October 21, 2013

VARSITY EDITORIAL

pg 11

RESIDENCE GUARANTEE NEEDS REVISION

Vol. CXXXIV, No. 07

University of Toronto’s Student Newspaper Since 1880

21 October, 2013

Would you buy an essay?

The Varsity investigates essay-writing companies Liza Agrba, Alex Verman & Jelena Djuric VARSITY STAFF

The University of Toronto’s St. George campus is teeming with posters advertising custom essaywriting services to students. The university’s official recommended punishment for submitting purchased work is expulsion. Posing as a firstyear student behind on their work, The Varsity spoke to Custom Essay and Essay Experts and purchased a three-page paper from Essay Experts in order to learn more about the process.

Essay Experts charged $124 for a 750word paper. Custom Essay offers similar rates. Both companies claim that their papers are written by qualified professionals, and said that all of their work is original and will not be flagged as plagiarism by websites like turnitin.com.

Marcel Vilanez, a representative of Essay Experts, said that the company’s papers are not meant to be submitted as is. “You are not supposed to submit the essay directly to your professor. That would go against the university code. This is why we give you time with the paper, so you can write your own. It is as if we are another student in the class, perhaps a very good student, and you want to see their answer, what they would write,” he said. The company website claims that it is completely legal to purchase work as long as it is properly attributed, and outlines the proper way to cite Essay Experts’ work in an original paper.

In contrast, Nick — a representative of Custom Essay — said that he would not recommend that a student purchase work from the company and cite parts of it in an original paper. “I wouldn’t dream of it. You are asking for trouble. You would probably get thrown out of university. We are not credible enough

to quote,” he said. The company even offers a $25 service to run its papers through turnitin.com, to reassure students who are worried about getting caught. Turnitin saves copies of all the papers it receives, so it is not clear how this service would make the paper less likely to be flagged at a later date.

Custom Essay’s website is registered under an organization called Domains by Proxy, a company that offers domain privacy services to companies who wish to anonymize the personal information of their domain owners.

The purchased paper was written according to the requirements of an actual assignment for PHL275 — Introduction to Ethics. The paper answered the question: “Is psychological egoism true? If it were true, what implications would this have for our understanding of morality?” It received an approximate grade of C+ or B- from the instructor of phl275, professor Thomas Hurka. “It covers the territory but it is not written in

a mature way. It only reports on other people’s opinions and tends to rely on quotations to make its points, which is in a way more of a high school than university way of writing,” said Hurka.

Both Vilanez and Nick were contacted on the record and informed of The Varsity’s investigation. Both claimed that they provide work for reference only, and would never counsel a student to hand in the essays they purchase.

During The Varsity’s original interaction with Nick, he stated: “Once we give [the essay] to you, what you do with it is your business. We can’t tell you anything, basically. We do the research for you and then it’s your property.”

University does not have a clear policy on citing pUrchased work The university does not have a clear policy on whether or not citing a purchased work would constitute an academic offence. The Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters states that it

Elizabeth May speaks on campus Pg 6

Quirky clubs on campus Some unusual extra - curriculars at U of T Pg 12 - 13

2

VARSITY NEWS

Vol. CXXXIV, No. 7

WHAT’S GOING ON

THE VARSITY

the week in tweets

THIS WEEK

VOL. CXXXIV No. 7

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

ON CAMPUS

Masthead Editor-in-Chief Joshua Oliver

NOOR ZAINAB @NOORZAINAB_

editor@thevarsity.ca

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

online@thevarsity.ca

Design Editor Shaquilla Singh

design@thevarsity.ca

Photo Editor Carolyn Levett

photo@thevarsity.ca

Senior Copy Editor Catherine Virelli

copy@thevarsity.ca

News Editor Zane Schwartz

news@thevarsity.ca

Comment Editor Alec Wilson

comment@thevarsity.ca

Features Editor Danielle Klein

features@thevarsity.ca

Arts & Culture Editor Sofia Luu

science@thevarsity.ca

Sports Editor Elizabeth Benn

sports@thevarsity.ca

Illustrations Editor Nancy Ji

Wrong time to get hooked on breaking bad. Can already see UofT giving me the finger #butbabyplz — Tuesday, October 15

VIPASHA SHAIKH @VIPASHASHAIKH Contradiction about one’s love life @ #UofT: constantly pine for guy when single, end up considering him a nuissance to your studies when not

arts@thevarsity.ca

Science Editor Katrina Vogan

illustration@thevarsity.ca

Video Editor Jamieson Wang

video@thevarsity.ca

Web Developer Natalie Morcos

web@thevarsity.ca

Associate Design Editor Mari Zhou Associate Photo Editor Vacant Associate Senior Copy Editor Lucy Genua Associate News Editor Liza Agrba Sarah Neidoba Theodore Yan

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF AUTHORS

$15 for students Begins October 24 Harbourfront Centre http://ifoa.org/festival

Associate Video Editor Alexandra Butrón

Writers Liza Agrba, Afiny Akdemir, Zoe Bedard, Elizabeth Benn, Emma Compeau, Sampson Coutts, Jelena Djuric, James Flynn, Sarah Glickman, Elena Gritzan, Jesse Hildebrand, Trevor Janes, Ilona Kabanova, Leila Keshavjee, Fabio Kim, Danielle Klein, Trevor Koroll, Sonia Liang, Sofia Luu, Emily Ma, Kate McCullugh, Sarah Niedoba, Rebecca Ostroff, Susie Park, Corinne Przybyslawski, Iris Robin, Hayden Rodenkirchen, Tanya Rogova, Madison Schill, Jeffrey Schulman, J. Segar, Vipasha Shaikh, Dan Smeenk, Taylor Stinson, Alex Verman, Alec Wilson, Sean Xu, Theodore Yan Photo and Illustration Designers William Ahn, Michael Kawmadie Chahley, Courtney Hallink, Karunanayake, Emerald Misquitta, Nancy Ji, Trevor Koroll, Timothy Law, Carolyn Levett, Dan Seljak, Denis Osipov, Alexandra Shaquilla Singh, Wong, Lucinda Yae-Rim Ro Mari Zhou Copy Editors and Fact Checkers Armen Alexanian, Lois Boody, Alanna Brousseau, Lucy Genua, Jennifer Hurd, Olga Klenova, Sarah Leeves, Linh Nguyen, Chelsea Ricchio, Nicole Sconza, Jennifer Stipec, Rose Tornabene, Kelly Turner, Catherine Virelli, Xinyi Zhu

Business Office Business Manager Timothy Sharng

business@thevarsity.ca

Advertising Manager Victoria Marshall advertising@thevarsity.ca Advertising Executives Stephanie Lau stephanie@thevarsity.ca terence@thevarsity.ca Terence Leung vanessa@thevarsity.ca Vanessa Wen The Varsity is the University of Toronto's largest student newspaper, publishing since 1880. The Varsity has a circulation of 20,000, and is published

by Varsity Publications Inc. It is printed by Master Web Inc. on recycled newsprint stock.

Content © 2013 by The Varsity. All rights reserved. Any editorial inquiries and/or letters should be directed to the sections associated with them; emails listed above.

The Varsity reserves the right to edit all submissions.

Inquiries regarding ad sales can be made to ads@thevarsity.ca. ISSN: 0042-2789 Please recycle this issue after you are finished with it.

— Tuesday, October 15

RACHEL ROSE @LOVEFROMROSE Tonight we’re having a puppy party and y’all can suck it. #UofT

ZOMBIE WRESTLING

“LOST YEARS” TORONTO PREMIER

Zombies fighting Mexican luchadores, featuring a band called KILL THE MESSENGER $10 – $19 October 26, doors open at 7:00 pm 292 Brunswick Ave, Tranzac Club http://www.fightbrand.ca/zombie.html

The Toronto Premier of the award-winning documentary “Lost Years” — a study on four generations of racism through the lens of the experience of Chinese Canadian Kenda Gee’s family Free October 24, 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm 506 Bloor Street West, Bloor Hot Docs Cinema http://lostyearstoronto.eventbrite.ca/

Associate Comment Editor Vacant

Associate Science Editor Emma Hansen Associate Sports Editor JP Kaczur

CArolyn levett/tHe vArsity

Eleven days of celebrated international authors doing interviews, lectures, discussions, signings, and more. Bob Rae, Yann Martel, Margaret Atwood, and Stephen King are among the participants.

Associate Features Editor Victoria Banderob

Associate A&C Editor Ishita Petkar

news@thevarsity.ca

— Wednesday, October 16

KELLY DON @KELLYDONDON17 Got a 90% on my first university assignment! SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW! #celebrating #hardworkpaysoff #uoft — Thursday, October 17

OKTOBERFEST

MAJESTY IN MUSIC

Annual festival of eating delicious food and drinking fine craft beer in support of the Canadian Cancer Society. $20 general admission October 25, 5:00 pm – 1:00 am 550 Bayview Ave, Evergreen Brickworks www.cancer.ca/oktoberfest

A show by the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra, featuring Mahler’s “Symphony No. 1 (Titan)” and the world premiere of Canadian Ronald Royer’s “Rhapsody for Oboe, Horn, and Orchestra.” $15 for students October 27 2021 Lawrence Avenue East, Scarborough

HAZAL KIRBIS @HAZAL_KIBRIS Are UofT students getting hotter or am I lowering my standards?

— Friday October 18

ADRIENNE MALLARI @19THCENTURYMISS

VARSITY PUBLICATIONS

by-election

It’s sad how I’m sore not because of my workout today, but because I didn’t factor in all the distances I’d have 2 walk around campus. #UofT — Friday October 18

KATRINA @KATRINA_UOFT

Varsity Publications is holding a by-election to fill one vacant seat on the corporation’s board of directors.

Who can vote? All full-time undergraduates who pay the Varsity Publications levy are eligible to vote.

How do I vote? Voting is online at voting.utoronto.ca When can I vote? From 12 pm on October 21, 2013 until 6 pm on October 23.

For more information visit var.st/byelection

It’s scientifically impossible to be scared to death but I think the @ Skule Cannon just almost did it for me #UofTProblems — Saturday, October 19

ROSE ANAZAFAR @ROSANAZAFAR I totally wish I had a fall reading week like the rest of you. Instead I have three midterms to write #UofT #killmenow — Sunday, October 20

VARSITY NEWS

var.st/news

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2013

3

Ontario faces potential nurse shortage While most of the country saw an increase in the number of registered nurses per person between 2008–2012, Ontario’s numbers are falling Registered nurses per 100 000 people 2008 2012

Trevor Koroll

VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR

Ontario may soon face a critical shortage of nurses, affecting wait room times and the quality of health care, according to the Registered Nurse Association of Ontario (RNAO).

A recent report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) found that, while most of the country has experienced an increase in the number of nurses per 100,000 people, Ontario’s numbers decreased from 718 to 699 between the years 2008 and 2012 — leaving it second-last in the country. British Columbia currently ranks the lowest in nurses per population. Registered nurses are front-line caregivers who have a university degree. While the majority work in hospitals, they can also work in clinics, schools, management, and policy fields.

Dr. Lianne Jeffs, scientific director, nursing health services research unit and associate professor of nursing at the University of Toronto, said the situation must be monitored closely over the next few years in order to ensure the safety of patients in Ontario. She said that while there are some positive aspects of the CIHI report, such as the rising number of nurses working full time hours — 66.6 per cent up from 62.9 — and the number of Ontario nursing graduates remaining in the province at 93.6 per cent, there are still concerns about the decreasing number of registered nurses.

On October 9, the Registered Nurse Association of Ontario (rnao) quickly released a statement regarding the findings of the cihi report. Doris Grinspun, ceo of the rnao, said that the results of the report are nothing new.

“We have consistently over the last three years been warning the minister and the premier that the numbers were dipping,” she said.

“But now we are reaching the very grave proportions of shortage.”

The RNAO states that the province will likely need to find at least 9,000 nurses by 2015 in order to keep pace with demand. If numbers are not met, Grinspun said the implications on our health care system could be far-reaching.

“Emergency room departments become fuller and fuller, and the implications will be that people will not have same day access in primary care,” Grinspun said.

A spokesperson for The Ministry of Health responded to the cihi report via email, saying that: “while the cihi report noted that Ontario’s Registered Nurse-to-population ratio was the second lower [sic] nationally, RNto-population ratios are only one indicator of supply and should be considered along other metrics.”

The ministry statement added that the actual ratio and needs of

British Columbia

681

650

Alberta

793

804

Saskatchewan

870

918

Manitoba

904

958

Ontario

718

699

Quebec

846

837

1,039

1,097

1,060

1,064

946

975

Newfoundland & Labrador

1,130

1,193

Yukon

1,009

1,036

North West Territories & Nunavut

1,620

1,407

New Brunswick Prince Edward Island Nova Scotia

members of the community are hard to measure, and that such changes as advances in health technology, population demographics, and the effectiveness of care delivery models are all important factors.

The statement also adds that while Ontario may have the second lowest registered nurse levels in the country, thanks to government initiatives such as HealthForceOntario, the province’s nurse workforce has increased 5.8 per cent between 2008 and 2012, and outpaced the population growth of 4.4 per cent.

Critics, however, are not entirely convinced that government initiatives are enough to attract more nurses to the province.

Christine Elliott, mpp for Whitby-Oshawa and Progressive Conservative health critic, said that the shortage is part of the larger economic problem of the province.

“Because our economic situation is so dismal that we really have a debt that’s doubled under the Liberal government and a huge deficit that is really holding us back from making important investments in health care,” said Elliott.

The healthcare system in Ontario is growing at six to seven per cent per year, a rate that is unsustainable, said Elliott. “Within the next 10-15, years health care will consume up to 80 per cent of the provincial budget.” This would severely limit the investment in other areas such as education and infrastructure.

France Gélinas, mpp for Nickel Belt and the ndp health critic, agrees that something has to be done. Speaking with The Varsity on a trip to her constituency, Géli-

Christine Elliot, Progressive Conservative health critic. Trevor korrol/THe vArsiTy

nas said that she hears many complaints about the rural health care system, and not just from patients.

“Work that used to be done mainly by nurses in an environment with lots of oversight now gets transferred to the community, most of the time to a for-profit and most of the time this work is picked up by people who are not nurses,” said Gélinas.

Gélinas said community services generally fall outside the coverage of the Canada Health Act, which lets citizens have free access to hospitals and physician care. She said the cihi report is a good indicator of the state of the health care system, but added that: “it indicates to us that things

have to change; unfortunately things are changing for the worse, not the better.”

“The hospitals are worried; the nurses are worried, and basically everybody who cares about medicare is worried. That includes a lot of physicians who see the changes coming forward and know what that means,” she said, referring to the trend of community care being picked up by private health care workers.

Jeffs said the cihi report doesn’t include numbers on the number of private workers who may be unregulated. The sectors in which the shortages are occurring are another point of interest for Jeffs are. She said the report raises

questions as to whether “we actually having the providers where they need to be to ensure that patients and families in Ontario are getting the best care possible.”

Grinspun said that while the number the rnao is calling for may not be met, the organization has a responsibility to bring the numbers to light and make sure that the public has knowledge of the situation.

“The research points very clearly to the impact of registered nurses, of hours of patient care, of registered nurses on patient, and population outcomes. At the end of the day, governments need to be accountable for their policies,” said Grinspun.

