September 25, 2017 by The Varsity

Vol. CXXXVIII, No. 4 September 25, 2017 thevarsity.ca —— University of Toronto’s Student Newspaper Since 1880

What the shuck?!

This year’s homecoming is corn-themed, page 3

Fighting the system

A survivor of sexual violence tells her story, page 12

University of Toronto plans to ban smoking on campus No set date for implementation Jack O. Denton News Editor

The fuse is lit for plans to quit: the University of Toronto is beginning the process of banning smoking on campus. In the same week that McMaster University announced it will ban all smoking on its property starting January 1, 2018, U of T is confirming that it has plans to do the same. “U of T does have similar plans underway,” Althea Blackburn-Evans, Director of Media Relations at U of T, told The Varsity. “It’s really early stages, and so there are still a lot of discussions continuing. It’s really premature to talk about what the plan will look like in the end, and when it’ll be finalized.” The plan to ban smoking began as a conversation between the Office of Health and Safety and in Human Resources, with the initial drive being to update the university’s outdated smoking policy. The policy dates back to 1995, BlackburnEvans said — about 11 years before it became illegal to smoke in bars and pubs in Ontario, and back before marijuana dispensaries dotted the downtown core. Marijuana, too, plays a part in the university’s slowburn discussion on a smoking ban. “We are watching

closely for updates on the federal government’s proposed legislation,” Blackburn-Evans said, “because however the province and the municipalities implement it, it will have implications on whatever we decide to do here.” It remains to be seen how a smoking ban could be enforced on, for instance, the St. George campus, which includes a considerable chunk of Toronto’s downtown core: from Bay Street to Spadina Avenue, and Bloor Street to College Street. “This is a good move on the university’s part,” the President of the University of Toronto Students’ Union, Mathias Memmel, told The Varsity. “At the risk of stating the obvious, smoking is unambiguously bad and should be discouraged.” Some parts of the St. George campus are privately owned by U of T, making these areas subject to university policy. However, some larger thoroughfares include public roadways and sidewalks, which may not be subject to such a ban. Blackburn-Evans made it clear that there are a lot of things that are still up in the air — it remains to be seen whether smoke on campus will be among them.

“I’m still this idiot” Bill Burr takes a break from Just For Laughs to speak with The Varsity, page 14

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SEPTEMBER 25, 2017 • 3

Homecoming festivities to be corn-themed SGRT-planned event unoﬃcially dubbed “CornComing”

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Aidan Currie Deputy News Editor

Students at the University of Toronto can look forward to a uniquely themed homecoming come October 5. According to Albert Hoang, Chair of the St. George Round Table Homecoming Planning Committee, the theme for this year’s homecoming will be ‘corn,’ an idea that began as an inside joke and quickly took on a life of its own. “What happened was in one of the homecoming meetings, we were talking about food options and people said, ‘Oh barbecue’ and stuff and I was just sitting there and I was thinking, ‘Oh a corn bar would be kind of cool.’ Like corn on the cob, creamed corn, popcorn, candy corn, etc,” Hoang told The Varsity. “And someone was

like, ‘Oh what if we did CornComing?’ and it was meant as a joke. But they all started taking me seriously.” This year’s homecoming planning fell under the purview of the St. George Round Table (SGRT), a body made up of representatives from divisional societies like the U of T Engineering Society (EngSoc), the University College Literary & Athletic Society (UC Lit), Victoria University Students’ Administrative Council (VUSAC), and Kinesiology and Physical Education Undergraduate Association (KPEUA), to name a few. Stuart Norton, Vice-President Campus Life of the University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU), told The Varsity that homecoming planning was originally in the UTSU orientation portfolio. “For a number of years, the UTSU would

Two campus workers’ unions ratify tentative agreements with university CUPE 3261, USW 1998 secured strike mandate in August

organize something, and then they’d tell the colleges or SGRT members. A few years ago… there were actually two separate homecomings being planned, one by the UTSU and one by the SGRT due to political tensions, etc.” said Norton. An effort to unify homecoming planning took place and, according to Norton, the UTSU stepped down from spearheading the planning and the SGRT took over with Hoang as Chair. Norton said that the UTSU is still participating in the orientation planning. “I would like to go on the record saying that I joined the project after the corn was heavily involved,” Norton added. Compared to the homecoming festivities of other Ontario universities such as Queen’s, Western, and Laurier, to name a few, U of T’s homecoming often does not receive the same

Faculty and staﬀ to follow student switch to Oﬃce 365 University aims to make transfer smoother than summer snag

Jillian Schuler Varsity Staﬀ

Both unions secured a strong strike mandate in August. STEVEN LEE/THE VARSITY

Ilya Bañares Varsity Contributor

After voting for a strike action mandate in August, members of CUPE 3261 and USW 1998, campus unions representing thousands of workers across the University of Toronto, voted to ratify the tentative agreements their bargaining committees negotiated with the university administration. Earlier this month, 96 per cent of USW 1998’s members voted to approve the agreement, in comparison to 74 per cent in favour in 2014, the last time the union negotiated with the university. In a statement posted on their website,

union President Colleen Burke noted that the “agreement contains no concessions. Instead, it makes important gains in both monetary and non- monetary areas.” Wages will increase in the coming years, and health benefits have improved. CUPE 3261, representing service workers across U of T, also successfully ratified labour agreements. The full-time and part-time unit voted 83 per cent in favour, and the casual unit voted 57 per cent in favour. The full tentative agreement was not posted on their website “for reasons of confidentiality,” and the union noted that they were unable to discuss some issues, such as the ending of contracting-out of services.

kind of celebration from students. When asked about the permanency of CornComing, Hoang said that while corn does not need to be a continual theme, there is “a large possibility” that U of T’s homecoming will continue to be its “own thing” and won’t try to replicate the homecoming experiences of other universities. Students can expect an “autumn fair” atmosphere, according to Hoang, including pumpkin carving, a photo booth, carnival activities, and, of course, corn. “I don’t wanna reveal too much, but the theme has really been integrated into the sort of programming that they’ll use, and culinary journeys that will be taken,” said Norton.

