September 9, 2019

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

September 9, 2019

Vol. CXL, No. 2

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“Wrong side of history”

Science

U of T criticized for involvement in Hawaiian telescope project

Old habits dye hard — engineering tradition linked to cancer

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U of T faculty, students in solidarity with Native Hawaiian protests to protect sacred site Mauna Kea is an ancestral mountain that Native Hawaiians regard as their place of origin.

VADMIN KURLAND/CC WIKIMEDIA

Haya Sardar Varsity Contributor

Protests in Hawaii against the construction of the Thirty Metre Telescope (TMT) on the Mauna Kea — a sacred mountain that Native Haiiwans, known as Kānaka Maoli, regard as their origin site — have made their way to U of T. The university is a member of the Association of Canadian Universities for Research in Astronomy (ACURA), an organization funding the astronomy project.

U of T faculty and students criticized U of T’s involvement in the project, in solidarity with peaceful Kānaka Maoli protesters who have been occupying the site since construction began on July 15.

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Astronomy’s rising star?

The TMT is a project over 10 years in the making, with the promise of enabling astronomers to look far into the past of stellar and galactic evolution. With an area nine times bigger than any existing visible-light telescope, the TMT is designed to identify images with unprecedented resolution, surpassing even the Hubble telescope.

The profound sensitivity of the TMT boasts the potential for observational data to answer questions about “first-light” objects, exoplanets, and black holes in the centre of galaxies.

This potential for furthering astronomy and astrophysics is what makes the TMT astronomy’s rising star.

News New legal support hotline: if CSIS knocks on the door, know who to call

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Why is the TMT being protested?

In July 2009, the Board of Governors for the TMT chose the Mauna Kea as its location.

Mauna Kea has long been an astronomical hotspot, serving as the location for 13 observatories. The TMT would be the 14th, standing as the biggest telescope on the mountain.

Mauna Kea is a sacred ancestral mountain, a place imbued with both natural and cultural resources. It is the location of many religious rituals conducted by the Kānaka Maoli, as well as a burial ground of sacred ancestors. Additionally, its ecological value is profound, housing esoteric ecosystems and providing water to the residents of Hawaii.

For these reasons, native kia’i (guardians) and kūpuna (elders) have resisted industrialization on Mauna Kea ever since the first telescope was built in 1968.

Subsequently, the TMT has attracted significant protests, serving as the Leviathan of telescopes. Dr. Uahikea Maile, Assistant Professor of Indigenous Politics at U of T, describes the TMT as a “unique beast” because of its size and location.

The project requires eight acres on the northern plateau of the mauna, which is currently untouched. Maile asserts that the corporation backing the TMT tempts the State of Hawaii into “valuing techno-scientific advances and alleged economic benefits over Native Hawaiian rights and the environment.”

Hence, ever since 2014, kia’i have attempted to halt the construction of the TMT by forming blockades at the base of the summit.

A brief space-time log of events On July 10, Hawaiian Governor David Ige announced that construction of the TMT would begin on July 15, 2019. Five days later, hundreds of peaceful protestors stood together to form a blockade that would prevent construction crews from ascending Mauna Kea to begin constructing the TMT. Located at an elevation of 6,000 feet, the blockade is logistically supported by the Pu‘uhonua o Pu‘uhuluhulu, a place of refuge providing resources and infrastructure to sustain all those involved in the blockade. All people at the pu‘uhonua have access to free housing, food, health care, child care, and transportation.

Maile, who is of Kānaka Maoli descent, spent two and a half weeks at the protests. He recounted that the kia’i were “constantly prepared for the risk of police force and violence.”

On the second day of protests, Governor Ige deployed the National Guard, militarizing the once peaceful site of protest.

On July 17, police arrived at the scene carrying riot batons, tear gas, guns, and a Long Range Acoustic Device. The elder kūpuna, many of whom were in their 70s or 80s, formed the central blockade, while they requested the kia’i to stand at the sides of the road.

Thirty-eight people were arrested at the scene, most of whom were kūpuna, but after hours of negotiations “a deal was struck and all police left.”

Telescope, page 15

Business

Comment

Are you a campus capitalist? Find incubators and accelerators nearby

Mental health task force — substantive or performative?

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Feature

Arts & Culture

Sports

Election 2019: Will the real Canadian left please stand up?

Goodbye summer, ”I would not do it over, but I know I will live it again.”

A fresh start — Varsity Blues football ends 15game losing streak!

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THE VARSITY

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Bridging the Gap Letter from the Editor

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The Varsity’s Editor-in-Chief disucsses advocacy, history, and the Student Choice Initiative.

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One common refrain that readers will see when glancing over any article celebrating The Varsity is its age. As of this October, this newspaper will be 140 years old — you are all invited to the party. While we take great pride in continuing the legacy of one of Canada’s longest-running student newspapers, the very age of The Varsity may give students the perception of an unchanging institution, disconnected from the campus.

This year, my team and I hope to bridge this perceived gap between students and the newspaper that we love. This year, we want to engage with you. We want to hear your concerns, your experiences, the big and little things that you care about.

While this goal is something that our masthead is dedicated to, regardless of external factors, the creation of the Student Choice

Initiative (SCI) has certainly highlighted just how important it is for us to continue our long-standing goal to earn your trust as a reader.

The SCI allows students to opt out of certain incidental fees, including The Varsity’s levy of $2.87 per semester for undergraduates and $0.87 for graduates.

While this policy has raised questions about our place and responsibility at U of T, our consistent and responsible reporting on not only the SCI, but on issues that are important to students, has proven just how essential we are to the community.

As you continue to read our content, be it investigations into U of T’s finances, campus theatre reviews, or recaps of Varsity Blues games, I hope you will consider supporting us by staying opted-in.

Josie Kao Editor-in-Chief Volume 140

If you or someone you know is in distress, you can call: Canada Suicide Prevention Service phone available 24/7 at 1-833-456-4566 Good 2 Talk Student Helpline at 1-866-925-5454 Ontario Mental Health Helpline at 1-866-531-2600 Gerstein Centre Crisis Line at 416-929-5200 U of T Health & Wellness Centre at 416-978-8030.

Designers Gabrielle Huston, Rilla Wang, Kevin Zhu

Warning signs of suicide include: Talking about wanting to die Looking for a way to kill oneself Talking about feeling hopeless or having no purpose Talking about feeling trapped or being in unbearable pain Talking about being a burden to others Increasing use of alcohol or drugs Acting anxious, agitated, or recklessly Sleeping too little or too much Withdrawing or feeling isolated Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge Displaying extreme mood swings The more of these signs a person shows, the greater the risk. If you suspect someone you know may be contemplating suicide, you should talk to them, according to the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention.

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will refrain from publically expressing any opinions on the SCI. Ibnul will also take over editing and publishing responsibilities for all SCI articles found in our other sections. Therefore, I will not be involved in any of the content we produce about this topic.

I am continuing this policy so as to further assure our readers of our enduring commitment to the values of fair, just, and accurate reporting.

The Varsity will always be here as an expression of the student voice, in all its diverse and multi-faceted forms. However, it’s up to you, the students, to work with us, fund us, and tell us what we can do better.

Multiple articles in this issue contain discussions of mental health issues and suicide.

Copy Editors Chelsea Anthony, Linda Chen, Holly Johnstone, Valeria Khudiakova, Matthew Lee, Khyrsten Mieras, Agata Miociani, Maya Morriswala, Elisa Pugliese, Eva Wissting, Emily Yu, James Yuan

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Advocacy-editorial divide As the SCI continues to be a pressing facet of campus life, I will be continuing the policy established by my predecessor, Jack O. Denton, to recuse myself from editing articles on the SCI. The justification for this is simple: I must continue to be an outspoken advocate for The Varsity as an essential service while also upholding the paper’s long-standing commitment to responsible and fair reporting. Therefore, a recusal would allow for a separation of my advocacy efforts and the The Varsity’s editorial operations.

The news team’s reporting on the SCI — led by News Editor Andy Takagi and Deputy News Editor Kathryn Mannie — will be edited and published by Managing Editor Ibnul Chowdhury, instead of myself. Moreover, Ibnul, Andy, Kathryn, and all associate news editors

Issue 1 crossword answers

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SEPTEMBER 9, 2019

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The Breakdown: The Presidential & Provostial Task Force on Student Mental Health

U of T’s mental health task force continues consultation phase despite criticisms from students Hannah Carty Varsity Contributor

Content warning: this article contains mentions of suicide.

The Presidential & Provostial Task Force on Student Mental Health is in the first phase of its operational plans. The task force was formed in late March in response to two reported student deaths by suicide on campus in the past year. Following its start in the summer, the task force will continue to meet with various student groups, university staff, and administration, and other relevant groups over the fall.

In total, the task force consists of 13 people: the Chair, Dean of Medicine Trevor Young; four student representatives; three faculty members; three administrative staff members; and two senior assessors.

The central goal of the task force is to review both student mental health services and co-ordination between support systems across U of T’s three campuses, in addition to evaluating the physical spaces where mental health services are provided. Proceeding evaluation, the task force then plans to make recommendations to President Meric Gertler and the Vice-President & Provost Cheryl Regehr by December 2019.

The task force’s Outreach and Engagement plan, published online, details the groups and individuals that the task force will meet with as it gathers information, operates pop-up booths, and hosts in-person consultations at all three campuses. The final stage of the task force will be to present its draft themes and recommendations for a public response via an online form before giving its findings and recommendations to the administration.

“Nothing About Us Without Us” In an open letter published in The Varsity, 15

students characterized the task force as an insufficient response to a “ongoing mental health crisis” on campus and asked for the task force’s dissolution on the grounds of “a lack of transparency, diversity, and accountability mechanisms.” The students also criticized the administration for being unresponsive to their requests for meetings and consultations on the university’s mental health infrastructure.

“Nothing About Us Without Us” is a 40page report written by student activists that outlined numerous demands, among them that any university initiatives regarding mental health be comprised of a student majority, including in leadership positions. The report details specific criticisms that students have lodged since 2014, and also cites student experiences with the university’s mental health support system.

“U of T has, for too long, ignored the voices of students in mental health policy.”

University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU) President Joshua Bowman, while remaining “cautiously optimistic,” echoed concerns of student activists, noting that the task force lacks sufficient student representation. “[The four students on the task force] are charged with representing 71,930 undergraduate and 19,356 graduate students, respectively,

Students held a silent protest in March of 2019 in response to the university’s inaction on mental health.

SHANNA HUNTER/THE VARSITY

according to 2017-2018 enrolment,” wrote Bowman in an email to The Varsity. He also noted that “members were selected without regard to lived experiences of mental illness or diverse identities, but based on professional and scholarly experience.”

“U of T has, for too long, ignored the voices of students in mental health policy. This Task Force was an opportunity to center the voices of students that U of T has failed to realize,” wrote Bowman.

Egag Egag, one of the two graduate representatives on the task force, acknowledged the challenges of having four students on a task force set to address the mental health of around 90,000 students across three campuses.

In an email to The Varsity, Egag wrote, “it is my hope that all students will take an opportunity to participate, so that we have feedback that is authentic and representational of UofT’s students.”

Action and accountability Currently, the task force’s sole purpose is to make recommendations, and although the Outreach and Engagement plan states that the task force will be meeting with various student unions, Bowman reports that the UTSU has not heard from the task force.

Similarly, Chemi Lhamo, President of the

Scarborough Students’ Union, wrote to The Varsity that “[the administration] also need to acknowledge that U of T students are different because of the overwhelming pressure to do well in one of the best institutions in the world.”

While Lhamo hopes that the task force will produce results, she is skeptical that the it will be able to properly represent marginalized students, and address the unique challenges faced

by U of T’s satellite campuses.

“We are looking forward to seeing actions being taken and not just the talk,” wrote Lhamo.

Social and behavioural health sciences PhD student Corey McAuliffe is one of the members of the newly formed task force. In an email to The Varsity, McAuliffe described the role of the task force as “one way in which to address student mental health at U of T.” Echoing sentiments made by President Meric Gertler in an interview with The Varsity in late July, McAuliffe called on the participation of all stakeholders in the university — including the government and students — to create a “healthy environment.”

The task force is currently running an online consultation form, as part of its first phase, which will close on October 15.

U of T matches donations made to Carey Davis GoFundMe page Money will go toward undergraduate award, suicide prevention

Kathryn Mannie Deputy News Editor

Content warning: this article contains mentions of suicide.

Carey Davis was an active part of the Munk One program.

COURTESY OF CHERYL DAVIS

In a tribute to Carey Davis, a second-year student who died by suicide earlier this year, the university has moved to match close to $37,500 in donations to create an education initiative founded in her name.

Since March 2019, The Carey Projects’ GoFundMe page has been accepting donations from friends, family, students, and strangers for the purpose of creating an undergraduate award in Davis’ name. The award will fund the implementation of solutions proposed for global problems and directed by a chosen team of students.

Alongside its work with the undergraduate award in Davis’ name, The Carey Projects also hopes to expand into suicide education and prevention.

Davis is remembered for her passion for global affairs, a devotion she cultivated in the Munk One program. Therein lies the spirit of The Carey Projects: promoting solutions for the issues that mattered most to Davis.

Student teams selected for this award will be chosen based on their insight, creativity, and interdisciplinary connections, three values that Davis held dear.

The university’s decision to contribute to this campaign came out of a collaboration between Cheryl Davis, Carey’s mother, and U of T Associate Professor Teresa Kramarz.

Kramarz was one of Carey’s professors in the Munk One program and later went on to hire Carey as a research assistant. Kramarz had been involved in discussions about The Carey Projects from the very beginning, and when Cheryl Davis reached out to her to ask for the university’s support in their initiative, the decision was easy.

The university ultimately decided that it would match donations made to The Carey Projects’ GoFundMe page until August 30.

By that time, $37,490 of the $50,000 goal had been raised. The university’s donation will help The Carey Projects easily surpass its original goal.

There are also ongoing discussions with Audacious Futures, where Davis did her Munk One internship, to further support The Carey Projects. Similar to the aim of the undergraduate award, Audacious Futures is focused on global innovation.

With the 10-month anniversary of her passing approaching, Carey continues to leave an impact on the university and the broader community. Her legacy lives on in the work done by her loved ones and in the conversations that she helped spark.

