March 21, 2022

March 21, 2022

THE VARSITY The University of Toronto’s Student Newspaper Since 1880

Marta Anielska Deputy News Editor

There are no students running for the position of president in the University of Toronto Students’ Union’s (UTSU) spring 2022 elections, now that the campaigning period has begun.

This comes after the UTSU extended its nomination period by one week, to March 11 at 5:00 pm. When the deadline was extended, the UTSU’s Chief Returning Officer (CRO) Cole Currie explained that the decision was made to give all students the opportunity to run.

Participation concerns Participation in UTSU elections has been down over the last few years, with four out of six executive positions uncontested in last year’s election.

The vice-president, public and university affairs position also remained vacant for the duration of last year’s election after the sole candidate dropped out.

This year, three out of the five executive positions for which there are candidates are contested. Furthermore, there are six candidates running for vice-president equity.

In an email to The Varsity, Currie noted that “the UTSU has taken a few measures to ensure members are aware of and empowered to participate in elections.” He added that while no candidates obtained enough signatures to run for president, there are still a number of “highly contested races that should spark conversation and healthy dialogue.”

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However, Faye Varanesi, a third-year astronomy and physics major, wanted to run for the president position, but she was unable to do so because she could not garner enough signatures.

Currently, the UTSU nomination package says that people interested in running for an executive position must get 50 supporting signatures. In an interview with The Varsity, Varanesi noted that interested students were not allowed to post nomination form links to their social media because that would be considered campaigning. Instead, they had to directly reach out to students and ask for signatures.

After finding out that no candidates received enough signatures, Varanesi reached out to the CRO to ask if an exception to the policies could be made for this election cycle, which would allow students who were interested but could not gather enough signatures to run.

She was told that was impossible and that she should wait to hear more about the byelections.

She added that students might think that no one cares about the UTSU due to the fact that no one is running, even though that’s not the case.

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Campaign information The online campaigning period is currently in process, with the end date scheduled as March 27.

The UTSU will be hosting a debate at 6:00 pm on Tuesday, March 22. The voting period will then begin on Wednesday, March 23 and will end the same day as the campaigning period on Sunday, March 27. According to the union’s election procedures, voting will take place entirely online. The election results will be announced on March 29.

The Varsity has reached out to the UTSU for comment.

Disclosure: Currie served as The Varsity’s deputy news editor in 2017–2018.

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of Nursing, as well as with hospitals and health networks in the region.

The province announced an additional 160 undergraduate seats and 295 postgraduate seats to several medical schools across the province over the course of the next five years. This is, according to the statement, the largest expansion of medical education in the last 10 years.

The announcement noted that the new Ryerson School of Medicine in Brampton will have seats created once it becomes operational. This is expected to occur in 2025.

Seven students elected to Governing Council

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In a press release on March 15, the provincial government announced that UTSC is becoming the first U of T satellite campus to receive its own medical school. The school will be named the Scarborough Academy of Medical and Integrated Health.

This announcement comes after many activists, doctors, and stakeholder groups have noted the strain the pandemic has placed on the healthcare

system in Ontario. Scarborough is a region known for a shortage of family physicians and specialists.

U of T is expected to release a full statement on the announcement in a press conference expected to occur on Monday.

The new UTSC medical school is planned to have the capacity to educate 30 undergraduate students and 45 postgraduate students. It will also receive funding for enrolment in its life sciences and physical therapy programs. This project is a partnership between UTSG’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine, the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty

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Elections saw reduced undergraduate participation Marta Anielska Deputy News Editor

The results of this year’s Governing Council elections were released on February 25, and seven students were elected to the council. The voting period ran from February 7–18, during which 38 students ran to fill the eight positions available to students on the council. Last year, 53 students ran for these positions. One seat reserved for part-time undergraduate students remains unspoken for, and the university will make a third call for nominations for the position in the fall.

The Governing Council votes on university issues, including U of T’s budget and the

appointment of university officials. Students are also able to bring forward motions at meetings.

Four of the eight seats reserved for students go to full-time undergraduate students, with the four remaining seats split evenly between part-time undergraduate students and graduate students.

The winners of the full-time undergraduate seats were Jessica Johnson from Woodsworth College, with 288 votes; Annabelle Dravid from UTSC, with 275 votes; Madeline Kalda from the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, with 103 votes; and Dveeta Lal from the Faculty of Physical Education & Kinesiology, with 83 votes.

The winner of the one currently filled part-time

seat was Susan Froom from Trinity College, who won by default due to the fact that no other students ran. The university is planning to fill the second seat in the fall.

The winners of the graduate seats were Arman Rasekh from the Rotman School of Management, with 103 votes, and Summer Hart from the Faculty of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, with 265 votes.

Teaching staff were also elected to the Governing Council during this election cycle, and the university also held elections for other councils, including the Academic Board and the campus councils for UTM and UTSC. The Governing Council will vote on U of T’s budget as it is finalized over the coming months.

In the Spotlight: Professor Beverly Bain UTM professor discusses her life of feminist activism, aspirations for “abolitionist future” Jessie Schwalb Associate News Editor

Professor Beverly Bain, an associate professor and a scholar of Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies at UTM, is an activist who teaches topics including Caribbean and Black feminist activism, colonialism, and anti-capitalism. Her scholarship draws on her work with feminist and LGBTQ+ activists, as well as her experiences as a Black queer woman. Through her teaching, she encourages students to approach their world through a critical and creative lens.

Outside of the classroom, Professor Bain writes and speaks internationally on anti-Black racism, police violence, and LGBTQ+ issues.

She received the 2005 inaugural Steinert and Ferreiro Award of Excellence for her work. The award recognizes individuals whose work in the arts or sciences has significantly contributed to LGBTQ+ acceptance and understanding in the GTA. Professor Bain also received U of T’s Academic and Research Award as part of the 2020 International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

In an interview with The Varsity, Professor Bain discussed her past and present activism and her inspiration. She also highlighted the need for change in academia and the world at large.

Past and present activism “I’ve been a feminist activist, first and foremost, for more than 40… years of my life,” said Professor Bain. Having seen the development of the Caribbean Black Power movement as a teenager in Trinidad, Professor Bain was inspired to begin actively working against police violence after moving to Canada to attend U of T. Over the next decades, she worked extensively in women’s shelters, became a member of the Communist Party of Canada, and continued her activism in conjunction with the National Action

Committee on the Status of Women.

Currently, Professor Bain serves as a convener and member of the planning committee for Scholar Strike Canada, an abolitionist organization protesting police brutality against Black, Indigenous, and racialized people in Canada and the US. After years of work in activism, Professor Bain arrived at her current goal of “working for an abolitionist future.” As she envisions it, this means “the end to all carceral institutions: the end to policing, to prisons, to the way in which mental health and [forms of childcare like] Child Services and all of these institutions actually surveil and incarcerate and punish women, in particular, and [especially] Black, racialized, poor women.”

Women’s unique hardships in academia As a professor at U of T, Professor Bain has observed many ways that biases against women, and particularly women of colour, play out in the university setting. “We end up doing most of the work on committees, in departments, [and] around hiring,” she said.

She said that for racialized women, the weight is heavier. “We’re not necessarily always seen as bringing the kind of intellectual knowledge and expertise as white academics.”

Such biases also contribute to the undermining of women’s teachings, particularly in humanities where others don’t always take their work to be rigorous and academic. “We’re always in this situation where we find ourselves working twice as much and twice as hard,” said Professor Bain.

Despite these challenges, Professor Bain commends those working to resolve these issues. “Feminists in the university have been really challenging the institution,” she said.

“We continue to do that every day with the knowledge we bring, with the empathy that we bring, with the desires that we bring, and with

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Hannah Carty Editor-in-Chief

Province adds 455 new seats after hospital, medical staffing shortages

the anger that we bring when things don’t go the way they’re supposed to go.”

She stressed the importance of “creating spaces for [women]” inside these institutions and not simply buying into the patriarchal culture to blend in.

Professor Bain also gave advice to those entering these less-than-perfect institutions. “I think it’s really important for women in maledominated fields to be very clear about the kind of environment that they’re in, number one: why they are there, what they’re there for,” she said.

Inspiration As someone who has been involved in organizing for 40 years, Professor Bain derives inspiration from her foremothers. Professor Bain reflected on how much she’s benefitted from women in Canada. “What they have left behind, in terms of their work, their energies, their spirit, their determination and resilience and love for women, continue to inspire me. And I try to bring that with me, throughout the work that I do: into my classrooms, into my teaching, and in my everyday life.”

“Women have been on the front line of freedom struggles everywhere,” said Professor Bain. “Women have been the ones who have taken to the streets.”

— With files from Elizabeth Shechtman

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MARCH 21, 2022

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Two new research facilities and laboratory proposed for UTSG Final approval planned for March 22 Beatriz Silva Associate News Editor

U of T has proposed building two new research facilities, along with renovations to an existing laboratory. The two new facilities will be a part of U of T’s Emerging and Pandemic Infections Centre (EPIC).

The projects were presented and approved by the university’s Academic Board on March 10. The Executive Committee is planned to give final approval for the renovations on March 22, while the EPIC Facility is up for final approval by the Governing Council on March 31.

According to Scott Mabury, the vice-president, operations and real estate partnerships, academic divisions have been planning a series of major capital projects for the next five years, with $4.6 billion allocated for that purpose.

EPIC Facilities Two additional research facilities are proposed as additions to the EPIC. The project is a collaboration between U of T and other leading institutions that conduct research on infectious diseases, including the Hospital for Sick Children and Sunnybrook Research Institute.

The centre’s three current units are split between the Medical Sciences Building and the Terrence Donnelly Centre for Biomedical Research. It requires significant containment infrastructure for dealing with infectious agents and is the only facility in the GTA that has permission to conduct what it calls Risk Group 3

(RG3) research, including using infection models from living organisms.

The project proposes two new facilities, EPIC2 and EPIC3, that will provide infrastructure for RG3 research and support the Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s academic program, as well as other initiatives by the university.

At the meeting, Vice Dean, Research & Health Science Education Justin Nodwell explained that these new facilities would expand the possibilities of research. “We would literally have only been able to do [COVID-19] work in the existing facility, as it stands. This will allow us to work with multiple organisms at the same time. It’s quite outstanding, so this is really what we need moving forward,” they said.

The report recommended that the project be funded by the Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s operating funds and the Faculty’s Dean’s COVID-19 Priority Fund, as well as the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI), the Ontario Research Fund (ORF), and fundraising initiatives.

Galbraith Building Structural Testing Facility The project also proposed a number of new changes for the Structural Testing Laboratory in the Department of Civil & Mineral Engineering, located in the Galbraith Building. The facility currently includes a woodworking area and a concrete mixing laboratory and is considered one of the best testing facilities in North America, having received many awards.

The proposed project, promoted by the Department of Civil & Mineral Engineering, aims

The Medical Sciences building.

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to upgrade the facility by launching the first Adjustable Multi‐Dimensional Loading System (AMD) in the world. The laboratory was significantly renovated in 2009 when the two original separate laboratories — Mark Huggins Structures Laboratory and the Sandford Fleming Laboratory — were combined, and it received new equipment.

Constantin Christopoulos, a professor in the Department of Civil & Mineral Engineering, explained that an AMD would “allow [them] to better simulate extreme loading on structures such as earthquakes, hurricanes, and other extreme loading.” An article in U of T News revealed that the facility will be used “to design

everything from elevated highways and high-rise residential buildings to nuclear power plants.”

The project would require high-scale renovations, which could generate a lot of noise that would affect offices and classrooms nearby.

The board therefore recommended that the construction be conducted during the summer or after hours. Moreover, the facility would stay closed during this period, and the equipment would have to be stored elsewhere.

In the report, the board recommended the approval of the project. It would be funded by the CFI, the ORF, the Dean’s Office, Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering operating funds, and Civil & Mineral Engineering operating funds.

U of T’s enrolment report

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U of T outlines changes in enrolment, future strategy

Jessie Schwalb Associate News Editor

U of T recently released its 2021–2022 enrolment report, which highlights the current state of the university’s budget, current enrolment demographics, and projections and plans for the coming years.

This year’s report draws attention to how COVID-19 and changes to provincial funding have altered U of T and outlines the university’s path toward greater reliance on international students.

Current state of affairs Undergraduate enrolment dominates the university, comprising 76 per cent of enrolled students.

The remainder of the students are pursuing master’s degrees, doctoral degrees, microcredentials, or are continuing their education through the university’s professional development and skill upgrade programs.

U of T has grown across all three campuses in the past years. The university enrolled 20,441 new undergraduate students in 2021–2022, 62.9 per cent of whom were domestic. Of the domestic students, 9.1 per cent came from outside of Canada, which is more than double the number of such students that U of T enrolled five years ago.

Furthermore, in 2020–2021, U of T saw lower retention and a smaller incoming cohort of domestic students, which the report attributed to COVID-19. However, summer enrolment has also increased dramatically during the pandemic and remains high, allowing the university to offer a broader set of summer courses. The university has also received funding for 16 new nursing spaces from the province, although it is unclear whether this funding will be permanent.

Financial information According to the report, 88 per cent of the uni-

versity’s revenue is generated through a mixture of tuition, learning programs, provincial grants, and student fees. U of T has allotted $250 million for scholarships and bursaries.

Students, including 56 per cent of full-time domestic entry undergrads, also received $360 million in grants and loans from Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) this academic year, a substantial drop from the rates of OSAP usage recorded under the former liberal government because fewer students are eligible for the program.

At the latest Governing Council meeting, Scott Mabury, vice-president, operations and real estate partnerships, & vice-provost, academic operations, linked these changes to the Ontario government’s more recent tuition framework, which mandates that students receive at least 10 per cent of their OSAP funding in the form of loans.

The university has committed to ensuring 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.” This commitment is meant to include international students, who carry much of the financial burden of running the university.

In the 2021–2022 academic year, the university awarded more than $47.7 million in financial support to 5,500 international students, a small portion of the 24,713 international students across the three campuses. However, the university plans to increase funding for international students within the next five years by contributing six per cent of international undergrad tuition revenue to creating scholarships — a projected increase of $84 million by academic year 2026–2027.

Diversity and inclusion The university collects identity-based demographic information about currently-enrolled students through the Student Equity Census. One indicator of economic diversity that’s currently available is the portion of new undergrads that came from families earning less than $50,000 a year, which is roughly 25 per cent this year.

U of T’s international population also dem-

onstrates racial diversity. Students from more than 170 countries and regions are enrolled in the university, with greater international enrolment in first-entry undergrad programs, at UTSG, and at UTM. U of T’s international enrolment percentage, 28.8 per cent, is similar to that of other Canadian universities.

Future plans U of T’s enrolment plans trace back to the university’s academic priorities and the Strategic Mandate Agreement (SMA3) with Ontario. In a departure from past agreements, the current SMA3 doesn’t incentivize growth in domestic enrolment. It rather encourages the university to roughly maintain levels of domestic enrolment equivalent to that of in 2020 and increasingly ties funds to performance metrics. In compliance with this agreement, U of T plans to hold its domestic enrolment roughly constant and focus on increasing the proportion of more lucrative international students, passing 100,000 students by 2023–2024. International students pay up to 10 times more than domestic students in tuition.

At the most recent meeting, multiple Governing Council members raised concerns about what might occur if Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine prompted China to invade Taiwan. Jeff Lennon, executive director of institutional planning and budget administration, estimated that a quarter of U of T’s operating budget currently originates from China. “If China were to go into Taiwan next year, this would have major financial repercussions for every aspect of the university’s operations,” said Paul Huyer, an alum member of the council.

According to Bloomberg, a conflict between China and Taiwan could also kill tens of thousands of people and desolate the countries’ economies.

U of T is also focused on recruiting more graduate students. The university hopes to increase the number of grad students by 12 per cent over the next five years, more than double the projected 5.6 per cent increase in undergraduates. However, the report raises concerns about a lack of funds from the province for spaces where grad students may be housed.

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Vice-President Student Life

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Elizabeth Shechtman, Paavni Grover

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Elizabeth Shechtman Elizabeth Shechtman, a first-year student hoping to major in history and economics, is running for vice-president, student life of the University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU). Shechtman previously founded a nonprofit that raises money for animals around the Guelph region, and worked for The Varsity as an associate news editor.

One problem Shechtman sees is that students do not know what is going on around campus. If elected, Shechtman wants to increase transparency around

how students can join clubs, provide more ability for students to view which clubs currently exist on campus, and increase accessibility at UTSU-run events.

