the boundaries of technology today? Well, then, it is time to polish up your résumé and dig out your portfolio: the largest start-up career expo in the country is coming to town, and you will not want to miss it. On February 25, 80 companies and an estimated 1,500 students will descend on the MaRS Discovery District for a full day of networking. The event is being organized by the You’re Next Career Network, a non-profit organization originally founded by U of T students. Their stated goal for the expo? “To connect students to startups as well as to provide a strong community to foster a startup mentality at the University of Toronto.” It’s an event that has been in the planning for over a year, and has become much bigger than the organizers ever initially intended. You’re Next Career Network ran their first startup expo in the Great Hall at Hart House, just over a year ago, with 38 companies and about 700 student attendees. When Matt Pua, managing director for the startup hub and a current engineering student at U of T, began working on plans for this year’s event with his team, they planned for only a modest increase in attendance and company participation. In late November, their plans changed. As Pua puts it, “We were discussing being a little bit more ambitious. [We said] let’s bring more companies, let’s bring more students.” The result? They switched venues and began marketing the expo at universities all across Ontario — and with 80 startups participating, it is now expected to be the biggest event of its kind anywhere in the nation. Although the expo will be set up much like a traditional career fair, the focus on startups makes it unique. Many of the participating companies have been founded only in the last three or four years, often by entrepreneurs who were only recently students themselves. Pua says that it is “different in the sense that the startups aren’t as known yet, but they’re pushing more innovative things than at the corporate, larger companies ... they [the startups] move faster, they change faster, they can adapt faster.” The startups that will be attending the expo are looking for students with motivation, passion, and creativity — but recruiting students is not the only benefit for these companies. The expo is also an opportunity for startups to build up their own contacts in the industry, to network, and to promote themselves. Sameera Banduk recently joined Thalmic Labs, one of the startups attending the expo, as their marketing director. She describes the startup culture as “a really exciting place to be,” and says that the big-

gest difference between working for a startup and working for a larger, more established corporation is the “ability to have a really big impact on whatever you’re working on ... Every single thing you do contributes in a big way.” Although dress and atmosphere may be more laid back than at a traditional career fair, the startups are still looking for top talent — the best that U of T and the other Ontario universities have to offer. Philip Chen, a U of T engineering alumnus, is a co-founder and the coo of Seamless Mobile Health, a recent startup that aims to reduce hospitals’ readmission rates by allowing patients released from hospital after surgery to track their symptoms, and providing them with advice in real-time. In the future, the company is looking to expand internationally, and to build partnerships with large hospital systems in both Canada and the US. According to Chen, students wanting to stand out at the expo should have “a good understanding of the company, and how they can help the company achieve that vision.” Banduk says that the most important qualities include “being passionate, being able to prove that you can tackle challenges.” Pua strongly recommends that students bring not only a résumé, but a portfolio, or samples of their work, or anything else that demonstrates their creativity. Many of the participating companies are looking for developers and engineers, but those are not the only positions available — many of the startups are also looking to build their marketing teams, their design teams, or their sales teams. Other open positions include business analysts, data scientists, product managers, copywriters, and social media specialists, and companies will be recruiting interns as well as full-time employees. For those who may be curious about the startup culture but do not know where their particular skill set might be best employed, the You’re Next Career Network is also offering a career expo bootcamp this coming Wednesday evening, exclusively for University of Toronto students. Attendees will hear a keynote talk about the advantages and challenges of working at a startup, followed by presentations and the opportunity for open discussion with ten mentors from different industries. The goal is to help students decide what areas they might want to work in, and then to help them target specific roles that suit their strengths. Attendees will also get early access to the complete list of companies and positions available at the upcoming expo. The Start Up Career Expo will be held from 10 am to 4 pm on Tuesday, February 25. Students who register in advance of the event will be entered to win prizes sponsored by some of the startups attending the expo. The Start-Up Career Expo Bootcamp is this Wednesday, February 12, from 6 pm to 8 pm; participation is restricted to 60 students, so early registration is advised.