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In the Spotlight: Dr. James Cantor

An overview of U of T psychology professor’s contentious research, opinions on pedophilia Ori Gilboa Senior Copy Editor

Content warning: this article contains mentions of sexual violence toward minors.

Dr. James Cantor is an accomplished Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at U of T. One of 44 faculty members who focus their research on forensic psychiatry, Cantor also works at the Centre for Mental Health & Addiction, with a specific interest in atypical sexual behaviours. He juggles his positions alongside regular commentary concerning his research on high-profile outlets, including CNN, The Walrus, The Atlantic, and the Toronto Star.

This same research has lead to some uncomfortable questions and contentious opinions about the nature of sexuality and ethics.

Research For over 15 years, Cantor has sought to better understand the origins of pedophilia. The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) outlines the criteria of diagnosis for those with pedophilic disorder as having “recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors involving sexual activity with a prepubescent child or children” and having acted upon these urges, which can include anything from masturbation to sexual assault.

Cantor, writing to The Varsity, notes that there are many factors that go into consideration of a diagnosis, “including the science itself, insurance and financial aspects (people want coverage for seeing a therapist, but insurers want to pay as little as possible), legal and forensic aspects (what counts as legally insane), and the perceived stigma associated with qualifying for a DSM category at all.” As such, having pedophilia does not equate to being diagnosed with a pedophelic disorder.

Cantor contends that pedophilia is an inborn and unchangeable sexual orientation. He draws on brain scans of people with pedophilia to show that pedophilia results from “atypical brain wiring,” rather than any active decisions made by those with the condition. Men with pedophilia have less white matter in their brains compared to men without pedophilia, which, according to his paper, suggests that “pedophilia results from a partial disconnection of [the white matter] network.” This unconventional wiring means that the natural protective urge that people feel toward children is instead transformed into a sexual draw. Cantor associates other brain-related characteristics with people with pedophilia, including lower IQ and lefthandedness.

He further supports his thesis using phallometry, which is a method of assessing sexual interest in men by measuring blood flow to their penises. He shows his subjects nude photos of children and adults, and measures their blood flow, which shows a marked difference in the reactions of people with pedophilia to the different images.

Cantor’s research is among a large and growing scientific consensus that pedophilia results, at least in part, from unalterable biological attributes, similar to how one would describe sexual orientations.

The ethics of pedophilia Sexual abuse of children is unequivocally considered to be both illegal and immoral. Its short-term effects on survivors can include academic problems, behavioural and emotional problems, and drug and alcohol abuse among adolescents. In the long term, child sexual abuse can contribute to symptoms like depression, anxiety, body issues and eating disorders, suicidal

ideation, and self-blame for the incidents. In Canada, child sexual abuse can carry a penalty of up to 14 years in prison.

Cantor thinks that there should be a clear line drawn between people with pedophilia who do and don’t act upon their urges. Because he considers pedophilia to be a sexual orientation, he thinks that it should be viewed as ethically neutral, since it is an uncontrollable biological attribute. Meanwhile, sexual abusers of children, who act upon their pedophilia, should be condemned.

In an interview with The Atlantic, Cantor said that, “people who are pedophilic but who work to remain celibate their entire lives are being increasingly recognized as needing and deserving all the support society can give them.”

In other words, Cantor thinks that if a person with pedophilia can control their urges, society should not ostracize them.

“… non-offending pedophiles should have the very same rights as everyone else.”

Writing to The Varsity, Cantor remarked that he does not think that societal acceptance of people with pedophilia will happen in the near future. However, he contends that ending their “reflexive demonization” will help both “pedophiles themselves, but also… [prevent] actual cases of child molestation.”

“The more we facilitate pedophiles coming in for therapy or support,” he wrote, “the better we can help them develop the skills for managing their sexual interests… For almost all human behaviour, people can manage problems best when they can discuss them openly, and we have no evidence to suggest this is any different.”

How should social media deal with nonoffending people with pedophilia?

One of Cantor’s more public instances of support for this social acceptance is a joint letter he signed in January 2018 to John Starr, the Director of Trust & Safety of Twitter. The letter was written in response to a series of bans of accounts of non-offending people with pedophilia.

He, along with a group of “clinical and forensic psychologists, sexologists, sociologists, child protection workers, journalists, writers, and digital rights advocates” warned that banning accounts of people with pedophilia who advocate for celibacy would “increase the likelihood of some [individuals] acting on their sexual feelings.”

They argue that the removal of support networks for non-offending people with pedophilia risks adding to the social isolation and stigma surrounding their condition, and as such would increase the likelihood of people with pedophilia assaulting minors.

Cantor wrote, “I don’t think I hold or have expressed any views [about] how social media should do anything. I do believe and I have expressed that non-offending pedophiles should have the very same rights as everyone else.” He notes that, to him, the banning of the accounts was more of a free speech issue, rather than asking for “special treatment” for non-offending people with pedophilia.

Twitter has allowed some of the users back on its platform under different accounts, but still does not have a concrete policy on how to deal with people with pedophilia.

Critics point out that having people who are

Dr. James Cantor is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry.

Courtesy of JAMES CANTOR

open about their pedophilia on social media networks can be dangerous, as children frequent these same sites. While Twitter requires that users be 13 years of age or older when they create an account, a 2016 survey conducted by the BBC found that a majority of UK children under 12 create social media accounts regardless.

People with pedophilia as a part of the LGBTQ+ community “Speaking as a gay [man],” Cantor wrote in a tweet from December 2018, “I believe [the LGBTQ+ community] SHOULD include the P. To do otherwise is to betray the principles that give us our rights.”

The tweet, which mirrors his view of pedophilia being a sexual orientation, suggests that pedophilia should be included in the LGBTQ+ community.

Cantor thinks that there should be a clear line drawn between people with pedophilia who do and don’t act upon their urges.

When asked to elaborate, Cantor wrote that he believes that “everyone who is sexually atypical” should be included in the community, regardless of the discomfort of others.

“When my or any community declares that we deserve recognition of our rights, we have only two ways to justify it. One is the basic principle I espouse: I draw the line at behaviours that cause others harm.”

He added, “If whatever thought or behaviour causes no one harm, it should be accommodated.

Under this (my) ethic, GLBT is all okay, kink is okay, and so on. Child molestation is out, as it risks such harm to others. A sex doll built to look like a child however, is okay, as no one is harmed (although some may feel quite queasy).”

Otherwise, he suggested that deciding the ‘validity’ of each sexuality would result in a contest based on “popularity and politics, rather than principle,” within the LGBTQ+ community.

On the other hand, critics have long since pointed out that these attitudes can be harmful to the community, as they echo the false stereotype of gay men being sexual predators of minors.

This perception has contributed to discrimination against gay men in both the clergy and school systems, and has been credited by some as being the beginning of conservativeChristian opposition to LGBTQ+ rights.

Anti-LGBTQ+ activists still harness this stereotype to tie the community to pedophilia, recently impersonating gay men on Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr to deliberately spread the misconception of pedophilia as a regular and accepted part of the community. Some even created banners and posters which they displayed at protests and Pride events.

Cantor remarked that while he doesn’t see a particular connection between the communities themselves, both do have shared experience of growing up as an outsider. The main difference exists in the ability to act out on their attractions.

“As a gay man, I get to have a happy ending.

(No pun intended.)” he wrote. “I get to engage in my atypical sexuality with likeminded others.

Some people are born with sexual interest patterns, like many kinds of kink, that can only be expressed with other people in very special circumstances. Others, for whom I can’t help but be sympathetic, are born with sexualities that cannot be shared with others at all.”

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SEPTEMBER 9, 2019

5

U of T and the climate crisis: what you need to know

In light of Gertler’s commitment to U7+ climate goals, a look at U of T’s recent history of climate policy Hannah Carty Varsity Contributor

Meric Gertler attended the inaugural U7+ Summit this July, and affirmed his commitment to addressing climate change, along with the leaders of 48 universities worldwide. The U7+ Alliance aims to confront global problems, including the climate crisis, through the commitments of various universities.

However, over the past few years, U of T’s climate record has been marred with dissent, marked notably by Gertler’s 2016 rejection of divesting from all fossil fuel companies, as recommended by the President’s Advisory Committee on Divestment (PAC).

Principle 3 of the U7+ Alliance states, “We recognize that our universities have a major role to play in addressing the environmental issues and challenges to sustainability such as climate

change, biodiversity and energy transition. This should include leading by example on our own campuses.” As Gertler and U of T continue to voice support for fighting the climate crisis, The Varsity takes a look at what the university has done in recent years.

Background Leading up to 2015, student activists and a Toronto350.org petition encouraged the university to create a committee that would look into U of T’s financial investments and make recommendations. The PAC specifically recommended that U of T divest from firms that spread misinformation about climate change, derive 10 per cent or more of their revenue from aggressive or non-conventional extraction, or

Students protesting the university's refusal to divest in 2016.

MILAN ILNYCKYJ/CC FLICKR

disregard the 1.5 degree warming threshold.

“We had come up with what we thought was a very reasonable and well-thought-out approach,” said Professor Matthew Hoffmann, who served on the PAC. In rejecting the PAC’s suggestions, U of T announced its plans to instead evaluate investments on a “firm-by-firm basis,” using “Environmental, Social, and Governance [ESG] factors.”

“It’s what everyone should be doing,” said Hoffmann on U of T’s usage of ESG principles.

“I don’t think it necessarily goes far enough in terms of a climate crisis.”

Even as campaigns similar to U of T’s have been enacted at universities such as McGill University and the University of British Columbia, the sole postsecondary institution in Canada to commit to divestment is Université Laval.

Where are we now?

On the heels of the rejection of the PAC’s recommendations, President Gertler instituted the President’s Advisory Committee on the Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainability (CECCS).

Focusing on sustainability and academic response to climate change, CECCS champions three main concepts: campus as a living lab, university as an agent of change, and curriculum innovation.

The CECCS’ work is in line with Principle 3, Action 1 of the U7+ Alliance, dictating that “all students of our universities will have access to courses related to climate, biodiversity and sustainability.”

However, many feel that this is simply not sufficient. “If, as [the CECCS] argues, U of T needs to be a living lab and an agent of change, then this must go beyond curriculum to the material and energy foundations of the institution,” said Professor Scott Prudham.

As of the 2018 University of Toronto Asset Management (UTAM) Carbon Footprint Report, carbon emissions for the Pension and Endowment portfolios are 13.1 and 12.5 per cent higher than their Reference portfolios, respectively. UTAM directs U of T’s investments, which amounts to almost $10 billion. This measurement is comprised of total emissions and emissions per million dollars USD invested.

“Our portfolio is higher in carbon emissions

than I’d like to see,” said Hoffmann.

“Beyond Divestment,” the document that outlines Gertler’s rejection of the PAC’s recommendations, emphasizes that fossil fuels only contribute to a quarter of carbon emissions, citing this as a limiting factor when considering the possibility of divestment. However, divestment increasingly has a financial logic, as the report agrees that investing in fossil fuels may be riskier in the long-term.

“If U of T came out with a strong commitment to pursue divestment, it would send signals. After all, financial markets are about information and expectation, and if large institutional investors begin to show aversion to investing in fossil fuel companies, then others may follow suit and suddenly those firms do not look like good investments anymore,” said Prudham.

But the logic of divestment goes beyond financial considerations. “Divestment activists think… this really needs to be about changing the way society thinks, what we invest in,” said Hoffman.

Where are we going?

This debate over what it means to be a university in the face of the climate crisis causes many to still feel as though U of T is not living up to its potential. Divestment remains a priority for student environmental groups such as Leap UofT, who simply are not satisfied with the university’s focus on academic solutions and sustainability.

“This administration has been very good at greenwashing its unwillingness to challenge the corporate power driving the climate crisis under support for sustainability initiatives. Those initiatives are wonderful on their own, but they aren’t a substitute for divestment,” said Leap UofT co-founder Julia DaSilva. In the past two years, Leap UofT has focused their divestment efforts on Victoria College, where the Board of Regents Investment Committee has agreed to look into the possibility of divestment.

“Our aim with these campaigns has been to rebuild the momentum around divestment, and this year, we’re working on ways to direct this momentum back into a cross-campus campaign that will force U of T’s administration out of their confidence that divestment at U of T is dead,” said DaSilva.

Hotline provides legal support for students visited by CSIS, RCMP

“Legal education is a kind of education, and that’s what we’re providing,” says Institute of Islamic Studies Director Hannah Carty Varsity Contributor

The Institute of Islamic Studies (IIS) at U of T has created a student support hotline that provides legal advice for U of T students who have been visited by organizations such as the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

The National Security Student Support Hotline is a collaboration between the Downtown Legal Services clinic, the Canadian Muslim Lawyers Association, the National Council of Canadian Muslims, and the IIS. The project was created after stories emerged in the past year about former Muslim Students’ Association executives across Canada being visited by CSIS. “For a number of years it’s come to mine and a number of people’s attention at universities across Canada [that] since 9/11… students at universities are often approached by field agents for a conversation,” said Anver Emon, a Professor of Law and History and the Director of the IIS.

CSIS is a civilian intelligence service that covers a broad range of issues. Unlike the RCMP, it does not seek information related to ongoing criminal investigations. “In the case of CSIS… knowing what your rights are, knowing the legal landscape and knowing what you should do is not straight forward,” said Emon.

In a previous interview with The Varsity, John Townsend, Head of Public Relations for CSIS, said that, “when CSIS seeks cooperation or assistance from Canadians, we emphasize that discussions are voluntary. CSIS ensures our approach is lawful, ethical, necessary, and proportionate.”

Emon said that anecdotal evidence from lawyers who had dealt with these cases suggested it was not uncommon for CSIS agents to say to interviewees who considered seeking legal advice that, “If you’re going to get a lawyer, that just makes you look guilty.”

“And that’s a problem for those of us who are law professors and lawyers who value education, who value the recognition that knowing what our rights are is part of what makes us citizens of this country or residents,” Emon said.

A report from The Varsity last year brought to light unannounced visits from plain-clothed CSIS and RCMP officers to the homes of Muslim Students’ Association executives.

SHANNA HUNTER/THE VARSITY

“It is against CSIS policy for CSIS employees to discourage anyone from seeking legal advice,” said CSIS’s Townsend.