Shechtman also hopes that an in-person orientation will return next year. She hopes to make orientation more interactive and lower the cost for students, possibly “[raising] money or [getting] some sort of funding for orientation for incoming freshmen.”

Students are “really worried that they’re not gonna be able to take time away from their education,” said Shechtman in an interview with The Varsity. “And I think that that's such a misinterpretation of what the university life experience should be.”

Paavni Grover Paavni Grover, a second-year student in economics, statistics, and international relations, is also running for the position.

She currently serves as an executive for the Arts & Science Students’ Union (ASSU) and was previously a first-year representative for the Arts and Science Council.

In an email to The Varsity, Grover wrote, “I am super passionate about advocating for students’ rights and that’s the reason I’ve been a part of ASSU for the past two years.”

Grover hopes to plan interesting events and wrote that her previous work has given her insight into “how and where to find

Dermot O’Halloran

the right resources from so it will help students navigate through their issues and questions.”

Grover also hopes to hold more in-person events should COVID-19 protocols allow, increase engagement with additional extracurricular options, and develop more career opportunities.

Disclosure: Elizabeth Shechtman was an Associate News Editor for The Varsity during the 2021–2022 school year.

The voting period for the UTSU elections is from March 23–27.

The candidates debate is scheduled for Tuesday, March 22 at 6:00 pm.

Vice-President Public & University Affairs Victoria Liu, Harvi Karatha, Sruthy Balakumar

Lauren Alexander, Beatriz Silva, Marta Anielska News Team

Harvi Karatha Harvi Karatha, a first year student in engineering science, is also running for vice-president, public and university affairs of the University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU). Karatha has worked as finance lead for Engineers Without Borders.

In an interview with The Varsity, Karatha said, “The main reason I’m running, to be honest, is because of my platform.”

Karatha outlined four main pillars

for her campaign. First, supporting survivors; second, mental health; third, student representation; and fourth, affordability.

In terms of supporting survivors, Karatha would advocate for accountability from the university and for reforming the Sexual Violence Prevention & Support Centre. Karatha plans to implement an anonymous form on the centre, survivorcentric support, and an increase in funding for groups like the PEARS Project.

Karatha would address mental health by advocating for academic reform. “I realized that a

lot of the mental health burdens the students currently face stem from their academic pressure,” said Karatha. She would push for more credit/no credit options, academic forgiveness policies, and more leniency generally.

She would work to amend the University Mandated Leave of Absence policy.

Karatha would continue to support the Same Degree, Same Fee program to address tuition affordability, and push for further scholarships. She also hopes to get students more involved in speaking to their representatives.

Victoria Liu Victoria Liu, a second-year student majoring in international relations and minoring in philosophy and history, is running for vice-president, public and university affairs.

She decided to run after serving as a social science director for the UTSU where she contributed to initiatives like the Peer-Support Program and the expansion of the Student Aid program. In an interview with The Varsity, Liu said she hopes to bring the leadership and organization skills from that experience to this role. “I wanted to do more at the UTSU, and that’s why I decided to run,” she said.

Lui’s slogan “CAMP-US” is

Dermot O’Halloran, a fourth-year music student, is the sole candidate running for vice-president operations of the University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU). He was an executive for the UTSU for two previous terms, as vicepresident professional faculties in the 2019–2020 academic year and vice-president operations in the 2020–2021 academic year.

O’Halloran feels his experience in these roles prepared him well to take up the vicepresident operations role again.

He pointed to governance and finance reforms, as well as the Student Aid Program, as major projects during his previous tenure as vice-president operations.

“We completely changed how the [UTSU] governance looks and functions,” said O’Halloran in an interview with The Varsity.

When asked why he decided to try to come back, O’Halloran replied, “There’s stuff that still needs to be done.” O’Halloran noted that he might not have considered running if he had heard of more interest in the role. He plans to implement a number of changes to the union’s elections, such as instituting automatic byelections for vacant or uncontested positions, improving the nomination process, and looking into bringing back slates for executive elections.

He laid out a number of plans he wants to implement if he is elected vice-president operations, including Student Aid reforms like increasing data security, improving governance, and looking into changes to staff structure. His other goals include keeping inperson operations at the food bank, instituting additional antifraud measures, and publishing union investments publicly.

an acronym for the issues she wants to address. ‘C’ stands for ‘COVID-19 policies,’ such as advocating for lower tuition, affordable housing, health on campus, and OSAP. With ‘A,’ she addresses ‘anti-sexual assault,’ including more support for survivors, additional counselors, and a crisis line, as well as a more preventive strategy.

‘M’ stands for ‘mental health’ and expanding resources such as the Peer Support Network.

Finally, ‘P’ stands for ‘professional opportunities’ because she hopes to expand business partnerships for students and invest in more youth employment program funding.

Sruthy Balakumar Sruthy Balakumar is the final candidate running for vice-president, public and university affairs.

According to their candidate statement, they view the position as being a “liaison” between the university and the provincial government to provide more financial stability to students. If elected, they will make sure more funds are allocated toward helping both domestic and international students, especially in the form of scholarships and grants.

“I believe that students deserve these grants, especially due to the increasing prices of all other aspects of our lives,” Balakumar concluded.

Lauren Alexander News Editor

Balakumar did not respond to The Varsity’s request for comment.

thevarsity.ca/section/news

MARCH 21, 2022

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Vice-President Equity Abidur Rahman, Ying J Chow, Jerico Raguidin, Sarah Rana, Muskan Nagra, Jessie Wu

Beatriz Silva, Marta Anielska, Cedric Jiang, Jessie Schwalb News Team

Abidur Rahman Abidur Rahman, a third-year student at U of T in molecular genetics, is a candidate for vice-president, equity of the University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU).

Rahman worked as a mentorship and student life coordinator for Trinity College, experiences which they believe make them an exemplary candidate for the job.

Rahman hopes to implement concrete equity measures if elected. In an email to The Varsity, Rahman laid out a four-part plan, including reducing financial barriers; increasing cultural awareness; reforming accessibility services; and “em-

powering” commuters, mature students, and those with caregiving responsibilities.

Among their goals are the expansion of the Student Refugee program, more workshops during anti-oppression week, more targeted scholarships, and alternatives to Top Hat marking.

Their plans also include “an easier intake process and less burden of proof on students” to address mental health.

“I am persistent about making practical reforms on all aspects of equity,” Rahman wrote.

Ying J Chow Ying J Chow is also running for vice-president, equity.

Jerico Raguindin Jerico Raguindin, a third-year student double majoring in public policy and sociology, is also running for vice-president equity.

Though Raguindin has no direct experience with the UTSU, he has worked in student governance as president of the Victoria University Students’ Administrative Council (VUSAC). His first year was spent on VUSAC’s sustainability commission, and he went on to become sustainability co-chair in his second year. He has also worked with the UTSU through a variety of mental health initiatives he has participated in with student groups outside of VUSAC.

In an interview with The Varsity, Raguindin said that if elected, his priorities would include continuing to pressure the university on fossil fuel divestment; making sure that it sets out standards for making buildings accessible; and reviewing the report that it plans to release on its sexual violence, to find its gaps and continue lobbying for them to be filled. He would follow through with a similar procedure concerning the university’s mental health policies.

Lastly, Raguindin said that he would take greater advantage of collaboration between the union and college governance structures like VUSAC.

Chow did not respond to The Varsity’s request for comment.

Sarah Rana Sarah Rana, a fourth-year student in contemporary Asian studies, is another for vicepresident, equity. Her past experience with equity concerns centres on addressing antiAsian hate and Islamophobia.

Rana was the social advocacy subcommittee chair of the Hart House Debating Club for over three years, during which she organized events addressing equity concerns at U of T. She has experience advocating for Asian and Uyghur rights and has also founded a social justice-focused club.

Her academic research also addresses minority persecution, stereotypes, racism, and hate crimes.

In an interview with The Varsity, Rana criticized the bureaucracy in student governance, saying that the current system hinders students from bringing forward equity concerns. She noted a lack of formal mechanisms for voicing concerns within the UTSU and plans to implement them.

Rana also expressed commitment to enhancing support for sexual violence survivors. She mentioned that, although many survivors have spoken out about their experiences, she sees a lack of support for survivors at the university. She plans to address this through partnerships with advocacy groups such as the Dandelion Initiative.

VP Professional Faculties Maria Ebeid

Muskan Nagra Muskan Nagra, a third-year student who is double majoring in history and French and minoring in women and gender studies, is also running for the position. She previously served as the first-year representative of the University College Literary & Athletic Society, as well as the co-director of World University Service of Canada at University College (UC). She is currently a UTSU board director representing UC. In an email to The Varsity, Nagra explained the decision to run for an executive position.

She wrote that, while directors are able to hold executives accountable, they have limited power to implement policies.

Being the vice-president equity would allow her to bring more meaningful changes to the university and students.

Nagra described her platform

as “action focused,” characterized by multiple advocacies.

She is committed to advocating for lower tuition costs for international students and reducing the TTC’s student monthly pass fee. In terms of mental health resources, she promised to work on expanding mental health services by increasing counsellors and thus reducing appointment waiting time.

Nagra also emphasized that she would like to work with students throughout the year to actively adjust the platform in a way reflective of students’ input.

She mentioned that she would like to be a friend-like executive who supports students to the fullest extent. “I would like to be your friend. When you come to a friend with an issue, they support you as much as possible,” wrote Nagra.

Jessie Wu Jessie Wu, a second-year humanities student, is the final candidate for vice-president, equity. She has been involved with the UTSU, first as events chair of the First Year Council and later as humanities director.

Outside of the UTSU, Wu serves as the communications coordinator for the Trinity College chapter of the World University Service of Canada, where she helps refugee students transition into university.

Wu’s platform is based on three principles: accountability, centrality, and training. In an interview with The Varsity, Wu pledged to advocate for a better approach to gender-based violence, calling on the university to institute preventative measures.

She also intends to work with survivors to improve the Sexual Violence Prevention and Support Centre.

The second prong of Wu’s campaign is centring student voices, which she views as important for transitioning to inperson school for students who have never physically attended classes. As vice-president equity, Wu hopes to provide resources and host events to foster a “feeling of community between all U of T students.”

Finally, Wu pledged to focus on training, suggesting equity training for clubs and mandatory equity training for orientation leaders. “The people who are part of orientation… set the tone,” said Wu.

Beatriz Silva Associate News Editor

Maria Ebeid Maria Ebeid is a second-year student in the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education, and the sole candidate running for vice-president, professional faculties of the University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU).

Last year, Ebeid was a member of the UTSU’s First Year Council. Currently, Ebeid is the professional faculties-at-large representative on the UTSU’s board of directors. “I think that my past experiences working in clubs and associations at the university have prepared me to take on this role,” wrote Ebeid

in an email to The Varsity.

If elected, Ebeid hopes to expand access to mental health services, advocating for 24-hour availability. “As we all know, UofT is a highly demanding school and everyone has a busy schedule, however, I think that taking that time to check in with yourself is highly important,” wrote Ebeid.

She also wishes to facilitate easier elective enrolment for students who are part of professional faculties, as well as to address equity, accessibility, and advocacy for those students.

Further, she hopes to help students in professional faculties have a successful return to inperson learning.

Business & Labour

March 21, 2022 thevarsity.ca/section/business biz@thevarsity.ca

Meet Efe Eghujovbo, U of T student and founder of Simply Haircare Eghujovbo’s business sells natural hair products Hannah Carty Editor-in-Chief

Efe Eghujovbo is a first-year criminology student at U of T — and a small business owner.

Eghujovbo’s business, Simply Haircare, is in its second year of operation and sells scented hair conditioners and hair growth serums.

An idea years in the making Eghujovbo has had the idea of starting a hair care-related business since she was 14 or 15.

“I’ve always loved stuff to do with cosmetics, haircare, skincare, stuff like that,” she recalled.

When she was in grade 11, Eghujovbo got more serious about turning her interest into a business.

Starting and running a small business during a pandemic is no small feat, and Eghujovbo explained that finding the confidence and motivation to get her business off the ground was a challenge.

After launching the business in 2020, it was the support from her community that made her want to keep going. “Once everybody started giving me such good feedback, I knew that this is what I was meant to do,” Eghujovbo said.

Since its launch, Simply Haircare has gotten media attention, and the products have been featured in the Black Owned Toronto store and the Eaton Centre. “All the overwhelming positive feedback has just been so inspiring for me and encouraging, as well as encouraging to other young Black entrepreneurs,” she said.

One-person operation Currently, Eghujovbo does everything herself — from creating new products, to marketing and

designing packaging. When coming up with ideas for new products, Eghujovbo starts by looking at gaps in the marketplace that her products can fill. For example, before launching her own conditioner, she had noticed that “there were no oil-based conditioners that worked for my type of hair.” After that, she started researching ingredients that might work well together, and now, she sells oil-based leave-in conditioners in three different scents.

She even tests all the products herself, then tests them on her friends and family. “All the products that I put out, and all the products that I want to put out, are tested by me,” she explained.

From the packaging to the ingredients, simplicity is definitely a theme for Eghujovbo. “Everybody can use simple products that actually work for you at a reasonable price,” she explained. All her products are natural, organic, and cruelty-free.

Simply Haircare is a small business run by a U of T student.

COURTESY OF EFE EGHUJOVBO

Managing her time Neither being a U of T student nor a business owner is easy — so how does she do it all?

Though it’s a question she gets asked often, Eghujovbo responds: “Honestly, I don’t. I’m a mess half of the time.” But for the rest of the time, she “really just [keeps] organized.” She also credits her parents and friends with supporting

both her schoolwork and business career.

Looking into the future, Eghujovbo says her main goal is growing her business. She hopes to expand her product line and eventually open a store.

Ultimately, Eghujovbo expressed that her main goal in starting the business was “[inspiring] other young, Black female entrepreneurs like me to really go out and do what they love to do and put that out there into the world.”

New USW Local 1998 collective agreement extends benefits and work flexibility Despite the limits of Bill 124, the union made significant gains in compensation Zen Nguyen Varsity Contributor

U of T began in December 2021 and a collective agreement was reached on February 19, 2022.

After 21 consecutive hours of bargaining with the University of Toronto and a process that was drawn out by pandemic delays and disruptions, the United Steelworkers’ Local 1998 (USW 1998) has ratified the newest contract for its staff-appointed unit. The new contract includes a one per cent increase in pay across the board and better language around work flexibility.

Compensation and benefit extensions The contract covers a two-year term and includes a one per cent pay increase across the board, limited by Bill 124, which caps increases in pay and compensation for public sector employees at one per cent annually. Although this was a big obstacle in the union’s bargaining, the new contract made significant increases in benefits and coverage. For example, paramedical and mental health care benefits were increased by more than 25 per cent, with extended coverage, along with extensions for reproductive health, coverage for gender affirmation care, and child care benefit increase.

Additionally, the Early Retirement Bridge Benefit was reestablished, and the union proposed a Career Development Fund worth $250,000 a year to support training and career advancement of employees.

“We worked closely with our USW research department on the costing to make the one per cent pie as big as possible,” wrote Burke in an email, adding that the union was surprised by the improvement in benefits it achieved.

Unlike previous agreements, some benefits increases were separated into different contract years due to the one per cent annual limit imposed by Bill 124. The union said it prioritized “improvements that would benefit most of the members” in negotiations, while also “ [being]

Delays due to the pandemic USW 1998 represents around 7,000 employees in administrative and technical positions across U of T, some of its colleges, and The University of Toronto Schools. Over half of the union’s members are permanent and continuing staff. Approximately once every three years, the union’s staff-appointed unit prepares for the negotiation of a new contract which will set out working conditions, pay, and other compensation, usually by surveying members before beginning bargaining with U of T. The union was drawing up its proposals when the pandemic happened, which led to a one-year extension of the old contract due to uncertainty regarding the university’s budget. “It was a very long ride this time,” said Colleen Burke, a representative of the union and a member of the bargaining committee.

After the delay in 2020, preparations for bargaining only started late in summer 2021 due to U of T’s negotiation backlogs, but negotiations with

The USW 1998 represents administrative and technical workers at U of T. COURTESY OF USW 1998

mindful of equity issues and [bargaining] coverage for gender affirming expenses.”

Fair, balanced, and equitable working conditions One nonmonetary priority achieved by the new contract achieved was better language on work flexibility. According to Burke, “[the] previous contract language was pretty weak and we saw a lot of favoritism and arbitrariness.” The new contract specified reasons that managers must give for their decisions must be made and gave the union more flexibility to use and challenge the grievance process.

