VARSITY EDITORIAL
pg 13
DAVID NAYLOR: PASSING THE TORCH
Vol. CXXXIV, No. 09
University of Toronto’s Student Newspaper Since 1880
4 November, 2013
Historian
Athlete
Atheist
“Because [history] doesn’t just unite people around a grievance, it also gives them justification for attacking people who aren’t like them. History can be a very powerful and dangerous tool.”
“I spend more hours a day playing basketball than I do in class. My basketball commitment at this university is more than my class commitment, so I guess that’s the most difficult thing.”
“More atheists, more kindness, and more tolerance, but there are also still religious people.”
— Margaret MacMillan | pg 14
— Alex Hill | pg 24
— Penn Jillette | pg 8
Build new or renovate? U of T’s deferred maintenance totals continue to grow, while the majority of provincial funding and donations go to new infrastructure Article pg 9
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VARSITY NEWS
Vol. CXXXIV, No. 9
WHAT’S GOING ON
THE VARSITY
THIS WEEK
VOL. CXXXIV No. 9
21 Sussex Avenue, Suite 306 Toronto, ON, M5S 1J6 Phone: 416-946-7600 www.thevarsity.ca
ON CAMPUS
Masthead Editor-in-Chief Joshua Oliver
Production Manager Dan Seljak production@thevarsity.ca online@thevarsity.ca
Design Editor Shaquilla Singh
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Photo Editor Carolyn Levett
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the week in tweets RHIANNON KYLE @RHIANNON_KYLE
editor@thevarsity.ca
Managing Online Editor Murad Hemmadi
news@thevarsity.ca
When profs give everyone an extra 5% so the class average isn’t failing #uoft — Monday, October 28
REBECCA ORSINI @BECCAORSINI
Senior Copy Editor Catherine Virelli
copy@thevarsity.ca
News Editor Zane Schwartz
news@thevarsity.ca
everyone is eating in the library and it’s making me so hungry #robarts
Comment Editor Alec Wilson
comment@thevarsity.ca
— Monday, October 28
Features Editor Danielle Klein
features@thevarsity.ca
Arts & Culture Editor Sofia Luu
arts@thevarsity.ca
Science Editor Katrina Vogan
science@thevarsity.ca
Sports Editor Elizabeth Benn
sports@thevarsity.ca
Illustrations Editor Nancy Ji
VICTORIA WALLACE @LITTLELION_X having to miss class to study for another class #uoftprobs — Tuesday, October 29
illustration@thevarsity.ca
Video Editor Jamieson Wang
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Web Developer Natalie Morcos
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Associate Design Editor Mari Zhou Associate Photo Editor Vacant Associate Senior Copy Editor Lucy Genua Associate News Editors Liza Agrba Sarah Niedoba Theodore Yan Associate Features Editor Victoria Banderob
DAVID CRONENBERG: EVOLUTION
TIFF presents a major exhibition featuring Cronenberg’s evolution as a filmmaker in contrast with the beauties and perils of human evolution itself. (See pg. 17) November 1 – January 19 hsbc Gallery, Tiff Bell Lightbox $12 for students, $5 on Tuesday (tours included) DAY OF THE DEAD Cultural festival featuring Mexican food, music, stories, and more. November 8 – 10 Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay West Free
Associate Comment Editor Vacant Associate A&C Editor Ishita Petkar Associate Science Editor Emma Hansen Associate Sports Editor JP Kaczur Associate Video Editor Alexandra Butrón
Writers Afiny Akdemir, Caitlin Alexieff, Maria Alexiou, Kasia Bunda, Emma Compeau, Sampson Coutts, Benjamin Crase, William Deck, Atta HabibollahZadeh, Emma Hansen, Alessandra Harkness, Murad Hemmadi, Jennifer Hurd, Andrew E. Johnson, JP Kaczur, Danielle Klein, Breton Lalama, Julia Lewis, Jacob Lorinc, Anthony Marchese, Yves Messy, Linh Nguyen, Sarah Niedoba, Devyn Noonan, Deniz Oral, Ishita Petkar, Corinne Przybyslawski, Tanya Rogova, Jeffrey Schulman, Amitpal Singh, Dan Smeenk, Taylor Stinson, Marcus Tutert, Alex Verman, Katrina Vogan Photo and Illustration Designers William Ahn, Michael Chahley, Kawmadie Nicole Dionne, Nancy Ji, Karunanyake, Emerald Misquitta, Trevor Koroll, Timothy Law, Carolyn Levett, Denis Osipov, Dan Seljak, Vivek Srikantan, Max Stern, Shaquilla Singh, Jennifer Su, Alexandra Wong, Mari Zhou Alice Xue, Lucinda Yae-Rim Ro, Elaine Zhu Copy Editors and Fact Checkers Armen Alexanian, Lois Boody, Lucy Genua, Olga Klenova, Ken Kongkatong, Linh Nguyen, Chelsea Ricchio, Nicole Sconza, Jonathan Soo, Jennifer Stipec, Sarah Thier, Rose Tornabene, Kelly Turner, Catherine Virelli, Miranda Whittaker
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.
SWAP DON’T SHOP VINTAGE CLOTHING SWAP Swap your unwanted, gently used vintage clothes, shoes, and accessories with others. October 9, 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm Arts Market, 846 College Street $5
SOCIAL JUSTICE IN INDIA: A GENDER PERSPECTIVE
ROYAL AGRICULTURAL WINTER FAIR
Featuring speaker professor Asha Mukerjee from Visva Bharati University in Santiniketan, India. November 8, 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm 6 Hoskin Avenue, Trinity College Combination Room Free
Combined indoor agricultural fair and equestrian competition — features horse shows, livestock barns, food exhibits, and more. November 1 – 10 Exhibition Place $23
The EXPLAINER What to do on your fall break
1 2 3 4 5
EMILY DELANEY @EMILY_DELANEY 2 shirtless guys just ran into my lecture at con hall with wands yelling spells at each other for a minute and then ran back out #utoronto — Wednesday, October 30
ENGY ABDEL AZEEZ @NG369 THANK YOU GOD FOR EVERYONE FAILING LINGUISTICS AND THE 20% BUMP ON MY GRADE #uoftproblems #butactuallyitsablessing — Wednesday, October 30
KATYA SMIRNOVA @KATYASMIR27 that awkward moment when you don’t know which reading room you were in because everything is robarts is symetrical #awks #uoftprobs —Thursday, October 31
KATIE HANRAHAN @KATIEHANHARAN
Find a friend with a car, or otherwise somehow acquire a car (this publication endorses no unlawful actions). Choose a cardinal direction (perhaps southwest — this feels like a southwest kind of year). Drive in that direction until you realize you’ve driven for so long that you can no longer get back to Toronto in time for class. Keep driving.
The problem with going to U of T is that you can’t tell who is dressed up as a nerd and who is dressed normally. #uoftproblems
Finally watch the entirety of that TV show that interesting and otherwise compatible people you date ask you if you watch. This way you might be able to respond to them with something other than, “I thought the title of the finale was really clever.”
— Thursday, October 31
Learn to do a pop shove-it. Actually propelling yourself forward on the skateboard can come later.
BIANCA ESTRELA @BIANCAXESTRELA Thanks UofT, I now need glasses for the first time in my life #uoftproblems
Write whatever amount of a novel you are able to finish within the span of a long weekend (there is absolutely no argument to be had that two days constitutes a “reading week”). Never think that “you are no good at writing” or, even worse, that “you have nothing interesting to say,” because you have a story to tell that literally nobody in the history of human existence has told before and you are the only one able to tell it. Lock yourself in your room while insisting you’re doing homework but instead just click on lots of Buzzfeed links. Read about Peter the Great on Wikipedia at some point.
Correction: 360 Screenings is not affliated with the Toronto International Film Festival. Incorrect information appeared in an article in last week’s Arts & Culture section.
— Friday, November 1
VIPASHA SHAIKH @VIPASHASHAIKH ‘Wake up in the morning feeling like p diddy/grab my glasses im out the door im gonna hit this city’ --obligatory morning study anthem #UofT — Saturday, November 1
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VARSITY NEWS
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013
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UTSU Board of Directors rules feediversion motions out of order Some directors express concerns over transparency Alex Verman
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
Engineering director Pierre Harfouche’s three motions were not approved at Tuesday’s University of Toronto Students’ Union (utsu) Board of Directors meeting, effectively removing opposition motions from the agenda of the upcoming Annual General Meeting (agm). The first of Harfouche’s motions called on the utsu to support the stance of fee-diversion-seeking divisions at the Student Societies Summit. The third was a charter amendment that would allow a division within the university to decide by an intra-division referendum to divert fees from the utsu. Both Harfouche’s first and third motions were ruled out of order by the Board of Directors as bylaw amendments would be needed before their submission. Though Harfouche aimed, in the phrasing of his motions, to avoid making bylaw amendments, the utsu considers it an atttempt to work around the established procedure. “In conversation, Mr. Harfouche admitted that he phrased the motions in the way that he did in an attempt to avoid having to make bylaw amendments, which must be approved by the Board of Directors according to the Corporations Act,” commented utsu president Munib Sajjad, adding that “This doesn’t stop the fact that his motions require bylaw amendments.” Harfouche’s second motion called for the appointment of new representatives from the union to the Student Societies Summit, the focus of which is the questions around fee diversion. This motion was similarly ruled out of order on the principle that it seeks to undermine the university administration’s stance against the changing of Summit members. This position has been acknowledged by other members of the Board of Directors, though Yolen Bollo-Kamara, vice-president, equity, and one of the utsu’s representatives at the Summit, was unavailable for comment. Harfouche said he was happy to be present at Tuesday’s meeting. According to Harfouche, the last occasion when his motions were discussed, he was not informed of the location, time, or even that his emails had
Members of the UTSU’s Board of Directors . mashal khan/The VarsiTy
been received by the union until after the meeting had taken place. Harfouche outlined the timeline of his exchanges, saying; “On Monday, I submitted the motions, on Wednesday, I emailed the utsu asking them to confirm again, and on Friday I finally got a response that they had seen them. What they didn’t tell me was that a day earlier at 9:00 am they had already had a meeting and already ruled them all out of order.” He says he was told after the fact by the utsu that he would have had to ask to get details of the meeting, “and I was like, ‘well why didn’t you tell me about it,’ and they said ‘oh you’d just have to ask’ and I was like ‘well, how am I supposed to know?’” The utsu commented that since Harfouche attended the Policy Town Hall, where procedures for submitting motions were outlined, it was expected that he would be aware of the union’s policies. Harfouche’s concerns about communication are echoed by Aimee Quenneville, who represents University College on the board. Quenneville said that in order to gain any information about the Student Societies Sum-
mit at any point so far, she has had to ask the executives directly. “We have not been informed at all,” she remarked. “I didn’t even know that the Student Societies Summit was taking place at all, and I was informed by the vice president of the University College Literary and Athletic Society. That’s how little we were told.” Quenneville also gave credit to the executives who have been trying to make the utsu more transparent and accessible, but added that information has not always been forthcoming, especially considering the comparatively small number of members of the Board of Directors. Some members of the Board of Directors are more concerned about the exclusion of these motions from the utsu’s November 27 agm. utsu director Ben Coleman was one of the few who challenged the ruling. For him, it was a question of principle that motions for the agm be as inclusive and representative as possible. In an email to The Varsity, he said: “If I were Pierre, I would have taken a different approach. However, I challenged the chair’s ruling because I believe we have a
Little movement at third Student Societies Summit meeting
duty to consider motions from our members as fully as possible, regardless of whether or not we agree with them.” Similarly, while recognizing that the motions contravened standing bylaws, Quenneville expressed measured support for their inclusion in the agm: “I think that because this discussion is so important to students right now, it is something that should be brought to students for their own understanding and their own interpretation.” Benjamin Crase, also a director, and one of Trinity’s Heads of College, challenged the rulling as well, going so far as to say that Harfouche was “stonewalled.” Even so, Crase does not see the agm as the setting for questions of fee diversion. “It is a question that should be answered by an open and democratic referendum process held by the constituency in question, recognized by the University as outlined in University policy,” he wrote to The Varsity. The utsu was pleased with the outcomes of Tuesday’s meeting, and said that the executive is looking forward to the agm.
You can do the job even if you don’t have the hat
Divisions maintain stances on fractioning of student government Marcus Tutert
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
After what was described by the Summit Chair Joe Desloges as two meetings of “hard work, articulate, open, and creative discussion,” the Student Societies Summit reconvened for its third meeting on November 1 for further discussion, mediated by the U of T administration. The agenda for the third meeting was set to discuss two main questions: “What would be at stake if the current structure of government became fractioned into separate entities” and, “How can the structure between U of T’s student governments be modified to prevent these possible issues from occurring?” Victoria University Students’ Administrative Council (VUSAC) president Jelena Savic stated that the discussions resulted in a consensus that a division of responsibilities between the various
governments is necessary, stressing that they are dealing with a “slightly archaic structure that needs to be brought up to speed with the current needs and demands of students.”
“It’s a slightly archaic structure that needs to be brought up to speed with the current needs and demands of students.” — Jelena Savic, President of VUSAC Regarding the negative effects of a fractioned student government, Engineering Society (EngSoc) president Mauricio Curbelo added that the
fractured nature of the governments would have little impact. Feasibility reports issued by the EngSoc and the Trinity College Meeting have claimed that they could easily replicate the the University of Toronto Students’ Union’s (utsu) current services. Benjamin Crase, Male Head of College at Trinity, expressed his disappointment with the current system, saying that the “ongoing Summit has highlighted the impossibility of suggesting compromise.” He was, however, optimistic that the prompts given at this meeting highlight the university’s attempt to resolve these discussions with a positive outcome. When asked about the third meeting, utsu president Munib Sajjad, who was not in attendance, stated that the utsu remains committed to communicating with students while “maintaining the concern of excluding the utsu clubs and service groups from the summit as an issue.” More meetings are to follow in the near future.
Shoot us an email to find out how news@thevarsity.ca
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VARSITY NEWS
Vol. CXXXIV, No. 9
news@thevarsity.ca
Ontario students’ unions hold funeral for accessible education Halloween-themed protest against rising tuition Tanya Rogova
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
A sombre procession of 20 people gathered around the University of Toronto Students’ Union (utsu) office building at 11:30 am on Wednesday, October 30. Dressed in black, representatives from universities and colleges across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and the Canadian Federation of Students Ontario (cfs-o) staged a funeral for accessible education, as a part of the Hikes Stop Here campaign. The campaign objects to rising tuition and the new four-year tuition framework advocated by the Liberal provincial government. According to the cfs-o, tuition fees have risen by as much as 71 per cent since 2006 and may rise by 108 per cent in the next four years. The campaigners point out that other provinces, such as Quebec or Newfoundland, do not follow such policies on higher education. In these provinces, student participation was able to guarantee either the tight regulation or the freezing of tuition fees entirely. Anna Goldfinch, national executive representative of the cfs-o, explained: “As students in Ontario, we pay the highest tuition fees in all of the country. Today we are using Halloween as an opportunity to call attention to the fact that we believe that accessible and affordable post-secondary education in Ontario is unfortunately dying.” The cfs-o claims that by
their fourth year of undergraduate studies, an average student’s personal debt amounts to $37,000. After picking up a cardboard coffin and a paper floral reef, the mourners proceeded down Wellesley Street to the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities building. There, students gave eulogies in which they addressed their concerns over the rising cost of university, and how this issue affects them and the wider student community. “By the time this government term will finish, the Liberal Party will be responsible for doubling tuition fees in Ontario,” said Alastair Woods, cfs-o Chairperson. Many others expressed their concern about not being able to pay for their education, and how this issue may prevent certain groups — including Aboriginal, immigrant and international students — from pursuing higher levels of education. utsu president Munib Sajjad, who was present at the event, explained how this issue personally affects him: “I’ve worked two or three jobs just to make ends meet. I actually had to drop a couple of courses while I was in my earlier years of education, just to help out at home.” The purpose of this event was to attract greater media and government attention to this issue. The various student bodies plan on working together in the future to organize similar actions. They also encourage other students to get involved with their unions to raise awareness of the problems that their local community is facing.
Students hold mock funeral . elaine zhu/The VarsiTy
New assignment-marking tool created “Crowdmark” uses cloud technology to allow graders to work together Afiny Akdemir
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
A new online grading tool is now available to simplify the process of marking paper assignments at the university level. The idea for the tool, named Crowdmark, came to founder James Colliander in 2011 in the wake of the Canadian Open Mathematics Challenge. Four thousand eight hundred forty nine people wrote the 16-page exam, which arrived from couriers all over the world. “It was a logistical nightmare. During the process, I saw faculty waiting for exams, while others were marking sections a and sections b. It was a serialization bottleneck in the workflow. And I had this very simple idea. If I could upload every page into a database, I could show the right page to a person at the right time, and I could do so in a parallel fashion,” said Colliander. Since then, Colliander has taken the simple idea and greatly expanded it. One of the benefits of the program is that it allows
James Colliander. media phoTo
markers to work from remote locations. “I can recruit someone from Indiana, who’s really good at particle physics, to assess a physics question on a big physics exam,” said Colliander. This creates an environment where merit is valued over proximity, and the most skilled markers can be assigned work that they would normally not have access to.