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VARSITY NEWS

Vol. CXXXIV, No. 7

news@thevarsity.ca

Elizabeth May seeks to reform democracy Green Party leader discusses education, democratic renewal, and marijuana Iris Robin

VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR

Green Party leader Elizabeth May describes her vision for post-secondary education: greater financial support for universities via federal government transfers to provinces. “We need to ensure that we put an end to interest-bearing student loans, and we’ll expand bursaries and scholarships for young people,” May stated.

Speaking as a guest lecturer in an env100 class, May emphasized the importance of youth involvement: “We need one thing more than anything else, and it’s you.

We need informed and engaged citizens who won’t shut up about the fact that a handful of economic bullies have decided their short-term profits are worth more than our collective future.”

When asked how the Green Party would combat youth apathy, May responded “I don’t think that youth are more apathetic than any other group in society.”

While it is true that young people are among the least likely to vote, May attributes this to a disillusionment with the voting system and the “false conclusion” that “the entire system is rigged and there’s not much point in voting at all.”

“If you’re feeling disengaged and disillusioned, and angry at politicians, the most important thing to do is to vote… I think what you have to do is take the time to learn about the issues, be active in our democracy, and take the time to vote. So that’s a message to everyone, not just a message to young people,” May said.

In October, May held a town hall on democratic renewal as

Elizabeth May at the University of Toronto. michael chahley/The VarsiTy

part of her “Save Democracy From Politics” nationwide tour.

The tour was designed to give May a platform to discuss the issues of electoral reform, and what she calls “our democratic deficit.”

May is an outspoken proponent of proportional representation, and wishes that political parties had never been established.

“We could have a better, healthier democracy in this country if [we could] eliminate all the political parties in this country and let Canadians vote for the mp

they think most represents their interests,” May said. The Green Party includes implementation of proportional representation as part of its platform. Kelly Carmichael, executive director of Fair Vote Canada, one of the organizations behind the tour, said that the First Past the Post (fptp) system that Canada currently has does not truly reflect the votes of the electorate. Carmichael used the results of the 2011 federal election to illustrate her point: “39 per cent of the voters that

showed up gave one party 54 per cent of the seats, and 100 per cent of the power. Over 700 million votes didn’t elect anybody.

This winner-takes-all, antiquated, fptp system creates division among voters.”

The Green Party was the first federal political party to call for the legalization, regulation, and taxation of marijuana. “It’s very clear that prohibition does not work, and it takes scarce law enforcement resources and puts them in the wrong place, criminalizing

people whose activities shouldn’t be criminalized,” stated May. Two of the Green Party’s longterm national goals are to eliminate student debt entirely, and to increase accessibility to post-secondary education. Mike Schreiner, leader of the Green Party of Ontario (gpo), said “one shouldn’t detract from the other,” and hopes to achieve both through a multiyear tuition fee freeze.

To ensure that the lost revenue does not detract from university budgets, Schreiner promised: “We’d reverse the corporate tax cuts introduced by the Liberal Party... Having skilled young people entering the workforce is a huge benefit to businesses of all sizes, so it seems right that they should help pay for something that helps them.” Ontario is the province with the highest tuition fees, but the lowest public investment.

In addition to the tuition fee freeze, Schreiner would like to introduce grants that are more needs-based, instead of the current tax credit system.

Schreiner pointed out that Ontario is the province with the highest tuition fees, but with the lowest per capita spending on education. He believes that the province’s lack of commitment to education results from the mistaken view that youth are not politically engaged. “The more engaged young people are in politics, the more the policies would benefit them,” he said.

May does not believe that there is sufficient evidence that cannabis is any more of a health threat than cigarettes or alcohol, and supports findings that marijuana is beneficial when used for medical purposes, specifically as an aid for chronic pain, and other illnesses.

Brand new Munk One program praised by faculty, students Program designed to broaden first-year students’ worldviews Hayden Rodenkirchen & Alessandra Harkness VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR

Munk One, a new foundational year program hosted by the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs, celebrated its debut this September. With the pilot class underway, The Varsity spoke with faculty and students about the innovative new program which explores innovation and “theoretically grounded but practically applicable methods of tackling global issues.”

The program features two halfyear seminars and a year-long lab component. Through these labs, students conduct substantive research focusing on issues ranging from environmental governance to cybersecurity. Dr. Teresa Kramarz,

the program’s director and lab component instructor, believes that first-year students are well-suited to this task. “[First-year students] can do a lot more than they are given credit for... they possess a nimbleness in traveling knowledge network that more entrenched practitioners may lack,” she said.

Lab work combined with seminars focused on bridging theory and practice give the program a professional feel, according to Kramarz.

“Munk One puts students in a lab setting which immediately develops both professional and academic skills... [We want] students to create, not just learn and recite,” she added.

Professor Joseph Wong, instructor of the first-semester seminar “Global Innovations I: Issues and Perspectives,” said that the pro-

gram’s practical approach is particularly important given a job market that increasingly demands analytical skills and real-world experience.

“The practical nature of the program allows students to tell future employers, ‘I have done something.

I have created a pitch, identified a problem, and made an attempt to solve it,’” explained Wong.

Professor Shiri Breznitz, instructor of the course’s second semester seminar, “Global Innovation II: Challenges and Solutions,” emphasized the opportunity inherent in such an approach for new students: “The idea is to take this abstract idea of innovation and put it in perspective... This program is really hands on. Students are working on innovative programs and projects... which I think is unique and interesting as a first year undergraduate.”

So far, Munk One students are greatly enjoying the program and its approach. Student Alexa Waud applauded Munk One’s interdisciplinary subject matter, noting that, “Provocative class discussion creates critical lenses that we can apply to questions across different courses.” Asked what he would change about the program, student Anthony Galea was confident, saying: “There is nothing I would change about the program.”

Breton Lalama, a Munk One student conducting historical research for the Munk School’s Global Summitry lab, enjoys the challenge of the seminar format and the intensity of the program. “We are constantly pushed to challenge what we take in, to challenge ‘fact’... and to challenge each other. It’s really awesome,” she said. For her, one

of the themes that has resonated most is the program’s focus on innovation which has encouraged her to “think and innovate in ways we might normally deem weird,” because “the crazy ideas are the ones that often end up working.”

Like her students, Kramarz is excited about the program’s future: “Approximately 25 per cent of our students come from Life Sciences, which is unique for a One program in the social sciences. We have students here from all fields, and each of them bring a different perspective to the challenges we examine in the program.” Given its interdisciplinary nature, Dr. Kramarz hopes that the program will be a launching pad for students across faculties, each committed to identifying and working towards solving some of the world’s greatest problems.

VARSITY NEWS

var.st/news

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2013

5

International students’ tuition fees continue rising Students concerned with disparity between international and domestic fees James Flynn

VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR

Some University of Toronto students are concerned with the difference between domestic student fees and international student fees.

On average, international students in a first-year arts and science program pay 240 per cent more in tuition fees compared to domestic students. Over the course of a four-year degree program in the Faculty of Arts & Science, international students can expect to pay as much as $100,000 more than domestic students.

At U of T, where tuition fees are set by the Governing Council, the difference between domestic tuition fees and international tuition fees is expected to continue to rise for the foreseeable future.

In the coming year, tuition fees are scheduled to rise by 7.2 per cent for international students and by 4.3 per cent for domestic students.

Mrinalini Dayal, a fourth-year international student in the Faculty of Arts & Science, is “vehemently opposed to the extreme [difference] between international and local fees.” Although Dayal concedes that international student fees at Canadian institutions are “relatively lower” than those in other countries, she feels that the difference is unfair.

Chris Fernlund, member of the Steering Committee for the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (ousa), agrees. Fern-

lund believes that the difference between domestic and international tuition unfairly penalizes international students from lowincome backgrounds.

“While the costs associated with international students are higher than those associated with domestic students, due to the cost of international recruitment programs and international student services provided on campuses, the massive increase universities have levied against international students certainly exceeds these costs,” he says. “ousa believes that the Province has a responsibility to regulate international student tuition to ensure that international students are not being unfairly burdened financially.”

Some argue that dedicated resources for international students, such as the International Student Advising Office, justify higher fees. Dayal disagrees with this assessment. “The [Center for International Experience] is really the only resource we have and I don’t think it’s adequate,” Dayal notes.

“With the fees that international [students] pay, there should be more resources available to us.”

Like Dayal, Pierina Camarena, a second-year international student in the Faculty of Arts and Science, believes that international students are not afforded the same opportunities as domestic students in terms of financial aid, scholarship opportunities, and study abroad opportunities. International students are also ineligi-

ble for coverage under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan.

Still, some international students feel the difference between domestic fees and international fees is fair. Bruno Cervantes, a second-year international student in the Faculty of Arts & Science, knew that attending a postsecondary institution outside of Peru, his home country, would be costly. “By choosing an international education, I knew the cost [was] going to be high regardless of place.” Cervantes notes that international tuition fees for a single year at U of T amount to domestic tuition fees for four years of an undergraduate degree in Peru.

Taking into account the quality of education that U of T students receive, however, Cervantes feels the difference is justified.

Cullen Brown, a third-year international student in the Faculty of Arts & Science and a member of the University of Toronto Students’ Union board of directors, agrees: “I understand the rationale behind the discrepancy,” Brown states.

“Coming from the [United States], I would end up paying a lot either way. I knew that in order to go to a good school, I would need to pay.”

Brown’s sentiment is common among international students.

Although fees for international students are high at Canadian post-secondary institutions, they are often lower than fees at postsecondary institutions with the same quality of education in other countries. Tuition at top American

universities, for example, can run upwards of $50,000.

Before 1983, there was no difference between domestic tuition fees and international tuition fees in Ontario. That changed in 1996 when the government of Ontario declared international students ineligible for government funding.

Currently, the federal and provincial governments provide per-student operating grants to post-secondary institutions. There are no per-student operating grants for international students. In any given year, the federal and provincial governments subsidize approximately half of the fees incurred by a domestic student, while international students receive no subsidy.

Domestic and international tuition fee schedules are regulated under Ontario’s Tuition Framework. Under the Framework, domestic tuition fees are capped at 3 per cent per year for most programs and 5 per cent for professional programs. International tuition fee increases, which are unregulated, are under the control of individual post-secondary institutions.

In an email to The Varsity, Gyula Kovacs, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, said that Ontario’s funding is targeted mainly at domestic students. “The government’s priority is to continue to strengthen the quality of our post-secondary education system and to focus on accessibility for Ontario students,” Kovacs notes.

“That said, the Ontario government is working with colleges and universities to make Ontario a global destination of choice for post-secondary education.”

For now, Ontario’s focus is on improving the quality and accessibility of post-secondary education for Ontario students. At the moment, Kovacs notes, “There are no plans to change the current funding structure for international students.” That means that any reduction in the difference between domestic student fees and international student fees will have to come from postsecondary institutions. The University of Windsor, for example, recently announced a policy that will lower its tuition for American students to $5,000 per semester.

With 59,000 international students currently in Ontario, Kovacs says that the province is committed to enhancing the international student experience. “Our role is to ensure that the bar is set high for post-secondary education in Ontario through the implementation of a policy framework that protects our shared, earned global reputation for quality programs, student protection, and a positive student experience.” Kovacs cites a number of government programs as evidence of Ontario’s commitment to the international student experience. One such program, the Ontario Trillium Scholarships, provides top international phd candidates at Canadian institutions with $40,000 annually over four years.

UTSU policy town hall draws small crowd Event intended to inform students in lead up to November 27 Annual General Meeting Kate McCullough

VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR

The University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU) held a policy town hall October 15. Fewer than 15 students attended the event, which intended to draw students who are “curious about the bylaws and policies that govern your students’ union,” according to the advertisements posted around campus.

“This was our elections campaign promise: more student empowerment,” said Munib Sajjad, president of the utsu. Sajjad and Cameron Wathey, vice-president internal, gave a presentation outlining the utsu’s structure, mandate, and decision-making procedures before students were invited to anonymously submit questions. Adam Awad, former utsu president and Canadian Federation of Students national chairperson, acted as facilitator and answered a number of general policy-related questions.

Wathey explained the difference

between bylaws, policies, and position statements, and how each are passed: “Any member can submit a bylaw amendment or proposal for consideration,” he said. “For us to really analyze your bylaw, the best way to do it is to include as much information in the proposal as possible, yet be very concise and to the point.”

The proposal or amendment must first be reviewed by the policies and procedures committee, then approved by 75 per cent of the board of directors — a percentage that some students at the town hall said is too high — before it is introduced at the annual general meeting.

The deadline to submit motions for thr Annual General Meeting (AGM) to the vice-president, internal, is October 21 at 11:59 pm.

Topics of discussion included utsu’s position on removing Turnitin from Blackboard, gender parity among speakers at union meetings, and the running and funding of work-study programs.

The utsu’s AGM will be held on November 27.

Munib Sajjad and Cameron Wathey present at the town hall. Kate Mccullough/the Varsity

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VARSITY NEWS

Vol. CXXXIV, No. 7

news@thevarsity.ca

Turnitin is not obligatory and does not take ownership of students’ work Debunking common Turnitin myths Ilona Kabanova & Afiny Akdemir VARSITY CONTRIBUTORS

Contrary to the common misconception among some students, submitting essays to Turnitin. com does not result in the loss of ownership or copyright privileges to their work. “Students surrender no rights to their work when submitting to Turnitin” said Chris Harrick, vice president of marketing at Turnitin.

The University of Toronto’s policy on use of the website maintains that students who do not wish to use the service must be provided with an alternative means of verifying they are providing original work. Turnitin.com is a widely used tool both in Canada and the United States that helps to detect plagiarism in written assignments. Each is algorithmically checked for textual similarities against 24 billion pages on the Internet, as well as more than 300 million assignments previously submitted to Turnitin. Once the

CONTINUED FROM COVER is an offence to “obtain unauthorized assistance in any academic examination or term test or in connection with any other form of academic work.” It also states that the recommended sanction for submitting purchased work is expulsion, with a minimum sanction of suspension, and zero as the final grade where the offence occurred.

Though Essay Experts claims to have served “literally thousands of students” nationwide, and maintains that its services should be properly cited, Michael Kurts, assistant vice-president, strategic communications and marketing at U of T, stated that the University Tribunal is not aware of any case where a student has cited a purchased work. “Whether in any particular assignment such an action would amount to an academic offence would depend on the particular circumstances of that case; however, it is difficult to see how such a purchase and citation could add any academic merit to the student’s work,” he said. “Students should be very reluctant to expose themselves to the risk of a prosecution arising from the purchase and use of custom essays.”

Instructors disagree on whether citing purchased work is acceptable Some educators say that citing purchased work makes it too easy to stretch into the territory of academic offence. Jacques Bertrand, associate professor in the Department of Political Science, commented that he would absolutely not accept work that cited purchased essays, adding that he considers such services deeply problematic. Kimberly Clark, a teaching assistant in the Depart-

paper is analyzed, an Originality Report is generated highlighting any questionable areas in the paper. These are typically accessible to the instructors, but may also be made available to the students.

Many U of T Arts & Science faculty members use Turnitin because, according to U of T’s policy: “the Turnitin Originality Reports can save instructors time in the investigation of the originality of student work and can allow for efficient citation verification.”

