September 6, 2021 Vol. CXLII, No. I
News International students face difficulty returning to Canada
THE VARSITY
e w e r e , H n i a g a o g T f o U
Business Small businesses during COVID-19: Bar Mercurio
Comment Editorial: Are we ready to reopen?
Feature
Arts
Students reflect on Indian farmers' protest
Musician and actress Ana Golja debuts at U of T
Science Gene editing — saviour or doom?
Sports Saying farewell to Raptors legend Kyle Lowry
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U of T community members must be fully vaccinated by October 15 Vol. CXLII, No. I 21 Sussex Avenue, Suite 306 Toronto, ON M5S 1J6 (416) 946-7600 the.varsity
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Ontario government omits physical distancing and capacity limits if there are “stringent” mask, vaccine requirements Marta Anielska Deputy News Editor
U of T has recently released guidelines for returning to campus that include the expectation that those returning will need to receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by September 13 and be fully vaccinated by October 15. In response to the Ontario government’s decision to implement a vaccine passport system by September 22, a U of T spokesperson added that U of T is currently reviewing the Ontario government’s plans with regards to vaccine passports. “Once we have more information about the passports, we will announce what the relationship will be between them and [UCheck],” the spokesperson wrote. Vaccination and rapid screening Beginning September 6, community members will be able to upload their proof of vaccination using UCheck, U of T’s self-assessment portal. They must do this in order to return to campus. Vaccine receipts will be accepted as a form of documentation and the information in them will be verified and held by U of T’s Occupational Health and Safety staff in accordance with U of T’s privacy standards. Those seeking an exemption due to medical
reasons or other grounds protected under the Ontario Human Rights Code may make a request through the university’s Enterprise Service Centre. All exempt community members and those who are not fully vaccinated before October 15 will have to participate in the university’s rapid screening program. Anyone participating in the rapid screening program will receive an at-home screening kit which can be picked up at no cost on any campus, and they will have to upload their test results to UCheck twice a week. The university has provided further details on how to pick up the kits on the UTogether website. A negative result will be required to return to any on-campus sites. Those who are neither vaccinated nor enrolled in the rapid screening program before September 13 will not be allowed on campus. Anyone participating in higher-risk activities, such as sports or music, who have already uploaded proof of vaccination to platforms like StarRez or ServiceNow will also be required to upload their documentation to UCheck. Additional measures In addition to its updated vaccination policy, the university has also reiterated other safety measures it will be implementing. This includes requiring face
U of T has encouraged all its community members to get vaccinated. JOHN FITZPATRICK/THEVARSITY
masks to be worn in all indoor facilities, updating ventilation and air filtration systems in campus buildings, and working to reduce congestion in regards to traffic and queue lines. In line with guidance from Ontario’s Ministry of Colleges and Universities, in-person classes will take place with stringent rules regarding masking and vaccination but without physical distancing or capacity limits. Physical distancing and capacity limits may, however, be applied to noninstructional spaces. However, U of T’s 12-step plan for reopening includes measures about physical distancing and capacity limits. In an open letter, the University of Toronto Students’ Union praised the university for mandating vaccines. However, it also expressed concerns that the university is not doing enough to protect students, specifically with regards to its lack of virtual accommodations and transparency about COVID-19 policies. — With files from Lauren Alexander
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U of T incidental fees return to pre-COVID-19 levels for fall 2021 Fees for Hart House, athletics were reduced last year when programs moved online Kiara Senanayake Varsity Contributor
Beginning this fall, incidental fees have returned to the amount before the COVID-19 pandemic began due to the return of in-person programs this fall. Incidental fees are non-tuition fees which cover non-academic programs such as Hart House and the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education (KPE) Sport & Rec fee. The university decided to reduce these fees during the 2020–2021 school year and the summer, since some programs funded by incidental fees rely heavily on in-person participation and were not being used as much by students due to the move to online learning. As programs at U of T like Hart House and KPE have been scheduled for programming in both
in-person and online formats, incidental fees have returned to the level that they were at before the pandemic. When asked about whether they would consider reducing incidental fees again should the university return to remote operations, the spokesperson said that U of T will “continue to assess the level of fees within the context of the return to campus.” Last year, the KPE fee was reduced by 30 per cent and the Hart House fee was reduced by 20 per cent at all three U of T campuses. Other fees such as student life, student services, and athletic fees were reduced at some of the campuses. The vast majority of programming for these services took place online last year, with Hart House offering virtual fitness classes and most other student services transitioning to an online format.
U of T Robarts Library cancels overnight hours for fall semester Online services will remain available 24/7
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Robarts has cancelled its overnight hours for the fall 2021 term, which, prior to the shutdowns prompted by COVID-19, were open to all community members with a valid TCard. The library will now close at 11:00 pm on weekdays and 10:00 pm on weekends. According to a U of T spokesperson, the policy change was implemented to ensure a “gradual and safe return to in-person activities” in the coming semester. Most U of T libraries, such as the East Asian Library, will be open to those with a TCard as of September 7. Some libraries, how-
ever, will open at a later date, others have yet to release reopening plans, and a few do not plan to open in the fall at all. While in-person services will no longer be available at Robarts after 10:00 pm on weekends and 11:00 pm during the week, students will still be able to access Robarts’ electronic catalogue during the evening, which includes e-books, journal databases, primary source databases, and videos. Nevertheless, some students still lamented the study space they will lose this September. Robarts Library has long been a popular destination for late night study sessions, a tradition that’s been cut short by the reduction in hours. “I look forward to late night sessions mainly
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As the university continues to implement a return to in-person programming for the fall semester, a number of the programs that were moved online last year have similarly planned for a return to in-person programming. Hart House has announced an increase in hours of operation, and “distanced use of essential resource spaces” starting from the week of September 7. It has also announced the reopening of in-person event bookings for lectures, presentations, discussions, and more. KPE has similarly announced a limited reopening of the Varsity Centre, Back Campus Fields, and other athletics facilities. because of the immense clarity I tend to feel in the night leading up to either an exam or an assignment that might be due the next day,” Zaheer MacDonald, a third-year biology student, explained in an email to The Varsity. For MacDonald, these nights were “productive and euphoric,” especially in regards to how they contributed to the uniqueness of the university experience. They added that Robarts provided them with a comfortable space where they could unwind after a long day. “The feeling of relief as I exited Robarts, greeted by the refreshing frigidness of fall air, was unmatched,” MacDonald wrote. “Both its proximity to campus and its separation from the comforts of one’s own room help to motivate study even when tired.” MacDonald highlighted the universality of culture that Robarts inspired in the U of T community as well. They noted that one cost of the policy was that first-year and second-year students would not get to experience the late-night Robarts studying that connects many U of T students.
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SEPTEMBER 6, 2021
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International students returning to Canada face flight bans, visa delays Direct flight ban from India continues, students forced to take indirect routes example of such a vaccine is Covaxin, which some students from India have received but which is not approved by Health Canada.
Jessica Han Varsity Contributor
Due to the pandemic, international students — who make up almost 26 per cent of the U of T student body — studying on campus this fall are facing more difficulties and barriers than domestic students. Students and representatives of student organizations have said that international flights, study permits, visa applications, and vaccinations have been barriers for students returning to Canada to study on campus. For students returning to U of T from India, it’s even tougher. With direct flights from India to Canada banned, students are forced to take longer and more indirect routes back to U of T. The university is encouraging all international students to return for in-person courses in the fall semester and will provide quarantine accommodations for those who are required to quarantine. Students who cannot return are asked to contact their registrar to discuss options. The Varsity spoke with some international students and international student organizations to see what barriers they’re facing in returning to U of T for the fall semester. Trouble with permits In an interview with The Varsity, second-year student Rayhaan Jiwani spoke about the ongoing challenges he is facing as an international student. Jiwani explained that he applied for a study permit last year and still hasn’t received it, pointing out that he has waited almost 500 days for his permit. Jiwani also sent an email to Dean Woodin and the Arts and Science management, explaining that if he doesn't get his study permit, he would have to “be forced to take a fifth year” in his program. “All my courses for the following year are inperson, which means that if I don’t get my study permit within the next 4-6 weeks, I will have to defer my studies by at least one semester, if not
the entire academic year,” Jiwani wrote.
because students cannot fly directly from India The Queen’s Park Ontario Legislative Building. SANDY MA/THEVARSITY
Likewise, the International Students Advocacy Network (ISAN) wrote in an email to The Varsity that they have seen a number of international students who are facing similar barriers to returning to school. “For some international students, they are facing severe delays to their visa application process which might delay their arrival to Toronto,” wrote the ISAN. The ISAN expressed that visa conflicts and delays will “negatively impact” international students who want to begin their studies in the fall semester, especially when courses will be delivered in person. Inconvenient flights Along with conflicts involving study permits and visa applications, international students are having difficulties with flights and vaccination recognition. For international students returning from India, the trip is even longer than usual,
to Canada. In an interview with The Varsity, Nidhil Vohra, vice-president external of the Indian Students’ Society (ISS) pointed out that the absence of direct flights from India to Canada is a “primary concern,” since students would have to pay more for an alternative. Vohra wrote, “Students have had to look for alternate flight paths from third nations which costs them more than what a regular India to Canada flight would.” Both the ISAN and the ISS expressed concern about vaccine recognition. Travellers who are fully vaccinated with a Health Canada approved vaccine do not have to quarantine upon arrival, provided they show proof of a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 72 hours of the flight departure time. However, international students who received a vaccine not approved by Health Canada may still have to quarantine, as highlighted by the ISAN. An
Financial difficulties Earlier in August, the ISS asked students coming from India to Canada to fill out a survey regarding the challenges they faced while trying to reach campus. According to Vohra, the survey showed that many respondents were struggling financially when it came to dealing with the increasing flight fares, paying for a place to quarantine, and obtaining housing. Vohra claimed that there “aren’t bursaries or financial aid available for international students the way they are for domestic students.” The issue of finances was also brought up by ISAN. They have had some international students reach out to them, explaining that they are unable to continue their studies at U of T because of “financial reasons,” and therefore, have to transfer out. The ISAN pointed out that the financial barriers international students face is in contrast with the university’s intention that “no student offered admission to a program at the University of Toronto should be unable to enter or complete the program due to lack of financial means.” The ISAN and the ISS both call for solutions to this problem. The ISS concluded that “the University should acknowledge this… burden and ensure that all students have access to efficient resources to help them through these troubled times.” According to an FAQ for international students, those who are unable to return to Canada due to issues with travel should plan to return whenever they can, but they can contact their registrar to discuss options. Some faculties may be able to accommodate students studying online in the meantime. The FAQ adds, “Support will be available for students upon arrival in Toronto.” U of T quarantine accommodations are available for students arriving in Canada.
UTMSU August board meeting: Return to campus policies, UMLAP review UTMSU planning in-person protest against controversial UMLAP Lexey Burns UTM Bureau Chief
The University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union (UTMSU) held its most recent
board meeting on August 27 to discuss students’ return to campus. UTMSU President Mitra Yakubi also discussed the ongoing review of the controversial University-Mandated Leave of Absence Policy (UMLAP), and added that the
UTMSU offices.
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UTMSU is planning an in-person protest against the policy in September or October. Return to campus The UTMSU executives reported on their progress regarding the university’s return to in-person activities. Some of the in-person activities they covered include orientation, which will happen from August 30 to September 4; SaugaFest, from September 7–17; the UTMSU fall by-election, from September 20 to October 7; Academic Advocacy week, from September 20–24; and queer orientation, from September 20–24. The executives also discussed the UPass program. Students can pick up their UPass from August 30 to September 24. Yakubi discussed the recent Safe Return to Campus town hall, which included over 120 attendees, including Vice-President and Principal Alexandra Gillespie. “We were able to have members… ask questions [from] the members of the administration about the return back to campus, [and] bring forward inquiries, questions, and concerns,” said Yakubi. Reviewing, planning protests against UMLAP Yakubi has also been bringing more awareness to the UMLAP, which is currently under review by the university. The UMLAP is a policy, created in 2018, which allows the university to place
students on mandated leave without academic penalty if the university decides they pose a risk to themselves or others. The UMLAP was created due to a rise of concerns raised by the university ombudsperson about the university’s capability to “address student behaviours during periods of extreme distress caused by serious health or mental health issues.” According to the UMLAP review framework, posted in March 2021, the policy has only ever been used to remove seven students from their studies, with an additional two taking a voluntary leave of absence. The framework notes that four students who left later returned to continue their studies. The policy has often been the subject of criticism and widespread protest from students and student groups, who say the policy may discourage students from seeking mental health support out of fear that they may be removed from their studies. Yakubi discussed consultation sessions with students that the UTMSU has run to talk about the policy. “We had a lot of new faces and a lot of folks who didn't know about UMLAP,” Yakubi said in the board meeting. Yakubi said that the majority of students in attendance did not understand the policy, how it would impact them, or its repercussions. Yakubi also said that the UTMSU is planning an in-person protest in late September or early October against the policy, as part of a larger protest against it.
