September 19, 2016

Vol. CXXXVII, No. 3 September 19, 2016 thevarsity.ca —— The University of Toronto’s Student Newspaper Since 1880

Court sends Vic, tenants back to arbitration

Blues bring it home Homecoming coverage sheds light on U of T’s approach to the tradition and why it falls short in comparison to the spectacles south of the border Page 21

Decision forms most recent development in Victoria University’s legal dispute with commercial tenants Emaan Thaver & Tom Yun Associate News Editor & News Editor

CHRISTINE SUN/THE VARSITY

Daren Smith, Meric Gertler, Beyond Divestment In the wake of a call for responsible investment, UTAM leadership change, The Varsity talks money with the two people at the helm Alex McKeen Editor-in-Chief

Daren Smith’s new job as U of T’s chief money manager is unparalleled in Ontario. Last year, Smith’s predecessor brought in the second highest public sector salary in the province.

Chartered Financial Analyst William Moriarty acted as President and CEO of the University of Toronto Asset Management corporation (UTAM) for eight years. In 2015, he was paid a handsome sum of $1,473,445.98; he then retired in April 2016.

Smith assumed the role on September 1, under the slightly altered title, ‘President and Chief Investment Officer.’ The title change is a distinction without a difference though; his new job is to lead UTAM as a business and as an investment manager.

The UTAM office is housed in the heritage building at MaRS Discovery District, an institution well

known for existing at the nexus of the public and private sector. It is a fitting location for the corporation, whose sole client — the University of Toronto — is also its owner.

UTAM was established in 2000 to oversee the management of three University of Toronto funds: the Long-term Capital Appreciation Pool (LTCAP), which includes the university’s endowment; the university’s pension funds; and the Expendable Funds Investment Pool (EFIP), which is used for operations costs and other short-term expenses.

The UTAM team does not form investment portfolios from their office at MaRS but instead hires various external portfolio managers who they believe will deliver high returns.

Universities in Ontario usually leave the management of their investments to governance committees and staff members. No other university in Ontario owns a separate not-for-profit corporation for

this purpose, making UTAM unique.

A costly endeavour, in 2015, the top six paid UTAM employees earned $4,330,616.06 collectively — about $800,000 more than what the university’s president and 11 vice presidents earned altogether.

This compensation figure does not include any of the fees paid to portfolio managers, which can also be high.

At the same time, U of T stands apart from other Ontario universities in the sheer size of its assets.

About $7.9 billion is currently managed by UTAM, with $2.1 billion of that amount comprising the university’s endowment. By comparison, Queen’s University has an endowment of $912 million, and that of the University of Western Ontario (UWO) is valued at $586 million, according to the universities’ most recent reports.

Tucked away off the boundary of UTSG and in the fine print of U of T’s financial reporting, UTAM seldom draws the attention of stu-

dent groups. Two weeks after Smith assumed the corporation’s top job, The Varsity sat down with him to discuss many of the considerations that accompany managing $7.9 billion on behalf of a university.

Beyond divestment, ethical investing In late March 2016, U of T President Meric Gertler rejected the recommendations of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Divestment from Fossil Fuels to divest from companies complicit in climate change and released the report Beyond Divestment: Taking Decisive Action on Climate Change.

This turned out to be a decisive moment for UTAM, which received news of Moriarty’s departure around the same time. The report called on UTAM to implement environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in their investing, a term used widely by ethical investment groups such as the United Nations Principles for Responsible UTAM, page 4

Victoria University has been embroiled in legal disputes for years with the tenants of the land it owns in Toronto’s upscale Yorkville neighbourhood. The most recent development is a decision from the Court of Appeal for Ontario dismissing appeals by both Victoria University and its tenants on a 2014 Superior Court decision. The 2014 decision called for the parties to return to the same arbitral panel that had previously overseen its rent reset negotiations in 2010.

Victoria University has been involved in two 100-year lease agreements since 1960 with Revenue Properties Company Limited and GE Canada Real Estate Equity Holding Company for 131 and 151 Bloor Street West, respectively.

While Victoria University owns the land, the brick-and-mortar is owned by the tenants. Both properties are the site of luxury retail and office spaces on the Bloor Street West corridor in downtown Toronto. The building at 131 Bloor Street West — commonly known as The Colonnade — also houses rental apartments.

Rent resets, land valuation disputes The leases for the properties were fixed for a 30-year period, after which point, they were subject to a rent reset and the terms of leases had to be renegotiated.

The first rent reset occurred in 1990: Victoria University and the tenants disagreed on how a fair market value of the land should be assessed. The dispute could not be worked out in arbitration and was forwarded to the Divisional Court.

Victoria University, page 3

Comment

Arts & Culture

Science

Commute in comfort Three suggestions on how to improve the commuter experience

Read your heart out Exploring independent bookstores near campus

Battling bacteria Antibiotic resistance is a medical road block

Page 11

Page 17

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2 • THE VARSITY • NEWS

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The Explainer: Federated colleges What makes Trinity, St. Mike’s, and Victoria different

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Trinity College, St. Michael’s College, and Victoria College have a unique relationship with the University of Toronto.

Unlike other colleges at the university, these colleges are federated and are governed as separate universities by their own provincial Acts, separate from the University of Toronto Act. The governing framework agreement for the three federated colleges is reviewed and revised by the colleges and U of T every decade, with the most recent review occurring in 2008. Operational agreements between U of T and the colleges are reviewed every five years.

Sioban Nelson, Vice-Provost, Academic Programs, emphasized the extent of the separation: “They are definitely separate from us, as you say governance and jurisdiction…

They are their own places. They have their own presidents, their own boards. They are different institutions.”

CORRECTIONS: An article published in the September 12 issue titled “U of T seeks new Learning Portal” incorrectly stated that Canvas does not include mobile applications.

The relationship between U of T and the federated colleges is best described as a partnership that the university is “very enriched by and utterly committed to,” according to Nelson.

“We see them as extremely important partners in our education mission and in our student experience mission.

They have very distinctive personalities, and all the colleges have very different personalities and climates, so that the student experience is distinctive in each of them,” Nelson explained.

This arrangement dates back to 1904, where these federated colleges started out as religious institutions wanting to train their next generation of clergy. Trinity College continues to be affiliated with the Anglican Church, while St. Michael’s remains a Catholic Institution, and Victoria College has ties to the United Church of Canada. These denominational institutions eventually joined the secular, publicly funded University of Toronto in order to build credibility and financial stability.

An article in the September 12 issue entitled “Where art meets activism” incorrectly identified former Director and CEO of the AGO Matthew Teitelbaum as Andrew. It also incorrectly stated that some artist talks were given at First Thursdays events, when they were given at the AGO, outside of First Thursdays.

SEPTEMBER 19, 2016 • 3

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Federal Minister Maryam Monsef speaks at electoral reform town hall on campus Town hall part of nationwide consultations with Canadians Kaitlyn Simpson Associate News Editor

With the federal government preparing to eliminate the first-past-the-post voting system, a town hall on electoral reform was held at University College last Wednesday. As part of the event, federal Minister of Democratic Institutions Maryam Monsef spoke on potential changes to Canada’s electoral system.

The event was part of Monsef’s Canadawide tour on electoral reform intended to complement the federal Special Committee on Electoral Reform, created last June.

Last Wednesday’s town hall was co-hosted

by Equal Voice, an organization focused on electing more women to office, and the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA). The first hour and a half was a pre-event for young women, and the following hour and a half was a consultation period open to everyone.

The panel was moderated by YWCA CEO Paulette Senior and consisted of three other members: Chair of Equal Voice National Nicole Foster, Senior Researcher at Equal Voice Grace Lore, and Monsef. Liberal Member of Parliament (MP) Adam Vaughan also attended the event but was not a panelist.

Monsef spoke about why the town halls were being held, arguing that the previous Conservative government under Prime Minister Stephen Harper passed “really significant legislation” without substantial public consultation.

She also commented on the value of having a thorough consultation process, highlighting the importance of seeking out voices from marginalized communities. “We’re building relationships across the country with organizations and stakeholders that have relationships with these marginalized communities and so come December 1, when that report comes over, I want to make a recommendation to cabinet and to the House of Commons and I want to be able to stand behind it,” Monsef said.

“I know that, no matter what we do, it’s going to improve and strengthen these democratic institutions and have impacts that we will see for decades and for generations to come,” she added.

When discussing the possibility of a referendum on electoral reform — something that the Conservative Party has called for — Monsef opposed the idea. “I have been really clear about what my personal opinion is about the referendum and I don’t think it’s the best way… However, this is not my electoral reform, or this is not my party’s electoral reform, this isn’t the governments electoral reform — this is your electoral reform.”

During the event, Monsef also discussed other matters apart from electoral reform, including changing the tone within the House of Commons to reduce heckling and possibilities for more women to be elected to office. She also criticized the Fair Elections Act and the “barriers around the ID requirement.”

TOM YUN/THE VARSITY

The U of T town hall was part of Monsef’s Canada-wide tour on electoral reform.

The University of Toronto Students’ Union and the Ryerson Students’ Union are also holding an electoral reform town halls on September 29 at the Ryerson Student Learning Centre in partnership with Leadnow, a political advocacy group. MPs across the country are also holding similar consultations; New Democratic Party MP Nathan Cullen held

Victoria University, from cover

With files from Tom Yun.

PHOTOS BY: REUSHEN AKSOY/THE VARSITY

The Colonnade, located on 131 Bloor Street West and leased to Revenue Properties.

Revenue Properties argued that the fair market value of the property should take into account the existing building on the land and the constraints of the lease. This would have valued 131 Bloor Street West at $31,597,704 and 151 Bloor Street West at $27,733,772.

Victoria University’s view was that the valuation should treat the land as vacant and unencumbered by the lease, as it was when the lease was first signed in 1960. The appraised values would have been $54,134,046 and $17,027,010 for 131 and 151 Bloor Street West, respectively.

In 1993, the court ruled that the free market value was to be based on “what a seller and buyer, each knowledgeable and willing, would pay on the open market,” and that the lands should be “valued as if vacant,” but at the same time, not unencumbered by the constraints of the lease agreement. The properties at 131 Bloor Street West and 151 Bloor Street West were then valued at a free market value of $46,308,334 and $14,579,010 respectively. The decision also opened the door to another rent reset in 20 years.

a town hall at Hart House on Sunday, and Vaughan will host one at Toronto City Hall on September 25.

The Special Committee on Electoral Reform is expected to have a report compiled for the House of Commons by December 1, 2016.

A second rent reset occurred in 2010 and yet again, the parties could not agree on the valuation of the property.

Since the first reset, the provincial government enacted the Condominium Act, 1998, which allowed condominiums to be developed on leasehold properties, such as the Bloor Street West properties.

At the time of the lease agreement in 1960, condominiums were not yet a common fixture in Ontario. According to the rules set out in the Condominium Act, 1967, which previously governed their construction, condominiums were permitted to be built only on freehold property, meaning that they could not be constructed on lands that were subject to a lease.

An arbitral panel for a 2010 rent reset negotiation concluded that the value of the lands should be based on “development of a mixed-use commercial-retail and freehold condominium project.” The panel’s decision led to the rent for one of the properties being reset at approximately four times the previous amount.

Revenue Properties and GE Canada appealed this decision to the Superior Court.

The Superior Court judge determined that the panel had “erred in law” by choosing to value the lands based on potential freehold condominium development and transferred the issue back to the same panel for reconsideration. Both Victoria University and the property tenants appealed the decision.

Victoria University had asked that the initial decision resulting in a rent increase be restored, whereas GE Canada and Revenue Properties requested that the dispute be referred to a new arbitral panel.

The Court of Appeals dismissed both appeals, and the dispute was remitted back to the same arbitration panel.

Victoria University’s properties In 2008, Morguard Corporation acquired Revenue Properties Company Limited and in 2013, Slate Asset Management bought GE Canada’s Toronto properties. Morguard and Slate could not be reached for comment.

Neither Morguard nor Slate are named in the

court documents.

Victoria University declined to comment on the lawsuits. Ray deSouza, Bursar of Victoria University, told The Varsity, “We cannot comment at this point as the matter is before the courts.”

The 131 and 151 Bloor Street West locations are not the only leased-out properties owned by Victoria University. The institution also owns the land to the McKinsey & Company building on 110 Charles Street West and an under-construction condominium at 8 St. Thomas Street.

These properties, as well as the Bloor Street West properties, have been the subject of scrutiny in other legal contexts as well.

In June, a City of Toronto staff report revealed that Victoria University had allegedly avoided paying millions of dollars in property taxes on these lands, due to an oversight in the Victoria University Act. Unlike most universities in Ontario, the institution is exempt from paying taxes on leased properties regardless of whether or not they are being used for educational purposes.

GE Canada Real Estate Equity Holding Company leases 151 Bloor Street West.

4 • THE VARSITY • NEWS

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UTAM, from cover Funds managed as of July 2016: Pension Plan

Smith’s precedessor Moriarty was the second highest paid public-sector employee in Ontario.

Money used for the University of Toronto Pension Plan and the University of Toronto (OISE) Pension Plan.

Endowment

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

Money given to the university by donors for academic purposes including financial support for students, creating faculty positions, and developing program offerings.

Investing (UNPRI).

“We’re still doing a lot of research in terms of figuring out what best practices are and what makes sense,” Smith explained, when asked about UTAM’s progress on the President’s report. “I’d say we’re still in the mid stages of that journey.”

He acknowledged that UTAM missed the July 1 deadline that Gertler set for the development of principles related to ESG factors, citing the leadership change as a reason for the delay. “One of the things we’re actively working on now is a way to score our portfolio. So we need to know what we’ve got as a starting point,” Smith explained.

This may involve signing onto UNPRI, something that Gertler called for in his report, and enlisting the services of a third-party data provider, such as MSEI, to provide a framework for “scoring” UTAM’s holdings. Smith hopes that such a framework will be established within three months.

After that, the actions that UTAM will take are undetermined. “Everything is potentially on the table and we just want to make sure that we do our homework,” Smith said.

Despite the delay, Gertler is optimistic about UTAM’s progress and leadership under Smith. He pointed out that the pension committee — the committee within the Governing Council that is responsible for policies surrounding the pension — has implemented ESG considerations into its investment policies. “That is a change that I think will be mirrored in the work that UTAM will be doing, with regard to the endowment portion of the investment,” he said.