“I saw faculty waiting for exams, while others were marking sections A and sections B. It was a serialization bottleneck in the workflow. And I had this very simple idea, if I could upload every page into a database, I could show the right page to a person at the right time.” — James Colliander, Founder of Crowdmark Having people not work together in person can present the problem of poor communication between markers. To combat this issue, Crowdmark features
“evaluation multiplicity,” which allows for any number of markers to evaluate the exact same assignment. “Suppose me and you are marking the same paper, you gave it a four, and I gave it a seven. That’s too far apart and it generates a flag. A supervisor marks this exact same paper and gives it a three. You’re within tolerance, so you get a +1 in your trust, and I don’t,” explains Colliander. Over time, the evaluation multiplicity method will generate a badging system on a marker-by-marker basis. Crowdmark also attempts to ease the process of running
massive online courses. Of the around 1000 public high schools in Ontario, roughly 300 of them allow twelfth grade students to earn university credits through the Advanced Placement (ap) or the International Baccalaureate (ib) programs. Crowdmark aims to streamline the marking of exams in these programs, allowing instructors to design fair and appropriate courses that reflect what is expected at the postsecondary level. To date, U of T has invested $115,000 in the project, which is also funded by the province of Ontario, and mars Innovation.
VARSITY NEWS
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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013
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Meet Judy Goldring Family of Governing Council chair has donated over $10 million to U of T Murad Hemmadi & Theodore Yan VARSITY STAFF
Judy Goldring, Chief Operating Officer (coo) at agf Management, had a special reason to spend time in the library during her undergraduate career at the University of Toronto. “I loved hanging out at Emmanuel College,” she says. “This will really date me, but Tears for Fears did a video at Emmanuel College, and I loved going into Emmanuel College and saying ‘This is where the video was done.’” Four generations of the Goldring family have attended U of T, including Judy and her brother Blake, both of whom graduated from Victoria University, and both of whom have individually donated over $1 million to the university. The Goldring family has made numerous donations to the university. The most visible signs of its generosity are the recently opened Goldring Student Centre at Victoria University and the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport, currently under construction on Devonshire. “One of our family principles is to give back to your alma mater,” Goldring explains. Goldring’s experience as a commuter student informed the decision to contribute to the Victoria student centre. “We’re really so honoured and proud and humbled to be able to put a building that we think will help integrate the commuter students, to have a place for not just commuter students but also [residence] students, and it’s a place of meeting.” Goldring believes that the development of projects like the two Goldring centres must involve consultation and dialogue between donors and the administration. The student centre at Victoria created some controversy when it was first proposed in 2008, with students voting in a referendum that approved a $100 ancillary fee to pay for one-third of the $21 million building. Goldring says the decision of students to support the project
at the time was inspiring. “I think that’s exactly what donations are all about; that’s exactly why if there’s a vote and people will support it, it’s because they want to make sure they’re improving the time for the student experience after they’re gone, and that’s exactly what we wanted to see happen with the Goldring Student Centre.” The connection to Victoria is obvious, but why high performance sport? Goldring says her father, the late C. Warren Goldring, co-founder of financial firm agf Management, believed in a well-balanced life. “I did joke with him, ‘There are no Olympians in my side of the family,’” she remembers, “but he was a firm believer about having that element of your life fulfilled, and it is about having all parts of your life in a positive way, and that’s what the Goldring Centre for High Performance does.” Health is a particular topic of interest for Goldring; her husband has Type 1 diabetes, and she has previously co-chaired the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s (jdrf) Ride for Research charity event. According to Goldring, the quality of research being conducted at institutions like U of T is particularly important: “In terms of the research excellence that’s done here, you do see organizations like JDRF benefitting from phenomenal research, and research does make a difference in managing diseases like diabetes.” Goldring believes that it is important for students to take care of their health. “You’ve got a lot of pressure; students today are under a lot of stress, and the pressure to perform and succeed in a very competitive environment is a challenge,” she admits. “But it is a good message to get out — to get out and do that, keep active, keep healthy, eat right.” Goldring’s contributions to U of T go beyond the remarkable sums she has donated. She has been a member of the University of Toronto’s Governing Council for four years,
Judy Goldring, Chair of Governing Council. CAROLYNN LEVETT/THE VARsiTY
serving as its vice-chair for two years before being elected to the role of chair on July 1, 2013. “We’ve spoken about my love of this institution, my fond memories of it,” she says. “My family connection has afforded me the opportunity to get involved, and when the opportunity came around for me to get involved with the council, I was excited to be able to give back.” As Meric Gertler takes over as U of T’s new president, Goldring is leading Governing Council during a period of change for the school, and she looks forward to the work. “Certainly governance, I think, can be helpful in the transition, assuring a smooth transition to support the president and the provost,” she says. “We’re also looking to support, where appropriate, on key defined advocacy issues as the president might define or the administration might define.” Goldring emphasizes that a current key policy initiative for the Governing Council is the implementation of campus councils on the Mississauga and Scar-
borough campuses, an effort to respond to their growth by increasing decision-making at the local level. Goldring balances her position at the university with what she drily calls her “day job” as coo of agf Management, a $38 billion asset management company that invests money for clients without the expertise or inclination to do so themselves. Portfolio managers at the company construct investment packages in which individuals and institutions can then choose to participate. U of T itself employs agf’s services through the University of Toronto Asset Management Corporation. “So it keeps me busy,” Goldring says of her multitude of responsibilities with a smile. “Some would argue there’s no such thing as balance,” Goldring notes, when asked how she manages to keep her complex life in order. “It’s just a very busy time on campus right now, which is great. So right now, the balance is a little imbalanced, but it’s okay. It’s all good.” The discussion eventually turns
back to the business of U of T. Goldring shares what she sees as the most significant challenge for universities in Canada. “Broadly speaking, I think for all universities it’s government policy around post-secondary education and sustainability of the framework that we’re operating in,” she says. “It’s one of the more pressing issues; it’s not a new issue, and it’s not going to be solved in a day either.” Still, Goldring is excited about the opportunities for dialogue for the schools leaders going forward, and particularly expressed great confidence in president Gertler. Perhaps she is remembering her days making friends in The Buttery, or reading in her favourite quiet spaces around Vic, or being awestruck by the building in which Tears for Fears filmed a video (yesterday’s Mean Girls and Convocation Hall, one might say). At any rate, there is context that makes the words Goldring utters in conclusion just a little more meaningful. “Enjoy your time here,” she says. “It goes by quickly.”
Finding free food Website tells students where to get free food on campus Atta Habibollah-Zadeh VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
Doughnuts are great; they’re even better when they’re free. Finding free food around campus is easier than you may think thanks to nourishmeforfree.com (nmff). Clubs and organizations love promoting their events by giving out free food, and nmff provides daily tips on where to find free food on or near campus. It usually announces two or three locations where students can get their free food fix. nmff was established by Johns Hopkins University alumnus Will Shepherdson in December of 2011. nmff initially operated exclusively at Johns Hopkins but has since expanded to U of T. “Nothing revolutionary here,” stated one of nmff’s main organizers, who did not wish to dis-
close their name. “Quite a number of people have thought about the ‘free food information’ aggregation concept. This is not surprising. We know that college kids love to party, sleep in, and score free food.” When asked about possible expansion of the program to other universities, they replied, “Right now, we’d love to keep the underground nature of nmff by staying small and serving our subscriber base at these two universities. However, some students from other universities have expressed interest in having an nmff page for their school. We’re tallying these requests and it will inform our decision when we start thinking of expansion.” One website that influenced NMFF is Food-Bot. Food-Bot was founded by Carnegie Mellon computer science alumnus Greg Woloschyn in early 2010. By creat-
ing an algorithm which searched for keywords such as “food” and “pizza,” he was able to program an app which notified students of current events giving away free food. It also rates them in terms of food quality and awkwardness. Food-Bot has since been introduced to 19 other universities, U of T is not among them. An unfortunate bug in FoodBot’s algorithm once caused mayhem when an email stated; “Pet a baby chinchilla feed a hamster its favorite food and catch a fish with a big green net,” and FoodBot mistook this as an invitation for free food, because of the keywords food and fish. Student groups often give away free food to promote an event. On Wednesday October 30, the Polish Students’ Association (psa) distributed jelly doughnuts and hot chocolate on the utsu front lawn. The psa’s November 23
Nourish Me For Free!
wine and cheese dance party has been promoted on the website. “I have heard about it, but I had no idea we were on the page,” said Charles Robert, a member of psa. Get Crafty — held every Thursday at Hart House from 11:oo am to 1:oo pm in the Reading Room — pro-
vides a space for everyone to catch up as well as have some cookies and tea. “I think it’s great that they are giving students this opportunity,” said Sarah, a Get Crafty organizer who had also heard about nmff. “If they come for tea and cookies and meet people, that would be cool.”
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VARSITY NEWS
Vol. CXXXIV, No. 9
news@thevarsity.ca
U of T St. George defends two-day fall break Policy maintained in spite of increasing number of Ontario schools implementing week-long breaks Sarah Niedoba
ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR
This year marks the first year that Carleton University, Brock University, McMaster University, and Western University will be providing their students with a fall break. The trend of introducing a second break in the school year comes in part from student leaders demanding an additional period of mental rest, similar to the reading week that already exists in the winter term for undergraduate students. These four universities contribute to a total of 11 out of Ontario’s 20 publicly funded universities that now have the second break. Within the city of Toronto, York University provides three days, and Ryerson University provides a full week . While an increasing number of schools seem to be adopting the concept, the lengths of the breaks vary between universities, and even within U of T’s own three campuses. U of T Mississauga (utm) has no designated break at all, whereas U of T St. George (utsg) has a two-day break, and U of T Scarborough (utsc) receives a four-day break following Thanksgiving Monday. According to both the University of Toronto administration and the University of Toronto Students’ Union (utsu), many studies have shown that a fall reading week boosts the morale of students and offers relief from the “pressure cooker” environment of university. For this reason, an increasing number of universities are implementing a fall break. But why not five days instead of just two? Ali says that the two-day break was created to enhance the student experience, and that two days is enough to achieve a boost in student morale. The two-day fall break originated in 2009, when the university’s administration reformed its previous five-day policy. Dominic Ali, a media representative for the university, stated: “The changes that took place in 2009 allowed students to better prepare for their exams
by having more time to meet with professors, review material, or hold study groups. These changes also allowed the summer session to have the same number of instruction weeks as the fall and winter session.” In essence, the university’s argument is that the two-day break is a compromise to allow for mental reprieve and time to catch up on work while aligning the summer, fall, and winter sessions to the same time frame. The utsu disagrees with this position, saying that if some schools can reasonably have five-day breaks, so too should the St. George campus. utsu president Munib Sajjad noted that the university used to have a five-day fall break, but this was changed to a two-day break in 2009, around the same time that many other schools instituted the break in the first place. Sajjad explained that the utsu believes that: “Part of the reason for this trend is that institutions are realizing how important it is to address mental health issues proactively.” The utsu also cites studies that show that a five-day fall reading week would be particularly effective in improving students’ mental health and general happiness. It was, however, unable to provide the specific studies in question. When asked why UTSG does not have a five-day, Ali did not give a reason, but cited the changes that occurred over the years, saying: “In 2009, a two-day fall break and a two-day December study period were introduced that parallel the breaks in second term, plus a commitment to end the fall/winter session by April 30. Consequently, the April study week has been reduced to a two-day study break.” By implementing a two-day fall break, the administration has therefore cut down the amount of study time available for students in the winter term between the end of classes and the beginning of exams. Ali did not comment on why it was deemed necessary to have a full week break in the winter, but not one for the fall term.
STREETERS
william ahn/The VarsiTy
Ali further stated that the Scarborough campus has a longer break because “Academic schedules [sessional dates] are set independently by division, since different departments have different needs and conditions. A few years ago, few schools had fall breaks at all. Schools with longer breaks tend to start earlier or have more compressed exam schedules.” Representatives of the utsu find this response inadequate, and feel that it is not un-
reasonable to expect a five-day reading week for all three campuses at U of T. The union has met with the university this year about the issue, but did not receive a positive response. “The university administrators seem reluctant to consider this option,” stated Sajjad. “If the administration can see how important this is for students on one campus, we are confident we can show them that it is equally important for the other two.”
By Alessandra Harkness & Nicole Dionne
Question: How do you feel about the length of U of T’s mid-term break this year?
Jo Anne
Chris
Jaskaran
Albert
“I think it should be at least a week (because) we have a week in the spring.”
“I’m satisfied with a two-day break, maybe three days.”
“We only have two days! I mean, that’s horrible.”
“That’s horrible! I have two midterms right after.”
Grad Student, OISE
First-Year, University College
First-Year, University College
First-Year, St. Michael’s College
VARSITY NEWS
var.st/news
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013
EngSoc donates one million to U of T agm discusses eliminating VP external position, fee diversion
TWELFTH NIGHT
Students vote at the AGM. Carolyn levett/tHe varsity
Emma Compeau VARSITY STAFF
The University of Toronto Engineering Society (EngSoc) held its Annual General Meeting (agm) on October 30. A key point of focus at the meeting was a $1 million donation made by the EngSoc to the Centre for Engineering Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CEIE), an initiative to build a new space on campus. The CEIE will be constructed behind Convocation Hall, and is scheduled to be completed in 2016. The funding comes from the Skule Endowment Fund, to which each member of the EngSoc contributes $100 per year. This use of funds has caused some dispute among students, as the fund was not supposed to be used until two years after its inception. The purpose of the donation was to ensure a new high-quality campus space for engineering students. Architects have already planned and begun drawing the layout of the building, and the only decision left to be made is how the society should be thanked. The university has praised the donation, and has reported that it will name the space after the EngSoc. Another issue discussed at the agm was eliminating the position of vice-president, external, a move which engineering society president Mauricio Curbelo says will be a money-saver. One cost of maintaining the role is an expenses paid trip for the vice-president, external, on the premise of connecting with engineering societies at other Canadian universities. The EngSoc argues that other post-secondary institutions lack the experience of U of T’s, and that the meetings have resulted in wasted funds. To placate those not in favour of entirely eliminating the position, the office of vice-president, external, has been replaced by one called the “external relations director,” which is expected to be eliminated in upcoming years. On the topic of the society’s finances, Gordon Tattle, the EngSoc’s vice-president, finance, stated: “My main focus this
year regarding finance is accountability; it is my goal for you to be able to access online all records kept by clubs outlining where their funds have gone.” Curbelo also spoke about the society’s ongoing position on proposed fee diversion from the University of Toronto Students’ Union (utsu). Curbelo said that the student experience of engineers is so significantly different from the arts and science student experience that engineers should have their own student group run separately from the utsu. The EngSoc contends that its members have shown overwhelming support for the idea of redirecting fees from the UTSU to the EngSoc. It maintains that it can provide services identical or superior to those currently provided by the utsu to the more than 5,000 undergraduate students in engineering. The society adds that it has saved the funds necessary to financially
“The purpose of the donation was to ensure a new highquality campus space for engineering students [...] The university praised the donation and has reported that it will name the space after the EngSoc” take on the responsibilities of the utsu should the change take effect. Curbelo added that the EngSoc maintains its opposition to the formation of an engineering society at the Mississauga campus. He opposes the motion for a variety of reasons, one of which is the difficulty to students commuting from Mississauga to St. George campus to attend meetings for any of the 80 clubs downtown. The EngSoc also voted to retain bdo Canada llp to perform its annual audit, which deals with an operating budget of approximately $300,000 per year.
TWELFTH NIGHT By William Shakespeare Directed by Matthew Gorman
Nov. 6–23, 2013 www.harthousetheatre.ca BOX OFFICE: www.uofttix.ca / 416.978.8849 Adults $28 / Seniors $17 / Students $15 $10 Student tickets every Wednesday! Season Sponsors:
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7
There are always choices
by Joshua Oliver
Canadian historian Margaret MacMillan discusses her new book, World War I, and the study of history
“There’s always something to be said, because history changes as we change.”