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Second-year students at U of T discuss apprehension about coming to campus Students talk about their social life, navigating campus, in-person classes Angelina Zahajko Varsity Contributor
After one of the strangest school years in recent history, U of T students from around the world are packing their bags once again to travel to campus for the fall 2021 semester — many for the first time ever. In particular, for most incoming second-year students, this will be the first time they’re attending in-person classes and campus events. To understand the kaleidoscope of emotions spinning through these students’ heads, The Varsity interviewed a number of returning second-year students about their experiences in first year and their feelings and concerns going into the 2021–2022 academic year. Many expressed a need to readjust — not just to courses moving from online to in-person, but to their changing social lives, relationship to campus, and more. A long year of remote learning Despite students’ varied backgrounds, learning styles, and circumstances, many of the students that spoke to The Varsity agreed that, while it was not ideal, their first-year experience could have been much worse. Without access to on-campus life, these students’ experiences were dictated by their remote learning experience. Anusha Madhusudanan and Maggie Kou, the president and vice-president of the 2020–2021 UTSU First Year Council (FYC), respectively, wrote to The Varsity about how polarizing remote learning was. Maggie Kou is a second-year engineering student who was in the Toronto area throughout the duration of their first year. When asked about their remote learning experience, Kou wrote, “I preferred working at my own pace - I was grateful that most of my courses first semester were asynchronous so I got to work with more flexibility.” Many other students also
appreciated the ability to create their own schedules and rewatch lectures during exam season. Some students said they even achieved a higher GPA without as many external distractions. However, for many international students, they did not experience the same flexibility granted to other firstyear students. Madhusudanan, a second-year international relations and economics student, studied from her home in India last year with a time difference of nine and a half hours. “My first year experience was not ideal,” wrote Madhusudanan. “My academics suffered from circumstances such as having to take my finals at 4am. I was not receiving sufficient sleep because [I was balancing] classes past midnight and [waking] up in the morning to stay connected with the city I was in.” “It was a great push that required a lot of adaptability, motivation, and positivity to get through,” admitted secondyear industrial engineering major Anmol Mahajan. But, as an active member of the engineering faculty’s academic and extracurricular community, he maintains that it was not an impossible feat. “Working in a 12 hour time difference, I wanted to ensure I was able to make connections and wanted to push myself to try out different clubs in firstyear,” wrote Mahajan. “I enjoyed being able to overcome the challenges that came [with online school] and making the connections I did with the people in the community.” Finding community virtually Despite their different learning experiences, Madhusudanan and Kou both agreed that their involvement in clubs and extracurriculars like the FYC were critical in shaping their year. Many of the students who had participated in extracurriculars last year agreed that joining these organizations helped them find a community within the often
barren social landscape of online school. Madhusudanan wrote to The Varsity that participating in extracurriculars helped her connect with upper-year students who provided her with guidance, and she was able to form valuable friendships. However, Kou, Madhusudanan, and the other students noted that their social life struggled throughout their first year. “I definitely [feel] like I missed out on the social aspects [of university],” Kou wrote. “Pulling all-nighters to finish physics labs just seems sad when it’s just you, alone in your childhood bedroom.” The return to campus On March 8, University of Toronto President Meric Gertler announced that the university was planning a return to in-person learning for the fall 2021 semester. With the first week of classes approaching, many of the students who spoke to The Varsity were excited to experience the social and academic opportunities that on-campus learning may bring in the fall semester. “I’m excited to explore the campus -all the spots I’ve heard about from upper years have just been myths to me so far,” wrote Kou. “Is the Brown Food Truck really as good as people say it is?!” That is not to say that in-person learning will not come with its own set of challenges. In order to survive their first year of university, incoming second-year students had to adapt to an online format. Most of them attended lectures through Zoom — where lectures were often recorded for later viewing — and studied for exams that, for many, were open-book. As they prepare to make the transition to in-person learning, students reported apprehension about how commuting to campus, sitting inside an actual lecture hall, and paying attention without a fast-forward button would affect their academic performance. When asked whether he believed that in-person classes would improve the quality of learning, second-year social sciences student Noah Pedrazzoli wrote, “Yes and no. It will be interesting to see
MIRKA LOISELLE/THEVARSITY
how we will readjust from online learning but so far we are all a bit used to learning off of a screen… However, I do think it’ll be a great experience to go back to in person classes.” Students like Kou also expressed concern that, while in-person learning may be helpful for those with different learning styles, “the [university’s] accessibility accommodations for commuters, international students, and students with varying needs are a point of concern.” Furthermore, they wrote, “Since the structure of what it means to be ‘inperson’ varies from program to program and department to department, it can be very confusing for students of all types to navigate.” In their opinion, the administration must focus on student voices as they continue their academic planning for the upcoming year if they want to accommodate all students and demographics. Getting reoriented For many incoming second-year students, the perpetual uncertainty of the last academic year made life on campus seem extremely desirable. With their first year of in-person learning coming quickly, some wrote that they felt they needed to reorient to being a U of T student. “I find [it] ironic how I will be a Trinity College orientation leader in the fall but I am someone who has not had the opportunity to explore the college myself,” wrote Madhusudanan. Furthermore, second-year English and political science student Rachel Ponte wrote that she hopes
orientation efforts will be more focused on second-year students. “Most of the content I have seen has been geared at first years,” wrote Ponte, later adding “I believe second years are in a very similar place… [We] are just as unfamiliar with campus, and normal university level learning as [the first-years] are.” “Naturally I’m scared [of] COVID,” Ponte admitted. “I’m also a little nervous about the transition from online to in person [learning]… I am expecting [that] I will have to readjust again, which is difficult since I spent the last year readjusting to online learning.” The university has introduced a number of programs and resources that specifically aim to support secondyear students during what might be a confusing transition. Programs and services include second-year orientation events and a number of events specific to colleges and individual faculties. In addition to these services, Sidney Smith Commons’ Second-Year Learning Communities for select Arts and Sciences students can also serve as a resource for those looking to strengthen both their academic and social lives in the following year. The UTSU has also introduced a “secondyearuoft” Instagram account, aimed at introducing incoming secondyear students to the campus and each other — as the description puts it, “Making up for lost time.” The account will post events and information for second-year students to orient them with on-campus learning and life.
COVID-19 Science Advisory Table projections confirm Ontario is in a fourth wave Projections come two weeks after top epidemiologist resigns, alleges political interference Graph of COVID-19 infections per million over time. MARTA ANIELSKA/THEVARSITY
Marta Anielska Deputy News Editor
The COVID-19 Science Advisory Table — a group of experts who report on emerging evidence to inform the Ontario government’s pandemic response — recently released its COVID-19 projections for fall. This comes nearly two weeks after David Fisman, a former prominent member of the table and professor at U of T, resigned, alleging that the table was withholding “grim” modelling from the public.
In the resignation letter that he posted on Twitter, Fisman claimed that the table’s transparency had been affected by political considerations, and that he felt uncomfortable working with the group after having publicly contradicted their guidelines. In a tweet, the table countered, saying that it had not withheld any consensus models from the public. Modelling considerations In an interview with The Varsity, Robert Steiner, the table’s director of communica-
tions, said that at the time of Fisman’s resignation, experts were still reviewing various models and attempting to come to a consensus on COVID-19 fall projections. According to Steiner, the table works to produce information that is clear and relevant for policymakers. While it does release all its findings to the public, it also makes sure to highlight information that is important to the average person as well as public health professionals. Steiner explained that experts needed to make assumptions about factors such as infection rate and vaccine efficacy, due in part to the novelty of COVID-19. As a result, the table had to take a range of results into consideration when forming a consensus model that it could release to the public. In regard to Fisman’s allegations, Steiner echoed the suggestion made by Peter Jüni, the table’s scientific director. Jüni suggested that Fisman was referring
to a specific model with a very specific set of implications. Steiner noted that the table would not release that one model because it might not be in line with the other models it was reviewing and therefore would not reflect the bigger picture. Members of the table have also stated that the models were delayed because experts took some time off during the summer. Steiner said that this was to help them cope with burnout, and that “over the course of the next week or two, [we’ll] be coming back fully into this work.” Consensus model The consensus model, released in the table’s briefing on September 1, confirms that Ontario is in the midst of a fourth wave. It also noted that vaccinated individuals were less likely to become severely ill from COVID-19, but that the rate of vaccination would need to accelerate in
order to fight against the Delta variant and prevent another lockdown. Other measures, such as physical distancing, capacity limits, and masking, will also be necessary. The briefing included a section on the Delta variant, which spreads much faster than the original virus, and a prediction that if transmission is not reduced, intensive care unit occupancy may exceed that recorded during the third wave by October. The Ontario government recently announced a vaccine passport system to track vaccinations, which will go into effect on September 22. However, the province will not require physical distancing or capacity limits in instructional spaces as long as stringent masking and vaccination requirements are in place. U of T has stated that it will follow the public health guidelines provided by the government.
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SEPTEMBER 6, 2021
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Federal election 2021: Candidate profiles for University—Rosedale Your choices for UTSG’s MP
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Angelina Zahajko, Aniket Kali, and Marta Anielska Varsity Contributors
With another federal election coming up on September 20, a number of candidates have been campaigning for UTSG’s riding of University—Rosedale. Though students can register to vote at a polling station, they can also do so through the Elections Canada website, where they will be able to identify their riding by typing in their postal code. Students who live on or near campus will be part of the University—Rosedale riding. Ahead of the federal election, The Varsity broke down where the University—Rosedale riding candidates stand on hot button student issues such as student debt, housing, and climate change. Chrystia Freeland, Liberal MP candidate As the incumbent MP for the University—Rosedale riding, Chrystia Freeland has held the office of deputy prime minister since 2019 and has been minister of finance since 2020. She was previously a journalist and editor at The Globe and Mail, Reuters, and the Financial Times.
In an email to The Varsity, Freeland wrote that she is committed to eliminating federal interest on student loans and noted that her current budget includes expanded student grants and internship opportunities. Freeland also touted previous budget measures focused on housing, such as rent relief and her support for policies aimed at repairing homes, allowing first-time buyers to save and withdraw $40,000 tax-free, and ending renovictions. Though the Liberals subsidized oil and gas industries with $18 billion in 2020, Freeland pointed out the party’s achievements regarding climate change, including the implementation of a carbon tax and green investments. Moreover, Freeland committed to reducing oil and gas corporate emissions by 75 per cent as compared to 2012, ending plastic pollution, and funding home refitting. Steven Taylor, Conservative Party MP candidate Steven Taylor, running for the University—Rosedale riding on the Conservative ticket, is currently a business lawyer. Taylor works in the corporate sector and has advised corporations, governments, and NGOs. In an email to The Varsity, Taylor criticized Justin Trudeau and Freeland for raising national debt to over $1 trillion and pointed to this as the real reason for student debt worries. According to Taylor, an O’Toole premiership “will return Canada’s finances to balance and stop adding to the debt load.” The Conservative platform makes no explicit mention of student debt or lowering tuition. On housing, he noted that “the answer to high rents is more competition among landlords” by increasing supply. He promoted the Conservative plan to defer capital gains tax when investing in rental housing as a means of increasing supply. Taylor also reiterated support for his party’s mental health proposal, the Canada Mental Health Action Plan, which proposes increasing funding to provincial mental health care, setting up a national suicide hotline, and providing tax credits to employers who offer coverage.
Nicole Robicheau, New Democratic Party MP candidate Nicole Robicheau, running as the New Democratic Party (NDP) candidate, has worked for organizations like the Red Cross in Haiti, Sierra Leone, and the Philippines. “Access to education should never depend on how much money your parents make or how much debt you can carry,” Robicheau wrote in an email to The Varsity. The NDP has proposed slashing $20,000 of student debt, which Robicheau clarified is a starting point for eventually abolishing student debt or decreasing tuition. Additionally, she supports the NDP’s housing policy which includes constructing 500,000 new affordable housing units and providing $5,000 in annual rent subsidies. Robicheau also commented on Canada’s humanitarian work on a domestic level and abroad. She committed to creating a plan for reconciliation by working with Indigenous peoples and noted that the NDP is interested in aligning foreign policy goals with humanitarian ones. David Kent, People’s Party of Canada MP candidate David Kent is the People’s Party of Canada (PPC) candidate running for MP for the University— Rosedale riding. He is a fifth-generation resident of the University—Rosedale riding and holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in performance and ethnomusicology from the University of Toronto. Prior to pursuing politics, he held a long career as a professional timpanist and personnel manager for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. When asked about student debt, Kent expressed support for programs like the Ontario Student Assistance Program. He noted that “one size doesn’t fit all” and spoke in favour of underwriting loans. Kent also claimed that the housing crisis was exacerbated by the federal government’s decision to print money which was prompting inflation, and its plans to bring more immigrants into Canada. He also spoke skeptically about climate change, claiming that the scientific data does not sufficiently support it and it should not be overreacted to.
Among the scientific community, there is little debate about whether climate change is happening, considering the overwhelming evidence that climate change is already underway. Data shows the average temperature worldwide has increased by 1.2 degrees Celsius since 1880. The effects of climate change can be seen in the increase in extreme weather throughout the world, including wildfires throughout western North America and Hurricane Ida devastating large parts of the United States. Kent also emphasized the importance of maintaining freedom of expression and nonideological teaching in the classroom. He specifically pointed toward the section of the Criminal Code which defines and includes a recognizance for “hate propaganda, hate crimes and hate speech,” claiming that this is a way that freedom of expression might be infringed, along with an amendment to the Broadcasting Act that imposes more government regulation and internet censorship. Drew Garvie, Communist Party MP candidate Drew Garvie is the Communist Party candidate running for MP for the University—Rosedale riding. After joining the Communist Party 15 years ago as a student activist at the University of Guelph, Garvie has since ran as a federal candidate in the University—Rosedale riding in 2015, 2019, and 2021. Garvie would prioritize reversing the deep cuts to education made by the federal government, ending the privatization of postsecondary studies, and fighting for free postsecondary education. “A lot of people from my parents’ generation went to school each semester for a couple of hundred dollars; now, [it’s] several thousand dollars per semester [as well as] ballooning class sizes,” Garvie wrote in an email to The Varsity. In response to student concerns about the increasing gap between domestic and international tuition, Garvie stated that his party would return to tuition parity and that, given the benefits international students provide, “treating [them] as a cash cow for universities is bad news.” — With files from Jessica Han
UTSU Board of Directors signs open letter calling for COVID-19 accommodations, additional safety measures Directors also approved FYC honorariums, planned for October 8 AGM Cedric Jiang Varsity Contributor
The University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU) held its fourth Board of Directors meeting of the current academic year on August 29. During the meeting, the board of directors voted to sign the UTSU’s open letter on reopening campus and fall semester plans, which calls for additional accommodations for students who can’t attend in-person courses, such as more virtual options and additional safety measures. The board approved the First Year Council (FYC) Summer Commission Transition Report, awarding a $150 honorarium to all eligible council members. The board also appointed the FYC Hiring Committee for the next term, and the upcoming council is expected to be formed by the end of September. Directors also agreed to hold the union’s 2021 annual general meeting (AGM) on October 8 and voted in favour of preliminary meeting documents. UTSU has yet to confirm whether the general meeting will be held virtually or in person, citing the uncertainty of the COVID-19 situation in the fall. However, according to Vice-President Operations Fiona Reuter, online access is guaranteed regardless of the eventual meeting format. UTSU open letter The board approved an open letter on the university’s plan for the fall semester and campus reopening as Ontario faces a fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The open letter endorses the university’s
decision to impose a vaccine mandate but criticizes the administration for not doing enough to protect students’ health and safety. “We, the undersigned, strongly feel that the University of Toronto (U of T) administration is failing to sufficiently protect students as we return to campus,” reads the letter. It cites a survey conducted by the Arts and Science Students’ Union (ASSU) which found that almost 30 per cent of survey respondents reported strong discomfort about returning to campus. An additional 16 per cent of respondents said they are somewhat comfortable being back in person, and 30 per cent of survey respondents “strongly agree” that they feel comfortable returning to campus if the province stays in line with its vaccination plan. The open letter also criticizes the university administration for “[its] lack of detailed, frequent, and transparent communication,” since many students and faculties are still unclear about the health measures the university is taking on campus this fall. The letter also claims that the student body is given “ambiguous and infrequent” information. The open letter also demands U of T guarantee virtual accommodations for students who are unable to return, tighten vaccine and mask rules, ramp up mental health and accessibility services capacity, and be more transparent about COVID-19 policies, vaccination rates, and alternative course plans. U of T has continued to assert that it is following public health guidance while planning for an inperson semester. Following the announcement of a vaccine passport system in Ontario that will
be implemented in late September, a spokesperson for the university wrote that the university is reviewing the province’s plans, to determine how to structure the relationship between the provincial vaccine passports and UCheck. First-Year Council honoraria The board passed the FYC Summer Commission’s report and approved a $150 honorarium grant to all eligible council members. The FYC is a UTSU group that organizes activities and advocates specifically for first-year students at UTSG. The FYC for the 2021–2022 academic year will be formed by the end of September and it will start its work in October, according to Reuter. Members will be recruited by the Hiring Committee, which will be made up of the UTSU president, vice-president professional faculties, and outgoing FYC executives. The board elected two directors to fill the vacant positions on the committee: Jessie Wu from the Art and Science Division and Catherine Tan from the Professional Faculties Division. The committee will start reviewing council member applications in September. 2021 AGM This year’s AGM is proposed to be earlier in October than typically scheduled. Reuter, who moved the AGM meeting package at the meeting, explained that the change was made after considering accessibility challenges that might come from heavy workloads during the midterm period. “Typically it happened in the mid [or] end of the month. But we did note that that was when
The UTSU building.
CAROLYN LEVETT/THEVARSITY
a lot of students had midterms and other assignments… so in an effort to make it more accessible to all students, we have moved it up,” said Reuter to the board. She added that moving the AGM earlier to avoid the midterm period can also give union staff more time to prepare for the meeting and less stress about course work. Reuter could not confirm if the AGM would be in person, due to the developing COVID-19 situation. However, she did promise that students would be able to attend the meeting online regardless of the format, since some faculties continue to be away from campus for another year. The board approved the AGM package, which includes a draft version of the meeting agenda and other related documents. Reuter expects to release the finalized meeting documents in late September.