Students who call the hotline will be asked to make a brief report about their encounter. The IIS, who manages the call centre, will then connect the student to a volunteer lawyer. From there, the lawyer and the student will form an attorneyclient relationship, where the IIS no longer plays a role.

“There’s a number of factors that go into any sort of conversation, which is why the lawyer-client relationship… was the best vehicle to maximize

the educational possibility of this program,” said Emon.

Emon emphasized that Muslim students have only been the most recent group to be targeted

by CSIS. “We know that this kind of practice has been existing for many years or decades. A while ago, Latin American students were approached by CSIS. We heard that our Sikh students in the past had been questioned, Tamil students have been subject to this, so there is a history.”

“This is a hotline for any U of T student regardless of religion, race, gender, identity, politics.”

Business

September 9, 2019 var.st/business biz@thevarsity.ca

A guide to U of T’s incubators and accelerators Where to launch your business at U of T

Incubators at U of T cater to a range of disciplines and provide services to students, alumni, and staff.

Courtesy of ROBERTA BAKER

Srivindhya Kolluru and Sheri Nicholls Business Editor and Varsity Contributor

In 2018, U of T ranked among the top five universities in the world for launching a business. Incubators and accelerators facilitate the launch of most businesses; an incubator launches an idea into a startup, while an accelerator helps an existing business grow and develop. If you want to launch your own business, here’s a guide to U of T’s 11 incubators and accelerators.

The University of Toronto Early Stage Technology Program (UTEST) is a year-long program that focuses on high-potential technology developed at U of T. UTEST partners with Mitacs, MaRS, and Ontario Centres of Excellence, among others, to provide services to early-stage ventures. UTEST assists students, faculty, and recent alumni with developing business plans, and provides legal advice and office space to launch their business. UTEST applications are due in May each year and final decisions are made in June. It will invest $100,000 in selected businesses, with access to an additional $500,000 in capital. Twelve companies participated in UTEST’s 2018 cohort for innovations, ranging from surgical adhesives to wound treatments.

The University of Toronto Scarborough Campus Hub hosts a startup competition to help students and recent alumni launch their ideas into businesses. The Hub’s fifth annual intake will be held on Saturday, November 16 when entrepreneurs will compete for up to $5,000 in seed capital.

The Hub has launched over 130 startups since its inception five years ago.

To name a few, the Hub has helped launch CheaprEats, an on-campus food ordering app that rewards users; Weav, a ride-sharing app designed for students to carpool with one another, and BlumeX, a venture dedicated to helping startups hit sales targets.

ICUBE is an incubator based in the Institute for Management & Innovation at UTM, but isn’t restricted to UTM students. ICUBE has a three-stage system: Startup, Scaleup, and SXL Grant. Startup includes extensive support for refining a business plan. Scaleup is for companies that have made less than $100,000, and includes networking opportunities and smaller cash prizes. SXL Grant comes with a 50 per cent labour coverage for one employee when the company hires a UTM student. Notable ICUBE alumni include Just Vertical,

MaRS works with UTEST to launch companies.

SHANNA HUNTER/THE VARSITY

a company that promotes food sustainability, and Micharity, an innovative fundraising platform.

Department of Computer Science Innovation Lab (DCSIL) is a startup incubator and accelerator for innovations rooted in computer science. In addition to helping launch businesses through their Research to Commercialization Program, the DCSIL offers courses in software and product development to undergraduate and graduate students. It works with U of T, government organizations, industry partners, venture capital firms, and other incubators and accelerators to commercialize promising innovations.

In the past, the DCSIL has helped launch Brainsview, a software company that can monitor brain injuries in real time, and deepPIXEL, a company working to improve and automate online customer support.

The Entrepreneurship Hatchery is a place where student entrepreneurs can submit any problem online to the Hatchery Idea Market, and their team will help them find a solution. The Hatchery operates through two streams: NEST is designed for students interested in launching or growing a startup, while the Launch Lab facilitates startups born out of graduate-level research. Previously, the Hatchery has helped launch Vercel, a company that created a subzero preservation system that extends the life of organs for transplant, and Medme, a smart pillbox that helps patients manage their medications. Each year, the Hatchery hosts Demo Day, an event that showcases startups that participated in NEST’s rigorous fourmonth program.

Start@UTIAS is part of the U of T Institute for Aerospace Studies (UTIAS) and collaborates with the Hatchery to help students in UTIAS develop their business ideas. Start@ UTIAS applicants can apply to the Hatchery’s Launch Lab, NEST, and social program streams and are eligible for up to $60,000 in funding.

One of the successful past winners is Medchart, a cloud-based portal that gives patients access to their medical records. TeaBOT, a startup which sells robots that can custom-blend teas in under 30 seconds, participated in the Start@UTIAS program in 2015.

The BRIDGE is an accelerator built on a partnership between the Department of Management at UTSC and the UTSC library that emphasizes experiential learning. The BRIDGE is best known for its New Venture Program, which allows students from a range of disciplines to gain business planning and management skills through industry and community placements. Program placement is contingent upon submission of a letter of intent, the completion of required coursework, and an interview. The BRIDGE also functions as a working space and a resource for business and financial services. Most recently, the BRIDGE collaborated with DCSIL and IBM Watson to launch a chatbot for Canadian financial services and information.

The Impact Centre is an accelerator that aims to bring scientific discoveries to the market. The Impact Centre provides opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students to learn about entrepreneurship through Techno, a week-long course on entrepreneurship, and also provides opportunities for eligible undergraduate students to work in startups for course credit. Some of the Impact Centre’s alumni include RealAtoms, a reinvented molecular modelling kit for students; Somnitude, a company developing artificial-light blocking glasses; and Pueblo Science, a nonprofit organization focused on science literacy.

Health Innovation Hub (H2i) is an incubator that supports innovations, advances, and research in health care. H2i promotes external affiliate events such as ECHO, an entrepreneurship in cardiovascular health startup competition during which five

ideas are judged and awarded from a $250,000 pool. In addition, H2i hosts the Pitch Perfect health matters competition, which awards $5,000 each to three fellowship winners. In the past, H2i has helped launch Scipertise, an online platform for scientists to share tips and tricks for scientific methods and troubleshooting equipment. H2i has also helped early-stage pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies like Porphysome Foundry and Phoenox Pharma get off the ground.

The Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) is a seed-stage incubator for companies developing innovations in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, clean technology, space, and more. As part of the Rotman School of Management, CDL provides companies with mentors in business and scientific development. CDL has one round of application intake per year, which took place in August. Since its creation in 2012, CDL has launched over 500 companies and has generated $3 billion in equity. One of the more well-known companies launched through CDL, Kepler Communications, works to build internet connectivity and improve real-time communication through satellites.

The Innovation Hub (iHub) is a student-led initiative that has adopted an empathetic approach to design in order to drive social change at U of T. Launched in 2016, iHub selects a number of projects to work on each year through student, staff, and faculty input. For example, iHub is now working to make Convocation Hall more accessible, and working with the Family Care Office to better accommodate students with families.

In the past, this grassroots initiative has helped St. Michael’s College become more equipped to welcome international students and worked with Indienous Student Services to better curate services for its students. iHub encourages students to submit their own ideas or join existing teams to work on projects.

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September 9, 2019 var.st/comment comment@thevarsity.ca

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U of T’s mental health task force is largely performative so far Initiative must tackle academic and admission policies to truly create tangible change Vinayak Tuteja Varsity Contributor

Content warning: this article contains discussions of suicide.

In the wake of a death by suicide at Bahen Centre for Information Technology on March 17, U of T President Meric Gertler issued a letter to students, staff, and faculty announcing the formation of the Presidential & Provostial Task Force on Student Mental Health. This letter followed a large public outcry concerning the university’s inaction over the mental health crisis.

The task force was created to work toward the priorities identified in the university’s Student Mental Health Framework report.

The mandate of the task force includes a review of mental health service delivery, coordination of tri-campus student mental health support, and partnerships with community-based mental health organizations.

While the task force aims to strengthen pre-existing policies and improve mental health facilities, its mandate does not effectively tackle one major cause of stress: the administration’s academic and admission policies.

University is a huge stepping stone from secondary education; many students find themselves in a completely new and strange environment. This can take a huge toll on a student’s academic performance.

And yet, it is a huge task to reserve an appointment with a health and wellness counsellor if the wait time for these services

is too long. There is a lack of adequate safe counselling spaces and counsellors amongst the three campuses. Regardless of what the administrative policies might be, every student should have access to these services.

Students are hoping to see more effective communication with faculty and staff to improve on these services. They hope to see tangible change.

Earlier this year, President Gertler issued a statement clarifying that students’ mental health and physical well-being are the university’s utmost priority.

However, “if that really was the case, then that needs to be embodied in the academic culture on all three campuses,” remarked Lina Maragha, a representative of the University of Toronto Students’ Union’s ad hoc mental health committee.

Academic culture has become toxic over the years, as represented by the mandated leave of absence policy. The policy not only potentially forces student facing mental illnesses to take leave from school, but also restricts them from accessing numerous services, including those provided by the Health & Wellness Centre.

To restrict access to not just education, but also to essential services such as fitness centres, forces students to conceal their mental illnesses and prioritize academic achievement over mental well-being. Indeed, students may feel pressured or ashamed by their circumstances.

Students want to see President Gertler’s message incorporated in the way that student life is structured and envisioned, including increasing academic forgiveness policies,

having lenient timelines for credit/no credit options, and late withdrawal for any courses.

As the task force’s mandate fails to address the GPA admission requirements to enter specific programs of study, there are steps that the administration can take toward creating a less stressful academic system. Other than lowering cutoff grades, U of T should make the program selection system abundantly clear to all prospective students.

In conjunction, the university should discuss directly admitting students into their programs in their first year, as is the case in numerous prestigious universities around the world. Moreover, a more holistic application process may be a better reflection of students’ abilities, and the admissions committee may be able to grasp a better understanding of who the student really is.

Earlier this summer, U of T revealed the 13 members of the task force, with four students representing the diverse student population at three campuses.

Maragha further commented that, “the current composition of the task force may not truly reflect the lived experiences of mental health by the community.” To tackle this, members of the community believe that it is important for the task force to have continuous discussions and consultations with students of all levels and status, and for the task force to integrate these consultations into its recommendations.

Furthermore, there have also been instances where professors do not take mental health illnesses seriously or act in a manner which might cause stress to some students. For

instance, in a 2016 article reported by City News, a professor dismissed a student because they did not “look sick.”

Computer science students should be a particular focal point of the task force. Two deaths by suicide occured at the Bahen Centre this past year, which is the hub of computer science classes. These students are under intense pressure not only to get into their program, but also to succeed in highly competitive classes.

“Even with the minimal changes previously made for U of T mental health services, students are still hopeful about changes in the near future,” said Maragha.

The task force was formed as a result of increasing public pressure. The university administration failed to publicly recognize protesters for nearly two weeks, and mental health activists were shut down at Governing Council meetings. The announcement of the task force came after vast media coverage, and seems largely performative thus far.

Only one task force was made for three campuses that are in different geographical areas and whose student demographics differ drastically. This is not enough to review and address the entire community’s concerns.

Only if and when the task force considers recommendations by students, and is willing to communicate effectively, will we begin to see a change in the happiness and health of the student population.

Vinayak Tuteja is a second-year Neuroscience major and a Bioinformatics specialist student at University College.

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Sick notes create a barrier to access to education

U of T should implement an internal verification system for medical absences Ruth Frogoso Varsity Contributor

MILLY HONG/THE VARSITY

It is inevitable that students will eventually need to decide if they are too sick to show up for an exam, or whether they are well enough to wait in the doctor’s office for a sick note.

Many students may be in favour of a lenient system that does not require sick notes. Such a system would, however, be harmful. Students would be able to evade consequences for procrastination and poor time management, hence worsening their performance if the system allows it.

However, the current sick note system creates a barrier to access to education. In the process of obtaining sick notes, students face economic and geographic barriers, such as lack of time or money.

It is unethical to require students to wait for hours at the doctor’s office and pay the cost of procurement — all for a medical note that proves eligibility for accommodation.

These conditions may cause students to forgo acquiring a sick note entirely, and opt to take exams or attend lectures while sick. This puts their fellow students and professors at risk for illness.

Students obtaining sick notes also cause “significant administrative burden” to our health care system, according to Carleton University Professor of Economics Frances Woolley in a Globe and Mail article. Writing notes, instead of tending to patients, uses up physicians’ valuable time and increases wait times in clinics.

Sick notes justify academic relief, extensions, and deferrals. They are safeguards put in place to discourage students from falsifying their health condition and taking advantage of the system to buy more time to study for exams or assignments. However, academic justification need not be deflected onto our health care system — because it is not a medical issue. It is an academic one. Doctors should not be the enforcers of student behaviour.

In 2009, during the H1N1 crisis, the University of Alberta waived the requirement of sick notes altogether as a temporary relief process during the crisis. According to registrar Gerry Kendal, who spoke to The Charlatan in 2010, the university did not find that its new policy would be a “major problem” if continued permanently.

Kendal addressed the risk of a lenient system by saying that, “we count fairly heavily on student integrity and we have general trust [in] our students,” in the same interview. A student cannot be required to produce a sick note to defer an exam or request an extension for term work. In its place, a student may fill out a Statutory Declaration of illness form.

The same goes for the University of Calgary and Queen’s University, which both rely on a student’s self-declaration of illness.

If U of T is not ready to enter into a full trusting relationship with its students, there are alternatives. Keeping a record of deferrals and excused term work could be helpful in weeding out “chronic deferrers,” according to Woolley. Only requiring those who tend to take advantage of the system to produce medical documentation can lessen the burden on our health care system. It also ensures that students who are actually ill are able to get the relief and accommodation they need.

Nonetheless, the widespread practice of requiring medical notes needs to change. Student behaviour should be accounted for within the university system — and not just at the doctor’s clinic.

Ruth Frogoso is a fourth-year Art History, Classical Civilization, and Creative Expression and Society student at New College.