However, the use of the website is not universal across all instructors and most who do use the tool offer a the choice to opt out. Typically, students are able to opt out of the service by discussing the matter with their instructor.

Instructors who choose to use the service must adhere to three guidelines — first: “instructors must exercise their independent professional judgment in, and assume responsibility for, determining whether a text has been plagiarized or not.” Second: students must be informed about

the use of Turnitin at the start of the course in the syllabus.

And third, “if and when students object to its use on principle, a reasonable offline alternative must be offered.” For example, as an alternative students may be asked to submit their rough work with an annotated bibliography.

The university last updated its policy in September 2013.

As for the copyright issue, Turnitin works by mapping out the words in the papers algorithmically and comparing it to other combinations of words on the Internet. Turnitin does not store true representations of papers, only searchable and comparable data. Ryan Green, an educational technology liaison for U of T’s Centre for Teaching Support and Innovation (ctsi) said: “[papers] are stored algorithmically… to look for matches.” Green went on to state that he believes in the six years the university has worked with the website it has developed a good program. Green also said that after the Originality Report

ment of Peace, Conflict, and Justice Studies, echoes the sentiment. She says that upon seeing an essay company cited in a paper, she would request a meeting with the student, and ask them to produce the source.

“Of course,” she says, “in producing the source, the student will then open the door to a number of potentially damaging consequences for their academic record.”

Jessica Soedirgo, a ta in the Department of Political Science, says that she would not accept a paper that cited an essay writing service.

“These services, they’re notorious essay mills. Citing them is just, it’s problematic. That’s terrible,” she said, adding that she thinks most students who purchase work would hide this fact, rather than cite it in an original paper.

The contrast between citing purchased work and submitting it in whole is important for Hurka. He compares the essays provided by the service to any other external work incorporated into a final paper. He said that if a student borrowed a paper from a past student in a class, used it for guidance, and cited it appropriately, it would not constitute plagiarism. He said that he does not see a significant difference between this and citing a purchased work. As long as the bulk of the work is done by the student themselves and the source is cited properly, it does not constitute plagiarism, he says.

“It’s hard to believe that they would pay for an essay in order to cite it,” said Clifford Orwin, a professor of political science, adding: “Why would you turn to what an essay mill tells you about Machiavelli with the intention to cite it, when you could turn to what legitimate scholars say about Machiavelli?”

Toronto Centre by-election called for November 25

is given, students can ask for their papers to be removed and papers always remain students’ intellectual property.

Many instructors choose to use the website for its ease and convenience. Gustavo Indart, senior lecturer in the Department of Economics, said he believes most of his students are honest; however, Turnitin is a valuable tool for discouraging those who might consider plagarism. Indart likes the service because it “reduces the temptation not to learn”.

However, not all feel the same way about the Turnitin services.

The University of Toronto Students’ Union (utsu) has a history of campaigning against the website, and as a part of their ongoing Student Rights initiative, its website maintains that students have: “the right to own [their] work and refuse to use turnitin. com.” The utsu also spearheaded a campaign called “Ban Turnitin. com.”

Some faculty share utsu’s views on the issue. Romin Tafarodi, an

associate professor of psychology at the University of Toronto, said that he does not use Turnitin.com because “…it symbolizes distrust.

Using Turnitin means I need to use policing when establishing a relationship with a student.”

Tafarodi addressed another complaint students have against the service, mainly that it assumes students’ guilt and is used as a tool to prove their innocence.

Tafarodi believes that the “best thing we could do to cure plagiarism is to create a healthy and ethical environment in the classroom for students, where they’ll understand that if they won’t write in their own words, they would be losing a valuable opportunity.” Shawn Tian, president of the Arts and Science Students’ Union (assu) had a similar view: “When you implement so many measures to contract, it indicates a lack of trust,” he said.

Candidates vie for seat formerly held by interim Liberal leader Bob Rae Zane Schwartz NEWS EDITOR

Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the date of four federal by-elections Sunday, including the riding of Toronto Centre which includes parts of the University of Toronto’s St. George campus. The seat became vacant this past summer, when former Liberal party leader and current U of T instructor Bob Rae resigned.

The by-election has been billed by some as a test of the Liberals’ and ndps’ relative strength in the lead up to a general election in 2015.

The Liberals’ candidate is Chrystia Freeland, a prominent journalist who has written for The Globe and Mail, Financial Times and, most recently, served as managing editor of Thomson

Reuters. Reached by email, Freeland outlined why she feels she will be the best candidate to represent students: “A great deal of my work on the middle class has focused on how one of the most devastating effects of rising income inequality is how it erodes social mobility. Education is an important antidote. It is essential that an outstanding, world class, education is available to all Canadians. Making sure this kind of education is in place and that meaningful employment is available after graduation is at the top of my agenda.”

Her ndp opponent Linda McQuaig is also a well-known journalist, having written for Maclean’s, the National Post, and The Globe and Mail. “She has policies that speak to student issues and on topics relating to income equality, tuition fees, affordable hous-

ing and unpaid internships — all of which are issues which relate to the average student” says McQuaig spokesperson Angela Zhu, who is also the treasurer of U of T’s New Democrats.

Sharon Danley, campaign manager for Green Party candidate John Deverell, feels that while Deverell should be elected, the whole system should be changed to one of proportional representation. “The Green Party is the best equipped to deal with the issues that matter — income inequality, climate change — but its difficult to do that without proportional representation.” Deverell is also a former journalist; he worked for 25 years at the Toronto Star.

The Conservative Party’s candidate is Geoff Pollock, a lawyer and former army reservist. As of press time, Pollock’s campaign had not replied to requests for comment.

Write for News! news@thevarsity.ca

VARSITY NEWS

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2013

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U of T responds to Loretto investigation Following two weeks of silence, U of T answers some questions on controversial all-women’s residence Sarah Niedoba

ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR

Earlier this month, in an investigation by The Varsity, former residents at Loretto College raised concerns about the college’s policies and its residence atmosphere.

Loretto is a private, all-female residence affiliated with St. Michael’s College (smc). The Varsity spoke to former residents who were uncomfortable with the conservative policies and tone of the residence and the requirement that they formally agree to live in a “Christian academic community.” Under the University of Toronto’s residence guarantee policy, some students also faced a choice between living in Loretto and not living in residence at all.

The university has now clarified its position on some of the questions raised by the investigation, although significant questions remain unanswered.

Michael Kurts, assistant vicepresident of strategic communications, was asked whether women could have been placed in Loretto without requesting it in the first place. Kurts explained that there are higher demands for particular residences than can be met. When this is the case, Housing Services identifies other residences that have open spaces, and offers students a place within these alternative residences. “This means that any

Students move in to Loretto College. CArolyn levett/tHe vArsity

student may be offered a space in a residence that they did not select as their choice. This would be as true for Loretto as any other U of T residence,” he said.

If a student chooses to decline this offer, they are placed on a waitlist for their first choice residence. Kurts acknowledged that the likelihood of getting a spot in one’s first choice residence after being placed on a waitlist was “very low.” A number of the girls interviewed during The Varsity’s investigation said they felt

uncomfortable signing the residence agreement but were told that no other option was available. Some elected not to sign the residence agreement and found off-campus housing.

Kurts further clarified that all U of T policies are in effect at Loretto College, as it is affiliated with the university, and that while they do not have an exact number of girls who did not select Loretto as their first choice, “the number is small, and likely fewer than five.” The Varsity interviewed more than a

dozen girls, who entered across multiple years, and indicated that they did not select Loretto as a first choice.

The smc residence office said that all Arts & Science students who are a part of smc are offered both a spot in Loretto and a spot in smc proper, but the same does not seem to be true for professional faculty students, who are dealt with separately. Many of the engineering students interviewed during the course of the investigation claimed they were

told they would be offered spots in both Loretto and smc. However, when they were offered spots in Loretto and inquired about the alternate offer, they were told none was available.

When asked what would happen if a student was uncomfortable with the religious aspects of living at Loretto, Kurts said that an attempt would be made to find another space. However, he warned: “Most often than ever, our residences are full to capacity and there may be no other spaces available.”

Meanwhile, Angela Convertini, dean of residence at Loretto College, said she felt that no students were forced into Loretto. When asked about why the residence agreement was not made available online, Convertini explained that as a smaller residence, Loretto does not have access to a webmaster and therefore is unable to maintain a separate website containing its residence agreement.

Convertini claimed women have as much knowledge about Loretto as any other residence: “We have people come by and tour the residence, look over the residence agreement, and understand what they’re getting into.

Many of the women quoted in the article never came to us with any problems...they were made fully aware of the nature of the residence and the environment in which they were choosing to live.”

Uneventful UTSU Linda McQuaig byelection comes to a close headlines event Onik Khan elected VP external while Pierre Harfouche and Sanchit Mathur claim engineering seats Aisha Kakinuma Hassan & Atta Habibollah-Zadeh VARSITY STAFF

The University of Toronto Students’ Union (utsu) 2013 fall by-elections were held last week, with most of the positions going uncontested. The utsu introduced online voting for the first time this election. The byelections — held on October 15, 16, and 17 — were for one position on the Executive Committee for vp external and several positions on the Board of Directors. Directors for the transitional year program, the Ontario Institute of Studies in Education, and the Faculty of Dentistry went uncontested, and the candidates were acclaimed.

This election was the first time the utsu had online voting in addition to the usual physical polls located across campus. In September, the utsu’s board approved online voting with limited hours, from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, after more than a year of controversy surrounding online voting. At the time, the board indicated it hoped online voting would increase voter turnout. The turnout has been low in past years, reaching less than 7 per cent in last spring’s election.

Unofficial results were announced on Friday evening. Onik Khan, the former vp campus life who ran unopposed for the seat of vp external, won with 1088 voting yes and 268 voting no. Khan’s election was the only one where all undergraduate students were eligible to vote; turnout was less than 4 per cent.

There was an unusually high number of spoiled ballots in the vp external election with 253 ballots — approximately one-sixth of all votes cast, declared spoiled.

“I feel great about the results of the past two weeks of talking to students about issues such as the cost of education, transit, and how to make the student community at U of T stronger.

My volunteers and I had a lot of great conversations with students in person about these issues, and how students can work together,” said Khan.

Khan went on to say that one of the first things he plans on working towards as vp external is getting students involved in a movement against flat fees. In a recent interview with The Varsity, Brad Duguid, minister of training, colleges and universities, revealed that he plans to alter the flat fees policy. Khan also wants to focus on reducing education costs and pedestrianizing the campus.

Additionally, Khan hopes to addresses broader community issues such as sweatshop working conditions.

Khan intends to step down as vp campus life to assume his new position, which will automatically trigger an appointment process to fill the post.

Pierre Harfouche and Sanchit Mathur won the two seats for the faculty of engineering, beating out four other candidates. Despite his lack of campaigning, Harfouche came in first with 145 votes. Mathur, who served on the board last year, came in second with 116.

Harfouche hopes to represent the engineering community, specifically on the issue of diverting fees from the utsu. Harfouche, who was a prominent anti-union activist last year when he held the position of vp finance on the Engineering Society, said: “Engineers currently express the will to work with the utsu but not be a part of the utsu,” he said, while also stating his willingness on “working with the utsu on issues that the engineers and students agree on.”

Catherine Nguyen and Billi Wun — representing the faculty of dentistry and faculty of law, respectively — each defeated a sole opponent to claim their seats.

hosted at OISE Daniel Smeenk

VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR

The U of T New Democrats hosted a small roundtable session at oise on Wednesday night which featured Canadian journalist Linda McQuaig — currently the ndp Candidate for mp in the Toronto Centre by-election.

McQuaig, a prominent Canadian journalist, won the nomination in September and is running to replace former Liberal interim leader Bob Rae, who resigned from Parliament in June. She is competing against Liberal candidate Chrystia Freeland, Conservative candidate Geoff Pollock, and Green Party candidate John Deverall.

The event covered many topics, including: tuition rates, public funding of universities, class inequality, and private fundraising for universities. One audience member asked McQuaig about her position on the monarchy, and another asked about the ndp’s views on foreign policy.

McQuaig challenged how unpaid internships are monitored,

saying that they need: “to be more seriously looked at and more seriously regulated.”

Toronto Centre is widely seen as a Liberal stronghold, with the party having held the seat since 1993. McQuaig, speaking on her chances of defeating the Liberals, said that Freeland is “very vulnerable,” as, according to McQuaig she has only lived in the riding for a short time, and has spent much of her life outside Canada. She also contended that Freeland’s book Plutocrats: The Rise of the New Global Super Rich and the Fall of Everyone Else, “Has no ideas about how to help the middle class,” and “Barely mentions Canada.” McQuaig said she does not know that much about Pollock.

In total, 17 people attended the event. This was the U of T New Democrats’ third event of the year. The executive of the U of T New Democrats have been hosting events in conjunction with other NDP groups around Toronto, with the “main focus” now being on the by-election, but with “overlapping” concern with other issues.

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VARSITY NEWS

Vol. CXXXIV, No. 7

news@thevarsity.ca

The man who manages U of T’s money Meet William Moriarty: President of U of T’s Assest Management Corporation Theodore Yan

ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR

For more than a decade, U of T’s endowment and pension funds have been managed by the University of Toronto Asset Management Corporation (utam). From January 1 to June 30 2013, the portion of U of T’s endowment for long-term investment returned 5.89 per cent, with the total now sitting at just over $1.9 billion. utam was incorporated in 2000 to pursue a more active style of managing U of T’s funds, including its endowment and pension plan.

The university contracted the organization in the hopes of securing greater returns from its investments than it did from the committee of volunteers that preceded utam.

“We don’t actually manage that money internally,” explained William Moriarty, president and ceo of utam. “What we do is we work with the university to create a portfolio asset mix that is designed to meet their objectives in terms of return objectives, in terms of risk appetite, in terms of time-frame.” After the university agrees on this reference portfolio — generally a collection of low-risk, easily managed investments — the corporation proceeds to create an actual portfolio, which investors sometimes drily refer to as the “better portfolio,” to attempt to outperform the reference. utam then searches for and contracts investment managers to run segments of the portfolio, depending on their expertise. “In that sense we’re a manager of managers, or a fund of funds,” Moriarty noted.

The ceo used utam’s approach to Canadian equities (assets minus

William Moriarty, President and CEO of the University of Toronto’s Asset Management Corporation. Courtney Hallink/tHe Varsity

debt, or simply, stocks) as an example. “We essentially said ‘Which segment of the market has the greatest number of companies and the greatest dispersion of returns?’ When you go through that and you look at the marketplace, the answer to that is natural resources, so if you can find an expert who really knows the natural resource space, then you should be able to add extra value into the portfolio.” With this in mind, utam went on to contract agf Management Limited, a specialist in the industry. Though utam still monitors its performance, it now leaves investment decisions for a portion of U of T’s assets to agf.

Assessments of the corporation’s performance to date have been mixed. The University of Toronto Faculty Association (utfa), whose pension fund utam manages, disapproves of the university risking losing money in the attempt to beat the market. “utam thinks that by actively managing our funds, by picking the right stocks, the right investments, they can beat the returns of similar passive investment portfolios by, say, half a percentage point every year after cost,” stated Ettore Damiano, economics professor and member of the utfa’s Salary, Benefits, and Pensions Committee. “Maybe it’s possible, but it’s

very hard because the cost structure of active management is very high. utam spends about 1.4 per cent of our assets every year in expenses.” In order to make that additional half a percentage point in returns, he concluded, utam would have to make almost two per cent more per year before costs than a passive, low-management index fund — a difficult task in the relatively efficient North American equities market.