DAN SELJAK/THe VArsiTy

SELECTED COMPANIES IN ATTENDANCE SEAMLESS MOBILE

Seamless Mobile was founded by two U of T students and a friend from UBC, who met through Next36, a selective program for student entrepreneurs that provides instruction, mentorship, and financial support for participants. The award-winning app supports patients who are recovering from surgery and have been released from the hospital. By allowing patients to track their symptoms, catch any signs of distress or complications, and get real-time advice, the company works with hospitals to lower their surgical readmission rates. Current positions include a web and social media intern, and a market research intern; they are also looking to increase their development team.

TABBLEDABBLE

Founded in July 2010, this startup focuses on tablet-based lead capture and data collection, allowing businesses to conduct surveys and analyze results with leading edge mobile technology. At the moment, they are particularly looking for people with experience developing applications in Java.

JUICE MOBILE

Also founded in 2010, Juice Mobile provides mobile marketing services to publishers, brands, and advertisers. By demystifying the often puzzling and certainly very new field of mobile marketing, Juice Mobile provides their clients with new technologies that allow for more eﬃcient advertising. Recent achievements include launching Canada’s first real-time bidding platform, and launching live countdown, multi-tab expandable, and wipe-away advertisements. This past year, they released a new mobile platform, Nectar, that eliminates price from the purchase equation. Open positions include a junior C++ developer, a junior sales planner, and a junior account executive

THALMIC LABS

The Myo armband from Thalmic Labs seems like something out of a science fiction novel — by simply gesturing with your hand, you can interact freely with your computer, phone, or any other digital device. The company has started shipping prototypes to selected developers, and plans a wider release for mid-2014. The armband works by

sensing muscle movement, and transmitting the information over Bluetooth. If the idea of wearable technology gets you excited, they are looking for electrical, software, and mechanical engineers, as well as designers and customer support specialists.

EVENTMOBI

Eventmobi’s platform allows clients to easily and quickly create a mobile app for any sort of conference or event. Just this month, they released Fusion 2.0, a tool that integrates all aspects of event coordination — a help desk, registration, surveys, interactive maps, sharing conference files and presentations, and more. After downloading the customized app onto their mobile device, conference attendees can access the app (and all of the relevant information) even if the event location itself does not have an internet connection. Who are they looking for? According to CTO and co-founder Bob Vaez, “people who take initiative, add value, and are willing to learn every single day.”

FRESHBOOKS

FreshBooks is an invoicing and billing application, designed to solve the accounting and organizational problems of small business owners. It provides users with the ability to create and manage invoices, expenses, and projects, all in one place. Founded in 2003, the company now boasts over five million users in 120 countries, and bills itself as the “#1 cloud accounting solution.” Positions are available in development, marketing, product management, and design.

TEAMBUY.CA

The first daily deal site owned and operated in Canada, TeamBuy was founded in 2009 and aims to bring its clients “great deals every day in cities across North America.” By guaranteeing their merchants a certain number of customers, they can oﬀer the public discounts of usually around 50 to 60 per cent oﬀ. The company was also featured on the CBC show Dragon’s Den, and in less than five years, they have grown to 120 employees, with over three million online members. They’re looking for a back-end developer, and copywriting, graphic design, and social media interns, amongst other positions.

VARSITY SCIENCE

24 Vol. CXXXIV, No. 18

RESEARCH RECAP

Engineering romance on Facebook Student creates app to connect U of T’s secret admirers Katrina Vogan

SCIENCE EDITOR

Cancer could be treated by gold nanoparticles Researchers at U of T have recently discovered a method of delivering cancer medications or cancer-markers directly into the tumours they are targeting. Tumours are characterized by leaky vessels with holes roughly 50-500 nanometers in size depending on their stage of development. Professor Warren Chan and his team at the university’s Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering attempted to deliver particles small enough to pass through these holes and remain inside the tumour in order to treat or image the cancer. In order to ensure that these particles would be small enough to enter the vessels, but large enough to remain inside the tumour, the team created a molecular assembly model in which they joined together nanoparticles with dna. While nanoparticles are thought to contribute to a longterm risk of toxicity in patients, it is believed that combining dna with the nanoparticles could eliminate the risk, as the dna will be degraded by the body’s enzymes, and allow for the safe removal of these smaller particles. Although researchers recognize their work as a possible breakthrough, it is important to note that this research is in its preliminary stages. — Vanessa Barbieri