JENNIFER SU/THE VARSITy
M
argaret MacMillan, one of Canada’s best-known historians, returned to Toronto this week to promote her new book, The War That Ended Peace. A Toronto native and University of Toronto graduate, MacMillan was provost of Trinity College and has taught at both U of T and Ryerson. Now warden of St. Anthony’s College, Oxford, MacMillan is also a public intellectual and award-winning author. Her latest book, which addresses the causes of the First World War, is the historical prequel to her famous book on the conclusion of that war, Paris 1919. While 600 pages on international relations may not be your idea of fun, The War That Ended Peace is shockingly readable and contains broadly interesting themes. The Varsity caught up with MacMillan at Trinity College to talk about that troubled, pivotal, and ultimately calamitous moment in world history, and the lessons it can offer about the world today and the role of history. The Varsity: So, the book is 600 pages. I think for most undergraduates, even reading a 600-page book is pretty daunting. Where do you start when writing a book of this length and complexity? Margaret MacMillan: I never start thinking I’m going to write a 600-page book. I start trying to get an idea of what I want to say. Then, what I usually find is that you have to go back a bit to explain it, and then you have to go back a bit more. So what’s very difficult is to stop myself from going all the way back. I decided for various reasons that I had to start in the 1890s… I couldn’t understand, and I thought others couldn’t understand, why Europe went down particular paths. TV: You draw parallels between that period, 1890–1914, and President Nixon’s visit to
China in 1972, which you’ve also written about. Then you draw further parallels to the present day. What do you think those major parallels are? MM: I think part of the reason I draw parallels is that it helps people to think about the past if they can relate it to what’s happening in the present. But I also find the parallels interesting. I think there is a real parallel between the world of the pre-1914 period and the world today. I mean, we’re living in a period where you have one power that has been dominant that is no longer as dominant as it was: i.e., the British Empire before the First World War and the United States now. So it’s a period of transition. You have other powers that are beginning to develop, and develop military power. For example, before the First World War it was Germany or the United States and today it’s China, Brazil, or India. We also have social unrest, we have international ideologies — both of which you also had before the First World War. I obviously don’t think the times are exactly the same, but I do think there are interesting parallels. TV: It’s interesting, of course, that the events of 1914 led to war and the events of 1972 strengthened peace. Can you identify critical differences there? MM: In 1972 the Americans and the Chinese, for their own very different reasons, decided they should talk to each other. What you had on both sides was a good will and a willingness to talk to each other. With a recognition that both had something to benefit from that improved relationship. Before 1914, you had, for example, the British and the Germans talking to each other. Though on both sides, there were some people who rec-
ognized that they had something to gain for a better relationship, there weren’t enough people. TV: You talk about the importance of colonies and how colonial tension contributed to hostilities that built up toward the war. The narrative around World War I has always focused on Europe. The only story we hear is that European powers competed for colonies and that when the war broke out the empires said, “jump” and the colonies jumped. Did you see any ways in which the actual people in colonies, like Canada, were contributing to the process that led to war? MM: No, I don’t think the people in the colonies were contributing to the process that led to war, or only as much as they were supporting the colonial power. You did have people who shared the fears of the British toward Germany, and so shared in the concern about German naval building. But I don’t think that was pressuring Britain to do anything. I think it’s really the British that are making the policy. If anything, the British felt that the colonies were not contributing to naval defense, and felt they were getting a free ride. TV: So it really was “Europe out?” MM: It was “Europe out,” I think. It was beginning to change, but it hadn’t changed as much as it was going to do in the ‘20s and ‘30s. Of course, what the empires were beginning to face, in different parts before 1914, were nationalist movements. But not everywhere — in a lot of the old European empires, the local people had not yet begun to organize themselves into national movements. There were certainly revolts based on religious grounds and particularist grounds in particular regions.
But I think the period before 1914 was one in which it was relatively easy to have an empire, because those being ruled hadn’t yet, in most cases, begun to really become a mobilized political force. TV: And then all that changed. MM: Oh, it was changing anyway. You can see those roots already being laid down in the period before the First World War. And the war was going to give it a great stimulus. It wasn’t the same throughout the empires. There were some bits where the local people were only beginning to realize what had happened to them. They suddenly found themselves as part of the Belgian Empire, or the French Empire, or the British Empire. They hadn’t really taken it in. And they were being treated, often, as a political unit, where they hadn’t been a political unit before. Certainly, there was a lot happening at the grass roots, but a lot of it was going to really play out later on. TV: A review of your book in the London Review of Books (LRB) argued that The War That Ended Peace is implicitly structured around a narrative where Germany acts and other European powers react, and that in this way it portrays Germany provoking the war. Do you agree with that characterization? MM: There’s something in it. It was written by Christopher Clarke, who is a very good German historian, and who I think feels that Germany is being treated unfairly. My sense is that he goes too far in that direction, that Germany did do some things which other powers did react to. But it wasn’t just powers reacting to what Germany was doing, it was also Germany reacting to what other powers were doing. TV: The question of responsibility is, of course, the question when it comes to First World War history. It’s almost expected that
TV: Anything closer to home? MM: You’ve got, of course, the Canadian government trying to portray or promote a view of the War of 1812 as a struggle of Canadians against Americans — when it wasn’t. It’s anachronistic to say that there was a fullyfledged Canadian identity and consciousness in those days. These were people who lived in Canada, some of whom were of British descent, some of whom were of French descent, very recently American, or Aboriginals. I mean, the recent commemoration of the War of 1812, at least at the official level, seems to have left out the Aboriginal contribution. It was much more complex, and I think we could recognize that. There’s also been talk, and again it seems to come from the Conservative sections of Canadian society, that Canada is a nation made in war. I suspect this will come out again in the commemoration of the First World War. Vimy ridge is clearly going to be a big thing. Yes, war has been an important part of Canadian history, but I don’t think we’re a nation made by war. I think, on the whole, we’re a very peaceful nation, and we’re made more by peace and peaceful evolution than by war. TV: You’ve also said history shouldn’t be left to amateurs. Are students amateurs?
JENNIFER SU/THE VARSITy
you take a position on it. And you don’t spend a lot of a time on that question. But do you think you can assign responsibility, and what are the people or factors or nations that you would assign it to? MM: I think Germany, because it’s at the centre of Europe, is very important to European stability. Bismarck, when he was in charge of Germany, managed to build a system where Germany — through a series of very skillful maneuverings and alliances — really dominated Europe. The trouble with Bismarck is that he builds a system that only a genius like Bismarck can run. The trouble with Germany is it’s at the heart of Europe; it’s very strong, it’s getting stronger. It already has the strongest army, and from the point of view of Germany’s neighbours, this is a worry and a menace. Of course, from the point of view of Germany, it’s surrounded. So you have a very bad situation where both sides see things in their own way and they’re not seeing how the other side would feel. But I do think German policy was reckless in some cases. Letting the reinsurance treaty with Russia lapse was a mistake. And it shouldn’t have been that difficult. I mean, the two countries had a lot of synergy. TV: Something you seem to be very aware of writing the book is walking the line between ascribing too much importance to individuals and ignoring them completely, and saying they’re caught up in great trend of history that no one could possibly have done anything to change. And then you leave with the very last sentence in the book: “There are always choices.” You also say, “context is crucial.” So my question here is, do you see there being real choices, or is there the illusion of choice in a context that makes one path inevitable or almost inevitable? MM: I think circumstances make certain choices more likely than others. I think you can’t expect people to make choices where they don’t have a clear choice. I think people work within a framework. So there are certain givens within that framework, but even then I think there are choices, particularly war. If you choose to go to war with someone else, there is a clear element of choice. It’s one of the great choices that is made in human history. So I don’t think things are inevitable. I think
people are confined within certain parameters as to the choices they can make. If you’re Germany, you can say we will either dominate our neighbours through our undoubted military supremacy and through our economy, or we will dominate them in a peaceful way, and that was a very clear choice before Germany in the period before 1914. There’s a German industrialist who says in 1914, we just need to wait and sooner or later we will be economically dominant, which would bring with it political influence and so on. And that’s what Germany has chosen to do since 1945. Germany has very consciously chosen not to be a military power. TV: A distinction has been drawn between three strands in history right now. First, you have what’s called “political history,” that’s kings, presidents, wars, treaties. Then there’s “social history,” which is the history of how people lived in the past. And third — and this category sometimes overlaps with social history — there’s a history that’s written in opposition to the traditional account of how things happened, which was written by the people who were in power. First, do you agree with those rough distinctions? MM: I don’t think I would ever make as clear distinctions as those. I don’t think they even exist in the past. I mean political history cannot be separated from political sociology, which means it can’t be separated from the nature of society. And the sorts of things that people argue about, the sorts of things that are called political divisions, very much reflect what’s going on in society. I don’t like, and it does happen in history, people who think exclusively in one term or another. I think the whole thing about history is that it’s eclectic. We don’t look narrowly at one particular subject. I mean, if you’re doing a history of technology, you can’t separate that history from a history of society, values, and power structures. Why are certain things invented and other things aren’t? Why are certain types of science pursued and others not? Those choices reflect the nature of the society and power structures. TV: In light of that, there has been some discussion on this campus that there is a dominance of social history in the course offerings. You’ve taught here. Do you see that
happening? How do you fit the different pieces of that eclectic picture together in the way that you teach history? MM: You can teach courses with different emphases. If you looked at history, for example, of the changing position of women in Canadian society, you’d presumably not be able to do such a history without the economic history of Canada, without looking at the political structures, because changes in society often are a result of political pressures, or political decisions, or changes in the law. I suppose the sort of history I like is one in which we don’t compartmentalize it too much. I think there’s a tendency among people who do one kind of history to caricature the other. I think we do ourselves no service by that. I think we learn from each other and come at it with different emphases, but I think if you start ignoring a whole big chunk of what makes societies tick, you’re not going to get a whole picture. TV: In your 2013 Hagey lecture you mention that public opinion was becoming increasingly important before World War I. Of course, public opinion is even more important now. You spoke recently to the CBC about what Canada’s government is doing to the history of the War of 1812. What do you see as the most troubling uses of history going on around us right now? MM: The creation of very partial or even false narratives, which then give justification to behaving in certain ways TV: But specifically? MM: You get claims being made. I mean, the Chinese are now claiming islands in the South China Sea, or they claim Tibet, on very dubious historical grounds. So I think that’s where history can be dangerous. Or you get history called into the use of various ideological movements. You can see it with Islamist movements, where you get a vision of an Islamic past which was absolutely blissfully happy and everyone lived in harmony, and then the crusaders came along and ruined it all, and we need to recover that past. I think this can be extremely dangerous. Because it doesn’t just unite people around a grievance, it also gives them justification for attacking people who aren’t like them. History can be a very powerful and dangerous tool.
MM: No, I don’t think students are amateurs, and if I were doing it again, I wouldn’t put it like that. Because a lot of people took me to mean that only people who have professional history degrees count as professionals, which is not what I meant at all. What I meant was that history has to be done by people who respect the use of evidence, who are prepared to deal with uncomfortable evidence, not just ignore it. What I mean by amateurs is people who write about the past in a lazy sort of way, without really informing themselves about it. And if there’s evidence that doesn’t fit whatever thesis they have, they ignore it or explain it away. So no, I don’t think students are amateurs. If you write bad essays then I’d say you’re an amateur, if you write good essays then I’d say you’re doing it as a professional. TV: In your Hagey Lecture, you said that 32,000 works have been written in English about the First World War. What’s your reaction to people who assume that there’s no more to say on this topic? MM: My reaction is that there’s always something else to be said, because history changes as we change. TV: In the LRB review, which was generally very positive, the critic described your book as “magisterial.” How does it feel to be a historical authority? MM: Well, you don’t feel it. You don’t feel like a historical authority. I’m always aware of how much I don’t know. But I suppose I know more than I used to. And I know more about certain subjects than other people. But magisterial sounds terrifying, it sounds like someone with a long grey beard, looking like a Michelangelo painting of God, saying: “This is the past.” I know he meant it kindly, but you always feel you never know it all. Although I know more than I used to, I suppose. Then I’m also forgetting more. Interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Listen to audio & read an extended interview online at: var.st/mm
8
Vol. CXXXIV, No. 9
VARSITY NEWS
news@thevarsity.ca
Penn Jillette talks atheism Showman stops at U of T as part of book tour Dan Smeenk VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
Penn Jillette has made a career of challenging “Bullshit,” at least as he sees it. The Centre for Inquiry Canada hosted an event at jjr MacLeod Auditorium on Saturday night featuring the magician and TV personality. Jillette is best known as part of the Las Vegas magic duo Penn and Teller, and hosted the Showtime TV program Bullshit! from 2003 to 2011. Jillette spoke at the event as part of a tour for his new book Every Day Is an Atheist Holiday, which tells anecdotes from his life. The speaking engagement featured the retelling of some of the events described in the book, along with other stories. Jillette often related these accounts to secular ethical maxims. During the event Jillette said that his inspiration for writing the book, as well as his previous book God, No!, was an exchange with TV and radio personality Glenn Beck, a Mormon and American conservative pundit. During an argument between Beck and Jillette regarding the showing of the Ten Commandments in the US Supreme Court, Beck suggested to Jillette that he write his own “Ten Commandments of atheism,” which Jillette did. He later expanded upon this idea in two books. Secularism, the principle of separation of government and religious institutions, has garnered recent public attention as a result of the “New Atheism” movement, which has been advanced by a series of books by Sam Harris, Daniel Dennett, Richard Dawkins, and the late Christopher Hitchens. The movement has been praised largely for bringing issues of secularism and humanism to greater prominence, while also criticized for mocking and being militant against religious faith. Jillette stated that he does not see himself as a member of any movement. “You don’t really know what you’re a part of [...] The Ramones did not see themselves as a punk band; they just saw themselves as The Ramones.” He also said that, over time, there has been a broader acceptance of atheism, and that it had “parallels to the gay movement,” as familiarity and openness are important to the culture and as once taboo concepts are becoming less so. Jillette sees the movement around atheism as being “as much about cheerleading as proselytizing.”
When asked what the most encouraging and discouraging signs have been with regards to atheism in the last ten years, Jillette stated that there are “more atheists, more kindness, and more tolerance,” adding with a laugh, “but there are also still religious people.” Justin Trottier, the founder of the Centre of Inquiry Canada, notes that “the [atheist] movement was motivated by the literature.” He stated that he was inspired to get involved in secularist issues after visiting Ground Zero a few months after 9/11, a sentiment which Jillette also alluded to during his talk. Jillette said that both he and the late comedian George Carlin became “way more atheist” after 9/11. The Centre for Inquiry Canada is one branch of the Center for Inquiry Transnational, an organization that spans across 21 countries. The Centre for Inquiry describes itself as an educational organization which promotes the separation of church and state and “embraces humanism, skepticism, freethought, and atheism.” According to Statscan, 24 percent of the population of Canada consider themselves non-religious.
Penn Jillette speaks at the JJR MacLeod Auditorium. Alice xue/THe VArsiTy
Copies of Penn Jillette’s book Everyday is an Atheist Holiday. Alice xue/THe VArsiTy
Outgoing president commemorated at Simcoe Hall A warm send-off for David Naylor at the recent Governing Council meeting Anthony Marchese VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
Former university president David Naylor was lauded for his tenure and accomplishments by the Governing Council on Wednesday, October 30. The open session was his final council as president of the university. Though not the official purpose of the council, expression of gratitude to Naylor was constant. U of T’s new president, Meric Gertler, the former dean of the Faculty of Arts & Science, expressed his thanks to the outgoing president for his transitionary role, and stressed a continuation of Naylor’s aims of research excellence during his own presidency. “One of our defining features is research excellence, but at the same time, it’s the ability to welcome thousands of students from the gta
and across Canada and around the world. That accessibility paired with that research excellence is a big part of our identity, and I want to work as hard as I can to make sure that those attributes remain our hallmark for a long time.” Munib Sajjad, president of the University of Toronto Students’ Union (utsu) was also in attendance, and had a more critical view of Naylor’s time at the university. “The students’ union and Dr. David Naylor certainly did not always agree,” said Sajjad. “His vision of a high-cost, private institution is not one that we can support.” Sajjad noted particular concerns, including the rapid expansion of the Scarborough and Mississauga campuses, and the for-profit model of the Pan-Am Sports Centre. “We will work with our peers at the Scarborough Campus Students’ Union to ensure that we monitor the revenues gained and to where they are attributed, and
hold the university to their word,” said Sajjad of the Sports Centre. Governing Council chair Judy Goldring addressed Naylor’s legacy by announcing commemorations in his honour, including naming Naylor a professor emeritus. The Tanz Neuroscience Building at 6 Queen’s Park Crescent will also be renamed the C. David Naylor Building, and two new scholarships have been founded. As some of the largest entrance scholarships in North America, the ten annual C. David Naylor University Scholarships are valued at $20,000 each, and are aimed at incoming Canadian students. The two annual C. David Naylor University Fellowships, valued at $30,000 each, are geared towards graduate program candidates from Atlantic Provinces. Both will honour excellence in academics and leadership in other fields, such as sports or arts.
Naylor, who is returning to the Faculty of Medicine, was humbled by the commemorations. “The building naming is beyond comprehension, frankly, and it means more than I can say,” he said. “This place has all the ingredients to be among the very best universities in the world for a long time, with fantastic students, faculty, and staff.” Other items on the council’s agenda included the report of the university ombudsperson, who stressed the need for increased guidance on the handling of complaints, and an update from provost Cheryl Regehr on the Student Societies Summit. All items for council decision, including the creation of a corporation to oversee the profit from the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre under construction at the University of Toronto Scarborough campus for the 2015 Pan Am Games, were approved with little to no opposition. Governing Council’s next meeting is Thursday, December 12, 2013.