UTAM regularly discloses a list of its segregated funds that exceed $1 million. Many energy and materials companies are included in the most recent version of the list, released in June 2016, including ones with interests in Alberta’s oil sands. Lockheed Martin Corp is also on the list, a company from which the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions group on campus has long called for divestment, citing the company’s involvement in the Israeli military’s activities in the Palestinian Territories.

“The bottom line is that most of our investments that are disclosed are within the Canadian Equity portfolio,” Smith explained, “and the Canadian Equity Portfolio or the Canadian Equity markets, as you may know, have a very significant allocation to energy and materials including mining.”

While Smith indicated that he has not looked into the list in great enough detail to

determine a level of concern for particular investments, he said that ESG considerations should apply to all of UTAM’s holdings, including segregated and pooled funds, and those that are not regularly disclosed.

Performance, not just for show “Look, in the investment industry, there are no guarantees here,” Smith said. “But we think you do need skilled investment professionals in order to increase the likelihood of creating value.”

As Smith sees it, this process, which includes hiring expensive investment professionals, is working. “The bottom line is I think the last five years have been quite strong in terms of performance and you know we’re hoping that we can continue that going forward,” he said.

Smith measures UTAM’s performance against two main metrics, both of which are set by the university: the reference portfolio and target returns.

“The reference portfolio, it’s a passive portfolio, it’s easy to implement. Over the very long term the expectation is that that should be able to meet the university’s risk and return objectives.” Simply put, UTAM is attempting to outperform this portfolio, net of costs.

“I do think that over the long term, if we can’t outperform that benchmark portfolio — I also refer to it as the reference portfolio, they’re interchangeable — then we shouldn’t be in business,” Smith said.

On this measure, both Smith and Gertler report success, pointing to the figure that, over the last five years, UTAM has outperformed the reference portfolio by almost two per cent. “That represents hundreds of millions of dollars of new value added to both the pension plan and the endowment combined,” Smith said.

Factoring in the target returns over time, however, paints a less sunny picture of UTAM’s achievements. Over the last 10 years, while the LTCAP and the pension fund have outperformed the reference portfolio by 0.29 per cent and 0.24 per cent respectively, they missed the target return by -1.44 per cent and -1.56 per cent.

Given that, as Gertler emphasized, these reports are net of costs, the fact that UTAM has outperformed the reference seems to indicate that the company is adding value to U of T’s funds over time.

“You want to make sure that, ultimately, UTAM is able to deliver good performance and good value over a sustained period of

time,” Gertler said.

Gertler also noted that the university is prudent at comparing UTAM’s operations to others managing similar-sized funds, to ensure its value to the university. “So we do that on an annual basis just to sort of make sure that our compensation rates are in line with other operations. And generally, ours are actually a little bit lower in terms of the base salaries that our managers receive, but there’s a little bit higher performance based component to their compensation.” To find comparable operations, Gertler said, it is necessary to look south of the border.

In terms of performance metrics, Smith says that it is not useful to compare UTAM to Ontario universities. “It’s difficult if you just look at the end number from different institutions because their starting point is going to be different,” he said, referring to the fact that different universities are bound to have differing benchmarks and risk tolerances.

When asked about the fact that, as of 2015, U of T and UWO had nearly identical five-year return rates on their endowments at just above ten per cent, Smith said that this comparison neglected an important part of the picture. “If you want to do a fair comparison I think you need to say, ‘Okay, how did they actually do versus their benchmark?’ I’d be surprised if over the last five years they’d outperformed by a similar magnitude.”

UWO sets benchmarks for each of its individually-hired managers rather than comparing its entire investment pool to a singular reference portfolio. The risk tolerance of both schools is not so far apart: UWO expects a standard deviation in returns of 11.7 per cent, while U of T targets a standard deviation of 10 per cent or less.

Investment returns are not where Smith’s goals for his presidency end, however. “I do get a sense that perhaps the university and some of our stakeholders don’t have a lot of information about UTAM and what we’re doing,” he explained. “One of my initiatives as president is really to increase the level of transparency and communication with the key stakeholders.”

Gertler seems confident about Smith’s abilities in this regard: “We’ve really been impressed by [Smith]’s ability to work with members of the pension committee and other committees and individuals at the university to explain what UTAM does and why and how,” he said. “I think it’s going to be a time of interesting change.”

Expendable Funds Investment Pool:

Includes cash for university operations and other short-term expenditures.

LTCAP The “Long-term Capital Appreciation Pool” consists of the endowment and other long-term pooled funds. It is valued at $2.4 billion.

Benchmark (or ‘Reference’) Portfolio A shadow portfolio of passive investments that adhere to the university’s risk tolerance and asset mix. UTAM aims to consistently outperform the benchmark portfolio.

“Manager of Managers” UTAM does not buy and sell stocks. Its main job is to hire external investment managers who they believe can build portfolios that will produce the university’s target returns, within their risk tolerance.

Active vs. Passive Management Passive managers select stocks and assign them weightings in imitation of a particular market index; the performance of a passivelymanaged portfolio is dependent on market outcomes. UTAM’s Canadian Government Bonds portfolio is passively managed.

Active managers create investment portfolios based on their interpretations of market trends, in an attempt to outperform market indexes. It is a more involved process, making active management fees high in comparison to passive management fees. UTAM’s Emerging Market Equities portfolio is actively managed.

SEPTEMBER 19, 2016 • 5

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Inside the sexual violence policy draft Student unions to hold consultations on policy Helena Najm Varsity Staff

Following provincial legislation requiring universities to create a sexual violence policy by January 2017, the provost released a draft of the University of Toronto’s policy on September 7. The draft is open to consultation and rewriting until January 2017.

The policy is the result of 18 months of research and consultation by an expert panel composed of two students, two faculty members, and one staff member.

Beginning in November 2014, the consultation process focused on five key issues: establishing a new policy; reviewing the existing policy, education and violence prevention; building a new response centre; and conducting a climate survey.

After finishing research for the policy in February, the expert panel on policy — led by Trinity Provost and former Dean of the U of T Faculty of Law, Mayo Moran — met with students, faculty and staff throughout the summer and released a report in August outlining recommendations for the policy.

The policy draft covers the process of reporting or disclosing an act of sexual violence — whether or not that act was perpetrated by a member of the university community or committed on campus.

All members of the university community will be covered by a single policy in any situation, per the expert panel’s recommendations.

The policy also proposes the establishment of a Sexual Violence

NATHAN CHAN/THE VARSITY

The university is required to have a policy on sexual violence in place by January 2017.

Prevention and Support Centre, which would undertake education and prevention initiatives to ensure that a culture of sexual violence is not tolerated .

A portion of the policy reads, “Sexual Violence can be committed against any person and is an issue that requires an inclusive response.

The University recognizes that Sexual Violence is overwhelmingly committed against women, and in particular women who experience the intersection of multiple identities such as, but not limited to, indigenous women, women with disabilities, and racialized women.”

The Sexual Violence Climate Survey — a survey created for the purpose of “benchmarking, understanding, and addressing sexual violence in the University community” — is not yet complete. Its administration will be led by Sandy Welsh, the Vice-Provost of Students and appointee

at the Department of Sociology whose research focus is workplace and sexual harassment.

One way the university plans to reduce barriers to accessing support services is by not requiring that a complainant file a report to be able to use academic accommodations such as exam or assignment deferrals, or housing services such as relocation, and counselling.

If the respondent is a student, they also have access to many such services.

While the Sexual Violence Prevention and Support Centre will be central to educational and preventative efforts, reports and subsequent investigations will be dealt with through the Office of Safety and High Risk. Vice-President and Provost Cheryl Regehr made it clear in an interview with the The Varsity that this was deliberate.

According to her, keeping support and investigative services separate

ensures that both processes function properly and that the people working with all involved parties play very different roles in their recovery.

Both the complainant and the respondent will have access to the investigator’s name and particulars about the case. The office will then inform both parties of the results of the investigation, which could lead to a hearing. Should a party disagree with the decision, they could file for an appeal with the Discipline Appeals Board.

In the case of a staff member respondent, the Vice-President, Human Resources and Equity will review the investigation. In the case of a faculty or librarian respondent, The Vice-President and Provost will review the case details and coordinate with the Vice-President, Human Resources and Equity to determine the appropriate remedy.

Overall, the policy draft covers

many issues pertaining to sexual violence. This includes: acknowledging that members of the university community who live at the intersection of many identities are at higher risk of sexual violence; understanding that disclosure and reporting are different; and recognizing that “individuals who have experienced Sexual Violence experience a range of physical and psychological effects that can profoundly affect their lives.”

Regehr will continue to present the draft policy to governance boards until its completion at the end of the year.

The University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU) and the Graduate Students’ Union (UTGSU) are holding consultation sessions for U of T students regarding the new policy. The UTSU’s event will be held September 19 from 1:00–3:00 pm at the Multi-Faith Centre. The UTGSU is holding two consultations September 22 from 12:00–2:00 pm in the Davis building at UTM and on September 29 from 6:00–8:00 pm at an undetermined location on UTSG. Their UTSC consultation occurred September 15.

For those who cannot make the sessions, the UTGSU has created an online feedback form, and the UTSU has encouraged students to email them their feedback. A portion of the UTSU Facebook event description reads, “For years, universities have failed victims and survivors of sexual violence, and it is crucial that advocate [sic] for a policy that is responsive to the needs of our community members.”

You Decide UofT optimistic about collecting almost 10,000 signatures Campaign for referendum on UTSU’s membership in the CFS endorsed by EngSoc, UC Lit, SMCSU Lesley Flores Varsity Contributor

The students who are attempting to obtain the nearly 10,000 signatures required to launch a referendum on the University of Toronto Students’ Union’s (UTSU) membership in the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) say they are confident that they will reach their goal.

The You Decide UofT campaign was launched in early September in an attempt to secure the signatures — which are equal to 20 per cent of the CFS Local 98 membership — to prompt the referendum as required by the CFS bylaws.

Though the 10,000 signatures target is lofty, You Decide UofT believes it is feasible with help from divisional student societies.

The UTSU has been a local member association of the CFS since 2003

under CFS Local 98, which only includes full-time undergraduates at UTSG. In an email to The Varsity, You Decide UofT representative Daman Singh recognizes the challenge that collecting a high number of signatures will pose. “Our team is extremely committed and enthusiastic about this campaign and we feel that this commitment will translate into success,” he said.

You Decide UofT plans on collecting signatures by collaborating with college and faculty student unions, course unions, and clubs “to host ‘petition stations’ in their common spaces and offices.”

“We also have various volunteers circulating petitions around campus attempting to speak to the students who may otherwise fall through the cracks,” he added.

Singh noted that campus “re-

sponse thus far has been fairly positive.” He stated that both the University of Toronto Engineering Society (EngSoc) and the St. Michael’s College Student Union (SMCSU) have formally endorsed the campaign, and the campaign has been “overwhelmed with how excited students have been to help out.”

Since The Varsity spoke with Singh, the University College Literary and Athletic Society (UC Lit) — on which Singh serves as VicePresident — also endorsed You Decide.

The campaign organizers have varying levels of involvement in large-scale mobilization campaigns.

“While some of our members come from past successful campaigns, such as Hello UofT and Brighter UofT, other members are entirely new faces to the realm of campus politics,” Singh explained.

TESS KING/THE VARSITY

When asked about any challenges the You Decide campaign has faced thus far, Singh cited the logistical difficulties of launching such a largescale campaign and keeping track of the volume of signatures rather than any sort of on campus opposition: “When you have so many people in so many places collecting signatures,

it can be very difficult to maintain a good idea of where you’re at.”

The CFS has also indicated that it will have a presence on campus this semester; the federation was present during some of the Orientation Week festivities and told The Varsity that it intends on continuing its activism.

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Fusion Radio seeks 200 per cent levy increase in referendum Scarborough Campus radio station hopes to bring back over-the-air broadcasting

MAISHA ISLAN/THE VARSITY

Fusion Radio’s referendum will be held on September 30 and October 3.

Kaitlyn Simpson Associate News Editor

Scarborough Campus Community Radio (SCCR), also known as Fusion Radio, is asking UTSC students to vote ‘Yes’ on a referendum that would nearly triple its current levy.

The radio station is seeking to increase its student levy amount by $8 — from $4.85 to $12.85.

Voting will be available on September 30 and October 3 at the Bladen Wing Atrium from 10:00 pm to 5:00 pm for UTSC students. If passed, the proposed changes will come into effect during the 2017 summer term.

Fusion Radio is a 24/7 online radio network for UTSC students. The station hosts various student-led shows in addition to organizing events around UTSC throughout the year.

If the proposed student levy is passed, the new money would go towards a significant expansion project planned for the station.

According to an online statement made by Fusion Radio, the expansion project would “bring over-the-air broadcasting back to UTSC, as well as increase the quality and accessibility of a range of services that we provide for the university, campus groups, and students.”

Both UTSG and UTM currently have terrestrial radio stations. At UTSG, CIUT has its studio in the Hart House map room and broadcasts on 89.5 FM. CFRE operates at UTM and broadcasts on 91.9 FM. Other possible changes include “increas[ing] the reputation of UTSC by offering industry quality radio, media production, and networking services to its students” as well as an opportunity to “provide necessary capital to invest in opportunities that will benefit and engage the campus and community such as celebrity talent for events/concerts.”

Chief Returning Officer of the Referendum Arman Ali also commented on the changes that would result if the fee-increase passed, saying in an email to The Varsity that it “is needed to allow for over-the-air broadcasting expansion and to achieve the goal of having a legitimate campus radio station at the University of Toronto Scarborough, which both

the Mississauga and St. George campuses already have.”

The Varsity spoke to the President of Fusion Radio, Ramisa Tasifa, who stressed the importance of the network on campus, saying: “Fusion Radio is Scarborough’s Source for Sound. For many years, student clubs and associations have turned to Fusion Radio to set-up and coordinate sound for events across and outside of campus. This includes but is not limited to providing speakers, working with DJs, renting equipment, setting up lights, and promotions.”

Tasifa also added that the referendum is crucial to the success of Fusion Radio, especially for “future generations.”

There is no definitive quorum for this vote because neither the SCCR by-laws nor the University of Toronto’s Student Society regulations have specific requirements for voter turnout.

Scarborough Campus Students’ Union President Jessica Kirk declined to endorse a vote in favour or against the referendum questions: “SCSU supports the opportunity students will have to exercise their democratic rights to vote.