Moreover, the union and U of T expect to further work on “resolution of civility and harassment concerns and workplace restorations,” among other alternatives to “the civility complaint process.” A letter of intent called “Employee Accommodation” was included, as a way to address members’ “negative experiences with Health

and Wellbeing.” One titled “Gender Identity and Gender Expression” committed the university to “supporting members’ gender identity and expression,” according to the contract highlights.

U of T did not comment on union member’s negative experience with the accommodation and complaint process. In regard to why the new additions to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) were not in previous contracts, a spokesperson for the university replied, “EDI was a significant priority for both the University and the Union, which is the case not only in this round of bargaining, but also with all our other bargaining partners. This round was particularly productive in respect of EDI, as we were away from the bargaining table for over four years, and there have been significant advancements in all areas of EDI during that time.”

The contract was ratified by 87.7 per cent of union voters on February 28, 2022. The union will be back at the bargaining table next spring before the current contract expires in July 2023.

Comment

March 21, 2022 thevarsity.ca/section/comment comment@thevarsity.ca

It’s important, period: The fight for menstrual sick leave U of T just launched its free menstrual products program, but there’s more to be done Isabella Liu Varsity Contributor

In January 2022, the University of Toronto officially launched its pilot project to provide free menstrual hygiene products across 75 UTSG’s most ‘hightraffic’ washrooms. Pads and tampon dispensers have been installed in men’s, women’s, and gender-neutral washrooms, marking a significant step toward inclusivity and equity for the university.

As of now, the pilot project will continue for the next six months with close monitoring and necessary adjustments from the university. The project’s primary end goal? Eliminating menstruation stigma.

Although this project marks a significant move forward in the conversation surrounding menstruation, it’s still important to consider our next steps. If U of T genuinely believes in its promise to work toward gender equity, then it shouldn’t — and won’t — stop at just free product dispensers. What comes after should be bolder, more progressive, and more dedicated to the movement — like implementing menstrual sick leave.

The health standard Sick leave, paid or unpaid, has become a common workplace benefit. The Government of Ontario defines it as job-protected leave due to “personal illness, injury, or medical emergency,” and it’s generally used to allow someone time to address health needs.

But, strangely enough, menstruation isn’t included under this umbrella of “health needs” — despite being probably one of the biggest health-related problems that around half of the population faces. Between the bleeding, fatigue, abdominal cramps, and much more, people with periods encounter a plethora of pains every month, which are nothing to be laughed at.

Period pain typically lasts between 12 and 72 hours, and consists of nonstop muscle and stomach cramps that can also spread to the back

and thighs. Some people may also experience nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and even diarrhea — and these are only some of the most common examples. For people with severe menstrual symptoms, fever, rashes, and fainting aren’t too far out of the picture. In Canada alone, a 2020 study concluded that 500,000 women experience endometriosis — a gynecological condition that causes particularly painful menstrual cycles.

A study done by The Women’s National Health Service Foundation Trust and the University of Birmingham found that dysmenorrhea — the clinical term for period pain — can become so severe that it interferes with daily life — and it does, for up to 20 per cent of cis women.

It’s indisputable; withstanding the painful, and sometimes unbearable, physical conditions that anyone with a period endures every month is truly a feat. Even alone, these problems would be more than enough to be considered a sickness. In fact, during the pandemic, people

with fevers and fatigue have been advised to not show up to work or class.

It’s only when we stick the ‘period’ label on these symptoms that they become no more than an ignored occurrence that’s pushed under the table. The continuous dismissal of periods as small-scale, mild inconveniences has forced many people to hide their searing pain under tiny grimaces. Simply put, it’s stigma at work.

And if you care about economics…

Surprise, surprise: periods and all their damned health issues affect work life. According to a British Medical Journal article, menstruation symptoms can cause many workers to become substantially less productive by an average of 33 per cent. This comes out to an estimated loss of 8.9 days of productivity per year for every person with menstrual symptoms. A Forbes magazine article uses the term “presenteeism” to describe these cases where people are at

JESSICA LAM/THEVARSITY

Asian hate extends beyond a movie scene Media needs to consider the devastating impacts of Asian hate Jasmin Akbari Varsity Staff

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of violence against Asian people.

In the recent Batman movie, one scene depicted Batman heroically saving an Asian man from a violent hate crime that could have resulted in his death. While the scene was courageous and typical of the masked vigilante, there was one central issue — it failed to account for the lived experiences of the Asian community and the

harsh reality of the hate crimes that they endure.

The truth is that there was no Batman to save Michelle Go when she was violently pushed to her death in the New York subway. There was no Batman to save Christina Yuna Lee when she was brutally stabbed to death, and Batman was not there to save countless other Asian Canadians and Asian Americans that have suffered from hate crimes.

This scene has amassed backlash for its triggering depiction of violence against the Asian community — especially since it was released so close to the death of Michelle Go and amid the

increase in anti-Asian hate crimes since the beginning of the pandemic.

Some have argued that, instead of making a mere movie scene of a hero saving the man, the creators should have portrayed this issue constructively and in a way that brought awareness to the violent hate crimes against Asians.

Moreover, this scene seems to demonstrate the overall disregard for anti-Asian hate crimes that seems to exist amongst policymakers, the media, and politicians.

Asian hate has existed for decades, ever since the first Asian immigrants arrived in Canada, and it has only worsened as a result of the pandemic.

In a study funded by the Government of Canada, between March 10, 2020 and February 28, 2021, there were 1,150 cases of anti-Asian racism reported on different web platforms.

And despite this shocking report shedding light on the reality of anti-Asian hate crimes in Canada, Asian hate has only continued. On January 23, 2022, a 39-year-old Asian woman in Toronto was assaulted while waiting for the bus.

The existence of the pandemic, paired with the minimal acknowledgement of the hate received by the Asian community, has created an environment that seems to ignore the violent attacks on the Asian community. The Atlanta shooting, the murder of Michelle Go, and the attack on the 39-year-old Asian woman serve as constant reminders of the disregard that policymakers, politicians, and police officers have shown toward these racial attacks. Promises of change become one-time comments until the next racist act occurs and the perpetrator merely gets a

work or school but are significantly less productive due to menstrual symptoms.

And let’s be real — ignoring the conversation about menstrual leave doesn’t do anything for anyone. In the same way that moms saying we can’t do something only makes us do it more sneakily, people with periods can’t and won’t just fully cater to the corporate world’s full-attendance expectation.

A survey done by the British United Provident Association found that 23 per cent of cis women took time off due to periods in the last six months — 36 per cent of whom actually lie about their cause of absence. The reality is that we have been taking on the period game for ages, with no recognition for what we go through and not enough substantial support services. At the end of the day, we’re often left to our own devices to survive the weeks ahead.

These issues translate easily to the U of T environment: replace corporate meetings with mandatory tutorials, proposal presentations with uber-difficult midterms worth 45 per cent of your grade, and the working professional with the student aiming for that stellar grade, and you have the exact same scenario. There are thousands of people with periods across U of T’s classes, faculties, and staff. We make up a crucial part of the university’s backbone and contribute a great deal to all three campuses.

All we ask for in return is respect for us and for our bodies — to the fullest extent.

Sandy Welsh, U of T vice-provost, calls the product dispenser project an “issue of equity.”

She’s right — to a great measure, beyond this project alone. The period conversation continues on, and the university needs to fully commit to standing by it. Menstrual sick leave could be an important step to recognizing menstruation for what it is: painful, sometimes debilitating, and most importantly, normal.

Isabella Liu is a first-year social science student at Victoria College. slap on the wrist, or officials claim that they were “just having a bad day.”

A collaborative study led by the University of Victoria and the University of Alberta suggested that reporting racial incidents and harassment is crucial toward raising awareness of racism against Asians. Furthermore, governments should be developing clear action plans and policies designed to address all forms of racism and provide resources to individual communities, such as the Asian community.

We need long-lasting solutions that specifically address hate toward the Asian community. While creating policies against anti-Asian racism, we need to listen to the Asian community to better understand what its members need.

Also, considering the rise of attacks on the subway, the TTC should redevelop subway infrastructure, looking through police reports to see what went wrong in the New York subway that led to these attacks.

This is integral toward the development of the subway. If we develop barriers to the open tracks, or a door system for where subway car doors are located, we can ensure that people will not be shoved onto the tracks. This is an integral form of action that needs to be taken to stop incidents such as the death of Michelle Go from occurring on subways.

As we approach the end of the pandemic, we need to recognize the brutal acts of racism and hatred that the Asian community continues to endure. These brutal acts are not only vicious crimes, but they are deeply entrenched in racist stereotypes and biases that have affected the Asian community profoundly.

Jasmin Akbari is a second-year industrial relations and human resources, digital humanities, and writing & rhetoric student at Woodsworth College.

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comment@thevarsity.ca

COMMENT

Public Editor: Representation efforts in The Varsity must be ongoing Black History Month efforts are a good first step Emory Claire Mitchell Public Editor

Forgive me in advance, reader — this comment will be more self-referential.

As I sat down to write an article commenting on how The Varsity handled Black History Month, I could not help but reflect on the absurdity of my position. I am a white woman, trying to comment on whether or not The Varsity provided Black students with a good platform. It is a ridiculous thing to suggest that I could somehow represent or stand for the Black community at U of T. My understanding of the Black experience, for the most part, has come from what I read online.

Beyond that, I have read Maya Angelou in high school for English classes. In university, I read James Baldwin and, in terms of ethics, I have taken some classes that discussed bell hooks.

To presume that any of this gave me a passing understanding of what it is like to be a person of colour would mean that I absorbed nothing.

Instead, I want to draw attention to the issue that is the makeup of The Varsity’s staff. The Varsity has spent some time examining the demographic representation of its staff. Its findings have shown that it is severely lacking in Black and Indigenous writers.

This is not that surprising though. In 2018, three per cent of the incoming class in the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering identified as Black.

For reference, as of 2016, the population of the GTA was roughly 7.5 per cent Black, according to Statistics Canada. These kinds of statistics give an idea of how proportionally few Black students there are at U of T, but they do not capture what that must feel like.

Last year, Leah Mpinga wrote in The Varsity that she was often the only Black person in every classroom she entered. She wrote, “you expect that whenever conversations surrounding race are brought up in tutorials, eyes will shift your way, as

if you alone suddenly represent the entire Black race.” For her and — I can only guess — for most Black students, being Black at U of T means that you become the de facto representation for all Black people.

This year, Mekhi Quarshie wrote an article that called attention to the fact that only 6.7 per cent of the U of T faculty is Black. Quarshie cites Notisha Massaquoi, an assistant professor at UTSC, in the article saying, “the Black experience is something that you have to live to become an expert,” and that without representation, the lack is felt at all levels of campus life.

We see that same lack at The Varsity. While the newspaper strives to represent the U of T community and draw attention to important issues, its lack of Black and Indigenous voices is a barrier to achieving that goal. Thankfully, it is taking steps to address this issue. For this year’s February paper, it paid Black authors for their expertise instead of just expecting students to make time in their busy schedule to educate their peers. It also took the opportunity to try and build a stronger relationship with Black student groups on campus, according to Varsity Managing Editor Tahmeed Shafiq.

These are good steps in the right direction. However, there are still very few permanent Black or Indigenous writers on The Varsity. We need these writers so that their input is not just limited to the month of February and to speaking on racial issues. The Varsity needs to be vigilant in its efforts to make its writing staff more diverse to ensure that all students have the opportunity to represent their community in ways beyond speaking directly about it. Moreover, we need people whose lived experiences are able to make their input even more powerful.

Emory Claire Mitchell is the public editor at The Varsity and can be reached at publiceditor@thevarsity.ca.

There are very few permanent Black or Indigenous writers at The Varsity.

CAROLINE BELLAMY/THEVARSITY

Mental health awareness is more than “it’s okay to not be okay” Social media has taken the focus away from tangible reform Urooba Shaikh Varsity Contributor

Mental health awareness seems to be soaring at its highest. It’s no secret that mental health has been an increasingly popular topic of discussion in the past few years, and as with many topics gaining traction these days, social media is to thank for it. Initiatives such as Bell Let’s Talk are pledging to donate five cents to mental health programs in Canada for every interaction, and colourful posts with affirmations are popping up on feeds.

But while these approaches do bring attention to mental health, they often divert focus away from tangible reforms.

Reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness is an important first step to bring about change, since stigma can discourage individuals with mental disorders from seeking help. For example, the #mentalpatient hashtag trended on Twitter in September 2013 after the British supermarket Asda advertized a ‘mental patient’ Halloween costume. People living with mental illness used the hashtag to post pictures of themselves to challenge the stereotype presented by the costume. The hashtag was used 6,694 times within 24 hours, and the company removed the costume from its website and issued an apology.

With social media campaigns garnering a lot of attention relatively quickly, their impact is undeniable. However, no matter how many people click on a post or hashtag, the fact remains that institutional support for people with mental health issues is greatly insufficient. The focus of mental health awareness thus far seems to have been validating people who are struggling with mental

health, and has put statements such as “It’s okay to not be okay” at the forefront of the movement.

But what about real, tangible reforms?

Colleges and universities are areas of great concern in terms of mental well-being and access to mental health support. The National College Health Assessment found that nearly 70 per cent of Canadian postsecondary students felt “overwhelming anxiety” in the past year, and over 50 per cent reported living with debilitating depression in 2019. These numbers have undoubtedly increased since the start of the pandemic — but the mental health crisis was not adequately dealt with before the pandemic either.

While many campuses have begun to promote more open discussions about mental health in the past decade, these discussions often don’t go beyond stress, burnout, and self-care. These issues are the tip of the iceberg in an environment as diverse as a university that includes people from many different backgrounds, some of whom may have dealt with mental health issues since childhood.

The main problem with mental health support offered at postsecondary institutions is the lack of services that institutions provide for students in early stages of distress. Steve Mathias — the executive director of Foundry, an organization that delivers health and social services for youth in British Columbia — said in an interview with The Walrus, “Our system provides a narrow scope of interventions to young people who have lost a great deal of their function to mental illness… But we don’t assign resources to those who are just starting to struggle or who are struggling just a bit. Young people are falling

off a cliff. We’re putting doctors and hospitals at the base to catch them, but we’re failing to prevent the fall itself.”

Universities must start treating mental health issues as accessibility issues and provide appropriate accommodations and resources. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mental health illness like depression can significantly interfere with a person’s ability to do physical tasks for their job, and even their ability to think. So, when students say they’re overwhelmed and struggling, they may not actually have the capacity to complete their work, especially when deadlines are close together.

One way to combat this can be easing protocols or penalties for late work. For instance, McMaster University offers an online self-reporting absence system that allows students to delay an exam or assignment deadline by 48 hours without documentation once per term. Many student advocates say this has led to stress reduction among students.

Universities are not psychiatric facilities, so we cannot expect every form of mental health support to be available on campus.

However, postsecondary institutions do have a responsibility to ensure that students

— who have entrusted their education to these universities, and paid money to do so — are put on the path to getting the support they need.

Urooba Shaikh is a first-year psychological and health sciences student at UTSC.

thevarsity.ca/section/comment

MARCH 21, 2022

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We can see the oncoming demise of the latest international climate policy.

CAROLINE BELLAMY/THEVARSITY

We cannot form solutions to the climate crisis in our current system The impossibility of relying on governments, conferences to make change Aryan Khemka Varsity Contributor

From blizzard warnings in Toronto in midJanuary to the raging Marshall fires raging in Colorado in late December, nature’s cries are now louder than ever. They are desperate cries to the global elite — big tech, big banks, and big governments — to wake up and smell the ash and smog.

When they implement various climate change policies, states and large corporations appear to have the environment in mind. However, these policies are nothing more than a facade that the elite employ to show that they seemingly care. In the end, the elite are guided by market models and data trends rather than a genuine concern for the environment.

So, the question becomes this: will we finally look up and realize the severity of the climate crisis, or will we continue as we are — in a society where only individualism matters?

Strides toward better climate outcomes The conclusion of the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) left global climate policy activists and critics with even more ambiguity to decipher.

One of the most significant policies to come out of the convention was the Glasgow Climate Pact, which details new approaches to climate change policy and recognizes the need for immediate and “multi-institutional” action. A key finding that came from COP26

was the urgent need to introduce pledges from non-state actors — including private companies that can tackle the financial barriers states have been facing.

The importance of curbing methane emissions was also a talking point at this year’s COP26, as China and the US talked ambitiously about curbing their emissions. India pledged 450 gigawatts of clean energy, while some other countries pledged to phase out from unclean fuels.