Business & Labour
September 6, 2021 thevarsity.ca/section/business biz@thevarsity.ca
be challenged continually to make better and different products. “[If] we have steak [we’ll cook it] in different ways, we’ll have different cuts, we’ll have different sides, it’s always changing. And I believe that’s the hallmark of a great restaurant,” he said. Pandemic restrictions have also prompted Mercurio to focus on the quality of his entrées, with much of his focus devoted to his sourdoughleavened pizza. Mercurio explains that they use organic flour to make their pizzas and their pizza dough is fermented for five to ten days. Bar Mercurio doesn’t make their bread and serve it the same day; they make it and serve it one day later. “[It] requires a whole different approach to preparation, which is much more involved and much more intense,” Mercurio said.
How Toronto restaurant Bar Mercurio is adapting to pandemic restrictions
Bar Mercurio takes advantage of capacity requirements to create a quiet, “private club”-like atmosphere Cholan Rajendran Varsity Contributor
Despite successful measures to increase Ontario’s vaccination rate, the province remains only partially open, and restaurants are still subject to capacity and social distancing constraints. Throughout the course of the pandemic, restaurants and bars have been forced to adapt to COVID-19 restrictions — among them, the restaurant Bar Mercurio near UTSG. Adapting to pandemic restrictions Bar Mercurio is an Italian restaurant and bar that serves healthy and crowd-pleasing pizzas, pas-
tas, salads, and appetizers. Giuseppe Mercurio, the founder of the restaurant, decided to open the restaurant at 270 Bloor Street West — next to UTSG — because of the affection he gained for the area during his time as a U of T student. In an interview with The Varsity, Mercurio noted that pandemic restrictions initially prevented Bar Mercurio from allowing indoor dining altogether and that more recent pandemic restrictions have only allowed dining services to resume at half capacity. The consequent lack of “hustle and bustle” in the restaurant, according to Mercurio, has forced him to shift workplace responsibilities and priorities among the staff. “One of my chefs [and I] are working and we
The lack of "hustle and bustle" in Giuseppe Mercurio's restaurant has forced him to shift its priorities. SARAH FOLK/THE VARSITY
do absolutely everything. And in the event I need an extra hand, either my mother or my daughter or my wife would come to help us,” Mercurio said, highlighting his heavy involvement in the day-to-day activities of the restaurant. “I [do] absolutely everything from cleaning toilets to buying wine to producing the menu,” he said. Keeping up with customers’ tastes Regarding changes to Bar Mercurio’s menu, Mercurio noted that the pandemic has forced him to shorten his menu, consequently prompting him to regularly change the entrées he offers in order to create a “more dynamic and interesting menu.” Mercurio explained that, as a chef, he wants to
Changing the restaurant environment The most significant change Bar Mercurio has made in the face of pandemic restrictions is its change of atmosphere. Following half-capacity mandates, Mercurio decided to “[move] forward with a more relaxed environment, [resembling] a private club.” Though Mercurio is wary of the potential economic consequences of half capacity measures, he believes pre-pandemic traffic “will not return immediately” to restaurants even if there are no longer capacity limits put in place to stop the spread of COVID-19, and feels that this modification to his restaurant is the best way to handle current circumstances. “There's a limited amount of people, [so they] don't feel like they have to leave the restaurant [right away]. And they can enjoy themselves a little longer,” he explains. When asked about future plans for Bar Mercurio, Mercurio said that he wishes to take advantage of the restaurant’s decreased traffic to change the restaurant into a mark of his lifestyle. Mercurio explained that he likes to paint and would like to promote his artwork through the restaurant in the future. “I'll have other paintings and sculptures in the restaurant and turn it into somewhat of a museum. And, within that context, continue to have this restaurant.”
How to spend and save wisely as a student in Toronto Personal finance tips for groceries, clothing, and more Olivia Strazzeri Varsity Contributor
Whether it involves moving into a University of Toronto dorm room or just living near campus this year, moving out is a huge step for many students. Saving money and living in Toronto are two things that are not usually paired together. Learning how to live on your own can be a challenge — but with a few innovative money-saving tips and tricks, you can settle into the city with ease. Saving on groceries and food delivery Grocery shopping can be expensive, especially when it comes to getting quality produce. Regardless of whether you’re shopping by yourself or together with roommates, staying within a certain budget can be challenging. Fortunately, the Metro branches at Bloor and Spadina and Yonge and College offer students 10 per cent off their groceries on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. If you use the discounts in tandem with their weekly flyers, you could save some money on your next grocery shopping trip. Perhaps you’re not in the mood to make dinner, but you cannot afford to spend money on takeout from apps like Uber Eats or SkipTheDishes. The Too Good To Go app is a new initiative to combat food waste by offering restaurants’ unsold food to customers, whether that be ‘end of the day’ bread or food they made in excess. Too Good To Go is a great way to save money while also helping the environment. Finding clothing for a Canadian climate There are other ways to manage your money while living in the city, especially when it comes to shopping for clothes. Whether you’re looking
to shop designer or buy locally, thrift stores are both a smart and inexpensive way to shop in and around Toronto. Neighbourhoods such as Chinatown or Kensington Market offer a variety of vintage clothes and goods, all within a reasonable price. I’ve found that stores such as Vintage Depot and Bungalow carry a range of quality clothes, from handmade jewelry to vintage denim Levi’s at competitive pricing. Canadian winters can get extremely cold, and many of the vintage stores in Kensington Market offer durable and highquality coats and jackets, perfect for the fall and winter season. Another neighborhood close to campus is the Annex. The Annex is a great area in Toronto that is often recognized for having a large U of T student community, and it’s home to many small shops that offer unique vintage clothes and accessories, such as Common Sort near Bloor and Bathurst. It also contains an array of clothing stores, bookstores, and coffee shops, including many that are budget-friendly.
Decorate your dorm without breaking the bank Another way to save money while in school is by shopping for furniture on Facebook Marketplace. Shopping online has never been easier and more convenient, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether you’re looking for small décor pieces for your dorm
room or a new couch for your apartment, Facebook Marketplace is an affordable service that won’t cost you a pretty penny. Not only do many people sell good quality secondhand furniture pieces on this platform, like used school desks or storage units, there’s also a variety of other shopping categories to choose from, including electronics, “Garden & Outdoor,” musical instruments, home goods, and apparel. Campus resources The University of Toronto also has financial resources for students in the forms of bursaries, scholarships, and programs that are structured to help students with their finances. The University of Toronto Students’ Union also offers bursaries through their student aid program, as well as tax clinics to provide students with tax filing assistance. The Hart Learning how to live House Finance Commiton your own can be a challenge. tee is a student group that CAROLINE BELLAMY/ hosts financial literacy THE VARSITY workshops on important topics, such as debt and credit management and taxes.
Comment
September 6, 2021 thevarsity.ca/section/comment comment@thevarsity.ca
Opinion: Evictions from homeless encampments do no good Homelessness in Toronto should be solved through more sustainable measures Jasmin Akbari Varsity Contributor
On July 21, violence erupted in Toronto when police moved into public parks, such as Lamport Stadium Park, to clear homeless encampments, which resulted in arrests and the delivery of trespassing fines to individuals from those encampments and their supporters. This incident has raised conversations about how Toronto has addressed homelessness through various actions such as eviction. Although evicting people experiencing homelessness may seem advantageous in the short term, it is really a performative action that does not work to combat the social problem of homelessness. Toronto is one of the most densely packed cities in North America with over six million residents. Around 8,700 individuals experience homelessness; however, many more could be facing ‘hidden homelessness’, where individuals live temporarily with others with no promise for accessible permanent housing. Statistics about homelessness are only helpful to a certain extent; while the federal government has performed research, it is not definitive, which could make it difficult for shelters to provide the right amount of resources such as counselling, lodging, and other forms of aid. We should ask ourselves why we have such high levels of documented homelessness to begin with. It could signify a lack of compassion
our society has for individuals who face homelessness. Instead of actively looking for ways to combat this issue at the systemic level, our communities push it aside, and those experiencing homelessness are left abandoned by society. While it is understandable that the city would have concerns regarding individuals living in public spaces and struggling with homelessness, arresting and charging these people with fines is not the solution. Many city councillors and individuals do not believe that this approach was well suited to the situation, and they have brought other solutions to the conversation. Eviction is only a band-aid Evicting individuals experiencing homelessness from their encampments is only a temporary solution. At the Trinity Bellwoods Park homeless encampment, many people came to support individuals experiencing homelessness. When asked about how they felt about this situation, one ally said in an interview with the CBC, “I think the cost of this operation could do an awful lot if we directed it in a different way, such as permanent housing with support for people.” This sentiment toward these series of evictions was shared by some community members at Lamport Stadium. About the evictions, Jake, one of the residents at the encampment, said in a CBC interview, “I wish [the city] didn’t do that and [it was] more peaceful.” In Canada, stays at shelters for youth and
Vincent Zhang Varsity Contributor
On August 4, the Court of Appeal for Ontario struck down the Student Choice Initiative (SCI), a controversial policy that was initially struck down by the Divisional Court of Ontario in November 2019. The SCI, originally announced in January 2019, gave students the choice to opt out of incidental fees that the Ontario government deemed “non-essential.” These incidental fees are typically used to finance student clubs and organizations, student media, and other campus services. At U of T in particular during the fall 2019 semester, students were able to opt out of an average of $60 of their $850 incidental fees. The confusion about tuition fees is almost universal. At U of T and other schools, many students find themselves racking their brains in confusion every September as they stare down their lengthy tuition invoice.
Focusing on more sustainable solutions Shelters need to implement changes so that those facing homelessness can feel safer living there. Taking measures to create appropriate living conditions and helping staff with compassion fatigue are non-violent and long-lasting approaches that could help individuals and families overcome homelessness. If people felt more comfortable going to shelters and were guaranteed help, then fewer homeless encampments would be necessary in the first place. Toronto must also work to make housing more affordable. Affordable housing can be provided by the public, private, and non-profit sectors,
made as cheap as possible to allow access for anyone with a passion for learning. As such, the bundling of non-essential fees into the cost of university education — a service that could be considered essential — is completely unethical. This would be like if hospitals forced parking costs on all of their patients, even if they did not park. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when students participated in online classes, U of T charged students the same tuition fees as if they had been attending in person. While incidental fees were reduced, students studying online still paid some campus fees, despite not being able to enjoy on-campus services and activities. Especially The Court of Appeal for Ontario struck down the Student Choice during a pandemic, online Initiative on August 4. students should not be exSHANNA HUNTER/THEVARSITY pected to take on additional incidental fees for services Although some students may be able to dethey do not benefit from. cipher what their money is funding, the SCI can Critics of the policy may argue that it would bring help all students comprehend the exact amount down the student community, as clubs would find of money used for payments beyond classes it harder to run with less funding. However, these through its categorization of essential and non- budget cuts would not simply dissolve the student essential fees. Hence, the SCI can provide a community. Instead, the student community would clear-cut solution to long-existing problems, like find more innovative solutions to work around confusingly high tuition. these budget cuts. If clubs are unable to find inCurrently, besides program fees, the govern- novative solutions or gain support from the student ment has labelled “walksafe programs, health community, these clubs lack demand and support, and counselling, athletics and recreation and and thus, their dissolution is justified. academic support” as essential fees. Clearly, the When the province implemented the SCI for government has sought to define essential fees as the fall 2019 semester, the University of Toronto anything related to health, safety, and academics. Students’ Union (UTSU) found that around 23 These guidelines are fair because they prioritize per cent of students chose to opt out from nonitems related to the welfare of all students. essential fees. During this time, students noted Education is essential to a functioning society. that there were fewer fun events, fewer exciting Higher education can lead to a more educated products, fewer resources for the library, and population, and lowering the cost of university many more critical reductions. would certainly even the playing field for all social However, these clubs may have simply lacked classes. Therefore, higher education should be the time to readjust to changes in funding. One
Opinion: Striking down the Student Choice Initiative was a mistake
The policy provides an incentive for much needed innovation
adults usually last for only around 10 days, and not all of the 63 shelters in the city promise clean and safe living arrangements for people. For instance, shelters cannot protect people from physical and sexual assault, and staff members often face compassion fatigue. The pandemic has not helped the living conditions in shelters — 20 shelters in Toronto have had COVID-19 outbreaks this past April. “We know that this claim of safe indoor space is not true,” said a community member, showing support for those in the homeless encampments in a CBC interview. The lack of a clear guarantee of health and safety in homeless shelters indicates that shelters can be dangerous environments that may leave individuals opting to live on the streets rather than in a shelter.
and the government’s measure of ‘affordable’ is that the housing costs less than 30 per cent of a household’s income before taxes. However, research done by Royal Bank of Canada Economics found that, in the last quarter of 2018, Torontonians needed to use 66.1 per cent of their household income to cover housing costs. This makes owning a home almost unattainable for the average Torotonian, and there are 1.5 million Torontonians who rent, as opposed to owning property. More efforts should be done to make housing affordable to everybody. We could take inspiration from Amsterdam’s model, where new developments for buildings must take into account low-income and moderate-income housing. Homelessness is not just a problem; it is a crisis, and despite the work done by multiple organizations to combat the stigma surrounding homelessness, many continue to see it as nothing more than a problem brought on by the individual. In fact, homelessness can stem from multiple reasons, whether they be economic, social, personal, or health-related. The situation’s complexity should not prevent us from pursuing clear solutions based on evidence, such as improving living conditions in shelters and reforming the housing system for affordability. Jasmin Akbari is a second-year industrial relations and human resources, digital humanities, and writing & rhetoric student at Woodsworth College. semester could have been too short for clubs to find third-party funding sources and other ways to reduce costs. Shortcomings may have also been attributable to a lack of demand from fellow students. SCI cuts don’t have to doom student organizations; instead, they can lead to innovation and efficiency. According to an opinion piece in The Globe and Mail, when The Varsity — like other university newspapers — was forced to move its print magazine online due to SCI cuts, its magazine became more accessible to readers. Although these budget cuts may seem detrimental at first, they can help incentivize clubs and unions to reevaluate their services and offer only what is truly important. In this case, The Varsity maintained its primary service: to provide “meaningful, just coverage for [its] readership.” Funding cuts can also force organizations to only provide services that can exist due to student demand. University papers could exist based on dollar subscriptions from students who demand such reading material. This change would simply make explicit an already existent paywall, and payments from Acorn would be moved elsewhere onto an online membership. Clubs could also run fundraising events or seek local businesses to help support their organization. Furthermore, budget cuts can reduce the opportunity for fraudulent purchases within university groups. Allegations of financial mismanagement are not uncommon within university unions. In the past decade, both the Ryerson Students’ Union (RSU) and the UTSU have had presidents come under fire for fraud. In both incidents, damages totalled approximately $250,000. Last year, Ryerson University cut its ties with the RSU, announcing that the university had lost confidence in the union’s ability to represent the students and supply campus services. If Ryerson could not trust its student union, should U of T students be expected to blindly fund and trust their student unions? The SCI could not only provide transparency, but also allow students to save on services that they would not use. Although worries about funding cuts are reasonable, student clubs, campus services, and student press could continue to find innovative solutions regardless. Vincent Zhang is a second-year financial economics student at Innis College.