It is important for students to know that their vote will directly impact the fees all students at UTSC will ultimately have to pay, should there be a majority ‘Yes’ vote.”

“It’s up to students at UTSC to decide whether or not Fusion Radio’s services warrant a 200% fee increase,” Kirk added.

Stats Canada report shows 2.8 per cent increase in average undergraduate tuition nationwide Tuition in Ontario remains the highest in the country

2015–2016 2016–2017

$2,759 $6,130 $6,288

$2,851

Quebec Prince Edward Island

Ontario

$6,834

$6,682

remained the most expensive, with tuition fees averaging $27,574.

The statistics also indicate a wide disparity between the average costs of tuition across Canada’s provinces. Ontario has the highest tuition costs, with average annual fees of $8,114, in comparison to Newfoundland & Labrador’s $2,759.

Newfoundland and Labrador still enjoys the lowest tuition costs in the country on account of the provincial government’s ‘tuition freeze’ policy.

Persistent increases in Canadian tuition fees over the years continue to present a unique financial challenge to university students across the country.

$6,379

Saskatchewan

$7,218

$8,114

$7,865

$2,797

Newfoundland and Labrador

$4,013 $4,058 $7,177

Alberta

Manitoba

$6,978

$5,750

British Columbia

$5,739

$5,534

$5,397

Statistics Canada has released a report detailing tuition increases across the country.

According to the report, the average cost of university tuition for undergraduate students has increased by 2.8 per cent for the 2016–17 academic year in comparison to the year prior. Statistics Canada also reported a rise in “compulsory student fees,” including athletic and student association costs.

The report further revealed that engineering programs saw the highest rise in tuition costs from an average of $7,511 to $7,825 — a 4.2 per cent increase. Pharmaceutical studies, on the other hand, was the only subject that saw a decrease in tuition rates, with costs falling 18.4 per cent this academic year as compared to the previous year.

Other than pharmacy programs, however, tuition fees across all subject disciplines have increased.

Throughout Canada, tuition fees for international undergraduate students rose 5.6 per cent for the 2016–17 academic year, with average annual tuition costs at $23,589.

Tuition fees for graduate students also rose across all disciplines. MBA programs

$2,759

Mohid Malik Varsity Contributor

Nova Scotia

New Brunswick

Canada $6,201 $6,373

VANESSA WANG/THE VARSITY SOURCE: STATISTICS CANADA

SEPTEMBER 19, 2016 • 7

ADVERTISEMENTS

Notice to Members: Fall 2016 Elections and Referendum UTSU is your Students’ Union. The UTSU is governed by a Board of Directors elected

by YOU. Our campaigns and services are also shaped by you. Our aim is to provide services and events that save you money and enrich your university experience.

The University of Toronto Students’ Union is holding its Fall 2016 by-elections for the following positions:

POSITIONS AVAILABLE:

SEATS:

Division I Directors: Innis College – Transitional Year Program – Division II Directors: Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto – Academic Directors: Mathematical and Physical Sciences

1 1

1

1

To run for a position, please pick up a nomination package during the nomination period at the UTSU office – 12 Hart House Circle. Please keep in mind the dates and deadlines listed below.

ELECTION DATES: Nomination Period: Friday, September 30, 09:00 am to Thursday, October 6, 05:00 pm Silent Period: Thursday, October 6, 05:00 pm to Monday, October 10, 09:00 am All-Candidates Meeting: Saturday, October 8 Campaign Period: In-person campaigning: Monday, October 10, 09:00 am to Monday, October 17, 12:00 am (midnight) Online campaigning: Monday, October 10, 09:00 am to Thursday, October 20, 06:30 pm Voting Period: Tuesday, October 18, 12:00 am to Thursday, October 20, 06:30 pm* *Note: Vote online at utsu.simplyvoting.com. Online voting opens October 18 at midnight and will be open for 24 hours until the voting period ends. Polling stations open October 18 at 9 am and closes at 6:30 pm each voting day.

For more information, contact the Chief Returning Officer at cro@utsu.ca

8 • THE VARSITY • NEWS

news@thevarsity.ca

UC building renovations well underway Ontario ombudsman reports Construction of the building expected to end by September 2018

182 complaints received about universities Ombudsman’s university oversight began in January

ANTHEA WEI/THE VARSITY

The JCR boasts a new floor, re-upholstered sofas, repainted walls, and sanded furniture.

Natasha Malik & Mahrukh Ali Varsity Contributors

Since the passing of the University College Literary & Athletic Society’s (UC Lit) revitalization referendum, work on the UC building has progressed, with the Junior Common Room (JCR) reopening at the beginning of the year.

“The JCR went through some extensive updates to some of its main attributes this summer!” UC Lit President Ramsey Andary told The Varsity. “The floor was completely redone with a fresh new wood that matches the colour of the walls along with multiple in-ground outlets scattered all over, the couches and pillows were re-upholstered with durable leather, the tables were sanded and redone and the walls of the offices were all repainted.”

Other upcoming changes include adding more accessible entrances throughout the college, including a central elevator for the building. Renovations are also expected to bring a third floor café, an East Hall library, a reading room in West Hall, a conference centre in Croft Chapter House, and improvements

to the UC quad.

“Historically, the university library used to be located in East Hall. Bringing it back as part of the revitalizations allows students to make more regular use of the beautiful room,” said Andary. “West Hall will also get more usage through its renewed role as a multi-purpose reading room. The hidden gem that is usually discovered only during Fireball, UC room 376, will get a café that we hope to make as popular as our current coffee hub Diabolos’,” said Andary.

The extensive renovations to the building are set to begin in the spring of 2017 and are expected to be completed in September 2018.

The UC Lit council has yet to make the decision on whether to operate the café in UC 376 themselves or to have UC Food Services run it. The council holds the right of first refusal to operate the café as it has done with its student-run coffee shop Diabolos’, located in the JCR. Diabolos’, which had in the past experienced financial and operational difficulties, reopened in January 2015 after having been shut down for a couple of months.

Andary tells The Varsity that since its re-opening, the studentrun coffee shop has been doing well.

“The key changes to its business structure, its operations, and its image were important in creating a financially sustainable system. We were lucky to have a talented team, manager, and administration to make this happen.”

The referendum approving the building revitalization levy had previously failed to reach a two-thirds majority in 2014.

The passing of the referendum earlier this year was seen to be a big move and Andary believes that the successes of the renovation would not have been possible without the support of the students within the UC community.

“I think it has really been the support of the students ever since the referendum that has sparked the overall excitement of the community to the great changes happening to our beloved college. Seeing the new JCR filling itself with life has just made students all the more eager to experience a revitalized UC,” said Andary.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE OFFICE OF THE ONTARIO OMBUDSMAN

The ombudsman began to take complaints about universities last January.

Meerah Haq Varsity Contributor

Since the Ontario ombudsman gained jurisdiction to investigate universities, 182 complaints have been made in this area, ranging from issues of student services to academic processes.

The ombudsman began taking complaints about universities in January of this year. Of these complaints, approximately 75 per cent of them have already been closed.

Colleges are also under the oversight of the ombudsman and have been for 40 years.

Cases that the ombudsman has worked on have involved academic appeals, fees, employment issues, safety and security, and student services.

Ashley Bursey, Manager of Communications at the Office of the Ombudsman of Ontario, mentions that their goal is to “resolve complaints at the lowest level possible, usually through shuttle diplomacy or informal discussion with the organization in question.”

The ombudsman, a position currently held by Paul Dubé, is tasked

with investigating complaints from the public about Ontario government services, while retaining an arm’s-length distance from the government.

The ombudsman works as a last resort option in solving university issues and advises all complaints to be dealt with by their university’s own procedures first.

Complaints can be made online through the ombudsman’s website.

If the ombudsman notices a trend in a certain type of complaint, they are able to launch investigations — this has not yet happened with respect to universities.

Like most ombudsman offices around the world, the Ontario ombudsman is able to make recommendations, but their judgment is not binding.

Bursey mentions, “The track record of our office is that most of the ombudsman’s recommendations are accepted and implemented….

We do follow up on all recommendations that are accepted to ensure they are implemented.”

Journal from recently rediscovered HMS Terror kept at Rare Book Library Ship was part of Franklin Expedition through Canadian Arctic Harleen Sandhu Varsity Contributor

The HMS Terror was found in Nunavut Bay on the morning of September 12, 2016. The ship was one of two vessels that became lost in the Franklin Expedition, a British voyage into the arctic that departed in 1845.

The ship was lost after becoming stuck in ice along with HMS Erebus. The expedition was undertaken in the hope of finding a Northwest Passage through the Arctic to China.

Lieutenant Owen Stanley of the British Royal Navy kept a journal detailing his personal experiences on HMS Terror. The journal has been housed at the University of Toronto’s Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library since 1971.

Stanley was the surveyor on the

HMS Terror on an 1836 expedition, nine years before the Northwest passage expedition. A book of his watercolours from the voyage is also kept at the Rare Book Library.

In his journal, Stanley recounts the crew’s experience of becoming stuck in ice in the Arctic, where the ship remained for 10 months before breaking free. He is very detailed in his accounts of those 10 months and how the crew survived, not knowing if they would ever return to England.

Stanley discusses the crew’s relationship with the local Inuit community, which was mostly based on trade. He writes about the crew having a costume party aboard the ship to pass the time. He even made a watercolour painting of the event, depicting men dressed in furs and dresses, captioned “Arctic amusements.” He was also able to

construct an “observatory” from his equipment and create a revolving roof using a sail from the ship.

Stanley also explains how to anchor a ship into the ice to keep it from drifting off. However, the ice itself can drift, causing the ship to end up far away from where it had originally stopped. No one knows how or why the HMS Terror remained lost for so long, but this could be an explanation as to why it was so hard to find.

Stanley’s journal cuts off in what seems to be the middle of a sentence, before he can address how the ship was able to become free.

We do know that the ship made it back from that voyage safe and sound though, from a watercolour painting Stanley made of the ship sailing back to England.

NATHAN CHAN/THE VARSITY

Lieutenant Owen Stanley’s journal, seen at the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library

Comment

September 19, 2016 var.st/comment comment@thevarsity.ca

Cold to the touch How and why social response to mass violence has shifted following 9/11 and Columbine Jenisse Minott Varsity Columnist

I

Three terror attacks: Istanbul, Dhaka, and Baghdad June 28, 2016 to July 3, 2016

Orlando Pulse June 12, 2016

San Bernardino December 2, 2015

Sandy Hook December 14, 2012

Virginia Tech April 16, 2007

9/11 September 11, 2001

Columbine April 20, 1999

ELHAM NUMAN/THE VARSITY

n the wake of the anniversary of the September 11 attacks, an aura of sorrow immediately permeated the city of Toronto. Though the terrorist attacks orchestrated by al-Qaeda took place in New York and Washington, the scope of the grief 9/11 incited spanned the entire world. The emotional response to the tragedy remains strong 15 years later.

Directors continue to make films and documentaries about September 11, 2001. Conspiracy theorists continue to piece together various retellings of the events and perpetrators. And of course, the world continues to mourn the almost 3,000 lives lost on that horrific day. The only tragedies more talked-about or more widely-recognized are perhaps the World Wars of the twentieth century.

Despite the extensive number of newsworthy calamities the world has come to know over the years, recent acts of mass violence never seem to hit quite as hard as 9/11. No matter how publicly a tragedy is broadcasted or how many people are injured or killed, there has not yet been another event as unforgettably appalling to the general public as the September 11 attacks.

In light of this, some will claim that society has become desensitized to mass violence. In many ways, this is true. Many people still register the significance of the Columbine shooting of 1999 and yet can barely recall the particulars of the Sandy Hook shooting of 2012. The San Bernardino shooting that took the lives of 14 in 2015 was yet another event that was spoken of only for a few short days, before it was swallowed up entirely by a different wave of journalism.

What makes the world today so much less impacted by the human evils we hear about on television or read about in the news than when Columbine or 9/11 occurred? Some may attribute it to ‘millennial selfishness,’ technological expansion, or perhaps the increasing pervasiveness of violence in video games and media.

These responses, however, are as trite as they are trivial. People do not simply become less empathetic because they can be — they do it because they have no choice.

Perhaps the Columbine shooting is perceived to be historically significant because it was the first of its kind. When Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold turned their guns on classmates and teachers alike, they tainted the entire nature of high school. From 1999 onwards, schools lost the imagined force field society had previously designated for them, which deemed them safe civilian zones with precious lives not to be harmed or perverted.

This massacre, which left 12 students, one teacher, and both killers dead, proved that absolutely nowhere is perfectly safe.

By the time the Sandy Hook shooting occurred 13 years later, the public had been primed for such tragedies. Despite the fact that the Sandy Hook shooting

resulted in the deaths of 20 children and six adults and also took place in a school, the world could ‘handle’ the tragedy, so to speak — Columbine had already prepared us for the fact that not everything could be protected, nor can everyone be saved.

The ability to share condolences through different media has also made it more difficult to grieve for longer stretches of time. Being able to share posts of sorrow, retweet supportive hashtags, or change your Facebook profile picture to reflect recent heartbreak is proving to be an effective catharsis. The immediacy of dealing with the discomfort of grief and anxiety through online forums allows people to return smoothly to their normal lives. This makes the lifespan of the average mass violence news coverage much shorter than it may otherwise be.

Nevertheless, grief is perhaps the only response a member of the public can offer when tragedies occur. Consider the sheer magnitude and complexity of the social change that must occur in order to stop these disasters from happening and the lack of control we can exercise over this process.

Though these events have irrevocably shaped the world, reform in response to tragedy has not been enacted diligently enough to make human fear or sorrow productive. Criminals go by undetected and turn guns on unsuspecting victims, with no rhyme or reason, no explanation that can prevent future tragedies, and no resources to ensure that those at risk of committing such offences receive adequate psychological assistance before it is too late.

After 9/11, wars on terrorism spread quickly around the world, and North Atlantic Treaty Organization alliances were enacted, but little could ease the fear that something catastrophic could happen again at any time. Even heightened security regimes enacted in response to 9/11, and now considered commonplace procedures only add to the anxiety. All this does is create a perception that violence is the norm, which significantly diminishes the extent to which tragedies are mourned.