Nonetheless, utam’s performance of late has been promising.

In the past four-year period, the Long Term Capital Appreciation Pool (ltcap) has returned 8.42 per

cent (0.92 per cent more than the reference portfolio, all figures after costs), while the pension fund has returned 8.38 per cent (0.87 per cent more than the reference). “That’s an extra, potentially, fifty-odd million dollars each year to the university, net of all costs,” said Moriarty. “So I would say over the last four years, touch wood, we’ve been reasonably successful.” This is a welcome sign, as the university — like much of the world — is still reeling from the effects of the 2008 financial crisis, during which the university experienced a 29.4 per cent loss of the ltcap and 29.5 per cent of its pension fund. utam will need to continue to perform similarly if U of T is to fully recover its 2008 losses.

“I think we’re gratified with the support that the university administration has given us to actually build what we have today, because I think we have a much more experienced staff than existed here five years ago,” Moriarty said by way of conclusion “We have an incredible suite of analytics and infrastructure that we’ve built. We have a much more sophisticated risk-management system than anything that existed here previously.”

Both Moriarty and Damiano emphasized that gauging the success of investment managers is complicated, because their work is characterized by periods of triumph and periods of failure. Any manager can look either brilliant or incompetent, depending on the years evaluated. That said, it is in the university’s best interest that Moriarty and utam are brilliant for a little while — much of the University of Toronto’s fortune rests on the their success.

Cyclists beware: trends in bicycle thefts around campus Emma Compeau & Tanya Rogova VARSITY CONTRIBUTORS

The annual numbers of bike thefts on campus are on the rise. In 2009, 58 bikes were reported missing or stolen on campus. This number has increased by 87 per cent, with 107 cases of stolen bicycles reported in 2012.

This hasn’t always been the case; over the past decade, Campus Police has initiated successful efforts to minimize the problem, including a Bicycle Anti Theft Program in 2005. This program allowed interested cyclists to place identification numbers on their bikes, aiding in the recovery process of stolen bikes and lowering their resale value. The measures seem to have been initially successful, as the number of annual cases decreased steadily from 2005 to 2009.

Since 2009 however, the numbers have risen again. Campus Police explain this increase in criminal activity as a result of the “larger pool of targets” as the number of cyclists on campus continues to rise. This upward trend affects a large population of the university’s

daily commuters, as cycling remains one of the fastest, cheapest, and most environmentally friendly modes of transportation to and from campus.

Michael Kurts, assistant vicepresident of communications at U of T, speaking on behalf of Campus Police, said that bike thefts usually occur in places on campus where bicycle racks are concentrated. However, such thefts are not proprotionally distributed among all places where there are bike racks; activity reports available on the campus police website show the highest concentration of thefts outside Robarts library and the nearby Rotman Management Centre. Other areas of reported thefts this year include college residences, with multiple thefts reported at New, University, Innis, and Trinity colleges.

Kurts says that there are no locations campus which could be considered safer than others. Kurts says that there are clear steps which can be taken to prevent bike theft; he recommends that cyclists register their bikes in the Toronto Police bike registry, lock bikes with two high-end U-locks, and ensure no quick release parts are left behind.

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Kurts says that apprehended individuals usually work alone, but are occasionally are caught working in pairs — while one person acts as a spotter, the other commits the theft. He adds that bicycle theft is an unskilled task, and requires only brute force and minimal tools. Once a bike is stolen, the chance of recovery is minimal.

Most stolen bicycles are sold by the thief to a willing merchant, who

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then resells it at a retail or secondhand shop.

Campus police have implemented measures to combat the issue of bike theft on campus.

These measures include Orientation Week events and community presentations in which theft prevention measures are highlighted.

Additionally, plain clothes operations are used; these operations involve undercover officers patrol-

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ling campus in an effort to catch thefts as they occur. Last year, plain clothes operations led to the apprehension of four wouldbe bike thieves. Kurts warns that repercussions of stealing a bike on campus could include prosecution under the criminal code for theft, fines, or possible time in custody upon conviction. To date, 73 bicycles have been reported stolen on campus.

NEXT WEEK IN COMMENT:

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Mayor Ford's administration marked by blunders

21 OCTOBER 2013 comment@thevarsity.ca

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Russia's deep internal divide

Political differences are to blame for civil rights issues, but is an Olympic boycott the right approach?

Jeffrey Schulman

VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR

The initial reaction of many in the West to Russian President Vladimir Putin signing laws to ban homosexual propaganda was outrage. Soon thereafter, many began to talk about boycotting the upcoming Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics. To do so would be the height of foolishness and serve only to further the cause of illiberalism in Russia.

Russia has become increasingly polarized between an emerging urban elite — whose values can easily be recognized in Canada — and a more rural traditional population for whom conservative mores hold far greater sway.

When Putin was first elected, he was welcomed by all as the answer to the chaos of Boris Yeltsin’s administration. As time has gone on, the West has become increasingly frustrated with Putin’s hard-line defense of Russian interests internationally. Meanwhile, Russia’s more liberal middle classes have become more and more frustrated by the corruption in Russian society.

Putin has therefore come to rely increasingly on an unsophisticated rural class for popular support. Putin's cultivation of an ultra-masculine image for himself is clearly an effort to appeal to this class. Whether driving a truck across Siberia or shooting tigers, Putin constantly attempts to portray himself as a defender of traditional Russian culture and values against the United States.

Western intervention and commentary has continually irked both

Putin and his conservative political base. The passage of the Magnitsky Act by the United States Congress, designed to bring the corruption and lack of justice in Russia to light, appears to that country's conservatives as an attempt by a recent enemy to meddle in Russia’s affairs. Meanwhile, efforts in the West to brand Putin as a tin pot dictator, along the lines of Muammar Gaddafi or Kim Jong-un, and efforts by the U.S. to encourage dissent within Russia have threatened the continued survival of Putin’s government. Forced by this challenge to shore up support while increasingly seeing the US as against him, Putin has had to fight tooth and nail against America's efforts.

Putin seeks to maintain his position in power, while gaining international support for himself and for Russia as influential forces in world affairs. While the liberal classes in Russia will not support Putin regardless of his actions, Russia’s rural conservatives are only likely to care about issues of traditional morality when they are forced to pay attention, such as following the recent arrest of the band Pussy Riot for playing offensive music in a church, or the recent talk of boycotting the Sochi Olympics. Like Putin, the conservatives are interested in furthering Russia’s respectability and influence in the world.

Canada has a special role to play; while the conservative base upon which Putin depends still harbors deep suspicions about the United States and many Western European countries, Canada and Russia have many shared interests. The Arctic, for instance, has become a new battle-

NANCy ji /ThEVARSiTy

ground in international diplomacy. By working to reach accords with Russia on issues like Arctic sovereignty and access to the newly opening Northeast and Northwest Passages, ordinary Russians can begin to see the West as a partner to work with and learn from, rather than as an enemy to op-

pose. While the recent news out of Russia is deeply disturbing and should be addressed, walking away from the Olympic games is not the best way for the West to demonstrate its dissatisfaction. Boycotting the games would be perceived as a Western affront to traditional Russian morals. The West

could accomplish more by focusing on what they have in common with Russia to bring the country forward, rather than denying the opportunity to have conversation.

Jeffrey Schulman is a first-year student at Trinity College.

Alice, you’ve gone far What Alice Munro's recent Nobel Prize win means for Canadian writers Sonia Liang

VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR

The first female Canadian to win, Munro opens the door for others. DEREK ShAPTON/MEDiA PhOTO

Last Thursday, celebrated Canadian author Alice Munro was declared winner of the 2013 Nobel Prize in Literature. She is the first-ever female Canadian to win the award, and only the 13th woman to do so since the prize's founding in 1901.

Upon hearing the news, she said she was “delighted” and “terribly surprised.” At least, that was her reaction when the Swedish Academy finally got hold of her.

Munro is hailed as the master of the contemporary short story, and has indeed almost exclusively stuck to the genre; all of her collections — apart from Lives of Girls and Women — are part of this genre. From the Governor General’s Award in 1968 to the Man Booker Prize in 2009, the list of accolades to Munro's name continues to grow. In the past halfcentury, Munro has been a perennial presence on both the Canadian and international literary scenes.

Most of her stories are set in the small towns of Huron County, On-

tario, where she was born. While her writing has a local focus, Munro’s complex characters, ambiguous plot, and often disconcerting depictions of human tensions and relationships transcend regional associations. She has captivated an international audience with her unapologetically revealing portrayal of everyday life.

Nicknamed the "Canadian Chekhov," Munro scrutinizes the smalltown life of seemingly ordinary characters, gradually peeling back layers of outward domestic bliss. She gives readers a glimpse into a world that is intensely private.

Though Munro has written extensively about domestic life, she was once told that her work was not serious enough to merit consideration. When first establishing herself as a writer, she faced much condescension, and was dismissed as a housewife whose material was domestic and boring. She was encroaching upon male-dominated territory — criticized by an overwhelmingly male audience — and wrote stories that showed her deep frustration with society’s restrictive

gender norms. In her writing, the tension between male and female characters continues to be central to much of her portrayal of familial strife.

Now that a Canadian has reached the pinnacle of literary achievement, some questions are raised as to the overall quality of Canadian literature and how other Canadians may fare in the future. Revered for novels like Surfacing and The Year of the Flood, Victoria College alumna and long-time friend of Munro, Margaret Atwood touches on similar issues of gender dynamics and the volatile relationships people have with nature in her work. Ann-Marie MacDonald, author of the Governor Generals Award-winning, Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet) or Yann Martel — best known for his novel-gone-blockbuster Life of Pi and his frostily received allegory Beatrice and Virgil — are also possible contenders. It would appear to be a bright new day for Canadian writers, but I suppose only time will tell. For now, congratulations Alice.

Sonia Liang is a second-year student studying English and political science.

VARSITY COMMENT

10 Vol. CXXXIV, No. 7

comment@thevarsity.ca

The Ontario government's plan for PSE is here, and working.

An op-ed in response to The Varsity's editorial: "Talk is cheap"

Kathleen Wynne's provincial government has been hard at work developing a comprehensive plan for post-secondary education. PAUL SCHRIEBER/FLICKR

Scott Dallen

POLICY DIRECTOR, U OF T LIBERALS

The Varsity’s recent editorial ["Talk is cheap," published October 7] presents a skewed account of the progress made on post-secondary education in Ontario. While in many ways, The Varsity's article was a fair representation of the student perspective, the Wynne gov-

ernment has persistently stood up for Ontario’s students and its educational institutions. The Liberal government has repeatedly expressed its commitment to make pse accessible on the basis of ability to learn, not the ability to pay, and despite The Varsity’s contentions, this commitment has manifested itself in a number of concrete actions.

Since 2003, the Liberal government has increased funding to

post-secondary institutions by 80 per cent. This elevated level of funding allows for better quality programs in our schools and more dollars going toward the education of each post-secondary student.

The Liberal government is also responsible for the recent legislation capping osap debt at $7,300 per year, significantly reducing the weight of student loans.

More recently, the government instituted a 30 per cent off-tuition grant, a program which over 230,000 Ontario students benefit from.

The Varsity’s assertion that the Wynne government has taken no action to support Ontario’s students is either a misrepresentation or a misunderstanding of the facts. Not only has the provincial government instituted the above

reforms, but Minister Duguid has committed to tackling deferral and flat fees this fall.

Despite The Varsity’s intentions to illuminate the ostensible lag in pse progress, their article instead stifles this conversation, and misrepresents the progress made by the Liberal government in the area.

Rather than broadening the divide between student and government interests, I hope that in the following weeks and months The Varsity will take advantage of this opportunity to work with legislators to provide productive ideas for policy development.

Of course, there is more work to be done, but what The Varsity, and the students of Ontario have to understand, is that the government is engaged in an in-depth consultation process, and this process takes time to execute properly. It is also a process that predominantly includes the consideration of student opinions, like those expressed in The Varsity.

I encourage everyone to join in the conversation online, by submitting a policy idea to the Ontario Liberal Party’s policy-development site. I also encourage students on all sides of the debate to help foster an enriched discourse on student issues and reach out to Minister Duguid; his door will always be open to concerned students. As students, it is our responsibility to work together with legislators to make Ontario a better environment for students; I just hope that we’re up to the task.

Scott Dallen is policy director for the U of T Liberals.

Is football doomed?

New information on concussions casts a dark shadow over contact sports Fabio Kim

VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR

This past week, pbs Frontline aired an episode called "League of Denial: The nfl’s Concussion Crisis" that sheds new light on a disturbing topic: concussions in contact sports. The issue is an ongoing source of worry for athletes, their families, and the institutions that exist to promote professional athletics as more information regarding the long-term effects of hits to the head becomes available. Regardless of whether or not someone is a fan of football, hockey, or any other violent sport, this issue should be of concern.

As a proactive and passionate fan of the nfl, it is disheartening to learn about the finding of this research. After watching documentaries like the one produced by pbs and reading about the health and legal troubles of former and current players, it sometimes becomes difficult for me reconcile my love of the game and the inherent risk it poses to its players.

While professional football is a massive source of entertainment and revenue and is widely appreciated in North America, the disturbing and very real concerns about the

game demand close attention from fans. The documentary alleges that the nfl actively sought to bury and discredit reports that former players were experiencing a serious degenerative brain disorder, known as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy as a result of concussive hits to the head they sustained during games.

Take, for instance, the case of former player Mike Webster, who suffered through years of physical and mental anguish as a result of the beatings he took in his playing days. Webster battled with mental illness throughout his later life, was often homeless, and constantly in pain.

On a personal level, I find that I cannot deny the seriousness behind the research's findings. It is true that football can cause very serious brain injuries, which can ultimately impair a player's health for the rest of their lives. It is true that the nfl denied that this was a problem for years. I sometimes wonder if I can justifiably support a league that would actively collude to hide such serious allegations at the expense of athletes.

On the other hand, however, an argument could be made that these players are adults, that they wittingly and willingly participate in a dangerous game, and that

Contact sports like football pose risks to athletes. FILE PHOTO: MICHAEL CHAHLEy/THEvARSITy

they are rewarded handsomely in the form of million-dollar salaries.

While the nfl did settle to the tune of $700 million in a class action lawsuit filed by the families of a number of affected players, many fans and observers believe more must be done to address the issue.

On the bright side, we now see highly regarded players publicly stat-

ing that they do not wish their kids to play football because of the risk of injury. High school coaches and administrators are now implementing groundbreaking protocols to identify and treat concussions when they happen. The sport itself has changed its rules to become safer by penalizing the types of hits we now know cause these injuries. The league has adapted

and has begun levying heavier fines on players for excessive roughness in the game. nfl commissioner Roger Goodell now knows that people are watching, and is taking steps in the right direction to fix the problem.

The question of whether or not football should continue to exist in light of all that we now know about concussions is a difficult one. The sport has become engrained in North American culture — particularly in the United States, but with a strong following in Canada. Football is not only popular, it is also good business.