VARSITY NEWS
var.st/news
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013
9
Build new structures, or renovate?
Maintenance on existing infrastructure neglected as donors choose to contribute to new projects $2 billion: the total fundraising goal of the Boundless campaign $417 million: the amount of capital funding U of T has received from the provincial government since 2003 $1 million: the amount of money donated by the EngSoc for the CEIE
Murad Hemmadi VARSITY STAFF
Build new or renovate? Tamer El-Diraby, an associate professor in U of T’s Department of Civil Engineering, says that the university’s focus on new building is partly pragmatic. “There is no politician that I am aware of that wants to cut the ribbon for the renovation of a building instead of placing the foundation stone for a new building,” he said. Many of the capital projects currently underway at the university include significant renovation or maintenance components, including the north building and 1 Spadina projects. Palmer says that donors do not express a preference for new buildings at the expense of renovating the university’s existing infrastructure. “I’ve never had a donor express to me a preference for new versus renovated [buildings],” he said. “In fact many of the biggest capital projects that we’ve had donors give money to are a combination of both.’ The provincial government has provided $417 million in capital funding to U of T since 2003, according to figures provided by the ministry of training, colleges, and universities (tcu). New buildings and construction accounted for $224 million of those funds. Universities need to consider the maintenance costs associated with new buildings when they apply for funding said Brad Duguid, minister of tcu. “[When] we invest in a new capital project for a university or college, the expectation is that the maintenance of that facility will be covered
Provincial Capital Funding
Other 58,984,326
Campus Renewal 63,313,100
Other 10,857,472
Major Projects 224,030,630
Major Projects 13,390,650
Facilities Renewal 71,450,564 Facilities Renewal 3,218,900
Since 2003-04 including 2012-13
under the operating budgets of the institution,” he explained. “If an institution doesn’t have the capability of maintaining a facility, they ought to not be applying for funding for us to build it.” Palmer admitted that donors often have a similar attitude. “Deferred maintenance is often seen by people as the responsibility of the system, of the university, to maintain things correctly,” he explained. “I have never had much success in going to a donor with a pitch to have their funds allocated towards deferred maintenance.” Last week, in responding to questions about deferred maintenance, the university administration indicated that it believes provincial funding levels are currently insufficient, and that it is lobbying the Ontario government on the matter. why are we expanding? Duguid says new infrastructure is key to maintaining the reputation and ranking of Ontario’s universities. “There’s no question that the deferred maintenance issue is a pressure,” he admitted. “At the same time, we also have the pressure of ensuring that we’re continuing to provide a globally-competitive education experience to our students.” Enrollment at the university has increased significantly in recent decades, with the total number of full-time students growing from 55,127 in 2000–2001 to 80,899 in 2012–2013. Michael Kurts, assistant vice-president, strategic com-
2012-2013
munications and marketing, said in an email that “demand for pse has increased due to population increases combined with increasing participation rates,” leading to a growth in enrollment. These new students need new space, faculty and infrastructure. “U of T cannot say to students, ‘We will not have classrooms for you.’ We cannot say to a chair of a department, ‘We cannot have a secretary for you.’ We cannot tell students, ‘We will not have professors to teach you,’” said El-Diraby. The result, he said, is that maintenance gets deferred because it is the only cost that can be delayed. Palmer emphasized that the Boundless campaign reflects the priorities set by academic units within the university. “All the priorities for the campaigns begin with academic priorities, that are approved in academic plans by the divisions, and they have to be approved by the provost.” The ability of a project to attract funding does play a significant role in the planning process, however. Maharaj said that during the initial planning stage for the ceie, the faculty created a document detailing how the building’s space would be used, broken up into four or five blocks. “Each one of those blocks was based on some type of concept of some type of donor that they would be able to reach with the idea for that space.” The university has repeatedly emphasized that donors do not try to interfere with the academic priorities or planning of faculties or departments. Brad Evoy, external commissioner of the Univer-
sity of Toronto Graduate Students’ Union (gsu), however, says that donor participation affects what the university is able to fund. “It’s much more about building a new program, building a new thing — something that seems cuttingedge,” he argued. “But it’s not so much about the bread-and-butter basics of the university.” Palmer said attracting and retaining donors is dependent on their willingness to give to specific areas of the university’s need. “It is almost impossible to steer a donor to an area of interest where they have no interest,” he said. “It essentially is not sensible to even try, because donors — it’s their money, they can give it to whatever worthy charitable cause they wish, and there’s plenty of competition out there.” what are the implications of this system? The current system of donor contributions and government funding could lead to unforeseen problems in the future, according to Maharaj. “Over the long term you won’t have a masterplanned university, you won’t have a university that evolves according to academic or educational goals — you’ll have a university that evolves towards what people are willing to pay for.” The university’s Governing Council and Business Board approve capital projects, including new buildings and renovations. The Business Board meeting on Monday, November 4, will include the university advancement division’s quarterly report on gifts and pledges above $250,000.
Enrollment Growth 80,000
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The parking lot on St. George Street behind Convocation Hall will soon be covered in scaffolding, with work on the Faculty of Applied Sciences and Engineering’s Centre for Engineering Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ceie) scheduled to be completed in late 2016. U of T’s $2 billion Boundless campaign aims to fund a large number of new buildings and capital projects, including building the Centre for Engineering Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the expansion and renovation of the Faculty of Law, and the renovation of the north building at utm. Some university figures, however, have suggested that the way the university tries to attract donor contributions and provincial funding structures for capital projects incentivize building new over maintaining the infrastructure the university already has. This could be problematic, as buildings in need of repair go ignored while funds are diverted to new construction. The Engineering Society (EngSoc) has contributed $1 million towards the costs of the building. Rishi Maharaj, former president of EngSoc, says the money came from the Skule Endowment Fund, set up in 2010 to establish a permanent endowment for the society, with the aim of eventually replacing the society’s annual fee and the student contribution to the faculty’s operating maintenance budget. Engineering students contribute $100 a year to the fund.“One of the provisions was that the capital could potentially be spent for something major like a new building,” he explained. Maharaj said that initial plans for the ceie did not include any student space, and that the EngSoc’s donation to the project, an initiative begun last year, is partly an attempt to remedy that situation. “What eventually emerged during my time, was that we would be much more likely to be able to get not all the things we wanted, but a substantial number of them, if we were willing to come up with some money. That was the genesis of the idea to give the university some money.” Direct student contributions to capital projects like new buildings show a sense of ownership and an acknowledgement that students benefit from these projects, said David Palmer, U of T’s vice-president, advancement and the person behind Boundless. Palmer said that voluntary one-time donations — as opposed to the referendum-supported levy, used to partly fund the Goldring Student Centre at Victoria University, for example — are also a great motivating tool for donors. “That type of student giving is one of the most powerful incentives for donors and alumni to give,” he explained.
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VARSITY NEWS
10 Vol. CXXXIV, No. 9
news@thevarsity.ca
Expression Against Oppression events give voice to marginalized students Two-week series of events raises awareness about mental health, LGBT students Taylor Stinson
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
The University of Toronto Students’ Union (utsu) held a series of events over the past two weeks to raise awareness of marginalized voices on campus. The semi-annual Expression Against Oppression (xao) was hosted by the Social Justice and Equity commission — one of five divisions within the utsu — which is responsible for the planning and execution of six anti-oppression events spanning from October 21 to 30. Yolen Bollo-Kamara, vice-president, equity of the utsu, discussed xao’s significance to the university. “The main idea for xao is to try and cover as many different issues as we can,” she said. “Although the kinds of events vary each year, we are usually always able to do a Night of Expression, which is the one that really brings all of the events together.” This year’s Night of Expression took place on Thursday October 24. According to BolloKamara, it attracted spoken word and rap sets, along with a drag performance. “Everybody was very supportive, and it was definitely our largest crowd — although different events draw different people. We do look at the popularity of each event in determining what issues to cover, and we also encourage multiple student organizations to get involved with our events.” This year’s xao was held in conjunction with many different student groups that worked to not only enable a variety of perspectives, but to draw additional interest beyond social justice and equity. Each event collaborated with one other organization, including the African Students’ Association (asa), Health and Wellness, lgbtout, Brazilian Culture in Canada (brazuca), and the Community Safety Office. The first week started with a women’s selfdefence workshop, followed by Visibilitea, an evening of tea and crafts, along with a discussion surrounding the implications of queer women’s visibility on campus. The second week included a Brazilian martial arts workshop, a film screening, and a fivedollar lunch. The film screening of Venus Noire told the story of Sarah Baartman, a South African woman infamously exhibited in a 19th century freak show in Europe because of
Hart House hosts special $5 lunch for XAO. CAROLYN LEVETT/THE VARsiTY
her “exotic and unique” sexual features, such as her large buttocks and elongated labia. The film chronicled Baartman’s life as she struggled for independence in a newly abolitionist society. The screening was coordinated by Bollo-Kamara and asa president Vanessa Jev, who was inspired to share the matter after seeing the film in her French culture studies class. “I immediately thought the film was very controversial, yet representative of black culture in the media these days,” said Jev, “When you think about it, Sarah Baartman was the first video vixen. You really get to see the inner struggle from her perspective and how everything seems to defeat her. The film asks you to ask tough questions of yourself: is she really complicit? She is being exploited but is being given money at
the same time for exposing her body. The movie really speaks to modern day issues.” Third-year life sciences student Olayinka Sanusi, a member of the asa, agreed that the film encouraged a critical reflection of racial inequity: “Looking at her body in a sexual manner is oppression, and it’s important that this was a real event in history. I like the fact that I can come to these kinds of events on campus and learn to further express myself by talking about the common problems my community faces.” Another highlight of this semester’s events was the five-dollar lunch at Hart House, which focused on raising mental health awareness on campus. The utsu partnered with U of T’s Health and Wellness Centre, as well as other related student groups, for a resource fair that aimed to provide support
and information on mental health issues. In the hall outside the lunch, many students had the opportunity to engage with representatives from student associations such as Peers are Here, Powerful Minds at U of T, Active Minds at U of T, and Let’s Talk Health. The lunch itself attracted many students who hadn’t heard of the xao event itself, but showed interest in the presentations at the front of the Great Hall. “The lunch is a great price and it will definitely attract lots of people to find out about new activities and groups on campus,” said Tracey Zhao, a third-year economics student. The main goal of this semester’s xao events was to eliminate the stigma surrounding various social issues, and to foster a more inclusive environment both on and off campus.
U of T clothing supplier allegedly pays below minimum wage
U of T top Canadian school for employability
RCMP hunts for UBC serial predator amidst “climate of fear”
According to a report from the Workers Rights Consortium (wrc), Gildan Activewear purchases clothes from factories in Haiti, where workers are paid below the country’s minimum wage. This firm supplies apparel to the University of Toronto. The wrc is a group that monitors factories making college-branded clothing. The consortium represents nearly 200 universities. The report alleges cases in which workers are being paid so little that they cannot afford food, and are forced to take loans in order to feed their families. U of T is investigating in response to these allegations. Michael Kurts, media spokesman for U of T, said, “If we do not receive a response that’s acceptable to the wrc, the university will determine what further action is required, up to and including ceasing to do business with those companies or any company to whom they provide product.” Further dialogue between Gildan and the wrc is expected in the coming weeks.
The third annual Global Employability Survey, which ranks universities in terms of most employable graduates, ranked the University of Toronto at number 14 this year. The study ranked 150 universities worldwide, using information gained from international excutives to decide what the ideal employable graduate would look like. The survey reflected the input of 2,300 executives in 30 countries, taking into account what they look for when searching for an employee. U of T came in 24th in the 2012 survey, with McGill ranking as the second-highest Canadian university at number 30. Emerging, the company that established the survey, stated that employers are looking for graduates who have the most broad range of skills, and are generally well-rounded in terms of their education.
Concern is increasing at the University of British Columbia (ubc) as the rcmp hunts for an individual believed to be responsible for six sexual assaults — all of which targeted women on campus as they walked home alone in the early hours of the morning. University administrators described the serial nature of the assaults as “unusual,” and their increase in intensity over the last month has instilled what ubc president Stephen Toope calls “a climate of fear.” In one October assault, a woman was grabbed from behind, dragged, and punched in the face before she managed to break free. Alongside the university’s own increase in security measures, police have deployed members of their Emergency Response Team. While Sergeant Peter Thiessen of the rcmp is confident that police will find the perpetrator, he said that: “escalation in this type of investigating is always a concern.”
U of T academics to be housed at Centennial’s new aerospace campus
NEWS IN BRIEF
— Amitpal Singh With files from The Toronto Star
— Kasia Bunda With files from: U of T News
— Maria Alexiou With files from CTV News
On Tuesday, October 29, Centennial College announced that it will receive up to $26 million dollars from the provincial government to relocate its aviation program. According to a press release from the college, the new aerospace campus will be located at the former de Havilland aircraft-manufacturing center at Downsview Park. Centennial said that it sees the investment by the provincial government as the first step towards the creation of an aerospace training and research centre, which will help develop new technologies and train competitive graduates. The new space at Downsview Park will accommodate more than 900 students, and provide access to classrooms, workshops, and even working runways. It will house an innovation and research-working group of academics from York University, Ryerson University, and the University of Toronto. According to York Centre City Councillor Maria Augimeri, “this model is truly built for the 21st century.” — Jacob Lorinc With files from Inside Toronto
ONLINE THIS THURSDAY:
VAR.ST/COMMENT 4 NOVEMBER 2013 comment@thevarsity.ca
Mayor Ford: It is time to finally resign var.st/comment
There is no quick fix for rape culture Advising young women to abstain from drinking is not the answer Devyn Noonan
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
If you’re a prudent young woman looking to avoid sexual assault, Margaret Wente has some “common sense advice” for you: “Don’t get drunk.” After all, some studies report that over 80 per cent of campus sexual assaults involve alcohol abuse. For Wente, the most effective way to combat rape culture is to ask women to stop binge drinking. On the surface, this advice seems rational. If drunk women are more likely to be sexually assaulted, then the best way to challenge rape culture is to ditch the booze. Wente’s solution seems to be a simple panacea for a very complex issue. And yet, somehow, it all seems too good to be true. Even assuming we could get women to stop drinking — which, I think I can safely say, we can’t — we would
need to answer an obvious question: why are we asking women to abstain from alcohol if it is men who break the law and commit rape under its influence? I’m sure some will call me a romantic idealist. They’ll argue that, like it or not, rapists are out there — and we’d better empower women to avoid them. To an extent, I agree that it is problematic to deal in the realm of “how it should be” rather than “how it is.” However, there is a fundamental, practical problem with placing the onus of rape prevention exclusively on women: it sends the wrong message to young men. If we lazily claim that boys will be boys, we perpetuate the idea that men’s sexual aggression is explicable and inevitable. Furthermore, we implicitly suggest that the drunk woman has failed in her responsibility to protect herself, has made
NANCy Ji/THE VARSiTy
herself an easy target through her own lack of prudence — that rape is for a woman to avoid, rather than for a man to avoid committing. Implicitly, Wente argues that the rape victim’s indiscretion makes her somehow complicit in the crime. It is a narrative that is all too familiar and all too toxic. Sexual assault already fosters a sense of guilt and self-blame in the victim. Perhaps, this explains why so few incidents are actually reported. Culturally, therefore, we need to foster and reinforce the truth that rapists are the sole cause of rape, and that no one's behaviour, regardless of gender, ever invites or legitimizes sexual assault.
If we don’t change our cultural narrative around sexual assault, how can we challenge rape culture? Women aren’t about to stop drinking, and they should feel free to dress promiscuously. As U of T law professor Brenda Cossman argues in her October 8 piece for The Globe and Mail, even significant changes in the legal system have not significantly altered the sexual assault rate in this country. While we can’t reasonably stop women from drinking, we can teach young men to understand that stop means stop, no matter how a woman is dressed and no matter how drunk she is.
We need to embrace and maintain the narrative that sexual assault victims are just that — victims. And Wente’s argument is fundamentally counterproductive to that goal. Of course, this narrative won’t end sexual assault; rapists will always stalk the streets. But it is a narrative that we can foster among our sons — a narrative that, had it been properly in place, might have given pause to the boys who assaulted Rehtaeh Parsons. To my mind, that is something worth fighting for. Devyn Noonan is a third-year English student.