The hijacked planes destroyed more than the Twin Towers that day, and the Columbine shooting killed more than its innocent victims. These events set the tone for the way the world would understand and articulate mass violence, and the often expedient way in which the public now recovers from subsequent crimes.

The human psyche can only take so much grief, and so everyone lets go of theirs as soon as they can. Now, people can handle a lot more trauma in a lot less time, and that in itself is a tragedy of great significance.

Jenisse Minott is a second-year student at UTM studying Communications, Culture, Information, and Technology.

10 • THE VARSITY • COMMENT

comment@thevarsity.ca

Why the most ballots should constitute a win When considering its less favourable alternatives, the first-past-the-post electoral system comes out on top

Write for Comment Tell us what you think.

The Comment section is the perfect place at The Varsity for those who are just itching to express their opinions about what is happening in the world around them. If you want to get involved, here are some things you should know.

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Common topics include politics, campus life, pop culture, and university affairs.

That said, you can pitch any ideas you have in mind, as long as you can make what you are writing about relevant to students, The Varsity’s primary audience.

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The first-past-the-post system is fundamental to Canadian democracy. DWAYNE BENT/CC FLICKR

University students often get caught up in the meanderings

Sam Routley Varsity Contributor

Many Canadians have become disheartened by the current 'first-past-the-post' (FPTP) electoral system. Consider, for instance, the Liberal government’s election last October: the government advocated for and continues to hold the position of changing the way we vote in Canada.

Put simply, the FPTP system awards the electoral victory to the candidate who obtains the most votes, regardless of the ratio of votes between that candidate and others in the race.

The main grievance against FPTP is its apparent undemocratic nature. In 2011, a majority Conservative government of 166 seats in the House of Commons was formed based upon 39.9 per cent of the popular vote. Simultaneously, the Green Party, with 3.5 per cent of the vote, won only one seat.

However, FPTP boasts a greater form of direct representation than its contenders.

Critics of FPTP often overlook its many advantages.

FPTP ensures that the individual regions of Canada have strong and fair representation in Federal jurisdiction through the system’s application on the local level. Unlike proportional systems, which grant this power to political parties, FPTP allows only the individual voters of a riding a say in how to represent their unique interests. No alternative system offers a stronger connection between representative and constituent.

In lieu of their campaign promise, the current Liberal government — elected with under 40 per cent of the vote — has begun to explore the potential of implementing an alternative system. In particular, most of the suggested alternatives have been based on

some form of proportional representation (PR), in which the popular vote plays a primary role in determining who earns a seat in the House of Commons. Yet, these alternatives seem lacklustre and carry with them many drawbacks.

In a direct PR system, for example, the division of seats is determined directly by the popular vote. If applied to the last election, the Liberals would have gained 39 per cent of seats. The choice in that case would have been to either maintain a minority government or to form a coalition. This would bring parties with different voter bases together and form a joint government, which rarely occurs within Canadian politics.

In all systems of proportional representation, including those in Germany, Italy, and Israel, coalitions have become commonplace.

Though they can be relatively stable systems of government, they can also be undemocratic in nature. This is because PR allows party brokerage, not the wish of the voters, to determine the nature of ruling coalitions.

For instance, coalitions may be formed by several small parties, all of which have an insufficient amount of support on their own, but can nevertheless seize power when banding together.

For example, the Free Democratic Party in Germany played a significant part within 42 of the 50 governing coalitions between 1948 and 1998, while gaining no more than 12 per cent of the vote in those cases.

This is not to mention that a coalition between any of the three major political parties in Canada — the Liberals, the Conservatives, and the New Democratic Party — seems impractical considering their differences. Consequently, the adoption of the PR system in Canadian context may mean an increase in minority governments, which can be ineffi-

cient and unstable.

Another alternative is mixed member proportionality (MMP), which combines PR and FPTP. In this system, voters cast two votes; one for their candidate for Member of Parliament and another for a party. Half of Parliament would be seated by the MPs voted in, and the other half would be determined by the popular vote for the parties.

Yet, like the PR system, it is difficult to form majority governments using this method. Further, half of those sitting in Parliament are not elected by the voters, but by the parties themselves, who may choose to fill positions on the basis of patronage.

Simply put, there is no clear-cut and perfect alternative to FPTP. This is not to say that these alternatives do not bring benefits; PR, for example, facilities a superior system of direct representation.

In truth, FPTP does not entirely reflect the national interest, but that is because the system is designed to bring all regional needs and interests to the table. Therefore, national results are determined riding-byriding, and Parliament thereby becomes an assembly of representatives who apply their region's interests towards the broader Canadian interest.

Though it is far from perfect, FPTP has merit. Instead of considering an alternative system, it may be best to try to improve the one we already have. The potential victories of FPTP can certainly be achieved: by enacting measures to empower MPs, for example, we can facilitate the ideal of a strong voice for every Canadian community. For now, the system we’re working under is the best we’ve got.

Sam Routley is a second-year student at St. Michael’s College studying Political Science, History, and Philosophy.

of descriptive writing or the rigid mechanics of academic style. Journalistic opinion writing is short, snappy, and chock-full of persuasive language.

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We only publish content that is substantiated. Examples of commonly cited evidence include statistics, other newspaper articles, and realworld examples.

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Writing for The Varsity means getting edited, but we aim to make the process as collaborative as possible. We will offer thorough feedback and suggestions on all pieces you submit before publishing.

To get started, email our Comment Editor, Teodora Pasca, at comment@thevarsity.ca.

Alternatively, The Varsity is located at 21 Sussex Avenue — swing by the second floor during Teodora's office hours from 4:00–6:00 pm on Mondays.

SEPTEMBER 19, 2016 • 11

var.st/comment

Getting on track Perspectives on how the university can help commuter students

DIANA PHAM/THE VARSITY

Poor weather conditions, TTC maintenance and delays, and overcrowding during rush hour are only some of the struggles that commuter students deal with on any given day. We asked three contributors to reflect on what the university should focus on, in order to better serve its commuter students. Administration, we hope you’re taking notes.

SCHEDULING Many commuter students often encounter an uphill battle when trying to become more involved on their respective campus. Scheduling does not seem to be designed with commuters in mind, and therefore getting a taste of campus life can at times seem hopeless.

Let’s start with frosh week, when thousands of anxious first year students embark on their first university experience.

Semi-formals, trips to Ripley’s Aquarium, and fun activities like toga parties and bubble tea runs all occur at night — and due to the inconvenience it can cause them, few commuters are willing to stay on campus for anything once the sun sets.

As a result, frosh week can exclude and isolate those students who have to travel to get to campus. Though colleges and faculties are primarily responsible for organization, many orientations are linked through the university’s central student life body, which can do more to ensure that inclusive scheduling is prioritized by the organizing committees across campus.

The poor scheduling of social events hinders a massive volume of commuters from forming important social connections. In this vein, morning and early afternoon activities like lunch picnics in Queen's Park or even car washes for those who drive should be prioritized.

Finally, and most importantly, many commuters can relate to the great annoyance of being forced to take a required class at night. It is a tremendous headache for students who commute for hours to travel after a class ends at 9:00 pm.

By the time they get home, they barely have time to themselves to do homework and recharge for the following day. This is not to mention the issue of safety when travelling alone at night. Scheduling classes that are mandatory for the completion of program requirements during nighttime hours fails to consider commuters and ignores their needs.

Joanna Kewal is a second-year student at Trinity College studying English and Sociology.

STORAGE Hauling large backpacks, gym bags, and projects across campus is, quite literally, one of the heaviest challenges faced by commuter students at U of T. For those of us who can't pop in and out of a dorm room throughout the day, finding a locker or another form of storage that fits our needs can be tough.

Almost all lockers at U of T come with a price tag, costing up to $100 a year. Given that commuter students often make the choice not to stay in a residence because of the steep costs associated with doing so, and the fact that GO Transit and TTC fares continue to rise, prices can dissuade students from getting lockers on campus.

Even in the rare case that students can rent out lockers for free, they are often limited and can be isolated from the rest of campus. Lockers at Victoria College, for example, are free to rent for a semester but are located almost 15 minutes away from St. George Street, where many students have regular classes.

An inexpensive locker system that is standardized across the U of T campuses would be ideal, in order to ensure that students aren’t being overcharged for lockers by a certain building or college. A locker system that is flexible and allows for varying storage locations throughout the week would also be beneficial, as it would allow students to store their items in different places, depending on where their classes are on any given day.

While this would require a significant overhaul to the current locker system at U of T, it is nevertheless worth consideration. The current efforts to accommodate commuter students in this regard are falling flat.

Saambavi Mano is a third-year student at Victoria College studying Peace, Conflict, and Justice Studies.

SCARBOROUGH SHUTTLE Tired of taking the RT and the one-hour subway ride to UTSG from Scarborough? It must be a hassle for some students, especially while carrying 10 pounds of textbooks.

Many students from UTSC that have to commute downtown — for example, to work or take courses at UTSG — would benefit from the implementation of a shuttle bus service between the two campuses. This would help students avoid having to take multiple means of transport to reach their destination.

In fact, a shuttle bus between UTM and UTSG already exists; it is about time that this service is implemented for UTSC as well.

The city-managed project of connecting UTSC to the subway line was supposed to be completed years ago. Today, it is still in progress, and given that only the designing stage has been completed, the bus testing, maintenance, and release of the system seems out of the question for the time being. The alternative plan was the 198 bus, which runs from Kennedy Station to UTSC and will continue to do so until the construction is complete.

The Scarborough Campus Students' Union (SCSU) has frequently spoken about bringing a shuttle bus service to UTSC, and articles published in The Varsity in 2014 expressed the hope that the project would become a reality. Yet, SCSU executive members have claimed that the shuttle bus idea was poorly supported, and unfortunately, the whole proposal failed.

However, while construction of the city’s alternative trudges on, the idea of a university shuttle bus must be brought back to the table soon. In this way, we will not only better accommodate commuters but also connect UTSG and UTSC in a more effective way.

Madiha Turshin is a fourth-year student at UTSC studying Management.

” ? d r a h ’s t i e k i l “What, chool s w la o t in t ow to ge Advice on h

Autumn is in the air: leaves are falling, Starbucks just brought back the PSL, and the admissions cycle for Ontario law schools is now open. For the over 4,000 students who annually apply to Ontario law schools through the Ontario Law Schools Application Site (OLSAS), this means completing admissions essays and a biographical ‘sketch,’ taking the law school admissions test (LSAT), and gathering academic and character references.

The process can be confusing, stressful, and, at times, completely overwhelming. The Varsity spoke to admissions committees of several law schools and current students pursuing their Juris Doctor (JD) degrees about the admissions experience and the steps involved.

How much does your GPA matter?

It is well-known that law schools look for high academic achievers in making admissions decisions. However, cumulative grade point averages (CGPA) may not be the be-all, end-all to your application.

Alissa Cooper, Manager of Admissions and Financial Services at Osgoode Hall Law School at York University, described the admissions process at Osgoode as “completely holistic,” with each application evaluated in its entirety and no specific weights assigned to particular factors, such as CGPA. Other schools are leaning toward a similar philosophy — personal statements are an application component for each of the seven law schools in the province.

Holistic admissions processes give more weight to non-academic considerations, such as the activities students engaged in outside class. Positive trends, subjective evaluations at specific law schools, and explaining obstacles that inhibited academic performance may all boost an application.

Emily Tsui, an incoming JD candidate at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, said that her application probably benefitted from displaying a clear upward trend in her studies. Although her first-year performance was not as strong as subsequent years, she thinks sustained progress is key and may compensate for a rougher start.

Short-term deviations or an adjustment period in the beginning of undergrad are often considered; U of T Law, for example, evaluates only the top three full-time years of undergraduate studies

and Western Law places an emphasis on the last two years of studies.

Alexis Archbold, Assistant Dean of the JD program at U of T Law, explained that students can use their optional essays to clarify circumstances which may have temporarily affected their academic performance, or to provide compelling reasons for an overall less competitive academic record.

Even with these considerations, the question remains: what makes a competitive applicant? Most law schools specify an A- average of 80–84 per cent or a 3.7 CGPA to be highly competitive. Schools that have released statistics for the incoming class generally confirm this standard: Osgoode reports a median CGPA of 3.67 for its entering class, Queen’s is 82.1 per cent, and University of Toronto is 86.9 per cent.

So what is the LSAT, anyway?

Your LSAT score, which ranges on a scale from 120–180, is one of the most crucial factors on law school applications, even within the holistic admissions processes. The standardized test is offered four times per year, in February, June, September, and December through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC).

For most law schools in Ontario, including U of T and Osgoode, the last accepted LSAT administration date is in February of the year of entry — for example, for those hoping to matriculate in September 2017, the last acceptable LSAT date is February 2017.

However, writing the latest possible LSAT administration may render you ineligible for other considerations, such as Osgoode’s Income Contingent Loan Program.

The importance of the LSAT varies across law schools in the province. For example, Archbold noted that the LSAT in conjunction with the applicant’s CGPA makes for two thirds of the scoring criteria for admission to U of T. Median LSAT scores of incoming classes in 2015 ranged from the sixty-fourth percentile at Windsor Law to the ninety-fifth percentile at U of T Law. There is a plethora of resources available for LSAT studying, from self-study books of past tests and strategies to courses with profes-

na utsy or t na K Dary Contribu y t i s Var

sional test prep companies. Allan Cocunato, a second year JD candidate at Osgoode, recommended starting early — study for several hours every week a few months in advance, instead of leaving the studying until the month or week before.

The only way to beat test anxiety, he said, is “consistently performing at the level you’d like to be at for long enough that you know you’ll be able to do it on test day.”

For those looking for additional help but cannot afford paid tutoring or courses, U of T Law’s Access Program (LSAP) may be useful. The program runs free LSAT prep for academically high-achieving students during the summer to prepare them for the fall LSAT administration. It is open to third and fourth year undergraduate students as well as recent graduates who have a cumulative average of at least a B+ or 78 per cent with high financial need. Applications for the upcoming year close in March 2017.

Personal statements and letters of recommendation The personal statement, an application component required by every law school in Ontario, is where students can explain their choices, aspirations, accomplishments, and performance.

“It’s really important to be genuine in your personal statement,” Cooper said. “Elaborate and reflect on the unique experiences you had in university rather than just listing your accomplishments... Students are also given an optional opportunity to discuss certain factors if they apply, one of them being diversity, and equity factors.”