University of Toronto faculty and staff will be upgrading to the Office 365 software over the course of the fall semester. Following the issues that came with transferring email data over the summer, the U of T administration is looking to make sure this process is as smooth as possible. “Office 365 is the same environment that the students have been in for quite a while now,” said Bo Wandschneider, U of T’s Chief Information Officer. Wandschneider said that the primary motivation for the move is to put faculty and students onto the same platform, which is important because “it just enhances the ability to collaborate between those two groups.” Currently, faculty and staff carry out most of their work and communication through the UTORexchange and UTORmail services, both of which will be replaced by Office 365. The new software is “a comprehensive online e-communication and collaboration service provided by Microsoft,” according to the FAQ section of the official transition website. The website, office365.utoronto.ca, is the main resource for any member of faculty or staff with questions related to pre- and postmigration; it also provides tips for navigating the new software. The home screen of the website keeps a counter of who has migrated

over to the new software, including the number of email accounts and the number of departments — it’s currently set at one department and 239 users. Wandschneider said that they migrated the IT department before the others because they wanted to assess any potential issues that could arise. “There were a few, what I would say, minor issues, little hiccups here and there,” Wandschneider said. A round of corrections will follow this first migration, addressing the issues that arose, before the software transfer goes through a second pilot test. In the meantime, Wandschneider is working with IT staff to ensure that all faculty and staff are prepared. He is confident that the migration will be generally painless because for the people who already use Outlook, “it’s going to be pretty simple; they’re basically just changing to a different place to get their mail.” Office 365 offers new media and platforms for creativity and collaboration, including Skype for Business and OneDrive, with a terabyte of storage space. “I think people are going to be really excited by the new functionality. I had lots of faculty members approach me and say, ‘When can we go?’” said Wandschneider. Office 365 should be available to all faculty and staff at the university by the end of the fall semester.

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U of T needs 2,300 new beds by 2020 to meet housing demand, says housing report Housing expansion projects met with opposition by City of Toronto Alex Tough Varsity Contributor

Almost 2,300 additional beds will be needed by 2020 to reach the increased demand for student housing at UTSG, according to a housing issues report published in support of an amendment to the St. George Secondary Plan. A residence demand analysis attached to the report claims 908 new residence spaces will have to be created to meet demand for first-year undergraduate students in three years’ time. In addition, over 1,100 new beds are required to meet the university’s goal of having 40 per cent upper-year students living on campus; about 200 spaces will be needed to accommodate graduate and second-entry students. If implemented, these additions would bring the housing capacity to 8,767 beds in 2020 compared to the 6,478 spots currently available. In the 2016–2017 academic year, U of T had approximately 66,599 students, 11 per cent of whom were living on campus. In order to satisfy the near-term housing demand, the university plans to build new residences around campus, specifically at Spadina Avenue and Sussex Avenue and in the Huron-Sussex neighborhood. The proposed Spadina-Sussex building, which is set to provide 547 new beds for both graduate and undergraduate students, will be a 23-storey student residence that will include office and retail spaces. It will also include the development of a three-storey townhouse to accommodate faculty and graduate student families. This project is a partnership between U of T, which owns 54 Sussex Avenue and 702–706 Spadina, and The Daniels Corporation, which owns the land at 698–700 Spadina. The planned construction projects in the Huron-Sussex neighborhood are aimed mainly at housing graduate students. An eight-storey, 180-bed residence adjacent to the Graduate House is proposed to be built along 44–56 Harbord Street and will include a ground floor retail space and café. Other possible developments include 40–50 new laneway houses

to be made available to graduate student families and two mid-rise buildings on Spadina, which will collectively house 520–620 new students. The report also states that among the locations currently being scouted for future developments is the corner of Bloor Street and Spadina, which would include housing for students, student families, new faculty, visiting faculty, and senior level staff. U of T says ‘yes,’ city says ‘no’ U of T’s new housing plans, especially the Spadina-Sussex residence, have been met with considerable resistance from the City of Toronto and the community. After four years of negotiations, U of T is seeking aid from the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB), which will mediate between the university, the city, and community members, including the Harbord Village Residents Association, according to Elizabeth Burke, U of T’s Director of Campus and Facilities Planning. “We’re still waiting on the board to review the case to see if it’s eligible for mediation,” Burke told The Varsity. “The city is definitely on board with pursuing that path with us and once such mediation is agreed to then it’s the question of setting a date for the mediation, and this will be between the community members as well as the city and the university.” Burke also stated that the university is not pressing for an OMB hearing but to negotiate a settlement with the board’s help. In an August 2017 report, city staff states that the proposed development at Spadina and Sussex violates the 2014 Provincial Policy Statement, as “the proposed development is not a level of intensification that is appropriate when taking into account the existing building stock and area.” The city also claims in the report that the project does not comply with the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, as it does not conserve cultural heritage resources in strategic growth areas. This refers specifically to 698 Spadina, currently the Ten Editions bookstore, which was designated as a heritage site by the Toronto and East York Community City Council (TEYCC) in late February because

City staﬀ opposed the university’s proposed residence at Spadina and Sussex. SHANNA HUNTER/THE VARSITY

“the building has design value as an example of a late 19th century corner-store building type designed with a high degree of craftsmanship in the late Victorian style,” according to a report from the Chief Planner and Executive Director’s Office. The city staff report concludes that the proposed development is “not appropriate for its context as it is too tall, too bulky, and does not provide appropriate tower setbacks” and “in its current form it is not good planning or in the public interest.” In addition, the TEYCC sent a series of recommendations to City Council in September regarding the project. These included the suggestion of continuing to negotiate with the university to address issues such as appropriate heights and massing for the development site, as well as to participate in formal mediation with the OMB. The council also recommended that the city hold off on making a decision regarding an application to demolish six existing rental dwelling units at 698 and 700 Spadina until a decision is reached by the OMB. Joe Cressy, Councillor for Ward 20, where the proposed residence at Spadina and Sussex would be located, did not respond to The Varsity’s request for comment.

Daniels students commute to classes oﬀ campus as One Spadina construction continues Current classes hosted at Scotiabank Theatre

Principal Hall at One Spadina is still under construction. STEVEN LEE/THE VARSITY

Grace King Varsity Contributor

Although the new home for the John H. Daniels Faculty of Landscape, Architecture and Design at One Spadina Crescent was slated to officially open this September, many secondyear students in the faculty find themselves commuting to places far away from the location. The students of Daniels courses ARC251, ARC252, ARC281 have been commuting to classes at the Scotiabank Theatre at John Street and Richmond Street, approximately a 23-minute walk from UTSG. While the theatre was occupied by TIFF

during the first week of classes, the students were split between lecture locations at Chestnut Residence and a Cineplex theatre located at Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue. These locations are a walking distance from UTSG of 20 minutes and 1 hour and 15 minutes, respectively. Andrea McGee, Registrar and Assistant Dean at the Office of Student Services for the Daniels Faculty, told The Varsity that the faculty has been booking off-campus spaces to accommodate increased numbers of students in the Daniels undergraduate program. The current number of 1,000 students enrolled in the program is a significant increase from the program’s launch in 2012. Although the Principal Hall at One Spadina has been designed to hold the growing student body, the hall is one of a few spaces at One Spadina that is still undergoing construction. Despite the challenges posed by the alternate locations, McGee hopes that the temporary locations of these secondyear courses allow Daniels students “to see different parts of the city and to incorporate that [perspective] into some of their classes.” She added that the students have been said to be “having a lot of fun with it,” and “they’re even talking about getting concession stands popcorn during class.” For second-year student Jennille Neal, these new class locations are not as much of an adventure as they are an accessibility concern. Students have the option of walking the distance to the Scotiabank Theatre, taking the subway, or even taking a cab. “I have seen so many students being dropped off in cabs,” Neal said. “Who’s paying for our extra expenses for transit? We are. It’s coming out of our pockets.” All three courses being held in the Scotiabank Theatre are required for Neal’s undergraduate program. “There is only one section and one spot,” Jennille explained, “so it’s not like