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COMMENT
We must confront white privilege in LGBTQ+ spaces LGBTQ+ BIPOC often feel unseen in the media and unsafe in their own community Catherina Tseng Varsity Contributor
As another June full of rainbow capitalism and discourse about kink in parades came to a close, I wondered how the transgender women of colour who spearheaded the Stonewall Riots of 1969 — such as Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and Miss Major — would react to the current state of Pride. Although LGBTQ+ history has always been Black and brown, white hegemony — which includes whitewashing and the prioritization of white cisgender LGBTQ+ folks — has led to the erasure and alienation of LGBTQ+ people of colour in their own community. In a thinkpiece for NBC, writer and activist George M. Johnson claimed that “although white queer people share in [Black] queer oppression, they are still beneficiaries of white supremacy — and are not above wielding that power in our ‘safe spaces.’ ” Johnson emphasized that “the intersection of race creates additional barriers like access to healthcare, medication and a proximity to higher infection rates” — a reality exemplified by the fact that Black Americans comprised only 12 per cent of the US population in 2018, yet they made up 43 per cent of all HIV diagnoses. Unfortunately, as Johnson recounted, HIV began to feel more and more like an afterthought after it stopped being known as a primarily white gay epidemic. White LGBTQ+ folks must confront their authority within LGBTQ+ spaces in order for LGBTQ+ folks who identify as Black, Indigenous, and people of colour (BIPOC) to feel safe within these spaces. Only then can the community present a united front and create meaningful change. In 2014, Carmen H. Logie of the University of Toronto and Marie-Jolie Rwigema of York University conducted a study that determined that LGBTQ+ women of colour experience intersectional stigma, such as homophobia, racism, and sexism, on a daily basis. Participants’ narratives revealed that “white privilege shaped the representations of women of colour in a particular way that promoted their exclusion from white [lesbian, bisexual, and queer] spaces and broader society.” LGBTQ+ women of colour especially lack meaningful media representation. They are often portrayed as emotional support lapdogs for a straight protagonist rather than as their own autonomous beings. In the rare instances LGBTQ+ characters are meaningfully represented, such as in Glee and Modern Family, the characters in question are almost always white. According to Logie and Rwigema, “white privilege constructs whiteness as normative and central to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer identities,” which leads to the erasure of LGBTQ+ people of colour. LBGTQ+ women of colour, in particular, are further marginalized by constructions of femininity and subservience, as women of colour are often perceived as aggressive, emotional, and hypersexual. In an interview with Los Angeles Times, Laci Mosley described the
EMILY MAO/THEVARSITY
vitriol she has received for portraying a Black and pansexual character on the iCarly revival, which began airing just this past June. “[My character is] not a replacement of Sam,” Mosley said, in response to people labelling her character as a “Black replacement” for Carly’s best friend in the original series. “She’s a completely different person. She’s queer, she’s Black — and not in a stereotypical way.” As if securing the role of a fully developed LGBTQ+ person was not hard enough, actors of colour are forced to face revilement and abuse from those outside the industry as well. Because the normative idea of an LGBTQ+ person is white, roles that bring into consideration the intersections of sexuality and race are seen as political statements rather than reflections of real life experiences. Unfortunately, Pride month is a bittersweet affair for many LGBTQ+ BIPOC folks. Every year, we are stuck between feeling hopeful because of the progress we have made for LGBTQ+ rights and knowing that progress does not entirely apply to us. While white LGBTQ+ folks weaponize whatever marginalization they may experience in order to deflect having to own up to their white privilege, LGBTQ+ people of colour struggle to find acceptance in both racialized communities and queer communities. As Johnson expressed, “We have long been burdened with the work of removing homophobia from Black communal spaces while also taking up the fight against racism in all
spaces.” White LGBTQ+ folks must first acknowledge their privilege within LGBTQ+ spaces and as beneficiaries of white supremacy before
LGBTQ+ people of colour can look at the rainbow flag without any apprehension — just pure and unadulterated pride.
Catherina Tseng is a third-year English literature, creative writing, and classical studies student at UTSC.
Editorial
September 6, 2021 thevarsity.ca/section/comment comment@thevarsity.ca
Let’s try this again, U of T
Safety and accessibility must go hand in hand as we enter yet another ‘unprecedented’ year
If quarantined students aren't provided with academic flexibility, they may undergo even more stress than usual. JADINE NGAN/THEVARSITY
The Varsity Editorial Board
It feels like we’ve been here before. Once again, the University of Toronto has made plans to return to normal. Last year, inperson classes lasted for mere weeks before provincial restrictions forced campuses to shutter. Almost immediately, students were swept up again in the challenges of online learning: mental health struggles, isolation from peers and friends, and a lower quality of education that made tuition dollars feel like wasted money. We are concerned that all of this will happen again. Last year, the university was equally confident that in-person learning could happen, but it was caught unaware by another set of restrictions from the City and province. We are concerned that, if COVID-19 cases continue to rise, a return to online learning will be far more challenging and frustrating to implement than it was last year. Simply put, U of T has not released a response plan for multiple, large-scale outbreaks of COVID-19 on campus. Nor are there easily accessible plans on how instructors should pivot back to online learning if that proves to be necessary. A genuine, codified commitment to flexibility and accessibility from U of T’s administration is the only thing that will get us through this year successfully. This must include online learning options for quarantining students, which would also serve as a precautionary measure should another lockdown occur. We need to give up our usual expectations of academic rigour in favour of protecting students’ safety and mental well-being. Students deserve flexibility and understanding, because in-person learning is not guaranteed to last. We are facing the opening act of a fourth wave of COVID-19 cases, led by the more transmissible Delta variant. Public health experts, including U of T faculty, are in unanimous agreement over this fact, but the university seems intent to ignore the reality that is barrelling toward us: that we have to be prepared to return to online learning. We are calling on U of T to release a concrete, comprehensive plan for how outbreaks on campus will be treated. How will students living in residence be ensured of their safety? How serious does an outbreak need to be before activities move online? Without answers to
these questions, we are putting the health of our students, staff, and faculty at risk. Are we prepared for another lockdown? The plans for in-person delivery vary across departments and faculties. Many courses will be online, including course offerings from the Ontario Institute of Studies in Education, the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, UTM, and UTSC; but there are still enough in-person gatherings in the Faculty of Arts & Science to raise concerns. These include the large firstyear classes like MAT133Y1 — Calculus and Linear Algebra for Commerce, ENG140 — Literature for our Time, CSC148 — Introduction to Computer Science, WGS160 — Introduction to Women and Gender Studies and PHL100Y1 — Introduction to Philosophy (Historical), which have over 200 students per lecture section. And at least one residence, Woodsworth College residences, is planning to operate at full capacity. COVID-19 vaccinations will be mandatory — and that’s excellent news — but this policy may not be sufficient against the fourth wave. Don’t take our word for it. Look to the Ontario Science Table, which released a report on September 1 warning that vaccinations are still significantly below where they need to be to seriously dampen the fourth wave. These warnings are not to be taken lightly. After infection, the Delta variant is two to three times more likely to result in hospitalization than the original variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. So we know a fourth wave is coming. But will U of T’s reopening policies be equipped to handle it? To answer that question, we can again turn to the Science Table report. It clearly asserts that capacity limits for large gatherings are crucial to managing this wave — and yet we have residences operating and large in-person classes. Terezia Zorić, president of the University of Toronto Faculty Association (UTFA), recently wrote an open letter to the administration where she laid out concerns about in-person teaching. She wrote that UTFA members are “worried, upset, and angered about being required to teach in crowded classrooms scheduled at full occupancy.” We all want normal. After a long year of online learning and COVID-19 lockdowns, we all want to see a St. George Street that’s bustling and
alive again — but the world since March 2020 has not been defined by what we want. It has been defined by the situations we have found ourselves in. Our concerns about a fourth wave of COVID-19 outbreaks mean that however grim, however disheartening the prospect of another semester online is, we have to be ready for it. We need to be prepared to pivot to online learning — and this means seeing a plan from the university about how we’ll do it. Many of us dislike online learning, but if we already have it available for accessibility’s sake, we’ll be able to switch over to it in a way that’s far better than if the university announces its online learning plans at the last minute and leaves everyone scrambling. Why accessibility is important for online learning plans At the very beginning of the pandemic — now over a year and a half ago — many professors gave out extensions with impunity, radically changed end-of-year assessments, and did everything in their power to make students feel like they were supported during that period of change. Accordingly, U of T added a disclaimer to all students’ transcripts: “In the 2019-20 academic year, the University of Toronto was affected by the global COVID-19 pandemic.” However, U of T students have continued to be deeply affected by the COVID-19 pandemic for every semester since — and yet we haven’t seen the same commitment to accessibility from our university. Things have been “unprecedented” for a while. Although the virus is no longer new, the ever-changing nature of the pandemic and related restrictions means that every few weeks, it feels like we are living in a different mini-pandemic. What happens if students need to quarantine due to exposure to COVID-19? How will they be able to keep up with their courses if there is no way for them to smoothly transition to and from online learning? If professors do not record lectures or grant extensions freely to students who may be undergoing difficult experiences — including those who might have to quarantine or be in isolation for two weeks — students may feel forced to come to class, even if it isn’t safe for them to do so. While in isolation, if students aren’t provided with academic flexibility, they may undergo even more stress than usual. This will only contribute
to the mental health crisis we’ve already seen at U of T. There can be no complete return to normal — not this year, not yet. Instead, what we want to see is a commitment across the board from U of T’s campuses, faculties, and departments that the accessibility suggestions we’ve already made will be a part of their safety plans this year — along with precautions like masks and ventilation. An accommodating professor can do a lot to keep students home and stop the spread of COVID-19 on campus, and a lack of accommodations could have devastating effects. The problem with cramming culture We also need to make changes to the way we think about academic rigour. We know that the pandemic exacerbates mental health concerns, financial concerns, and academic stress for young people in particular. Students can best protect the health and safety of their community if they feel supported academically by this institution. For years, students at U of T have complained that its culture of academic excellence has actually contributed to a culture of mental unwellness in which students sacrifice their mental health for good marks. We are concerned that U of T will continue to promote this culture — a culture that puts academic success above students’ health. If we don’t change the way we think about academics, U of T’s culture might pressure sick students to attend class and contribute to the spread of COVID-19. Instead, by formalizing policies around flexibility, attendance, deadlines, lecture recordings, and online attendance options for students who may have COVID-19 or have to quarantine because of exposure, we can create a model of education that works for everyone and makes the campus safer for every person. And in the long run, all of this preparation can help us reflect on what really matters. We can finally listen to the ways in which students have been suffering under a system that does not care about their well-being, and we can make permanent changes to the way we think about learning at U of T. Now is the time to do it. While we are faced with the frightening idea of a fourth wave of this pandemic; if we want to protect students’ safety and well-being, we need to be prepared now.
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“They need you” It’s been a year of resistance — don’t stop talking now Simran Randhawa Varsity Contributor
In early August 2020, when the farmers' protest began in India, I remember watching the news every morning for weeks. My eyes shifted from the television to my parents every few minutes. I couldn’t help noticing that they kept their composure despite the horrors we were witnessing. As a child of immigrant parents, I understood how strongly they were attached to the well-being of their home country, even from miles away. Though I wasn’t born or raised in India, I felt overwhelmed by the unfolding events as well. Growing up as a first-generation Canadian in my family, my parents made sure I knew about my ethnic and cultural Punjabi and Haryanvi roots. Maybe that’s why I understood the severity of the farmers' protest from its very beginning. Although the farmers’ protest officially began in August 2020, I recall discussing the social movement more and more once the fall 2020 semester began. It was all I could think or talk about for weeks. I knew that many of my friends’ families and relatives were among the protesters, caught in the middle of injustice. A few Indian students I knew at U of T were both aware and in support of the protests, but many of my non-Indian friends at U of T either hadn’t heard of the protests, or didn’t know about the purpose behind them. They weren’t alone. I had thoroughly researched official websites — Canadian universities, colleges, local governments, and the national government — for statements, discussion boards, or panels regarding the protests, but for a long time, I came up short. Why were these institutions taking so long to discuss a major social movement that might be impacting the mental and emotional health of their community members? Educating people in my social circle is one thing, but it will take a lot more for the impact of this movement to reach the U of T students and faculty. To me, in many instances, it seems that the farmers’ protest is not only unheard of, but is also often misunderstood. It’s time we change that. What you need to know Last year, the Indian government passed three new laws that would change how the agriculture industry operates. Their hope was to reach the competitive global market and involve big private corporations. Of the 1.3 billion residents in India, 58 per cent maintain an agricultural lifestyle. Previously, farmers had been legally guaranteed a government-set minimum support price (MSP) for their produce. Farmers would sell their goods through the mandi system — also known as the farmers’ market — knowing that they could rely on a fixed rate issued for particular crops from government agencies. Government representatives would act as middlemen, and depending on the quality of the produce, they could grant farmers a higher price for their goods. Still, farmers were always guaranteed that MSP, which provided the security of a stable income. But the government replaced the mandi system. Without government middlemen, farmers must negotiate directly with buyers, many of whom are big companies. If farmers are unable to negotiate high prices, they now lack the safety net of the MSP and may need to settle for extremely low prices. If farmers refuse to sell at said prices, they risk letting their produce go to waste. As a result, companies can financially exploit their labour. In short, these changes jeopardized Indian
farmers’ livelihoods and agricultural lifestyle. They began to protest the new laws, and they are still protesting today. Many elderly men and women, and youth have participated in the protests. Since September 2020, protesters have been camping out on the streets of New Delhi, India’s capital, demanding a complete repeal of the new laws. Many have refused to leave without putting up a fight. The protesters, who come from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and more, range from different religious and cultural communities; however, with their shared livelihood on the line, they band together as one. Although the protesters have remained peaceful, violence has erupted between the protesters and law enforcement time and time again. In November 2020, farmers drove in on their tractors from many parts of India, forming strong blockades at the New Delhi borders. Thousands from nearby areas also marched to the capital in support. They were met with police, who fired tear gas and water cannons at the protesters. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha, an allied group of 40 farmers’ unions representing and coordinating the protests, has collected data on the number of protester deaths since
the agriculture laws were passed. Their data claims that 477 protesters from all states — both farmers and supporters — died in the six months preceding May 2021. An alarming 87 per cent of those deaths were from Punjab alone. According to those numbers, an estimated three protesters died every day. The story became international news when Indian emigrants living in Western countries, like Canada and the US, also began to protest in solidarity. Hashtags like #FarmersProtest and #NoFarmersNoFood started trending on social media. Over time, the farmers' protest became what may be the largest protest in human history. So, why do I continue to come across people at U of T who have yet to hear about it? Why aren’t we making room for conversations about this in
our academic institutions and social circles? Are we doing enough to be there for the Indian community? The impact on Indian U of T students I’m Punjabi and Haryanvi, and I major in criminology and sociolegal studies at U of T. My cultural affiliation, combined with my educational background in human rights, has helped me feel close to the protests and understand the depth of the violence that the protesters are experiencing. But not everyone has this same background. I wanted to know if other Indian students felt the same way that I did.