Archbold stressed the importance of giving the admissions committee the most complete picture of your accomplishments and personality. “Do the optional essay. It’s surprising to me every year how many students opt not to do the optional essay... the more information we have, the better chances are that we are creating a sense of the candidate and make a favourable decision.

She also echoed the importance

of authenticity. “Try to shut off that voice that says, ‘What do you think I should write? What would the admissions committee be looking for?’ That is important, but it shouldn’t get in the way of making sure what is important, what is genuine to you comes through.”

During Tsui’s admissions experience, she found it most helpful to organize her personal statement to answer three questions: why ‘you,’ why ‘law,’ and why ‘this law school.’

Answering those three questions effectively allowed her to both highlight her unique personal experiences and convey why she would be a good fit for U of T Law. Cocunato believes it was helpful to add a creative touch to his personal statement, which he wrote in narrative style to immediately grab the attention of the readers. A creative flair may help set applicants apart in a sea of accomplished applicants.

The admissions timeline Complete applications are due on the OLSAS on November 1, 2016. At this time, applicants are expected to submit all parts of their applications available to date. In practice, this means submitting transcript and letter of recommendation requests in advance, to ensure that they are received by an appropriate time.

Applicants are also encouraged to specify whether they plan to take another LSAT administration later and submit those scores when available. If applicants are still enroled in undergraduate studies, they may also submit first-semester grades past the deadline.

Offers for admission are generally made on a rolling basis. U of T Law makes several rounds of offers, beginning in early December and continuing to January and February; most applicants can expect to hear a decision by late February to March.

Osgoode makes offers on a continuous rolling basis. Cooper explained that offers begin to go out in December, but the bulk of acceptances are made in the end of January to the beginning of February. It is possible to receive an acceptance right until June, as many students make a decision on their offers by the April deadline.

The most important thing to do after accepting an offer? The answer from both admissions offices and students was fairly unanimous — relax and enjoy the last summer of peace before an extremely rigorous few years.

“This process doesn’t — and won’t — define

you,” said Cocunato. “It’s cool that you’re interested in law, but make sure you’re leaving time to be interested in your friends, your family, your hobbies, and your health, and for occasionally making some mistakes that you’ll laugh at years down the road.”

Tsui, for one, decided to cap off the admissions cycle by deferring her acceptance to the following year and taking time to travel and relax.

Staying sane: balancing applications with other demands With all of the above considerations in mind, applying to law school is often incredibly stressful. Between spending hours at the library to reach the highest possible LSAT score and crafting compelling personal statements, it may be difficult to stay on top of other academic, professional, and personal responsibilities without feeling completely overwhelmed.

Every applicant has different ways of managing stress and anxiety; it is important to find one that works to avoid burnout.

Cocunato recalls doing everything he could to keep things in perspective while applying. “Most applicants have an idea of where they stand, and those that are unsuccessful can just try again next year,” Cocunato said.

“Even then, law school isn’t for everyone, and most people have happy and fulfilling lives without a law degree.”

According to Victoria Wicks, an incoming student at the University of British Columbia’s Peter A. Allard School of Law, she was privileged to have a strong family support system, which she leaned on heavily when trying to manage courses. “It really helps to let the people around you know what your goals are, so they can understand the pressure you’re under and provide the muchneeded moral support,” she said.

Equally important is continuing to practice all the time management and scheduling tips that have been helpful to you throughout university. Wicks recounted the strategies that helped her with both academic work and the admissions process: “noting due dates in advance, working backwards to break up

tasks into smaller accomplishments, and reassessing your progress status regularly.”

The pros and cons of joint degrees Some law students also hope to continue studies in their undergraduate field, while others look at combined professional programs.

Many law schools in Ontario offer a range of combined programs that law students may take concurrently with their JD to decrease program time and obtain a multidisciplinary perspective.

“I was interested in pursuing business law,” said Dany Horovitz, a JD and Master of Business Administration (MBA) graduate from Western Law and the Richard Ivey School of Business MBA program. “The JD/MBA program at Western/Ivey combines the best business law school in the country with the best business school in the country. It was a no brainer for me on that basis.”

His admissions process, however, involved several steps that JD applicants did not have to complete, such as an interview with and a separate application to Richard Ivey. Although his high LSAT score was sufficient to waive the graduate management admission test (GMAT) requirement, many joint programs will require a different standardized exam such as the graduate record examination (GRE) for admission.

While joint programs can provide a greater depth and breadth to legal education, they tend to run higher in tuition costs and time spent in school. With many students already juggling a significant debt load, higher tuition costs spread over a greater time out of work can prove prohibitive. However, Horovitz and others like him believe their joint degrees are worthwhile investments.

Is law school for you?

Oftentimes, students experience tunnel vision regarding admissions; they focus more

on their chances of acceptance into law school rather than their desire to have a career in law.

While it is important to stay on track with the admissions process, it may be helpful to pause and contemplate whether law school is ultimately the right path.

“I think I originally wanted to go law school because I saw it as one of the highest attainable degree[s] and I wanted to pursue it for the accomplishment more so than the actual curriculum,” said Casey Loach, who now works in the field of investment banking. “It also didn’t help that most people in my program (Poli sci) wanted to go to law school so I felt more pressure to go that path as well.”

When Loach had a chance to pursue an MBA to make her application more competitive for law school admissions, she realized that work in business and economics was much more appealing to her.

During the process, the relative prestige or ranking of law schools can sway applicant decisions more than their suitability to the goals a particular applicant intends on pursuing. Allan recommends that prospective applicants tap into all the resources available to learn what each school offers regarding courses, faculty, student life, and financial aid programs.

If you do decide that law school is the right option for you, the main takeaway is: don’t dwell too much on a single factor of your application; be authentic and genuine about your experiences and motivations; and don’t be afraid to reach out to family, friends, and other networks for support when you need it.

Above all else, keep everything in perspective. If law school doesn’t work out, there are plenty of other equally as good options to pursue.

Overview of Ontario law schools

Bora Laskin Faculty of Law at Lakehead University - Small firm practices - Aboriginal legal issues - Natural resource and environmental law Osgoode Hall Law School at York University - Leadership in legal education and research - Internationally-recognized faculty - Clinical and intensive programs University of Ottawa - International and environmental law - Focus on social justice in legal issues - Dispute resolution and advocacy Queen’s University - Public, criminal, and family law - Clinical programs and mooting - Study abroad programs University of Toronto - Outstanding employment prospects - Proximity to Canada’s leading legal and financial markets - Largest JD/MBA joint program in Canada Western University - Small Group Program for first-years - International exchange programs - Research intensive academic excellence University of Windsor - Focus on access to justice - Focus on transnational legal issues - Canadian & American Dual JD Program

MAHDI CHOWDHURY/THE VARSITY

Arts&Culture

TIFF

September 19, 2016 var.st/arts arts@thevarsity.ca

'Cinematic wreckage' is one way to describe Deep Horizon.

Read more TIFF in Review at var.st/tiff

The past reflects the present in I Am Not Your Negro Ben Harrison Smith Varsity Contributor

w e i v e in R If All Governments Lie, who will hold them accountable?

Jaren Kerr Managing Editor

With a high-stakes presidential election looming in America and a global refugee crisis in full force, it is crucial that the media accurately informs the public without compromising its integrity.

All Governments Lie: Truth, Deception and the Spirit of I.F. Stone highlights how the North American mainstream media seem to regularly fail at the accurate dissemination of news.

The compelling documentary argues that the media harm the public by choosing profit and sensationalism over responsible reporting. Fred Peabody, a Vancouver-based filmmaker, directed All Governments Lie, which focuses on the legacy of the late I.F. Stone. Stone was an independent muckraker who exposed government lies in his newsletter I.F. Stone's Weekly — subscribed to by the likes of Albert Einstein and Marilyn Monroe — for nearly 20 years. Stone worked from home; barred from press conferences, he scanned government documents to uncover falsehoods and dishonesty.

Stone’s most important message to his readers was that “all governments lie.” The documentary takes aim at figures like President Barack Obama, former presidents Richard Nixon and George W. Bush, and current Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump to exemplify how politicians are prone to lying in order to meet their own ends.

Jarring historical footage of men in suits plotting to shed blood in Vietnam and invade Iraq sets a dystopic scene, where largely deferential mainstream media neglect to challenge the intentions of many politicians, but rather use these conflicts for their own gain.

Peabody exhibits how media giants like MSNBC, Fox News, The New York Times, and CNN have been complicit, allowing politicians to go unchecked and make poor decisions.

There is hope in the film seen through the journalists and independent media outlets that embody Stone's spirit.

Figures like Michael Moore, Glenn Greenwald, Amy Goodman, Cenk Uygur, and John Carlos Frey are framed as independent truth-seekers who, for their integrity and critical thinking, are largely shunned by mainstream media.

Raoul Peck’s I Am Not Your Negro premiered at TIFF on September 10.

Although bigger budget productions surrounding African American history like Nate Parker’s Birth of a Nation or Barry Jenkin’s Moonlight seemingly overshadow this film, it is well worth watching.

The film is largely based on James Baldwin's unfinished book Remember This House, an ambitious text wherein Baldwin writes about the lives and assassinations of three great men: Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., and Medgar Evers.

The book explores their lives and how they have had a permanent effect on the sociopolitical landscape of America.

The film features his unfinished manuscript narrated by Samuel L. Jackson, with various clips of Baldwin in lectures and on talk shows; Baldwin's work is

Leonardo DiCaprio’s concern over climate change is very real in Before the Flood Shaq Hosein Video Editor

These journalists critique the corporate media, which they view as more concerned with ratings and advertisers than with serious reporting.

Mainstream outlets are compared to independent news sources like Goodman’s Democracy Now, Greenwald’s The Intercept, and Uygur’s The Young Turks, which are by contrast depicted as virtuous, committed to the truth, and unfazed by more commercial pursuits.

The evidence presented in All Governments Lie is convincing. Intellectuals like Noam Chomsky also support the thesis that mainstream media are heavily compromised. During many of America’s most crucial moments, such as the invasion of Iraq, popular media outlets failed to adequately scrutinize and critique decision makers.

Peabody comes up short in presenting the full picture of the media landscape though. None of the mainstream journalists criticized are interviewed in the film — not for a lack of trying, according to Peabody in a Q&A after Thursday night’s screening — nor does the documentary mention the other side of independent media.

For every media outlet like The Intercept, there are several iterations of independent outlets like InfoWars and Breitbart that peddle lies and conspiracy, uninterested in journalistic integrity or even basic honesty. These outlets often agree with Stone on how governments lie; the difference is that, unlike Stone, they lie just as much, if not more.

All Governments Lie succeeds in critiquing powerful media outlets and championing independent muckrakers, but it still would have benefitted from exploring independent media from multiple angles.

In Hieronymus Bosch’s triptych "The Garden of Earthly Delights", the painter depicts humanity’s lust for overindulgence and the consequences of consumption. In its three panels, Bosch illustrates both paradise and its oppositional counterpart — a monstrous landscape bred from life’s tribulations.

In a voiceover, Leonardo DiCaprio expresses how it hung over his crib as a baby and how he ultimately came to realize its meaning.

It is a rather appropriate allegory to bookend his new documentary on climate change, Before the Flood, which held its world premiere at the Princess of Wales Theatre. The film follows DiCaprio in his first motion picture appearance following The Revenant, in which his portrayal in Alejandro González Iñárritu’s tale of survival earned him an Academy Award.

Much like the historical figure Hugh Glass, DiCaprio is on a mission; his documentary serves as a call to action.

Adopting his new position as the United Nations Ambassador of Peace, DiCaprio is followed by The Cove director

only done justice when you can hear him speak.

The film examines America’s history of racial oppression and violence and examines how the country handles racial conflict. Peck shows the footage of past civil rights and Black Power leaders, as well as modern footage of Black Lives Matter, relating historical movements with those of modern day.

Peck uses music to form a connection between the present and the past.

A score of predominantly jazz and blues works ends with Kendrick Lamar’s “The Blacker the Berry” during the credits.

This progressive arrangement of Black musical genres marries the film’s theme of a current social climate that is reflective of the past.

I Am Not Your Negro is as compelling as it is informative, as eloquent as it is emotional. Peck’s ambition as a filmmaker is clear in this work. He uses the words of celebrated author and social critic Baldwin to connect the past, present, and future, offering a potent look at the history of what it means to be Black in America.

Fisher Stevens, as he travels to multiple countries to deliver the unnerving and indisputable facts of climate change.

The Academy Award winner expresses his pessimism throughout the course of the film, especially when he engages in thought-provoking discussions with prominent global figures such as Pope Francis and President Barack Obama, as well as scientists, astronauts, and farmers.

At one point in Before the Flood, Iñárritu explains having to relocate filming locations for The Revenant from Alberta to Argentina to accommodate for the availability of snow. From the tar sands in Alberta to constant flooding in Miami, smog-laden Beijing, and melting ice caps in the South Pole, there’s nowhere Leo won’t go.

His ever-growing concern for our species and persistence to get the word out results in a powerful plea for change. Whether it be from less palm oil or beef consumption, to voting to empower political leaders who can push for a fuel tax, a change must occur.

Much like Agnès Varda’s The Gleaners and I or Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth, the film is an important work of cinema that demands our attention.

Before the Flood makes the delivery of the facts of climate change more hardhitting by harnessing musical contributions from Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, and Mogwai.

By providing the scientific community a voice, DiCaprio makes Before the Flood more palatable for the general public through the medium of film. The actor himself made an appearance at the screening, highlighting to the audience the importance of the whole truth.

In his pre-screening speech, DiCaprio lamented, “We are truly at a turning point in history, and this issue really depends on the education of the public, and the evolution of our species to combat what is the largest crisis we’ve ever faced.”

National Geographic will air the documentary in 171 countries and in 45 languages on October 30.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

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16 • THE VARSITY • ARTS & CULTURE

U of T student and musician Shelia Carabine goes All In with her new album Carabine recommends diversifying the educational experience Lola Borissenko Varsity Contributor

Juno-nominated acoustic musician and member of the folk duo Dala, Sheila Carabine recently made an important step in her career with the September 13 release of her debut solo album All In. The release was not the sole exciting moment for Carabine recently, as the young musician also started her classes at U of T that same week. Combining a music career with a Master’s degree in English may be challenging, but Carabine maintains an enthusiastic attitude about her journey. “It’s an ongoing process that I am hoping to figure out over the course of this year,” she comments, “but I find that it’s good to pursue the two different interests because one enriches the other.”