I’m able to move them to next semester so that they’re in a different location.” The Architectural and Visual Studies Students’ Union (AVSSU) presented a brief concerning the situation to the Office of the Vice-President & Provost on September 21. The document highlights that “the physical location of these classes pose a barrier [for Daniels students], especially those who cannot afford to take a two-way transit trip every week for twelve weeks.” The brief expresses concern for students with accessibility needs who might be impacted by the long commute, as well as a worry for the months of bad weather when “students will likely have longer commuting times and… will have to face the elements with their graded oversized architectural models.” Scott Markle, the Vice-President of Student Life at AVSSU, told The Varsity, “While I agree the ability to explore the city is a valued part of our architecture degree, there should be a precedent for a smoother transition between classes and spaces on campus.” McGee believes that this situation will be repaid through opportunities offered by the new Daniels facility. In addition to studio space, the location will include an amphitheatre, digital fabrication laboratory, commons space, and a testing laboratory for green roof innovations. One Spadina covers over 100,000 square feet — twice the space available to the students and faculty at their former 230 College Street location. McGee projects that students will be able to attend classes in Principal Hall starting in the winter semester. The AVSSU invites students to contact avssu@daniels.utoronto.ca if they would like to express questions or concerns regarding any aspect of the transition to the One Spadina facility.

SEPTEMBER 25, 2017 • 5

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Residence dons cannot administer opioid antidote Calls for opioid training on campus follow summer fentanyl crisis Josie Kao Associate News Editor

Residence dons at many, if not all, colleges on campus do not carry naloxone, the medication used to stop opioid overdoses, despite the spike in deaths and overdoses as a result of opioid drug use in the summer of 2017. University College, Innis College, Trinity College, and New College confirmed their dons do not carry naloxone. As of publication time, Woodsworth College, St. Michael’s College, and Victoria College did not respond to The Varsity’s request for comment on their practices regarding naloxone. Melinda Scott, Dean of Students at University College, explained in an email to The Varsity that dons have been instructed to “call 911 and then campus police if they suspect an overdose or other medical emergency” — a policy followed by Innis, Trinity, and New College. Naloxone is unavailable to the Campus Police, and it is unavailable through the Health and Wellness Centre. Dons at these four colleges do receive varying levels of first aid and CPR training. At Trinity, dons are given Emergency First Aid training, while Innis, New, and University dons re-

ceive Standard First Aid training. The Emergency First Aid course is a basic one-day course offering lifesaving first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills,” according to the Canadian Red Cross’ website. By contrast, the Standard First Aid course offers more “comprehensive” training and deals with more types of emergencies, including head and spine injuries, bone, muscle, and joint injuries, sudden medical emergencies, environmental emergencies, and poisons. Both levels of training meet “legislation requirements for provincial/territorial worker safety and insurance boards,” according to the Red Cross. David Lowe of the U of T Health and Wellness Centre told The Varsity in August that opioid overdoses, especially from the drug fentanyl, were brought up in regular meetings between the university and the Ontario University & College Health Association. Amra Das, Executive Director of the University of Toronto Emergency First Responders (UTEFR), previously told The Varsity that UTEFR was not equipped with naloxone, “but in light of growing public health concerns, this is something that we are seriously considering for the upcoming year.”

U of T professor Abhimanyu Sud, who specializes in safe opioid prescription, said that the biggest issue was educating students on the topic. “We sometimes think that opioid overdoses happen with people who are addicted to opioids, but what’s particular about the moment right now is that we have a lot of opioid contamination of recreational drugs,” Sud said. “And those are potentially some of the more dangerous situations because you’re not expecting it at all. You’re not expecting there to be fentanyl or other opioids in the drug you’re using and you haven’t developed any kind of tolerance to it.” This summer, the University of Ottawa’s student union had planned to give orientation leaders naloxone kits. However, after consultation with lawyers, they decided against it due to the possibility of being liable if the medication injections caused injury. According to Sud, “It’s the same kind of ethical issues around administering CPR because you could potentially harm somebody by administering CPR but you’re also potentially saving their life. Naloxone shouldn’t be perceived any differently.” In the first three months of 2017, there were over 1,300 emergency department visits related to opioids.

Workers, know your rights Understanding Ontario’s Employment Standards Act Joshua Grondin Varsity Contributor

The Employment Standards Act (ESA) is legislation that indicates the rights and responsibilities of most employees and employers in Ontario workplaces. Among other things, it includes laws on minimum wages, statutory leave, public holidays, and overtime. Student workers, including teaching assistants and students in work-study programs, are protected by the ESA. The ESA does not protect students completing internships or experience programs like the Professional Experience Year Internship Program. 1. You cannot be required to work more than 44 hours in one week. While you can agree to work more than this, in most cases the employer is required to pay you one-and-a-half times your regular wage. 2. Students aged 18 and older are entitled to a minimum wage of $11.40 per hour. If your employment requires you to serve liquor, this wage is $9.90 and excludes tips and gratuities. 3. Most employees are entitled to take Ontario’s nine public holidays off every year and earn public holiday pay. Public

holiday pay is the sum of your previous four weeks of wages, divided by 20. In most cases, working on these holidays requires your employer to pay one-and-a-half times your regular wage. 4. If you have been working at the same establishment for more than three months, you are entitled to advanced written notice prior to your termination. Without this written notice, termination pay is required. Termination within the first three months does not require advanced notice. 5. If you work five consecutive hours, you are entitled to an unpaid 30-minute lunch break. If the employer and employee agree, this can be split into two 15-minute breaks. Additionally, the ESA permits international students to seek employment while they study, providing they have a valid study permit and a social insurance number. Cases that violate the Employment Standards Act can be reported by directly contacting the Employment Standards Information Centre or by completing an Employment Standards Claim Form. Complaints will be investigated by an employment standards officer, who can make orders against an employer.