Michael Wainberg was like any other U of T student suffering from a crush when he came up with the idea for LoveInterest, his new dating app. “I was sitting in class daydreaming about someone I was interested in,” he says. “I thought, Facebook has friend requests, why not have a relationship request? Then I realized I could actually make the thing myself.” After some research, Wainberg created LoveInterest, an app that uses Facebook to faciliate romance between friends and acquantainces. The app aims to reflect the unique reality of dating in university. Due to the larger network of people that may surround a student, the chances are higher that a special someone is within reach — just waiting for you to reach out and make more significant contact than a casual poke. The Varsity interviewed Wainberg about LoveInterest and coding for love. The Varsity: What does LoveInterest do? How does it work? Michael Wainberg: LoveInterest is an app that helps you find romance with your Facebook friends. You can select a friend as a love interest, and they will get a notification that

they have a secret admirer — but they don’t know who selected them. When your friend also selects you as a love interest, the two of you are notified that you selected each other, and you can take it from there. The app gives users complete anonymity: nobody can see that you are a user unless you specifically request it. TV: You did some research on online dating before embarking on this project. What did you research and what did you find? How does the design of LoveInterest reflect your findings? MW: I realized that there was a hole in the market. There were two types of relationship apps: traditional dating apps that match strangers based on shared interests and personalities; and hookup apps like Tinder, which are just about physical attractiveness. But there was no app for people to find romance with their friends and acquaintances. TV: Were there any challenges in coding the app? MW: It was fairly straightfoward overall. The main challenge was to make it secure, so that hackers cannot impersonate other people or see their love interests. TV: Have you had any success stories from LoveInterest yet?

Price highlighting helps consumers make smarter, more satisfying choices A recent research study from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management suggests that highlighting and reminding consumers of the price prompts them to think about the product’s long-term value, which encourages them to follow their preference for greater usefulness instead of convenience. In a series of experiments, participants were given a choice among similar products. Compared to control subjects who picked products more convenient in the short term, those provided with price information preferred products with higher functionality, despite the fact that both groups favoured the more useful products in the long run. Min Zhao, associate professor of marketing at Rotman and coauthor of the study, says, “Once you’ve concluded you’ve made a bad choice, you’re not happy with the product, and you may not want to go back to that company again.” She suggested that gym managers could attract new members and increase consumer satisfaction by sending them weekly reminders of the price they’ve paid. — Ann Sheng With files from U of T News

science@thevarsity.ca

MASHAL KAHN/THe VArSiTy

MW: So far, 164 love interests have been selected and there have been 4 matches. We haven’t heard from them yet, but we hope they’re happy! TV: One of the interesting things about LoveInterest as a dating app is that it doesn’t attempt to match compatibility. As a user, you have complete control over who you interact with. Is it possible to code

for compatibility? Can computers calculate romantic interest? MW: Oh, absolutely. People have put a great deal of effort into making computers better at calculating whom you are most likely to be interested in. But no matter how good computers get, you still know best who you would like to have a relationship with. LoveInterest empowers you to make that happen.

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FEBRUARY

2014

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For the love of the game

Varsity athletes express their passion and dedication for their sports

In honour of Valentine’s day, we Vanessa Treasure asked Varsity Blues athletes Women’s Swimming to explain their love for their I started this sport as a little girl who just loved to swim. The passion, drive, and detersports. Competing on a varsity mination that resides in me grew that love of team requires a huge time the water more than I ever thought possible. The early mornings are all worth it when you commitment, but its benefits stand behind the starting blocks with conoverpower the struggles fidence. The memories of painful training sessions transform into faster times, and the and contribute to the love of countless heartbreaking disappointments when you are standing at the top of athletes have for their sports vanish the podium, blowing a kiss to your mom. If and teams. I take my journey as a competitive swimmer and strip away the titles, the requirements, and the detailed regimens, I find that same little girl that started for the love of the sport.