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U of T students reflect on the importance of being educated on the farmers’ protest in India I sought out a diverse group of Indian students to speak to about this issue. However, finding a diverse group of interviewees was challenging. Very few people came forward to speak with me, and those who did identified themselves as Punjabi. That may have been because of the lack of awareness about the farmers’ protests, or because Punjab is the state that is the most strongly impacted by the protests, but it may also have been because they didn’t want to speak about their opinion publically — I’ve found that people tend to fear the repercussions of speaking up against the Indian government. Amanat Kaur, who is Punjabi
and grew up in India, highlighted this issue. “The protest has been seen as a Punjabi protest. The reason a lot of Punjabis are supporting it is because Punjab is a majority of farmers.” But she emphasized that other states, such as Uttar Pradesh and Assam, are supporting the protests, and noted that this isn’t only about Punjabis. “The more people label it as a Punjabi movement, the more they [non-Punjabis] don't feel like they can join it because they don't feel included.” Another misconception is that the farmers’ protest is a matter of religion. “One thing that absolutely pissed me off was the fact that the government — or even people here [in Canada] — made this a religious issue. It was like Hindus versus Sikhs… that was not the point,” said Akshita Sangha. India’s diversity in terms of religion and culture has resulted in conflicts between groups in the past; however, by emphasizing these differences when talking about this social movement,
we undermine the obstacles that farmers are truly experiencing as a professional community. Perhaps the most important thing that each student highlighted is how the protests have a moral significance that goes beyond cultural identity. Sangha attested to this, saying, “I'm standing with [the protesters] as just a normal citizen who believes in what they're doing and who acknowledges that these bills are wrong.” Every interviewee was 100 per cent with the protesters, as am I. We had all learned about the protests through conversations with our families, social media, and individual research. None of us were on the ground protesting, but we were bombarded with daily news and clips of targeted violence and hatred which eventually took a mental and emotional toll on us. I’ve watched many videos and seen hundreds of photographs of the violence perpetrated on the elderly and the youth protesting. I distinctly remember seeing a picture of a young man with blood dripping from his forehead to his chin. In spite of that, strength and resilience glimmered in his eyes. “It was, quite frankly, very, very scary,” Sangha shared. “I know when the violence started… I couldn't go on my phone, like I couldn't open up Instagram ‘cause it was everywhere.” Like Sangha, Mansi Narula couldn’t handle the violent video clips she was seeing on the internet, but chose to keep herself up to date by reading video descriptions instead. In my own experience, the violence became very difficult to witness — knowing that I couldn’t do much from here and that the cruelty would only continue. What is most devastating is that many of the protesters resisting
FIONA TUNG/THEVARSITY
federal abuse are very young and very old men and women. “I could see my grandparents. I could see my uncles. I could see my aunts. I could see my cousins who live in India, and this could be them,” said Sangha. “These people are grandparents, mothers, daughters, sons and they're going out, and they're protesting, and they're staying on the streets in Delhi,” she added. Protestors have spent months living in tents and sleeping on dirt roads through the changes of the season. When asked how they feel about the length of the protests, the students I spoke to used words like “disheartening” and “devastating” — but also words like “courage” and “resilience.” “They're still protesting. I think that's amazing,” Kaur said. Space for awareness at U of T With COVID-19 dominating the news, coverage of the farmers' protest has fluctuated: sometimes it receives attention, and other times it disappears from all international news sources for days. When Rihanna tweeted about the farmers’ protest this past February, I remember the protests receiving mass international attention. Unfortunately, that moment didn’t last long. Without continued celebrity endorsement, people retreated to their personal lives, even though nothing has changed for the protesters. As Narula pointed out, even though the peak of news attention is over, the protests aren’t. A huge concern is the lack of discussion in educational settings, including at U of T. I found myself mentioning the farmers' protest during virtual classes, in appropriate assignments, and in conversation with any professors and peers who were willing to listen. The students I spoke to feel that U of T hasn’t done enough, even though their faculty includes community members with huge influence. “There's no harm in this topic being approached by universities,” says Narula. “Professors are really influential people in the lives of students… students take their word and pay heed to what they say.” Kaur’s student union made a donation, but she emphasized the need for discussion and education beyond just financial support. “Talk about it, have a conversation. You talk about a lot of things! Talk about these things too once in a while.” All that these Indian students want is for their academic institution to make space for them. Brief conversations about topics relating to the protest could spark interest and independent research, while providing mental and emotional support for students who may need it. I still watch the news every morning with my parents. Even though I continue to be concerned for the protesters’ well-being, I have now adopted the composure my parents had from the beginning. I’ve come to better understand the importance of remaining calm and believing that good will come through. Still, I often remind myself of the elderly men and women who have been sleeping on concrete roads for months, resisting extreme winter cold and suffocating heat. Every wrinkle that covers their spirited faces and hardworking hands represents their histories, struggles, and persisting strength. Who am I to give up in this fight when they haven’t? “It's… a fight against injustice. It's about us supporting a fraction of the society,” Kaur said. “They need you.” And she’s right. Now more than ever, the protesters in India need us to talk, to share, to post, to educate, and to make sure that this last year of effort is recognized and heard by all people, Indian or not. Don’t stop the conversation now — and if you haven’t started talking about the protests yet, it’s time that you do.
Arts & Culture
September 6, 2021 thevarsity.ca/section/arts-and-culture arts@thevarsity.ca
Meet Ana Golja: A musician, actress, and producer who’s just like every other U of T student The aspiring cinema studies major discusses her EP Strive, stepping out of her comfort zone, and pivoting to new heights Alexa DiFrancesco Arts & Culture Editor
When asked about what factors came into play when choosing a university, first-year student Ana Golja responded similarly to most other U of T applicants: “I wanted to prove that I could actually go to the top university in Canada.” But in other ways, Golja is not quite like every other student. What separates Golja from most of her peers on campus is the hands-on experience she brings to her degree. Rather than enrolling in school to land a job after graduation, the aspiring cinema studies major is already a successful actress, singer, and producer. The Varsity talked to Golja about adapting to COVID-19 lockdowns, her music career, and advocating for mental health. COVID-19 lockdowns and music career She’s well-known from her role on the television show Degrassi: Next Class — coincidentally partially filmed on the U of T campus — and the film The Cuban, which she co-produced. Golja explained that she made the decision to take on a university course load after she was unable to work safely during COVID-19 lockdowns. “My industry was completely shut down… I figured now would be a really good time to go to university and at least start that process,” she said. University isn’t the only passion project Golja took on during the pandemic; the self-described “overachiever” explained that, while in isolation, she taught herself to produce music online — a process she admitted she “[won’t] be doing again.” “The process was brutal,” Golja recalled. “I am not tech savvy… I had to rely on the help of
[my] go-to music engineer… [Now] I know how to do it, and I have a greater appreciation for the people that do that for a living.” The result of Golja’s labour is Strive, the artist’s debut EP. Consisting of six songs and released on July 30, Golja described the project as the “building blocks [and] foundation” which allowed her to get through the pandemic. “Each letter [in the EP’s title] stands for a belief or practice,” Golja explained. “ ’S’ is for ‘self love’… ‘T’ for ‘transcend’… ‘R’ for ‘reflect’… ‘I’ for instincts, to follow them… [‘V’ for] ‘vulnerable’… and ‘E’ for ‘emerge’, you know, to show up for yourself and essentially transform into the new, better version of yourself.” Though finding the EP’s core message came naturally to Golja, the artist recalled that creating its upbeat style wasn’t as effortless. She said, “I feel like I naturally focus on the negative feelings. My [first release] Epilogue was all really depressing sappy ballads.” Epilogue is an album that Golja released in 2018. Golja mentioned that her goal was to make an upbeat song to make listeners dance, and added, “The pandemic brought on so many challenges for so many people, and we were all dealing with it in such different ways… maybe in unhealthy ways. And so I just wanted to make something that would make them feel like there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.”
“It just felt like such a natural partnership,” Golja described. “ ‘All Night’ [is] about how we deal with anxiety… perhaps substance use and depression, how all those things kind of manifest in different ways.” “I really wanted to shine a light on that and raise awareness for all the amazing work that Kids Help Phone does,” Golja added. She mentioned that all information shared with the service is confidential.
Highlighting mental health Another way Strive highlights mental health is through the music video for its single “All Night,” in which Golja collaborated with Kids Help Phone, a public service that provides free online counselling, information, and text-based support to users throughout Canada.
“You get a sounding board, which a lot of people don’t have where they’re uncomfortable sharing with people that they know.” As someone who’s already an established actress, musician and producer, Golja admitted that she’s unsure what lies ahead for her at U of T because of her busy schedule. Her main
Ana Golja is a singer, actress, and producer. COURTESY OF LINDSEY DRENNAN
aspiration is to go on tour when public health officials deem it safe to do so. In the meantime, the triple threat’s smaller post-pandemic plans reveal inarguable similarities to the average university student. “I’m very excited to be travelling, and seeing all my friends and reconnecting with everyone.”
The art of thrifting; how to transform a space on a student budget With these savvy tips, I built a miniature bistro on my balcony Rebecca Rocco Varsity Contributor
As most of you relocate near campus for the beginning of the school year, you may come to a realization that you don’t own enough furniture. Maybe you want a specific piece of furniture, but you can’t afford it.
The bistro the author created on her balcony.
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I’ve been there. I’m a fourth-year student who recently moved into a new apartment. It was not fun to do, especially during a pandemic. Before moving in, I had this dream of setting up a cute miniature bistro on my new balcony. I didn’t have enough money. What I did have, however, was patience and an apartment situated in a large building. After a few months of dedication and ingenious thinking, I achieved my goal of a bistro setup. Along the way, I established a few rules of thumb about getting resourceful that you may find useful.
1. Avoid fabric Unless you’re an upholstery aficionado, or you own a proper fabric cleaner and vacuum setup to deep-clean your fabric — don’t do it. There’s always a chance that secondhand fabric contains bed bugs or grotesque substances which will negatively impact your living situation. When I moved into my apartment, the former owners had left me a cushion and black chair for the patio — the cushion was small enough to throw in the washer to be safe. 2. Some things can be fixed Some items you find may be banged up, and that is okay. In most cases, the famous saying applies, ‘If there’s a will, there’s a way.’ If a piece contains semi-malleable metal, one good effort of your body’s strength can restore the functionality of the furniture piece. My bistro table was mangled when I discovered it outside my building; now a permanent resident of my balcony, it’s become the setting of many philosophical debates among my friends. 3. Invest in an all-purpose cleaner If you’ve found a home decor piece outside, please clean it. As Cardi B would say, “Bring a bucket and a mop” — or a brush — and wash it down. Listen to some good music while doing it — for instance, “WAP.”
If you find a piece of furniture and you’re unsure if using an all-purpose cleaner is appropriate or effective, search it up. The internet is, in this case, your friend. I used an all-purpose cleaner on the bistro chairs, but I had to use a gentler cleaner for the table so as to not remove its paint. 4. Try to clean outside with some personal protective equipment On a warm day where water can evaporate, working outside can help with cleanup. Most of the time, you’ll want to clean in an environment with open airflow so that whatever you’re cleaning off doesn’t get into your lungs. In any case, it’s advisable to wear a mask and some sturdy gloves when cleaning thrifted furniture. I usually clean my pieces out on my balcony, where I have to be careful not to let any water fall off its edge so I don’t upset any neighbours below me. I use a small amount of water at a time for each piece of furniture to mitigate the risk, especially when it comes to cleaning a large piece like the bistro table. 5. Be patient It took me four months to
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create the bistro setup, but it was well worth it. Sometimes, you won’t be able to find a free piece of furniture that meets your goals in a short amount of time. A suggestion: check out some apartment buildings in your area. I do this at the end of each month because it’s usually the time that leases end and renters move out. That’s how I found the bistro-esque table. I also found that Facebook Marketplace is a good bet for finding inexpensive furniture that you can’t find in stores. I found my bistro’s white chair on Facebook marketplace for $15; the same chair usually retails for $50 in-store at IKEA. Happy thrifting!
thevarsity.ca/section/arts-and-culture
SEPTEMBER 6, 2021
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Forever (Bird Botanicals): Botanicals): how David Constantino’s exhibit demonstrated taking flight when faced with crisis The art, displayed at the Gardiner Museum, tackled mental health and human resilience Gladys Lou Varsity Contributor
A flock of clay birds flew into Toronto’s Gardiner Museum this summer. Forever (Bird-Botanicals), an exhibition by artist David Constantino Salazar, ran between August 21 to August 31. His sculptural installation was made up of over 500 individually handsculpted birds produced in red clay, which were then smashed and torn apart in splatters against the gallery’s wall, with sculpted plants growing out of their bodies. The Varsity spoke to Salazar about his inspiration, his artwork’s symbolism, and how to be resilient when faced with trauma. Birds representing transformation In July 2021, Salazar led a series of online workshops, which I was fortunate to take part in. Participants were given a bag of red clay, and were guided on how to create birds with rudimentary shapes. We were then brought to the museum to be included as part of the exhibition. The birds carved by Salazar were mounted on the walls of the gallery; the birds without wings sat on its floor. The contrast reflects the different stages of existence we experience when recovering from injury and collective trauma. In an interview with The Varsity, Salazar explained his interest in exploring life post-trauma. “Because we don’t die, we must go on. Some of us take a while. Some of us stay. I personally have chosen to move on — to move forward from trauma.” Salazar’s birds were not only metamorphosing individually, but together they became another entity, creating a new force. Salazar told The Varsity, “It’s important for me to be able to
communicate a bird, but it doesn’t have to be anatomically correct. I’m not faithful to the idea that it has to be a particular type of bird… the narrative I’m trying to have with the audience is what do birds symbolically mean to us.” Salazar believes that the deformation of clay birds from their organic shape is part of their story, similar to real life. When a living bird collides with a surface, it adapts to the geometric form of that surface. The changed shape of a bird that has collided with a surface represents how our experiences shape who we are and how we present ourselves. Salazar emphasized the inevitability of change as a theme of the exhibit. “It’s letting go. It’s a meditation of impermanence… nothing lasts forever, and we are constantly on this shift… we are constantly changing,” he said. Although birds undergo physical, mental, and spiritual trauma, they sustain their beauty through the uniqueness of their shapes and experiences.
ROSALIND LIANG/THE VARSITY
Taking inspiration Salazar’s idea of ‘forever’ manifests through the cycle of energy in nature, where the death of one body serves as fuel and nutrient for the growth of another body. The idea developed when Salazar visited South America and saw animals feeding on rotten trees. The rotten trees left the canopy open, providing access to sunlight for other plants. The trees’ destruction demonstrated trauma as a force for positive change, a concept which Salazar connected to human experience. “Well, how about [us]? How is it that we process traumatic experiences… and continue to grow from there? We’re not the same, but yet we continue to process… It’s forever.”
Salazar took inspiration from the red clay he saw on his travels. The material reflects the historical context of colonial architecture in Latin America, where red clay is often used in construction. “There’s so much power within this medium that is subconscious in our being, our cultural makeup,” the artist explained. Though he didn’t use red clay in his exhibit, Salazar hand-modelled each bird sculpture to mimic its appearance and symbolism. “When the clay dries, it tears differently, and it gets grainy. I like that, because that’s violence right there. That’s like a whole piece coming apart,” he told The Varsity. Mental health and human resilience In Forever (Bird-Botanicals), Salazar collaborated with Workman Arts, an art organization that
promotes awareness about mental health and addiction. Via Salazar, the Gardiner Museum offered artistic workshops to the public. In these workshops, visitors made birds, took their artwork home, and then donated it to the museum. The way that participants gave back to the space where they explored their personal grief showed that using trauma to enact positive change is not only present within Salazar’s work, but within the spaces he presents it in. Through his work, Salazar invites his viewers to think about the power of human resilience — when the stability in our lives comes to an end, how do we process it, evolve, and move forward? The answer, Salazar proposed, is to look up to the sky: as we reflect on the adaptability of birds, we may just come to realize our own resilience.