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The Breakdown: the origins of Greek life on campus A brief history Kiana Shahbazi Varsity Contributor

Greek life at U of T has recently become the focus of attention in the campus community following an open letter penned by City Councillor Joe Cressy calling for fraternity and sorority houses to be properly regulated as multi-tenant houses. The coverage has since brought into question the Greek’s relationship to U of T. Here, we break it down. In 1879, Zeta Psi, an established American fraternity, started the world’s first non-American fraternity at U of T. Kappa Alpha Society opened a Toronto chapter in 1892, and Alpha Delta Phi in 1893. The first Canadian female ‘fraternity’ was Kappa Alpha Theta, organized in 1887. The first Black fraternity at U of T, Alpha Phi Alpha, was established in 1908 and had two members on record, although the fraternity closed its chapter two years later. The relationship between U of T and these Greek letter orga-

nizations began early on, starting in 1899 when a residence in the west wing of University College was closed due to financial issues, prompting U of T to use fraternities for student housing. Loans, favourable interest rates, and long-term land leases were given to various chapters. In 1901, Kappa Alpha leased the land known today as Massey College for $1 a year in a longterm contract with the school. By 1927, U of T was host to a reported 42 chapters, compared to 23 at McGill University in the same year. In 1959, U of T expropriated several fraternityoccupied properties on lower St. George Street, leading to their relocation north to today’s Annex neighbourhood. Currently, two societies govern Greek life at U of T: the National Panhellenic Council, which recognizes seven sororities, and the Inter-Fraternity Council (IFC), which represents 10 fraternities. Among these fraternities is Delta Upsilon, which is self-identified as being uniquely “non-secret.” The individual houses tend not to provide media outlets

with comment because, as IFC President Sam Jenison explained, the IFC voted that no individual house is allowed to talk to the press. The current relationship, or lack thereof, between U of T and Greek letter organizations is also elusive to non-members. In an account of the University of Toronto’s history, author Martin L. Friedland reveals that after 1960, when a Black female student was denied entry into a sorority, U of T formally dissociated itself from Greek organizations based on their exclusivity. This dissociation continues today. The university’s Director of Media Relations Althea Blackburn-Evans said in a recent Varsity article that the university does not recognize fraternities or sororities as campus groups “because they’re not open to everybody who wishes to join.” In his conversation with The Varsity, Jenison confirmed U of T’s dissociation, writing, “We don’t work under ULife and we have no affiliation with U of T.”

6 • THE VARSITY • NEWS

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CFS still receiving revenue from programs linked to secret bank account Summary report of audit reveals CFS receives revenue from travelcuts Josie Kao Associate News Editor

The Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) is still connected to travelcuts, the travel agency it used to co-own, by way of a secret bank account that was revealed in a summary report of an audit released this summer. The CFS issues International Student Identity Cards (ISIC) and also receives revenue from the Summer Work Abroad Program (SWAP). The original purpose of the bank account was to pay off debt from travelcuts — which the CFS sold to Merit Travel Group in 2009 — but it was also used for unauthorized transactions. “Today Merit has a services agreement with the CFS-S, which is the Canadian Federation of Student Services, to operate the SWAP program, the Summer Work Abroad Program, and to be an alternative issuer of ISIC cards through our travel business,” a spokesperson for Merit told The Varsity. The business of ISICs In the summary report of the audit, there are 27 transactions listed as “International Student Identity Card applicant,” with the total sum of money from those transactions amounting to $584. According to the CFS budget from 2001– 2002, the federation received around $1.1 million in revenue from travelcuts between 1999 and 2000. The CFS has not released the full report of the audit, meaning that any information on

where the money came from or where it went is unknown. According to the audited CFS financial statement of the 2013 fiscal year, the CFS recorded a loss of $37,506 from “ISIC income.” In the 2016 fiscal year, the CFS had a net loss of $96,366.73 from the cost of selling ISICs. In Canada, the CFS owns the license for distributing ISICs, but travelcuts, under Merit’s services agreement, can also sell the cards. “Today, however, the majority of ISIC cards are distributed as a benefit of membership so the program doesn’t generate profit,” CFS National Treasurer Peyton Veitch told The Varsity via email. Veitch detailed that the ISIC is a free benefit of membership in the CFS, but $20 for everyone else. The individual amounts from the 27 ISIC transactions in the secret bank account varied among $20, $21.50, and $43. According to a draft report from a 2016 UTSU ad hoc committee on the CFS, in 2014 –2015, the CFS received revenue of $120,000 from the sale of ISICs. “But what is the point of an ISIC? In theory, the cards grant access to student discounts, but most student discounts are available to anyone with a valid student ID; there are few, if any, discounts available only to students who have ISICs,” the draft report reads. “In short, the value of ISICs is overstated, principally by the CFS (which is, again, a partial owner of the forprofit travel agency that issues ISICs).” Veitch added, “The Federation also receives

MIA CARNEVALE/THE VARSITY

around $5,000 each year related to promoting Merit Travel through SWAP.” U of T professor Richard Powers, whose areas of expertise include business and corporate law, wrote to The Varsity that “student governing organizations often own and run services for students - printing centres, pubs, housing coops - nothing sinister about that.” Powers did question what happens to the profits from CFS businesses. “They should be going back into improvements in the services, or into other student-related activities and services - not into someone’s pockets,” he said. Selling travelcuts The spokesperson for Merit said that “the interesting thing about the deal was… we did not buy the shares of the travelcuts business. We bought the assets of the travelcuts business.” In a share deal, the buyer acquires 100 per cent of the company’s shares, meaning that it

takes on any and all pre-existing liabilities. In an asset deal, the buyer can pick and choose the parts of the company that they want to purchase, which means that they do not have to take on any unwanted liabilities. “In order not to be responsible for the liabilities (debts, etc.) you just buy assets–the liabilities remain with the seller,” said Powers. UTSU Vice-President Internal Daman Singh wrote in an email to The Varsity that in principle, there’s nothing wrong with a student organization like the CFS securing discounted goods and services for students. “However, the CFS mismanaged Travel CUTS into bankruptcy, and now the CFS seems to be a partial owner of a for-profit travel agency. The whole arrangement is very strange, and the members of the CFS know very little about it,” Singh wrote. travelcuts went into receivership in October 2009, when it was bought by Merit Travel, after incurring severe debt.

SMCSU elections underway Nominations for re-imagined SMCSU begin September 25 Jillian Schuler Varsity Staﬀ

Following a year of reformation, September 25 marks a new beginning for student government at St. Michael’s College (SMC). Nominations are open for nine positions on the council as the college aims to implement the reimagined student union’s new structure and apply its new leadership policy to candidates. Following a confirmation of the eligibility of nominees on October 4 and an all-candidates forum on October 10, official voting will begin on October 11. A group of students selected by SMC’s administration formed a ‘re-imagining committee’ in April to lay the framework for a new council; those who sat on the committee are barred from running in this election. SMC President David Mulroney had requested to delay elections until the fall to have time to draft a leadership policy to ensure that behaviour exhibited in the past by student officials would no longer arise. The union was the subject of controversy last year: a video implicating then-current and former members of the union was criticized as Islamophobic, and there were allegations of financial misconduct on behalf of union members. The Student Society Leadership Policy, which circulated alongside an email

announcing the call for nominations, defines rules and expectations for student leaders at the college. It applies not just to the student union but to any student society or student group at St Michael’s, including the St. Michael’s Residence Council and The Mike newspaper. Notably, the policy says that leaders’ eligibility will be decided by academic standing and the ability to “engage in responsible and respectful conduct that reflects positively on USMC students, USMC, and the broader University of Toronto community.” The policy stresses the importance of financial responsibility as well as the strict prohibition of hazing as any form of initiation, a part of the controversy of last year. The policy also stipulates that “leaders accept their ethical obligation to act in accordance to USMC’s mission as a Catholic university that is dedicated to the academic and spiritual life of its students.” Erin McTague, former President of the St. Mikes Residence Council and member of the committee that re-structured the union, will take on the role of Chief Returning Officer. Election results will be posted on October 17.