Youth organizations have also been vocal about ensuring that everyone gets a say. Today’s youth have shown the ability to actually push for tangible change. Meanwhile, the US’ implementation of Biden’s First Movers Coalition of companies has led huge tech corporations such as Amazon, Apple, and United Airlines to order zero-carbon ships, green steel, and 85 per cent cleaner jet fuel, accelerating demand in these promising industries.

Responses are coming from all societal classes. The immense rise of countries from the Global South to become some of the world’s great powers — most notably China and India — has been both a boon and a curse. On one hand, their policy pledges demonstrate an effort to become greener, and their financial and institutional dependencies on other nations have significantly decreased due to progress in the dampening of geopolitical constraints, a hike in globalization, and advancements in technology.

On the other hand, their growth has added to the climate crisis. This has come in the form

of an increased dependency on fossil fuels during high growth periods in the relatively recent past, along with significant increases in population. As a result, human-settled areas have expanded into more forest land and the population is dependent on more international market-based resources.

Making sure we don’t fall further short Despite the progress we have made toward better climate outcomes, the reality is that solutions to the climate crisis cannot be formed in our current system. Trusting officials to make choices on topics like climate change may have seemed like a good idea on paper, but it may not always be in the best interest of the people in reality.

In the aftermath of WWII, we hoped that liberal ideas would lead to governments that ensured an equal spread of power for the betterment of society. However, we were slow to realize such an optimal situation isn’t possible in politics.

In order to maintain a good and responsible government, it’s important that states consider endless policy nuances about multiculturalism, the inequitable spread of wealth, and the considerations of Indigenous communities.

Focusing on each of these nuances generates considerably different levels of urgency when acting on behalf of the environment. To me, balancing this focus seems to be the greatest challenge for governments as they try to form environmental policies to oversee all of these concerns. In my opinion, a lot of these

discussions are ruled by byproducts of the market mindset.

What society desperately requires is a transitional phase where the ideologies of the ‘new’ can outdo the ‘old.’ The current market mindset is clearly not going to cut it now. This is not to say that all the old must go — but we must challenge old ideas and look at how the building blocks of society have led us to this reality. There are problems with how elites have modeled the issue of the environment and its relation to us.

Policies so far seem to have been generated with one, and only one, aim in mind: maximum profit. This profit-maximizing agenda is veiled in economic and political jargon that has locked us into believing they are doing us good, but the reality is far removed from those empty promises.

But individuals can still recognize this cycle and call these elites out, holding them responsible for handing us the short end of the climate stick while they stand high and mighty.

I am not asking you to change your values but to challenge them. Challenge the individuals who believe in faulty ideals that technology or an escape from the realities of our current situation is the solution to the greater problems of life. It is precise and targeted action that has helped humanity step out of crises before, and it is what is required of us now.

Aryan Khemka is a third-year political science, environmental studies, and environmental ethics student at St. Michael’s College.

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FEATURES

The true cost of a Canadian education

WHATEVER IT TAKES Alyanna Denise Chua Associate Features Editor

Content warning: This article mentions suicide.

It was mid-April 2021. The second wave of the pandemic was ravaging India. People waited in line to receive medical care, and hospital staff were trying to cope with shortages of ventilators and oxygen tanks. Delhi was engulfed in sirens, and 18-year-old Shoena Agarwal had just tested positive for COVID-19.

Shoena had also just received an email from U of T. The university had made a decision on her application. She had just logged into her ‘Join U of T’ account when she saw a word that would change her life forever — “congratulations.”

So, despite the fact that her mother and younger brother had also tested positive for COVID-19, the fact that Shoena’s family hadn’t seen each other for more than two weeks because of quarantine, and the fact that 200,000 new cases and 1,000 deaths were being reported daily in India, there was a cause for celebration in the Agarwals’ apartment that summer day.

“Everyone was jumping around and everyone was just so happy,” Shoena says, as she and her family hopped on a video call to celebrate.

“I never thought I would get into U of T.” But there was one catch. No matter how many times they pored over their bank statements, Shoena and her family were confronted with one indisputable fact: they could not afford the $58,160 tuition fee that U of T charges international undergraduate students every year.

“Everything used to come down to [the fact that] we won’t be able to pay it,” Shoena says.

“My parents just said that we can’t do it, like we literally can’t do it.”

It was hard to let the opportunity pass, though.

The prospect of studying at the number one university in Canada — among the top 20 in the world, according to various league tables — captivated Shoena. “It was a dream come true,” she says.

Armed with a degree from a world-renowned university, Shoena could drastically increase her employment prospects. She could also immigrate to Canada. She’s deeply attached to her home country, but she often confronts a sense of choicelessness there. “I want things for myself which I know I will never get in India,” Shoena says.

Back home, people pressured her to think about marriage, when all she wanted to do was chase after her dream career. “There are still people around me back in my home country [who] are not okay with the fact of a girl studying so much,” she says. Shoena feared the societal pressure to leave her career at any time to devote herself to her husband, family, and home. “I don’t want to do that,” she asserts.

Shoena did not want, four years down the line, to wonder how differently her life might have turned out if she had just accepted U of T’s offer letter when it had arrived at her doorstep — when the opportunity to build a better future for herself was right there in front of her.

Eventually, it was decided: Shoena’s family would empty out her and her younger brother’s education funds, and take out a loan from a private insurance company. These measures, they reasoned, should help cover the approximately $240,000 that her U of T degree would cost.

A tenfold tuition disparity International students in Canada typically pay tuition fees two to five times higher than domestic students. But at U of T, international students pay almost 10 times the amount their domestic counterparts pay for tuition.

Undergraduate international students who entered the Faculty of Arts & Science (FAS), UTM, and UTSC in 2021 pay $58,160 a year in tuition alone. In contrast, undergraduate domestic students in the same faculties pay $6,100 a year. This means that a full year for domestic students at U of T costs around the same as just one course for international students.

It comes as no surprise, then, that U of T’s international undergraduate tuition is the highest among universities in Canada.

With such a hefty price tag attached to their status at the university, it’s no wonder that stereotypes about international students abound. They park their shiny Bugattis next to domestic students’ stained Sedans; their Prada coats brush against domestic students’ sweatpants; and they shove their notebooks and pens into Louis Vuitton bags. These stereotypes imply that international students are obscenely rich — maybe even a little arrogant.

These stereotypes are also racialized, since they often target East Asian international students.

But with almost 25,000 of them on campus, most of U of T’s international students simply do not fit this trope.

Yes, there are international students who are wealthy. Akaash Palaparthy, a third-year international student from India, says that he knows a U of T international student who owns two cars and who recently bought a house. But he asserts that such international students are “a very small minority.”

In September, The Varsity reported on international students who struggled to afford plane tickets and housing. The International Students’ Advocacy Network (ISAN) also wrote that some international students were unable to continue their studies at U of T due to “financial reasons.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified discussions at U of T about international students.

While classes were fully online in the 2020–2021 academic year, U of T increased international tuition by an average of 5.3 per cent, although domestic tuition remained frozen per a provincial government mandate.

By the end of the academic year, though, the university as a whole still incurred a net income of $726 million, and over 40 per cent of its total revenue came from international tuition.

Apart from isolation and online learning, international students have struggled with timezone differences, anxieties with border restrictions, and being apart from family during the pandemic.

They’re also left out of government grants such as the Canada Emergency Student Benefit.

In addition, recent international student graduates are at risk of deportation. As the labour market shrunk during the pandemic, many struggled to fulfill the employment requirements for permanent residency. As a result, many former international students were faced with a tough decision, said Sarom Rho, the lead organizer of Migrant Students United, a branch of the advocacy group Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, in an interview with The Varsity:

“Either deportation or making the decision to stay and become undocumented.”

It’s not hard to see, then, why international students across Canada have been grappling with a mental health crisis. According to the High Commissioner of India to Canada, eight Indian international students have died by suicide since 2020. Experts believe that many more deaths like these go unreported across the country, as stigma surrounding suicide remains widespread.

Ultimately, international students at U of T do not lead the luxurious lifestyles that many domestic students imagine. In fact, the results from a four-month investigation by The Varsity reveals that the truth is quite different. Interviews with almost 20 international students, alumni, experts, and student leaders, alongside an analysis of hundreds of pages of documents dating back to the mid-twentieth century, show that international students are often financially precarious.

They go to great lengths to pay exorbitant tuition, just to be met with exploitation, a precarious legal status, and a consistent lack of support in Canada. They are distressed and guilt-ridden. They take risky measures to afford their education — all for a shot at a better life.

Making ends meet Rebecca Sinner is a first-year international student from South Africa. To attend U of T, she had to cobble together a patchwork of financial sources: her father would pay for two years of tuition, her grandfather’s inheritance would cover three quarters of a year, and her co-op placement would cover the rest. In the eight months before her flight to Toronto, she also spent eight to 11 hours a day working as a babysitter and nursery school assistant.

Even though Rebecca loves her home country, she doesn’t envision a future there. “As a woman, it’s just so dangerous,” she says. “My mom wanted my brother and I to get out…

And one of the ways of doing that is when you study overseas — it’s easier to find a job there

and then afterwards live there.”

Her budget seemed to be all set — or, at least, so she thought.

Later on, hidden expenses began to accrue.

She did not anticipate that tuition would have to be paid in lump sums every September and November, and that paying from a bank outside Canada would incur additional transfer costs. The U of T recruitment officer who came to her school, she said, was not transparent about the true costs of food, transportation, and living in Toronto, either.

“They just go, ‘$9,500 for residence, $60,000 for tuition… and then it’s probably $5,000 for living [per year].’ That’s all they say. They don’t [mention] the travel expenses if you need to get to the shops. They don’t say how far all the shops are from residence. They don’t say all these things.”

Rebecca says the recruitment officer was also not transparent about the true availability of scholarships for international students.

“They just say there’s so much help available.

But I think it’s also an advertisement to get you to come to the university,” Rebecca claims. “They just go, ‘It’s so much cheaper than America, you should definitely come.’ ” The U of T recruitment officer who came to present at her school had said there were many scholarships for international students, but hadn’t given any details about them. Later on, when Rebecca went to search for these scholarships, she discovered that there are not that many of them.

According to a university spokesperson, U of T allocated $42.6 million to supporting both international undergraduate and graduate students in the 2021–2022 academic year. They added that international students are eligible for around 5,300 of the university’s merit-based awards. Some of these awards are specific to international students, while some are open to all students at U of T. Kauel Rajeshkumar Brahmbhatt, a first-year international student from Kenya, has tried looking for in-course scholarships as well, but found that most of them were exclusive to domestic students. The majority of the scholarships he

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International students are in debt, distressed, and exploited that I’m studying and I just cry… I literally can’t handle all this,” Shoena says.

Akaash cannot relate to the international students he knows at U of T who buy cars and houses. When he thinks about how much his parents spend on his education, he can’t shake the guilt. He says the air around him starts feeling “heavy.” He tracks his finances closely, and thinks twice about every purchase he makes. These constant considerations, he says, are “a little bit draining.”

U of T Professor Emeritus John P. Portelli, who studies social justice and equity issues in education, knows from firsthand experience that high international tuition fees create “a lot of stress.” In turn, he says, “[this stress] creates… additional stumbling blocks, which is not fair for international students.”

Portelli himself came to Canada in 1977 as an international graduate student from Malta. He says that being able to afford the international fees for his PhD at the time was “very tough.” He worked as a shipper for one summer, carrying boxes from warehouses to trucks. “I had to do it to survive,” he says.

found that were open to international students amounted to $1,500 to $2,000, and the highest value for a scholarship he saw was $5,000.

But these amounts are negligible compared to the cost of international tuition. “It doesn’t even [pay] for one course that I’ll be studying,” he says.

Scholarship opportunities are also unequal across faculties and programs. Arthur Hamdani, a second-year international student from Indonesia, found that scholarships for international students are mainly available to those in management and life sciences. He could find none that are applicable for his majors, English and journalism.

The Lester B. Pearson Scholarship is the only scholarship that covers all tuition and living expenses for international students. As such, it is extremely competitive. Rebecca, Kauel, and Arthur all applied for it — but none of them got it. “It was heartbreaking,” Arthur says.

In 2021, only 37 out of the 2,237 applicants received the Pearson Scholarship. In other words, the acceptance rate was only 1.65 per cent.

tests, she couldn’t bring herself to tell her parents, especially since many of her family members disagreed with her decision to study at U of T. Indeed, because each course costs so much for them, none of the international students The Varsity interviewed had ever dropped a course past the 100 per cent refund deadline, which is typically at the end of the second week of term.

Domestic students who drop a course and get 75 per cent of their money back only lose around $150. But for international students, they immediately lose around $1,500.

“It’s actually a lot of stress. And there are so many nights now

The mental toll Shoena is now in her first year at U of T. She says that international tuition fees are a sensitive topic for her “because there are a lot of dreams attached [to them].” Aside from getting a good education, Shoena chose to go to U of T because she wants to eventually work and live in a place where her “future will be better.” She feels that Canada has an easier pathway to permanent residency than other high-income countries.

This is why, despite the exorbitant fees, she perseveres. “Every day, I have to try to prove to myself and my parents that I’m doing my best, and that the money is worth it in the end,” she says. This means she pushes herself hard and feels guilty taking breaks. “I want to explore, I want to go out with my friends. But I won’t do that because I have such a big loan to pay.”

Grades reach a new level of importance when students are paying $5,816 for a single course.

“If I don’t do well on a test, I start to panic,” she says. When she didn’t score well on her first term Kauel Rajeshkumar Brahmbhatt.

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PRECARITY Akaash bought a mechanical bike in the summer of 2021. Instead of using it solely for transportation or leisure, he decided to start delivering food for UberEats.

Getting a job as an international student is difficult. Study permits only allow international students to work up to 20 hours per week during the academic year, but their domestic counterparts face no restrictions. “A lot of places don’t hire us [because] they know we are only allowed to work part-time,” he said.

While he enjoyed biking and exploring Toronto through his UberEats job, sometimes he got paid below minimum wage. If customers chose not to tip, he would only be left with $4 for biking six to seven kilometers. At times, his hourly wage was as low as $10 an hour.

Akaash says that many of the people he worked with at UberEats were international students who were people of colour.

Other jobs Akaash has worked were downright unsafe.

In December, Akaash took a construction job in Burlington.

He and the crew dug through the concrete ground of a restaurant in order to replace its grease trap, even though he had never used a jackhammer before. “There wasn’t a lot of safety being followed… when you’re using the jackhammer, there’s stuff flying all over the place. I didn’t have safety glasses,” he recalled.

He got paid in cash.

“Especially through the pandemic, we’ve seen that it was migrant workers who were stocking shelves overnight in grocery stores, handling packages in warehouses, cleaning offices and buildings, working in food service, and making deliveries through the cold and snow. It was current and former international students who were doing this,” says Rho. They explained that many international students are forced to work in such risky conditions in order to pay for their high tuition fees.

Of course, not all international students work precarious jobs — but most of them work out of necessity, which adds an additional layer of stress to their lives. Aliya Ali Shaikha, a second-year international student from the United Arab Emirates

(UAE), had to work for her father’s business in her first year at U of T, occupying her during the day. “By the time nightfall would come, I’d be really tired and I wouldn’t be able to focus on my studies,” Aliya says.

Even though Aliya was awarded a scholarship that reduced her tuition to $15,000 a year, she says that cost is still a huge strain on her family. She has four other siblings, and her father’s business has been incurring losses. In 2016, the UAE faced a market crash, which left her father in “millions and millions of dirhams” of debt.

“I never involved myself in any extracurriculars, competitions, or anything like that in my first year,” Aliya says. “What’s the point of extracurricular activities… when I need to help my dad?”

Some international students persevere,

Akaash Palaparthy.

hoping to find better paid work after graduation with a three-year post-graduation work permit. But this hope is not always rewarded — in fact, the precarity and stress experienced by students can continue into working life.

According to a 2021 Statistics Canada study, international students actually earn less than their domestic counterparts postgraduation and experience lower employment outcomes. Factors that contribute to this include employers’ reluctance to hire applicants with temporary residency status and shorter pre-graduation work experience in the country. The study also indicates that because they are relatively new to the country, international students have a shorter amount of time to build local networks.

International students’ temporary residence

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status also renders them especially vulnerable to exploitation. In her research, U of T professor Patricia Landolt, who studies state migration management systems, found that people with precarious legal status like international students experience more vulnerabilities at work, in housing, and in access to health care. Yet, they continue to tolerate these poor conditions in order to fulfill the work requirements needed for permanent residency.