For the sole reason that it is so well established and so successful, football must stay — but it must also continue to change. I for one believe that football, more than any other high-level professional sport being played today, demands the close attention of fans everywhere. A lot can be learned from the research being conducted, and many will ultimately gain from its findings. From an avid fan's perspective, football must continue to change in order to better protect athletes — if it is to continue at all.

Fabio Kim is a fourth-year student studying English and philosophy.

Editorial

21 OCTOBER 2013 editorial@thevarsity.ca

LETTERS TO

LORETTO COLLEGE PROVINCIAL PSE POLICY

Change to residence guarantee needed in light of Loretto Earlier this month, The Varsity published an investigative story about Loretto College, a private, all-female, religious residence on campus associated with St. Michael's College (smc). The piece (“Christian residence only option for some,” October 7) sheds some light on an otherwise little-known residence on campus and the significant problems it's policies are causing for some students. Most alarmingly, U of T’s policies seem to be forcing some students to choose between living in an actively Christian residence and not living in residence at all.

To live in Loretto, students must agree to follow policies that "foster participation and involvement in a supportive Christian academic community," the mandate set out in the “philosophy statement” of Loretto College's residence agreement. The agreement goes on to specify a number of policies that are explicitly intended create a religiously-oriented community.

Former Loretto residents told The Varsity that college staff promoted what one student described as, "a type of conservative personal decorum." While the residence agreement also prohibits discrimination, it is not surprising that many students were uncomfortable living in an overtly religious residence.

Loretto is owned and staffed in part by the Loretto Sisters, an order of Roman Catholic nuns. U of T has yet to clarify the arrangement between the sisters, SMC, and the university. In their initial response to the details in the story, the university characterized Loretto as having “religious roots.” This is an accurate way to describe several U of T’s college residences, but unacceptably understates the role of religion at Loretto. smc, for example, has religious roots — it was founded as a religious institution and retains some religious affiliation and traditions.

Loretto College, on the other hand, is owned and operated by a religious order. Its students must agree to “adhere” to Christian values. Resident must follow policies that are overtly intended to promote a religious life-style, if not the actual practice of religion. Loretto does not simply have “religious roots,” it is an actively religious institution, making it very different from every other residence affiliated with U of T. Accordingly, U of T’s residence policies should not treat it like any other residence, especially because this can place students in very difficult situations.

U of T widely advertises its residence guarantee program, and many students accept offers of enrolment at the university on the understanding that they will be able to live in residence in their first year. U of T does not, of course, guarantee students a place in their preferred residence. Students can be placed in Loretto, as they can be placed in any residence, without requesting to live there. Under the program, students who turn down their first offer are not guaranteed a second one.

It is understandable that U of T cannot accommodate every incoming student’s personal preferences about residences. There is, however, a difference between preferences based on location or style and an aversion to living in a religious institution. The Varsity spoke to several students who faced a choice between living in a religious residence they were uncomfortable with, and trying to find off-campus housing in a new city months before the start of term. It is unacceptable that U of T would put incoming students, many of whom are living on their own for the first time, in such a dilemma.

Information about Loretto’s strict and unusual residence policies is not easy to find. While many other residences on campus make their rules clear on their website, Loretto does not. Where a comprehensive description of expected behaviour should be, Loretto only describes itself as an all female residence, with no mention of its religious character.

While it is perhaps unfair to criticize Loretto's residence policies for trying to establish and protect a religious community on campus, the grievances raised by students who were not aware of the extra requirements to living there must be addressed. All the residences at U of T have policies and agreements that students are required to follow. These account for things like the presence of hotplates and other dangerous items in rooms, quiet hours for study, and, in some buildings and colleges, mandatory meal plans and hours. The difference in Loretto's case is that the residence’s policies are not transparent and that they are religiously inspired.

The Varsity does question whether or not Loretto — or any other institution on campus — should be free to express its religious affiliation or enforce rules that are informed by its philosophy. Rather, we question whether or not university administrators are doing all that they can to accommodate incoming students looking for residence placements.

The residence guarantee policy is undoubtedly a good one; it provides for students coming from outside the city who would otherwise be forced to find a place to live off-campus. However, it is obvious that U of T should reexamine the program in light of the fact that some students are being placed in environments in which they are not comfortable, without the opportunity to make informed choices. Many students interviewed for our story indicated that Loretto was the only option offered to them, and many said that they were largely unaware of what living there entailed. It is also disconcerting that the university was either unable or unwilling to relocate students with substantive concerns about their treatment at Loretto. It is clear that in many ways Loretto is fundamentally different than other residence options on campus; so far, the university has refused to see this difference.

Does Loretto need to reexamine its policies? No; as a private residence, administrators are entitled to foster any community they like based on whatever philosophical mandate they choose. Does U of T need to do more to help the students relying on the residence guarantee when they find themselves in a difficult situation? Absolutely. U of T must acknowledge that many students may be deeply uncomfortable in a residence run according to Christian values. It must be forthcoming with incoming students about the unusual aspects of Loretto, or any other residence with unusual policies, and it must offer residence alternatives to students who do not want to live in a religious community.

Of course, many of Loretto College's residents are happy to be there and are thriving in the unique community the residence offers. Loretto accommodates female students of all faiths and backgrounds quite happily and with mostly positive reviews, as was clear in The Varsity's original article. For the small, unhappy, minority of students, however, more needs to be done.

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

THE EDITOR Vol CXXXIV, No. 06 | October 7, 2013 Re: Christian residence only option for some An offer of residence in first year is guaranteed by the university — it's not a privilege, it's a right. Loretto is not doing these girls a special favour by offering them a place that they "desperately need"; it's a part of the responsibility the university has to them. Without a doubt, there is demand and desire for a more conservative all-girls residence at U of T. I know that Lorreto is a great and welcoming place for students but its policies are fairly strict and not for everyone. Often girls end up uncomfortable in Loretto but living there because it was the only option they had. This isn't fair to them — they should have a choice to live in a less restrictive residence if they want to. You're correct — they aren't "forced" to live there but many are stuck choosing it even though it conflicts with their lifestyle and values because trying to find alternative housing as a first-year is difficult or impossible.

— nicoleolivia (from web) As a former resident of Loretto I can say that unless you are super vigilant, you have no idea that you will be offered any other place of residence. Most people don't go looking for Loretto — they end up there. There are a lot of cool things about the people who live there, and it's a tight knit community, but the way Loretto as a building is run is pretty awful. As a queer student I felt very uncomfortable.

The dress code was silly. If you wore shorts to breakfast you would get berated, for example, and told not to do it again. Why this mattered at an all girls residence is beyond me.

Like I said, a lot of cool girls live at Loretto and it has a very homelike vibe. You get to know the other girls very well, and the porter system in the place feels really safe.

But the regulations are very strict (no meat on Friday for example, regardless of religion) and even as someone Christian myself I felt it was a very negative environment.

— M.B. (from web) In response to M.B. I totally disagree. I just started living at Loretto this year. I'm also queer and I find it to be a totally welcoming place. Also, in your whole post, you didn't mention at all why it was uncomfortable for you to live there as a queer student. No one has tried to enforce any Christian or Catholic beliefs onto me.

I wear shorts to breakfast almost every other day; there is no dress code as long as you don't wear pajamas on the main floor and that is because it isn't just a residence, the Loretto Sisters have visitors and meetings on a daily basis, so you have to take the stairs directly into the dining hall if you want to walk around like that. That's all.

— Prinka (from web)

Re: Suresh Sriskandarajah and Sri Lanka’s history of violence Wait and see... The government of Sri Lanka has to be punished for war crimes. They are lying to their citizens and to the rest of the world.

They have conducted serious war crimes and are still doing it using the para-military. They refuse to understand the origins of the war.

The basic problems for Tamils have not been solved for decades. It does not seems to be of any interest for the Sri Lankan government. They are undergoing a well planned genocide of the Tamils of Sri Lanka in different ways.

— Sugunenthiran Markandu (from web) I notice the absence of India in this article, as they could have had a huge role in bringing in peace. But of course, if one brushes up on the history of the region, one could understand why India chooses not to involve itself in forcing a peace that would have been fair.

Western nations can't be the scapegoat for the troubles of Asian history or politics.

— pretzelz (from web) Re: Rescheduled Trinity College orientation event costs $563 per person Obviously the orientation team could not a) control the weather and made the appropriate decision to cancel said event during frosh week and b) explored all of the options available under this (restrictive) contract with Centre Island and chose rescheduling as the best option. However, this story is important as clearly something went wrong from their publicity/ marketing wise, as an event designed for 475 only bringing 11 is not an appropriate use of student fees, and if I were a first year Trinity student who had paid ~$150 for frosh I would not be pleased.

However, I am not, but I hope to see this issue explored further in future frosh weeks.

— Maddy (from web) Re: New intercollegiate sport model to be released this fall Get ready for a terrible plan. The faculty knows that every other school succeeds by focusing resources on a small number of elite intercollegiate sports that the school cares about, but they will stick to the tried and failed model of having a whole bunch of irrelevant teams. Why? Because the faculty is dominated by people from sports that no one cares about and they want to protect those interests. Its completely senseless to have intercollegiate sports that the student body doesn't care about. Either sports should be entertaining to spectators or they should be about personal fitness. The latter can be accomplished with a better intramural program.

— J (from web)

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

Chess pieces and paper cranes REBECCA OSTROFF explores some samples from U of T’s plethora of clubs

D

uring the clamor of Clubs Fair, it’s difficult to focus on any one group, as an endless mass of enthusiastic faces throw flyers, free pens, and sign-up sheets into your arms. Navigating the Ulife directory of clubs online is a similar undertaking, presenting an overwhelming variety of groups to explore. The Aquarium Club meets to “discuss the hobby of fish keeping.” The Yo-Yo Club gathers monthly to hone its members’ skills, while the Writers of Controversial Philosophy debate and discuss at the Mississauga campus.

“We ParTea” meets to drink and discuss tea, aiming to spread awareness of tea around campus. Although confusing to navigate, U of T’s variety of clubs is an excess of riches that satisfy every niche of our diverse student body — and when they don’t, there are ample ways to start one up to fill the gap.

Everyone has quirky passions and interests, and while those may seem to set people apart from one another, the diversity of the U of T student population allows for the growth of niche communities with similar interests through clubs. In spite of their great variation, U of T’s clubs collectively bring students together and create small, warm collectives within the university.

Hart House Chess Club

Check out more photos online at var.st/clubs

The Hart House Chess Club was established in 1895, beginning as a small but skilled group of mostly male chess players. This year, however, the majority of executive members are women — an especially significant feat considering that, prior to the year 2000, there were no women in any national chess tournaments. President Sanja Vukosavljevic notes that the club is now decidedly inclusive, although they are often quite boisterous — constantly laughing and trash-talking one another. She adds that: “there are more chess variations than atoms in the earth,” giving players plenty of reasons to criticize and analyze one another throughout the game. This also means that there is always a lot left to learn for beginners and experts alike. The club meets from 4:00–11:00 pm on Friday nights — a slot reserved for partying for many students.

Nonetheless, Vukosavljevic contends without hesitation: “Honestly, I have more fun at the chess club. It’s the best part of my week.”

photos by Denis Osipov

African Cuisine Club (The Afriks) When Sandrine Uwimana and Taiwo Idris came to U of T from Rwanda and Nigeria, respectively, they had the idea to publish an African Cuisine cookbook. They started writing down recipes and established an oncampus club dedicated to planning, shopping, and cooking their favourite dishes in 2011. The two take turns teaching different western and eastern styles of cooking, and sessions are often thematically focused on one African country. Sandrine notes that the club’s most treasured dishes are its plantains, soft but crunchy sweet potato cookies, and spicy vegetarian stews. The group now aims to get fresh, healthy dishes into the campus dining halls at affordable prices. Uwimana and Idris are particular about their idea of “fresh”— refusing to cook with ingredients that haven’t been purchased that same day. The two refuse to discuss the difference between plantains and bananas, insisting that it must be experienced rather than described.

Fly with Origami, Learn to Dream (FOLD)

The fold office at 21 Sussex is whimsically decorated with an abundance of paper ornaments. Colourful cranes, flowers, and Angry Birds origami projects fill the room, while even more spill out of full storage boxes on the floor.

“We’ve been raffling these off regularly, and we still need more space in here,” comments fold president Qingda Hu. In addition to these lotteries, the club also donates a lot of their projects to hospitals in the area. Off-campus volunteer projects have always been a facet of fold, which has also participated in teaching origami at Sick Kids and Relay For Life. In addition to the joy that comes with a finished origami product, the act of learning to fold is relaxing and enjoyable, with an emphasis on thinking geometrically and following instructions closely. Teaching others how to fold origami requires a measure of skill, but proves very rewarding for the club’s students.

U of T Naginata Club (UTNC) Before joining the club, president Tomas Almonte had a negative impression of the practice because of how useless Naginata swords were designed to be in his favourite video games. Before I met Almonte, I had absolutely no idea what a Naginata sword was. Both of these forms of ignorance about Naginata are quite common, Almonte explains. Many of the club’s members had never tried the martial art prior to joining, he among them: “I had my Star Wars phase, but never actually used a sword until I joined Naginata.” He was compelled to continue attending practices by the emphasis on teamwork. Naginata consists of “choreographed encounters,” making it a discipline that is only possible to practice with others. As a result of the necessity of teamwork, members of the club are very social with one another.

The club hosts events outside of practice, like karaoke nights, to confront the pleasant problem of too much chatting among friends that has become disruptive in practices.

U of T Culinary Arts Club Shari Li, co-president of the Culinary Arts Club, says that in her club, “We make everything from scratch.” Members of the Culinary Arts Club have varying levels of cooking skill. Both students who don’t know how to cook and those with a passion for culinary arts are welcome to attend events, where different culinary skills are taught. Both a social and educational experience, these often include multiple course meals, testing out recipes, and enjoying the experience and the food together. The club focuses both on the art of food presentation and on various advanced culinary methods. A particularly special event, as Li describes, was the club’s venture to make, “rum baba, a French pastry with real rum.”

U of T Beekeeping Education Enthusiast Society (BEES)

Astronomy and Space Exploration Society (ASX) You don’t need to know a lot about astronomy and space exploration to join asx, nor should you expect to spend meetings lying in the grass and staring at the sky. Although, says new member Zack Zajac with a smile, “I do that anyways, multiple times a day.” Ammar Javed, the president of asx, envisions making the potentially intimidating subject of astronomy accessible to students of all backgrounds, noting that astronoomy is essentially, “...the study of everything.” Starry-eyed students learn about life beyond Earth, the environment on Mars, and contact with outer space. These quite romantic practices inspire some high-quality pick-up lines, as Javed adds that there is nothing that sweeps someone off their feet like learning astronomy under the stars.

Cute is not the adjective most students would associate with bees, but Theresa Reichlin, secretary of bees, gushes: “I love bees! They’re just so cute.” The term “enthusiast” is used quite literally in the title of U of T’s beekeeping club, which is made up of students who are truly passionate about bees. Pointing out that bees, unlike wasps, are not dangerous, Reichlin hands me a full-on protective suit and instructed me to climb onto the roof of Trinity College to observe the group’s beloved bees. Ironically, many of the club’s executive members have suffered childhood traumas involving bee stings. Being a part of the club has not only helped members to get over their fears, but has made them appreciate the measures that bees take to protect their hives. Reichlin described the importance of bees to our planet, a timely warning given the current threats to the bee species. Apart from being an educational experience, being a beekeeper at U of T can also be both sweet and therapeutic. Reichlin notes: “The pure honey we extract is so healthy... I even use it to heal my skin burns”.