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SEPTEMBER 25, 2017 â&#x20AC;¢ 7

Comment

September 25, 2017 var.st/comment comment@thevarsity.ca

Ontario’s marijuana regulation plan is neither inclusive nor eﬀective The provincial government should permit private dispensaries and designated establishments for consumption

Ramsha Naveed Varsity Contributor

On September 8, 2017, Ontario became the first province in Canada to publicly release an official plan for the upcoming legalization of marijuana. The federal government seeks to legalize by July 1, 2018 but has left it up to individual provinces' discretion to determine the finer details of how the substance will be sold, who will be allowed to consume it, and where usage will be permitted. Whether Ontario’s plans will be successful remains to be seen, but the government’s emphasis on publicly-owned stores and privatized consumption could ultimately work to its detriment. The framework issued by the Ontario government has three key features. First, marijuana will legally only be sold online and in stand-alone stores run by a subsidiary corporation of the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO), thereby establishing a government monopoly of all legal consumption. This means all private dispensaries will remain illegal and will continue to be prosecuted. In this vein, the Ontario government plans to have 40 stores open across the province by July 2018, some in places where illegal dispensaries are already located. That number will increase to 80 stores by July 1, 2019 and 150 by 2020. In addition, an online system will be implemented by July 2018 to ensure the wide expansion of the market, especially in catering to more remote areas where it is less likely for official stores to be established. The second feature of the framework is that sale and consumption are limited to those at or over the age of 19, in line with the legal alcohol consumption age. If caught, underage users will have their marijuana confiscated, though the government has stated the enforcement focus will be on “prevention, diversion, and harm reduction without unnecessarily bringing [youth] into contact with the justice system.”

Finally, all consumption will be restricted to private residences, at least for the time being. Private businesses catering to consumption, such as vapour lounges, will not be permitted. For a number of reasons, the provincial government’s proposed framework for legalization is neither effective at discouraging illegal consumption nor inclusive of users. Allowing private dispensaries and designated consumption establishments to operate alongside government-owned stores would be a more effective approach to regulation. Legalize private dispensaries Jenna Valleriani is a U of T PhD candidate in Sociology and Addiction Studies whose research focuses on medical marijuana. Valleriani was disappointed but not particularly surprised when she learned Ontario had decided to pursue a governmentcontrolled distribution model. “I was really intrigued that the whole conversation was framed as an either or,” Valleriani said. Like many other critics of the proposed plan, she would like to see a mix of both government stores as well as licensed and regulated private stores in order to offer Ontarians “the best of both worlds.” Contrary to popular perception, the dispensaries that currently operate in Toronto are doing so illegally — and this will not change under the new legalization plan. However, Valleriani believes that most dispensary owners would likely welcome the chance to become licensed and conduct their business legally. Dispensaries have been thriving for a long time in spite of police crackdowns and security issues — it is questionable whether the new regulations will do much to change that fact. Restricting legal purchase to government-run stores also raises the question of supply. Establishing 150 dispensaries in Ontario — a goal that will only theoretically be reached in three years — is nothing compared to the high number of illegal dispensaries that are

BELLA ROGAL/THE VARSITY

currently supplying users with their product. Legitimizing just a fraction of establishments will severely limit access, even with online sales. Though Health Canada has doubled its staff to accelerate the licensing process for marijuana producers, many industry experts estimate that customers will still face shortages in the first few years of legalization due to lack of supply. Shortages, in turn, would send customers right back to the illicit market, which is exactly what the government is trying to avoid. Private stores are also popular for the sheer variety of products they offer. Valleriani believes it is highly unlikely that government stores will sell oils and edibles — products that consumers have been obtaining from dispensaries over the years. On top of this, the continuation of policing, shutting down, and prosecuting dispensaries is a wasteful burden on already strained law enforcement and court resources. Targeting dispensaries in this way has been largely ineffective; where one

store shuts down, another pops up in its place. In fact, alleviating this burden from the criminal justice system was one of the main reasons for decriminalizing marijuana in the first place. If Ontario continues to shut out private establishments from the market, it will be back to square one. Working with dispensaries instead of against them could avoid all of these problems. Valleriani thinks a more open, mixed system of regulation has better chances of squashing the illicit market. Legalize public consumption establishments The plan also restricts consumption to private residences for the time being. The government has expressed plans to consult on the “feasibility and implications of introducing designated establishments where recreational cannabis could be consumed” — a proposal that is vague and shows a lack of real commitment to legalizing said establishments, which ought to be a priority moving forward.

SEPTEMBER 25, 2017 • 9

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The current plan’s emphasis on private residences as the only place for consumption is not inclusive, and it prioritizes homeowners. It leaves people who rent, lease, live in shelters, or are homeless without a safe or legal place to consume. Residents who don’t own the buildings they live in are left at the whims of their landlords as to whether or not they are allowed to consume in their homes. It is well within the powers of condominium boards or apartment building managements to ban marijuana on their property. Therefore, these residents are put at increased risk of incurring criminal charges when they inevitably turn to public places to consume. This rule also disproportionately affects students of legal age, including those who live on residence during the school year. Dormitories are owned and controlled by the university, and U of T is a public establishment. It is unclear whether students will be banned from consuming marijuana on campus — particularly in light of recent announcements that the university is investigating a smoking ban. Legalizing designated establishments for consumption would provide students with a safe alternative. At the same time, Valleriani recalls a professor at Trinity College, now retired, who was prescribed marijuana for medical purposes. Accommodations were made to set up a sort of ‘vapour lounge’ area for him in the basement of the college. The existence of bars near and on U of T campuses, events where drinking is permitted, and the designated smoking spaces currently in place on campus show that it is possible to make allowances for the consumption of controlled substances. The idea of creating a designated place for consumption at U of T is not as outrageous as it may sound, and Valleriani thinks universities will ultimately need to “figure something out.” Such an arrangement, however, would require the legalization of designated establishments for consumption,

an option that the proposed regulation framework does not allow. With nine short months until marijuana legalization launches in July, little time remains for Ontario to perfect its plan. Costs of purchase, whether the product will be taxed, and where government stores will be set up are decisions that have yet to be made. In this time, the government also needs to critically evaluate their plan and recognize its weaknesses in achieving the ultimate goal of eliminating the marijuana black market. Legalizing private dispensaries and designated consumption establishments will help bridge those gaps.