International student fees ought to stay competitive U of T must consider global reputation when deciding international fees Jeffrey Schulman
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
International students pay more in tuition than their domestic peers. That’s a well-established fact of university life and one that is entirely justified. The University of Toronto receives funding from the provincial government. This is a subsidy of higher education borne by Ontario taxpayers. It makes no sense for Ontario taxpayers to subsidize international students. Foreign students should pay proportionately more than domestic students to offset these subsidies. Fees for international students, however, have grown at a much faster rate than those of domestic students. The ratio between domestic and international fees is in flux. This is largely because U of T — like many of its peers — sees international students as potential cash cows to make up for declining public funding. This approach is short-sighted. In an increasingly competitive world, universities are measured against
cie offers resources for international students on campus. MAX STERN/THE VARSiTy
each other in part by how many international students they have. At the moment, U of T charges measurably less than comparative institutions in the United States and similar tuition to much of the English-speaking world. This is changing, and with tuition increasingly approaching American levels, many international students will hesitate before choosing U of T. Academic scholarships will not offset rising tuition rates because when considering education in a different country, most students will look at general fees before choosing whether to apply. Sometimes scholarships are not a realistic option. U of T should ask international students to pay more, but it should limit increases to a rate comparable to increases in domestic fees. While it may be fair for international students to be charged more, this sort of educational protectionism is bad for the development of students. The inherent benefits of travelling and the rewards available to students who leave home to explore a new culture and perspective are undeniable. Educational protectionism, however, incentivizes students
to attend university closer to home. In Canada, we already see some of the benefits of dismantling this system. Students from other provinces pay the same fees as students who apply from Ontario. This makes for a more diverse campus population. If residence was also subsidized, this effect would be seen even more clearly. The governments of Ontario and of Canada could negotiate with other countries to extend domestic fee status to international students. If proportionately more students from one country travelled to another, those governments could simply exchange funding to compensate. The result would be a further increased globalization of higher education, benefitting both students and the universities they attend. Rather than eliminate flat fees, the government of Ontario would be best advised to use the limited higher education budget to encourage international students to come to Ontario and Ontario students to see the world. Jeffrey Schulman is a first-year student at Trinity College studying international relations.
12
VARSITY COMMENT
Vol. CXXXIV, No. 9
comment@thevarsity.ca
Canada Europe Trade Agreement opens up exciting new opportunities CETA treaty a welcome addition to Canada's international trade horizon Yves Messy
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
The Canada Europe Trade Agreement (CETA) has the potential to give a substantial boost to the Canadian economy; it just might serve as the template for a brave new standard of international trade treaty-making. The Harper government must insist on effective arbitration mechanisms, clear safeguards for cultural industries, and effective provincial participation during the ratification process in order for this gift to fulfill its promise; the longevity of the prime minister’s legacy depends on this. While the jury is still out on just how much of an impact the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) had on Canada’s economy, many critics are keen to emphasize that it hurts Canadian workers just as it allows the United States a substantial, unchecked hold on our natural re-
As a human being you probably have thoughts, assumptions, attitudes, conclusions, feelings, ideas, impressions, judgements, notions, reactions, theories, views, sentiments, and inclinations.
We want to hear them! comment@ thevarsity.ca
sources. American counterparts, too, expressed discontent with the treaty during a succession of US elections. Several American politicians, including President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, openly called for renegotiating nafta over concerns that the international treaty undermined the country's labour market. Given the lengthy consultations that led up to the conclusion of NAFTA, CETA is sure to address many of these concerns. The treaty places particular focus on service trading, with groundbreaking implications for labour mobility between Canada and the rest of North America, the world’s largest economic area. The text of the agreement is not currently available, but the nature of the document at the end of negotiations on October 18 allows for Canadian access to the bidding process for European government appropriations and procurement contracts. Thanks to firms such
as Bombardier, Canada is a leader in transportation, oil and gas, and defence procurement expertise. This change is sure to reward core Canadian economic strengths. The treaty also features significant opportunities for labour mobility between Canada and the European Union; it gives Canadian workers preferential access to two of the world’s largest trade zones, a bounty that cannot be ignored. Work visa, intellectual property, and professional certification standards are also being harmonized to make it easier for Canadian labour expertise to sell in the European market. In exchange, rules governing European investment and acquisition of Canadian firms are slimming, streamlined and simplified, with no security or Ministry of Finance review necessary, so long as they are valued under $1.5 billion. Seventy per cent of GDP increases in the G8 come from intellectual property and services-related industries, so ceta is a welcome boost for those industries as a growth factor.
The many benefits of CETA are conditional on key safeguards, and the Harper government is highly unlikely to stand up for them. Should it fail to do so, CETA is sure to stand as a missed opportunity that exposes protected and essential Canadian industries to costly abuse on the tax payer’s dime. CETA needs new and improved arbitration mechanisms that allow Canadian businesses to protest violations and abuses of its binding rules. NAFTA failed that test several times by allowing the United States to use sophisticated, nontariff barriers to trade, and to violate anti-subsidies rules in the face of a weak and ineffective trade arbitration process. Europe is full of economies with a much larger footprint on the global economy than individual Canadian provinces. Without sufficient emphasis by Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Foreign Minister Ed Fast, the ratification of CETA will
only add a European dimension to this already substantial burden on Canadian taxpayers. Overall, CETA is a welcome addition to Canada’s international trade horizon. It is sure to add to Stephen Harper’s legacy as a prime minister. Its wording, the issues it addresses, and its format already inform other bilateral and global trade agreements in the making, like the Trans Pacific Partnership treaty. At a time when the United States and Europe are slowly making their way back to the forefront of global growth, this treaty gives the Canadian taxpayer greater disposable income and an even greater range of opportunities. These opportunities come at a great cost to uncompetitive Canadian industries, federal-toprovincial cooperation to mitigate this impact is sure to make CETA a really good deal. Yves Messy is in his fourth year studying political science.
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Editorial
4 NOVEMBER 2013 editorial@thevarsity.ca
PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION
A tale of two presidents NANCY JI/THe VArsITY
David Naylor stepped down as U of T president on Friday, ending eight years in the university’s most important office. For almost a decade, Naylor has filled the president’s office with remarkable energy and has often been in the public eye. It is hard to assess Naylor’s personal legacy, but the university has certainly benefitted from his efforts. At the time of his appointment, Naylor’s successor, Meric Gertler, emphasized Naylor’s achievements in raising U of T’s international reputation: “I am following in the footsteps of President Naylor — a leader who has combined vision, hard work, and dedication to propel the University to compete with the best institutions in the world.” Under Naylor, U of T has placed among the world’s top 20 universities in both the QS World University Rankings and the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. Although Naylor himself has questioned the accuracy and significance of university rankings, they are just one indication of U of T’s growing international standing. Naylor can claim a great deal of credit for this achievement. The “Boundless” fundraising campaign, launched in Naylor’s second term, is the largest in Canadian academic history and has bolstered the university’s global connections. Again, Naylor’s personal involvement has been substantial. Although Naylor has been good for U of T’s public image abroad, he has been less successful closer to home. Perhaps the most prominent example of this is the proposed student residence that was to be built by Knightstone Capital Management Inc. on College Street. The university’s negotiations with Toronto City Council and with community groups opposed to the proposals were less than cordial. The university released an unsigned statement accusing city councillor Adam Vaughan of “uncharacteristically threaten[ing] to use his office to damage the University’s interests in various ways,” while Harbord Village Residents’ president Rory (Gus) Sinclair threatened to “[go] to war” with the university. The incendiary back-and-forth over the residence contributed to Toronto City Council’s rejection of the proposal. It would be unfair to lay the blame for this fiasco on Naylor alone, but as president, community and public relations were part of his responsibility. It seems fortunate, then, that incoming president Gertler’s academic background is in urban geography and economics. Gertler seems well-suited to ameliorate the often-strained relationship between the university and surrounding communities. In an interview with The Globe and Mail, Gertler stated that he sees “a real opportunity for the U of T to play an expanded role in city-building, and working with civic leaders.” If U of T is to continue to expand, particularly if it is to finally build new residences, effective communication and compromise with its neighbours must be a priority. This is one promising area where Gertler has the opportunity to make his mark. There are also areas where Gertler seems poised to build on Naylor’s successes. Gertler has already helped raise $175 million towards the Boundless campaign. He seems eager to pick up where Naylor left off in the university’s fundraising efforts, saying in one interview that he enjoys fundraising. Private donations have met or exceeded expectations for several years, but this is not the only funding question that the new president will have to manage. As president, Naylor repeatedly stated that government funding is unsustainably low. In addition to expanding and improving community relations, Gertler should focus on continuing to persuade governmental bodies to invest in the university. One of Naylor’s approaches to this issue has been to emphasize entrepreneurship at the university. Gertler may well continue this, but should be cautious to prevent excessive commercialization of research and ideas. Gertler’s history as dean of the Faculty of Arts & Science means he does not assume the presidency with an entirely clean slate. The controversial 2010 review of the faculty, which proposed major budget cuts that included the termination of the university’s Centre for Comparative Literature, drew outcry from students and faculty alike. Gertler also played a major role in implementing the university’s unpopular flat fee policy, which has been a major student grievance since it was introduced. Some tension between the university’s students and its president seems inevitable. Yet these high-profile and unpopular decisions mean Gertler could have an uphill battle to convince skeptical students of his good intentions. This should not, however, preclude constructive dialogue between the new president and student leaders. The impact of the president on the university is difficult to measure. Like any leader, the tone a president strikes and the example they offer can be as important as specific policies and initiatives. Gertler should model transparency and willingness to consult and compromise in the many challenging situations he will undoubtedly face. The university has, on the whole, been well-served by Naylor, but there is always more work 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.
LETTERS TO
THE EDITOR Vol CXXXIV, No. 08 | October 28, 2013
Re: $484 million needed in building repairs I know we always want the government to come in to fix our problems, but don't we bear some responsibility for maintaining our own buildings? I don't think we need to be running to Premier Mom every time there's a hole in the ceiling do you? — Really? (from web) Re: Saying goodbye to David Naylor Being a university president isn't easy. Thank you for your commitment and sacrifices to higher education, Professor Naylor! All the best. — Tim Krupa (from web) Re: UTSU’s Policy and Procedures Committee blocks opposition motions utsu will consider "a motion to investigate new possibilities for the structure of the utsu Board of Directors." How much do you guys want to bet that the result of this "investigation" will be a recommendation to abolish College and Faculty representation on the Board, or to water it down by adding at-large seats or seats allocated to clubs that historically have supported the incumbents? — Old Timer (from web)
One thing this article fails to mention is the secretive nature of Policy and Procedure Committee Meetings. At no point throughout the process of submitting motions, did the utsu mention that they would be debating them at a p&p meeting that very same Thursday at 9 am. To me it seems like the utsu is trying its best to shut the opposition and any student out. Isn't it also funny that the utsu Policy and Procedures Committee (which forwards motions to be voted on by Full-Time Students at the agm) is run almost entirely by part-time students? — Pierre Harfouche (from web) Re: The end of men "Women cannot be obsolete if they make life, for better or worse, that much richer and more fun for men like me." Would that comment be acceptable in today's society? If your honest answer is no, then I would encourage you to look at the last paragraph again. Why is it different? Neither men nor women will become obsolete until all of humanity does. The question is absurd. — october (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.
There are always choices
by Joshua Oliver
Canadian historian Margaret MacMillan discusses her new book, World War I, and the study of history TV: Anything closer to home? MM: You’ve got, of course, the Canadian government trying to portray or promote a view of the War of 1812 as a struggle of Canadians against Americans — when it wasn’t. It’s anachronistic to say that there was a fullyfledged Canadian identity and consciousness in those days. These were people who lived in Canada, some of whom were of British descent, some of whom were of French descent, very recently American, or Aboriginals. I mean, the recent commemoration of the War of 1812, at least at the official level, seems to have left out the Aboriginal contribution. It was much more complex, and I think we could recognize that. There’s also been talk, and again it seems to come from the Conservative sections of Canadian society, that Canada is a nation made in war. I suspect this will come out again in the commemoration of the First World War. Vimy ridge is clearly going to be a big thing. Yes, war has been an important part of Canadian history, but I don’t think we’re a nation made by war. I think, on the whole, we’re a very peaceful nation, and we’re made more by peace and peaceful evolution than by war.
“There’s always something to be said, because history changes as we change.”
TV: You’ve also said history shouldn’t be left to amateurs. Are students amateurs?
JENNIFER SU/THE VARSITy
you take a position on it. And you don’t spend a lot of a time on that question. But do you think you can assign responsibility, and what are the people or factors or nations that you would assign it to?
JENNIFER SU/THE VARSITy
M
argaret MacMillan, one of Canada’s best-known historians, returned to Toronto this week to promote her new book, The War That Ended Peace. A Toronto native and University of Toronto graduate, MacMillan was provost of Trinity College and has taught at both U of T and Ryerson. Now warden of St. Anthony’s College, Oxford, MacMillan is also a public intellectual and award-winning author. Her latest book, which addresses the causes of the First World War, is the historical prequel to her famous book on the conclusion of that war, Paris 1919. While 600 pages on international relations may not be your idea of fun, The War That Ended Peace is shockingly readable and contains broadly interesting themes. The Varsity caught up with MacMillan at Trinity College to talk about that troubled, pivotal, and ultimately calamitous moment in world history, and the lessons it can offer about the world today and the role of history. The Varsity: So, the book is 600 pages. I think for most undergraduates, even reading a 600-page book is pretty daunting. Where do you start when writing a book of this length and complexity? Margaret MacMillan: I never start thinking I’m going to write a 600-page book. I start trying to get an idea of what I want to say. Then, what I usually find is that you have to go back a bit to explain it, and then you have to go back a bit more. So what’s very difficult is to stop myself from going all the way back. I decided for various reasons that I had to start in the 1890s… I couldn’t understand, and I thought others couldn’t understand, why Europe went down particular paths. TV: You draw parallels between that period, 1890–1914, and President Nixon’s visit to
China in 1972, which you’ve also written about. Then you draw further parallels to the present day. What do you think those major parallels are? MM: I think part of the reason I draw parallels is that it helps people to think about the past if they can relate it to what’s happening in the present. But I also find the parallels interesting. I think there is a real parallel between the world of the pre-1914 period and the world today. I mean, we’re living in a period where you have one power that has been dominant that is no longer as dominant as it was: i.e., the British Empire before the First World War and the United States now. So it’s a period of transition. You have other powers that are beginning to develop, and develop military power. For example, before the First World War it was Germany or the United States and today it’s China, Brazil, or India. We also have social unrest, we have international ideologies — both of which you also had before the First World War. I obviously don’t think the times are exactly the same, but I do think there are interesting parallels. TV: It’s interesting, of course, that the events of 1914 led to war and the events of 1972 strengthened peace. Can you identify critical differences there? MM: In 1972 the Americans and the Chinese, for their own very different reasons, decided they should talk to each other. What you had on both sides was a good will and a willingness to talk to each other. With a recognition that both had something to benefit from that improved relationship. Before 1914, you had, for example, the British and the Germans talking to each other. Though on both sides, there were some people who rec-
ognized that they had something to gain for a better relationship, there weren’t enough people. TV: You talk about the importance of colonies and how colonial tension contributed to hostilities that built up toward the war. The narrative around World War I has always focused on Europe. The only story we hear is that European powers competed for colonies and that when the war broke out the empires said, “jump” and the colonies jumped. Did you see any ways in which the actual people in colonies, like Canada, were contributing to the process that led to war? MM: No, I don’t think the people in the colonies were contributing to the process that led to war, or only as much as they were supporting the colonial power. You did have people who shared the fears of the British toward Germany, and so shared in the concern about German naval building. But I don’t think that was pressuring Britain to do anything. I think it’s really the British that are making the policy. If anything, the British felt that the colonies were not contributing to naval defense, and felt they were getting a free ride. TV: So it really was “Europe out?” MM: It was “Europe out,” I think. It was beginning to change, but it hadn’t changed as much as it was going to do in the ‘20s and ‘30s. Of course, what the empires were beginning to face, in different parts before 1914, were nationalist movements. But not everywhere — in a lot of the old European empires, the local people had not yet begun to organize themselves into national movements. There were certainly revolts based on religious grounds and particularist grounds in particular regions.