She pointed out that her current studies, particularly courses in Canadian literature, serve as inspirations for her creative endeavour.

“The more I read, the more I want to write myself.” She notes that her new album features a W. B. Yeats poem set to music, which was “directly inspired by a poetry class.”

The track “When You are Old” captures the melancholic atmosphere of fleeting love explored in the original Yeats poem.

Thanks to Carabine’s melodic voice and gentle guitar track, the song lends a sense of promise and hope to its listeners. “I’m hoping that the Master’s inspires, maybe, a second album,” Carabine says in anticipation of a fruitful academic year.

When listening to Carabine’s debut album, particularly the song “The Oak and the Maple,” one cannot help noticing her effective use of natural imagery to convey emotional turmoil. The lines “Leaves will fall, birds will fly away… but I know it’s true, I will get over you” prove captivating and strike a bittersweet tone.

Carabine does not single out Toronto’s urban environment or Nova Scotia’s maritime scenery when discussing her insights for the album.

“Who knows where inspiration comes from, but when it strikes you, it’s undeniable. I find it so thrilling and exciting.” She describes her anticipated move to downtown Toronto as “[giving] me a spring in my step. But then I do love the country side, the quiet and the stillness, and the slower pace of life.”

Apart from paying tribute to Canada’s English-speaking community, Carabine is also fond of traditional French songs and her experience learning the language.

All In features a reinterpretation of

PHOTO COURTESY OF SHEILA CARABINE

Carabine lets her courses inspire her music. the popular tune “A La Claire Fontaine." The inspiration for this song goes back to Carabine’s undergraduate years, as she explains that one day, “I was in the guidance room at University College and I saw a pamphlet for ‘Explore,’ this program where you get to go to a different campus anywhere in Canada and you study French for five weeks.”

She continues, “While I was there I was learning French and French music and performing during the talent nights on campus...

I was connecting with some other Acadian musicians,” one of whom “taught me this particular arrange-

ment of this song.” Carabine notes that while many people would be “familiar with a more upbeat version” of “A La Claire Fontaine”, her debut album features a “more melancholy perspective” on the piece.

Carabine emphasizes that her educational and musical experience in Nova Scotia played a crucial role during her work on All In. Carabine encourages her fellow peers to learn how to diversify their educational experience, noting that “going to concerts or other cultural events give me perspective on how lucky I am to be a student and also inspires me to create.”

The Side Piece

arts@thevarsity.ca

Did you know?

You can treat your inner-thespian to the U of T Spotlight program.

Run by Hart House, it seeks to “enhance the engagement of students from all three campuses in theatre activities outside of the classroom.” It also offers workshops, play readings, a playwriting competition, and a cabaret series.

Protip: Get to know the UTSU Health & Dental Plan. Full-time students are covered for up to $800 in dental insurance and more than $10,000 for health. This year, the plan newly includes up to $100 per psychological visit for up to 20 visits. It also covers parts of visits to acupuncturists, chiropractors, speech therapists, and more.

Events: Weekly Wellness Mondays to Thursdays, various events Date: September 19 to December 5 Location: Hart House Tri-Campus Shoreline Cleanup Date: September 24 Multiple locations, including: Bluffers Park Beach (UTSC) Sawmill Creek (UTM) Koffler House (UTSG)

A musical affair

The Word on the Street Date: September 25 Time: 11:00 am to 6:00 pm Location: Harbourfront Centre

U of T coalition suggests that two conflicting nations find harmony through music MARYAM RAHIMI SHAHMIRZADI/THE VARSITY

Maryam Rahimi Shahmirzadi Varsity Contributor

This year, Ashkenaz Festival presented a new program called The Israeli-Iranian Musical Initiative, founded by doctoral students at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music. The ensemble of Iranian and Israeli musicians have brought together traditional music, as well as jazz and western classical instruments, in an attempt to explore a dialogue between Israeli folk and traditional Persian music.

The event, which took place September 4 at the Harbourfront Centre Theatre, was much anticipated; the room was filled with spectators, including Iranians and Israelis ex-

The Isreali-Iranian Musical Initative performs at Ashkenaz Festival. cited to see their cultures mingling through music.

Noam Lemish, who is a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) candidate in jazz performance at the Faculty of Music, said that the most gratifying part of the program is its “flexibility and the openness,” and that the professors “really encourage and allow their students to be themselves.” Lemish enjoys the supportive environment and believes that “amazing opportunities have come about through [his] studies at the university.”

Regarding The Israeli-Iranian Musical Initiative, Lemish said: “We are really just continuing in

a long line of collaboration.” Since Jewish people have resided in Iran for thousands of years, the merging of the two cultures is not uncommon. The similarities between the two musical cultures comes from their past interactions.

The group performs “pieces that come from the Jewish world in Iran but [also] songs that were popular in non-Jewish Iran [and] were written by Jewish musician[s]."

Lemish adds that The IsraeliIranian Musical Initiative takes its music a step further, by incorporating jazz and classical elements into its mix of Iranian and Israeli folk.

Lemish asserts that making mu-

sic together is not, on its own, going to change the political hostilities that exist between the two nations.

Instead, he hopes that through music, artists are able to “present a different kind of reality, a different narrative” from the relationship the public typically sees.

There is a kind of understanding that artists form when they make music together, communicating through means beyond dialogue or politics. This is how music could pave the way for peace where diplomacy has failed, and individuals from conflicting states may realize that they have more common than they think.

Canada’s Aboriginal People: Towards a better relationship Date: September 27 Time: 7:00–8:15 pm Location: Kaneff Building, UTM, room 137 Donaldgerously Cheesy:

SEPTEMBER 19, 2016 • 17

var.st/arts

The guide to independent bookstores Save yourself some money and find a new book buddy Linh Nguyen Varsity Staff

Over the past few years, several chain bookstores in Toronto have closed, including a beautiful Chapters in the Runnymede theatre. Since then, I have been on the lookout for new places where I can peruse books and have come across several that feature cheaper books and offer an equally warm atmosphere.

Ten Editions Bookstore (698 Spadina Avenue) Similar to Willow Books, Ten Editions is a cheap, secondhand bookstore close to UTSG. It’s a great place for English students to buy required readings and for anyone to peruse literature, old movie posters, sheet music, travel guides, pamphlets, and more. There is a large collection of Canadian literature, political texts, and history books in the back room.

Susan Duff, the owner, took over the bookstore from her mother who founded it. Duff describes the shop as a general interest bookstore. I was able to find several books of interest in the ceiling-high shelves, for as low as $1.

Eliot’s Bookshop (584 Yonge Street) I was on my way to another bookstore when I passed by Eliot’s and felt compelled to stop. The storefront featured numerous picturesque, leather-bound books. A strong smell of old texts hit me the moment I stepped into the store. Three stories high, the place was filled with used books crammed into every corner and lining the stairs. Although there was little room to sit, the store’s stillness invited perusal.

As the clerk explained to me, Eliot’s has an extensive collection of history, classic literature, and philosophy, but it has no strong focus on any particular genre. Several popular literature books also stood out to me as I walked in. Unfortunately, the store does not have a website.

She Said Boom!

(393 Roncesvalles Avenue) The Roncesvalles location is a small, dimly lit store that has always sold music and classic literature — or as Mark Kingdon, the storeowner, calls it, “real literature in which the dog dies.” The books are mainly secondhand, and there is a small children’s literature collection and a few recent releases. “[She Said Boom!] is one of a kind and it’s essential,” said Robert, a frequent customer of the store. “There’s stuff here you can’t find anywhere else, even online — impossible-tofind vinyls and bootlegs for great prices.” There is also a location at 372 College Street.

Actually useful LSAT questions, part II Teodora Pasca Comment Editor

It’s Friday night and alongside a few spices, you have exactly seven ingredients in your kitchen: beer, eggs, instant noodles, ketchup, tomatoes, potato salad, and hot dogs.

You aren’t planning to go grocery shopping until Sunday morning, so you have to make breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Saturday with only these ingredients available to you.

For the purpose of this question, a ‘meal’ consists of at least one ingredient. You can use each ingredient exactly once and for exactly one meal — but not all ingredients have to be used on Saturday.

Because you want to maintain some semblance of normalcy, the meals must be prepared with the following conditions in mind: The beer and the eggs cannot be used for the same meal.

The ketchup and the hot dogs, if both used, must be used for the same meal.

If you eat the instant noodles for dinner, you must also eat the tomatoes for dinner.

You cannot eat the potato salad for breakfast.

Because the ketchup was manufactured in 2013, it is expiring on Sunday and therefore must be used in a meal on Saturday.

1. Which of the following is a meal plan that complies with the above conditions? a. breakfast: potato salad, eggs lunch: beer, instant noodles dinner: ketchup, hot dogs b. breakfast: beer, eggs lunch: potato salad, ketchup dinner: instant noodles, tomatoes c. breakfast: hot dogs, ketchup, beer lunch: instant noodles, eggs dinner: potato salad d. breakfast: tomatoes, eggs, instant noodles lunch: hot dogs dinner: beer, potato salad e. breakfast: ketchup, eggs lunch: tomatoes, beer, potato salad dinner: instant noodles, hot dogs 2. If you eat the instant noodles for dinner and the eggs for breakfast, which of the following can be true? a. you drink the beer for breakfast and eat the tomatoes for dinner b. you eat the tomatoes for lunch and drink the beer for dinner c. you eat the potato salad for lunch and the tomatoes for breakfast d. you use exactly one ingredient for dinner e. you use exactly two ingredients for dinner 3. If you eat the ketchup for lunch and drink the beer for dinner, how many of the other ingredients can be eaten for breakfast? a. 2 b. 3 c. 4 d. 5 e. 6

Another Story Bookshop (315 Roncesvalles Avenue) Located in Roncesvalles, Another Story Bookshop is bright and spacious, with a large selection of children’s literature and nooks for reading. As Eric McCall, the store manager explains, the bookshop is a “strongly independent community bookstore with a focus on social justice.” The selection primarily features new releases, and I was unable to find books published just a few years back. Even though the shop has a particular focus, their collection of recently-published books boasts variety.

Willow Books (333 Bloor Street West) Most students at UTSG have passed

by Willow Books, located at St. George Street and Bloor Street West.

While it’s easy to miss from the street, this place is deceptively large and features fantastic prices and specials, like their buy-one-get-one 50 per cent off deal. With a specialization in textbooks, the store is often frequented by students and buys old textbooks of various subjects. There is also a wide selection of literature of many genres, making this store worth a visit for everyone.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY: CORALS ZHENG/THE VARSITY

5. Suppose, while you’re out Friday night, that your roommate steals your beer and potato salad for their dinner — you’ll yell at them later. All other conditions staying constant, which of the following cannot be true of your meal plan for Saturday? a. you eat the eggs for breakfast, and you use exactly one ingredient for dinner b. you eat the hot dogs for dinner, and you use exactly two ingredients for both breakfast and lunch c. you eat the instant noodles for dinner, and you use exactly one ingredient for both breakfast and lunch d. you eat the ketchup and the hot dogs for breakfast e. you eat the ketchup and the hot dogs for dinner Answer key: 1. c, 2. e, 3. b, 4. d, 5. b

Glad Day Bookshop (598 Yonge Street) Glad Day, “the world’s oldest LGBTQ bookstore and Toronto’s oldest surviving bookstore,” sells new books, magazines, DVDs, photo books, and more. They also feature a shelf of zines for sale.

Currently located in a bright, quiet, welcoming room, Glad Day plans to move from its Yonge Street location to Church Street, expanding to include a daytime coffee shop and nighttime bar. While largely LGBTQfocused, their collection has loosely related texts, such as Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and Humans of New York.

4. If neither hot dogs nor tomatoes are used on Saturday, which of the following cannot be true? a. you eat the ketchup for lunch b. you eat the potato salad for lunch c. you eat the eggs for breakfast d. you eat the instant noodles for dinner e. you drink the beer for breakfast

Science

September 19, 2016 var.st/science science@thevarsity.ca

In conversation with Hakob Barseghyan The well-accomplished HPS professor speaks of his teaching manners and values Hannah Lank Varsity Contributor

Hakob Barseghyan is the University of Toronto’s most recent recipient of the Rini Ghosh Excellence in Teaching Award, a prestigious accolade given out annually to a faculty member by the Arts & Science Students’ Union. He is an intellectual, thoughtful, and caring assistant professor who is passionately involved in one of the University’s most unique departments: the Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology (IPHST).

Barseghyan completed a BA, an MA, and a PhD in Philosophy at Yerevan State University (YSU) in Armenia. In addition to those degrees, he holds a BS in Computer Science from Northern University, Armenia, plus another MA in Philosophy and a PhD in Philosophy of Science from U of T. He currently instructs three undergraduate courses — including Introduction to History and Philosophy of Science, the largest online course offered at UTSG — and one graduate course. In our interview with the star prof, Barseghyan touched on his principles as a professor, provided background of the IPHST, and reflected on the life of U of T students in general.

The Varsity — How did you begin your involvement in studying and working for the IHPST? Hakob Barseghyan — As a freshman, I hated philosophy: I found the concepts too vacuous and the discussions too abstract to be of any practical value. It all changed in my third year when I took a course on German Idealism with professor Levon-Harutyun Abrahamyan, who could make Kant, Fichte, Schelling, and Hegel seem easy to digest! He used simple diagrams to explain complex debates, and my programmer’s brain couldn’t fail to like that.

By my final year, I was convinced that philosophy was the most interesting subject of all. I then began applying the same technique of diagrams to all philosophical problems and soon discovered that I genuinely enjoyed teaching. After I taught my first course at the age of 22, I knew it was for life.

I completed my first PhD at YSU, Armenia and taught there for five years before moving to Canada in 2006… I got my current contract with the IHPST in 2012.

Many people helped me on this path, but I simply wouldn’t be here if not for Brian Baigrie, Jim Brown,

one point, a colleague of mine had to simultaneously supervise seven PhD dissertations! While there might be other departments with such heroics, I believe this should not become the normal practice. I very much hope that our progress will be noted and we will be given additional resources — human and otherwise — so we can do well what we’re now in a prime position to do.

TAs Nick Overgaard, Felix Walpole, and Greg Rupik join Professor Hakob at the annual ASSU Awards.

Paul Thompson, Chris Doyle, as well as my fantastic family whose support has been unparalleled.