Kevin Deagle Men’s Hockey

Rachael Sider Women’s Basketball

I love hockey for a dozen reasons, but I’ll mention three. It is through hockey that I have lived the Canadian dream since I was five, playing in hockey arenas across this great country for as long as I can remember. Secondly, the sport builds your character past what you might have imagined, and then brings out the best — then worst — in yourself to test that character. Lastly, the camaraderie in sport is unequalled. A bond forms among the men you stand shoulder to shoulder with in competition that, through success or adversity, cannot be broken. These reasons, and many more, are why I love hockey.

I got into basketball competitively at age 9, after years of shooting around in the park with my dad. I love basketball in part because it’s always been a family affair; I played with my sister for years, my dad coached us, and I helped him coach my brother. Our respective seasons still dominate family discussions, and keep us all close, despite the physical distance. I also love the fast-paced nature of the game and the challenge of competing against both opponents in a game, and yourself in practice.

McKinnley Morris Rugby

Darnell Girard Track and Field

Dakota Laurin Men’s Basketball

There’s nothing more physically satisfying than rugby, and the culture of the sport is one of the best things about it. At the beginning of the match, you get to negotiate the rules with the ref, you beat the hell out of the opposing team, and then afterwards we all go and socialize together — you leave everything on the pitch. The level of trust necessary to play the sport brings a level of camaraderie that turns your teammates into your family. This is one of the most amazing aspects of the sport. Our season never ends; we go from cis to sevens to summer rugby and around again. This constant competition requires relentless training, and nothing feels better than sweating, bleeding, running, crying, and winning alongside your family. No other sport could challenge me and yet support me like rugby does.

There’s something really raw about stepping into a throwing circle and giving everything that you’ve got, trying to throw the shot put further than anybody else who steps in there after you... It’s just you and a 16-pound ball in your hand, and if you can throw that thing further than anyone else does that day then you deserve to win... With other sports there can be argument for who really “deserved” to win, or how one athlete carried his/her teammates to victory, but at the end of a competition, I know that on that particular day there is nothing that anyone can say to take away my performance from me; it is something that is completely my own. It’s this amazing feeling of accomplishment and responsibility that makes me love my sport, and it is a love that I will carry with me long after my days in the throwing circle are over.

What I love most about the game of basketball is the team dynamic that it places you in. Almost everyday you compete with and against your teammates — overcoming defeats, celebrating successes, and all the while making each other better players and people. Pretty soon, your teammates become your best friends; together you experience the highs, the lows, and everything else that life has to offer. I know that long after I leave the basketball court, the friendships I made will still be with me. That is why I fell in love with the game.

photo CoURtESY oF thE VARSItY BLUES

VARSITY SPORTS

Vol. CXXXIV No. 18

sports@thevarsity.ca

Behind the scenes: Varsity Arena Varsity Arena serves as important space for U of T students

Sean Xu

VARSITY STAFF

The University of Toronto’s multipurpose Varsity Arena was built in 1926, and has since become an integral part of our campus and community. In addition to being the home of U of T’s intramural hockey league, the arena has hosted concerts, all-star basketball games, clothing sales, and international sporting events. It is also used for recreational and instructional classes, children’s programs, and high–performance athletic training. Before the exam center was built, it was also used to host many Arts & Science exams. Six full-time staff and fourteen part-time casual staff work at the arena. Together, these individuals work with three assistant managers and one facility manger to maintain the efficient operation of the arena. Key to this efficiency is cleanliness. According to Douglas Graham, one of the assistant facility managers: “Cleanliness is next to godliness for the Varsity Arena.” To reach this level of godliness, the stadium has a team of building engineers who liaise in regards to ice temperatures and stadium conditions. The ice must be maintained daily, and prior to intercollegiate games, maintenance becomes especially taxing. The ice must be scraped and edged; the arena and stands, cleaned; and the high traffic areas disinfected. These intercollegiate and intramural events put more demand on the staff at the arena, which in turn, increases the number of part-time casual staff. The arena is able to plan ahead for these high–demand events by staying organized through its efficient system of booking and schedulling. It starts with the intercollegiate and intramural managers, who assemble a list of available dates to provide to external groups. Bookings are schedulled on a first–come, first–served basis, and requests are relayed to the facility manager through the administrative assistant. The arena, however, is here to serve U of T students first and foremost. It

is fully accessible, and provides a discount and priority for registered student groups for rental spaces. U of T students use the arena most frequently, primarily for intramural competitions. On available time, other groups are hosted as well.