“As an immigration system, we’re using students as a kind of filter system for recruiting the world’s best and brightest, right?

That system is really awkward, costly, cumbersome, and risky. And those risks fall on the students — not on the institutions that recruited them, not on the federal government,” Landolt says.

A history of international tuition at U of T International tuition fees weren’t always this exorbitant. Prior to 1977, domestic and international tuition fees in Canadian universities were the same.

After World War II, many countries felt a sense of responsibility for human well-being beyond their borders. Canada took an active role in global humanitarian affairs and increased its foreign aid presence in the Global South. Part of Canada’s foreign aid took the form of educational opportunities for international students — policymakers viewed international students as key players in building good economic and political relations with other countries.

Then, Canada faced an economic crisis in the 1970s. As the country plunged into an economic landscape of worsened inflation, declining profit rates, and growing unemployment, policymakers’ attitude toward higher education turned sour. They began to see postsecondary institutions as bubbles of luxury and a public burden. “I somehow sense,” the Ontario Minister of University Affairs declared in 1970, “that we haven’t really used our dollars [in higher education spending] in the most effective ways.”

Public opinion swayed in the same direc-

tion. A Gallup poll from 1971 found that 49 per cent of Canadians felt that public spending on higher education was too high. This number was only at seven per cent in 1965.

The turning point for international tuition came in May 1976. Ontario’s Minister of Colleges and Universities, Harry Parrott, wanted to save money. So, he made a decision — the Ontario government would decrease their subsidies to international students. As a result, individual universities had to decide whether to pass the fees incurred by this move to international students — thus increasing international tuition by 2.5 times — or to shift their overall budgets.

Parrott’s move was met with widespread opposition. Many pointed out that because international students in Ontario were so few, the Ministry of Colleges and Universities was only going to save 0.6 per cent of its budget by eradicating financial support for them.

The Ontario Federation of Students called the policy reflective of the “government’s political desire to [crack down] on foreigners,” as it targetted the most visible population on university campuses in order to save a negligible amount of money.

John Evans, U of T’s president at the time, said, “We must always recognize the legitimate public concern about how we use public resources, but this does not mean we should be affected by our society’s current attack of xenophobia.” The Black Student Union at U of T called the hikes “an obsolete form of chauvinism.” Others bluntly described the policy as “discriminatory” and “racist.”

But, ultimately, nine out of the 15 universities in Ontario chose to pass the fees to international students. U of T was one of them.

On March 17, 1977, the Governing Council — the highest democratic decision-making body at U of T — voted to increase international tuition fees. In the following year, undergraduate international tuition rose from $630 to $1,950 per year, while domestic tuition increased only slightly, from $630 to $670.

Differential fees had now been established in Canada for the first time.

In June 1994, the Ontario government excluded international students from OHIP coverage. While international students once had the same access to the health care system as Ontario residents, they now had to look to private insurance schemes for coverage. Currently, international students are still not eligible for OSAP. Then, in 1996, Ontario deregulated international tuition fees, which meant that institutions could now set tuition fee rates at whatever level they wanted.

With all these mechanisms in place, the government and universities could now mine international students for cash. According to a report from Higher Education Strategy Associates, international students now supply nearly $7 billion directly to Canadian postsecondary institutions each year — essentially propping up Canada’s higher education system. Out of that $7 billion, almost $1.4 billion comes from the pockets of U of T’s international students.

Decreasing government funds, increasing international tuition As protections for international students eroded in the past few decades, the Ontario government consistently decreased its base funding to postsecondary institutions.

According to the Progressive Conservative

government’s 2019 budget report, these decreases are meant to hold postsecondary institutions to account in providing “positive economic outcomes.”

Government operating grants — the main source of funding provided by the provincial government — made up 33 per cent of U of T’s revenue in 2005. This dropped to just 18.1 per cent in 2021. Accordingly, U of T’s budget now has the lowest proportion of government funding among Canadian universities.

To try to fill these gaps in funding, public universities have turned to other means for generating income, the easiest of which is to increase international tuition, which remains unregulated. From 2005 to 2021, the undergraduate international tuition of students at the FAS, UTM, and UTSC has increased by 264 per cent. Undergraduate domestic tuition has increased by 46 per cent in the same timeframe.

Increasing international student enrolment is also a popular option. In 2005, international students comprised only nine per cent of U of T’s student population. By 2020, that number had risen to 26.8 per cent.

In the 2017–2018 academic year, international tuition fees became U of T’s largest source of revenue for the first time. This pattern continues today. The university’s 2022–2023 budget predicts that 43 per cent of operating revenue will come from international tuition.

The trend in Ontario of relying on international tuition fees for operating costs has consequences. Now, without international students’ cash, public universities in Ontario could be in danger of folding.

This is exactly what happened to Laurentian University in 2021. “Laurentian University collapsed because international students didn’t come,” Landolt says. Many other commentators have also pointed to Laurentian’s international student shortfalls as a leading cause for why it declared insolvency.

Crucially, the majority of U of T’s international tuition fees come from the Global South. In 2020, 10 out of U of T’s top 15 source countries for international undergraduates were in the Global South. These 10 countries alone made up 78 per cent of undergraduate international students at U of T. One of these countries is Indonesia, where Arthur is from. Even though he was awarded scholarships that have reduced his tuition to around $10,000 a year, he says that his family still struggles to pay the remaining amount. “[It’s] mainly because I come from a middleclass family in Indonesia, and Indonesia has one of the weakest currencies in the world,” he says. Indeed, as of March 2022, one Indonesian rupiah is equivalent to $0.000088.

Money from lower-income countries now makes up a significant portion of U of T’s revenue. In other words, the Global South is subsidizing a significant portion of U of T’s operations costs.

“Something is fundamentally wrong with claiming that we run a public higher education system that, in fact, has been deeply privatized and relies on international students for such a high proportion of fees,” says Landolt.

“What happened to the government funding for the university system that [got us] into this situation?”

Disclosure: Arthur Hamdani is Varsity staff illustrator.

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CHANGE “I really didn’t think about the tuition too much until the pandemic year,” says Luise Hellwig, a fourth-year international student from Germany.

“But then the pandemic hit, and I was not getting what I was signing up for.”

She did not do well with online learning, and was very frustrated. “And then, of course, not only did [U of T] not freeze or lower tuition because of the lower quality of education, they also increased it by five per cent in that year,” she says. For Hellwig, that was the last straw — she joined a newly formed international student group at U of T, the ISAN. The ISAN has been representing undergraduate international students at the FAS since summer 2020.

During the pandemic, it advocated for the significant reduction of international tuition and increased transparency on how international tuition is used and allocated. It also started talking to senior members of administration.

But the ISAN is far from the first organization to advocate for international tuition fee reductions at U of T. Calls to lower international tuition fees have existed ever since the idea of differential fees was introduced in 1976. At the time, the Ontario Federation of Students created a province-wide petition to oppose the tuition hike. The Academic Affairs committee at U of T rejected the university’s proposal to increase international tuition by 2.5 times “as a matter of principle.”

Simcoe Hall burst into applause when the committee made this decision. One month later, President Evans led a delegation from U of T to negotiate the policy with Minister of Colleges and Universities Harry Parrott.

International students themselves mobilized to oppose the fees. The Varsity reported on Chinese students’ associations from universities across Ontario holding conferences and releasing statements denouncing the 1976 increases.

Thirty-five years later, in 2011, Mary Githumbi came to U of T. Githumbi, who was an international student from Kenya at the time, was attracted by U of T’s wide portfolio of education and research opportunities. However, she was disillusioned by the lack of support for international students when she got here. “We felt like cash cows coming in,” Githumbi says in an interview with The Varsity.

Githumbi decided that international students needed a representative body that would advocate for their interests. So, in 2014, she cofounded the International Students Association (iNSA) with Marine Lefebvre, an international student from France.

Together, they set their sights on getting international students on the Governing Council, which has final say on tuition fees and budget allocations. The University of Toronto Act of 1971 — a provincial legislation that regulates the Governing Council — had barred non-citizens from serving on the Council. This meant that international students had no say on matters relating to their tuition.

So, executives from the iNSA talked to the University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU) and constitutional lawyers at the U of T Faculty of Law. They published articles in The Varsity, approached students during lunch breaks, and held social events like pub crawls and Thanksgiving dinners to forge connection and understanding. Githumbi said they even filmed Yeliz Beygo, an international student with Swiss and Turkish citizenship, as she brought her nomination application and passport to Simcoe Hall, where the officer rejected her application.

Finally, in July 2015, the provincial government amended the Act, allowing international students to serve on the Governing Council for the first time.

While the structure of the Governing Council is still problematic, according to multiple student leaders — only eight out of its 50 seats are reserved for students, which means most of the council is controlled by non-students — this was a significant step in securing international students’ political rights and representation at U of T. But today, campaigns to lower international tuition continue to face structural barriers that are more far-reaching.

Inaction from the U of T administration “There’s nothing we can do.”

That’s what senior administrators often tell the ISAN, according to Hellwig.

The ISAN has met with the Office of the ViceProvost, Students multiple times to discuss international tuition — but to no avail. Hellwig describes these meetings as “fruitless.” Multiple interest groups were often present at these one-hour meetings, so, Hellwig says, the ISAN would sometimes only have 10 to 15 minutes to discuss international students’ financial struggles and offer potential solutions.

Apart from the ISAN, the UTSU and the University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union (UTMSU) have lobbied senior administrators to lower or freeze tuition fees. But administrators dismissed these demands and explained that the university required that funding, citing necessary investments in digital infrastructures and a lack of government grants. Instead of lowering tuition, they pointed students toward financial aid.

From then on, both student unions have lobbied the province to increase operating grants to U of T. The 2020–2021 UTSU submitted recommendations to the province ahead of the 2021 Ontario Budget, but these efforts saw limited success. “The government does not seem interested in reversing the trend of declining operating funding and increasing tuition fees,” wrote Tyler Riches, the 2020–2021 UTSU Vice-President Public and University Affairs, in an email to The Varsity.

When asked what kind of support the UTSU received from U of T administrators in these lobby efforts to the province, Riches wrote, “To be frank, not much.”

The UTMSU has also urged senior administrators to join student unions in lobbying the province to increase government grants to the university. However, Mitra Yakubi, the current president of the UTMSU, writes that university administrators never responded to their calls.

“We have not seen much willingness from the University of Toronto administration to work with us to find tangible solutions,” wrote the UTSU in a 2021 statement.

On March 31, U of T’s next operating budget is set to go before the Governing Council.

It proposes to increase international tuition by another two per cent on average for the 2022–2023 academic year.

How much should international students pay?

Aliya once asked a university employee why international students pay so much. She was told that it’s because international students don’t pay taxes in Canada.

However, Aliya was not convinced. She says that if a business owner charged $5 to locals for a bag of milk, and $50 to non-citizens, then

that business would be effectively shut down.

But educational institutions routinely do that, which, she said, is “even worse.”

In addition, international students do pay taxes in Canada. They pay GST/HST for most goods and services they buy on Canadian soil, and those who are employed pay income taxes like any other local.

In 2019, U of T President Meric Gertler said

Ultimately, Aliya doesn’t call for equal tuition with domestic students, because she understands that countries give their own citizens more privileges. Still, she asserts that there needs to be a “certain degree” of regulation on how much the university charges international students.

Portelli comes to the same conclusion. “If someone goes to study in another country, it

that international tuition at U of T is priced to cover “[the] full costs associated with educating those students.” However, international and domestic students attend the same classes, tutorials, and labs, and have the same professors. As one Varsity op-ed pointed out, U of T does not disclose what these “full costs” are.

The same article cited Gertler saying that international tuition covers the costs of services like “special counselling [and the] Centre for International Experience.” However, these services fall under incidental fees — not tuition.

is, I would say, fair for that country to charge that student something extra… The question is proportionality.” He says that there must be a balance between charging international students higher fees and still making education accessible for them.

But what happened to PhD international students at U of T in 2018 was even more radical than a simple reduction of tuition. In January of that year, U of T reduced the tuition fees of the majority of PhD international students to match their domestic counterparts.

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“We strive to remove any barriers, financial or otherwise, that graduate students might face as they look to attend our university,” Joshua Barker, dean of the School of Graduate Studies and vice-provost of graduate research and education, said at the time of the announcement.

In compliance with the second Strategic Mandate Agreement between the university and the province, the government significantly increased operating grants for international doctoral student enrolment. “[One] requirement of operating grant funding is that students are charged domestic fees,” a U of T spokesperson wrote. However, the government only limited

versal — which means that a university needs a diversity of cultures, ways of thinking, and ways of being for its own educational fulfillment.

“Having international students is important for the very nature of a university,” he adds.

Is all of this worth it?

Shoena and I had just finished our interview. I turned the recording off, and we proceeded to talk about U of T’s work-study program. I had just finished explaining the 20-hour working limit for international students when Shoena said, “I just have to ask you — is studying at U of T worth it?”

tional students continue to grapple with.

I was silent for a few seconds, and then sighed. I didn’t know what to say. As an international student myself, I could not come up with an easy answer.

In many ways, I am happy that I’m here in Toronto. Learning from kind and brilliant professors at U of T has changed my life. By working in different jobs and roles throughout the university, I’ve discovered surprising things about myself and what I’m capable of.

However, I am not happy with the circumstances that brought me here — the fact that colonization and debt have weak-

ened the Philippines’ already weak education system; the fact that I have to travel over 13,200 kilometres away from my home, friends, and family just to get a good education; and the fact that I have to feel like a parasite on my parents’ bank account for all of this to happen.

I am not happy with the precarity and insecurity that’s central to my temporary residency status here in Canada. An aunt warned me to never attend demonstrations of any kind, because she fears that I could be easily deported.

When my roommates and I were looking for housing, three realtors told us that international students were required to pay 12 months’ rent up front — when this is in fact illegal.

Whenever I sit in a classroom with my domestic peers, I think to myself, “I pay 10 times more to be in the same room as them.”

U of T, Ontario, and Canada more broadly all now rely on international students to subsidize postsecondary education. Yet, many still deride international students as a strain on the country’s resources, and international students are often left without support, protection, representation, and full rights.

“Don’t we deserve better than this?” Aliya asked.

Alongside advocacy groups and student unions, international students themselves have long been fighting for tuition equity and equal rights; they continue to do so today. Now, with increased collaboration between the province and the university, it is possible to lower tuition fees — just like what happened to U of T’s international PhD students in 2018.

“The saddest part is knowing that there’s something that needs to be done, and that action not being taken,” Githumbi told me.

So, my only remaining question now is this: What are we waiting for?

Visuals: Caroline Bellamy & Andrea Zhao

this policy to international doctoral enrolment, which is why only PhD international tuition fees were reduced.

Ultimately, Portelli urges all of us — particularly those who work in universities — to remember their purpose. “The major purpose of the university is not to make money; the major purpose of the university is to enhance and promote the education of students, both local and international,” he says.

He reminds us that the word ‘university’ comes from the Latin word ‘universitas’ — uni-

Mary Githumbi.

This is a question that many interna-

Arts & Culture

March 21, 2022 thevarsity.ca/section/arts-and-culture arts@thevarsity.ca This spring, the St. Michael’s College Troubadours are returning to in-person performances.

COURTESY OF EMILY VILLANI

Both theatre and spring are once again awakening at U of T St. Michael’s College Troubadours on performing Spring Awakening Erika Teeter Varsity Contributor

Content warning: This article mentions institutional homophobia and transphobia.

It’s inarguable that, over the course of COVID-19, Toronto’s theatre industry has suffered significantly.

The pandemic’s impact on the St. Michael’s College Troubadours is no different. In March 2020, the group’s production of LUV: A New Musical was postponed because of recently instituted provincial guidelines. Since then, the troupe has performed shows in an online format.

Additionally, the troupe’s rendition of Salt Water Moon was performed in an outdoor setting.

This is what makes the St. Michael’s Troubadours’ in-person production of Spring Awakening even more exciting. The show, which will be playing March 25 and 26 at Toronto’s Michael Young Theatre, will mark the troupe’s return to in-person theatre.

The Varsity reached out to the St. Michael’s Troubadours over email to discuss Spring Awakening’s message, rehearsing in times of uncertainty, and putting on an in-person show.

About Spring Awakening Spring Awakening is a rock musical with a score written by Duncan Sheik and book and lyrics written by Steven Sater. It’s set in late nineteenth century Germany and explores the stories of teenage characters who struggle with finding their identities. The musical is based on the 1891 German play of the same name, which was immediately banned in Germany upon its release.