Arts & Culture var.st/arts

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE

21 OCtOBEr 2013 arts@thevarsity.ca

The Varsity goes to Canzine var.st/arts

Not your typical pint Cask Days beer festival celebrates the art of cask ales Alec Wilson

VARSITY STAFF

The Don Valley Brick Works was once at the center of Toronto’s industrial boom. Bricks formed at the quarry were used to build Casa Loma, Osgoode Hall, and many other Toronto landmarks of the era. Unfortunately, over time, alternative building materials replaced bricks, and the Brick Works fell on hard times. The city’s industry and development had moved on, leaving the space vacant and dilapidated. In 1997, Evergreen — a Canadian non-profit organization focused on restoring nature in urban spaces — moved in, and has transformed the grounds. The historic Toronto institution got a facelift and is now home to a buzzing cultural center focused on the environment.

The pockmarked and graffiti-covered walls of the original structure have been preserved, giving the venue a gritty street vibe while also sticking true to the grounds’ long history.

This past weekend, the Brick Works played host to the ninth annual Cask Days Festival, a two day event designed with beer connoisseurs in mind. For the price of $25, one is invited to come and sample from the festival’s selection of 200 plus specialty cask beers, tour the massive urbaninspired building, and be entertained

by DJs and breakdancing.

According to the festival's organizers, the family behind Toronto's Barvolo, cask beers differ from your everyday run-of-the-mill draughts in several key area. Before the advents of refrigeration and co2 pressurization,

beer had to be fermented and preserved in casks. Cask beers are typically ales, bitter, and stout beverages which are low in carbonation and — as opposed to the draught beers we all know and love — are poured without external gas. Once the beer makes it through the brewing process to the cask itself, it continues to ferment until it is served. A vent is opened in the top of the cask to release any internal pressure and special additives called “finings” are added to make the yeast in the beer sinks to the bottom. Cask beers are famous for their more complex, artisanal flavours which run the gamut from dark, creamy stouts to softer, fruitier beers and hoppy pale ales.

On entering the 27,000 square foot pavilion, visitors to the festival are handed an informational booklet and a mason jar — invaluable tools for the trial that is about to begin. The air is full of the sweet smells of roasting meat and the dulcet tones of artists ranging from Kendrick Lamar to Rush. There is a constant stream of music coming from the DJ booth standing in the middle of the roiling crowd.

It is hard to know where to start when you walk into a room chock full of beer casks with names like, “Quantock Wills Neck,” “Central City Red Racer Berry Colada,” and “Deepcove Loud Mouth.”

The selection of beers is broken up across multiple tables by region. The United Kingdom made a strong showing, but Ontario, Manitoba, Quebec, the Maritime provinces, Alberta, and British Columbia were all represented.

Here are some of our favorites, and some we just couldn’t go without mentioning: WhistlEr impErial EsprEssO BlaCk tusk alE (Dark milD) — British COlumBia Coffee and alcohol — a match made in heaven. This dark brew stays true to its mysterious name and will not disappoint anyone looking for a compromise between a darker, fuller beer and your morning shot of espresso.

GranD rivEr BrEWinG BEEtifiDE BOhEmian BEEt BEEr — OntariO This is vegetable beer, plain and simple.

It is defined by the earthy sweetness of the dark red root plant from which it originates. This disturbingly pink libation would probably be best matched with the rest of a holiday meal, or whenever you get a hankering for beets.

BrassEriE artisanalE la sOuChE parkEvillE amEriCan palE alE — QuEBEC A great fall beer! This Quebecois concoction has a nice balance of malt and hoppiness that makes for a delicious, albeit bitter, experience. It has a depth and complexity of flavour that makes it perfect for a relaxing conversation with friends. stOrm BrEWinG CO. BlaCk fOrEst CakE stOut — British COlumBia Another west coast beer worth of your consideration. This is a dark, smooth beverage with hints of chocolate and sweet cherry. While quite tasty and definitely worth a try, this brew is a dessert and should probably remain an indulgence.

Visitors sampled "real ales" from North America and the UK. CAROLYN LEVETT/THE VARsiTY

REVIEWS Film: Design is One: Lella & Massimo Vignelli

Album: I Am an Exit by Born Gold

Album: Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die! by P!ATD

Album: Guilt Trips by Ryan Hemsworth

Design is One: Lella & Massimo Vignelli is a documentary by Kathy Brew and Roberto Guerra, depicting the careers of Lella and Massimo Vignelli, husband-and-wife duo behind the design studio Vignelli Associates.

The film is more a tribute to the Vignellis and their legacy, than a biographical overview of their personal lives and career. The film seems to emphasize the importance of the two designers’ partnership and their presence in society through their designs.

We don’t seem to recognize the influence the Vignellis have become, as said in the film: “Designers aren’t known, but the object is.”

Many are probably unaware that the Vignellis are the creative minds behind the New York City subway signage, the typography of various books, and the designs of different types of furniture. This film acknowledges the signature of the Vignellis’ work and the inspirations drawn from it.

— Susie Park

Artist Cecil Frena also known as Born Gold has a habit of undergoing a self-reinvention every fall with his music. 2011 brought the frantic exuberance of Bodysongs, in 2012 came the dark and twisted Little Sleepwalker, and as the leaves change in 2013, I Am An Exit has emerged into the world. This album is a push in a pop direction, with large hooks and soaring choruses.

The pop ambitions are made all the more interesting by the fact that the current Born Gold tour is taking place entirely in the intimate setting of fans’ living rooms. Contrast seems to be a theme even in the music itself, especially in opening song, “Abdomen,” which details being strangled by an abusive partner to the sound of deceptively cheery instrumentals.

Overall, I Am An Exit is inconsistent. There are times when it comes across as over-thetop; the scratchy instrumentation of “Strange Wind” drags and the chorus of “Hunger” becomes repetitive by the song’s end. Thankfully, there are incredible moments to balance it out: the almost perfect “Gasoline Bath,” the syncopated bass line of “No Reflections,” and the reflective closer “Butcher.”

I Am An Exit is more ambitious than anything Born Gold has released before, although not perfect, the album proves that Frena is a gem in Canada’s electronic music scene.

— Elena Gritzan

Panic! At The Disco (p!atd)’s fourth album takes the band back to their Las Vegas roots.

The album’s lead single, “Miss Single,” takes on a murder narrative, acting as a metaphor for singer Brendon Urie’s youthful promiscuity as he sings: “Where will you be waking up tomorrow morning?” Another song, the clubinspired “Vegas Light,” celebrates the carefree energy of a night out.

The dominant theme is love. “Girls/Girls/ Boys” explores sexual identity whereas “Girl That You Love,” blurs the line between love and loathing. “Casual Affair” deals with the pressures of secrecy, while “Collar Full” and “Nicotine” capture the vitality, the feeling of addiction, and the impatience that complicates love.

Fans who were hoping for a return to the flamboyant theatricality of p!atd’s debut album A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out may be disappointed, but Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die! has a lot to offer. The exciting blend of hip-hop and electronica tells a coming-of-age story set against a Las Vegas backdrop It is a record that will resonate with many, yet is also an ode to the freedom that comes with maturity.

— Iris Robin

Ryan Hemsworth’s debut album Guilt Trips is a project fleshed from human emotion, each track fashioned like a limb to assemble the album’s persona as a whole body. Hemsworth produces an understated and intimate atmosphere whose cohesive internalization of indie, rap, and hip-hop influences has Guilt Trips indecisively harbouring on the borders of electronic dance music and lo-fi, purple beat production. While “Still Cold” appears nostalgic of an 8-bit era, in all its Gameboy-sonic glory, “Ryan Must Be Destroyed” adds a more sombre facet to the same ‘video-game fervor.’ The intro’s sample of a music box frames the soundscape for an Alice-like descent into Hemsworth’s wonderland. The pop-native instrumentals are matured by closed hi-hats and echoing gong drums, which eerily carve an aggressive r&b track that is a misfit in its own genre.

Hemsworth graduates from the scattered bodies of his previous mixes and eps with Guilt Trips, but his ability to incorporate a human presence into his productions is still there. His intricate fusion of aggressive percussions, airy synths, and feminine sighs rhythmically flourish Guilt Trips with a sensitivity that delicately deafens.

— Corinne Przybyslawski

var.st/arts

VARSITY ARTS & CULTURE

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2013

15

Living Arts: Cooking with 2 Chainz “My stove deserve a shout-out, I’m like: “What up, stove?”

Danielle Klein VARSITY STAFF

“I smoked a blunt for dinner, another blunt for breakfast,” boasts Taulheed Epps, a hiphop artist better known as 2 Chainz on his new album, B.O.A.T.S. II #METIME. While 2 Chainz implies that this breakfast is a satisfactory meal for him, it’s clear that he is too much of a foodie not to pair his blunts with some high quality seafood.

The album is accompanied by a cookbook entitled #MEALTIME. Besides gold chains and hashtags, 2 Chainz has a penchant for kale and heirloom tomatoes. The recipes were created in collaboration with Chef Aleem, an upcoming celebrity cook from Atlanta who went on tour with 2 Chainz.

I decided to have some #METIME myself and try out the recipes, mostly because I was feeling #hungry.

The cookbook opens with an advisory introduction: “2 Chainz doesn’t write down his music, it flows naturally from his mind. Follow 2 Chainz and feel free to freestyle your cooking...

Remember: embrace mistakes, and always cook within your comfort zone. #TRU.” I began by making sautéed asparagus. The instructions begin with putting on “an Adidas sweatsuit, Chainz N Thangs.” I don’t own these things, but I did my best with what I had: Roots sweatpants and some gold necklaces. Then I played the mandated track, “Mainstream Ratchet.”

The recipe is relatively simple and takes about two and a half rounds of “Mainstream Ratchet” to cook. The last instruction is to “vibe out” to the song. I contemplate the lyric: “I’m real, you ain’t, calamari, crab cakes,” which seems to suggest that calamari is more authentic than crab, yet 2 Chainz has a recipe for crab cakes in his cookbook. Assuming he’s referring to artificial crab, I digress to the “Me Time” sauce.

William ahn/The VarsiTy

The sauce is tricky, because it requires you to go to the mall and spend “a handful of racks” on a new outfit for the night, get a manicure and pedicure, and spend some “me time” at home catching up on seasons of The Wire. The sauce itself is quite simple, and feels personal, as 2 Chainz is revealing his favourite recipe, which he

suggests pairing it with almost all of the others.

It’s delicious, even without a full commitment to its instructions. I assume that when Chainz suggested getting a new outfit for the night, he was not talking about a sweater from The Gap, but that’s what I bought for my “me time” meal. I didn’t get a manicure or pedicure, but I did make

my roommate paint my nails while we watched clips from The Wire on YouTube.

The recipe for mashed potatoes begins with the reasonable advice to remove your four-finger ring, if wearing one, and set it aside before beginning — I was not (but normally would be, of course). This recipe is a bit more time-consuming, but smells amazing all the way through, and is broken up in the middle by the instruction:“... play “Feds Watching” and celebrate the good times you had this year,” before adding the sour cream and parsley to the potatoes. You’re supposed to serve the mashed potatoes in a gold bowl, which I did not have. “Feds Watching” continued my speculation of 2 Chainz' abhorrence for imitation crab meat with the line: “I’m raw, talking California rolls,” since raw seems to refer to genuine crab meat rather than the fake stuff.

For the mixed seafood kebabs, you are meant to invite your friends over for a cook out, telling them that “2 Chainz is firing up the grill.” That would, however, be a lie — and I cannot afford to feed all my friends seafood, so I ignored this rule.

The recipe itself is really good — like the other recipes, it is surprisingly simple, flavorful, and healthy, and pairs quite well with a nice helping of "Me Time" sauce.

The food is actually really good and the album is consistent with the promised theme of “me time.” A highlight is the end of “I Do It” featuring Drake and Lil Wayne, a gospel celebration of taking time to yourself. 2 Chainz is preaching to do so by making some delectable eats. Surprisingly, I was genuinely inspired by the 2 Chainz cooking experience.

At the end of the meal, I get to cleaning the kitchen to the sounds of “Fork.” In the wise words of 2 Chainz: “I’m ballin like Mr. Clean, I gotta keep my kitchen clean.”

Talking trap in Toronto Toronto's new sound J. Segar

VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR

It’s grimy, wild, and dirty. If you listen to hiphop, you’ve heard of it before. Toronto has taken note, and hip-hop culture has embraced it. Trap along with its partner, atmospheric sound, are taking over the industry, and all we can do is bounce slowly to the beat like Pusha T does in his new music video, “King Push.”

Let’s first get an understanding of what “trap” and “atmospheric sound" are so we don’t get left behind.

It was a trap, once you found yourself in the Southern states, namely cities like Atlanta, Houston, New Orleans, and Memphis; there was no getting out of their culture and hardships.

Difficulties growing up, drug dealing, and all sorts of illegal activities to simply survive, this was the trap. Pioneers of the sound and message of trap include Young Jeezy, Three Six Mafia, ti, ugk, Bun B, Gucci Mane, Waka Flocka Flame, and Rick Ross.

Of late, the South’s musical signature has spread like wildfire and the exclusivity attached to the term trap is gone. It is everywhere, and you can tell it’s trap when you hear the deep 808 bass punch, crisp hi-hats fluttering in the foreground, and layers of either grand cinematic sounds or spooky synthesizers weaving in between.

Atmosphere or atmospheric sound is Toronto’s contribution to this massive wave of trap.

Atmospheric music owes its roots to ambient music — music that was created to induce a sense of calm or peace. Atmosphere is airy, light,

liquid, melodic at times, and weird at others.

With that in mind, producers like Noah "40" Shebib, and Zodiac have taken its niche allure and combined it with hip-hop beats to make a Toronto sound that people around the world know about.

Atmosphere can, and often does, set the tone for an entire song. Take for example the track “Tuscan Leather” off Drake’s latest lp Nothing Was the Same — widely considered the best beat on the album. It is typified by a light string atmosphere with chipmunk voice samples flowing in and out of reverse play, hard bass kicks, a sharp and quick hi-hat sequence, and a baseline that has been heavily synthesized to add to a sound that is distinctive of the artist, 40, and the city, Toronto. He puts a lot of effort into making the piece sound as atmospheric as possible, while retaining the classic trap hi-hats and bass drum. "pbr&b" artist The Weeknd and fellow Torontonian producer Zodiac released a couple of tracks that fell into atmospheric sound, stamped with Toronto’s seal of approval; however since their relationship went sour, Zodiac never received credit for the tracks he produced. Songs to check out include, "Loft Music," “The Morning,” "What You Need,” and the first half of "The Party & the After Party.”

WondaGurl is the producer to look out for, though. Her production takes what Drake, 40, The Weeknd, and Zodiac have made into the “Toronto Sound” to another level. She’s a timid 16-year-old and has already made a beat with Houston rapper Travis Scott on his song “Uptown” with a$ap Ferg, the selfproclaimed “Trap Lord.” A feature beat on

nancy ji/The VarsiTy

Jay Z’s Magna Carta Holy Grail is what the young WondaGurl would call her greatest achievement. The song “Crown” begins with a very liquid and atmospheric reggae distortion sample, follows with a dark synthesized baseline, and invites Jay Z’s lyrics with some of the hardest hitting 808 bass drum you will ever hear. It is trappy, heavy, and brings out primal bloodlust in its listener, and we can be proud to say, that it is the "Toronto Sound.”