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VARSITY SPORTS

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2014

Do you even lift, bro? Gym culture changing around North American university campuses Theodore Yan VARSITY STAFF

“Do you even lift, bro?” The cry rings out on college campuses across North America. Throughout the continent, 18 to 25-year-olds have discovered the joys and benefits of forcing heavy objects to defy the laws of gravity by making them go in an upward direction. For the uninitiated, I am speaking about lifting weights. Driven forward partially by the internet zeitgeist — but mainly by the overwhelming desire to be attractive to people of corresponding sexual orientation — “lifting” has become a pastime that transcends creed, race, gender, and other lines that have traditionally divided university-aged people. “Lifting allows the human soul to relax,” says third-year student Isham Zeitoun. “The gym is a social setting. You get to meet new people and interact with different cultures.” Indeed, the social aspect of lifting is perhaps one of the most important contributing factors to its popularity. People discover it, gradually find that they enjoy it, invite their friends to join them, and the cycle repeats itself. Lifting with friends has the added benefit of keeping one accountable. Even on days when you simply do not care to exercise, your lifting partner or partners will insistently push you to the gym.

With this in mind, the easiest way to start lifting is to tag along with a friend who already does. It’s almost certain that if you ask around your social circles, you’ll find at least one person who lifts weights regularly. You may be surprised at who it is. Ask this friend if you can accompany her to the gym on her next expedition. The most common way to go about lifting is to rotate between muscle groups with every trip. Common groups include chest, defined by the bench press; arms, curls; shoulders, no immediately recognizable workout comes to mind; back, dead lifts; and legs, defined by squats . During each session, one should perform a few sets of three or four different workouts for the day’s designated muscle group(s). Every lifter has a different routine — staggered with rest days — so schedule according to what feels comfortable for you. Hart House and the Athletic Centre also offer many services and lessons to newcomers to lifting weights, creating another option for those just getting started. No matter how you choose to get into lifting, remember that safety comes first. When in doubt, always lift less, and have a spotter keep an eye on you, in case you need help during potentially dangerous exercises. So what are you waiting for? Grab some shorts and get to the gym. It’s leg day.

ARNOLD YUNG/THe VArsiTy

Graduating athlete: Tom Blazejewski Fencer Tom Blazejweski graduating as a top athlete and top student Susan Gordon

ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR

University of Toronto fencer Tom Blazejewski is the type of student that makes all the rest of us jealous and anxious about our subpar CVs. Not only is Blazejewski a successful student with high academic standing and research experience, he’s also a nationally competitive athlete. On the academic side, Blazejewski was awarded two student-athlete prizes this year, one of which was the OUA Top Scholar award. He has been involved with research at U of T since second–year, and in third year assembled the genome of a parasite. Blazejweski will be graduating with a specialist in bioinformatics, a major in computer science, and a minor in math; he hopes to begin graduate work in bioinformatics in the fall. While pursuing his academic success, he has also been part of the highly successful U of T men’s foil team, led by head coach Thomas Nguyen. “I was considering going to U of T for basically my entire life,” said Blazejewski, “and [Nguyen] basically just said that he was interested in

working with me. I was interested in working with him, I wanted to continue fencing because it was something I’d been passionate about for a long time. “I think I really hit my stride when I went to the University of Toronto… Since I’ve started working with the university coach, I’ve had a lot more success.” For Blazejewski, his first year was a big adjustment, and his individual performance was not what he had hoped for. “In my first year, I did not do spectacularly… I think I came ninth at OUAs, but we did win team’s, so that was good.” The team’s success continued through the next two years; they took home gold both years. In his second and third year, Blazejewski also achieved impressive results individually. “In second year, I was second in OUAs for individual… I lost to a teammate in the final, Kyle Chan — and he was our captain... For second– and third–year we would [place] first and second each time.” During this time, Blazejewski also attended several World Cups with the Canadian team, was named an OUA All-Star, won the