U of T must fill in the gaps in its experiential learning programs

Access to work-integrated education is crucial Toryanse Blanchard Varsity Contributor

At a panel discussion held at George Brown College Chef School on July 25, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, MP Navdeep Bains, delivered the details of the government’s plan to invest $17 million toward the Business/Higher Education Roundtable (BHER). With the investment, the intention of which was to support experiential learning in universities, the Government of Canada has ensured that by 2029 “every young Canadian who wants a work-integrated learning opportunity can get one.”

Experiential learning, or work-integrated learning (WIL), such as co-op programs, internships, work-study programs, study abroad programs, or work placements, can be instrumental in helping students decide on future career paths. Providing students with a strong understanding of life in the workforce is imperative, which is why U of T must make a greater effort to provide its students with better WIL opportunities.

WIL focuses on helping students develop and acquire practical skills and work experience in their field before graduation. Helping students find a job in their field of study after graduation is essential.

U of T President Meric Gertler also spoke after the panel discussion, insisting that it is essential for U of T to expand its experiential learning opportunities, stating “we hear this every day from our students… they want this.”

U of T currently offers a variety of WIL opportunities for students. However, a closer look at these program offerings reveals that they may not be as equally accessible for everyone as one may hope.

Vicky Vo is a fourth-year student studying at UTSC who has taken both a co-op at UTSC and

a work-study at UTSG as part of her degree in Neuroscience, French, and Biology. According to students like Vo, when it comes to gaining the right kind of hands-on experience for a future career, co-op is a better option for WIL than workstudy.

“The co-op program at UTSC is the ultimate feature that made me choose the Scarborough campus over the St. George one, despite it being three times the commute time,” wrote Vo. “The biggest difference with my co-op experience was that I was not only able to gain new experience in a new field and work on my skills, I was also able to expand on my role, do many different tasks, and hold many different responsibilities.”

UTSG incorporates WIL in the form of internships, first-year programs, and work-study programs, which are offered to all students. However, UTSG has a limited amount of co-op opportunities, which means that students who attend UTSG are bereft of WIL opportunities that give additional “real life” work experience.

“Work-study is a good program, but I feel that it doesn't give the intense experience of working outside the university,” wrote Oliver Phan, a fourth-year student studying computer science at UTSG. Phan took a work-study job over the summer. “I definitely think expanding co-op programs at UTSG would benefit students. Getting caught up in only your studies is too easy at this campus (in any program) and I see it happen to a lot of my peers.”

Unfortunately, the majority of WIL opportunities at UTSG that offer students an “intense” off-campus, paid work experience, such as co-ops, are focused towards students in STEM programs.

Students in the humanities or social sciences are offered opportunities to do work-study, internships, and other first-year programs to get a sense of what working in their field looks like. Most of these experiences are unpaid.

According to reports done over the past year by the Conference Board of Canada, students in the huSOPHIA PHAM/ manities are in the greatest THE VARSITY need for WIL programs that teach students to apply their skills in a real work environment. It is becoming increasingly difficult for humanities comparably higher. Students in PEY in the students to find anything higher than an entry- 2018–2019 year earned an average of $49,308.42. level job after graduation.

Another attribute of PEY is the range of locaHowever, the difficulty with co-op programs tions in which jobs are offered, from Alberta to is the cost, which may deter many students from Belgium. This decreases competitiveness and exapplying. Domestic students at UTSC taking co- pands job opportunities, which was highlighted op pay an additional $461 to $572 per semester in the BHER meeting as an essential mandate if they apply in first year. Second-year applicants moving forward. pay a higher price, and international students pay The PEY program has already expanded to ineven more, up to $1,012 per semester. The fees pay clude computer science students, showing promfor classes, networking events, and job monitor- ising results. Perhaps if the PEY program coling. Despite this, there are still students that end laborated with other employers outside of STEM up with low-paying jobs, and therefore do not re- disciplines, U of T could offer all students the ceive as much monetary return. type of WIL they’ve been asking for.

“It is a tedious cost, as the co-op courses that In the modern, fast-paced technological age, prepare you for your work term don’t really equate students find WIL to be an increasingly crucial to that cost, when comparing to the quality of part of their university degree. But improving education you get for subject courses. It only kind WIL is not just a matter of ensuring that every of pays off when you’re actually working and you student gets access to a WIL opportunity. Effecmake money, but each job pays differently,” wrote tive WIL means that opportunities on every level Vo. of experience — in-class, research, off-campus, Another form of experiential learning that can and commission-based — are integrated into a be expanded upon is the Professional Experience student’s learning experience, in a cost-effective, Year (PEY), administered by the Engineering efficient manner, no matter the field of study.

Career Centre at UTSG. PEY offers Engineering In a world that is also rapidly expanding, across and Computer Science students the opportunity every discipline, it is essential that any student can to experience 12 to 16 months of paid full-time access the tools that will help themcontribute to work in their area of study after their second or the workforce, before real-life opportunities pass third year. by.

One benefit of the program is that students don’t have to switch between study and work dur- Toryanse Blanchard is a second-year English, Ening the semester — a drawback of work-study vironmental Biology, and Book and Media Studies — and the payback for the $975 tuition fee is student at New College.

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SEPTEMBER 9, 2019

UTSG needs a better variety of student spaces Helping students socialize, relax, recharge Marium Nur Vahed Varsity Contributor

When looking for a place to take a break at the University of Toronto, students are often hard-pressed to find a space.

I have taken naps under a table at Graham library, on a patch of grass behind Innis College, and in an armchair at the Buttery.

When it gets cold, my study breaks switch from talking with friends outside to hushed conversations in the Robarts Library.

Sometimes, after a few a n n oye d

Adequate student spaces are beneficial to student wellbeing.

DINA DONG/ THE VARSITY

looks for disturbing the sanctity of silent studying, I end up aimlessly scrolling through my Twitter feed instead.

U of T is home to 42 libraries across all three of its campuses. When in need of a space for individual studying, there is no shortage of options. There is Robarts Library with its looming industrial-style concrete, Jackman Law Library and its towering windows, and Graham Library, where you can be sandwiched between stacks of books, to name a few.

The number of options for study spaces fits the stereotype: U of T students are head-down, hard-worker types. But in the wake of concerns over a generational mental health crisis, it has become evident that we need greater investment in spaces for relaxation and socialization.

In the 2016 National

College Health Assessment, it was found that 88 per cent of U of T students were “overwhelmed by all [they] had to do,” and 45 per cent said they were “so depressed [it was] (hard to function).” This is a trend reflected across Canadian postsecondary institutions.

It is an indication that universities need to change their approach to mental health.

If universities want to produce a generation of healthy and happy students, there needs to be a switch toward a holistic, preventative approach to mental health. It needs to be a systemic change ingrained in every facet of university life, including in its architecture and space provision.

To understand how space can impact student lives, look no further than the Southern California College of Art and Design. In 2017, the university was the subject of a case study to gauge the impact of a new multipurpose space on the student experience.

Through student testimonials, the case study found that the creation of a centralized space created a shift toward a more social campus.

The study mentioned that “one student noted that where students previously ‘would tuck themselves away by returning to a nearby off-campus apartment,’” they now were more likely to convene in the commons.

In a guide for “Post-Secondary Student Mental Health” written by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), it was found that creating spaces for students to “gather, socialize, and connect” is linked to better mental health, adaptability and resilience, sense of purpose, and academic performance.

As for what multipurpose spaces should look like, the Centre for Urban Design and Mental Health outlines a variety of things to include that are directly linked to better

9

mental health outcomes, among which are green spaces that feel safe, are accessible, and are “pro-social.”

While they are not a replacement for improved access to health and wellness services, changes to the mental health framework, and reducing waitlists, student spaces are necessary for better campus mental health. That is why the construction of the Student Commons is so important.

The Student Commons is a University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU) project that will transform 230 College Street into a multi-purpose space, complete with a lounge, event space, UTSU services, and a home for a variety of student groups. It will be similar to endeavours that already exist at UTM and UTSC, and similar to UTSG’s Sidney Smith Commons.

The construction of the Student Commons is an example of how students are fighting for spaces that foster a sense of community on campus. It signals to the U of T administration the importance of a meaningful university experience beyond academics, and the necessity of a physical space to facilitate it.

While we have yet to experience the benefits of the Student Commons, I hope that its construction serves as a reminder to U of T as it pursues new construction projects that space has a huge impact on students. There needs to be more effort placed in consulting students and creating every new space with mental health and wellness principles in mind: accessible, green, social, and safe.

Marium Nur Vahed is a third-year Diaspora & Transnational Studies student at Trinity College.

Op-ed: Become involved in campus politics through First Year Council

The council is part of the UTSU’s effort to increase student engagement on campus Joshua Bowman Varsity Contributor

The University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU) is unveiling the First Year Council (FYC) at the start of the 2019 fall semester. The goal of the FYC is to engage first-year students in campus politics and improve their overall experience at U of T. The UTSU hopes that increasing first-year student engagement will help us in mounting a defense against the effects of the Student Choice Initiative, the provincial mandate to give students an opt-out option for certain ancillary fees. Part of the inspiration for the idea came from first-year councils established by other student unions, like those at McGill University and McMaster University.

I did not become involved with any campus political organization until well into my third year at U of T. My story is the same as that of many others: entering student politics as a firstyear student without any connection to the social networks within can be extremely intimidating, and sometimes feel impossible. The FYC aims to empower new students in a way that makes their insights feel respected and valued.

In my first year, I went to several drop-in events before I found a club where I actually felt welcome. As a member of Fight for $15 and Fairness UofT, I picketed outside of a Tim Hortons on Bloor Street with several students who shared my view on fair wages. As I was doing this, a student from my program recommended that we run for executive positions on our academic student union. This inspired me to run for and subsequently be elected to the Arts & Science Students’ Union executive, which oversees 62 active course unions at UTSG. I am now the President of the UTSU, but I had to meander through a myriad of lost connections and one-off experiences with clubs before I found my footing in student government. This should not be the only way for students to get involved with politics on campus.

The UTSU is tasked with representing all fulltime undergraduate students at the downtown campus, including first-year students. Students should not have to wait for years in order to feel comfortable enough to get involved in student politics. The FYC was created to change that.

The UTSU is a huge organization. We have a 41-person Board of Directors, with seven executives and directors from across the colleges and faculties. Getting involved with such a large organization may seem daunting, and the reality is that for the most part, it is.

Students are asked to balance their studies with a cumbersome election period that takes place both in-person and online. After rounds of debates, social media campaigns, and handing out pamphlets, there is still a possibility that candidates will not get elected.

The incentive for students to actively get involved with UTSU programming and operations has been gradually chipped away over time.

Instead, we should be creating opportunities to change this trend. Engagement is very low, as seen in the voter turnouts in our previous two election periods — respectively at 4.2 per cent and 2.9 per cent.

The FYC will be one of the only institutions that is completely operated by first-year students at the University of Toronto. While residence councils and college-based student societies have long been creating positions for first-year students, they have done so with the impetus that senior students will be guiding their decision making. This is not the case with the FYC. The FYC will be composed of an appointed body of 10 councillors and two executives that will meet each month and report to the UTSU Board of Directors. At the first meeting, the FYC will select a president and vice-president from among its membership. After its inaugural year, the FYC will be elected entirely by first-year students. It will be able to create and lead its own committees, which will be dedicated to addressing specific issues facing first-year students.

Now in my fifth year at U of T, I know firsthand how long it takes to become meaningfully involved with the UTSU. Our hope is that, in implementing the FYC, we can create a UTSU that genuinely supports its first-year members.

We need fresh ideas, and this year, the UTSU wants to find new ways to implement those ideas from first-year students. Through this new initiative, we will be listening to first-year concerns and amplifying them in a supportive and meaningful way.

Apply and become involved in a university that wants to hear from and work for you.

Applications for the first FYC will be accepted until September 20. Interested applicants should check out the FYC page on the UTSU website and fill out the application form.

Joshua Bowman is a fifth-year Indigenous Studies and Political Science student at St. Michael’s College and current President of the UTSU.

MIA CAVERNALE/THE VARSITY

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THE VARSITY

FEATURES

A spectre is haunting the Canadian left — the spectre of centrism

Hey Jagmeet, tepid policy will not attract young voters this October Tara Mahoney Varsity Contributer

In 2016, the Broadbent Institute, Canada’s self-proclaimed “leading progressive, independent organization,” declared the nation’s left was having a “moment.” But in 2019, the state of the left in Canada does not seem to reflect the think tank’s claim.

The piece in question, like a lot of literature from 2016, was overly optimistic about Canada’s left-wing movement. Citing the growing popularity of Bernie Sanders, Black Lives Matter, and Indigenous rights groups, as well as the fact that socialism was the most “looked-up” term of 2015 on the MerriamWebster Dictionary, the Institute implied that this surge of interest in left-wing solutions to growing inequality would translate to public policy initiatives. Based on what we’ve seen in the last three years, this has not been the case.

On the contrary, it would seem that it is the right who is, in fact, “having a moment.”

In Canada and around the world, right-wing

parties have harnessed economic anxiety to upset elections, much to the surprise and chagrin of the — often centrist — political establishment.

In Manitoba, Brian Pallister, who came to power on a platform that boasted promises of lower income taxes and deficit elimination (read: social service cuts), was elected premier in 2016. Last fall, Québec elected Coalition Avenir Québec leader François Legault after he promised to cut back immigration, in addition to increasing private health care services and banning public servants from donning religious symbols (read: hijabs).

Around the same time, New Brunswick elected Blaine Higgs, who campaigned on a promise to balance the budget without increasing taxes, which translated to the elimination of teaching and nursing jobs through attrition, which is the practice of not filling positions vacated by retirees.

The last Ontario election repeated an outcome that has occurred so often around the world it is almost farcical. A man that

those in the Canadian political establishment made out to be some sort of vulgar clown upset the Liberal government of Kathleen Wynne last June.

In a political victory many said would never happen, Doug Ford disrupted the Canadian political landscape, telling it “like it is” and speaking more like a ‘normal person’ than most politicians out there, shocking pundits and professional analysts.

Ford pulled off a majority win almost a year ago, after promising to “find efficiencies” in the provincial government’s budget. This manifested in an outright war on the Ontario public service and institutions, including the very paper you are reading.

Back to the Broadbent Institute.

Part of the issue with the opinion piece, and indeed with the left in Canada in general, is its emphasis on the

New Democratic Party of Canada (NDP) as the natural and obvious choice of Canadians who find themselves sitting left-of-centre on the political spectrum.