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Weed the North The Green Room Spadina Medical S.B. BC Cannamed Kensington 1Leaf Dispensary - Baldwin Cloud 6ix Vital Medicinals The Toronto Dispensary Canna Clinic Kensington Trap House Cannabis Best Budz Dispensary MMJ Canada – Yorkville

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Ramsha Naveed is a third-year student at Trinity College studying Political Science.

Planned growth of government-operated stores As of 2016, approximately six in 10, or 56

150

per cent, of Ontario voters approved of legalizing marĳuana. Of those people: 44 per cent would like to see marĳuana

120

sold by the LCBO 57 per cent want to see marĳuana sold in specialized dispensaries 57 per cent believe that people should

only be able to consume in private 92 per cent of potential users want to be able to purchase edibles 44 per cent of Canadians have tried

marĳuana at least once

30 2018

2019

2020

10 d THE VARSITY d COMMENT

comment@thevarsity.ca

A campus of hurdles Three student perspectives on accessibility issues at U of T Varsity Contributors The University of Toronto remains inaccessible to its students in a number of ways. Below, Comment contributors reflect on access to campus spaces, note-taking through Accessibility Services, and the need for comprehensive and detail-oriented accommodation.

CARISSA CHEN/THE VARSITY

Providing notes to those who need them should be a shared effort Considering the number of laptops you see in any given class at U of T, you’d think that finding a note-taker would be pretty easy. This is false. I am 17 credits into my degree and, at my personal estimate, about 60 per cent of my courses have had note-takers. That means the other 40 per cent of the time, if I’ve had to miss class for disabilityrelated reasons, I am without notes. Certain professors agree to send their personal lecture notes to make up for the gap, which I am very grateful for, but often I am left with nothing. To be a note-taker, a student must simply upload their notes to the Accessibility Services website. If notes are handwritten, they are scanned and uploaded. If a student puts in a request for a note-taker in a given course, the instructor receives notice and is required to pass it on to the students — after that, their job is done. More effort from all parties is necessary to ensure students get the notes they need. If no one volunteers following the sharing of the notice, it then becomes my job to pester the instructor. I am very unapologetic about my disability, so it puts me in an uncomfortable position when I’m apologizing to a prof for nagging them. Beyond that, I don’t want to have to make time so that my basic rights as a student can be met. By nature of having a disability, I’m arguably working harder than a regular student to achieve the same levels in my work. The two minutes it takes for a student to upload their notes saves me a lot of unnecessary stress. Admittedly, Accessibility Services provides little incentive to attract volunteers beyond a nice little certificate. However, the good karma will do you wonders in your next life, and you can also put it on your Tinder profile to show the world that you are a good person. Swipe right for caring about others. Elspeth Arbow is a fifth-year student at Innis College studying Cinema Studies and Buddhism, Psychology and Mental Health Studies.

DIANA PHAM/THE VARSITY

Committing to accessibility means being attuned to the finer details Conversations about accessibility tend to centre on salient concerns like doors not having automatic-open functions or buildings lacking elevators. What aren't discussed as much are the arbitrary, near-imperceptible ways in which environments assume full mobility. Most architectural sites are constructed with able-bodiedness in mind; accessibility concerns are an afterthought, if they are acknowledged at all. Disabled people are frequently reminded of this process of construction as we navigate the university campus, and it is a continuous cause of frustration. Ableist assumptions underlie every facet of man-made space. The Koffler Centre has a wheelchair ramp and automatic door fitted to the side entrance, but if I want to replace my TCard, I’ll have to stand in line. At the beginning of the semester, hundreds of people stood in line at the TCard office. With wait times potentially reaching several hours, no chairs were made available, nor was any sort of ticket-number queue system implemented as a more accessible option. Accessing almost every service at UTSG similarly assumes the ability to stand, wait, and walk for as much time is needed. To consult with a registrar’s office representative at Wetmore Hall of New College, a student has to stand at the four-foot-high counter. And if, God forbid, a student wants to grab a coffee, they had better be willing and able to stand in line for as long as necessary. The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act of 2005 mandates that certain accessibility standards be implemented in built environments. The university has been taking steps to meet them, but the act only deals with that which is overtly and generally inaccessible, without offering a full environmental critique. In an attempt to conform to legislative accessibility standards, the first-floor classrooms at Sidney Smith Hall were fitted with automatic doors, and some of the desks were made wheelchair-accessible. Yet the podiums at the front of the rooms can only be reached by stepping onto a platform. It is these kinds of ableist assumptions that underlie false attempts at addressing environmental accessibility concerns — that spaces only need to be accessible insofar as is mandated legally, and insofar as moral righteousness demands.

With respect to campus heritage buildings, barriers to access remain pervasive University of Toronto students may feel marginalized when they cannot access their classes on campus. While the university is diligent in providing students with maps of all three campuses and issuing building access notices, many places on campus remain physically inaccessible to members of the student body. As a public institution, the university has a legal obligation to adhere to the amended guidelines set forth in both the Design of Public Spaces Standard and the Ontario Building Code Amendments. However, both pieces of legislation apply only to the construction of new or extensively renovated buildings. Heritage buildings, which exist in abundance at U of T, pose various structural constraints that hinder the capacity to conduct major renovations. Such constraints leave many buildings without elevators, accessible washrooms, ramps, and powered doors. A heritage structure like Teefy Hall, built in 1936, possesses none of these features. Convocation Hall, opened in 1907, has no elevator. Even when the basic building blocks of physical accessibility are available, barriers remain. It is up to the university to ensure that all accessible entrances are maintained throughout the winter months. Students also remain reliant on the presence of adequate visible signage indicating the precise location of accessible entrances, especially when they are not visible from the street. All in all, the current state of affairs could deter students from registering for courses taught in specific buildings. Regardless of structural constraints, the university must find alternative solutions to render its heritage buildings more accessible to all students. Installing powered doors and ramps, for instance, likely has no bearing on the structural composition of the building. Simple additions such as these recognize and accommodate the needs of students with accessibility concerns, thereby encouraging greater inclusivity.

Meera Ulysses is a second-year student at New College studying Middle Eastern Studies and Equity Studies.

Vittoria Di Paola is a student at U of T.