Finders Grievers is a podcast to heal all wounds Creator and U of T alum Shohana Sharmin shows listeners that it’s okay not to be okay Rhea Jerath Varsity Contributor
“We’re all grieving, but none of us are talking about it,” said Shohana Sharmin, U of T alum and host of the podcast Finders Grievers, which shares personal accounts of grief and loss. Sharmin talked to The Varsity about the isolating nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing reactions from people worldwide. Between the undulating waves of lockdown restrictions and the physical distancing measures we have been taking every day, many of us have waning hope for a return to normalcy. This deep loneliness and confusion often lies at the core of grief. It’s overwhelming: the sinking feeling that perhaps we’ll never truly move past this moment, the realization that we could never have the right words to explain our experiences to one another. Our grief is a universal burden we can choose to share with others; by sharing it, we can learn to shoulder it. Finders Grievers uses this concept to create a space for individuals to share their stories about loved ones’ deaths. Each episode promises a heart-wrenching story of loss — but these stories are also comforting, which intertwines these experiences of grief. The new kind of grief Before Finders Grievers, Sharmin — whose mother died of lung cancer in 2017 — had channeled her grief into her creative projects, including the critically acclaimed dark sketch comedy Dead Parents Society.
However, as COVID-19 hit and the world entered a state of recurring lockdowns, Sharmin found herself “grieving the loss of the normal that [she] knew.” She then realized that she could observe “how different people [were] reacting to this new kind of grief.” “It was painful, but it was also kind of fascinating. It was very eye-opening for me,” described Sharmin. This discovery spurred her exploration of the grieving process and eventually led to the creation of Finders Grievers, which was released in May. The podcast shares deeply personal
and honest accounts of grief and captures the imperfection and ‘humanness’ of the grieving process. In every episode, listeners witness stories of harrowing loss while discovering their own emotions. Sharmin’s podcast stresses the power in finding unity in grief by uniting listeners with shared experiences. Grief is unique and that’s okay Finders Grievers shares the experiences of several writers, actors, and comedians, and their unique grieving journeys. Sharmin highlights how “no experience is exactly the same”;
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each individual witnesses loss under different circumstances, and therefore often holds a wildly different perspective of grief from others. “There’s no prescription. There’s no right or wrong way to do this. This is always my thing. Do what you need to survive. That has always been my motto with grieving,” shares Sharmin. Grieving can be a transformative process and it often has both positive and negative aspects. There is a great deal of shame and stigma around discussing grief, so oftentimes those who are experiencing loss can’t allow themselves to fully process their emotions. Instead, they choose to avoid acknowledging it. Unfortunately, grief doesn’t leave once a person turns away from it; our pain manifests and becomes a deeper part of us. Sharmin believes that healing and addressing the toxic behaviours or thought patterns we’ve previously adopted requires “creating space to learn and unlearn.” “A happy-ish podcast about sad things” For Sharmin, Finders Grievers is a space for healing and acceptance. She shared, “You’ll be happy some days; you’ll be sad some days. Both are allowed. Both are okay. So just accept both, embrace both and move forward. Walk holding both.” As we learn to deal with how COVID-19 is affecting us mentally, resources with honest discussion surrounding our losses may help bridge the socially distanced gap between us all. For healing to occur, Sharmin advised, “You really have to honour the happy and the sad.” Finders Grievers gives listeners a space to do just that.
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arts@thevarsity.ca
ARTS & CULTURE
Though it wouldn’t fit into his world, the Beyond Monet exhibit is within sight of the artist’s original vision The immersive experience premiered in Toronto on August 12 Cheryl Nong & Sarah Kronenfeld Varsity Contributor and Senior Copy Editor
It’s never clear what you’re getting into when you sign up for an ‘immersive’ exhibit. Sometimes, it means you’re in for an afternoon of breathtaking immersion; sometimes, it means you stand in a room of coloured LED lights and read a couple of signs. In the case of Beyond Monet, an art exhibition hosted at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre that’s advertised as “Toronto’s most immersive experience,” it can be a bit of both. The exhibit is designed to be an introduction to painter Claude Monet, regardless of how familiar viewers are with his life and works. Fanny Curtat, an art historian who worked on the exhibit, thinks that Monet’s work is often undermined because of its sheer ubiquity in our cultural consciousness. “[Beyond Monet] provides an access for people who might think museums are not for them, to access this work differently. To see that [his paintings are] more than a chocolate box — to see that there’s more to [them],” said Curtat, in an interview with The Varsity. And although it doesn’t always fulfill its promise of total audience immersion — there are places where paintings are lit to make them look washed out, or where glimpses of exposed ductwork remind you that you’re in the middle of a convention centre — it does a remarkably good job at showcasing the depth and breadth of Monet’s work in a way that feels fun and engaging. The first room, which pays tribute to Monet’s iconic paintings of water lilies, isn’t terribly immersive. However, it seamlessly guides you through a primer on Monet’s personal life and philosophy.
The room is obviously structured around the information panels set up around the space, which belies the idea that Beyond Monet was designed to be accessible in a way most museums aren’t. To get the most out of your experience, the exhibit expects you to stand around reading a bunch of background information. A tunnel full of hanging prismatic streamers leads into the real heart of the exhibit: the ‘Infinity Room.’ The gazebo at its center is surrounded on all sides by huge panels on which Monet’s work is directly projected. Circular mirrors on the ground give the impression of puddles left behind by the rain and reflect the colours of the scenery around them. There’s a facet of Monet’s work that lends itself uniquely to the animation techniques used in the exhibit. Flashes of paintings flit across the screens in 360 degrees alongside quotes about impressionism from contemporary writers, presented in both French and English. The animation within each individual painting is relatively subtle, and doesn’t distract from the painting as a whole — instead, it often focuses on the natural movement contained within each scene. The paintings aren’t in a particular chronological order — rather, they’re arranged so they craft a narrative together. When Curtat was writing out background information on Monet and selecting paintings to showcase, she says she tried to focus on bringing the ambience of his art to the foreground in order to allow the viewer to feel truly immersed in the scenes Monet’s work portrays. “We're so used to sharing our stories, our images on social media. [Monet’s work] was all about putting that forth and fighting with an institution to [go]: ‘No, your way of representing the world is artificial. I want to show what I see,
what I feel.’ So he’s still very relevant in a lot of ways today,” she explained to The Varsity. Rather than trying to reproduce reality, Monet was trying to capture his own perception of fleeting moments in time. That was also what he was trying to present in many of his paintings: moments so complete the audience could be drawn in. Water Lilies — perhaps one of his most famous works — was designed to take over entire rooms. Audiences could walk through it and feel as if they were in his garden, seeing the flowers for themselves. In that way, Beyond Monet seems very much to exhibit the spirit of Monet’s work. Overall, the exhibit was an enjoyable experience. If you’ve been bemoaning the fact
The immersive exhibit projected Monet’s artwork on all of its venue’s walls.
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Dear UTSC: I’m travelling across the world for university — here are my expectations The thoughts of a second-year student after moving from Indonesia to Canada
The author of this article moved from Indonesia to Canada to go to UTSC. IRIS DENG/THE VARSITY
Arthur Hamdani Varsity Contributor
Dear UTSC, I don’t know much about you, and you have no clue about me. So, as I finalize our meeting date, here are my hopes for my second year of
university, which is the first year I’ll be spending in Canada. I’ve only heard stories about your greenery and the deer that visit it or the aesthetically pleasing buildings that locals have missed seeing over the past year. I’ve heard that people hold multicultural festivals and club activities in
that you don’t spend enough time at museums as a university student and you want to immerse yourself in the Paris of Monet’s day, then Beyond Monet is a fun way to do it. Is it worthwhile on a student budget? Probably not. At around a minimum of $36 per student ticket, it’s definitely an expensive outing. Of course, if you really want to embody Monet’s philosophy and appreciate life’s transience, there are plenty of inexpensive alternatives all around. Immersing yourself in his world will only get you so far — if you really want to emulate him, today’s Toronto has plenty of beautiful places where you can try to capture fleeting moments for yourself.
your area, in buildings where movies and music videos were filmed. I saw you from the virtual backgrounds of the U of T campus staff as they spoke about your glory. From South Tangerang, Indonesia, 11 hours ahead, I can only hope you’re as good as you seem. It’s ironic how I couldn’t understand my thoughts during a time when I had no one else to talk to but myself. It’s not that I don’t know my surroundings. I do: the humidity, the dogs barking at 7:00 am because of a passing dump truck, and my family spending evenings arguing about whose turn it is to watch the television. I’ll miss every sliver of home, as it’ll always be a place I’d come back to — a place to realize I’m loved by the people I love. Throughout my first year of university, I compiled expectations for my second year: that being on campus would uplift my spirits to venture out of my comfort zone, and that I would thrive creatively. My expectations may be high, but I think that’s reasonable for a kid who spent his entire first year battling exhaustion and procrastination. When I was in high school, I was motivated. Even when a 4,000-word essay struck me, I faced it head-on and submitted it days before the deadline. I did my homework the day it was given and had the evening to myself. I’m still looking for that version of me, and I’m hoping to find him in you. Here’s my hypothesis, and I pray it holds: you are the missing piece in my unmotivated puzzle. People keep asking me why I’m so desperate to travel closer to you for another online semester. It’s not entirely about the time
difference; it’s more about proving that I still have the drive inside me. I get a motivation boost when I’m out of my comfort zone, and it’s nearly impossible to do that in a room where my bed is five steps away and in a country where I speak my mother tongue. I discover more about myself through my interactions with others in different settings. Being away from home will come with its challenges, I hope. I need to prove to myself that I am still the same person who’s always running the extra mile, no matter how tired I get. When the time comes to attend live lectures in one of your halls, I will have to adjust to not pausing the lecture to take notes. I will have to adjust to not doing every task through one device at the same time. I will have to adjust to many aspects of schooling that won’t be accessible through a few browser tabs. But as long as I will be in your proximity, I think I’ll be alright. I’ll finally get to join clubs without having to stay up until 1:00 am. Maybe I’ll even visit the mysterious Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre. There’s a lot I want to explore, especially since I heard you’ve got a lot to show. You’re the reason I’m leaving home for a country I’ve never laid my feet in. I hope you’re the place where I’ll grow to be a better person than I am now. A journalistic writer, an artist, or an athlete; I don’t know what you have in store for me. Still, I’ll embrace any challenge headon, because all I want is to make any future experience as different as possible from the time I spent a year of university in my room. Maybe it’s not all so bad that I struggled so much last year. After all, the first item I’d like to tick off my Canadian bucket list is that I’m still motivated to learn and discover the areas outside my comfort zone. I’ll see you soon, Arthur D. Hamdani
Science
September 6, 2021 thevarsity.ca/section/science science@thevarsity.ca
Opinion: Gene editing can be leveraged for the greater good with appropriate regulations We have to ensure we have policies to address the ethical concerns of gene editing
GRACE XU/THEVARSITY
Quinn Pauli Varsity Contributor
With CRISPR gene editing technology continuing to evolve, many ethical arguments have arisen about its use in humans due to its potential for serious misuse. However, some have argued that it is also unethical not to harness the power of this technology given the enormous potential benefit it poses to humankind. Considering the range of applications of CRISPR and the ease with which it can be applied, it is critical for us to put appropriate regulatory processes and policies in place to mitigate the associated risks. CRISPR/Cas9 — or, as it’s commonly known, CRISPR — is a gene editing technology developed in 2011 that allows researchers to edit plant, animal, and human genes with ease and efficiency. Research leveraging CRISPR has led to new, important findings, such as potential new ways of treating diseases like Alzheimer’s — one of many discoveries made by the research group led by Gerold Schmitt-Ulms, a professor at U of T’s Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology and a researcher at the Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Using CRISPR as a tool to understand and treat diseases Schmitt-Ulms’ research group is using CRISPR to generate cell models in order to better understand the pathology of phenomena like Alzheimer’s disease. In an email to The Varsity, Schmitt-Ulms wrote that his group used CRISPR to “introduce mutations into human cells that are known to cause inherited versions of the neurodegenerative diseases [they] study.” “Studies in cell and animal models represent critical steps toward gaining the insights necessary to transform these tools into medicines,” he added. The hope among many researchers is that CRISPR could lead to large-scale applications for human health, agriculture, and the conservation
of endangered species. Given its ability to easily edit any gene, CRISPR could be used to treat things such as HIV, hemophilia, cancer, cystic fibrosis, and infertility, just to name a few. It could even allow humans to receive organs from other species in life-saving organ transplants. CRISPR has been described as having the potential to revolutionize disease treatment. In addition to treating diseases in humans, it has the potential to eradicate diseases such as malaria by the genetic modification of the species that are carriers of these diseases. It could also be used to protect endangered species or to fortify crops to improve their nutritional content. However, there are concerns that widespread use of the technology could lead to unpredictable consequences, including the creation of ‘designer babies’ and irreversible disruption to ecosystems. Ethical concerns of using the technology One controversial application of CRISPR is its use in human embryos. Presently, if someone edits the human genome in any way that can be inherited, even in a lab setting, it’s punishable by up to 10 years in prison in Canada — one of the most restrictive gene editing laws in the world. The law does not prevent gene editing on all human cells, but only on so-called ‘germ line’ cells — such as embryonic cells — that could be passed on through reproduction. Some researchers have been calling for the Canadian government to modify this law to allow research on human reproduction and embryo development with more ease and efficiency. While Schmitt-Ulms agrees that CRISPR has made it “easier to study just about any disease,” he emphasized that we are not ready to bring the technology to humans just yet. “The main hurdle to human applications are the challenges associated with delivering this technology safely and ethically,” he wrote. Many of the ethical concerns surrounding the use of germ line cells for research have existed
before CRISPR, since they are primarily related to controversy regarding the status of a human embryo. Another unknown factor is whether modifications made to germ lines will persist in future generations, which raises major ethical concerns. Even though we are not at the point where CRISPR can be applied to humans, technological advancements like this can evolve quickly — gene editing is already part of our society. “The combination of in vitro sterilization and selection of embryos can already today prevent a subset of severe genetic diseases, including inherited forms of prion diseases that my group studies,” Schmitt-Ulms wrote. “Humans have been dramatically altering the genetic realities on this planet ever since they started selecting species for farming, and gene-modified foods were introduced decades ago.” However, due to the scale and speed at which gene editing can be done using CRISPR, he recognizes that unethical applications of the technology “[pose] indeed considerable risks.” For example, there could be unintended effects of gene editing in humans because scientists don’t yet know the function of every gene in the human genome. Additionally, there are concerns surrounding the development of ‘designer babies’ with specific physical or psychological features or qualities which could drastically exacerbate societal inequities. Even more insidiously, gene editing could be used for eugenics, which involves encouraging gene selection for certain ‘superior’ traits in human populations. Another potential concern is the unpredictable consequences on ecosystems and the environment that could arise from using CRISPR to modify other species and crops. The application of CRISPR for crop modification could be extremely useful for addressing famine in certain countries, but if measures aren’t taken to ensure equitable access, it could similarly exacerbate inequities around the globe.