But I think the period before 1914 was one in which it was relatively easy to have an empire, because those being ruled hadn’t yet, in most cases, begun to really become a mobilized political force. TV: And then all that changed. MM: Oh, it was changing anyway. You can see those roots already being laid down in the period before the First World War. And the war was going to give it a great stimulus. It wasn’t the same throughout the empires. There were some bits where the local people were only beginning to realize what had happened to them. They suddenly found themselves as part of the Belgian Empire, or the French Empire, or the British Empire. They hadn’t really taken it in. And they were being treated, often, as a political unit, where they hadn’t been a political unit before. Certainly, there was a lot happening at the grass roots, but a lot of it was going to really play out later on. TV: A review of your book in the London Review of Books (LRB) argued that The War That Ended Peace is implicitly structured around a narrative where Germany acts and other European powers react, and that in this way it portrays Germany provoking the war. Do you agree with that characterization? MM: There’s something in it. It was written by Christopher Clarke, who is a very good German historian, and who I think feels that Germany is being treated unfairly. My sense is that he goes too far in that direction, that Germany did do some things which other powers did react to. But it wasn’t just powers reacting to what Germany was doing, it was also Germany reacting to what other powers were doing. TV: The question of responsibility is, of course, the question when it comes to First World War history. It’s almost expected that
MM: I think Germany, because it’s at the centre of Europe, is very important to European stability. Bismarck, when he was in charge of Germany, managed to build a system where Germany — through a series of very skillful maneuverings and alliances — really dominated Europe. The trouble with Bismarck is that he builds a system that only a genius like Bismarck can run. The trouble with Germany is it’s at the heart of Europe; it’s very strong, it’s getting stronger. It already has the strongest army, and from the point of view of Germany’s neighbours, this is a worry and a menace. Of course, from the point of view of Germany, it’s surrounded. So you have a very bad situation where both sides see things in their own way and they’re not seeing how the other side would feel. But I do think German policy was reckless in some cases. Letting the reinsurance treaty with Russia lapse was a mistake. And it shouldn’t have been that difficult. I mean, the two countries had a lot of synergy. TV: Something you seem to be very aware of writing the book is walking the line between ascribing too much importance to individuals and ignoring them completely, and saying they’re caught up in great trend of history that no one could possibly have done anything to change. And then you leave with the very last sentence in the book: “There are always choices.” You also say, “context is crucial.” So my question here is, do you see there being real choices, or is there the illusion of choice in a context that makes one path inevitable or almost inevitable? MM: I think circumstances make certain choices more likely than others. I think you can’t expect people to make choices where they don’t have a clear choice. I think people work within a framework. So there are certain givens within that framework, but even then I think there are choices, particularly war. If you choose to go to war with someone else, there is a clear element of choice. It’s one of the great choices that is made in human history. So I don’t think things are inevitable. I think
people are confined within certain parameters as to the choices they can make. If you’re Germany, you can say we will either dominate our neighbours through our undoubted military supremacy and through our economy, or we will dominate them in a peaceful way, and that was a very clear choice before Germany in the period before 1914. There’s a German industrialist who says in 1914, we just need to wait and sooner or later we will be economically dominant, which would bring with it political influence and so on. And that’s what Germany has chosen to do since 1945. Germany has very consciously chosen not to be a military power. TV: A distinction has been drawn between three strands in history right now. First, you have what’s called “political history,” that’s kings, presidents, wars, treaties. Then there’s “social history,” which is the history of how people lived in the past. And third — and this category sometimes overlaps with social history — there’s a history that’s written in opposition to the traditional account of how things happened, which was written by the people who were in power. First, do you agree with those rough distinctions? MM: I don’t think I would ever make as clear distinctions as those. I don’t think they even exist in the past. I mean political history cannot be separated from political sociology, which means it can’t be separated from the nature of society. And the sorts of things that people argue about, the sorts of things that are called political divisions, very much reflect what’s going on in society. I don’t like, and it does happen in history, people who think exclusively in one term or another. I think the whole thing about history is that it’s eclectic. We don’t look narrowly at one particular subject. I mean, if you’re doing a history of technology, you can’t separate that history from a history of society, values, and power structures. Why are certain things invented and other things aren’t? Why are certain types of science pursued and others not? Those choices reflect the nature of the society and power structures. TV: In light of that, there has been some discussion on this campus that there is a dominance of social history in the course offerings. You’ve taught here. Do you see that
happening? How do you fit the different pieces of that eclectic picture together in the way that you teach history? MM: You can teach courses with different emphases. If you looked at history, for example, of the changing position of women in Canadian society, you’d presumably not be able to do such a history without the economic history of Canada, without looking at the political structures, because changes in society often are a result of political pressures, or political decisions, or changes in the law. I suppose the sort of history I like is one in which we don’t compartmentalize it too much. I think there’s a tendency among people who do one kind of history to caricature the other. I think we do ourselves no service by that. I think we learn from each other and come at it with different emphases, but I think if you start ignoring a whole big chunk of what makes societies tick, you’re not going to get a whole picture. TV: In your 2013 Hagey lecture you mention that public opinion was becoming increasingly important before World War I. Of course, public opinion is even more important now. You spoke recently to the CBC about what Canada’s government is doing to the history of the War of 1812. What do you see as the most troubling uses of history going on around us right now? MM: The creation of very partial or even false narratives, which then give justification to behaving in certain ways TV: But specifically? MM: You get claims being made. I mean, the Chinese are now claiming islands in the South China Sea, or they claim Tibet, on very dubious historical grounds. So I think that’s where history can be dangerous. Or you get history called into the use of various ideological movements. You can see it with Islamist movements, where you get a vision of an Islamic past which was absolutely blissfully happy and everyone lived in harmony, and then the crusaders came along and ruined it all, and we need to recover that past. I think this can be extremely dangerous. Because it doesn’t just unite people around a grievance, it also gives them justification for attacking people who aren’t like them. History can be a very powerful and dangerous tool.
MM: No, I don’t think students are amateurs, and if I were doing it again, I wouldn’t put it like that. Because a lot of people took me to mean that only people who have professional history degrees count as professionals, which is not what I meant at all. What I meant was that history has to be done by people who respect the use of evidence, who are prepared to deal with uncomfortable evidence, not just ignore it. What I mean by amateurs is people who write about the past in a lazy sort of way, without really informing themselves about it. And if there’s evidence that doesn’t fit whatever thesis they have, they ignore it or explain it away. So no, I don’t think students are amateurs. If you write bad essays then I’d say you’re an amateur, if you write good essays then I’d say you’re doing it as a professional. TV: In your Hagey Lecture, you said that 32,000 works have been written in English about the First World War. What’s your reaction to people who assume that there’s no more to say on this topic? MM: My reaction is that there’s always something else to be said, because history changes as we change. TV: In the LRB review, which was generally very positive, the critic described your book as “magisterial.” How does it feel to be a historical authority? MM: Well, you don’t feel it. You don’t feel like a historical authority. I’m always aware of how much I don’t know. But I suppose I know more than I used to. And I know more about certain subjects than other people. But magisterial sounds terrifying, it sounds like someone with a long grey beard, looking like a Michelangelo painting of God, saying: “This is the past.” I know he meant it kindly, but you always feel you never know it all. Although I know more than I used to, I suppose. Then I’m also forgetting more. Interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Listen to audio & read an extended interview online at: var.st/mm
Arts & Culture
COMING UP
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4 NOvEMBEr 2013 arts@thevarsity.ca
Get to know: musician Brodie West var.st/arts
Not just for book nerds The International Festival of Authors (ifoa) celebrates the best of Canadian and international literature Sarah Niedoba VARSITY STAFF
On October 26, four noted fiction writers, Janet E. Cameron, Fiona Kidman, MaryRose MacColl, and Alice McDermott gathered for a round table discussion hosted by Stuart Woods in the York Quay Centre at the Harbourfront Centre. Just a 10-minute walk away, popular children's and youngadult author Gordon Korman read excerpts from his new novel at the Fleck Dance Theatre. In fact, many well-established authors were having round table discussions and question-and-answer sessions all around the Harbourfront that day, as part of the annual International Festival of Authors (ifoa), the highly prestigious literary gathering held each year in Toronto. The ifoa began in 1980 in order to: “Present the world’s most important and influential authors, and distinctive new authors, Canadian and international, in a forum that celebrates both books and writing.” The festival also seeks to give Canadian writers an international platform on which to share their work. Over the years, the festival has hosted over 8,000 authors from over 100 countries, including 20 Nobel Laureates. While the festival receives international acclaim every year, it also prides itself on being extremely accessible to the public — particularly to youth and students interested in writing and authorship. Most events are under $20, and some are even free. Students can receive free tickets to certain events if they are willing to call in advance. This year's festival took place October 25 – November 3. At first, the schedule seems
Visitors can buy tickets to a number of panel held during the two-week long festival DENis OsipOv/tHE varsity
daunting: 200 participants representing 19 countries will participate in a total of 77 events in just two short weeks. The Varsity explored the festival to list some of the highlights for the book-enthused student. For those interested in great Canadian fiction, several high-profile Canadian authors were part of the lineup for this festival — Margaret Atwood spoke on October 30
with up-and-coming Canadian author Amy Loyd. Alistair MacLeod joined other panelists on October 31 to discuss the theme of beginnings when it comes to short stories. Other interesting names included Stephen King, making an appearance on October 24, and Canadian Douglas Coupland, author of J-Pod fame. The festival even expanded itself to include guests such as
George Pelecano, famous for being one of the writers of hbo’s hit series The Wire. The festival has something for everyone, with “youngifoa” events catering to children and young adults and in-depth interviews with acclaimed authors. It represents one of the highlights of Toronto’s cultural calendar, and also marks the city as not only willing to host artistic talent, but to share it with its citizens.
The world needs your novel National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) kicks off Linh Nguyen
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
You are receiving this transmission because we have a task only you can handle. Intelligence has it on good authority that there is a novel inside of you: a story so crucial it must be shared with the world. Your mission, if you choose to accept it: write your novel in 30 days. This year, National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) kicks off with over 250,000 aspiring novelists on board. Each is hoping to complete a 50,000-word novel between midnight on November 1 and midnight on November 30, by writing approximately 1,667 words a day. Novels can be of any genre, but cannot be co-authored or pre-written. Although plans and outlines are allowed, the aim is to write without revisions or rereading. Every person who completes the project is declared a winner. Notable novels of a similar length include The Great Gatsby, Catcher in the Rye, Brave New World, and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Published NaNoWriMo works include Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, and The Night Circus, a New York Times bestseller by Erin Morgenstern.
NaNoWriMo was started up in 1999 by a 26-year-old freelance writer Chris Baty and several of his friends in the San Francisco Bay area. In the year 2000, the NaNoWriMo website officially launched, making the project accessible worldwide. In that year, one hundred and forty participants took up the challenge, and 29 of them finished. The following year, news of the project had spread and 5,000 participants joined. The event takes place every November, in order "to more fully take advantage of the miserable weather." It continues to grow in popularity. In 2012, 341,375 participants wrote a total of 3,288,976 words, with 11 per cent completing the challenge. NaNoWriMo is funded strictly by donations, and also has an online store for merchandise, featuring clothing, posters, and more. This year, five published authors, one per week, act as writing coaches through the Twitter handle @NaNoWriMo. The line-up includes Teri Brown, Kristyn Kusek Lewis, Stephanie Watson, Jason Hough, and Julie Murphy. These authors offer advice, prompts, tips, and encouragement under the hashtag #NaNoCoach. The annual 30 Covers, 30 Days collaboration, in which "thirty amazing NaNoW-
alExaNDra WONg/tHE varsity
riMo participants will be paired with thirty designers, who will create a work of art based on a NaNo-novel synopsis," is also back for 2013. A silent auction will be held early next year featuring full-sized prints of the designs.
In addition to online forums, video sessions, and projects throughout the month, events also happen in the city for writers. Toronto ranks fifth on NaNoWriMo's list of Top 50 Cities, with London in first and New York in second. Happy writing and good luck to participants!
VARSITY ARTS & CULTURE
var.st/arts
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013
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TIFF's latest exhibit explores the career of director David Cronenberg David Cronenberg: Evolution, presented at the TIFF Bell Light Box, is an intriguing look at the director's work in the genre of 'body horror' Julia Lewis
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
Who is my creator? Who am I? Who are we? These three penetrating questions frame David Cronenberg: Evolution, TIFF’s latest retrospective about the major filmmaker. The exhibit charts the development of our very own Canadian filmmaker, David Cronenberg. The exhibition moves chronologically through Cronenberg’s work, which makes it easy to follow his development as a filmmaker. The information panels strike exactly the right balance, describing the themes of Cronenberg’s films in clear and concise language. So if you’ve been reading too many theory texts for class, this is your chance to get some refreshingly digestible information. Even better, an amazing number of artifacts are on display. There’s the telepod from The Fly, which is even accompanied by the engine from Cronenberg’s Ducati 450 Desmo rt motorcycle that inspired its look. There’s also the cringeworthy collection of gynecological instruments from Dead Ringers, a full-size mugwump puppet from Naked Lunch (plus a fiberglass replica that you can pose with for a photo), and plenty more. Cronenberg’s films tend to rely on puppets, prosthetics, and makeup rather than computer-generated imagery. Seeing these props live and in the flesh is a delight, even if they also make you squirm. For University of Toronto students, the exhibition has a number of special treats. First, Cronenberg is a U of T alumnus, so we get bragging rights. The exhibition also reveals some more
David Cronenberg: director and University of Toronto alumnus MEDIA PHOTO
direct connections between Cronenberg and U of T; his first feature, Stereo, was shot at the Scarborough campus, and his second feature, Crimes of the Future, was filmed at Massey College. If you think U of T has some strange, brutalist architecture, this is your chance to see it at its creepiest. In the centre of the exhibit, there are two large screens that cycle through interviews with Cronenberg. The interviews are personable, honest, and fascinating. Body horror films can be alienating, but Cronenberg is both eloquent and down-to-earth. It’s well worth the time to sit through a full cycle of the interviews.
The TIFF Bell Lightbox is screening all of Cronenberg’s features and other body horror films over the next few months. Admittedly, Cronenberg films are not the easiest to binge on. Sexuality, technology, and human nature are enduring themes that keep Cronenberg’s films feeling fresh. While you’ll probably feel disturbed, they’re always worth the effort. This retrospective is a good chance to see these films on high-quality screens. This exhibit and the accompanying guest events and screenings are a perfect opportunity for filmgoers, whether you’re new to
Cronenberg or an ardent follower. The panels and q&a discussions lift off the mystifying veil of filmmaking. A previous tiff Higher Learning panel event focused on Cronenberg and his frequent collaborators: makeup artist Stéphan Dupuis and producer Jeremy Thomas. The three emphasized the difficulties of making Cronenberg-style movies. Difficulties with financing meant it took eight years to make Dead Ringers, and the Gulf War meant Naked Lunch’s Interzone scenes couldn’t be filmed in Morocco. They were filmed in Toronto instead, like the rest of the movie — not a terrible change for Canadian viewers who like to spot familiar scenery. The violence and sexual content of Cronenberg’s films might put off some viewers, but when you hear Cronenberg and his collaborators speak, you realize the depth behind these horror films. In one of the exhibition’s interviews, Cronenberg explains that The Fly needed the cover of the horror genre to be made; its central love story is really about assisted suicide in the face of a terminal disease, which he suggests would be too dark to get funded if the movie was of any other genre. The monstrous effects are earnest explorations of what it means to be human. They are not for cheap shock value. Of the many artifacts on display, there is a collection of comment cards from a preview of Videodrome. One suggests: “scrap the grotesque.” Thank goodness he didn’t. David Cronenberg: Evolution exhibition is open until January 19 at the TIFF Bell Lightbox.
The latest in ceramics from the Gardiner Museum
The Gardiner Museum is home to exclusively ceramic art pieces. MEDIA PHOTO
Ishita Petkar
ASSOCIATE ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR
Whether they are the magical creatures of bedtime stories or the strangely patterned zebras of the savannah, animals have long been a great source of wonder and artistic inspiration. The Gardiner Museum’s newest exhibit, Animal Stories, delves into the curious relationship between man and beast, tracking its evolution through time, as interpreted through European ceramics dating from the sixteenth century to the modern day.
Historical and contemporary works are juxtaposed to showcase the evolution of thought and representation as well as to observe how historical ideas about animals are used in modern works to address contemporary concerns. Lining the perimeter of the large room, the ceramic artifacts are presented on open tables and in glass vitrines and curios, echoing the historical style of displaying such objects. Completing the illusion of having stepped into a zoology aficionado’s study, the works are displayed against a backdrop of illustrations taken from one of the most important works published in
France in the eighteenth century — Buffon’s Histoire Naturelle, Générale et Particulière. “These illustrations are different from what was the norm for animal representations at the time, as here they are set in their natural habitats or in a social context, so that Buffon creates his own stories about where the animal lives, even resulting in some interesting contradictions,” remarked curator Karine Tsoumis. The first section explores how humans see and interact with the natural world, with particular emphasis on the fondness for hunting, and the effects of environmental degradation on the animals themselves. Pointing out a large boar’s head among a number of other animal-shaped tureens, Tsoumis noted the great attention that is paid to flourish the theatricality of hunting. “When I was looking through our own collections for pieces to display,” exclaimed Tsoumis, “I was actually surprised to see how much hunting was represented throughout!” This fact emphasized the importance that this pastime was once given. The next work depicts a city squirrel in an aggressive stance wielding a blowtorch, making a poignant statement regarding the ways humans have forced animals to adapt to their new concrete surroundings. The next segment addresses animals as objects of curiosity and wonder, with several artifacts speaking to the burgeoning interest in zoos and menageries of the era. Tsoumis explained that: “From the Renaissance to the late eighteenth century, the established gentility would keep their own collections of living animals and these would be used for artists to study,” providing living models for a few of the works displayed. Among these are rep-
resentations of Jumbo the elephant, and Clara the rhinoceros, animal celebrities who were toured across Europe by their owners in the late nineteenth century. Placed strategically across from these effigies is a modern work featuring two pandas, demonstrating the continued modern day interest and fascination for exotic creatures — described by Tsoumis as a “continuation of animal portraiture.” On the other side of the spectrum, the following section addresses the emergence of the domestication of animals — particularly cats and dogs, as well as works by modern day artists with a fascination for a specific kind of animal. The final two sections are intertwined, showcasing examples of animal-humanism as well as the allure of magical creatures for humans. Tsoumis highlighted the importance of Peter Rabbit, Where the Wild Things Are, Alice in Wonderland, and the Franklin the Turtle series, among others, which contributed to the legacy of fascination for animals, by giving them completely human characteristics. This theme is reflected through many of the other pieces including a trio of rodents dressed as humans and a play on Manet’s famous painting "Olympia," which substitutes the woman’s head for a dog with a benign smile. The exhibit ends with contemporary pottery detailing dragons, one of the most ancient examples illustrating the human desire to create something fantastic out of the animals of everyday life. However, if Animal Stories drives home a message, it is this: animals have pervaded almost every aspect of our world, causing humans to shape cultures, histories, and art around them.