On paper, it makes sense that this would be the case — the NDP website rightly boasts its role in delivering progressive policies like universal health care. In Ontario, the NDP lobbied fiercely for a higher minimum wage long before the Liberals jumped on board.

And it is certainly true that the NDP have historically represented the left-wing views of a significant chunk of our population. But in the face of right-wing neoliberal economic, and, to some extent, social, movements and policies sweeping the world and exacerbating the economic inequality they claim to seek to fix, the NDP has failed Canada’s left.

In the 2015 federal election, thenNDP leader Thomas Mulcair offered a strikingly fiscally conservative platform. Above almost everything, Mulcair emphasized balancing the federal budget. Canadians, feeling

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the sting of the post-2008 financial crisis, combined with almost a decade of Stephen Harper gutting the Canadian bureaucracy, saw no sense in budget-balancing and trimming social services when groceries were becoming less and less affordable.

In an odd turn of events, Justin Trudeau’s Liberals came out with a platform which sat to the left of Mulcair’s, promising to tackle inequality by investing in social services and infrastructure to grow out the middle class.

It is particularly interesting that Mulcair chose this path, since just over a year earlier, Andrea Horwath’s provincial NDP in Ontario had emphasized the same economic conservatism in balancing Ontario’s budget, in contrast with a relatively large spending proposal put forward by Kathleen Wynne’s Liberals, which later handed Wynne a majority government.

In the most recent provincial election in Ontario last year, Wynne and Horwath were matched in terms of left-leaning policies, but handed Doug Ford a majority win and a strong mandate to do whatever the hell he wanted. Not enough Ontarians who showed up to the polls in June believed Horwath would serve forward the kind of change this province needed, and with good cause. There is a reason that Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump have overlapping sympathizers: a very significant portion of the world’s population are beginning to see that there is something very wrong with the political establishment and its centrist policies.

These policies, which emphasize balanced, gradual approaches to problem-solving and promote fiscal conservatism combined with ‘liberal’ social policy, fail. They fail to result in fiscal comfort for most working people, and increase the disparity between the very rich and the rest of the population, and as such create a deep distrust of this establishment and a new kind of populism, one in which social conservatives and liberals advocate for similar policies to ease their financial woes. In Canada, however, it seems that only the right is willing to harness this energy, while the left has opted for relative fiscal conservatism, a continued obsession with supporting the establishment and social liberalism. We will pay for this.

Why is this important? The political overlap between the two leftist options has been pretty significant in this country.

Canada’s two established leftleaning parties, which both have

very similar platforms, risk splitting leftist support across the country, which could hand Andrew Scheer’s Conservative Party a minority government.

However, there is hope. Since I began writing this article, Jagmeet Singh and the NDP have come out with a platform for the upcoming election in October. In it, he pledges to fund a single-payer pharmacy, dental, vision, hearing, and mental health care program, funded largely by increasing taxes on the wealthiest Canadians, defined as those who make more than $20 million each year.

He has also promised to cap and reduce tuition fees and student loan interest, with the eventual goal to establish free postsecondary education, launch a universal basic income pilot program, and introduce a wealth tax. Committed leftists might say that this platform doesn’t go far enough, but, unlike other federal NDP platforms in recent history, it does do the trick of distinguishing itself from the Liberals.

A scan of the Liberal budget from February will show significant investment in good jobs for young Canadians, a reduction of student loan interest rates, and a universal pharma care program. However, the budget lacks any sort of significant wealth transfer that would help to ease the tension of the growing disparity between the wealthiest Canadians and the rest. This is significant because while the NDP platform is looking sweeter than it has for a long time for Canadian leftists, Jagmeet Singh and his party are currently polling at a historic low among Canadians, competing neck-to-neck with Elizabeth May’s Green Party, while the Liberals and Conservatives are sitting around 30 per cent each.

If the NDP continues to struggle to gain support and the Liberals continue to sit in the centre of the Canadian political spectrum, where does this leave C a n a d a’s left?

The answer is fragmented. Canada’s true left wing is organized, but is expressed separately in think tanks like the Broadbent Institute, in movements like Black Lives Matter, in media organizations like North99, and in political parties like the NDP, the Green Party, the Marxist-Leninists of Canada, and the Communist Party of Canada. The bits and pieces of the left in Canada do not communicate, come together, or politically organize enough. They cannot currently manifest in any sort of strong political force or systemic change, either within an established political party or in the formation of a new party.

This has pretty big implications for young people, who in large part support progressive policy measures. As the largest voting bloc in the country, we have a lot of political power, but we lack a credible force behind which to gather and move. So what can we, students and young people, do? After all, we’re the ones who will inherit the policies and failures of today’s leaders.

The fact that the federal NDP platform swings significantly to the left of the Liberals should be encouraging. It means that one of Canada’s main three parties understands the power of the nation’s young people as a bloc and is ready to harness it with policy measures that appeal to them.

That means that if a strong enough portion of young voters turn out to the polls, as they did in 2015, Canada could be looking at an NDP government sooner, rather than later. Not only that, but most of the NDP candidate positions in ridings across Canada have yet to be filled, and many of the Liberal and Green party positions are still open. There is precedent for great numbers of young candidates entering the race at election time, most recently in the NDP. Perhaps those 20- and 30-somethings who feel the need for change in this country will throw their hat in the race this time

around. Perhaps this will be you, or someone you know.

However, given the dismally-low polling numbers for Singh’s party and its profound lack of organization so close to election time, prospects of an NDP victory seem impossible. As Elizabeth May’s Green Party surpasses the NDP in the polls, it is worth noting that, in addition to meaningful action on climate change, May has promised free tuition, cancellation of student debt, and a “guaranteed liveable income,” which could manifest as something like a universal basic income or could be a top-up on working incomes, although it is unclear from the party website which the party intends. She also supports pharma care and action on reconciliation with Canada’s Indigenous population.

The rise in Green Party support in the polls, combined with its relatively progressive platform and youth support of these policies could lead to a historic election for the Greens. A strong faction of Greens and NDP in a Liberal minority government could hold Trudeau accountable and swing government policies toward the left. Who knows? The writ hasn’t been dropped yet, the game can change in just a few days. We might see our first NDP and Green coalition.

The results of October 21 are not set in stone. You and people you know can make the difference. As students, we have a particular power as a voting bloc to make our voices heard. So I challenge you to involve yourself in some small (or big!) way. Read up on the party platforms and decide for yourself who you’d like to see as the next prime minister.

Then apply yourself: speak to friends about our current political moment. Ask them what they think and who they will vote for. Get in touch with the candidate whose party you support in your riding and knock on doors for them. Host a kitchen table party with your friends and discuss the election.

Hell, given the space left to fill, candidatewise, you could even run yourself. You don’t need experience: all you need is to believe that Canada could be better. Know that people our age hold this election in our hands, and that collective action will make the difference. Perhaps next time around, Canada’s left wing can stand united.

Disclosure: Mahoney sits on the board of North99.

Arts & Culture

September 9, 2019 var.st/arts arts@thevarsity.ca

Summer everlasting

Reflections on time and its flashes Kate Reeve Features Editor

On my last night at home, walking up the street with my sisters, I felt the air turn. It rained earlier that day; the storm drains were thick with bloated apples and poached leaves. In this way, the endof-summer shift came and then it stuck.

For the past few days I’ve acted like an idiot, going up to people and saying, ‘It’s all over, I can’t believe it, I blinked and it was gone!’ But I mean it every time. Summer ends and everyone fakes bemusement. We love to tell each other about it, commiserate, look at each other and throw up our hands: how did this happen! How did we let it happen, again?

In early August my family drove over to Prince Edward Island, as we’ve done for over a decade, where we prostrate ourselves under the red sun and eat shellfish.

I wrote in my journal every day, sitting on the beach. I recorded minutia: woke up (okay sleep), made coffee (bitter), went swimming (cold but no jellyfish), ate peaches (ripe). When I read the entries now, sitting on my bed in Toronto, I can close my eyes and feel it — the security of a routine with only good steps, the sanctity of unconditional time. But then I’m back in my apartment, my roommates are playing Red Dead Redemption 2 in the living room, it falls away again.

I stayed at a friend’s cottage for a few cold days in June.

It sits on a Québec lake, rimmed with pine trees and rich liberals’ summer homes. We sat on the screened-in porch every evening, candles melting down to the table, bugs humming dumbly beyond the light. For dinner, we made zucchini peeled off into long, aquatic strands; corn, peaches, and cheese tossed in a wide bowl; and fresh pasta inlaid with tiny tomatoes and showered with green herbs. I ate it all and hardly felt fat after. Drunk in a wicker chair, I remember thinking: if I have kids, they won’t have this.

Last December I applied for an academic excursion to Germany, when my hair was still falling out and my life felt very narrow. In May, I sat on a plane beside strangers and woke up in Frankfurt.

We went to learn, so I listened in community centres, felt engravings on synagogue walls, and walked with eyes up.

We ate Friday dinner at a Chabad house and I listened to the Rabbi’s daughter speak five languages through her tiny mouth. Then everyone got drunk and we struggled back home. Was that me? Walking around Berlin with wet feet? This July I turned 21. I went to Halifax to see my friends from high school: a splintery group of girls-nowwomen with boyfriends and jobs and vague plans. They live in lofty student houses that make my Chinatown bedroom seem small and mean in comparison.

The heat slouched over us all weekend, so we slept with the windows open.

Everyone goes to the same bars in that city, where unwashed girls in barrettes sit pressed up against one another in booths, eyes blurry.

I see myself there: opening birthday presents beside a lake, wearing a bathing suit in the backseat of an ancient Volvo, flinging myself into people I love… somehow it happened and then didn’t.

Walking around the neighbourhood I grew up in feels like pulling weeds from a vegetable garden. One pull: this is the store where someone, who in joyful delusion I loved, works. Another: this is the church where, in a white dress, I took first communion. The minutes all roll together and over themselves. I look up and the sun’s moved, look down to more green. Time isn’t graceful but nor is it cruel; it’s an endless, uncaring unfolding.

Is 21 too young to feel swept up?

I spent my last June and July in Israel, trying to learn Arabic. My dorm room had metal shutters and a special area with a blast-proof door. On Saturdays I walked to East Jerusalem, where the shops stayed open, and I drank orange juice in cafés cornered by electric fans.

I took a bus to Bethlehem and felt despair eat into my feet, my breastbone, my hips. If you stood in the right place, the horizon never ended — but if you stood in the wrong place, it never started.

All I saw everyday was the same beigebrown landscape over and over. Looking at it made me panic. The heat made me panic. I stopped eating and started running. I changed my flight, I left early, I still dream about it.

When I got back from Israel last August, I spent most of my time on my mom’s front porch. I drank wine out of plastic Ikea cups and slept during the afternoons, curled up on a tiny chair like a dog. I tried to wash it all off me, spread out my hair and pick out the rotting strands. My skin, tanned and freckled from the desert, flaked off. And my hair did eventually fall out that winter anyway, from what my doctor called a “latent trauma response,” what my hairdresser called “too much bleach,” and what my mom called “well, what do you expect?” But everything else stuck.

It’s tempting to put bookends on things, keep the unruly standing straight, etc. While I know anyone can turn a few flashing moments into a line, forcing teleology onto my life doesn’t make me feel more secure about it. Did May lead to June? Did Frankfurt lead to Summerside? Masada to Tel Aviv? Try all you want, but I’m not believing it, Bibi, baby!

So this is all I can say of the past four months: I spent a lot of time in my underwear, I felt devout joy and divine sadness, I would not do it over, but I know I will live it again.

Taken in Jerusalem in 2018.

KATE REEVE/THE VARSITY

var.st/arts

SEPTEMBER 9, 2019

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When We All Fall Asleep Tour opening act

Four months after his sold-out tour, Denzel Curry continues to make his mark on rap

Curry performing at the Budweiser Stage.

REDWAM MAJUMDER/THE VARSITY

Redwan Majumder Varsity Contributor

In 2018 Denzel Curry released TA1300, which is arguably one of the greatest bodies of work to enter the rap genre. The album touched on intricate subject matters in songs that were sonically tuned to near perfection.

Curry’s ability to simultaneously cement himself as a hardened emcee whilst also carrying great commercial success had many fans speculating on what he would produce in 2019. They were not let down. In May 2019, Curry released another spectacular album — ZUU — and went on tour with one of the biggest musicians in the world: Billie Eilish.

Eilish’s tour, When We All Fall Asleep, made a stop in Toronto shortly after the release of

ZUU, with Curry performing as the opening act.

I experienced his artistry firsthand. The tour took place at Budweiser Stage; a big venue, necessary to contain the fully sold out crowd waiting to hear Curry and Eilish.

The venue and stage design were effective.

The large screens planted on stage were able to incorporate Denzel Curry’s ‘trippy’ visuals, a technique he has used since his early albums and EPs — adding subtle nostalgia to his performance.

The set began with hard hitting tracks from ZUU such as “RICKY,” which seamlessly transferred into TA1300 classics like “SUMO | ZUMO,” and then ended with his breakthrough track “ULTIMATE.” This was perhaps the most exceptional aspect of his performance because it was enjoyed by both fans of Denzel Curry and those few who attended

the tour just to see Billie Eilish.

Time and again since his tour, Curry has proved that his music is different from that of his peers.

For instance, TA1300 was largely centred around the pain, confusion, and paranoia of being a young star. ZUU, on the other hand, can be seen as an ode and love letter to Carol City, Curry’s home neighbourhood.

Both were centred on different topics and incorporated different musical styles and influences. Using his wide range of pieces, Curry managed to showcase both ear-friendly hits and the more cult-appreciated ballads. Ultimately, what this translated to was fans all the way from general admission to seats on the lawn having an enjoyable time as Curry went about his stage antics.

Curry is a natural-born performer, as illustrated by the visuals from the show. He successfully

measured and matched his energy to that of the audience. He dove headfirst into the crowd, jumping off the stage to interact with the audience as much as possible. Never before have I seen an artist at an arena interact with the crowd as much as Denzel Curry did.

The When We All Fall Asleep tour can quite possibly go down as one of the greatest tours in history. It is rare to see two world-renowned headlining artists go on tour with one another.