This love for trap and atmospheric sound is shared by many Toronto-based producers and musicians alike. It would be worth checking out “tfhouse,” Adrian Hogan’s “The First Suite,” “Boi-1da,” and “Illangelo.” While many critics will argue that trap is mindless, monotonous, and often full of misogynistic, violent, and materialistic messages, it is important to recognize the raw sound and to celeberate the roots of beat production in the trap music genre.

16

Vol. CXXXIV, No. 7

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VARSITY ARTS & CULTURE

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2013

17

A film for the social media set An interview with Noah filmmaker Patrick Cederberg

Vipasha Shaikh

VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR

Noah, one of the short films that gained popularity after tiff, is a bit of an eye-opening experience.

Created by two former Ryerson University film students, Walter Woodman and Patrick Cederberg, the film is about a teenager named Noah who ultimately goes through a break-up with his girlfriend and tries to get over it on the Internet.

The wonderful thing about the film is that it’s shot completely on webcam. The camera fades back and forth between Facebook chats, Skype calls, websites, iPhone texts, and Chatroulette talks — showing the range of emotions that Noah experiences as he goes from suspecting that his girlfriend is cheating on him to trying to figure out how to get over her.

On one level, Noah is a portrait of modern day communication, but it also raises questions about whether the way we communicate is entirely viable. Originally screened at tiff, Noah gained over a million views after it was uploaded onto YouTube in September, and has put Cederberg and Woodman get on the international radar.

The Varsity sat down with Patrick Cederberg to talk about Facebook, shooting films entirely on webcam, and what’s next for the two filmmakers.

The Varsity: So what has the audience reaction been like

for your current film, Noah?

Patrick Cederberg: There’s been a good, consistent response to it — a lot of people have said: “this was me a couple of years ago,” but ultimately, a lot of them have also been stoked about this new, entirely different way of shooting films.

TV: How long did it take to create the film, in terms of creating the online identities and then just shooting everything?

PC: Well, it took about four to five months to create the online identities (for Amy and Noah), and what we had to do for that was repurpose our own Facebook accounts into the accounts of Amy and Noah. We kept on posting things on each other’s walls in order to create this authentic online world. In terms of footage, we shot the Chatroulette and Skype scenes first, before moving to the screen-capture shots. The screen-capture was just the two of us in a room with a bunch of computers and phones, coordinating everything.

TV: I remember reading that Noah was originally a film about Chatroulette — how did it go from that to a film on online communication?

PC: Well, Walter got obsessed with Chatroulette for a while, and he ended up roping me in. I remember this one time when we talked with a girl from New Jersey from 11 pm to 4 pm, and it was like this

cool, honest connection because it was so anonymous. The conversation would end, and we would never see her again. So from there, Walter had an idea for a film about a guy who meets a girl from Chatroulette and then ends up actually meeting her in real life. But it sort of felt flat once the script went from the computer screen to real life, so I suggested we just move to the computer screen completely and it evolved from there.

There is also this big misconception in the media that Noah is an “anti-Facebook” film, but really what we were trying to do was paint a picture of how we communicate. I mean, Facebook can be bad because it allows for shallow people to cultivate these false personalities for themselves, but there is more to it than that.

Filmmakers, Patrick Cederberg and Walter Woodman. PHOTO COURTESY WALTER WOODMAN

TV: I feel like Noah also shows this hierarchy of communication between all these different methods of communicating: texting, Skyping, Facebook chatting, or calling someone?

PC: Yeah, it’s definitely weird. A tweet is not as personal as a Facebook message, which is not as personal as a chat, which is not as personal as a phone call, which is definitely not as personal as a letter — which is a gold mine and it’s totally amazing when you receive one. It’s weird how that applies now, but I think that it also depends on the people who are communicating as well. It’s both a good and bad thing.

TV: What were some previous films that you made with Walter? Is there anything coming up?

PC: This is the first full film that me and Walter have made together.

Six months ago, we also started recording for our band, Shy Kids, and our heads have been in the band mentality for a while. But tiff has definitely been really helpful, and now we’re flying down to la for potential projects, like to do commercials and music videos. We also have some passion projects in the backburner — there is another film about how the computer sort of shapes us as people, but nothing quite so related to Noah.

TV: Do you have any advice for upcoming filmmakers?

PC: There is this feeling that one needs the best equipment, the best set, the best cameras in order to make a movie, and that can be a sacrifice to creativity, and the actual story. But honestly, if a movie is clever, and there is enough heart in it and it’s authentic, it’s gold. Also, I think the new way of communicating, such as YouTube, is a great medium for artists — our movie blew up completely because of it.

This interview has been edited for clarity and consistency.

Drawing the line between function and fashion ALEx WONg/THE VARSiTY

French design house Hermès releases a $11,000 bicycle — has fashion gone too far?

Madison Schill

VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR

This season, French luxury retailer Hermès has decided to enforce its new motto, "a sporting life," with the launch of handcrafted, leather-adorned bicycles.

If you possess even a minute awareness of fashion, you’d understand that anything Hermès touches turns to gold — and costs its weight in it too. One handcrafted Le Flâneur bicycle will cost a cool $11,000 — a price as sleek as its projected silhouette.

However, don’t expect to get much bang for your buck. According to François Doré, the managing director of Hermès’ Horizons department, the product is designed to be “a real bike that is easy to use.” We can all agree that the company made a smart move in avoiding high-performance competition, sticking to what it knows best. But the question is, what “real bike” needs to cost as much as a car?

The general public may scoff at this projection, but the truth is, Hermès usually gets it right. Many industry insiders applaud the de-

sign house for exercising restraint in the genres it explores — sticking to high-end athletics and fashion accessories. Although many customers lap up the label’s equestrian gear, scarves and belts, one product stands far above its peers: the Birkin handbag, arguably combining the art world with daily life, is a sure-fire symbol of the “I made it”

society. Named after English actress and singer Jane Birkin, the bag costs at least as much as Le Flâneur, although most try to conceal the price in favor of modesty. After scouring the internet and the minds of various fashion insiders, I’ve gathered that this tote can cost anything from $10,000–$80,000 — with no flaws to be found at any price. Regardless

of rumors, however, it’s crystal clear: if you own a Birkin, your disposable income is very, very high.

Most wealthy clientele consider their purchases as investments.

Many covet art and fine craftsmanship, and being able to carry a piece of Hermès with them is a blend of both worlds. These pieces hold their retail value, too — at auction, a Birkin buyer pays a 25 per cent premium over what is charged in-store.

Yet, will a bike, such a utilitarian commodity, be treated similarly? It has been argued that today’s high rates of bike theft have left consumers hesitant in making such investments. Hermès doesn’t need to worry, however — the projected owners of these toys won’t be thinking about them as hometo-office transport; rather, they’ll be something fun to use on weekends in the south of France.

As an avid cyclist and university student, my mind was immediately peppered with questions on the value of an $11,000 bike. What happens if you leave it in the rain? Is it light? How durable is this “luxury good?” Just the fact that I posed these questions shows I’m not yet ready to

own one, though I expect the one per cent to embrace them with a charming laugh and a graceful swipe of the credit card. These bikes will be beautiful, and someone should enjoy them. Who are we to judge?

Over the past year, Hermès has brought its shareholders returns just shy of 20 per cent, with dividends swelling by 20 per cent over five years. Evidently, Hermès is doing pretty well for a luxury goods company. The company has a long history of superb craftsmanship, storied elegance, and durability, turning the pieces into great investments. These factors keep regulars returning to the brand, while simultaneously breeding a new crop of aspiring clients. Hermès has made previous attempts to attract a younger generation of buyers but by elevating prices, establishing waiting lists for coveted products, and designing products such as a 'luxe' bicycle and a $12,900 basketball, is Hermès crafting its “ideal” demographic? Perhaps. By launching a loftily priced bicycle, Hermès ensures that students like us won’t be riding one anytime soon.

Science var.st/sCIENCE

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE

The science of Nuit Blanche

21 OCtOBEr 2013

var.st/science

science@thevarsity.ca

The Star Spot explores the unknown U of T students, alumni host popular astronomy podcast Emily Ma

VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR

A year and a half ago, a group of space enthusiasts — including University of Toronto students and alumni — sat in the Second Cup on College Street, mulling over the plausibility of starting an astronomy and space exploration-themed podcast. Since then, the podcast, now called The Star Spot, has lifted off at light speed. With a fan base across 46 countries, The Star Spot is nearing 30,000 downloads, and the team behind it has already incorporated as a Canadian nonprofit organization.

The topic of astronomy can be as overwhelming as it is fascinating.

The Star Spot’s goal is to reach out to both dreamer-nerds and casual listeners by providing clarity on subjects that can quickly become very technical and abstract.

“We think people are often intimidated by the ideas of space and astronomy,” says Natalie Morcos, The Star Spot board member and director of marketing.

“We aim for young adults. We try to keep our podcast academic but still accessible to anyone, not just people who are in astronomy and science. Confirmation that it is working is that we have a huge high school fan base.”

The Star Spot explores a wide spectrum of topics — such as the nature of time, the birth and afterlife of stars, and the future of

tIMOtHY LaW/tHE varsItY

humans as a space-faring species.

A new episode is aired every other Sunday at 7 pm, and is hosted by Justin Trottier, U of T alumnus and founder of the Astronomy and Space Exploration Society, a U of T organization. Usually an hour long, each episode opens with a news segment covering the latest events in space and astronomy. The news is followed by an interview with an expert to discuss a specific spacerelated topic in depth. Notable

guests include Lawrence Krauss, author of the best-selling book A Universe from Nothing, and Carolyn Porco, a planetary scientist named as one of the top 25 most influential people in space by TIME in 2012.

The podcast also makes an effort to have 50 per cent Canadian content.

During the 50th anniversary of the launch of Canada’s first satellite, Alouette 1, The Star Spot did a video interview with Bob McDonald, host of Canada’s longest running science

show, Quirks and Quarks. Recently, The Star Spot recorded an interview with Jill Tarter, director of the Center for Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (seti) Research. Tarter was also named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by TIME in 2004.

The Star Spot’s vision is to further promote interest in astronomy and space by interviewing more “bigticket” guests and by collaborating with local groups.

The Star Spot is currently affiliated with the Canadian Space Society, the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, and the Astronomy and Space Exploration Society. It also works closely with the Canadian Space Commerce Association.

Recently, it has made plans to take on more kid-focused activities with the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada in Toronto. The Star Spot team is also looking to accelerate the growth of its funding and sponsorship teams in order to travel to conferences outside of Toronto.

Despite its fast progress over the past year and a half, The Star Spot continues to be a very low-cost operation. Most interviews are recorded over Skype, and all people involved, from The Star Spot team members to the show’s guests, are volunteers. “We find that generally people are responsive, especially people who are passionate in what they’re doing,” says Morcos.

“Everyone that’s into science is also really into science outreach and science literacy, which are values we espouse.”

To listen, volunteer, or donate, visit The Star Spot’s website at starspotpodcast.com, or follow The Star Spot on Twitter (@TheStarSpot) or Facebook (The Star Spot).

Note: Natalie Morcos is employed

by The Varsity as a web developer.

More than “blowing stuff up” Professor Michael Reid on the power of Star Trek and science fiction Trevor Janes

VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR

The first-ever Toronto Science Festival (tsf) took place September 27 – 29 at various venues around U of T. One event in the program was the Star Trek Half-Marathon. On Friday night, people interested in science and Star Trek came to Innis Town Hall to watch one episode from each of three different Star Trek series. All episodes were strategically chosen to fit with the tsf theme: “Life in the Universe.”

During the night’s half-marathon, Spock and Kirk encounter a homicidal but misunderstood silicon-based life form; Picard and Troi make first contact with a planet full of technologically inferior humanoids with bumpy foreheads; and Janeway and Chakotay struggle against a race of technologically advanced yet dogmatic aliens that evolved from dinosaurs.

After each episode, astronomy professor and tsf organizer Michael Reid joined sci-fi author Peter Watts in leading a discussion fuelled by participation from the audience.

Star Trek holds a special place in the lives of both guests: Reid held the long-running show partially responsible for his career choice, while Watts learned from Star Trek that “[i]f you’re a starship captain, you get laid a lot.”

In addition to providing witty remarks, the two speakers guided conversation that ranged from questioning the feasibility of a silicon-based organism to discussing the shortcuts in creativity taken by the show, which diminish its value as a work of science fiction.

The discussion contained as much fan-love as it did criticism; undoubtedly, Spock himself would have found this event “fascinating.”

The Varsity spoke with Michael Reid after the tsf was over and asked him about Star Trek, science outreach, and funding for scientific research. Reid started watching Star Trek: The Next Generation as a ten-year-old. One of his favourite characters was Dr. Crusher because even though “she didn’t get a lot of screen time and could get kind of boring story-lines,” he liked that Crusher and Geordi La

Forge were playing key roles on the Enterprise as scientists, as opposed to the other military-type characters.

When asked about the new Star Trek movies, Reid replied: “They’re okay... one thing I always liked about Star Trek was that it was about exploration ... amazing experiences of awe and wonder ... and not so much on blowing stuff up... [The new movies] were more focused on blowing stuff up than I would have liked.”

As a key member of the tsf’s organizing committee, Reid has high aspirations to expand the event: “Our goal was to launch a festival that would ultimately be as big as Nuit Blanche or tiff or Luminato or any of these other really big festivals that go on in Toronto.” Reid went on to explain why he thinks science outreach is important. Reid answers: “A scientifically literate society is a healthy society. People have to make really important decisions about things like, most recently, climate change. If you don’t have a basic level of scientific literacy, it’s hard to function well in a scientific, technological society.”

LUCINDa YaE-rIM rO/tHE varsItY

There are also things that are intrinsically interesting that Reid wants to share with others, and those things aren’t always practical. “A lot of people think of science as though it is a commercial activity ... they want you to come up with things that can be marketed and used in some way,” he said.

Reid feels this mentality will eventually lead to stagnation: “Research in one area forks into another area,

unexpectedly.” He uses the camera as an example of an invention that came not from someone trying to get more people to buy their company’s cell phone, but rather from astronomy — from scientists trying to improve upon using giant photographic plates.

On the future of the tsf, Reid says that “we probably will [do it again]” and “if people are interested, they should let us know.”

VARSITY SCIENCE

var.st/science

MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2013

19

Setting sail with Pangaea Explorers and citizen science Jesse Hildebrand

VARSITY COLUMNIST

My mental image of a first mate spawns from whaling times. I envision someone curt and brusque — a scrappy, weather-beaten man with mutiny on his mind and a hard life at sea his only option. Imagine my surprise when I had the pleasure of finding a young woman, rummaging through gigantic sacks of clothing, who was excited about everything marine. She told me all about her job and the vessel it takes place on.

The Sea Dragon is a beautiful 72foot sailboat owned Pangaea Exploration, a group whose mission for the boat is threefold: to provide education, promote conservation, and explore the waters of the world.