TV — Where can a major/minor in History and Philosophy of Science and Technology (HPS) take students? Why should students consider studying HPS? HB — People don’t always realize this, but there are many crucial positions in today’s society that can be properly filled only by those who know their HPS. Consider a person in a grant agency who needs to decide whether a project is scientific and, if it is, whether it is promising enough to deserve funding. I cannot imagine how she could even begin to approach this task, without a proper knowledge of what science is and how it changes through time.

The same goes for education policy makers, encyclopaedia editors, science journalists, and popularizers, science lobbyists, and research ethics advisors. In many cases, these positions are occupied by actual scientists, but they shouldn’t be.

Let us agree that riding a bicycle is one thing, knowing what makes it stay erect is quite another. Similarly, being a great scientist doesn’t necessarily imply the knowledge of how science works and how it evolves through time. After all, birds themselves are usually not the best experts on ornithology, are they?

TV — You are very highly regarded in the HPS department and have been acknowledged as such by winning the Rini Ghosh award. How do you approach teaching in the university setting?

HB — I came to appreciate very early on that, in teaching, no detail is too small to be neglected. The quality of your slideshows, the focus of your tutorial activities, the ambience of the auditorium where you teach, and even the colour of the shirts you wear — nothing can be left to chance.

You may think I am crazy, but when I see two textboxes on the screen that are differently shaped, are not properly aligned, or use different fonts, I simply cannot focus on the content of the presentation; all I want to do is to stop the speaker, open that PowerPoint file and fix the slide!

Also, as a former computer programmer, I cannot help but think in diagrams and charts. Some people think in text, but for me text is only a means of explicating a diagram. My students know that there are three things that they need to understand concerning any topic: the question at issue, the ‘problem’; the possible solutions, ‘conceptions’; and the main reasons for and against these conceptions. That is why my lectures are full of problem-conceptionsreasons diagrams. Crucially, these diagrams are not secondary

PHOTO COURTESY OF GAVIN NOWLAN

to the text; quite the opposite — everything I say in my lectures is ultimately an explanation of one diagram or another.

Students love this approach for — unlike a more traditional wall-oftext approach — this gives them a sense of accomplishment, and they genuinely feel that they have learnt something. This ensures both clarity of thinking and clarity of teaching.

In my book, the two are intrinsically linked: if you cannot explain an idea to a smart undergrad, then perhaps you don’t quite understand that idea yourself. Yes, there are exceptions, but this should be the general rule.

TV — As a professor in U of T’s IHPST, can you comment on the department’s strengths and areas for future growth?

HB — One clear benefit is our flexibility as a team and our mutual support. Thus, a few years ago we decided to expand our undergraduate presence by increasing the course caps and offering new HPS courses; as a result of our collective effort, we’ve doubled our enrolment in only four years! And this is when most humanities departments are struggling to maintain their current enrolment levels. Similarly, when it was decided that the IHPST needs an online course, my team and I received all the support one could ask for.

But large projects require large resources, and recently we have been stretching ourselves very thin. To give you an example, at

TV — What are some of the challenges facing the field of HPS today?

HB — Strictly speaking, these days HPS is mostly an umbrella term: history of science (HS) and philosophy of science (PS) inhabit quite different worlds. A vast majority of all projects sold as HPS are either HS or PS. This separation has a long and sad history. Unfortunately, there is little agreement among historians and philosophers as to how and even why HPS should be reunited.

One possible recipe is the general descriptive theory of scientific change developed at the IHPST. Based on the findings of the history of science, this theory explains how theories and methods change through time in a lawful fashion. Simultaneously, it provides the historians with a unified taxonomy, necessary explanatory tools, and guidance in historical research.

This can be the beginning of a fruitful collaboration between historians and theoreticians of science.

I hope that eventually it will lead to the creation of a unified historical database, which will collect the data on different epistemic communities, their theories, and methods.

TV — Regardless of academic discipline, what advice can you give to U of T students today?

HB — Working with the U of T students has been a true blessing. A vast majority of our students are very smart and diligent, so they don’t need extensive guidance. There is only one thing I would advise: try not to confine yourself within the narrow box of your specific field but learn to think systematically and critically about the big picture.

Why is this important? You see, we are meant to be citizens first and professionals second. To be a proper citizen, one cannot live in a timeless bubble with no history or morality, in which income is the only criterion of success; one needs some knowledge of the history of humanity and its current global issues. To gain that vital knowledge, one should take courses in general history, ethics, social philosophy, and, of course, HPS.

SEPTEMBER 19, 2016 • 19

var.st/science

Living in a resistant world Antibiotic resistance provokes concern at international level

MIRKA LOISELLE/THE VARSITY

Ian T. D. Thomson Varsity Contributor

It is hard to grapple with the possibility that the smallest of entities may pose the biggest of problems for our society. However, new developments in the field of antibiotic and antimicrobial resistance, both in basic research and in institutional settings, raise red flags about a seemingly ‘clean’ society. It also poses the question: can anything be done to combat microbial resistance on a global scale?

Knowing the resistance Antibiotics fight against infectious bacteria by either inhibiting bacterial growth or killing it. A common example of an antibiotic is penicillin, which often treats ear infections.

Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria become resistant to these antibiotic drugs. This presents a serious risk as antibiotics for previously treatable infections, such as pneumonia or strep throat, become rendered useless.

New research from Harvard University published in Science used visual observation of the unrelenting dominance of antibiotic resistance in an innovative laboratory setup. An easily accessible video distributed by Science News demonstrates the new technique and shows how Escherichia coli or E. coli bacteria divide inward against increasing concentrations of the trimethoprim and ciprofloxacin antibiotics.

By about 11 days, the bacteria is able to infiltrate 1,000 times as much antibiotic.

“So we can see by this process of accumulating successive mutations, that bacteria, which are normally sensitive to an antibiotic, can evolve resistance to extremely high concentrations in a short period of time,” explains Dr. Michael Baym of Harvard University.

Antibacterial washes down the drain Some institutions have become aware of the issues surrounding this resistance and are consequently aiming to improve the everyday products that we use to maintain ‘cleanliness.’

In early September, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned over-the-counter antibacterial washes that contained certain active ingredients from being marketed in the country.

Janet Woodcock, MD, Director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) explains in the press release that “consumers may think antibacterial washes are more effective at preventing the spread of germs, but we have no scientific evidence that they are any better than plain soap and water.”

The FDA press release also explains that manufacturers could not show that these products were “safe for long-term daily use.”

A united resistance The threat of antibiotic resistance is now an international concern. On September 21, the United Nations (UN) will discuss the threat of microbial resistance in a special “high-level” meeting. Several significant stakeholders will be present, including not-for-profit organizations, private sector corporations, and academic institutions such as the University of Oxford and the University of Minnesota; no Canadian institutions were listed to be present at the meeting.

At the conclusion of this meeting, a 15 point-resolution is expected to be passed to affirm the organization’s stance on the matter.

Point three of the proposed declaration reads, “Within the broader context of [antimicrobial resistance], resistance to antibiotics which are not like other medicines, including medicines for the treatment of tuberculosis, is the greatest and most urgent global risk that requires increased attention and coherence at the international, regional, and national levels.”

What lies ahead?

While the approaching resolution on September 21 confirms that the international community is aware of the need to address antibiotic resistance, there are growing concerns about what lies ahead, which may not be so easy to scrub off.

“We must understand that microbes will always be able to evolve resistance to whatever we throw at them. Microbes have been found that can survive in extreme conditions like boiling acid,” explains Dr. William Navarre, Associate Professor in Molecular Genetics at

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the University of Toronto. “Any drugs we develop will only buy us a window of a few years before we start seeing resistance emerge.”

Head of the Navarre Laboratory at U of T, he researches how and why bacteria have evolved to cause disease in humans and animals. While Navarre believes that antibiotic resistance is an extremely pressing matter, he thinks that a multi-pronged approach, which includes — but is not limited to — policy reform, the development of new drugs, and more controlled use of our current drugs, could provide some semblance of a solution.

“The data clearly show that antibiotic-resistant microbes are spreading rapidly in the countries where they do not have rules about how antibiotics are used, whereas it is far less of a problem in countries that have strict guidelines,” explains Navarre.

He paints a rather stark outlook for our society, if the problem of antibiotic resistance is not adequately addressed: “First of all — the future is already here. People are dying today of antibiotic-resistant microbes — not in small numbers either. More people die of antibioticresistant microbes each year in the US and Canada than... of AIDS.” Navarre continues, “We’re not used to backwards progress in medicine but our fight against microbes is one arena where that’s exactly what is happening. Our anti-depressants won’t suddenly stop working. Our anti-cancer drugs won’t suddenly stop working.”

“Our antibiotics, on the other hand, are increasingly becoming useless,” concludes Navarre.

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U OF T’S PERFORMING ARTS LEADER SINCE 1919

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20 • THE VARSITY • SCIENCE

science@thevarsity.ca

Staring into the abyss

Science Around Town

Discovering Dragonfly 44, a galaxy composed of 99.9 per cent dark matter Alexander Gomes Varsity Contributor

Unseen as of yet, dark matter is an ever-present constituent of our universe, influencing the movements of stars and planets, while also holding galaxies together.

Dark matter does not reflect any electromagnetic radiation like light, rendering it essentially invisible to us. Accordingly, astronomers must investigate the properties of dark matter through its influence on the motion of neighbouring visible objects.

Recently, a group of scientists in the Astronomy and Astrophysics Department of the University of Toronto discovered a truly outstanding example of dark matter’s extensiveness: Dragonfly 44, a galaxy comprised of 99.99 per cent dark matter.

The findings were published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters on August 25, 2016.

The galaxy in question is about 300 million light-years away from us, and it is roughly the same size and mass as the Milky Way. Scientists were drawn by the stars in Dragonfly 44, which were moving exceptionally quickly and can indicate the mass of its galaxy. After calculating stellar velocities, results implied a mass much larger than what was expected.

This was later confirmed when Dr.

Roberto Abraham, Professor of Astronomy at the University of Toronto and co-author of the study, and his group used the Gemini North Telescope to take a closer look, which revealed a halo of spherical stars around the galaxy’s core. These stars were moving rapidly at a relative speed that would only have been caused by a galaxy mass much larger than that which was apparent.

Finding a galaxy with the mass of the Milky Way that is almost entirely composed of dark matter was unexpected. “We have no idea how galaxies like Dragonfly 44 could have formed,” said Abraham. “The Gemini data show that a relatively large fraction of the stars is in the form of very compact clusters, and that is probably an important clue. But at the moment, we’re just guessing.”

Dark matter in the Milky Way is five times more present than visible matter, which helps explain the shock of finding a similar-sized galaxy where dark matter is 99 times more common. Current estimates indicate that Dragonfly 44 has more than 100 times fewer stars than the Milky Way, resulting in its extremely dim appearance.

According to the theory of cold dark matter (CDM), structure in the universe grows through small galaxies merging to form larger ones. Evidence of such mergers can be seen

KIMIA GHANNAD-ZADEH/THE VARSITY

in faint streams and filaments visible around the Milky Way and the nearby M31 galaxy.

CDM predicts that there should be much more of this structure than what is presently observed in Dragonfly 44. However, even images obtained using the largest, most advanced telescopes today contain scattered light that may be hiding this faint structure.

Due to this dim appearance, an innovative telephoto array known as the Dragonfly Telephoto Array was used for observation. Dragonfly was designed to reveal faint structures by greatly reducing scattered light and internal reflections within its optics.

It accomplishes this by using commercially available Canon 400mm lenses that have unique nanofabricated coatings.

Dragonfly captures images of a galaxy through multiple lenses simultaneously — akin to a dragonfly’s compound eye. Currently, at about 50 lenses, this telephoto array enables further removal of unwanted

light. The result is an image in which an extremely faint galaxy structure is visible.

The Dragonfly Telephoto Array is a system that Abraham developed with astronomer and co-author of the study, Pieter van Dokkum of Yale University, in hopes of uncovering dim space phenomena like the Dragonfly 44 galaxy.

Images have shown Dragonfly to be at least 10 times more efficient than its nearest rival and able to detect faint structures predicted by current merger models.

Detections of nearby galaxies similar to Dragonfly 44 will provide us with the opportunity to further our understanding of dark matter. “Ultimately what we really want to learn is what dark matter is,” said van Dokkum. “The race is on to find massive dark galaxies that are even closer to us than Dragonfly 44, so we can look for feeble signals that may reveal a dark matter particle.”

U of T allocates $27 million to 20 projects through Medicine by Design Funds to support cutting-edge research in regenerative medicine Hannah Fung Associate Science Editor

The Medicine by Design initiative draws on the expertise of 75 researchers and clinicians across U of T. U of T is now demonstrating a commitment to regenerative medicine research, by investing $27 million to be shared among 20 team projects dedicated to overcoming some of the field’s greatest challenges.

First discovered in Toronto by James Till and Ernest McCulloch, stem cells are remarkable in their ability to self-renew. They have the potential to repair damaged tissues and organs and treat a wide range of diseases including cancer and cardiovascular disease.

The rejection of transplanted tissue by the patient’s immune system poses one of the greatest obstacles to cell-based therapies. Juan Carlos Zúñiga-Pflücker, Chair and Professor of the Immunology Department at U of T, is spearheading a project to improve graft tolerance in transplant patients.

To begin, he and his team are fo-

cusing on type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease in which immune cells attack insulin-producing pancreatic cells known as beta islet cells.

Existing ways to induce tolerance involve suppressing the entire immune system, which puts the patient at risk of infection and malignancies.

Zúñiga-Pflücker’s team is taking advantage of the immune system’s ability to regulate itself to confer a more specific form of immunosuppression.

They are adopting three approaches to achieve this. First, Zúñiga-Pflücker and Naoto Hirano, Associate Professor in Immunology, are designing a regulatory T cell, a type of immune cell that will dampen immune responses in the pancreas.

“Diabetes is an autoimmune disease with very well-known immunological underpinnings, so we could use it to model the idea that we can direct these [T regulatory cells]… to specific tissues,” said Zúñiga-Pflücker. “The idea is that eventually this approach can be used for multiple regenerative medicine approaches, where you can target a tissue you’re trying to replace or transplant into.”

The second approach, led by Tracy McGaha and David Brooks, Associate Professors in Immunology, focuses on modulating the environment in the pancreas, such that immunosuppressive T regulatory cells can be produced.