CRISPR needs responsible regulation In some communities, researchers are already conducting gene editing experiments on species that are carriers of diseases transmissible to humans. They are mitigating the risks associated with this type of research by developing safety features to control or reverse genetic modifications among a species in case unintended consequences arise. The ways CRISPR could be misused and abused are serious and need to be addressed. However, the enormous potential benefits of this technology cannot be ignored. As CRISPR continues to evolve, governmental policies will also have to evolve, and governments should consider the social, environmental, and health risks associated with each application of the technology. “As with any risk management, the strictness of regulations need to scale with the risk an activity poses. Not all CRISPR applications are equally dangerous,” Schmitt-Ulms emphasized. There is also a risk associated with failing to leverage this technology in the future — for example, there are a lot of diseases that could be treated with the help of CRISPR. Researchers are continuing to study and improve CRISPR at a fast pace with the hope of eventually bringing its advancements to humans. SchmittUlms advocates for devoting additional time and resources to developing “regulatory frameworks for the safe use of this technology.” Many researchers have expressed support for the establishment of an international organization that would provide guidance about the ethical use of gene editing. As with any new technology, a risk-benefit analysis needs to be done for each new potential use of CRISPR. We as a society need to decide what we are and are not willing to accept. As Schmitt-Ulms pointed out, “humanity has developed powerful technologies that can be directed toward nefarious purposes before. These types of scientific advances need to be paralleled by broad public debate on the safe and ethical use of novel technologies.”
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science@thevarsity.ca
SCIENCE
Airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and what it means for public health Rethinking our approach to COVID-19 protection as things slowly return to normal Christina Lam Varsity Contributor
When the SARS-CoV-2 virus first spread and led to the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) insisted that it spread mainly by traveling through respiratory droplets, and the WHO made recommendations based on that assumption. More recently, however, many researchers have argued that SARS-CoV-2 mostly transmits through airborne aerosols, and current research supports their hypothesis. This distinction has a profound impact on what public health measures can limit infection. Droplets vs. aerosols Droplets and aerosols primarily differ in their sizes and the distances they can travel. Droplets are larger and tend to travel less than six feet before quickly falling to the ground, rendering them ineffective at transmitting the virus. In contrast, aerosols are smaller and can travel much further. More importantly, they can stay in the air for anywhere from 30 minutes to hours — hence, the term ‘airborne’ — which significantly increases their chances of being inhaled. Due to their short-range travel, transmission through droplets can be mitigated by limiting physical contact, washing hands regularly, wearing masks, and cleaning all surfaces. On the other hand, controlling airborne transmission requires additional measures to dilute the number of aerosols in the air, such as air ventilation and filtration. Both practices reduce the intensity and duration of exposure. “[It’s] a multi-layered approach and no layer is perfect,” said Jeffrey Siegel, a professor of civil engineering at U of T, in an interview with The Varsity. Siegel studies indoor air quality and the performance of air filtering and ventilation performance. While he agreed that it’s important for the university to have robust ventilation and filtration systems in classrooms, he noted that they aren’t a magical solution that will contain the spread of the virus.
Resistance from the WHO The WHO has been hesitant to confirm SARSCoV-2’s potential for airborne transmission, despite the push from the scientific community. On July 6, 2020, over 200 scientists signed an open letter asking the WHO to take airborne transmission into consideration and revise its health guidelines. Three days later, the WHO acknowledged the possibility of aerosol transmission in a statement: “Short-range aerosol transmission, particularly in specific indoor locations, such as crowded and inadequately ventilated spaces over a prolonged period of time with infected persons cannot be ruled out.” However, it did not issue any new health guidelines. There were no further updates until a review funded by the WHO came out as a preprint, before being peer reviewed for publication, in March 2021. In the paper, the authors identified and assessed 89 different studies that tried to detect SARS-CoV-2 aerosols. They found these studies to be “low quality” and claimed that, “The lack of recoverable viral culture samples of SARS-CoV-2 prevents firm conclusions to be drawn about airborne transmission.” Criticism from researchers On April 15, six scientists — including U of T epidemiologist David Fisman — refuted this conclusion in the medical journal Lancet with an article titled, “Ten scientific reasons in support of airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2.” The researchers dispute the WHO-funded review by citing several instances that demonstrate SARSCoV-2’s capacity for aerosol transmission. They mention examples where SARS-CoV-2 aerosols were detected, such as cases where viral matter was recovered in an infected person’s car or in places that could only be reached by aerosols, like air filters and building ducts, and cases transmission among healthcare workers who only had protection against respiratory droplets. Other evidence illustrates the role of ventilation, including COVID-19’s higher transmission rates indoors compared to outdoors, several superspreading incidents in places with low ventilation, and transmission between individuals who were in adjacent
rooms but not in direct contact with each other. In the end, the authors pointedly state that, “It is a scientific error to use lack of direct evidence of SARS-CoV-2 in some air samples to cast doubt on airborne transmission while overlooking the quality and strength of the overall evidence base,” and that, “The public health community should act accordingly without further delay.” The WHO finally acknowledged airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 on its website on April 30. The organization revised its health guidelines, explicitly stating that ventilation is important in controlling COVID-19 transmission. It advises that, in addition to physical distancing measures, we should also avoid confined and poorly ventilated spaces as much as possible. If not, it recommends airing the room out by opening windows. Changes in public health guidelines Except for those in healthcare facilities, air circulation systems are not designed with infection control in mind. As such, researchers recommend that large public spaces such as schools and offices modify their existing systems to enhance ventilation and filtration. The Canadian government’s website for guidance on COVID-19 advises that institutions should have their buildings evaluated by experts to ensure that ventilation and air conditioning
systems meet COVID-19 standards, since different buildings will require individualized changes depending on their setting, number of occupants, the type of activities they host, and the duration of their use. For spaces that are continuously used, such as classrooms, the guideline advises that individuals should air them out by opening windows for a few minutes, and occupants should have regular outdoor breaks “to limit the potential buildup of potentially infectious respiratory droplets or particles over time.” As the university opens its doors to in-person classes this fall, U of T has announced a 12-part approach to protecting students, faculty, and staff, and ensuring a safe environment on campus, including upgrading air ventilation systems as part of the COVID-19 heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) strategy. “I would describe [U of T’s reopening strategy] as a really good aspirational plan,” said Siegel. He is concerned, however, about whether the university will actually reach the targets that it has set out. For instance, the filters that the university is upgrading to might not perform as well as they do in lab conditions when they are put to use in classroom ventilators. — With files from Khatchig Anteblian
Research suggests accounting for airborne transmission is a significant part of slowing the spread of COVID-19. KHATCHIG ANTEBLIAN/ THEVARSITY
U of T case study shows decreased student participation in distance learning Studies suggest virtual learning might be less effective than traditional lectures
REBECCA MOYA AND ISABELLE CESARI/THEVARSITY
Shankeri Vijayakumar Varsity Contributor
questions when they are physically present at a lecture.
It may feel like the onset of technology-mediated learning appeared overnight as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, but while the pandemic certainly fast-tracked the widespread use of such tools, forms of virtual learning have been steadily making their way into education. The growing popularity of online teaching and learning has sparked discussions of possible new innovations — and also valid concerns around the equity and accessibility of virtual learning models. In a recent paper from U of T, Klaudiusz Stoklosa and their team of researchers found that on average, students are more engaged, participate more, and ask more
The impact of location on student participation Generally, in any model of teaching and learning, it’s important to consider participation and engagement from learners. Research has shown that student engagement is linked to many positive outcomes related to learning performance and students’ intrinsic satisfaction. Engaging students in the learning process can increase their ability to focus, elevate their critical thinking skills, and improve their experience in the classroom. However, the onset of distance learning has raised questions around how this may impact learning performance and outcomes. Stoklosa’s team conducted a case study of
second-year medical students at UTSG and the Mississauga Academy of Medicine (MAM) at UTM to investigate whether student participation varied based on the physical presence of the lecturer in the lecture hall. The researchers noted that, despite the prevalence of distance learning in postsecondary institutions, there is a lack of research on its impact on medical student participation. The researchers compared student participation between onsite and offsite lectures in different courses over 24 weeks. The onsite lecture group consisted of students that were present in the same room as the lecturer, while the same lectures were also broadcast to the offsite lecture group — a group of students who were located in a remote classroom. Students could ask questions by pressing a button at their desk which would then broadcast their questions across both lecture rooms for everyone to hear. The case study used the number of questions asked by students during lectures as a measure of student participation. It showed that in the onsite group, MAM students asked 1.08 more questions per lecture and UTSG students asked 1.13 more questions per lecture. The way forward The study raises questions about equitable education experiences for students. While students’ participation levels may not provide a
clear indication of their learning performance and outcomes, it can impact learning effectiveness. Students who are unable to attend in-person lectures may be at a disadvantage. Students have reported that learning in a completely virtual environment during the pandemic has created challenges around feeling disconnected from their instructors and peers. Many studies have been conducted comparing the efficacy of learning through different models, and they have produced varied results. A 2017 study that compared the effectiveness of hybrid lectures to traditional lecture formats found that students in the hybrid lectures were less successful than the students taking traditional lectures, although the correlation they found could be caused by many factors. Elements of human connection like eye contact, rapport, and proximity can help students feel comfortable in engaging, and are missing during distance learning. This is exacerbated even more in a completely virtual learning environment. This does not necessarily mean that one learning model is better than the other, especially since students have diverse learning styles and needs. As universities continue juggling virtual, in-person, and hybrid learning opportunities, it is paramount to identify measures to eliminate barriers to ensure students have equal chances to participate or engage in lectures in order to ensure all students have an equal opportunity for success.
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U of T researchers discover microplastics in all samples of Great Lakes fish 2021 study documents the ecological consequences of plastic pollution in Ontario’s freshwaters Nicole Szabo Varsity Contributor
Plastic waste is pervasive in all ecosystems, including Canadian freshwaters. It is estimated that every year, approximately 22 million pounds of plastic debris make their way into the Great Lakes. These plastics degrade over time and turn into microplastics, which are particles of plastic less than five millimetres in length. The ecological consequences of plastic pollution are documented in a recent study led by researcher Keenan Munno of U of T’s Rochman Lab, in which she and her team discovered high concentrations of microplastics in fish from Lake Ontario, the Humber River, and Lake Superior. “In this paper, we found that 100 per cent of fish that we looked at had plastics in their [gastrointestinal] tract,” Munno said in an interview with The Varsity. She went on to explain that most studies show that between 20 to 40 per cent of fish contain plastic particles, but 100 per cent of the fish that her team studied were contaminated with plastics. The level of plastic contamination in each fish was also extremely high, with rates of up to 900 plastic particles per fish. The source of microplastics Unlike in many similar studies, Munno and her team found a diverse array of microplastic particle types in the fish they studied. “What that tells us is there could be a number of potential sources, if we were trying to trace it back to see where
the microplastics come from,” said Munno. Microplastics often enter our ecosystems through our wastewater, which is why Munno and her team fished near wastewater outflows. Not surprisingly, the most abundant type of particles contaminating the fish were fibers, which are often shed from synthetic clothing and are washed down our drains. Other microplastics that Munno observed indicated that fish were consuming irregularly shaped remnants of larger materials, such as plastic water bottles. Long-term ecological effects According to Munno, quantifying the amount of plastics consumed by fish is the first step toward assessing what the long-term effects of their plastic consumption would be. “These fish are eating a lot of plastic — so, a lot more particles than we usually see them eat — and if eating that plastic makes them feel full, and they eat less nutritious food, that could have long-term effects,” Munno said. While the long-term ecological effects of microplastic contamination in aquatic life are not fully understood, multiple studies have shown dire conclusions. For instance, a 2013 study led by Chelsea Rochman, Munno’s supervisor, demonstrated that dietary exposure to plastic causes liver toxicity in a type of Japanese fish.
approximately 50 million pounds of fish harvest each year. These fisheries contribute to the diet of nearly half of the Canadians that report regularly eating seafood at home, according to a 2011 survey. While seafood is lauded for its health benefits, microplastic contamination in fish naturally raises concerns, and for good reason: it is estimated that people may consume up to 52,000 plastic particles per year, with seafood being a major contributing source. While further research is necessary to understand exactly how microplastics impact humans, multiple studies have indicated that exposure may cause neurotoxicity, increased cancer risk, and other repercussions. In order to study the effects of microplastics on humans, Munno and an undergraduate student she is working with plan to go back to her study sites to retrieve fish that people commonly catch and eat. They will analyze microplastic contamination in their gastrointestinal tracts as well as their filets — the part of them that is usually consumed by humans.
Do microplastics pose health concerns for humans? Commercial fishing in the Great Lakes results in
What can be done? On an individual level, people can avoid singleuse plastics, such as disposable cutlery and
ROSALIND LIANG/THEVARSITY
water bottles, which eventually become microplastics. “There are also filters that people can buy and put on their washing machines that help trap more of the microfibers [shed by synthetic clothing],” Munno said. Students can also take action by joining the U of T Trash Team, which is focused on reducing plastic pollution through cleanups and public outreach. The Trash Team also utilizes Seabins, which are floating garbage bins designed to collect 3.9 kilograms of aquatic debris per day, including microplastics. Munno said that she and her colleagues have been pushing for regulations in the plastic industry that mandate putting traps on drains to prevent the debris produced by plastic manufacturers from entering freshwaters. In good news, some recent policies about curbing microplastic production may already be making a difference. “One example is [that] microbeads in cosmetic products are banned in Canada — and a lot of this is just anecdotal, but we don't find them very much in our samples anymore,” Munno said.
The unseen mental health struggles of elite athletes Varsity Blues and Olympic athletes share their mental health struggles Angel Hsieh Varsity Staff
Recently, many people have been having a conversation about the mental well-being of elite athletes, sparked by a few high-profile athletes withdrawing from major sport competitions. Naomi Osaka’s recent withdrawal from French Open months ahead of the Tokyo 2020 games, where she cited mental health concerns, was followed by Simone Biles pulling out of the Olympics finals for similar reasons. These withdrawals have brought to light an often overlooked topic. The prevalence of symptoms of mental disorders among Canadian highperformance athletes was the subject of study in a recent paper by Zoë Poucher, a PhD candidate at the Sport and Performance Psychology Laboratory in U of T’s Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education. Poucher looked at the role that different stressors play in the development of symptoms of mental disorders among athletes, and whether athletes are disproportionately affected by mental health issues. The Varsity also reached out to current Varsity Blues student athlete Natasha Athanasakos and Alicia Brown, former Varsity Blues athlete turned two-time Olympian, to discuss their experiences around dealing with mental health as elite athletes. The impact of stress Results from Poucher’s study indicated that elite athletes may be more likely to develop symptoms of common mental disorders — depression, anxiety, and eating disorders — than the general Canadian population. Poucher used a stress process model, which takes into account the varying resilience different athletes might have to stress and pressure to analyze the factors that lead to symptoms of mental disorders in athletes. The model accounts for how different stressors affect various components of one’s
life, including how external factors in a person’s life can help manage their stress, explained Poucher. Experiencing stress does not directly translate into adverse effects on mental health. The paper also says that strong coping mechanisms “reduce the negative impact of stress on mental disorders.” In general, a person’s likelihood of developing symptoms of mental disorders is dependent on the types of stressors they experience and their access to support networks. Poucher highlighted that “[For athletes,] the focus on athletic performance and achievement in an athletic domain is prioritized over everything else.” This can drive elite athletes away from developing diverse human experiences outside of sport. There is no definitive framework tailored to the mental health needs of elite athletes. However, Rosemary Purcell and some of their fellow researchers at the University of Melbourne suggest building an early intervention network for athletes. Purcell’s comprehensive framework considers various elements of an elite athletes’ support network, such as regular mental health monitoring, peer mentoring, and accounting for athlete preferences when seeking help. In a survey conducted for the study, just over 41 per cent of athletes surveyed reported symptoms of one or more mental disorders, with 17 per cent reporting symptoms of depression and nine per cent reporting symptoms of depression and generalized anxiety disorder. A Varsity Blues athlete’s reflection In an interview with The Varsity, Natasha Athanasakos, the Varsity Blues 2019–2020 female rookie of the year, talked about her journey to mental wellness as a women’s ice hockey player during the pandemic. Although Athanasakos said that the disruption that the pandemic caused to her training took more of a toll on her than she thought it would, she
expressed gratitude to her social support network for keeping her mentally fit. A sense of mutual understanding allowed Athanasakos and her teammates to empathise with each others’ struggles. “When we are now back in a time when we are playing [again], we are able to build each other up and support each other, because we are all on the same path,” Athanasakos said. Athanasakos also opened up about her struggle with feeling a loss of purpose during the pandemic. “I had lots of anxiety, which I’m okay talking about because I realized, speaking to other athletes, [that] they had the same issues,” she said. Her anxiety was spurred by uncertainty around returning to school and training, and struggling to find motivation. One of the most helpful resources was a sport psychiatrist that Athanasakos has known since her first year. She felt comfortable going to someone who was familiar with her situation, and seeing a psychiatrist helped her learn how to deal with her feelings alongside her teammates when the team was affected with mental health issues. Influence of media on athletes’ mental health Poucher noted that the attitude on social media toward athletes and their mental health is “definitely changing for the better” — although she thinks it’s happening slowly. She hopes that more and more prominent athletes speaking up about
their mental health issues will help normalize them. In an interview with The Varsity, former Varsity Blues athlete Alicia Brown spoke about her own experiences with being on the world stage and dealing with mental health as an Olympic athlete. At the Tokyo 2020 games, Brown intentionally took time off from social media to focus on mentally preparing for her competition. The feeling of wanting to constantly engage with friends and family over social media can be a huge distraction, and can even be detrimental to athletes at times. “So much of performance is mental,” Brown noted. She could anticipate what pressure she would feel from social media because of her experiences in the 2016 Olympic games. “I knew I needed to create boundaries for myself [to stay] in a healthy mental space,” she said. Brown also shared her experience with the news media, where she’s found that athletes are always expected to present themselves in their peak condition. “Often, that means putting [our] own well-being and truth aside,” Brown said. She also added that this pressure from the news media can create lasting effects on how athletes see or feel about themselves. Despite the challenges she and other athletes face in their athletic careers, Brown is motivated to stay in sports. “What motivates me to run and to be in sports is the impact that I can have on the younger generation… and fighting for a goal,” Brown said.