The Sea Dragon is a young ship, a recently converted ocean craft designed to sail around the world in the global challenge race — a circumnavigation of the frigid southern ocean.

Despite its relatively new role on the scene of marine biology, it has been part of some big science, gathering experts from around the world to conduct all manner of research for institutions as famous as the Scripps

Research Institue and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

Researchers are studying underwater mountains to assess biodiversity and the effects of climate change on coral reefs.

Most of all, the Sea Dragon studies everything to do with oceanic plastics — their diversity, their impact on wildlife, and where and why they accumulate. Given that the ocean has five distinct gyres which gather “plastic islands” comparable in size to whole nations, this is an important issue in our ocean management, both in the present and in the future.

It is not what the Pangaea Exploration group does so much as how it does it that makes it unique. The Sea Dragon, other than being a charter for scientific organizations and individuals, is a major player in the relatively new discipline of citizen science. Seeking to provide educational opportunities and to give non-scientists the chance to participate in the field, the Sea Dragon program offers the general public a chance to board its vessel and embark on adventures.

For a modest fee, citizens can learn from scientists, participate in data collection, and become part of the

ship’s crew on ventures lasting from only a few days to over a month.

Given that the research conducted on board ends up in scientific papers, and that trips can head everywhere from Bermuda to the Pacific Ocean, Pangaea Exploration provides a truly unique opportunity. If the crew’s enthusiasm is any indication, the ship and its travels provide an absolutely extraordinary experience.

Citizen science has touched all disciplines. “Citizen scientists” have participated in biological excursions such as those offered by Pangaea Exploration; they have also contributed to finding supernova for astronomers and to classifying cancer cells for medical researchers.

Despite its limitations, the effort to engage and inform the public on some of the great work being done in science is an exciting initiative. While cell classification and supernova hunting happen from the comfort of home, the Sea Dragon offers a chance for something much more. By partnering with the public to bring it the excitement and exploration inherent in all science, Pangaea Exploration offers the chance of a lifetime. It’s time to set sail.

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Climate change is a global issue. See it through the eyes of scientists, artists and cultural informers as art and science come together in this provocative exhibition.

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FREE STUDENT TUESDAYS Climate and culture come together in Ian Mauro’s photo ‘1000 Years Ago Today’ showing Inuk elder Lukie Airut hunting walrus in the Canadian Arctic, a region warming double the global average, 2013 © Ian Mauro

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Sports

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE

JP Kaczur analyses The Mighty Duck

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21 oCtoBEr 2013

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A memorable 24 hours in Blues hockey Blues take a win over Western, and goalie Brett Willows sits in Leaf’s net Sampson Coutts

VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR

It was an interesting 24 hours for Blues goaltenders. With Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender James Reimer injured in the opening minute of the team’s Thursday night game against the Carolina Hurricanes, Varsity Blues standout Brett Willows was called to fill in as an emergency backup for the club. It was a memorable night. Willows tweet soon after the game best summed up the experience: “What I dreamed about playing mini sticks in the basement just came true.”

The next morning, with Reimer’s availability in doubt, the Blues’ third goaltender, Michael Nishi, was invited to practice with the Leafs at their state-of-the-art training facility in Etobicoke. Nishi, addressing a

Blues goaltender Brett Willows. pHoto CoUrtEsY varsItY BLUEs

scrum of reporters after the session, said that he felt honoured to practice with the best; asked who had the best shot on the Leafs, he jokingly replied that he would “have to see the shots first.”

Not to be outdone, Blues goaltender Garrett Sheehan was given

the start in Friday night’s clash against the Western Mustangs, and did not disappoint. The Blues convincingly defeated the Mustangs — the third best team in the country, according to this week’s Canadian Interuniversity Sport (cis) rankings — in what

was undoubtedly their best game of the season to date.

The game began much like Wednesday night’s matchup against Ryerson, with five goals scored in the first 10 minutes, before the teams settled down into a tighter defensive style. It was an interesting period which ultimately the Blues ultimately finished down 3–2.

The second period began with five minutes of even play before Blues defenseman Russell Turner shifted the game. After serving a questionable two-minute penalty, Turner threw a huge hit that ignited a flurry of pressure from the Blues in their defensive zone, culminating in a Mustangs turnover and a Blues 2-on-1 rush.

Turner fooled the entire arena into thinking he would pass, then put a shot right under the crossbar.

Turner’s goal was the turning point, with the Blues playing as

the better squad for the remainder of the match. With five minutes left in the frame, Blues defender Dylan Heide, who had great performances all week, put a low point shot on net, and veteran Paul Van De Velde put home the rebound at the side of the goal for what would be the game-winner.

The third period was nerve-wracking as the Blues held onto the onegoal lead, but the penalty-killers rose to the challenge when called upon, and Sheehan proved just as resilient as Willows had two nights prior. After letting in three goals in the first 10 minutes, Sheehan was perfect for the remainder of the game, and made a multitude of tough saves look easy. The Blues added an empty-net goal in the dying seconds to put the game beyond doubt, capping off a home victory over one of the toughest teams in Canada.

Women’s field hockey finishes regular season undefeated Despite loss of key players, field hockey still leads U of T athletics Elizabeth Benn SPORTS EDITOR

On Saturday, the women’s field hockey team beat the York Lions 2–0, bringing its regular season record to 11–0–1 heading into the playoffs. Leading the team was captain and goalkeeper Kathryn Williams, who, along with Madeleine Cho, allowed only four goals this season.

“KJ is the best goalie in the country in my opinion,” said head coach John DeSouza, currently serving his eighth season as head coach. Williams trains

with the national team during the varsity offseason.

Despite appearing flawless during th regular season, the Blues exhibition schedule did not reflect a high calibre of play. The team went 1–3 and allowed 13 goals in its four games against teams from Boston and Rhode Island. After returning to Canada, it competed against the Western Mustangs, winning two games, and setting the tone for the rest of the season.

DeSouza explained that the disappointing preseason came as a result of the significant amount of rookies on the team. Nevertheless, the team

managed to bounce back after the losses. “The team could have folded after such a bad pre-season. The girls did the opposite and have worked very hard to be where we are at now.”

Players who were expected to play this season ended up leaving the active roster for various reasons, and many of the past few seasons’ key players graduated this past June.

“With the loss of those players comes a rebuilding phase,” explained DeSouza. “This is a very coachable team with a huge upside.”

With the loss of players, everyone on the roster needed to step up to

fill the empty roles, Williams explained: “Some of our rookies were given the opportunity for a starting position, and they have been working really hard to keep up.”

The team follows a rigorous training schedule — five times in three days, from Tuesday to Thursday. In addition to training and practices, the team meets for dinner and pregame meetings on Fridays.

The team’s success may be credited to its other traditions. “Every year, our team sets goals at the beginning of the season,” said Williams. Along with high expectations

of one another, each player holds themselves accountable for each of their actions.

The team will be competing in the provincial championships from October 25–27. If they play like they did last season, then they will head to the national championship, where they lose 3–0 to the ubc Thunderbirds last year at Varsity Centre.

This year the captain will have to take charge if the Blues hope to repeat last year’s successful playoff season. “The road to the banner will be through [Williams] and she is up to the challenge,” said DeSouza.

Strong team unity leading women’s lacrosse team to a winning record Blues lacrosse team sitting at a 9–1 record, striving towards gold in provincials Sean Xu

VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR

In 1994, Canada inducted two national sports: hockey for the winter and lacrosse for the summer. At U of T, the varsity women’s lacrosse team plays the game with enough dedication and passion to make the nation proud of its decision.

Coached for 20 years by Todd Pepper, the team holds practices four days a week, which last anywhere from one and a half to two hours during the season. During the offseason, the players begin preparations for the next year as early as

January, undergoing conditioning exercises to stay fit and competitive.

Such dedication and willingness to work hard, as well as experience and athletic ability, are just some of the criteria that Pepper looks for when picking his team.

Though the learning curve was steep when he first started coaching, Pepper has adjusted well. Described as “phenomenal” by his players, Pepper more conservatively refers to his coaching style as one that is “friendly and fair.” He tries to keep his expectations clear, and maintains good working relationships with the team.

Clearly, this effort has paid off.

Last season, the team defeated Mc-

Master and finished in fifth place at the Ontario University Athletics (oua) Championships. This year, the team is well on its way to repeating its previous success. The team has had a solid run so far, with a record of nine wins and two losses.

Captain Tasha Watkins, a third-year life science major, attributes this streak to the team’s “smart game” in lacrosse’s fast and physical environment. “We know how to make quick passes. We know how to settle down and make smart choices on the field,” said Watkins.

This incisive attitude towards the game may be inspired by the value that both the players and the

coach place on school. “[The players] are student athletes, and the word ‘student’ comes before ‘athlete’,” remarked Pepper.

“When you come into school expecting to be a varsity athlete, you know that the time commitment is going to be huge,” Watkins admitted. Though the players often miss prominent events during the season, such as Halloween festivities, Watkins feels that the athletes are still have the full university experience.

“We are all amazing friends, and, honestly, I think if you want to join a varsity sports team for any reason, it would be

for that,” said Watkins. Indeed, both the coach and the captain cite the long team practices, bus rides, and activities as experiences that mold the team into a close-knit family.

Pepper is excited for the future, having been graced with a fantastic combination of talented new and experienced returning players. Currently placed near the top of Ontario’s Eastern Division, the Varsity Blues’ girls are hoping to qualify for and win a medal at the oua Championships at Queen’s.

Closer to home, the team is looking to reschedule a rained-out game to October 27 at Varsity Stadium.

22 Vol. CXXXIV No. 7

VARSITY SPORTS

sports@thevarsity.ca

Blues football finishes season with 50–18 win over Warriors Blues finish with a .500 record for the first time since 1993 Zoe Bedard

VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR

On a rainy Saturday afternoon, the Varsity Blues football team saw its 2013 campaign come to a promising close with a 50–18 win over the Waterloo Warriors. Coming into the game, the team was looking to reach .500 with a 4–4 record for the first time since 1993.

Toronto came in hot off of two consecutive victories over the Carleton Ravens and York Lions.

When asked about the team’s late season surge, Blues head coach Greg Gary commented: “This team has started to gel. We’re disappointed about the veterans that we’re going to lose, but I think we have young guys coming up that will be able to replace them in time.

The program is on the right track. We’re trending upward.”

While both teams entered the game with slim playoff aspirations, the game was far from meaningless. The Blues alone were on the cusp of three records, with receiver Paul de Pass only 128 yards short of surpassing the Blues’ all-time career receiving yards. Meanwhile, Toronto’s Alex Pierzchalski came in only 13 receptions shy of the all-time receptions record, and special teams standout returner Kevin Bradfield was looking to set a new all-time punt return yard record.

From the first snap, Blues quarterback Simon Nassar displayed his ability to head a confident and productive Blues offense.

In the first half, after the Toronto defense forced a Waterloo fumble, Nassar dropped back and heaved a deep ball to de Pass, who caught the ball in stride and stumbled into the end zone for a 67-yard touchdown. With that, he set a U of T single-season receiving yards record. With a four-yard reception shortly afterwards, de Pass became the record

Blues end season with three-game winning streak. micHael cHaHley/tHe varsity

holder of U of T all-time receiving yards.

Those were only his first accomplishments on the day, later recording three touchdowns, including a 103-yard strike from Nassar.

When asked about his record, de Pass commented: “It’s rewarding, first and foremost, and exciting. I’ve put a lot of time into the program since I’ve been here five years, so to break a record that’s been so longstanding is a really good feeling.”

The Blues were not the only team coming into the game with players hoping to achieve record marks. In the first half, Waterloo receiver Nick Anapolsky set a new Ontario University Athletics (oua) and Canadian Intercollegiate Sports single-season receptions record.

Football is a three-faceted game, and the Blues defense was not to be forgotten, maintaining consistent pressure on the Waterloo quarterbacks and recording six sacks.

As the game ticked away, with less than five minutes remaining, Toronto punt and kickoff returner Kevin Bradfield set a new U of T record for career punt return yards.

Bradfield later reflected on the record, asserting: “This entire year we’ve been

working hard as a team. It’s amazing that I can say that I’ve broken this record in only two years here. I couldn’t have done it without the coaches and this amazing team. It’s not my record; it’s our record.”

Ending a football season with only four wins isn’t usually considered a successful year, but when your team has reached .500 for the first time in 20 years, the vast improvement isn’t difficult to recognize. Now the Blues’ next task is to extend this three-game winning streak into 2014.

Gary reflected on the strong finish to the season: “The way I viewed the last part of [the season] is that I thought that as a team if we could manage these games and actually show some improvement and also see if we had the opportunity to dominate a bit, it would say that maybe that bottom section of the oua, where we’ve lived for a while, that maybe we could move out of it and move into that middle section.

“It will take some work to get there, but I think this is a pretty good indicator that we’re moving the program along and will be more competitive in the oua than we’ve been in the past.”

Green smoothies made delicious and easy Leila Keshavjee

VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR

Smoothies are convenient, easy to make, and a great way to get enough fruits and vegetables in your diet.

They are full of of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. In addition, they can also serve as a great pre- or postworkout meal because they can pack in carbohydrates and protein.

It is important to keep in mind that all smoothies are different, and a commercial smoothie may not provide the same nutritional value as something made at home. Many vendors use ingredients from concentrate which can be loaded with sugar, and the actual nutrition value of the fruit is not there.

Green smoothies are becoming increasingly popular and have become new additions to the menu at

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many commercial places. Although the thought and appearance of green smoothies may not seem appetizing, greens are relatively tasteless and are packed with nutrients. Combined with some fruit, they can make a great smoothie. Green smoothies are great because they provide an easy way to incorporate greens into your diet while on the go, and because they are alkalizing.

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2013

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thevarsity.ca

ACROSS

DOWN

1. Speed ratio 5. Thunder sound 9. Athletic supporter?

12. Not here 13. Rise 14. “Who ___ to say?”

15. Like wind energy 17. Chop off 18. Accounting figure 19. Pitching miscues 21. Staff of life 24. Bridge declaration 26. Element of hope?

27. Backpack stuff 29. Big job for a storyteller 33. Poet’s “before” 34. Overhangs 36. Notate quickly 37. Direction for a wagon train 39. Airline availability 40. Club’s yearly meeting 41. Graph references 43. Retro dos 45. Anesthetic, formerly 48. Bikini piece 49. Epiphany exclamation 50. Grinders 56. Bled 57. Watch-step connection 58. Bean town?

60. Bad news reactions 61. Grain bane

1. Damage to a degree 2. Floor 3. Doer’s word 4. “The Lion King” baddie 5. Shoot the breeze 6. Ad conclusion?

7. Apiece, in tennis 8. Common folk 9. Pride follower, so they say 10. One way to run 11. Frost’s bites 16. Club at a club 20. Balaam’s mount 21. Begin to form, as a storm 22. Steakhouse specification 23. Ophthalmologist’s study 24. Lays flagstones 25. Realm 28. Mollify 30. Admitting a draft, maybe 31. Words in disco names 32. PIN takers 35. Great balls of fire?

38. ___ kwan do 42. Roentgen’s discovery 44. Goes on the fritz 45. Bowling legend Anthony 46. Eastern cuisine 47. Audience response 48. Sots’ spots 51. Cause of a scare 52. Barbecue spices 53. Ebullience 54. Big bird 55. Assumed the lotus position

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