Editorial

September 25, 2017 var.st/comment editorial@thevarsity.ca

Students are residents, too

Public Editor

When discussing municipal issues that aﬀect residents and the community, students should be included in the dialogue

Checking for bias

Why newspapers try to evade placement on the political spectrum Sophie Borwein

CARISSA CHEN/THE VARSITY

The Varsity Editorial Board

An ‘us-versus-them’ mentality remains pervasive in discussions about city development projects. As reflected in the actions of some neighbourhood associations and city councillors, the relationship between residents and university students appears to be one of tension. At times, their interests are constructed as mutually exclusive. Despite this dynamic, U of T and its students have been around longer than the residential neighbourhoods that surround them. Many students call neighbourhoods like the Annex and Harbord Village home and are integral citizens of these communities. City planners and councillors need to consider the interests of student residents when making planning decisions that affect them. Likewise, more students should take an active role in making it clear what their interests are. In the latest chapter in student-city relations, Ward 20 Councillor Joe Cressy, heads of the Annex Residents’ Association, the Bay Cloverhill Community Association, the Grange Community Association, the Harbord Village Residents’ Association, and the Huron Sussex Residents’ Organization are all pushing to get the City of Toronto to remove the licensing exemption that lets fraternity and sorority houses operate without having to be licensed as multitenant residences. It is true that students involved in Greek life need to be good neighbours, and complaints of poor property management, noise, and sexual assaults should be addressed. However, the proposal that Cressy and the residents’ associations have put forward would only affect property regulations and would do nothing to address behav-

ioural complaints. Ultimately, whatever regulations that come about should be developed in consultation with U of T students: Greek and non-Greek. Removing the exemption fraternities and sororities currently operate under could also affect student co-operative housing. Like Greek houses, student coops are also exempt from multi-tenant residence licensing and play a vital role in a city where affordable housing is scarce. The lack of affordable housing around campus, despite its growing student population, has prompted U of T to pursue the construction of new residences throughout the years. Many of these projects have been met with opposition from residents’ associations in the spirit of ‘Nimbyism.’ Based on the acronym for ‘not in my backyard,’ Nimbyism often spurs residents to condemn development projects scheduled to take place near where they live, even if the changes being proposed would benefit the community as a whole. Back in 2012 and 2013, various residents’ associations opposed the construction of the 24-storey Campus One residence at College and Spadina. Concerns were raised that the building would cast large shadows and that it wouldn’t fit in with the style of the rest of the neighbourhood. Most recently, U of T proposed a student residence on the corner of Spadina Avenue and Sussex Avenue. The Harbord Village Residents’ Association opposed this project, as it would result in the demolition of a building that has been around since 1885. The case will be heard by the Ontario Municipal Board; taking feedback from consultation into consideration, City of Toronto staff is siding with the residents’ association.

One might think students should play an active role in voicing their opinions on campus projects. Yet at public consultation meetings and City Hall deputations where these issues are discussed, it is rare to see anyone under the age of 30, with the exception of the occasional University of Toronto Students’ Union executive. In the past, good things have come about when students worked in tandem with the city and with residents’ associations. Back in the late 1960s and early 1970s, residents’ associations and student activists were successful in lobbying the provincial government to stop the construction of the Spadina Expressway. Had the proposed highway been built, it would have extended from today’s Allen Road to the northwest corner of the St. George campus. The province would have had to tear down Casa Loma, some campus buildings, and large portions of the Annex. To this effect, students took part in demonstrations and participated in deputations. Today, students are too often sidelined from the conversation when it comes to municipal issues. City planners and councillors need to understand that students are members of the communities in question, and therefore that they should listen to students’ opinions on matters that affect the areas around campus. In addition, more students should take an active role in lobbying for the issues they care about. This is ultimately our community: we all study on campus, and many of us live and work in the surrounding areas. Voicing concerns at consultation meetings or contacting city councillors will help ensure students play a role in shaping Toronto’s development — preferably before the pylons come out.

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

Earlier this summer, The Varsity hosted an “Ask me Anything” (AMA) on Reddit. A reader asked our editors where they thought the newspaper “leaned on the political spectrum.” It’s a hard question for newspapers. The Varsity — in line with most traditional mainstream media outlets — aims to be objective. But like other newspapers, it often gets accused of bias, most often with reference to the articles in its opinion pages. A newspaper’s comment section exists to provide opinions on the news, so in one sense it should be biased. Still, newspapers try to embrace a range of opinions in these pages, and for good reason. When all opinion pieces share the same point of view, readers are right to wonder if “toeing the party line,” not thoughtful analysis, determines what gets published. Responding to the reader’s AMA question, Editor-inChief Jacob Lorinc reflected on the commentary written by the paper itself — its unsigned editorials. He conceded that the newspaper’s editorials have lately had a left bent. Admitting he couldn’t point to a recent conservative-leaning board, Lorinc was quick to remind readers that members rotate two to three times per year, so things can quickly change. But here’s the thing. Just as The National Post leans right and the Toronto Star leans left, The Varsity is always going to be a somewhat left-of-centre publication. It reflects — with some distortion — the campus and city that sustain it. And neither is particularly conservative. Both Torontonians and more educated Canadians — the kind you might find on campus — tend to vote Liberal or NDP. When these are the groups you both draw your writers from and write your stories for, it is hard to see how The Varsity could be anything but. That said, The Varsity leadership works hard to shed this reputation — as it should. When newspapers too eagerly endorse a set of views, readers are right to doubt whether they are reading facts or partisan talking-points. In her last column as The New York Times’ Public Editor, Liz Spayd warned against partisan journalism, writing that “whether journalists realize it or not, with impartiality comes authority.” She pointed to the damage the Venezuelan media did to its reputation with Venezuelans during Hugo Chavez’s presidency when, in the absence of any real partisan opposition, it assigned itself the job. The public stopped believing the media was a fair observer of Chavez’s regime. The Varsity faced a big challenge last year in figuring out how to fairly cover the Jordan Peterson controversy. I was impressed by the self-awareness of its politics that The Varsity brought to its reporting on the issue, and the range of opinions it published. Though I know some readers disagree with me, articles like “Why is Students in Support of Free Speech defending the Proud Boys?” or “Free speech, even for those you hate” suggest The Varsity gave real space to more conservative voices writing in opposition to limits to free speech. Still, I can see why conservative readers often feel shorted. Take, for example, the three most prominently placed articles in The Varsity’s online comment section at the start of the school year. The first article, on diversity in film, argues “more work still needs to be done to ensure women of colour are granted the visibility they deserve.” The second piece, by the editorial board, argues that nationalist rallies have no right to organize on campus. Only the third piece could be said to have more conservative elements, though even here the author advocates wholeheartedly in favour of Canada’s principle of universal healthcare coverage. The Varsity will naturally gravitate left. It needs to — and for the most part does — carefully monitor this habit. What it shouldn’t do is abandon impartiality altogether. Newspapers that become too ideological or partisan are no longer pursuing the truth or holding power to account. And if they aren’t, who is? In the age of overtly partisan outlets like The Rebel and fake news article generators, I don’t want to find out.