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September 6, 2021 thevarsity.ca/section/sports sports@thevarsity.ca
O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done: A farewell to Kyle Lowry A thank you letter to the GROAT Guiller Lorenzo Cenizal Varsity Contributor
A jersey saying “LOWRY 7” will hang from the rafters at the Scotiabank Arena one day. That’s not conjecture, but a statement of fact — a fact about the recognition that he has more than earned in his storied nine-year tenure with the Toronto Raptors. However, all good things must come to an end. Now, the whole event isn’t quite as morbid as the reference to Whitman’s “O Captain! my Captain!” as the title may suggest, but Toronto will still mourn the loss of all-star point guard Kyle Lowry in the signand-trade with the Miami Heat finalized on August 6, 2021. With rumours of a trade swirling for a long time, it’s unlikely that this surprised anyone who follows the NBA. Nevertheless, any fan — or any Torontonian, for that matter — would be remiss not to bask in a little nostalgia. So, bask we shall. Kyle Lowry’s journey in Toronto began with a trade from the Houston Rockets: Houston got Gary Forbes and a protected first-round pick in exchange for a 26-year-old Kyle Lowry. This was a lifetime ago by basketball standards — back when Andrea Bargnani sported number 7 in the Raptors’ frontcourt, and Dwane Casey was entering his second season as head coach. That Kyle Lowry was young and hungry. He matured during an era of rapid change in how the game was played and how the rosters were constructed. It wasn’t easy to be traded to a team that was coming off an abysmal 23–43 record in the 2011–2012 campaign. In retrospect, it would’ve been easier to jump ship than to try
to breathe life into a team that had achieved a record of over .500 in only one of the past 10 seasons at the time — but that wouldn’t be the Kyle Lowry we’ve come to know and love, now would it? To an observer, Lowry’s journey as a part of the Raptors was tumultuous at best. The typical highs and lows of an NBA season take a toll on any fan, let alone a player. That isn’t to say things didn’t improve for Lowry. They did, and quickly. What was a team that only won 23 of their 66 games in the 2011–2012 season went on to make seven straight playoff appearances from 2013–2020, due in no small part to Kyle Lowry, who led the team in Win Shares for five of those seasons. Within that same
stretch, Lowry accumulated six All-Star game appearances. Over his nine seasons with the club, he would play the second-most games and log the second-most minutes played of any player in the Raptors’ franchise history. He would also collect the most triple-doubles in franchise history — along with the most three-point field goals, steals, assists, and Win Shares. To top all that off, he helped take home the 2019 NBA championship which was the first championship for the Raptors in franchise history. It’s clear from his statistics that, among the heartache and failure that comes with competition, Kyle Lowry found success in Toronto. He found family in a team and organization that believed in him. Yet what truly sets his legacy apart
is that he found a home. Lowry adopted this city as a second home, just as it adopted him as one of its native sons. The Lowry Love Foundation, which he and his wife established in 2013, helps underprivileged and disadvantaged people both in their adoptive city of Toronto and their hometown of Philadelphia. Preaching equality, the organization promoted basic necessities for everyone, a sense of community, and even holiday cheer. Notably, the foundation was responsible for giving over 200 Thanksgiving meals a year to underserved families in the Greater Toronto Area between 2015 and 2020. “It means the world to me to be able to give back to a place that has given me so much,” said Lowry in an interview with TSN. In short, Kyle ANDREA ZHAO/THEVARSITY Lowry gave back to Toronto both on and off the court. Now, the significance of Whitman’s “O Captain! my Captain!” is not in its drama but in the uncanny sentiments it conveys. This article, like the poem, is meant to express love and attachment as well as sadness and relief about the departure of a fearless leader: in this case, of a man who put his team above himself all the way to his sign-and-trade, and a man who will likely continue to help underprivileged Torontonians past his time with the franchise. Kyle Lowry is the captain who would stop at nothing to steer a ship through a storm. He’s an undersized, gritty, and hard-nosed underdog from North Philly who became the avatar for a gritty, hard-nosed underdog basketball team — and its city.
Pre-workout supplements: Should you use them? Examining the pre-workout drink trend Nimit Vediya Varsity Contributor
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Everyone who exercises fairly regularly can understand that, on some days, you just need a little extra push to get you through a workout. Recently, there’s been a big trend to take “pre-workout” — that is, pre-workout supplements, which provide you with a boost of energy to get gains. However, some questions have recently come up regarding the efficacy and safety of such pre-workout supplements, especially because their production is not well-regulated. Workout supplements are generally designed to aid you in achieving your fitness goals, and some of these products fall under the category of pre-workout supplements. They’re designed to increase your energy and improve your overall workout. The actual ingredients of these powders vary greatly and can include substances such as caffeine. The caffeine in these preworkout drinks may give users the boost they are looking for before starting their workouts. This can be especially beneficial when taking
part in early morning workouts where energy is pretty low. However, studies are still lacking a consensus on whether or not pre-workout supplements really help. Moreover, there are health issues that can arise from using these drinks. Firstly, there are often large amounts of added sugar and artificial sweeteners in pre-workout powders. In addition, they can cause a variety of digestive problems such as constipation and diarrhea. Furthermore, supplements are not a well regulated industry — so perhaps you may want to think twice and really examine the ingredients on a supplement’s label before you ingest it. It is safe to assume that although pre-workout drinks can be useful in giving you the energy boost you need right before your workout, you should still consider their pros and cons before making a final decision on whether or not to take them. If you are in dire need of energy, consider some fruit before you work out instead, as fruits are an all-around great option before a workout, and don’t contain the same concerning and complex ingredients that are in pre-workout supplements.
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SEPTEMBER 6, 2021
Mental Moment: Gardening Nurturing wellness from the ground up Giselle Dalili Varsity Contributor
Yes, it is true — studies from the University of Essex and more show that engaging with nature does in fact improve human wellness. This has been utilized in hospitals and health centres, where “healing gardens” have been put into place in order to de-stress staff, visitors, and patients, as well as to promote recovery. Furthermore, a new occupational therapy for psychological disorders that involves taking care of plants, called horticultural therapy, is now a growing treatment. Therefore, it can be assumed that plants could aid college students with our generally busy, onerous lifestyles — and students can easily reap the astonishing perks of gardening right in their college dorms. Further research and meta-analyses show that the benefits of floriculture reach much further than simple stress relief. Plants can improve mental and physical health by boosting people’s cognitive functions, including their memory retention and concentration, because of the calming environment plants create. Ornamental plants can also be found to strengthen interpersonal and intrapersonal relationships, since ornamental horticulture can promote compassion, and promotes swift healing of illnesses.
Additionally, floriculture heightens job performance, work quality, and efficiency, since exposure to plants simultaneously bolsters feelings of vitality and curtails fatigue. Similarly, ‘green exercise’ — any sort of physical activity performed outdoors — reduces anger, depression and anxiety by reducing cortisol levels. Finally, studies find that many species of plants, like philodendrons, naturally filter air, which improves respiratory health by reducing airborne toxins like benzene from the air that a person inhales. Plants are also great because, if you want to get a plant, you have a diversity of options to choose from. Some come in bright colours; some provide a light, pleasant scent; and some can be used as fresh herbs to flavour and enliven home-cooked meals. Moreover, you have opportunities to adorn their pots and add accessories, which can act as décor and brighten an otherwise banal room. Getting green exercise can be as simple as choosing a small plant of any variety and following a few simple steps to nourish your new companion. As a result of the pandemic, more plant nurseries than ever give you the option to order their products online for curbside pickup and delivery, so you can buy your dream plants and pots from the comfort of your own bed! Keeping a plant isww pandemicfriendly and busy-college-student-friendly.
I bought a couple four-inch potted peperomias for my college dorm. After decorating them in adorable pots, I marvelled at their bright, marbled leaves. I simply had to water them twice a week while keeping them under indirect sunlight to enjoy minimal stress and a 47 per
How to sneak in some exercise between class Fall is approaching. The leaves are starting to change colour and food trucks are beginning to line the street all the way up to the library. In-person learning is back — and that means you’re going to be super busy. Whether you’re a commuter or you’re staying in residence, it can be difficult to make time between classes, labs, and tutorials to work out. It can be hard to carve out time for the gym when you have to study for your chemistry midterm, write an English essay, and cook dinner — all in 24 hours. Luckily, we here at The Varsity are here to help! It’s the least we can do after providing you with such great content that you can use as an excuse to procrastinate on your assignments. The classic: push-ups Push-ups are an exercise many people hate — but they have their benefits! Doing push-ups is a great workout for the upper-body, since it engages your pectoral or chest muscles, shoulders, triceps, and even your core. If you have
trouble performing traditional push-ups, start with a simplified form and then adjust based on the areas you’d like to focus on. To perform a push-up the traditional way, get into a plank position with your torso and legs parallel to the floor and your hands shoulderwidth apart. From there, try lowering yourself almost to the floor with your arms, and then push yourself back up. Let’s get low: squats Squats are an exceptional lower body workout that target your glutes, hamstrings, and quadriceps, as well as your core. Furthermore, squats can also be done by using just your body weight — you don’t need an impressive gym setup to perform this exercise! Squats may also reduce your risk of injury, according to the American Council on Exercise, since they build strength in your tendons and ligaments. They’re also a great way to help improve posture and balance for full-body exercises. To perform a squat, keep your feet shoulderwidth apart and your feet flat on the floor. Keep your chest up as you lower yourself into a squatting
cent decrease in indoor formaldehyde levels. Since nurturing many plant species is a lowmaintenance activity, and small plants are relatively cheap to buy, the choice is obvious. As you start your first year here at the University of Toronto, it might be worth it to pick up gardening as a hobby — you might just feel a little bit better as you manage this difficult transition. Who knows; you might just graduate with both a diploma and a green thumb!
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Five dorm-friendly workouts to start the year Angad Deol Sports Editor
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position until your knees are at a 90 degrees angle. From there, return to the starting position. Feel the burn: wall-sits Doing wall-sits is an exercise so well-known for its burning that it’s also called the devil’s chair. Wall-sits target the quadriceps — that is, the front of the thigh. In order to perform this exercise, you should align yourself with a wall and face away from it, keeping about two feet of distance between the wall and your feet. Work your way down the wall until your thighs are parallel to the ground and your knees are at a 90 degrees angle. Stay in this position for about 30 seconds if you’re a beginner, or 60 to 90 seconds if you are more advanced, and then rise up to the starting position. Working on the core: planks Planks are an excellent workout that can improve your flexibility and your posture. Planks not only target your core, but they also engage your entire body. While they may seem difficult at first, they are a great way to work out your core in between working on your lab reports.
To perform a plank so well that pirates would walk across you to their impending demise, follow these great tips: lay down on the ground and lift yourself up using your elbows and feet. Keep a straight back and pelvis, and hold the position for 30 seconds, or longer, if possible. A little cardio, as a treat: jumping rope Jumping rope is a workout many world-class athletes keep in their routine. But that doesn’t mean it’s too difficult for a student to jump rope — in fact, it has tons of benefits for athletes and students alike. Jumping rope is a great way to work your core, build stamina, and do a full-body workout using only one piece of equipment! To jump rope, you’ll need to grab your jumping rope, stand straight up with your feet shoulder-width apart, and jump above the rope as you swing it forward, toward your own feet. It’s important to look after your health — both mental and physical — as you return to school. Exercise can help you with your mental health, as it is shown to decrease stress hormones, promote confidence, and take your mind off problems. So, as you move into your dorm or get ready to commute from home, try squeezing in some of these workouts. You might just thank yourself — and The Varsity.
Healthy eating for first-years: How to maintain a nutritious diet during a difficult transition Food for thought on first-year nutrition Rushil Dave Varsity Contributor
It is often difficult for first-year students to practice healthy eating, and for good reason — many are simply too busy with university life to spend time cooking. After finishing a day’s worth of hard work, who wouldn’t want to have a slice of pizza for dinner? However, unhealthy practices can have dangerous consequences, such as serious chronic health conditions. Fortunately, there are a number of simple ways you can integrate healthy eating into your daily routine. The first and most important tip is to start off your day right by eating a healthy breakfast every morning, to give you the nutrition you need to get you through the day. Research has shown that this can lower your risk for heart disease and improve your mental abilities. Some
healthy morning starters include whole-grain cereals, bread or bagels, fruits and veggies, eggs, or even plain yogurt! Avoid food and drinks like Coke, which may not add much nutritional value to your diet. Substituting soft drinks for water ensures your body stays hydrated. One crucial word of advice is to have a nutritious snack available that you can eat between meals. If you keep a protein bar in your backpack, you may not be as tempted to buy fast food which might not have as much protein. Foods like protein bars that are rich in protein can help you stay fueled for longer! Finally, give yourself a break from time to time. Although it’s a good idea to avoid foods you know aren’t very nutritious, spending all your energy cutting anything unhealthy from your diet can be exhausting. It’s okay to indulge yourself sometimes — your goal should be to
stay healthy, not to make yourself feel miserable. As you get ready to begin a new chapter in your life, you should remember that good nutrition can go a long way. Eating a nutritious diet and maintaining consistent eating habits may actually help you perform better in school, which all college students can agree is very important. It may still take some time and effort to build healthy eating habits, but it’s worth it — your body will thank you for this in the long run!
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