This most likely would not have happened if Curry and Eilish were not close friends. It resulted in an amazing experience for the crowd. Denzel Curry’s performance particularly made it indubitable that when the time for his headlining arena tour arises, it will certainly be one not to miss.

Rating: 4.5/5

Overlooked: Lee Daniels’ Star Star acts as a convenient distraction from the first week of classes Kelly-Anne Johnson Varsity Contributor

Star is the new-and-improved version of the musical drama Empire. It’s more thrilling and has a killer soundtrack and a flawless cast.

The show follows an aspiring girl group, Take 3, as they navigate their way through the ins and outs of Atlanta’s music industry to achieve stardom. Take 3, however, is not your ordinary modern-day girl group. They do not benefit from the exposure that comes from participating in televised singing competitions like Fifth Harmony and Little Mix. Nor do they start off with a budget, or rely on ghost writers to produce their music.

Rather, the trio — comprised of two halfsisters who grew up in foster care and their new songwriting friend who is trying to escape her life as the offspring of musical royalty — come together with nothing but their ambition and love of music to become Atlanta’s hottest sound.

The group’s journey is far from easy. The girls deal with adversity that is all-too-common for any musical group, including jealousy, creative differences, romantic distractions, and their own individual demons that they must learn to conquer. Further, the girls must find a way to stick together in light of their individual musical achievements in the ruthless music industry that pits artists against each other. Yet, with an amazing support system to keep them in check and focused on their initial goals, the

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girls are able to overcome the hurdles thrown their way and stay true to themselves.

As a typical musical drama, Star exceeds the unexpected. With its unpredictable storylines that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat in disbelief, this show will have you constantly guessing. However, unlike the other dramas, Star aligns with reality by addressing a broad range of issues that have become increasingly relevant to society today.

The show’s predominantly Black cast features celebrities such as Queen Latifah, Brandy, and Quincy Brown. The series tackles issues such as police brutality, racial profiling, and the acceptance of LGBTQ+ members within the Black community. Star also sheds light on other important issues such as sexual abuse, immigration, human trafficking, drug abuse, gang violence, and the flaws of the foster care system.

Star is the show to watch on Netflix this fall.

With a mixture of comedy, drama, crime, and romance — as well as a catchy soundtrack — this series will have you laughing, crying, singing, and dancing every episode. Additionally, with a jaw-dropping season three finale, you will be inspired to join the tens of thousands of fans who have already signed a petition to get the show renewed for a fourth season.

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ARTS & CULTURE

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Music Review: Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue The jazz album that shaped popular culture Riel Flack Varsity Contributor

What does one get when seven musical geniuses assemble and record an album at the wrong speed? You get a cornerstone of modern music: Kind of Blue.

In 1959, seven jazz giants gathered in a New York studio with only a philosophical jazz sketch in mind.

Trumpet master Miles Davis captained the musical dream team, with Cannonball Adderley on alto sax, Bill Evans and Wynton Kelly playing piano, Paul Chambers providing the bass lines, and Jimmy Cobb on drums. The soon-to-be deified John Coltrane provided a tenor sax thread which, for many, put the finishing strokes on this quadruple platinum masterpiece Kind of Blue. Yes, quadruple platinum — it’s one of the best-selling jazz albums of all time.

The brilliance of the album is enhanced by the backstory of just how it was concieved. Davis only came up with the concept hours before the recording session. The group sketched some musical modes, with no obvious chord progressions, and then took turns leading the melodies in directions that resulted in sheer brilliance. What’s even more interesting is the fact that the first three tracks “So What,” “Freddie

Freeloader,” and “Blue in Green” were accidentally recorded slower than they were played, resulting in a slightly faster playback. This error was fixed in the 90s, but it sheds light on what an anomaly the album is: a freak occurrence that contributed to an enigmatic work of artistry.

When you relax with your favourite mood-altering substance — I’d suggest a glass of red paired with a clean hybrid — to Davis’ cool trumpet lines, Coltrane’s seraphic tenor solo, and Evans’ finesse on “Blue in Green,” you will simply melt into the music.

Davis’ modal approach to composition is exercised in “Blue in Green,” where his trumpet and Evans’ piano sketch a string of ethereal scales and beautiful interpretations.

No strict chord progressions here.

While listening, I have never ceased to be amazed by the fact that these geniuses were not playing from sheets. The result is — all at once — visionary, smooth, sad, and historically influential. It’s why the album’s title fits so perfectly; the music is kind of “blue.” It evokes smoldering sensuality, foot-tapping to the R&B bass lines, overarching melancholy, and an unrestricted joy.

How is that possible? Listen carefully and your soul will agree.

For both music aficionados and

jazz lovers, this album is a prolific touch point. But the contemporary music lover often overlooks this timeless work of genius. Yet if one listens to traditional hip hop, rap, R&B, and rock, they are sure to be listening to an artist that on one level or another has been influenced

by Kind of Blue. This album is a true masterpiece and has revolutionized music since the first sound of Paul Chambers’ eerie baseline partnered with Evans’ virtuoso that preluded Davis’ trumpet on the introductory and most popular track “So What.”

Kind of Blue is touted as the greatest work of jazz, hands down. People of younger generations should never overlook the influence of this album. Don’t let the word “jazz” scare you. It is not elevator music; I’ll gladly pass on that cacophony style of “jazz” too.

Kind of Blue is timeless and relevant. The list of artists that openly shout their gratitude for its influence is as long as it is varied. Mos Def, Blonde Redhead, John Mayer, David Banner, Miho Hatori, the Allman Brothers Band, and Quincy Jones all cite the album as a major influence on their musical journey.

Pink Floyd keyboardist Richard Wright notes that the chord progressions on Kind of Blue can be heard throughout the band’s great-

Kind of Blue is touted as the greatest work of jazz.

Courtesy of AMAZON

est selling album, Dark Side of the Moon. John Legend religiously played the album throughout college, and celebrates its incredible impact on his music.

With Kanye West, a frequent collaborator with John Legend, Kind of Blue is “Bound 2” appear. Even as you watch your favourite films, don’t be surprised if Kind of Blue echoes throughout the score. Robert De Niro’s A Bronx Tale, Clint Eastwood’s In the Line of Fire, and

even the television series The Wire all borrowed from Kind of Blue.

Kind of Blue is as historic as it is sensational and timeless. It should not be overlooked by any generation that considers itself musically savvy.

Listen to this album and it will open up a whole new language of music you may never have knowingly experienced. To immerse oneself in Kind of Blue is to be enlightened.

How to join Greek life at U of T

Your guide to the world of sororities and fraternities Ann Marie Elpa Varsity Contributor

So you’ve seen the cult-classic films, viral recruitment videos, and the sorority candids all over Instagram.

What’s next?

U of T has had an extensive history with Greek letter organizations since its early commission in the late 1870s. Notable Canadian figures, including Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, former Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson, and former Chief of Staff Jodi White were all involved in Greek life at the university.

To this day, organizations can be found thriving and operating within campus. Home to seven sororities and 11 fraternities, U of T Greek life has become a pathway that first- and second-year students can take when exploring university involvement.

Members cite benefits such as a vast social network, strong academics, leadership opportunities, and lifelong tradition. However, joining an organization is much more than writing your name in a sign-up sheet and attending an information session.

When you choose to dedicate yourself to Greek life by going through recruitment, you make an important decision that determines your college experience in Greek life.

Where do you see yourself at home?

Signing your name on the dotted line It is important to keep in mind that the processes of joining a sorority or fraternity are very different.

They operate under the National

Pan-Hellenic Council (NPC) and the Interfraternity Council (IFC), respectively, which are umbrella organizations that consist of several North American sororities and fraternities.

Sororities require potential new members (PNMs) to fill out an online form consisting of contact information, academic history, extracurriculars, and internal references.

This is different from joining a fraternity, where requirements involve individuals selecting and directly contacting a chapter’s rush chair for

more information about becoming a brother.

The reason for the NPC requesting PNMs to fill out a form is for the chapters to become acquainted with interested new members and to ensure that a sorority is a right fit for them, and, of course, inform them of any important news during recruitment weekend. Organizations have grade requirements and highly encourage campus involvement and leadership to ensure that members are getting the most out of their university experience.

Doing your homework Before diving into full-on recruitment mode, do a little research on each of the houses’ history, values, alumni, and philanthropy. These factors make a Greek letter organization unique, as no two houses share the same origin story.

By familiarizing yourself with a house’s backstory you are able to develop a feel for the organization’s values and traditions.

Encouraging a spirit of philanthropy and continuing to support a specific cause are often a central as-

pects of Greek letter organizations.

Each organization, when established in its early years, chose to champion a charitable cause, whether it be literacy initiatives, hunger relief, or health issues, so it’s important that you pick a house which supports a cause you care about.

Showing up Literally just show up. Keep track of important dates that individual fraternities have in their rush calendar or that NPC has on their website.

Recruitment typically occurs during the second weekend of September after a hectic orientation week and the first few days of class.

Recruitment weekend requires PNMs to visit and learn about each house and rank them, based on preference. Throughout the weekend, the list narrows down to your top two choices until you decide where you want to call home.

Creating meaningful impressions You’ll meet many fascinating members and have to eventually come to a decision, but keep in mind that people will remember you most for being your kind, genuine self. Create meaningful impressions with people you will potentially call your ‘brothers’ or ‘sisters.’ These are the individuals you will create lasting memories with beyond your university years and beyond the Greek letters.

Pi Beta Phi sorority house in downtown Toronto.

SHANNA HUNTER/THE VARSITY

Disclosure: Ann Marie Elpa is the Vice-President Academics at the Beta Tau chapter of Alpha Omicron Pi at the University of Toronto.

Science Telescope, from cover University of Toronto responds U of T, a member of ACURA, is involved in the TMT. ACURA has a 15 per cent share in the estimated $1.5 to $2 billion project, which is significant in ensuring the telescope’s completion.

It is important to note that U of T is not directly invested in the TMT. Nonetheless, Professor Vivek Goel, a board member of ACURA and Vice-President, Research and Innovation, and Strategic Initiatives at U of T, published an official statement explaining that he has been “watching closely the recent events at the construction site.”

He continued by writing that U of T “does not

Numerous sources maintain that U of T’s statement on the Thirty Metre Telescope are not reflective of the views of all faculty members and students.

September 9, 2019 var.st/science science@thevarsity.ca

condone the use of police force in furthering its research objectives,” and noted that the university’s commitment to truth and reconciliation impels it to consult with Indigenous communities.

Lack of consensus amongst faculty members U of T’s official statement has received backlash from numerous sources who maintain that it is not reflective of the views of all faculty members and students.

For instance, Dr. Eve Tuck, an Associate Professor in the Department of Social Justice Education, has written three letters to U of T President Meric Gertler, criticizing the statement for not going far enough in taking action against the TMT. In an email to The Varsity, Tuck wrote that while the university has no direct funding in the TMT, there are still ways to divest. “There is more than money that can and should be withdrawn in this situation, including support, endorsement, affiliation, reputational backing, approval, and advocacy for the project.”

She believes that it is imperative for U of T to prevent the TMT’s construction, and if it does not do so, it “is on the wrong side of history.”

Moreover, protesters of the TMT have found an unexpected ally in some astronomers who, perhaps counterintuitively, oppose the project. For instance, Dr. Hilding Neilson, an Assistant Professor at U of T’s Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics, wrote that “the statement from the university doesn’t say a whole lot.”

He specifically questioned the statement’s assumption that astronomy has a “moral right” to the mountain because it is a scientific field, which suppos-

edly seeks to benefit the accumulation of knowledge for all of humanity.

Power to graduate students An open letter authored by astrophysics graduate students at the TMT’s partner institutions reinforced this opposition from U of T astronomy professors. The letter, published online, called on the astronomy community to “denounce the criminalization of the protectors on Maunakea” and to remove the military and police presence from the summit.

Two signatories, Melissa de los Reyes and Sal Wanying Fu, wrote to The Varsity that it is “imperative for the astronomy community to denounce [the arrests of kūpuna] and take a stand against the further use of violence in the name of science.”

Reyes is a second-year graduate student at the California Institute of Technology, while Fu is an incoming graduate student at UC Berkeley.

Both are National Science Foundation graduate fellows.

The open letter was published despite the risk that it could potentially impact the signatories’ research careers. The signatories include graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and professors.

Signatories from U of T include Professors Hilding Neilson and Renee Hlozek, Postdoctoral Fellow John Zanazzi, Sessional Instructor Dr. Kristin Cavoukian, PhD students Fergus Horrobin, Fang Xi Lin, Marine Lokken, Adiv Paradise, and Emily Tyhurst, and undergraduate students Yigit Ozcelik, Andrew Hardy, and Rica Cruz.

Jess Taylor, the Chair of CUPE 3902 and a writing instructor in the Engineering Communication Program at U of T, was also a signatory.

The signatories hope that the discussion prompted by the letter causes academic astronomers to “reckon with the ways in which social systems are inextricably linked with the way we do science.”

Neilson commended the bravery of its signatories, writing that “for students to come out and

do this, potentially not only against their own research, but against their supervisors’ and departments’ requires standing up to power.”

Activism by undergraduate students The University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU) and the Indigenous Studies Students’ Union (ISSU) also published a joint statement on August 29 condemning the construction of the TMT at Mauna Kea. The UTSU represents full-time undergraduate students at the St. George campus, while the ISSU’s membership includes students who are enrolled in the Indigenous Studies program or are taking at least one Indigenous Studies course.

The unions called upon U of T to “cease construction” of the telescope and to relocate it to an “area where its construction would not infringe upon the sacred land of Indigenous peoples or damage land that is environmentally protected.”

Eclipsing Indigenous knowledge It is important to recognize that the Kānaka Maoli protests are not against science. Rather, they are against a Western ideology of economic development that — in the name of science and objectivity — has historically propagated mechanisms of colonization, slavery, and incarceration.

Following centuries of colonial and postcolonial development, the scientific industry today undermines and maligns Indigenous knowledge systems — associating it with primitivity.

Meanwhile, Neilson draws attention to the value of Indigenous knowledge, stating that “a lot of the tensions between Hawaiians and TMT come from the fact that a lot of us are ignorant of Hawaiian knowledge, and what it means for Mauna Kea to be sacred.”