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VARSITY ARTS & CULTURE
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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013
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A needle in the stacks Elizabeth Rynecki discovers her great-grandfather’s lost paintings in the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library Danielle Klein VARSITY STAFF
In Poland, prior to the outbreak of the Second World War, Moshe Rynecki was an artist who painted the day-to-day activities of the Polish-Jewish community in colourful, impressionistic scenes. When the Nazis invaded the country in 1939, Rynecki’s art reflected the tragic turn that the community suddenly faced, switching to a muted palette featuring little or no colour and depicting Jews struggling in forced labour. Many of his works, like those of many other Jewish artists, were lost in the course of the Holocaust. Many years later, Moshe’s great-granddaughter Elizabeth Rynecki came to Toronto to meet a man who owns four of her grandfather's lost paintings. The man’s parents were Polish partisan fighters in Russia who purchased a bundle of Moshe Rynecki’s paintings from a farmer while walking back to Poland after the war. Moshe painted as many as 800 works, but Rynecki is only aware of 120 that have survived to this day. Rynecki does not expect to find all of these paintings: “I know the collection will never be whole again, but I feel compelled to search for the lost and missing pieces because as the fragments come together they tell a larger story — a story of a community destroyed by the Holocaust and of the life of my great-grandfather,” she said. Rynecki gave a public lecture at an event hosted by the Centre for Jewish Studies at U of T. During the question period, Barry Walfish, Judaica and Theology Specialist at the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, stood up to ask whether Rynecki was aware that the library's archives held photographs of many of the works she described. Rynecki recalls feeling chills when Walfish made his comment. Following the lecture, they immediately headed over to the library. Reflecting on this experience, she notes “I learned of photographs of paintings, newspaper articles, and handwritten letters by my great-grandfather that I never knew existed... I had never before seen my great-grandfather’s handwriting. The letters in Polish are beautiful in and of themselves. His cursive was gorgeous. I don’t
know what the letters say. I’m in the process of getting someone to translate them for me.” The archive also held a clipping from a German newspaper article about Moshe and his artwork as well as several envelopes addressed to the artist. These pieces are part of the Otto Schneid Archive, which is held by the University of Toronto. Schneid was an artist and historian who was working on a monograph on twentieth century Jewish art in the early 1930s. He corresponded with Moshe and other Jewish artists. After Nazis confiscated the printing plates for his book, he managed to bring his manuscript — along with various photos of artwork and other relics — from Poland to Israel, and then to the United States before finally bringing it to Toronto. An artist himself, Schneid’s paintings are held by the Royal Ontario Museum and by University of Toronto Art Centre, among other institutions. Years later, Schneid’s wife donated his collection — which includes over 5,000 items such as manuscripts, correspondences with artists and public figures, photographs of lost artwork from Jewish artists, and many of their autobiographies — to the university. Rynecki muses: “It’s like she knew that someday, someone would come along, and care about her husband’s work. That his work was not just lost in time, that the things he saved — my great-grandfather’s photos of his paintings, letters he wrote, articles about him — and his own manuscript, would someday be useful to someone... There’s something profound about an actual physical link to the past — the things my great-grandfather touched and created.” Rynecki adds that her findings at U of T are worth far more than their physical sum: “We are very much related to and impacted by the past... It’s all a series of interconnections that have the power to change and shape our worlds. So I guess what I found are "things," but that the bigger picture really is that I found more fragments to a larger story that I’m really still trying to assemble and understand.” Danielle Klein is a work-study student at the Centre for Jewish Studies.
Dr. Barry Walfish shows Elizabeth Rynecki the Otto Schneid Archives. photo Courtesy F.s.
Image Courtesy oF the thomas FIsher rare Book LIBrary, unIversIty oF toronto.
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Album: Pretty Good by Dads
Album: Night Time, My Time by Sky Ferreira
Terrifying, overwhelming, and heroic are just a few words to describe the latest Paul Greengrass film, Captain Phillips. The films depicts the real life events of Captain Richard Phillips and his crew, who were taken hostage by Somolian pirates in 2009. What starts out as a normal job for Captain Phillips (Tom Hanks) as he sets out for Mombassa quickly turns into a horrifying ordeal when a team of pirates, lead by Abudawli Muse (Barkhad Abdi), hijacks the ship. Hanks is at his career best as Phillips, the stoic, selfless captain held for ransom and eventually rescued by Navy Seals after five horrific days at sea. Director Paul Greengrass creates a claustrophobic intensity that builds throughout the two-hour plus running time. The handheld shakiness of the camera brings to life the panic and urgency of the film, leaving audience members gasping for air by the end.
Dads’ latest ep, Pretty Good, is more than "pretty good." The ep's four songs follow each other logically, if not seamlessly, enough to deserve a solid tip of the hat. Despite the intensely varied and divergent influences, the ep's themes of loss, growth, and acceptance bind together these adventurous tracks into a deeply rewarding whole. The builds and the lulls, rises and falls of "My Crass Patch" pound and ache with an intensity that bands frequently aim for and only rarely achieve, and the drive at times can seem overwhelming. The music is powerful, chaotic and then suddenly takes on a pop-y tone, as with "Boat Rich," but the wrenching emotions are still there. The scope of the attempt presented in such a small package can seem overwhelming, but, after several plays, the meaning in the madness shines through. We are left with a record that is powerful, striking, and vividly human in its lyrics as well as instrumentation.
Sky Ferreira’s long-awaited debut album, Night Time, My Time contains a persecuted emotionality which leaves her lyricism sounding wounded and coarse, yet endearingly honest. Ferreira examines herself under a magnifying glass, posing the album as an invitation to an intrusive glance at a young woman who has washed up on the coast of the music industry. Night Time, My Time is Ferreira’s retaliation against the moguls responsible for her delayed debut. Her introspective addresses of self-loathing in “I Blame Myself” strike the passé, gloss-grunge persona that “Red Lips” garnered her in 2012, and replace it with the fearlessly levelled, fantasy-killer, “You’re Not The One.” The vacancy of Ferreira’s head-bowing, “Everything Is Embarrassing” has been filled by a series of seductively aggressive leather-andlights anthems, allowing her to bind the sparkle-pop of the '80s and '90s grunge revival into her own personal tourde-force.
— Caitlin Alexieff
— Deniz Oral — Corinne Przybyslawski
Science
FROM THE ARCHIVES
var.st/sCIENCE
Explained: your brain on cocaine. How addiction works
4 NOvEMBEr 2013
http://var.st/3o8
science@thevarsity.ca
Lack of interest in science is hurting the economy Reduced enrolment in STEM subjects restricts career choices for Canadian youth, women remain underrepresented Canadians (25-64) with a university degree
46.3% 53.7%
Canadians (25-64) with a stem degree
32.6%
67.4%
Women
Men WIllIaM ahN/thE varsIty
Jennifer Hurd VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
How much does it cost the country when high school students drop out of math and science courses? Too much, says a recent “Spotlight on Science Learning” report by Let’s Talk Science, a national charitable organization committed to fostering engagement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (stem) in children and youth. In Ontario, as in most provinces, math and science courses are optional after Grade 10. As a result, fewer than half of Canadian high school grads actually complete senior-level stem courses, despite the fact that 70 per cent of top jobs and well over 50 per cent of university and college programs require at least some stem background. The result? Huge costs, both for students — who may have to go back to school to make up prerequisites or miss out on potential job options and future earnings — and for Canada’s economy, since a decreased interest in these fields leads to a smaller talent pool and the loss of potentially key workers and innovators. Ontario alone “loses $24 billion in economic activity annually because employers
can’t find people with the skills they need to innovate and grow,” according to the Let’s Talk Science report. Part of the problem, according to the report, is that students are often unaware of how many doors they close when they drop out of math and science. If students are not fully aware of the benefits of pursuing stem courses throughout high school, taking them can seem like a waste of time and effort. Yet many university and college programs, even those in fields like culinary arts, technical theatre, or fitness — at first glance fields unrelated to stem fields — require Grade 12 math and science courses as prerequisites to admission. In a 2012 report, the Council of Canadian Academies (cca) also emphasized the importance of early math and science education in the development of Canada’s future researchers: “Young Canadians lack sufficient knowledge about educational requirements for future careers, as well as a clear understanding of what pcem [physical sciences, computer science, engineering, mathematics] careers entail... Evidence indicates that there is a disconnection between the educational choices some students make at the secondary level and their postsecondary or career goals.”
Dr. Bonnie Schmidt, president of Let’s Talk Science, stresses in the report the importance of science literacy in any of a student’s potential careers, and emphasizes that if educators are to engage children and youth in stem fields, that engagement needs to start early: “We need to inform our youth of the importance of stem courses for their future careers, engage them in experiential science learning from an early age, and sustain their interest in science throughout their studies.” Another contributing difficulty highlighted in the Let’s Talk Science report is the need to engage all segments of Canadian society, including groups that have been traditionally under-represented, such as women and Aboriginals. According to Statistics Canada, women currently account for 53.7 per cent of Canadians between the ages of 25 and 64 with a university degree. However, women represent less than one third (32.6 per cent) of Canadians with a university degree in stem subjects. The cca also noted that women’s representation, not only at the undergraduate and graduate level, but also in research careers and academic positions, varies significantly by discipline. Although
women are comparatively wellrepresented in the humanities, social sciences, and life sciences, they account for only 24 per cent of students enrolled in university programs in computer science, engineering, or mathematics or the physical sciences, and only 14.8 per cent of faculty members in these disciplines. There is a clear need for more outreach and education, and U of T has recognized this need for some time. A number of programs on campus actively work to combat this lack of interest by getting elementary and high school students involved in exciting, hands-on projects. For instance, U of T works with Let’s Talk Science to mobilize undergraduate, graduate, and faculty volunteers, who run science activities for children and youth at both the St. George and Scarborough campuses. The Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering has a range of programs in place, like the the Da Vinci Engineering Enrichment Program (deep). The deep Saturday workshops are classes “designed to introduce students in grades nine to 12 to graduate-level research in science and engineering.” Engineering Outreach also runs Jr. deep, aimed at students
in grades five to eight, as well as March Break and summer programs. Sample activities include making slime, building model cars, rockets, and roller coasters, or creating musical instruments. U of T is also leading efforts to address the gender gap. The Jr. deep program offers sessions for girls in grades three to eight. On October 19, U of T participated in Go eng Girl, a province-wide program that invites girls to visit a local university and learn about opportunities for them in engineering from current female engineering students and graduates. Women in Science and Engineering (wise) at U of T is a co-ed student organization that sends volunteers to high schools across the gta to encourage and inspire students to pursue science and engineering at the postsecondary level. A great deal of work is being done to address the lack of interest and lack of knowledge about stem subjects that both the cca and Let’s Talk Science have identified. Nevertheless, it’s important to keep in mind that Canada’s potential for innovative excellence in these fields depends on students’ talent — and if they aren’t interested, everyone loses.
VARSITY SCIENCE
var.st/science
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013
Toronto gamers play to give SickKids Hospital an ‘Extra-Life’ Twenty-five-hour eSports marathon raises funds on behalf of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Emma Hansen & Katrina Vogan VARSITY STAFF
A team of Toronto gamers hosted a 25-hour gaming marathon in support of SickKids Hospital this weekend. The Digital Kids Extra-Life Event began at 9:00 pm on Saturday and ended 25 hours later on Sunday evening. Extra-Life is a larger NorthAmerican charitable organization made up of eSports enthusiasts in support of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. The annual ExtraLife game day event is in its fifth year. Last year, the event raised nearly $2 million worldwide. Digital Kids organizer Gabriel Swanson — or GZSwanson, as he is known in the gaming community — is a SickKids alumnus. He spent a large part of his childhood at SickKids in treatment for haemophelia. In a reddit post made in the r/Toronto subreddit, Swanson describes the spirit of the event: “The hearts and minds of the gaming community have come together to raise funds for local children’s charities.
The entirety of the gaming community, comprising of tens of thousands of gamers, bring together their various talents and skills spanning from consoles to tabletop games and everything in between to save lives and make a difference in their communities. Extra-Life gives gamers and spectators alike [a chance] to show that they have heart.” The main event was a StarCraft 2 showmatch between Hendralisk and MaSa, two top professional eSports players in Toronto. Swanson provided commentary. There were also Xbox stations and pcs set up for tournaments and casual gaming. Microsoft provided door prizes, and refreshments were available to encourage mingling among the local gaming community. In an interview with The Varsity, Ric H. Prager, a producer of the event, spoke to the passion shared by the gaming community as a true strength of the event. “The motivation behind Digital Kids is a reflection of the intense passion behind SickKids and the equally intense passion in the gaming community,
Logo courtesy digitaL Kids
specifically our experience with competitive gaming or eSports,” he says. “SickKids has saved the lives of many Toronto children, including members of the active gaming community we have here. It’s a way for us to give back, and a way to showcase the passion behind the competitive gaming community, and how it can be leveraged for a great cause.” In the future, gaming may have a more direct connection with helping children in the process of healing, says Prager. “Ken Silva, our director, is an eSports veteran, working gaming events
across North America and South Korea for the past few years. He’s been in talks with SickKids for a few months now, and really sees a space for video games within the hospital. Competition is a natural part of childhood, and these games can give a great positive outlet to some of the kids that need it the most.” For more information on Extra-Life visit www.extra-life.org. You can donate to Extra-Life through their donation portal. Follow Team Digital Kids on twitter at @DigitalKids2.
21
RESEARCH RECAP Guppies prefer fashionable mates, U of T research says A group of scientists including University of Toronto researchers have discovered that female guppies consistently prefer males with distinct and rare colour patterns. The research team included Anna C. Price and professor Helen Rodd of U of T’s Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Department. Male guppies in the wild are extremely colourful. There is a great variety of colours and patterns on the tails of these fish. By picking a male with an unusual colour pattern, female guppies may be attempting to ensure that they do not mate with a close genetic relative. Male guppies pass on their patterns to their offspring, decreasing the rarity of their markings. Eventually rare patterns become common, and females’ interest in these patterns decrease. The fashions found attractive by female guppies change over time in a way that is analogous to changing fashion trends among humans. In an interview with U of T News, Rodd explained: “Eventually lots of people will be dressing [one] same way and it won’t be novel anymore and it will fall out of fashion, until a decade later when another group of fashion-conscious individuals reinvent 70s fashion again.” The findings are published in the paper “Mating advantage for rare males in wild guppy population” in the October 31 issue of Nature. — Katrina Vogan With files from Nature and U of T News
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phd candidate George Mammen, supervised by U of T professor Guy Faulkner, recently published a longitudinal study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine analyzing physical activity as a tool in the treatment and prevention of depression. This review is the first to investigate the possibility of a causal link between physical activity and the onset of depression. Mammen and Faulkner analyzed data from dozens of studies that varied in their investigative methods and demographic groups of interest. The review concluded that, generally, even low levels of activity are correlated with lessened risk of depression. Although the review acknowledges that there are several other factors in the onset of depression, such as genetic and psychosocial influences, the results indicate that physical activity can play a role in preventing depression. Mammen and Faulkner have said that the public promotion of physical activity should now be carried out with the aim of increasing mental health as well as physical health. — Emma Hansen
VARSITY SCIENCE
22 Vol. CXXXIV, No. 9
16
science@thevarsity.ca
VARSITY SCIENCE
Research reveals the real reasons you’re having sex The promises MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2012
Elizabet VARSITY
and limits of egg freezing
U of T study investigates avoidance and approach in sexual motivation Andrew E. Johnson
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
A recent University of Toronto study explores the real reasons couples have sex. U of T post-doctoral fellow Amy Muise led the study, in which motivations for sexual activity were broken down into two broad categories. The study, “Getting it on vs. getting it over with: Approach-avoidance sexual motivation, desire and satisfaction in intimate bonds,” was published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. Unlike most animals, humans use sexuality to shape levels of happiness in a romantic relationship. Sex is an act that goes beyond reproduction, and a healthy sex life is often considered a key part of a healthy relationship. According to the study, romantic couples engage in sexual activity more often than those who have sex with one-off partners. There are many reasons why couples engage in sex. A 2007 University of Texas study identified 237 distinct motivation for sex, which ranged from the simple — stress reduction, physical satisfaction — to the complicated — revenge-cheating. The University of Toronto study was able to significantly simplify the number of motivations; only two were described, “avoidance” and “approach.” An avoidance motive is a motive that seeks to avoid a negative outcome for the couple’s status, such as feelings of guilt in one part of the partnership or a certain conflict that may transpire if sex does not happen. Con-
versely, an approach motive seeks a positive outcome for the relationship. This approach often results in feelings of intimacy or a desire to be closer with the special person. What this study found was that on days in which the couples were having sex for approach reasons, the sex was better, the relationship was stronger, and the level of satisfaction was much higher. On days in which couples had sex for avoidance reasons, the opposite was true — the relationship was less healthy, the sex was not as good, and overall satisfaction was much lower. Avoidance motivations were believed to be more common in older relationships than in newer relationships, in which couples are beginning to explore their sexual tendencies. Of course, this does not imply that couples do not enjoy the sex in an avoidance situation, but only that it is more of an “in-themoment” satisfaction with negative psychological outcomes coming later. It is apparent that approach motivation leads to healthier and stronger relationships. In order for couples to engage in approachmotivated sex, as opposed to avoidancemotivated sex, the study found that there needs to be more meaningful communication between couples. This communication needs to be much more in-depth than small talk — it must explore new and challenging emotional connections. It becomes apparent, as couples begin to build a relationship outside of the bedroom, that the sex becomes better as well — a win-win scenario.