Cast member Maya Bogojevic, who plays Martha, described the show as “a dark but beautiful and important story complimented [sic] with absolute bangers of songs.” Bogojevic also referenced themes that the musical tackles, including sexuality and morality.

“There is a misconception that musicals are all

cheesy, fluff pieces with no real morals or takeaways,” Bogojevic wrote. “That cannot be less true in the case of spring awakening.”

Similarly, director Isabella Cesari interpreted Spring Awakening’s message as being about “listening [to] and understanding one another.”

Though Cesari noted that the show specifically references “the dangers of parents and authority figures not respecting and understanding young people,” she believes that its message “applies across lines other than age as well.”

“The content in this show is still incredibly relevant today,” added Bogojevic, noting that, in a city like Toronto, themes such as censorship and lack of education are especially relevant.

However, Bogojevic stressed the importance of audience members taking “a deeper look” at how thinking similar to what’s presented in the show is present in schools, homes, and religious spaces.

Bogojevic especially highlighted Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill and Texas’ proposed anti-LGBTQ+ laws, which, she pointed out, “are actively taking these resources and support away from…

LGBTQ+ kids.”

“The show is dark, but I think it needs to be,” Bogojevic wrote. “It shows the worst case scenarios that can occur when kids and teens are not given the support and resources they need as they are growing up.”

These resources, Cesari mentioned, can also be incorporated into artistic spaces. Cesari mentioned the Broadway revival of Spring Awakening, which incorporated American Sign Language and whose cast featured Deaf actors.

“I would like our audience to leave the show thinking about instances when they have not felt heard and understood, as well as times when they could have been better listeners, or done more to understand others,” Cesari urged.

“The cherry on top” of an in-person show Spring Awakening will be performed for an audience for the first time less than a week after Ontario will lift mask mandates in some public

settings. However, other universities — such as the University of Western Ontario — have cancelled some in-person theatre productions.

Being allowed to host in-person productions is a privilege that is not lost on Cesari, who noted: “Uncertainty was definitely the biggest barrier.”

“Between August, when we confirmed this would be the show, and now, we’ve been in various stages of restrictions and reopening,” Cesari wrote. “It was very difficult to predict where we would be, come showtime.”

However, Cesari ensured that her cast was equipped to perform under any circumstances.

Lauren Kroell, who plays Adult Women, described that the cast rehearsed “anywhere from 2 [to] 6 hours a week,” in the earlier months of the process, “when [they] were learning the numbers and blocking scenes.”

Kroell also noted that the show’s opening night was postponed from January due to COVID-19 restrictions. She added that, as the cast quickly approaches the new date of March 25, they are expected to attend “all-day rehearsals on the weekends, and then tech and costume runs almost every night in the week leading up to the show.”

Cesari emphasized the importance of communication in the creative process, especially when faced with uncertainty. “I always made sure to keep the creative team, cast, and production team up to speed so that we could plan for any eventuality,” she wrote.

“I was definitely very curious about how it was going to be put on,” cast member Avril Brigden wrote. Brigden, who plays Ilse, added that, during the pandemic, she’d come across “two amazing versions of Spring Awakening”: a virtual one at New York University’s Tisch’s New Studio, and a masked version performed by Texas State.

“So going into rehearsals, I knew it would be possible for us to do this show well,” Brigden wrote.

“These productions had proved that the story could be told effectively despite pandemic restrictions.”

Other cast members, however, seemed to

be seasoned professionals in the field of uncertainty. Nick Cikoja, who plays Moritz, noted that he performed in Fiddler on the Roof in the summer of 2021. “Only two days leading up to the show, were we able to drop the guidelines,” Cikoja wrote. He added that he was experiencing “some major deja vu” during rehearsals.

“Regardless of what happened, I’m sure the show would have been amazing,” Cikoja concluded. “But knowing that we’re getting the opportunity to perform at a ‘normal’ standard, really is the cherry on top.”

What can audiences expect?

While the cast of Spring Awakening described their production as a “dark” commentary about society, they noted that watching the show will give audiences a different theatre experience than what you might initially expect.

“I’ve had lots of fun working on lighter shows during my time at U of T.” Cesari wrote. “They’ve been wonderful productions… but I’ve appreciated the chance to really sink my teeth into something with lots of layers and gnarly character choices and motivations, and ambiguity.”

Similarly, Cikoja noted that the process of creating Spring Awakening allowed the cast to “come together, both as a team and as a family.”

“There’s never a dull moment when you have the entire cast together,” Cikoja wrote. “Whether I’m in the wings, or we’re working on specifics, there is nothing but constant support from the cast.”

“I find it beautiful that although we all differ in our academic pursuits, life goals, and future career paths, we were brought together by a common love that gave us the opportunity to create something as powerful as this show,” Brigden added.

“Whether you know Spring Awakening or not, audiences can expect to really see the hours and months of hard work reflected in the final product onstage,” Cesari concluded. “This is a really, really talented group, and I think audiences will be glad they got to experience their performance.”

thevarsity.ca/section/arts-and-culture Sam Rosati Martin Varsity Contributor

Content warning: This article mentions a case of police brutality.

On March 15, four members of Victoria College’s faculty read their creative writing to an audience of their colleagues, students, and readers.

The event, hosted by poet and teacher Canisia Lubrin, centered around the theme of creative citizenship. Lubrin noted that, to her, the term’s meaning was still in the process of unfolding and developing. The host introduced the event as a symposium through which creative citizenship could be collaboratively discussed.

The event began with a reading from Albert Moritz, Goldring Professor of the Arts and Society. Moritz, also the current Poet Laureate of the City of Toronto, delivered a passage from The Garden, a collection of poetry that he published in 2021. Moritz’s website describes the collection as a “denunciation of injustice, especially as seen in the violent injustice directed to the African diaspora in North America.”

One of the poems that Moritz read was “The Garden in the Midst: Los Angeles, 29 April to 5 May 1992.” The poem’s title references the uprisings that took place in Los Angeles in 1992, after police officers were recorded beating Rodney King, a Black man. The officers were later acquitted.

While reading his work, Moritz spoke with a force that made me a hushed witness to his work. His excerpt was affecting, devastating, and it was followed by a long silence after its reading was finished.

Following Moritz, English Professor Robert McGill read his essay, “Night Enough,” which he wrote after leading a workshop in creative writing. Before the reading, McGill told the audience that “leading a workshop always has me thinking very much about creative citizenship.”

In his reading, McGill evoked the feelings of insularity that I think writing often involves. Following the reading, he highlighted the need to find delight in the strangeness of the writings of others. McGill concluded by saying that “even the nocturnal creatures have a better shot at things

MARCH 21, 2022 when there’s someone in their dark corner.”

Next, Coordinator of Creative Expression & Society Program Adam Sol read two poems from his book Broken Dawn Blessings. Sol described his work as “trying to dance a line between what’s public and what’s private, and how those things intersect and don’t always sit so comfortably together.”

One of Sol’s poems, “Manifesto,” was written as a call to revolt for a “next cohort” ushering a “new era of idealism.” Sol delivered his reading with a spirit that mirrored the language of his work. It was rousing — and poignantly brutal. Following the reading, Lubrin encapsulated my response to the reading when she described Sol’s poetry as “searing.”

After Sol’s reading, Professor Sarah Dowling read two excerpts from their work, Entering Sappho. Dowling described the first excerpt, “Clip,” as “short lyric poems that are made of some newspaper clippings.”

Dowling’s verse captivated my attention with ease. Their writing created a scene and destroyed it right after. The repetition in their poem punched me in the gut in a beautiful way. I found the words of Dowling’s last poem, “Entering Sappho,” to evoke emotion especially well: “now our hair is down. / The grass is wet. The grass grows / back.

All we have is this thicker becoming, all / we are is this tangled perhaps.”

After Dowling’s reading, Lubrin used the poet’s notion of a “tangled perhaps” to start a discussion of creative citizenship with the event’s authors.

The writers emphasized that creative citizenship involves a cultivation of community.

Dowling expanded on the notion of community by noting that writing is worthwhile if “[it is] accountable to some bigger group of people; it needs to be part of a conversation.” Sol added that creative citizenship does not just involve spending time with others, but committing to sharing their stories: “It has to be speaking to people… and in communication with the past and hopefully the future.”

Another topic that the speakers discussed was encountering poetry without thinking about the way we interpret it. Moritz described poetry as “simple and instinctual.” He elaborated, saying, “Everyone is a poet… poetry is the easiest thing, the most

The poets of Victoria College Virtual event hosted by poet Canisia Lubrin discussed creative citizenship Four members of Victoria College facuty read at the event.

COURTESY OF VIC COLLEGE/INSTAGRAM

complex kinds of creativity flower out of people.”

The guests also considered the role of citizenship amid COVID-19. McGill noted that the pandemic has “shone a light on the precarious relationship to creative engagements that many people have.” He added that literary events must take into account accessibility to be successful.

McGill also praised the online platform of the event, noting that some people who want to attend in-person events “don’t have good health to get out the door… can’t afford the transit to get to the event, [or] can’t hear what’s being said

[without live transcriptions].”

To conclude the discussion, Dowling challenged the audience to question their own definitions of citizenship. They explained, “Sometimes we have a particular citizenship that we don’t even want… sometimes we live in a place where we’re not a citizen at all.”

Moving forward, Dowling suggested that we should instead use words such as “belonging” or “witnessing,” noting that these terms are more “inclusive” when describing the acts of reading, listening, and being with each other.

A comprehensive guide to a successful band breakup Sometimes, going solo is an inevitable part of the process Madeline Szabo Arts & Culture Correspondent

When you’re constructing a band, the most critical factor is making sure everyone on the planet knows their name. After that, you’re faced with the elusive task of ensuring that band never breaks up.

Unfortunately, it seems like every band with chemistry and talent inevitably explodes. So, to protect the future of boy bands, girl groups, and the music industry as a whole, I’ve set out to determine the cause of band breakups. With any luck, Simon Cowell, the god of the music industry, will use my data to create a group that will stand the test of time.

“Story of my life” In 2010, five unsuspecting teenagers walked onto the set of the British singing competition show The X-Factor. Transformed by the notso-caring help of Simon Cowell, they left the show as arguably the most famous boy band of their time. Throughout the next six years, One Direction released five albums, embarked on four world tours, and captured the hearts of the entire world.

One Direction broke these hearts just as quickly when they announced their split in 2016, leaving us with many theories as to what prompted their “hiatus.”

Tabloids such as Us Weekly — who quoted Niall Horan saying that band members were “gonna end up killing each other” had they stayed together — reported enough fights and interpersonal drama to make a One Direction biopic.

Ultimately, though, the band broke up to pursue individual projects, both in and

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out of the spotlight.Don’t believe me? Look at the March 2015 Facebook post that announced Zayn’s departure; it explained that the singer wanted “to be a normal 22-year-old.”

Additionally, each band member started making drastically different styles of music during their solo careers; Niall Horan’s music can be classified as country, while Harry Styles’ has been described as soft rock. Members of One Direction wouldn’t have had the creative freedom to explore these various genres if the group stayed together, because the band put out strictly pop music.

that she left the group because she felt excluded — a statement which undoubtedly added some ‘spice’ to tabloid articles everywhere.

However, the Spice Girls didn’t remain on cold terms for long — they’ve reunited twice since their breakup, and, in 2019, Halliwell apologized for her departure. Ultimately, she retracted her initial comments and explained that she felt the work she was doing had become “redundant.” Though I have the impression that friendship never ends, I’ve concluded that Halliwell left to discover herself as a person, not just as a member of a group.

“You gotta get with my friends” When Geri Halliwell — better known as Ginger Spice — left the Spice Girls before their American tour, it felt like girl power had suffered a catastrophic explosion. In the 2007 BBC documentary Giving You Everything Halliwell explained

“You say you want your freedom” If you thought One Direction and The Spice Girls’ hiatuses were heartbreaking, just wait until you hear the ‘landslide’ that’s the drama surrounding Fleetwood Mac. The group began to record the album Rumours in 1976, immediately following the

I know that no band can last forever — despite what their managers want me to believe.

COURTESY OF FIONA MCKINLAY/CC WIKICOMMONS

divorce of members Christine and John McVie. To add to the drama, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham — group members and another former couple — were engaging in regular shouting matches. To top it all off, member Mick Fleetwood began a relationship with Nicks. The undeniable chemistry in this hot mess of a friend group burned bright enough to make them stars, but that same fire soon turned explosive as their music careers came to an end.

So why am I upset about bands that broke up before I started high school? The culprits are these bands’ managers.

Managers design bands to make fans invested in the group. To do so, they need to make us think of their music as a manifestation of their friendship.

It’s evident that the marketing industry has banked on this strategy with both One Direction and The Spice Girls; their respective documentaries, This Is Us and Spice World, show footage of them spending time with one another outside of work.

Band members are also presented as an opportunity to choose which member you most identify with. For example, I strongly identify as Baby Spice, so the idea that Ginger Spice would rip apart ‘our’ friend group makes it sting even more than it would have if another band that I liked broke up.

Though I’m still recovering from the pain of these break ups, I know that no band can last forever — despite what their managers want me to believe. In the industry, breaking up is nothing more than a dramatic way of musicians deciding to prioritize their well-being over a paycheque. That’s a message I can get behind.

But, when they need that paycheque again in 10 years, I’ll sell my soul to see them reunite on tour.

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THE VARSITY

arts@thevarsity.ca

ARTS & CULTURE

Capsule wardrobes won’t last forever The trend is dependent on income and access to quality clothing Maryam Khan Varsity Contributor

Do you think that you own too many clothes?

Do you wake up to the seemingly impossible task of deciding what to wear? TikTok users may suggest that you invest in a capsule wardrobe, a selection of interchangeable clothing pieces which complement one another.

Although the hashtag #capsulewardrobe has amassed more than 50.5 million views on TikTok, the trend is anything but new. In the 1970s,

London boutique owner Susie Faux popularized the idea of a minimalist wardrobe. After noticing that consumers were purchasing pieces that were poorly or didn’t fit properly, Faux built a reputation around a minimalist aesthetic. This inspired American designer Donna Karan to release a ‘capsule’ collection in 1985, featuring seven interchangeable officewear pieces.

Capsule wardrobes offer an alternative to the mass consumer ideology of ‘fast fashion,’ which refers to a designing, manufacturing, and marketing method focused on rapidly producing

clothing. Often, the production of this clothing replicates current trends and uses low-quality materials to offer the public inexpensive styles.

This mass production contributes to the fashion industry’s production of about five per cent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. It also overworks garment workers, who often aren’t being paid a living wage.

In contrast, capsule wardrobes are built around neutral and versatile items such as trousers, tshirts, and pants. Generally limited to 25 to 50 items, capsule wardrobes are meant to cause

JESSICA LAM/THEVARSITY

minimal waste. The idea is that building up your basics will give you a timeless wardrobe that will outlive any trend.

Although they sound simple and accessible, capsule wardrobes are dependent on the idea that individuals have access to high-quality pieces of clothing. This is easier said than done; as the clothing industry grows, websites and stores that sell fast fashion are rapidly emerging, making it harder to find items that won’t wear down within a few washes.

Additionally, purchasing high-quality clothing rests on the assumption that individual can afford items that are well-made. This requires not only money but also time, in order to to research such products, and is likely easier for people who have extra time to do so. This trend is largely rooted in classism — as a child, Susie Faux had access to handmade, tailored pieces, and she created her boutique to reflect this.

Perhaps a more realistic approach to organizing your closet lies with author Marie Kondo’s “Spark Joy” method. Kondo’s idea, which is described in her book the life changing method of tidying up, is that every item you own should consistently make you happy. To test whether it gives you joy, you should pick up the item and hold it close. If you feel joy, you keep the item.

If you don’t, let the item go. Not only does this idea let you keep clothing that you like — even if it doesn’t fit in the rules of a capsule wardrobe — it encourages sustainability, because it involves items you already own.

Capsule wardrobes are dependent on the idea that a minimalistic style will always stay ‘timeless.’

Instead, I urge you to focus on wearing whatever makes you happy. There’s no shame in enjoying what you own and getting the most use out of items that already exist in your closet.

Limiting yourself to neutrals and a set number of pieces can only be realistic for so long. Besides, if you like bold clothes, why not enjoy them?

“Your English isn’t good enough” — and other misconceptions about EAL speakers Reassurance for my fellow non-native English speakers Baran Seyedi Varsity Contributor

Have you ever been in a situation where you were made to feel like your English wasn’t “good enough?” Have you been reluctant to participate in a conversation because you thought you wouldn’t be understood? Contrarily, has anyone ever told you, “I’m really surprised your English is good?” If so, this article is for you.