Finally, Andras Nagy and Derek van der Kooy, Professors in Molecular Genetics, and Cristina Nostro, Assistant Professor in Physiology, are engineering a new type of stem cell that is not recognized by the immune system.

Zúñiga-Pflücker explained, “[Nagy] has this really cool idea of turning stem cells into — what he calls — ‘cloaked’ cells, where they would express a whole bunch of different genes that are known to be immunomodulatory… They would create an invisible or a suppressive state locally that would allow you to — in that area — transplant into any tissue you want.”

In other words, these stem cells have the potential to enable universal transplants.

As to when the technologies will be available, Zúñiga-Pflücker replied,

“It’s always hard to tell, you know, I would imagine it’ll be minimally five to 10 years to have some — five years as a proof of principle this is going to really work as we envisioned, and then another five to begin to do the transitional approaches. A lot of the things we’re doing [are] already in a human context so it does facilitate our ability to transfer this to clinical trials faster.”

The $27 million investment brings together scientists from different fields, though Zúñiga-Pflücker cautions against putting too much emphasis on funding collaborative work.

“There should be an emphasis on [collaborative projects], but not to lose sight of the need to support investigator-initiated type funds because those are — in the day — what allows… us to have the building blocks to build a consortium to ask very innovative questions.”

Last summer, the Canadian government invested $114 million in Medicine by Design in the largest singular research award in U of T history.

Science Literacy Week 2016: Science Fiction — From Idea to Invention The annual week-long celebration of all things science is here. Come out to U of T libraries across campus and explore this year’s theme of Science Fiction through a rare exhibition of early science works, 3-D printing, interesting talks, and hands-on workshops.

Date: September 19–25 Admission: Free Varying times and locations Harnessing the Power of Crispr — A Novel Tool for Cut & Paste: Scichat Talk!

Part of Science Literacy Week, Nicole Escalante will be giving a talk on breakthrough genome editing CRISPR technology and how it works.

Date: September 21 Time: 5:00–6:00 pm Location: Gerstein Science Information Centre, Alice Moulton Room Admission: Free Bioethics Seminar — Uterus Transplantation: Legal and Ethical Issues Join Dr. Bernard M. Dickens in a talk about the legal and ethical underpinnings of uterus transplantation. The talk will cover issues related to the donor, recipients, their relationship, and prohibited compensation.

Date: September 21 Time: 4:00–5:30 pm Location: Health Sciences Building, room 108 Admission: Free Startup Open House at Think Research Think Research, a software company specializing in developing tools and content for health care providers, is participating in the annual Startup Open House filled with tours, interactive games, and “trendy tech swag,” all served up with food and drinks.

Date: September 22 Time: 3:00–8:00 pm Location: 156 Front Street West Admission: Free with registration

Sports

September 19, 2016 var.st/sports sports@thevarsity.ca

Blues beat Lions 45–18 in the 2016 Argo Cup. CHRISTINE SUN/THE VARSITY

Homecoming here is not like the others Blues defeat York in Argo Cup despite limited fan participation Sam Caldarone Varsity Contributor

The streets of Lincoln, Nebraska are empty on game day.

The normally bustling college town of 277,346 comes to a standstill when the Huskers are in town, as do the nearby cities of Omaha, Bellevue, and Grand Island.

Nebraska residents statewide funnel into Memorial Stadium, home of the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers, to watch the football team play. These fans are diehard; they don’t miss a game. That is not hyperbole, as the Huskers have sold out every home game since 1962. When Memorial Stadium is at capacity, it holds more than the third largest city in the state.

Why hasn’t U of T produced the same kind of fandom?

For a variety of reasons, students and community members simply do not show up en masse, as they do to watch the behemoth that is National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) football.

Certainly, this is due in part to the historical emphasis placed upon college football in the US. The games have bled into the culture surrounding these schools. They are more than just sporting events: they are social outings. University of Wisconsin graduate Kristy Stevlingson believes that part of the reason NCAA football is so popular is due to the social aspect. “The atmosphere for football games is fantastic,” says Stevlingson. “There’s lots of excitement and energy regardless of people’s knowledge of the game.”

Varsity Blues football faces other challenges compared to NCAA football. For many of the major American football schools, their teams are the only highlight for miles around. South Bend, Indiana; Ann Arbor, Michigan; and Columbus, Ohio are geographically remote in comparison

to other centres of entertainment. In Toronto, the Varsity Blues compete for attention with major professional franchises, a thriving culinary sector, various museums, art districts — the list could go on.

Furthermore, there is an inherent difficulty in getting word out to a student body that is composed of many colleges across three campuses. The student body is also largely composed of academically focused individuals: convincing someone with those priorities to take a three hour break to watch a football game — with midterms approaching, no less — is no easy feat.

Perhaps the biggest obstacle is the simplest one: money. The Varsity Blues marketing division works hard with what they have. Manager of Events & Marketing Mary Beth Challoran says that they try to promote interest with the funds they have available. For example, the tickets are free for students; the games each have a theme — this week’s theme was homecoming; and there are in-game giveaways for spectators.

During the first week of school, varsity athletes help new students move in to their residences in order to familiarize the student body with the athletes and provide them with an athletic calendar.

Last Saturday, the Varsity Blues football team took on the York University Lions in the annual battle for the Argo Cup — this year was the forty-seventh iteration of the rivalry. In recent years, the Blues have dominated the cup, winning seven of the last eight contests.

It was a dreary afternoon with intermittent showers and overcast skies. The weather has done the team no favours

in terms of attendance so far this year: a previous game was delayed due to lightning; last Saturday’s game was played in sheets of rain.

After a sloppy start to the game, which saw repeated punts, the game hinged on a blocked punt, which set the Blues up deep in York territory. Quarterback Marcus Hobbs punched in a five-yard touchdown to open the scoring.

The Lions, however, were never far behind. The Blues would pull ahead, only to see York remain within striking distance. The Blues pulled away late in the game, cruising to a 45–18 win and their fourth straight Argo Cup victory.

The poor weather conditions favoured U of T’s heavy rushing attack. Running back Alex Malone was, as usual, a powerhouse, rushing for 155 yards on 29 carries. When Malone needed a break, backup Kaleb Leach filled in admirably, finishing with 112 yards on 16 carries.

Hobbs finished the game with five touchdowns, three of which came on the ground. In spite of the conditions, York quarterback Brett Hunchak finished with 315 yards, completing 25 of 39 passes. In the backfield, York running back Kayden Johnson, finished with 207 yards on 32 carries — an Argo cup record.

It wasn’t like Memorial Stadium — not even close. But considering that U of T football boasts free events that provide students with a study break, free food, and the opportunity to win prizes in-game, attending a Blues game is a pretty good deal.

You can catch their next home game on October 6 at 7:00 pm, when the Blues take on Laurier. It’s a rematch of the last game the Blues sold out, which was back in 2014.

22 • THE VARSITY • SPORTS

sports@thevarsity.ca

Honouring our humble heroes U of T coaches win Ontario Coaching Excellence Award Sean Smith Sports Editor

Two U of T track coaches were presented with a Good-to-Great Coach Award on September 17 at Cineplex Cinemas Varsity and VIP; Terry Radchenko and Ross Ristuccia were among the 11 coaches honoured with Ontario Coaching Excellence Awards by the Coaches Association of Ontario.

The awards ceremony was held as part of the second annual National Coaches Week and it paid tribute to coaches of all kinds. David Currie, who was the winner of the male Grassroots Coach Award, coaches a GiantTiger sponsored boys’ hockey team in Sarnia.

He shared the stage with Casey Curtis, former coach of Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic.

Curtis was presented with the Andy Higgins Lifetime Achievement Award, despite still actively coaching tennis.

As part of the ceremony, emceed by CBC Sports’ Brenda Irving, there was a short film presented for each of the award winners preceding their award presentation and speeches.

Every one of the award winners were inspirational. In spite of the accolade they were receiving, the speeches were never self-centred but rather focused on how wonderful it is to serve their communities and athletes. Their humility did not seem feigned nor affected.

Kevin Sandy, who won the Aboriginal Impact Coach Award, described coaching as a way of bolstering the social fabric, teaching spirituality, and, above all, encouraging respect.

SEAN SMITH/THE VARISTY

Terry Radchenko (left) and Ross Risstuccia (right) accepting their award.

The respect central to Sandy’s coaching method was given back to the coaches by their athletes. Winner of the Everyone Matters Coach Award Craig Blackman listened to his entourage cheer for him as if they were at a sporting event; their raucous affection and the shouted ‘I love you’ would have seemed out of place, in an oth-

erwise quiet theatre, had it not been so sincere.

An excellent morning was unfortunately punctuated by an unsatisfactory speech given by the Honourable Eleanor McMahon, Ontario’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, who was present to hand out the awards. Amidst a chorus of selfless speeches

by community servants, her succession of self-referential personal pronouns and policy plugs produced a dissonant note, however, only temporarily. If the dissonance was noticed, it wasn’t mentioned, and the ceremony continued as before.

Of the seven award categories, the Goodto-Great Coach category is the only one that specifies not just development of athletes but also performance at a higher level — typically at a national or provincial level. This is what Radchenko and Ristuccia do with the Varsity Blues on a daily basis.

Radchenko, who was an OUA gold medalist in 1995, coaches middle distance running and has been with the University of Toronto Track Club since 2004. Ristuccia coaches distance and cross-country for the Varsity Blues and has been involved in coaching for decades. Ristuccia, a retired school teacher, was named CIS Women’s Coach of the Year in 2002. Both coaches have been involved in training a number of great mid- and long-distance runners in their career. Recently, they coached Gabriela Stafford to a national championship and a place on the national team at Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Coaches always play a supporting role; attention is almost always paid to the athletes.

It was fitting then that the award winners accepted their honours with grace and humility.

In the video for Radchenko and Ristuccia, an athlete described his running coaches with a pun — perhaps intended — when he said, “They’re there for the long run.”

International hockey comes to Toronto NHL hosts World Cup of Hockey in lead-up to its hundredth season Graeme Wyatt Varsity Contributor

For hockey fans, the arrival of autumn means one thing: the new NHL season is almost here. But before the NHL’s hundreth season kicks off on October 12, the hockey world’s biggest stars will be in Toronto on September 17 to compete in the World Cup of Hockey.

The tournament was last held in 2004; NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman announced his intention to resurrect it in January 2015. He envisioned a spectacle that would help globally market the NHL and hockey as a whole.

To their credit, the NHL has created an intriguing and potentially exciting format for the cup. The tournament features a compact schedule with games being played almost every day from September 17 to October 1 at the Air Canada Centre (ACC). Games will be played at different times allowing diehard fans to watch all day, and the finals will consist of the two best teams in the tournament playing a best-of-three series, rather than a single game.

The NHL has done an especially good job of fostering a high level of competition with the teams they chose to include. Alongside the talent of Team Russia, Team Czech Republic, Team Sweden, and Team Finland is Team North America, comprised of the best American and Canadian players 23 years of age and under. Additionally, Teams USA and

CHRISTOPHE MARCHAL/CC FLICKR

Fans will soon pack into the ACC to watch hockey’s brightest stars.

Canada consist of players aged 24 and older, and Team Europe consolidates talented players from the smaller European hockey nations into a single competitive team.

Sidney Crosby and Team Canada will be the tournament favourites following their Olympic successes, but stiff competition from a very talented Swedish defense, a well

balanced and hard-nosed American team, a high-powered Russian offense, and a North American squad led by Connor McDavid will make for an exciting competition.

While the on-ice event promises to be entertaining, questions skate around whether the World Cup of Hockey can succeed and what might happen if it does. This tournament already failed to gain real significance 12 years ago; its success this time around is far from guaranteed. The NHL players participating in the tournament have a full season of hockey beginning only 11 days after the tournament’s conclusion, which may disincentivize players from competing to thier full capabilities.

While the NHL nervously awaits the possibility of the tournament failing, hockey fans worldwide fear that a successful World Cup could spell the end of the NHL’s participation in the Olympics. The NHL has repeatedly voiced its displeasure at having to shut down operations for the Olympics to use its athletes, and many speculate that the NHL could use the World Cup’s existence as an excuse not to allow NHL players to participate in future Olympics.

Regardless of the fears off the ice, the focus of the World Cup will no doubt remain fixed on the players. With so many talented players set to compete, the spectacle of the World Cup of Hockey will no doubt dazzle us. The only question left is, how dazzling will it be?

SEPTEMBER 19, 2016 • 23

var.st/sports

Gravity has to fight hard to keep up with this new sport Barry Sangha Varsity Contributor

The world of sport is far more diverse than what you see offered at sports bars. This series will profile the lesser-known, the more interesting, and the downright peculiar sports that you haven’t heard of until now.

Some people feel that certain sports have reached their peak. With this in mind, many have attempted to create new sports such as baseketball, a mixture of baseball and basketball; two-hand tennis, a somewhat selfexplanatory game that is essentially tennis played with two racquets; and three-sided soccer where three teams vie for goals on the same field. Now there is a new addition to that list: bossaball.

sA

Sport

Bossaball is played between two teams, but unlike the advancements of sports that combine two already established games, this one uses components of three: volleyball, soccer, and gymnastics. Established in Spain in 2004, bossaball serves as a platform for bossa nova, a type of music that is one of the main inspirations for the sport. The referee assumes the role of DJ and serves up bossa nova music while also officiating the game.

The game is played with a volleyball net, the height of which is adjusted depending on the age of the participants, and players arrange themselves in the same alignment one would normally see at a volleyball game.

One of the components that separates bossaball from volleyball is the addition of a circular trampoline on each team’s side of the net; the added spring to their step allows athletes to reach new heights while playing. The trampolines do not cover the entire court but instead lies within a wide, inflatable, bouncy perimeter.

Bossaball also incorporates some elements of soccer; with the aid of the trampoline, bicycle kicks can be performed at six feet in the air.

The scoring of the game is not like any other sport: if the ball hits the floor of the opposing team outside of the trampoline area, one to three points can be awarded; if the ball hits the trampoline area, three to five points can be given to the scoring team.

There are several intricacies to the scoring, but as soon as a team reaches 25 points with at least a two-point lead, they win the set; the first to win two out of the three sets wins the game.

Bossaball is now being played across the world. Although it seems like a completely recreational sport, its growth in popularity it will likely make it more competitive in the coming years.

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