Ultimately it is not a question about science versus culture, but about whether development under the guise of science reinforces a certain hierarchy of culture. It is evident that there is a need for a scientific Big Bang, one where Indigenous cultures is no longer at the bottom of this hierarchy.

Courtesy of TMT OBSERVATORY CORPORATION

New technologies are transforming care for dementia patients

A conversation with Dr. Arlene Astell: using tech to improve the quality of life for aging population Andrea Tambunan Varsity Contributor

Dementia is taking a serious toll on Canada’s aging population: roughly 76,000 people are diagnosed with the condition every year. It is estimated that the number of Canadians living with dementia may even double over the next 20 years due to our growing senior demographic.

Diagnosing, treating, and managing dementia brings many challenges for both those affected by it and their caregivers. Fortunately, the rapid growth of technology in recent years has sparked innovation which help tackle these issues. But lacklustre awareness and slow implementation of these technologies have limited their outreach.

Time is of the essence in dementia research. The surge in innovation, coupled with our aging population, means that we need to quickly change the way we treat dementia.

What is dementia?

Dementia is a medical term that covers a variety of syndromes affecting the brain. It can be caused by conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and head trauma. Patients affected by dementia experience memory loss, difficulties with problem solving and, in some cases, severe changes in mood.

Treating dementia can come with many challenges. However, technology can play a huge role in mitigating some of these obstacles.

Dr. Arlene Astell, an Ontario Shores Research Chair in Community Management of Dementia at U of T’s Medical Sciences Department, recently coauthored a paper summarizing developments on the

diagnosis, treatment, and management of dementia.

The paper highlighted the multifaceted uses of technology in treating a syndrome like dementia.

“Direct healthcare has very little to offer people once they have been diagnosed,” wrote Astell to The Varsity. While a range of medical interventions and services to support lifestyle management can be offered to patients with conditions such as diabetes and cancer, such is not the case with dementia.

“There are no disease-modifying therapies available,” continued Astell. Patients may only receive some medication for symptom management, which is not available for all types of dementia.

Most treatment plans for dementia largely rely on sending the patients “home to live as well as they can with support from family or friends.”

Improve treatment plans for dementia Limitations of the current approach for treating dementia, according to Astell, lie in the way we treat the syndromes. Dementia has vast implications on a patient’s everyday life, which cannot be easily treated through traditional health care approaches.

“Individuals with dementia need practical interventions and supports to compensate for their cognitive challenges,” she wrote. “By leveraging their retained abilities and enabling them to maintain independence for as long as possible.”

Improving the ways in which we treat dementia can induce widespread benefits throughout the health care sector. Current methods for treating dementia are putting unnecessary strain on our

FIONA TUNG/THE VARSITY

hospital systems.

“We are seeing, for example, growing numbers of people with dementia filling acute hospital beds, which is leading to cancellation of planned surgeries due to [a] lack of recovery beds,” Astell noted.

Changing dementia treatment methods could also better ensure that patients with different conditions than dementia get the help they need more quickly.

The role of technology in dementia treatment Fortunately, many novel innovations for treating dementia are becoming more accessible with the rising use of smart home devices and wearable technology.

Prototypes, such as the Gloucester Smart House, have been developed to help dementia patients in their everyday lives. It comes programmed with bathing and cooking monitors, an automatic night light, and prompts that remind users when to take their medication.

Since its introduction, smart home technology has grown rapidly. Newer systems use artificial intelligence, machine learning, and sensor technology to reduce reliance on caregiving and help patients with tasks such as dressing and cooking.

Researchers are hoping to use the easily-installed technology to run wide-scale clinical trials to understand its potential benefits on those with dementia.

Developments in Global Positioning System (GPS) applications on smartphones and motionenabled gaming can also be used to help maintain patients’ social and active lifestyles. Many GPS applications on smartphones can now detect whether the user is lost.

Such a feature is especially useful for dementia patients, who may rely heavily on the app to navigate. Helping users walk safely makes it easier for them to maintain an active lifestyle.

Read the rest at var.st/dementia

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THE VARSITY

SCIENCE

science@thevarsity.ca

The ingestion of gentian violet is linked to an increased risk of cancer.

A dyeing tradition: Engineering F!rosh practice linked to cancer

Courtesy of SKULE™

Ingestion of purple dye poses risk, warns Health Canada following years-long international investigation Spencer Y. Ki Varsity Contributor

They’re a familiar September sight on St. George campus: newly-minted engineering students with their skin stained a bright purple.

Large vats of violet dye and crowds of eager first-year students ready to submerge themselves are common to frosh orientation events at engineering faculties across Canada. The origin and meaning of the tradition are shrouded in mystery, but the infusion of the chemical gentian violet to a dyeing solution has become iconic.

The custom has now come under scrutiny due to a Health Canada warning, which associates the ingestion of gentian violet with an increased risk of cancer.

Warning stemmed from investigation by United Nations The warning was issued on June 12, but gentian violet’s toxicity has been studied for some time. The seeds of what would become Health Canada’s advisory were sown in 2013 in a report written by the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives ( JECFA).

The JECFA is composed of medical experts from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Both are organs of the United Nations.

Although the report was the first JECFA evaluation of gentian violet, the publication was more akin to a literature review than an experimental study. The investigators searched the databases Medline, CABI, Agricola, and Toxnet for studies on the toxicity of gentian violet.

Health Canada also provided its own collation and review of data on the chemical. The team reviewed papers dated as far back as 1980.

Gentian violet is typically used as a component of veterinary disinfectants, and the major-

ity of the JECFA report concerns how much gentian violet residue could be found in the remains of food-producing animals. However, an important finding was that gentian violet can bind to and alter DNA. The researchers also noted chemical similarities of the dye to malachite green, another chemical already acknowledged as carcinogenic. Accordingly, the expert committee resolved that there could not be an acceptable daily intake of gentian violet for humans.

International representatives debate over wording of advisory Following the report’s publication, the JEFCA’s results were forwarded to the Codex Committee on Veterinary Drugs in Food (CCRVDF).

The CCRVDF is a subsidiary of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, another joint FAOWHO organization that oversees food-related advisories worldwide. The next convening of the CCRVDF came in 2015, two years after the JECFA’s determination.

Various national delegations to the CCRVDF agreed that a Risk Management Recommendation (RMR) needed to be applied to gentian violet, but they disputed over its precise wording.

Throughout three sessions, spanning from 2015–2018, the Commission debated the inclusion of a sentence specifically condemning the use of the chemical on food-producing animals.

Ultimately, in an April 2018 report, the committee decided to exclude the precise condemnation to “allow member countries to choose appropriate risk management approaches to prevent residues of Gentian Violet in food.”

This RMR was then sent for approval to the entire Codex Alimentarius Commission, which it received in July 2018.

Where does Health Canada come in?

Upon receiving notice of the RMR, Health

Canada initiated its own review process to confirm the findings. This involved the analysis of Canadian reports of illness associated with gentian violet before comparing local findings to international reports.

After nearly a year of study, researchers decided that although there were no cases of gentian violet being linked to cancer in humans, the reports of carcinogenicity in animals were enough to warrant a warning.

The department then worked with manufacturers to remove from circulation the single human non-prescription medication and nine veterinary medications available in Canada that list gentian violet as an ingredient.

Three licensed medical devices continue to use gentian violet as part of a sterile dressing.

However, Health Canada has assessed that they do not pose a risk to human health due to the short exposure time of gentian violet to patients.

Risk of applying gentian violet to skin is unclear It is important to note that the entire process of investigation into gentian violet has been focused on toxicity if ingested, which is typically not a component of engineering orientation activities. Health Canada acknowledged this focus in its safety review on the substance, explicitly stating that the result of applying gentian violet to the skin is “unknown.”

“Generally, the amount of a chemical that can get absorbed through the skin is small, but this is chemical-dependent, and I’m not sure anyone has ever looked to see whether gentian violet gets into the systemic circulation after topical application,” wrote Dr. Denis Grant, a professor in the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, to The Varsity.

“Some chemicals can cause skin cancer if they’re topically applied. All in all, given the theoretical plausibility and limited demonstrat-

ed evidence for a cancer link, in my opinion it would be prudent to avoid bathing in the stuff.”

Where will the engineering tradition go from here?

While the risks of using gentian violet are now evident, the dyeing tradition is seen as an integral component of engineering student culture that should be maintained.

“The Toike really loves the purple dye tradition!” wrote Joanna Melnyk, Editor-in-Chief of the Toike Oike, to The Varsity. The Toike Oike is a humour publication managed by U of T’s Engineering Society for the purpose of commenting on aspects of engineering culture.

Melnyk continued, “We feel really cool with our sword(s), wooden sticks, and red wagon, looking like a gang of people with a strange skin condition wielding potentially dangerous items!”

While the tradition is planned to continue this September, the Engineering Society is dedicated to providing a safe F!rosh to all firstyear engineering students.

“Although the health concerns with gentian violet pertain to quantities and uses different from our own, we will not be using this dye for Orientation Week,” wrote Ben Mucsi, Chair of the Engineering Society’s Orientation Committee, to The Varsity. “At this point, we have studied a broad range of alternatives and we want to make sure that we are thorough and careful in our decision-making.”

“We are being very diligent in evaluation of our options to ensure that we provide the safest and most enjoyable experience during Orientation Week,” he continued. “Our goal is to ensure that all incoming students have the option to safely participate in our long-standing tradition, and my team, in collaboration with the Engineering Society leadership, have been working hard throughout the summer to try to make that happen!”

Sports Sports

September9,9,2019 2019 September var.st/sports var.st/sports sports@thevarsity.ca sports@thevarsity.ca

Clay Sequeira ran for 110 yards, averaging 8.5 yards per carry.

THEO ARBEZ/THE VARSITY

Varsity Blues football team break long losing streak in home opener Quarterback Clay Sequeira dominates in front of a full crowd

Silas Le Blanc Sports Editor

The Toronto Varsity Blues football team snapped a 15-game losing streak last Sunday in a blowout win against the Windsor Lancers in front of a full-capacity Varsity Stadium crowd.

Quarterback Clay Sequeira was the standout player of the match, throwing for 464 yards, scoring six touchdowns, and boasting zero interceptions.

In the first drive of the game, the Blues drove down the field, but were forced to settle for a field goal. In Windsor’s ensuing drive, quarterback Sam Girard was sacked 1.5 yards from the goal line, and the Lancers opted to take the intentional safety to give the Blues an early 5–0 lead. After Toronto was forced to punt, Windsor scored a field goal to make the score 5–3.

In the second quarter, Windsor tacked on an-

other field goal to take a 6–5 lead. The next drive saw Sequeira take his offence down the field, and complete it with a 39-yard touchdown pass to receiver Will Corby for the first touchdown of the game.

Windsor then came right back in the ensuing drive to score their first touchdown of the game, taking a 13–12 lead. With time winding down for the first half, the Blues marched down the field in their next drive, and with a 22-yard pass to receiver Michael Lehmann, made the score 19–13 at the end of the half.

Along with his brilliant passing performance, Sequeira also lead the team in rushing, going for 72 yards in nine attempts in the first half.

“We just took what they gave us,” Sequeira said in a post-game interview. “Our offence pretty much adapted to what they showed us all week. And so if they’re going to give us one thing, we’re going to keep adjusting. That’s the nature

of our offence. We’ll adjust to whatever we get.

So the reason why we ran football so much is because the looks were favourable.”

In the third quarter, Windsor sacked Sequeira and forced the fumble, and on the first play made a 38-yard pass down the field. Windsor made it to first and goal on the one-yard line, but Toronto’s defence came up big, forcing Windsor to settle for a field goal.

On the ensuing Toronto drive, the Blues offence went two and out. During the Blues punting play on third down, the snap went over the kicker’s head and was recovered by Windsor to give them the ball on Toronto’s 22-yard line.

Toronto’s defence succeeded again, with defensive back Tolu Ahmed making an interception which stopped Windsor from scoring.

After these momentum-shifting plays by the defence, the floodgates opened for the Blues in the fourth. It started with a game-high 79-yard

touchdown pass from Sequeira to receiver Nolan Lovegrove. Toronto never looked back, with Sequeira scoring three more touchdowns, and running back Liam Cousineau making a oneyard run for the final touchdown of the game, bringing the score to 54–26 for Toronto.

“I think people see now how exciting Varsity football is, and I’m expecting to see more and more crowds like this as the home games go on because, as you can see, we feed off it and hopefully we’ll see more [wins],” Sequeira said about the full-capacity crowd.

When asked how he felt about breaking the Blues’ long losing streak, Sequeira said, “It’s the best feeling in the world. There’s really nothing like it. I’m still really in shock. But honestly, we shouldn’t be content. We shouldn’t be satisfied with this. This is the expectation. Now we should put our best foot forward. We should continue to win. This should be the norm.”

NACIVT 9-man volleyball tournament comes to Toronto The sport has been a staple in Chinese-North-American culture for many years

Joshua Chua Varsity Contributor

FIONA TUNG/THE VARSITY

As one of the premiere events in volleyball communities, the 75th annual North American Chinese Invitational Volleyball Tournament (NACIVT) was held this Labour Day weekend in Toronto.

Altogether, a total

of 162 teams convened at the Metro Convention Centre on Front Street to participate in a friendly competition of 9-man, a variation of volleyball that is deeply rooted in Chinese-North-American culture.

9-man differs from traditional volleyball in multiple aspects, specifically the on-court rules and the restrictions on who is able to play. As the name suggests, nine players are on the court at a time, compared to six in traditional volleyball, which makes 9-man much more action-packed and fast-paced than the traditional game.

The court size of 20 by 10 metres is both one metre longer and wider than those commonly found in volleyball. No jumping is allowed on serves, and only three players per team are allowed to take a serve. Furthermore, rotation of players is not mandatory, which leads many players to specialize in two or three positions.

In addition, the rules of 9-man stipulate

that two thirds of the players on the court must be of full Chinese descent. The rest are typically comprised of those from other East Asian countries.

Without much to do in their spare time due to segregation, discrimination, and a language barrier, Chinese workers in the Greater Boston area imported 9-man in the 1930s. The game, which was originally from the Guangdong province of China, made it to North America as a way to build community and camraderie amongst the workers.