English is my second language.

I became a fluent English speaker in the third grade, so it’s been a while since I’ve thought about the struggles that accompanied the process of learning the language. On March 17, however, I was prompted to remember my journey while attending Overcoming the Messaging That Your English ‘Isn’t Good Enough,’ a seminar hosted by U of T Student Life. The event was designed for international students, multilingual students, newcomers to Canada, and students who use English as an additional language (EAL). It covered topics like the legitimacy of World Englishes, accents, dialects, and the benefits of multilingualism in academic settings.

I moved to Canada when I was in elementary school. Back then, some of my teachers had an ‘English-only rule,’ meaning that, in class, we

were forbidden from speaking any language English-speaking country, a prevalent experience other than English. I understand that these is feeling embarrassed by our accents. This is teachers perhaps intended to help us learn also a point that Ali brought up: “Having an English more quickly by fully immersing us into accent is like having a fingerprint, [because] it’s an English-speaking environment. In hindsight, so unique, and it’s so specific to you.” however, all this rule did was take away my Ali also added that, out of the world’s two confidence in communicating altogether. billion English speakers, the majority speak it as The English-only policy’s biggest flaw became their second language. This has led to a concept evident on the occasion that I got bullied or known as ‘translanguaging,’ which refers to using fought with a classmate. The fight itself elements and vocabulary of two different wasn’t a major issue; kids fight all languages to communicate. the time. But because I wasn’t Keeping variations of speech fully familiar with the English such as ‘Spanglish’ in mind, language yet, I didn’t have does it even matter if you the vocabulary to defend pronounce English words or explain myself. Even if with an accent?

I did, I felt embarrassed Moreover, that I might not be multilingualism is a speaking correctly, which desirable trait. On a basic would make teachers level, speaking another regard me as unintelligent. language can help you Thinking back, I wish I’d connect with members of known that my intelligence your community and your didn’t equate to my familiarity family members. But it also SHANNA HUNTER/THEVARSITY with one specific language. lets you communicate with a It’s never too late to share that bigger range of people, which can knowledge with someone else, though, turn your dating pool into an ocean. In which is why I’m writing this article.

2017, dating site Elite Singles and language This brings me to the topic of accents. learning app Babbel surveyed 450 Canadians If you’re an EAL speaker, it can be helpful and found that 82 per cent were more attracted to know that accent and pronunciation are to people who could speak another language. terms that are completely unrelated from one There are also some another. While pronunciation refers to how we expressions, feelings, and say a specific word, an accent is the melody thoughts that can only be of spoken language, which is unique to each appropriately conveyed in person. As learning strategist and host of the specific languages. Being seminar, Yaseen Ali, said, “Everyone has an multilingual can promote accent. It’s just there’s a hierarchy that accents an additional worldview, as are positioned on.” it gives you the ability to For many of us who’ve immigrated into an understand concepts that

would otherwise be lost in translation.

Lastly, multilingualism exposes people to many more career opportunities.

Studies have shown that multilingual individuals are able to switch tasks more quickly and easily than monolinguals. They’re also better equipped to process information efficiently and simply. This might be why, over the past five years, demand for bilingual workers in America has more than doubled. Overall, your ability to speak two or more languages can give you a leg up during hiring processes.

Attending Overcoming the Messaging That Your English ‘Isn’t Good Enough’ helped me better navigate misconceptions that have impacted my confidence in language learning. While in the past I’ve believed that it was my responsibility to prolong talks with a native English speaker, I’ve realized that all conversations should be a joint effort to understand one another. My teachers should have put in more effort to understand me in class, rather than to expect me to instantly articulate my thoughts thoroughly.

My advice to anyone experiencing the same obstacles I did is this: stop being apologetic for having an accent, confusing the grammar in a sentence, and occasionally being unable to get your message across.

The experience you bring to the English language makes you unique — and that’s as good as it needs to be.

Science

March 21, 2022 thevarsity.ca/section/science science@thevarsity.ca

How to beat Wordle at its own game Using information theory to optimize your guesses Sarah Artemia Kronenfeld Senior Copy Editor

There’s something very seductive about a game like Wordle.

When it comes down to it, Wordle is very simple. There are a limited number of recognizable five-letter words in the English language. The list of words that Wordle will accept numbers almost 13,000. Out of those, there are only about 2,300 individual five-letter words, handpicked by the creator’s girlfriend to be guessable to the average player, that Wordle might use as puzzle answers — slightly fewer, now that The New York Times has pruned down the list for obscenity and Canadian spelling.

If you’re anything like me — that is to say, insufferable — you probably had a hard time playing through a full game of Wordle without starting to wonder how, theoretically, you could solve Wordle in such a way that you wouldn’t ever have to play through it again.

It seems like it should be easy, right? You get six guesses to find the final word, and every time you guess, it feels like you cut down the possibilities significantly. After all, Wordle has three different responses for each letter of your guess. If your guess starts with an ‘a,’ it might tell you that you’re right, and the word starts with an ‘a’; that you’re wrong, and the word doesn’t have an ‘a’; or that you’re kind of sort of on the right track, and there is an ‘a’ in the word, but it’s located somewhere completely different.

So every time you make a guess, Wordle could theoretically give 3 5 possible answers. Those responses are not all equally likely — if they

WILLIAM XIAO/THEVARSITY

were, you’d regularly be solving the Wordle in two guesses — but that should still give you enough information to narrow the possible solutions down pretty far with the right guess.

So how do you find the right guess?

One of the most common strategies that you’ll see people talking about online involves choosing an initial word that’s high in vowels. It’s intuitive — a five-letter word is going to have to have a vowel somewhere, and knowing which vowels you’re looking for gives you a concrete path to start down. Throw in a couple of common English consonants, and you’ve got what feels like a very sensible Wordle guess strategy!

And maybe that’s enough for you, if you’re a reasonable person who wants to continue playing Wordle and actually hav fun doing so. But if you’re willing to dive a little deeper into the workings of Wordle, there’s definitely more to explore.

To start with, we need to define what it would mean to optimize a Wordle guess. Ideally, you want something that gives you a lot of information about the final word. More precisely, you want Wordle to give you a response that will narrow your possible guesses significantly.

That’s probably one reason people use common consonants — you’re more likely to get a hit, and if you don’t, that eliminates a lot of possible final words.

Popular math YouTuber 3Blue1Brown uses the terminology of information theory to explain the idea of optimization more precisely. Every

time you cut your field of possibilities in half, you eliminate one ‘bit’ of uncertainty. Based on the number of possible Wordle solutions, when you start the game, you’ve got approximately 11.17 bits of uncertainty. You want to get that number down to zero.

If you’re trying to optimize the amount of uncertainty you’re eliminating, they explain, the best way to do so is to choose an initial guess that gives you the highest average number of bits of information, no matter what Wordle’s response is.

That means that ‘zygon’ is probably not a great first guess. If you’re right about one of the letters, that’ll teach you a lot, but if you’re wrong about all of them, you won’t have much to work off of.

Many of their suggestions — words like ‘soare,’ ‘slate,’ and ‘reais’ — do actually contain a lot of common letters.

According to Laura Tilton, an educator who’s mapped the frequency of Wordle letters on Twitter, ‘e,’ ‘r,’ ‘a,’ ‘o,’ ‘t,’ and ‘l’ are the six most common letters among valid Wordle solutions.

But positioning is important, too.

Eight out of 3Blue1Brown’s initial top 10 words end in an ‘e,’ and seven contain ‘a’ as their third letter.

Many of those initial suggestions hold up under further refinement as well. Jonathan Olsen, a researcher at the University of Colorado, has complained that many Wordle solution lists suggest suboptimal strategies because they focus too heavily on the information from the first guess.

But many of his suggested starting words, like ‘reast,’ ‘salet,’ and ‘trace,’

also appear on 3Blue1Brown’s top 10.

On his website, Olsen has created a tool where you can try out multistep Wordle strategies that he’s found by building decision trees — models of how a Wordle game could look after every decision the player makes.

Even the top strategies aren’t going to always net you a good game — a lot depends on luck. Some of 3Blue1Brown’s best opening words, which maximized information according to projections of all possible game scenarios two guesses in, only won the game in about 3.4 guesses, on average. They theorized that it doesn’t seem possible to create a strategy that wins you the game in three guesses or fewer on average.

This set of strategies also isn’t exhaustive — there are other factors to consider. If you play on hard mode, where you have to reuse your previous correct guesses, your strategy will have to change slightly. If you really want to make all of your friends absolutely furious, you can make sure you’ll get it in one try every time — the original list of future Wordle solutions in chronological order was accessible from the website’s source code, and you can find people who have compiled records online of all the daily solutions for the foreseeable future.

If you want to set yourself higher challenges, you could use a less-thanideal starting word, just to make it a little more difficult. According to Alex Selby, a mathematician from Cambridge, UK, you’ll usually get very little information from ‘jazzy.’ You could play Absurdle, which works in much

the same way as Wordle, but actively tries to sabotage you at every step.

On my part, I haven’t played Wordle regularly for a while. It’s fun, but it feels simple and gameable enough that I can’t concentrate on trying to solve one game without trying to solve them all.

These days, I’m a lot more interested in Semantle, where you have unlimited guesses to guess a word based on similarity scores from word2vec — a technology from the field of computational linguistics that tries to represent the semantic meaning of a word based on the contexts in which it usually appears. It relies a lot more on how news stories of the recent past have been written, so it feels like it requires a lot more guesswork. And if I really feel like leaning into the guesswork side of things, there’s always Letterle.

But you don’t have to stop playing Wordle for the sake of playing Wordle. You could forget all of this and choose some other strategy entirely. Learning about information theory is fun in its own right, but it doesn’t have to affect your actual day-to-day gameplay.

Sometimes, there are more important reasons to play a game than to win it, and many people feel sentimental about their original guesses. The top commenter on 3Blue1Brown’s original video may have hit on something very fundamentally human when they wrote, “Interesting video, real good stuff. Gonna keep using PENIS but this was really cool and informative!”

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SCIENCE

Your brain on porn From erectile dysfunction to depression, watching porn rewires the brain Sky Kapoor Science Editor

Pornography. We all know of it, and some of us love it. Though we might not be so keen to admit it openly, most of us have probably stumbled upon a slightly not-safe-for-work video in our time on the internet.

Whether or not users care to confess their habits, the numbers don’t lie. Porn consumption has become increasingly prevalent over the years, with some of its more popular streaming websites such as Pornhub receiving well over 30 billion visits in 2018. With the modern ability to access these websites quickly, anonymously, and for free, it’s no wonder these numbers are so high.

However, this isn’t necessarily something to celebrate. While pornography comes with the promise of satisfaction, the effects that regular use has on the structural and behavioural elements of the brain are anything but satisfying — one of the long-term effects of seeking out these services is, in effect, a rewiring of the brain.

Why do we consume porn?

There are likely numerous reasons why pornography is so popular — namely, sex is interesting and important to many people.

There’s no shame in having sexual desires and interests.

Sociologically speaking, teenagers and young adults are more inclined to consume pornographic content out of curiosity. After all, in a society where it’s still taboo to talk about sex, the internet is a place where people believe that many of their questions about sex and sexuality can be answered without judgement from others.

Is this the right answer, though? Certainly, there are better choices for sexual education, especially when you look at the inaccuracies contained within the industry. Furthermore, popular porn websites often contain concern-

ing content — which is an entirely different story. Instead of providing the gratification we expect, a lot of online pornography appears to largely serve in objectifying the woman and weakening the man — psychologically preying on generations of young adults.

The soft to hard(core) pipeline When you hear the word ‘porn,’ you might think of the type of media that is available on more explicit websites. The idea of porn isn’t always concrete though — there are depictions of sexual content everywhere, from movies to music videos. This slow, subtle inclusion of explicit content in modern media has led to popular desensitization. Some things aren’t nearly as shocking anymore.

The same is true for explicit pornography — you build up a certain concerning tolerance to explicit content the more you watch it.

Analytics from the internet’s beloved Pornhub actually support this notion — ‘vanilla’ sex isn’t as interesting to its users anymore, who are opting for categories that lean more toward topics of violence, incest, and pop culture.

The biology of addiction Damaging the dopamine reward system may not be on your list of Friday night activities — but if you’re planning on using incognito mode, it might be.

A look into the neurobiology of addiction shows that natural behaviours such as sex and eating have evolved to activate the dopamine reward system because they are necessary for survival from an evolutionary standpoint. While this is an important adaptation, pornography addiction takes advantage of it in a significant way.

Though there may be differences in the way the reward system is activated as with drugs or alcohol, an individual’s ‘tolerance’ to any dopamine-inducing stimulus can increase if they are continually exposed to it. In terms

TIMOTHY LAW/THEVARSITY

of porn, this means that regular viewers become more disconnected from reality, relying on videos rather than actively participating in partnered sexual activity. This struggle to have meaningful relationships is harrowing, especially when a multibillion dollar industry lies behind all your choices.

In a more physically evident capacity, some research has strongly linked increased rates of erectile dysfunction and lowered libidos to pornography use, though porn is certainly not the only piece of the puzzle. In younger adults, rates of erectile dysfunction are much higher than they should be, and evidence suggests that porn may be a contributing factor.

Porn and the brain Do you remember how old you were the first time you came across porn online? Was it maybe younger than you’d like to admit? If so, you’re not alone — the age at which people begin to view pornographic content

has unfortunately decreased over the years.

At a time when the mind is still malleable and feeble, excessive consumption of something like porn hardly has benefits. Plasticity — the brain’s ability to adapt based on experiences — is more prevalent in younger adults. While this is a useful trait, it’s concerning when applied to the idea of teenagers and young adults watching porn, as this is an experience that may take advantage of neural plasticity.

Is there hope for those who are negatively afflicted? Some reports have shown that sexual function can improve again once porn viewing is decreased, but there is still much to learn about the effects that the porn industry has on the human mind.

While some of this may be speculative, it still offers something to think about. The supposed freedom that comes from the ability to view adult entertainment appears to be affecting us in a negative way — instead of freeing us, it may be suppressing us.

The shocking prevalence of postpartum depression in men You don’t need to give birth to struggle with postpartum depression Sarah Qu Varsity Contributor

Content warning: This article contains mentions of suicidal ideation.

Research on postpartum mental health issues have traditionally been focused on women. But while new mothers’ mental health is an important issue to address, it does not take away from the importance of checking in with the fathers.

Poor maternal mental health has been shown to negatively impact the baby’s development, and postpartum depression and anxiety in fathers can have the same effect. If both parents show symptoms of mental distress, the effect on the baby’s development is further worsened. Identifying and treating these postpartum conditions is vital to ensure that parents are able to properly take care of their child.

Postpartum depression affects families A recent study, led by Cindy-Lee Dennis of the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, looked into postpartum depression and anxiety in new fathers. Dennis is cross-appointed with the Psychiatry Department in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, and is currently the women’s health research chair for the Li Ka Shing Institute at St. Michael’s Hospital. Her research focuses on improving the well-being of parents in order to

improve the well-being of their children.

The study highlighted the shocking prevalence of postpartum struggles in fathers. It examined the mental health of 2,500 fathers between three weeks and two years after the birth of their child.

The results showed that postpartum mental health disorders were common in 22 per cent of the participating fathers in the first year of the child’s life.

A key finding of the study is that the comorbidity of postpartum anxiety and depression is unexpectedly high — it was present in one out of four fathers. The high prevalence of these mental health issues further exacerbates the problem; leaving these fathers to deal with depression and anxiety on their own can be dangerous, as they may have suicidal thoughts and resist treatment.

Most fathers struggle with these issues by themselves because they’re not aware that what they’re experiencing is a legitimate condition that warrants treatment. The stigma around men’s mental health is also a barrier for establishing mental health check-ins. The culture of toxic masculinity requires that men must display strength and maintain an image of being in control, which often prevents them from reaching out for help.

Cause and effect So what could cause poor postpartum mental health?

It’s important to realize that welcoming a new baby to the family can have impacts on not just the mother. In line with traditional masculine

norms, fathers may not feel ready to support their new baby. This may have nothing to do with their ability to physically or financially provide for their family at this crucial time, but instead may point to a feeling of inner failure.

Most fathers have such a high expectation for how they wish to perform as new fathers that any small disappointment can derail their plans for being an awesome dad. Realistically, considering the needs of a newborn alongside those of your partner and yourself is no easy task, and all of these commitments won’t be fulfilled perfectly.