Social egg freezing gives women more options, but not many more
FILE ILLuSTRATIoN: WILLIAM AHN/THE VARSITy
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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013
UTSU Audited Financial Statements In accordance with UTSU bylaws, the following audited financial statements are being published in advance of the UTSU Annual General Meeting. The AGM will take place November 27, 2013 in the OISE Auditorium from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Emma Gavey PhD candidate in Chemistry. Goals: Develop new magnetic complexes for memory devices. Improve our health care.
Apply for Graduate Studies at Brock. There are 44 programs, an array of specializations, co-op opportunities and a world of possibilities. discover.brocku.ca
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PUBLIC PRESENTATION Sisawo Konteh Director of Outreach Services for Aga Khan Health Services, Tanzania Umaira Ansari Communications Coordinator for the Nigeria Evidence-based Health System Initiative
What does it take to save a generation? Join us to hear about the challenges and successes of maternal, newborn, and child health in the developing world.
International Development Research Centre Centre de recherches pour le développement international
Friday, November 8, 2013 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. University of Toronto 12th floor, NEXUS Lounge, OISE 252 Bloor St. West, Toronto
Lunch will be provided. Don’t miss it: register at usstoronto.eventbrite.ca
Organized by Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC) and Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), in collaboration with the University of Toronto. PHOTO: AKFC/LUCAS CUERVO MOURA
23
Sports
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CIS Women’s Soccer coverage all week long
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4 NovEMBEr 2013
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A week in the life of a Varsity Blue: Alex Hill Varsity Blues men’s basketball player Alex Hill discusses a week in the life of a student athlete William Deck VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
Alex Hill is no stranger to a busy schedule. The Varsity Blues basketball star manages to balance a full-time course load, a social life, free time, two games per week, and six days of training per week. Some games take him and his team on long journeys across Ontario and, sometimes, to farther parts of the country. Hill’s basketball commitments have him training six days a week, from Monday to Saturday. He participates in two-hour practices from Monday to Thursday and light practices on Friday and Saturday: the Varsity Blues’ game days. Additionally, he takes part in individual practices four days a week, and has weight training peppered in throughout the week. To most U of T students, balancing a fulltime course load with an even bigger commitment to a Varsity Blues team would seem to be nearly impossible; however, Hill’s experience in doing just that over the years has made him an expert in time management. That said, Hill recognizes that if he were in a more intensive program, achieving such a balance might be harder to achieve. “It’s been engrained with me because I’ve been an athlete my entire life, so coming to university, it hasn’t really changed, and also, because I’m not in Engineering or Life Science, I don’t have a ridiculous amount of class every week. I generally have eight to twelve hours of class a week,” explained Hill. However, Hill notes that the season can get especially hectic at times when his schoolwork becomes very demanding. “At times it’s challenging, when you have three papers due in two days, on top of practice,” he explained. “I spend more hours a day playing basketball than I do in class. My basketball commitment at this university is more than my class commitment, so I guess that’s the most difficult thing,” he continued. In addition to 16 hours of practice and training and two games per week, a large portion of Hill’s time is spent travelling with his team to various places — mainly in Ontario, but occasionally outside of the province. This sea-
son, the Blues will travel at various times to Sudbury, Ottawa, Sault St. Marie, and Thunder Bay. So far this season, the Blues have been to Montreal and Saskatoon. Nevertheless, Hill uses the time spent travelling to do readings and schoolwork, so as to minimize the effects on his academic pursuits. “The bus is big for doing homework and essays. A lot of us do our readings and our work on the bus trips, because when we do take a bus it’s to Ottawa, to Sudbury, to Windsor. Even if we’re on the bus for an hour, that’s one hour where you could be getting work done,” said Hill. “I’ve definitely taken advantage of that in the past.” One strategy that Hill uses to give himself free time during the week is to finish large chunks of reading and homework at once, so as to not have those responsibilities on other days. By developing an organized system to complete his studies, he has allowed himself to have lots of free time, which may seem surprising to many U of T students. “It’s not actually that busy. It all depends on how you portion out your work. Tuesdays and Thursdays I’ll do my readings for 5 hours to get them out of the way, so that I can hang out on Wednesday nights and Saturdays after my games,” he explained. In terms of nutrition, Hill likes to keep an eye on his diet so that he can be in the best shape possible come game day. Although he has been a healthy eater for much of his life, he says that staying on top of it can be difficult, especially during road trips — when fast food is sometimes the only option. “I’ve always been big on my diet. I don’t really eat fast food, but it’s tough on the road because we get a certain amount of money, but it doesn’t completely cover costs for food, so we normally tend to buy the cheapest stuff, which is often fast food,” he explained. During his free time, Hill prefers activities that allow him to relax and take his mind off of his academic and athletic engagements. “I’ll read a book, watch some tv shows in my spare time. I just kind of relax and let my mind go blank for the time being,” he noted. Such activities and time management strategies have allowed him to excel both as a basketball player and as a student. Hill will graduate this year with a degree in American Studies.
This past Saturday, Alex Hill scored a career high 35 points in a 93–85 win over Brock. MichaEl chalEy/thE varsity
The last match Benjamin Crase VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
As most graduating students will tell you, your senior year is punctuated by a series of revelations that you are doing things “for the last time.” It is this sentimentality that motivated me to write this piece in order to cope with watching a tragic ending of my last oua soccer match at Varsity Stadium. Finishing second in the East in the regular season, the Varsity Blues women’s soccer team had the privilege of hosting the Carleton Ravens. Having split the regular season matches, playing the third-place Ravens promised to be unnerving at best. After 90 minutes and numerous miracle goal line deflections, I felt a creeping unease that a negative result of the
match was somehow an inevitable conclusion to my final season of watching women’s soccer. For the seniors on the team, heart-wrenching finals seem to be rather typical. In the 2010 playoffs, they lost 1–0 to Nipissing — who scored the game-winning goal in the ninetieth minute. In 2011, Ottawa scored the gamewinning goal in the 89th minute. In 2012, Queen’s tied the game 1–1 in the eighty-eighth minute, eventually winning in overtime. Carleton’s game-winning goal in the one hundred and eighteenth minute this past Sunday was nothing but the exclamation mark of some bizarre poetic tragedy in a season where expectations reached new heights. Slouching back in my seat, dazed and confused, I was convinced that after religiously attending games for the past three years, I somehow deserved a triumphant finale.
As the girls solemnly gathered after the match, I came to my senses — realizing how selfish and minimal my efforts to attend games had been. Whether I was headed to Starbucks for a late night coffee run or crawling to get my caffeine fix in the morning, the Varsity girls always seemed to be practising. The team’s dedication is reflected in its record. In my three years as a fan, the girls posted an impressive combined record of 30–8–10, including a twelve-game unbeaten streak this year, and nine regular season shutouts. With lots of young talent on the team, next year will surely be just as promising. The sadder message behind this story is that many students will graduate this year not knowing of the team’s achievements. With 68 teams registered for intramural soccer this fall, there is no shortage of soccer fans at
U of T, yet at most games the crowd size is dictated not by the number of U of T fans, but by the size of the parental convoy travelling with the visiting team. The lack of fans doesn’t seem to bother the team, but often embarrasses me in the stands as the referee gets badgered more for calls against the visiting team. Before returning to my post-season routine of Sunday football, I look forward to having the chance to watch the women’s soccer team play one last time as it competes in the cis national championship, hosted at U of T from November 7 – 10. Hopefully, this article will rally students to come and watch a remarkable team compete against the best teams in Canada, and inspire a new generation of soccer fans who will enjoy U of T soccer as much as I have.
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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2013
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO STUDENTS’ UNION LOCAL 98, CANADIAN FEDERATION OF STUDENTS
THE ANNUAL
GENERAL MEETING WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2013 | OISE AUDITORIUM 6PM-9PM | REGISTRATION STARTS AT 4:30 PM 1. Call to Order
7. Consideration of Motions Duly Served
2. Welcoming Remarks & Guest Speaker 3. President's Address & Question Period 4. Approval of Minutes 5. Receipt of the 2012-2013 Audited Financial Statements
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6. Appointment of Auditors for 2013-2014
8. Adjournement
Every member at the University of Toronto Studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Union (full-time undergraduate students at the St.George and Mississauga campuses) can participate in this meeting. Wheelchair accessible. If you have any accessibility requests, require ASL interpretation, childcare or any other inquiries, please contact:
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25
VARSITY SPORTS
26 Vol. CXXXIV No. 9
sports@thevarsity.ca
Blues women’s hockey tops Lancers 3–1 With Saturday’s win the Blues may clinch a spot in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport Top 10 rankings Sampson Coutts
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
The Varsity Blues women’s hockey team defeated the Windsor Lancers 3–1 on Saturday afternoon, likely securing themselves a place in next week’s Canadian Interuniversity Sport (cis) Top 10 rankings. After seven minutes of even play to start the match, the Lancers broke the deadlock with star forward Jenny MacKnight redirecting a point shot in front of the Toronto goal. Blues goaltender Nicole Kesteris made a great reactionary pad save on the first MacKnight try, but was unable to stop her second attempt. If the goal fazed Kesteris, it didn’t show. Kesteris was perfect for the rest of the match, making 33 saves on 34 shots and maintaining her save percentage for the season at an incredible 96 per cent. Asked afterwards if she’d ever had a save percentage that high at any level of hockey, Kesteris downplayed the importance of stats, saying that she doesn’t even look at them, and emphasized the importance of the Blues being “a good comeback team.” Indeed, it took her teammates only four minutes to even the score. Veteran defender Marlie McLaughlin made a great pass to Courtney Brind’Amour-McClure, who in turn
set up a streaking Amanda Ricker with a slap pass. Ricker redirected the puck over Windsor goaltender Marissa Kozovski’s shoulder for the equalizer, bringing fans to their feet. With under 20 seconds to play in the opening frame, the Blues added to their lead with a goal by rookie defender Autumn Garnham. A solid stay-at-home defenseman, Garnham found herself open at the point and put a shot over a screened Kozovski’s outstretched blocker for her first cis goal. The second period saw both squads trade chances until the Blues’ first line of captain Kelly O’Hanlon and wingers Taylor Day and Sonja Weidenfelder converted with just over a minute to play. In what was undoubtedly the highlight of the game, Weidenfelder won a battle behind the net and threw a pass to Day at the right of the net, who deftly set up O’Hanlon across the crease for the goal. The third period saw both offenses again stymied by great goaltending, with Kesteris repeatedly shutting down MacKnight at one end, and the Brind’Amour-McClure twins — who formed a strong second line with Amanda Ricker — coming close at the other. In all, it was an excellent match for the Varsity Blues. They played a nearflawless team game, backed by one of the best goaltenders in cis.
Nicole Kesteris currently has a 96% save per centage. ViVek Srikanthan/the VarSity
Blue becomes Beast U of T graduate Kyle Ventura set to spend 2013–14 CHL season with the Brampton Beasts Breton Lalama
VARSITY CONTRIBUTOR
University of Toronto alumnus Kyle Ventura has been signed to play the 2013–14 Canadian Hockey League (CHL) season with the Brampton Beasts. Ventura graduated from U of T in June 2013 with an Honours Bachelor in Arts. The aggressive forward led the Blues in scoring for three seasons and served as assistant captain during his final year on the team. Blues hockey players have a busy schedule: players are on the ice six days a week, travel frequently across Ontario, as well as Canada and parts of the usa, and are still accountable for a full university course load. Ventura credits U of T for teaching him time management skills. “It was tough for me at first,” Ventura added, “but it was a huge wake-up call, and it got me to where I am today.” Ventura’s main inspiration seems to come from his parents. They gave him motivation to be the first in the family to earn a university degree, while simultaneously urging him onto the ice.
“When I started hockey, I couldn’t skate, so it was really frustrating,” Ventura explained. “My dad eventually forced me, and I’m glad he did.”
“I play hard. I hate losing. I’ll do whatever it takes to win; that’s what I want to show the Beasts.” After learning to tie his laces, Ventura skated on up to the Ontario Hockey League (ohl). From 2004–2006, he played with the Ontario Junior A Hockey League’s Wexford Raiders. In 2007, he played for the Newmarket Hurricanes. From 2006–2008, Ventura also competed with the Toronto Jr. Canadiens; then he hit the ice with the Blues. During the 111 games he played as a Varsity Blue, he scored 57 goals and had 45 assists.
“My favourite U of T memory was scoring 4 goals in 1 game against Guelph,” Ventura recalls. Playing on the Blues was a good experience.” While playing with the Brampton Beasts, his game plan on the ice of the Powerade Centre lies in the hands of head coach Mark DeSantis. “[Kyle] is the guy who will get under the skin of our opponents,” DeSantis told The Brampton Guardian. “That’s what will create his space as an agitator.” “Agitator” is a nickname that Ventura knows well. “That’s typically the way I play,” he agrees. “I like to get under the guys’ skin and score a few goals while I’m at it.” Keeping his physicality in check, however, has been a battle of its own. During Ventura’s second year playing for the Wexford Raiders, he spent 101 minutes in the penalty box. Experience has taught him “to focus aggression elsewhere on the ice and harness more body contact.” “I play hard. I hate losing. I’ll do whatever it takes to win; that’s what I want to show the Beasts,” said Ventura.
Women’s golf shooting for national title JP Kaczur
ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR
The University of Toronto women’s golf team finished another successful season with its second Ontario University Athletics (oua) championship in a row at the Cambridge Golf Club on October 21–22. The season began at the Highland Country Club in London, Ontario, where the women’s team managed a second place finish. The tournament featured sophomore Sarah Dunning’s star-making turn. She finished the tournament shooting a round of 75 and winning the first tournament for U of T. Next, the defending champions finished first at the Country Club of Meadville, Pennsylvania. Dunning once again shot well and tied for sixth among all competitors. Her teammate, Laura Upenieks, finished first with a two-day total of 154. The Blues then finished with another second-place finish at the Waterloo Invitational, and first-place finish at the Toronto Invitational, earning them a chance to compete for the provincial championship title. At the championships, U of T narrowly edged Waterloo for the title by one
stroke; U of T shot a total of 479, Waterloo 480. The exciting end came after the Blues almost blew a five-stroke lead that they shot after day one. Nevertheless, the Blues persevered and brought U of T its second championship in a row. Overall, the season was a huge success — not only for the women’s golf team, but also for its individual players, like veteran Laura Upenieks and Sarah Dunning. Upenieks’s season merited the fifth-year player two U of T female Athlete of the Week honours, including the week of the Blues’ championship tournament. Upenieks — a Sociology Master’s student — is a likely candidate for a second oua all-star berth in a row after her strong season. Similarly, Dunning established herself as one of the best players in the province this year. With Dunning demonstrating such early success, the future bodes well for the U of T team. First, U of T looks to improve on fourth-place finish at the National University Championships last year. The tournament date is to be determined, but will likely occur in June 2014. Additionally, the women’s team looks to achieve the rare and difficult feat of three provincial championships in a row.
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