Junior Eastern Championship, was ranked one of the top five fencers in Canada, and made time to coach young fencers through the Junior Blues program. This year, Blazejewski has taken some time off from his sport. “We’ve had several [competitions]… I haven’t attended all of them because I’ve had grad school interviews, so that’s taken up a lot of my time. So I’ve sort of stepped a little bit away from competition this year. “At the moment, I’m taking a few months off, and then I’m going to try to come back in the second term… basically in March,” he said. Although Blazejewski plans to begin a demanding graduate program in September, he hopes to continue fencing at a national level. “My goal is to be competitive and somewhere ranked on the national team in Canada, and then be able to compete internationally for them next year as well. Immediately, my goal would be to get to the Pan-Am Games... And then from there it would be nice to continue being able to go to World Cups when I can, and just train to continue the progress I’d seen for the past few years.”

Varsity Blues wrestling team adapting to IOC’s changes with ease Reshara Alviarez

VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR

The nature of wrestling has undergone a significant transformation following the issue of the sport’s future in the Olympics. Since then, Varsity Blues wrestling team members have had to adjust to a much more active and aggressive approach. All seem to welcome the stricter policies toward passivity that have been reintegrated at the competitive level. Head coach Mike Quinsey has been involved with the sport since 1971. He believes all of the wrestlers this season exemplify dedication and commitment. Though this team is relatively small in comparison to past years, this has certainly not placed them at a disadvantage. “The goal I set out for the team this year is to raise the level of quality, rather than trying to field as many wrestlers as wanted to wrestle,” noted Quinsey. Regarding the changing nature of the sport, Quinsey said: “The rules of the game have been changed back to the way they were when I was competing. “The emphasis is back to aggressive physical domination of your op-

ponent,” he continued. “It makes for a more dynamic contes and all the matches are way more entertaining.” Brandon Rynka has been enjoying his first year wrestling at a competitive level. Rynka was on the Varsity Blues football team in 2011 and 2012, and has done grappling and jiu jitsu training in the past. He expressed gratitude for Quinsey’s support over the past four months, noting that: “He tells it like it is and has given me, a rookie wrestler, skills to compete against wrestlers with years and years of experience.” “University wrestling is much different than any other university sport,” said Rynka, who hopes to continue to improve with the experience of each competition. Team member Jordan Raghunandan has been involved with wrestling for the past five years. When discussing obstacles on his journey so far, Raghunandan said: “Moving up weight classes has been a bit of a challenge for me; many people get disheartened when they lose matches.” He says that he continues to welcome the difficulties, noting that: “This last year has been a real eye–opener how much I have to work on.”

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1. Trip to the body shop, perhaps 4. In a proper manner 8. It’s just one thing after another 12. “Say what?” 13. Olympics blade 14. Cousin of a bassoon 15. Pitcher’s stat. 16. Be inclined? 17. Foul line makeup 18. Armor defect 20. Celeb twins name 21. Unreal? 23. Academic heads 25. Fictional party crasher 27. Casino roller 28. Certain reptile 31. Stick in one’s craw 33. Resentment 35. Controversial flavoring 36. Put an embargo on 38. Ill-gotten gains 39. Water lily 41. Job description detail 42. Lost intentionally 45. Root 47. Bunch of sheets 48. Sunrise harbinger 49. Burning issue? 52. Lower than a mezzo 53. Type of pittance 54. Help line? 55. Something that’s hatched 56. Row, rank or layer 57. Poisonous evergreen

1. Cafe alternative 2. Jointly owned, maybe 3. Hitting hard 4. Katz’s, notably 5. Knock for a loop 6. Disclosed secret data 7. Asian capital? 8. Takes it easy 9. Nile wader 10. Indefinite number 11. Date film target 19. Non-bleeped expletive 20. N.B.A.’s Shaq 21. Growing business? 22. Melodramatic cry 24. Bubble maker 26. Turning point? 28. Precision 29. Pigeonhole 30. The hunted 32. “Dig in!” 34. Art class model 37. Cell centers 39. Bar twist 40. Gull’s hangout 42. Catcher’s aid 43. Dante topic 44. Pro ___ 46. Still-life object 48. Former time std. 50. Seek redress, in a way 51. Chop Last issue’s solutions are now online: var.st/crossword