However, fathers who strive to do their best may experience lowered self-esteem every time they can’t focus at work due to a sleepless night, or can’t comfort their partner when they’re stressed.

These feelings of inadequacy can escalate into a bigger mental health concern — one which most fathers disregard, despite its prevalence.

Unfortunately, with postpartum mental health issues, the solution isn’t very simple, since you still have a newborn to take care of. A few symptoms that are initially brushed off may worsen as they are ignored in favour of attending to priorities that feel more pressing, such as work or the child.

These scenarios can also become a vicious cycle; fathers may feel these negative feelings and then further blame themselves for not being happy about the arrival of the new baby. This is one way the situation can be exacerbated. In reality, though, this is a totally reasonable thing to go through — struggling to fit a new tiny person

into an already busy life does not mean that the baby is any less loved.

Hopes for the future The findings from this study are meant to be informative for future possible treatment and intervention programs for fathers. Such scientific studies spread awareness about stressful postpartum conditions, and can help end existing stigma.

Currently, in Ontario, only mothers are screened for postpartum mental health issues.

Shockingly, in interviews conducted with fathers going through these postpartum conditions, researchers found that some of the fathers tried to find information online, to no avail.

Though awareness of these issues is higher today, there’s still much to do. The study from U of T goes to show just how many cases go unaddressed, and how much new research needs to happen in order to create evidence-based interventions.

Furthermore, this study is a comment on the stigma surrounding men’s mental health. It recognizes that it is still common for men to be unaware of the importance of their own mental well-being. The high expectations brought about by the image of strong masculinity prevent men from asking for mental health support when they need it. But in the case of these fathers, making themselves aware of their own health and getting the help they need will help them be better partners and fathers.

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Sports

March 21, 2022 thevarsity.ca/section/sports sports@thevarsity.ca

The UTSB’s 2022 Toronto Sports Industry Conference Dive into the sports industry this March Audrey Miatello Associate Sports Editor

On March 25 and 26, the University of Toronto Sports Business Association (UTSB) will be hosting its annual Toronto Sports Industry Conference (TSIC). The association has hosted this event for the past ten years, providing attendees with the opportunity to network with and hear from professionals within the sports industry.

Since I’ve had the opportunity to be a journalism associate at the UTSB for the last five months, I wanted to share more about this year’s conference with The Varsity’s readers.

About the UTSB Made up of 40 team members, the UTSB is Canada’s largest sports business association run by students. The team is made up of a number of different departments, including marketing, events, corporate and speaker relations, social media, programming, media, and finance. According to the mission statement on its website, through its network of connections spread throughout both the Greater Toronto Area and North America, the UTSB strives to make “an accessible pathway for UofT students looking to break into the sports industry now and long into the future.”

Since the UTSB was founded in 2011, the association has organized a number of events, including the Women in Sports webinar series, the Career Prep Series, and Sports Industry Night, all of which help prepare its members for futures in the sports industry.

However, the TSIC is still the UTSB’s largest

event. Last year, the TSIC was held entirely online, but this year, the conference will feature both in-person and online components.

Discussing the conference, UTSB President Joseph Nina wrote to The Varsity, “We’re really excited for the conference to finally be back inperson in some capacity. The sports industry is… very tight knit so it’s amazing to be able to get such a great group together to connect.”

Conference info The in-person portion of the event will take place on March 25, at the Westin Harbour Castle, from 7:00–11:00 pm.

The online portion of the conference will be held from 9:05 am to 4:05 pm on the virtual platform Accelevents. It will feature events such as Industry Insights sessions, interactive workshops, and panel discussions, and will also feature networking opportunities.

Mark Shapiro, the president and CEO of the Toronto Blue Jays, will present at the morning’s Industry Insights session. Bill Manning, the president of the Toronto Argonauts and Toronto FC, will speak at the afternoon session. There will also be a number of other presentations, including Brand Building & Digital Analytics with the Buffalo Bills and The Playbook of the NFL in Canada, among many others. “Our two-day conference is centred around learning and fostering connections which will push students forward in their career,” wrote Nina.

A number of speakers and industry representatives will be attending the conference this year, including individuals who are affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays, the Toronto Raptors,

A number of speakers and industry representatives will be attending the conference this year.

COURTESY OF JOSEPH NINA/THEVARSITY

the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto FC, the NFL, the NHL, the NBA, MLS, Sportsnet, and more.

“We are grateful to have a lineup of 50 speakers and industry representatives at TSIC. Bringing together such an esteemed group of leaders provides incredible learning opportunities for students,” Nina wrote to The Varsity.

Online ticket sales for the in-person portion of the event ended on March 20, but you should consider purchasing tickets next year— and keep

an eye on what’s going on at this year’s conference as well! Anyone interested in attending only the online portion of the conference will be able to purchase tickets for free. However, these online tickets can only be bought until March 23, so make sure to secure your spot at the conference before then.

Disclosure: Audrey Miatello is a journalism associate at the UTSB.

Why do athletes have superstitions?

Amazing athletes, strange superstitions Noah Goldstein Varsity Contributor

Everyone has superstitions — those little things you find yourself repeating throughout the day, or incessantly replicating before performing specific tasks. Athletes are no strangers to this practice: to them, executing these ritualistic acts might mean the difference between winning and losing. From homegrown amateurs to worldrenowned professionals, almost every athlete has superstitions or rituals that they need to perform in order to perform on game day.

Some superstitions are simple. For example, Varsity Blues Track and Field team member Paulina Procyk always starts her day with scrambled eggs, avocado toast, and occasionally a smoothie on the morning of a race. She always gets to the race track two hours early in order to “decompress” before her warmup.

To Procyk, it’s all about repetition. “Having some sort of ritual is comforting and reassuring that as long as you do your pre-race [routine] like normal, everything else will hopefully flow normally as well. It’s the routine of it all that helps ease the mind when pre-race jitters come around.”

While Procyk’s rituals are tame, there are many examples of well-known athletes who have superstitions that verge on absurdity.

For example, His Airness — basketball legend Michael Jordan — would wear his old University of North Carolina shorts under his Chicago Bulls shorts. And, clearly, that superstition worked.

Wayne Gretzky, often touted as the greatest hockey player of all time, had a particularly

regimented routine. Gretzky’s uniform had to go on in a specific order, his warm-up shots would have to be aimed wide right, and before a game started, he would always drink a Diet Coke, a glass of ice water, Gatorade, and a second Diet Coke — precisely in that sequence.

Lastly, Gretzky would completely douse the end of his stick in baby powder before hitting the ice.

Tennis legend Serena Williams’ regimen is consistently uniform. During a competition, Williams never fails to use only one specific shower, and she ties her shoes the same specific way. While playing, the tennis superstar always bounces the ball five times prior to her first serve and twice before her second.

Quinn Carlisle, a member of the Varsity Blues Lacrosse team, thinks that it has a lot to do with stoic philosophy. “Stoics focus on their emotions, they prepare for uncertainty by thinking of ways things could go right or wrong so that if said thing happens they won’t shoot up or sink down emotionally, [instead they] remain even-keeled,” wrote Quinn.

“The same goes for athletes, but their game is a mini version of life and they want to remain calm and focused in the heat of action. Pre- and post-game rituals give athletes one more thing that they can control, and I think that is why the more elite the athlete, the stricter you may find the ritual.”

Quinn has a couple of pre-game quirks himself. Since he’s left-handed, he always puts on the left article of clothing in a pair first. The left glove, the left sock, the left shoe — you name it. Additionally, he always makes sure to brush his teeth immediately before playing, habitually

bringing a toothbrush and tube of toothpaste to every game.

“I have to brush my teeth and have a clean taste in my mouth,” Quinn explained. “My dad told me about this when I was younger, he said it was easier to breathe when your mouth is all clean, and I thought it made sense and have stuck with it.”

IMG Academy, an organization that describes itself as one of the world’s most advanced training and educational institutions, has a similar theory.

It believes that these rituals and superstitions can be helpful for athletes, and even result in better performance. “By reducing anxiety in a high-stress situation, athletes become calmer and more poised, and, as a result, they perform better,” suggests a blog post on its website.

Believing in such superstitions can, of course, go too far. In the 1980s, an umpire had to stop a game between the New York Yankees and the Cleveland Guardians because the Yankees

DENISE VILLATE/THEVARSITY

had been taking advantage of Cleveland’s Kevin Rhomberg.

Rhomberg was possessed with a superstition in which he always had to touch anyone back who touched him. Yankees players had been tapping Rhomberg and running away — causing him to panic and make constant mad dashes around the field towards anyone who came in contact with him.

Although not all athletes need to go to sleep in the opposing team’s shorts the night before a game like former NBA star Jason Terry, or wear a golden thong to break a slump like former MLB star Jason Giambi, it’s clear that such superstitions in sports can be greatly beneficial to an athlete’s play, so long as they can still function without their rituals.

Paulina says it best: “Ultimately, I think it’s important for all athletes to always be prepared for the unexpected.”

thevarsity.ca/section/sports Mekhi Quarshie Associate Sports Editor

There’s only one time a year that mildly drunk college fans, adrenaline-induced buzzer beaters, and broken dreams can all coexist — and that’s March Madness. Teams work hard all season, clawing through tournaments to gain a spot in the NCAA Men’s Basketball March Madness Tournament, or they can be selected by the NCAA committee.

One factor that plays into the excitement surrounding the tournament the household tradition of creating March Madness brackets.

It’s predicted that more than 30 million US adults fill out March Madness brackets every year. Don’t understand why? Keep reading.

The March Madness tournament features 68 college teams, ranked by the March Madness Selection Committee, that compete in seven rounds for the national championship.

The games are all single-elimination games, which means that if you lose, you’re out.

The teams are given ‘seeds’ — a ranking of each team’s strength made by the committee based on their performance in the regular season.

The best-seeded teams don’t always win, though — as Kentucky fans know all too well, considering their number-two seeded team lost to number 15, Saint Peters, on Thursday.

Sometimes, the weaker teams just “want it more.”

The March Madness Bracket Challenge al-

MARCH 21, 2022 23

What the heck are March Madness brackets?

The bracket building phenomenon

JESSICA LAM/THEVARSITY

Yuzuru Hanyu’s mastery of artistry and technique The “ice king” is the embodiment and hope of figure skating Valerie Yao Lead Copy Editor

I started watching the Winter Olympics after the 2010 Vancouver games, and from then on, I was deeply captivated by the charms and beauty of those icy sports. The games became my one solace on many barren days.

As the Beijing 2022 games came to an end earlier this month, I couldn’t help but feel nostalgic over the iconic moments we’ve seen in the past month. The figure skating events mesmerized me the most, as the skaters’ every jump and spin teleported me to a wonderland of art and happiness.

Among them, one skater especially stood out to me as the supreme standard of both artistry and techniques — the embodiment of figure skating.

Not only I, but the figure skating and Olympic communities also owe a debt to Yuzuru Hanyu for the impacts and changes he has made to the sport.

Yuzuru Hanyu, who was born in Sendai, Japan in 1994, is a reigning champion figure skater with dazzling achievements. In 2012, he started training in Toronto with the 1984 and 1988 Canadian silver medallist Brian Orser. Hanyu won back-to-back gold medals in the 2014 Sochi Olympics and 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, becoming the first man to win two consecutive golds since 1952. He also became the first male singles skater to achieve a Super Slam, since he has won all major international championships at the senior and junior levels.

I recently revisited his past Olympic performances, and every routine is a masterclass in skating. Aside from his flawless technical elements, one of the most fascinating aspects of Hanyu’s performance is his ability to bring out and infect the audience with the emotions of the characters he portrays.

In his debut at Sochi, he inked the whole rink with his vivacious spirit. Wearing a blue shirt, Hanyu immediately transports the audience to a Paris street in his short program skate to “Parisienne Walkways” with his confident, frisky steps.

Later, in his free skate, he delicately carried out the emotions in “Romeo and Juliet” with excellent skills and expressions.

If Sochi was the triumph of youth for the 19-year-old, then four years later, Pyeongchang was confirmation that Hanyu is indeed the king of the ice. Hanyu’s Pyeongchang free skate, “Seimei,” vigorously unfolded the story of Seimei’s growth to becoming a powerful man, just like Hanyu himself.

In Beijing, he further explored the philosophy behind his free skate program, “Heaven and Earth,” with connections to his own life. In a turquoise costume with embroidered sakura blossoms and golden birds, he elegantly portrayed the story of an ancient Japanese warlord, Uesugi Kenshin, which had many parallels to Hanyu’s athletic career.

Hanyu, like Uesugi, became a leader at a young age. They both experienced tremendous hardships, yet kept fighting and matured. Hanyu illustrated his own coming-of-age story through his Olympic performance.

It may appear that Hanyu has achieved everything that he deserves, but there have been many instances when his hard work didn’t pay off — sometimes due to International Skating Union’s (ISU) unjust targeting and underscoring. Research and past scoring results demonstrate that, oftentimes, more than half of the judges show statistically significant nationalist biases when scoring.

Furthermore, in Beijing, Hanyu attempted the quadruple axel (4A) jump — which requires 4.5 revolutions — becoming the first person to attempt one at an international event. Hanyu’s 4A in Beijing 2022 was acknowledged, but not certified, because he fell when landing.

No one has ever landed a 4A in competitions.

Hanyu’s heroic, history-making challenge pushes figure skating’s standard and technical difficulty forward. It’s possible he could still land the 4A in competition — there is a lot to yet expect from Hanyu.

Since it’s considered the most difficult jump, however, 4A’s score in ISU’s judging book doesn’t reflect its true difficulty. Though it’s arguably significantly more difficult than quadruple lutz (4Lz) jumps, the 4A is worth only one point more than the 4Lz. Given this, the 4A is a high-risk jump with low rewards that ended up hindering Hanyu from getting the gold. Regardless, Hanyu’s fans will

always respect his efforts to dazzle on the ice.

The way he pursues even more difficult tricks, even if he risks medals, is the very embodiment of the Olympic spirit.

Furthermore, in protest against the ISU’s underscoring, Hanyu wrote his graduation thesis on how 3D capture technology, that analyzes athletes’ movements, can help figure skating judges grade fairly. His resistance to the ISU’s biases provides hope for fairer games and a brighter future for the competitive sports field — and, personally, his perseverance is a constant reminder for me to keep going.

Fortunately, as Hanyu suggested, the ISU is

lows fans to tap into this crazy unpredictability in a fun way. When building a bracket, fans choose which teams they think will win for each of the 63 games.

The perfect bracket isn’t something you brag about with your friends or co-workers; it could be your sole source of income. Last year, Warren Buffet pledged to give out $1 billion to any fan with a perfect bracket. People are starting to realize that making a bracket is a pretty good investment of your time.

Or is it? Even though millions of brackets are submitted each year, a perfect bracket has never been achieved before, and the odds are pretty slim. According to the NCAA, there are 263 bracket possibilities in total — meaning you have a one in 9,223,372,036,854,775,808 chance at fame. In this season alone, out of the nearly 20 million brackets created, there have been zero perfect brackets.

Do you think humans are the problem?

Well, Time magazine made more than 10 million computer-generated robots create brackets in 2019, and none of them hit the mark. The low chances of winning are what makes people want to participate in the first place.

While it’s too late to fill out a full March Madness bracket, the next time that the words get thrown around, you’ll have a few facts to refer to. And who knows — next year you could be the one person with a perfect bracket, even though the odds will never be stacked in your favour!

As he glided over the rink in his sparkling white and pink costume and gracefully kissed the ice in his performance “Come, Spring” at Beijing 2022’s figure skating gala exhibition, Hanyu planted seeds of hope and great expectation for the future of figure skating — and spring has indeed come.

now working on implementing ar- tificial intelligence and augmented reality technologies in judging figure skating, which will help determine skaters’ pre-rotation and rotation numbers and make scoring more accurate.

What inspires me the most about Hanyu is his devotion. He doesn’t regard figure skating as merely a competitive sport, but as an art.

He doesn’t add difficult jumps to his routine just to get high scores. Rather, he strives to achieve overal balance and elegance for the programs, alongside difficult and technical manoeuvres, so he carefully plans tough step sequences and jumps in his choreography by adding graceful jump entrances and exits.

These choices not only increase his programs’ technical difficulties but also blend his choreography into the music, thus adding unity. We need more athletes like him — we watch competitive sports to not only witness awesome skills but also to find inspiration and explore the breadth of humanity.

Yuzuru Hanyu has planted seeds of hope for the future of figure skating.

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