The first tournament took place in 1937, and ever since the sport continued to gain popularity. Soon, residents of many cities from across the United States and Canada formed their own teams and participated annually in the Labour Day tournament. In 1976, female participants were introduced to the game, and the first women’s tournament was hosted in 1977 in Toronto. The first international participants, a team from Shanghai, China, joined the competition in 2009, showing the global

popularity and recognition that this sport has garnered.

“It has brought together a lot of people in the Chinese volleyball community and you start to develop a lot of long-lasting friendships,” U of T student Amy Gao, who has been playing 9-man volleyball for three years, told The Varsity. “9-man is so much more interesting than normal [volleyball]. It’s fasterpaced, with fancier plays, while keeping the same physicality as the regular game.”

According to those who have documented the history of 9-man, the NACIVT has “broken down barriers of gender, age, race, wealth, geography and many others” truly bringing people together and unifying them through volleyball.

Having already been held seven times in Toronto, the NACIVT has had a profound impact on the East-Asian community throughout the GTA, bringing together youth from various neighbourhoods and promoting a healthy, active lifestyle.

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THE VARSITY

SPORTS

sports@thevarsity.ca

Bianca Andreescu defeats Serena Williams to win the US Open championship

Andreescu becomes first Canadian to win a Grand Slam tournament Silas Le Blanc Sports Editor

Bianca Andreescu defeated Serena Williams this Saturday to capture Canada’s first ever Grand Slam singles title.

She won in straight sets 6–3, 7–5 to capture the championship, but Williams, a tennis veteran, did not make it easy for her.

Andreescu won the coin toss, and elected to give Williams the first serve of the match, which earned her a break in the first game.

She won the first set by a score of 6–3.

In the second set, Andreescu was up 5–1, winning three break points in the set. She was on match point in the next set, but Williams’ veteran composure shone through, as she was able to fight off Andreescu’s match point, and bring the set score back even at 5–5.

For the first time in this tournament, Andreescu looked shaken, with the crowd roaring behind her, and all the momentum in Williams’ favour. However, Andreescu continued to show the poise that she had shown throughout the tournament, winning the next game with her own serve.

Andreescu would then have needed to win the next game — with Williams serving — in order to avoid a tiebreaker. She won the first point, and went up 40–15. After Williams

won the next point, Andreescu delivered a beautiful forehand to secure herself the title.

After embracing Williams, Andreescu fell down onto the court, lying on her back to take in the moment. She then quickly climbed onto the stands to celebrate with her team and family before accepting the trophy at the centre of the court. Along with being designated the US Open Women’s Singles Champion, Andreescu also earned a 3.85 million USD cheque for winning the tournament.

Andreescu is only the third Canadian to reach the finals of a Grand Slam tournament, after Eugenie Bouchard and Milos Raonic reached the Wimbledon finals in 2014 and 2016, respectively. The Mississauga native burst onto the tennis scene this year, winning the Indian Wells tournament in March and the Rogers Cup in Toronto in August.

The Rogers Cup final saw Andreescu face off against Williams, but the match was shortlived, as Williams had to retire due to injury.

At the end of the match, Andreescu was seen comforting the distraught Williams, and they embraced shortly after.

At the US Open in New York, Andreescu won the first three rounds in straight sets before beating Taylor Townsend in the round of 16. In the quarterfinals she lost the first set against Belgium’s Elise Mertens, but won

Andreescu won in front of a hostile Arthur Ashe Stadium Crowd.

WALLY GOBETZ/CC FLICKR

the final two sets 6–2 and 6–3 to advance.

In the first set of the semifinals against Belinda Bencic from Switzerland, Andreescu had never led, but Bencic was unable to win a break point for the entire set. Andreescu dominated in the tie-breaker, winning it 7–3.

Early on in the second set it looked like Bencic would force a third set, going up 4–1 and 5–2, and Andreescu seemed exhausted.

However, she continued to show strong mental fortitude, and won the next five sets in a row, triumphing over the match in straight

sets. This set up the match against Williams in the finals.

Andreescu has been drawing in fans from all over the country, and has inspired the hashtag #SheTheNorth. She has received support from the likes of Justin Trudeau, Wayne Gretzky, Steve Nash, and former Mississauga mayor Hazel McCallion. Even her competitor, Serena Williams, shared praise for the young star, saying, “She really knows how to mix up the game, above all I just like her as a person, she’s amazing.”

U of T athletes summer roundup What have Varsity Blues athletes and alumni been getting up to this summer?

Silas Le Blanc Sports Editor

Summer is a fantastic time for Varsity Blues athletes to get experience away from campus. There were several tournaments and competitions where current students and alumni alike showcased the skills they had learned with the Blues programs to the world.

FINA World Championships This July, Varsity Blues athletes came up big at the 2019 FINA World Aquatics Championships, in Gwangju, South Korea, with U of T alum Kylie Masse and current Varsity Blues swimmer Rebecca Smith helping Canada finish with its best-ever medal count. Masse, who won a bronze medal in the 2016 Olympics, earned one of the two Canadian gold medals for the 100-metre backstroke. She also won a bronze medal in the 200-metre backstroke and in the 4x100-metre medley relay, alongside with Rebecca Smith.

Smith also won bronze medals in the 4x100metre and 4x200-metre freestyle relays. Team Canada finished the competition with their best showing yet, winning two gold medals and six bronze medals. They also reached 19 finals — the most since the 1978 world championship.

Former Blues athlete Kylie Masse had a successful summer ahead of the 2020 Olympics.

COURTESY OF MARTIN BAZYL/VARSITY BLUES

Canadian Track and Field Championships At the Canadian Track and Field Championships Varsity Blues alum Madeleine Kelly won the 800-metre title in a close race with two-time Olympian Melissa Bishop, overtaking her in the last second to secure the gold medal by only 0.03 seconds. During her time at U of T, Kelly helped the Blues win first-place finishes in the 4x400-metre relays in 2016 and 2017 and the 4x800-metre relay in 2017 and 2018. When she is not training, Kelly is a regular contributor to the Canadian Running Magazine. Although her victory may have been considered an upset, her colleagues thought differently.

“Honestly, nobody at Canadian Running was particularly surprised by the result. Kelly has been working hard and consistently achieving times of 2:02 flat and under, attending training camps through the winter, competing at meets in Canada, the US and Europe in both the 800m and the 1,500m, and steadily improving her times through the indoor and outdoor seasons,” fellow Canadian Running writer Anne Francis wrote in a piece profiling her.

FISU Summer Universiade There was even more success abroad for Varsity Blues swimmers with two winning medals at the Summer Universiade in Naples, Italy. Hannah Genich and Ainsley McMurray, the only Varsity Blues athletes to bring home a medal from the Universiade across all sports, secured the bronze medal in the 4x100-metre medley relay. In addition, U of T coach Michèle Bélanger coached Team Canada to a 13th place finish in women’s basketball. In total, Team Canada won a total of one gold, one silver, and four bronze medals at this competition.

Canadian Swimming Championships Varsity Blues athletes brought home nine more medals from the Canadian Swimming Championships, held in Winnipeg in August. Hannah Genich and Ainsley McMurray once again lead the way, with Genich winning a gold medal in the 100-metre butterfly, silver in the 200-metre butterfly, and bronze in the 50-metre butterfly.

McMurray earned a silver medal in the 100-metre freestyle, and bronze in the 50-metre freestyle.

Alumnus Eli Wall struck gold twice, winning in both the 50-metre and 200-metre breaststroke, the latter securing him the top swim performance at the meet. Fellow alum Matt Dans won silver medals in the 50-metre and 100-metre butterfly and current second-year swimmer Graeme Alyward nearly made the podium as well, finishing in fourth place in the 100-metre breaststroke.

var.st/sports

SEPTEMBER 9, 2019

19

Blues women’s soccer weekend recap Kelly, Staggolis, Wolever shine for Varsity Blues women’s soccer team

Jenny Wolever is the most recent Varsity Blues athlete of the week.

Courtesy of HENRY ZHAO/VARSITY BLUES

Laura Ashwood and Michael Teoh Varsity Contributors

Saturday, September 7 vs. UOttawa By the time University of Ottawa Gee-Gees star Mikayla Morton opened the scoring in the 28th minute, it seemed like the floodgates would open and that last season’s USPORTS champions would wash the U of T Varsity Blues. Up to that point, the Gee-Gees had been superior in every department, deftly dancing through the Blues’ midfield and forcing defensive errors with a high press.

Instead, the goal served as a catalyst for the Blues who, with the introduction of third-year striker Erin Kelly, grew into the game. Eight minutes after conceding, third-year midfielder Miranda Badovinac scored the equalizer with what turned out to be the game’s final goal.

Blues goalkeeper Vanna Staggolis put in an excellent performance to secure the draw, making a number of key saves and snapping the Blues’ four-game losing streak against the Gee-Gees.

The Blues started with a narrow 4-3-3 formation; the lack of width left midfield trio Kristin Parkes, Valentina Greco, and Maddie MacKay unable to spread the ball in the face of constant barrages by the Gee-Gees’ press.

When they lost the ball, the trio — perhaps fearing the potency with which the Gee-Gees could break — were unwilling to press their opponents, allowing them free rein to lob the ball to their dynamic attack.

This double jeopardy prevented the Blues’ midfield from supporting their defence or joining their attack, rendering them largely ineffective for much of the first 30 minutes.

The Gee-Gees exploited this tactical flaw well and, in the 26th minute, a ball from their own half allowed forward Emma Lefebvre to force Blues defender Anna Crone to concede a corner. The Blues defence capitulated following the short corner, with right back Rena Nakajima and centreback Mikayla Ford both out of position in an unsuccessful attempt to play the offside trap.

The ball was floated into the right of the box, where Gee-Gees midfielder Hailey Walsh and Morton found themselves in acres of space. Walsh received the ball at the edge of the box and Nakajima, closing her down, puzzlingly ducked out of the way of her cross. Ford was equally at fault for the goal, completely missing Morton’s run behind her, which gave the fourth-year Gee-Gees forward ample space to head the ball in, despite Staggolis’ efforts.

Shortly after conceding, the Blues withdrew MacKay and brought on Kelly, who slotted into the centre forward position. Her introduction proved to be a revelation as she produced exceptional hold-up play by using her physicality to stave off a number of GeeGees tackles.

Kelly marauded down the right flank and forced a corner after dribbling past two players. The Blues’ ensuing corner mimicked the one they had conceded as striker Jenny Wolever found herself unmarked on the far side of the goal. She slammed a shot toward the goal, which goalkeeper Margot Shore spilled into the path of Badovinac, who found the net from four yards out.

Following the half-time break, the Blues returned a much improved side, pressing as a unit and adopting a more fluid approach offball. Nakajima and Ford both made a number of important challenges, as did Crone, who showed good composure and passing.

Despite their improvement, the Blues still lacked width in the midfield; they opted to address this in the 58th minute by bringing on Daniella Cipriano for Badovinac.

Cipriano proved to be an effective conduit between midfield and attack, finding Wolever numerous times with great through balls. In the 69th minute she switched play to Wolever, only for the latter to hit the side netting.

Wolever, who played for the Queen’s Gaels for four years as an undergraduate prior to moving to U of T this summer, was named the Ontario University Athletics East’s Most Valuable Player last year.

The Blues continued to threaten until the 75th minute, but found little joy against both Gee-Gees right back Trinity Esprit, who halted a number of attacks and passed the ball forward well, and midfielder Katherine Bearne, who displayed remarkable dribbling and vision.

The tide of the game swung in the GeeGees’ favour in the last 15 minutes as they searched for the winning goal, but Staggolis remained a colossal figure in the Blues net.

She was called into action in the 89th minute, denying Lefebvre from close range.

While the Blues had their chances to take the lead in the second half, a draw against the country’s best team — to whom they lost to three times last season — is definitely a step in the right direction for a team trying to find its attacking identity following the departures of star players Chelsea Cheung and Natasha Klasios.

As seen on display at Varsity Stadium, Cipriano and Kelly appear to be the natural choices to support Wolever as the Blues rebuild their attack.

Sunday, September 8 vs. Queen’s After a hard-fought first half in which Toronto conceded two goals to the Queen’s Gaels, standout rookie Miranda Badovinac scored twice in the second half to tie the match with the Gaels, who are the second-highest ranking team in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA).

From the first minute, the pressure was on: possession shifted rapidly as the ball found its way to either end of the pitch. Keeper Levanta Staggolis kept the score 0–0 with some quick saves in the first few minutes, impressing spectators and frustrating opponents.

The Blues’ offence was aggressive throughout, with Erin Kelly, Jenny Woelver, and Badovinac, among others, creating shot opportunities. In the early stages of the game, Kelly executed a promising shot on the net, fed by first-year Badovinac thanks to a cross from Wolever. The play was executed with

speed, and revealed a well-practiced offensive formation.

“It’s been fun playing with [Wolever] because we’re both new to the team, so it’s been fun… building our own legacy together,” said Badovinac.

Anna Crone, Mikayla Ford, and Rena Nakajima delivered a series of impressive defensive plays in the first half: in the 26th minute, for example, Nakajima proved her defensive prowess by shutting down a breakaway from Gaels striker Jenna Matsukubo. However, Queen’s slipped through the cracks to score twice. Organization and morale noticeably dwindled after the first Gael goal, but a change in mindset at halftime brought the team back to the same page.

“First half we kind of lost ourselves, we weren’t really focused,” admits Staggolis.

“Once those two goals were in, our heads went down. We weren’t into it at all. But our halftime talk got us ready to go.”

“We had a couple formation changes as well that would allow for more aggressive attacks,” adds Badovinac.

Due to these pivotal half-time changes, Badovinac found her offensive stride, hitting the back of the net twice in the 44th and 63rd minutes. “They were both off of crosses. Just was kind of hoping for the best when I hit [the first one],” said Badovinac. “The other one was from a cross in the air. I was lucky that it hit perfectly to my head and I was able to get something on it.”

“We’re content with the result. Obviously you’re always looking for three points, but we’ll take it,” says Staggolis.

With a tie granting the Blues one point for their second game of the season, the team is ready for their next game against the University of Ontario Institute of Technology this coming Friday.

Disclaimer: Michael Teoh previously served as Volume 138 Deputy Senior Copy Editor and Volume 139 Business Editor of The Varsity.

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