Why I filed my human rights complaint against U of T A survivor of sexual violence tells her story Tamsyn Riddle Varsity Contributor

STEVEN LEE/THE VARSITY

Editor’s Note: The allegations made toward the faculty members identified in this article are unproven in court. When I filed my human rights complaint against the University of Toronto and Trinity College, I thought I had realistic expectations. It would be exciting to push U of T to change its policies. It would be empowering to hold a press conference an-

nouncing my complaint with my colleagues from Silence is Violence, a sexual violence advocacy group on campus. But I also knew that filing the complaint would inevitably lead to some uncomfortable interactions and might generate some unwanted attention. I wasn’t wrong. There was a man who, within the span of two minutes, commented on at least seven different posts on my Facebook timeline, then

messaged me with two pictures of Winnie the Pooh and offered to give me a foot rub. I also thought it was a given that, at the very least, the people who supported me would give me respite from whatever negativity I would face. But as I sifted through the messages and posts made by people offering their support, I noticed an unexpected trend: they did not seem most concerned about the 17 months I spent

waiting for some form of justice, or the fact that my case ended with a settlement made between the university and my rapist without my knowledge or consent. Rather, they were most concerned that the first faculty member who I disclosed my story to, Trinity College’s Assistant Dean of Students, recommended I not report it to the police because he knew other survivors had had negative experiences of doing so.

I still remember in high school when, upon entering the classroom, my English teacher — who had sexually harassed a remarkable number of the girls in my class in our two years with him — paused dramatically and told us he didn’t want to talk about the rape we had just read about in a novel because, as the father of two daughters, the subject upset him too much. I remembered this moment clearly when I first told people about my assault, puzzling through their obvious discomfort with the topic. On countless occasions, I was met with responses like ‘I’m here if you want to talk about it!’ when I thought it was clear that I was trying to do just that. When sexual assault happens, our first impulse — if we believe it really happened at all — is to push the survivor in other directions, towards the police or towards a year-long waiting list for counselling. We believe these are the places where survivors and the experiences they carry belong. Because of this automatic assumption that sexual violence is something for the police to

“

Because of this, we see sexual violence as exceptional, as something only people who seem like criminals could do

deal with, I think some people following my case missed the complexity of the situation. It is hard to dispute that the criminal justice system fails most survivors; even in the 0.3 per cent of cases that do result in conviction, this comes at the end of a deeply retraumatizing process, and, in the case of Mandi Gray, can still end in the conviction being overturned.

Reporting, trusting the process My problem with being advised against reporting to the police is that I was given no similar warning about the disappointment I would experience upon reporting to the school. In fact, I was promised that U of T takes sexual violence ‘very seriously’ when I asked if expulsion was on the table. I believed this and, at the time, I thought the Dean of Students’ advice was coming from a place of concern. He could have advised me not to go to the police because he cared, but the fact of the matter is that U of T’s sexual violence policies past and present leave no room for that kind of concern, for the empathy it takes to admit that you have failed someone. As I went through this process, I figured, as many students still seem to do, that within U of T’s decentralized structure the problem was that some bad administrators were doing a poor job and their bosses were unaware. After all, the other faculty member who argued that my rapist had changed since the assault, and who allowed him to continue playing intramu-

“

Deflected responsibility

ral soccer as a result, had never dealt with a sexual assault case before. I gradually lost trust in the men handling my case, however I held out hope in Trinity College’s Dean of Students, who let me vent to her whenever my rapist violated the rule that forbid him from eating in Trinity’s dining hall, shook her head in frustration when I told her what the other faculty members had told me, and promised that she and the provost of Trinity College, at least, saw this as a problem. In January 2016, I was told that my case would proceed to a hearing. In the following nine months, I helped the Dean of Students work on consent education programming while she told me, again shaking her head with a ‘what can you do?’ look on her face, that she hadn’t heard anything more about the timing of the hearing. Then, to my surprise, in September she brought me into her office and told me that throughout this time she and the provost had not only known what was going on but had been actively working with my rapist and his lawyers to come up with a series of confidential resolutions that would sidestep a hearing. I walked out of her office feeling like a friend had betrayed me. That feeling stuck with me over the coming weeks, as I thought about all the ways that I had patiently waited, trusted the process, followed the rules, and tried to be understanding when I was told that ‘this is just how it is.’ Finally, it was clear to me: this system and its administrators never cared about me or any other survivor.

Systemic injustices For me, this was a familiar feeling. It brought me back to the times throughout my education as a disabled student, when I was made to feel like I was being unreasonable for requesting accommodations for something that is not, and has never been, my fault. And I’m not alone with this feeling: sexual assault can happen to anyone, but statistics regarding which groups are disproportionately affected echo the power dynamics that already exist on campus and in broader society. Women, trans people, and nonbinary people are more likely to experience sexual violence, as are disabled, POC, and queer students. Most people who find themselves hearing survivors’ stories know that the perpetrators are frequently popular upper-years, student politicians, dons, TAs, and even senior professors and research supervisors. Often, it’s whoever has enough structural power at this institution to know they can get away with it. No matter what the university says in its flashy new sexual violence policy, myself and many other survivors understand that U of T prioritizes reputation and money over taking care of marginalized students. Silencing survivors is just one of the ways U of T makes this clear.

U of T and policy changes Still, if the university were too blatant in their mistreatment of survivors, they would risk

more lawsuits like mine. It felt like they needed me to believe that I was in control of the pro-

to the copy of the student code of conduct I had been given, annotated with my first-year self’s

“It’s far easier to sweep sexual assault under the rug than to grapple with dismantling centuries-old power structures

cess and that they had done everything they could. This calculation weaved through the promises that were made to me along the way, from the times administrators told me they had never seen sanctions so serious in a sexual assault case to the times they offered to make referrals knowing full-well that the academic accommodations available are hardly ever extensive enough. This is a university that prides itself first and foremost on its reputation for research and academic rigour, a reputation that requires a base level of assumed safety without going far enough with support to seem lenient. Besides, what parent would send their child to a university that openly acknowledged that some of its students sexually assault their peers? It’s far easier to sweep sexual assault under the rug than to grapple with dismantling centuries-old power structures. U of T’s new policy can’t magically fix the problem of sexual violence at this university if U of T doesn’t want it to. Sexual violence won’t end because survivors go to the sexual assault centre tucked away in Robarts rather than going to their college. Sexual violence can only end through the dismantling of the power structures that feed into it. In the meantime, we need processes for dealing with sexual assault that are more involved and more personal — processes that actually deal with the harm of sexual assault. This university needs to grapple with the gutwrenching realization that this is our school, perpetrators are our fellow students and colleagues, and sexual assault exists on these campuses. Sexual violence is not going away no matter how many Health and Wellness Be Safe posters are put up, no matter how many rape whistles are distributed at frosh week, and no matter how many consent education videos – as if consent needs to be taught and sexual assault is just a misunderstanding – are thrown at students. It is not enough for the university to investigate sexual assault and half-heartedly reduce the likelihood of survivors running into their assailants. Dealing with sexual assault also means dealing with the material effects of sexual assault, from the money spent making up lost time in school or the cost of getting adequate counselling to the academic impacts of being forced to sit through a class each week with the person who sexually assaulted you. It means going beyond the supposedly neutral stance that allowed the university to take 17 months to ban my rapist from social events, Trinity buildings with some exceptions, and the classes I am enrolled in.

The complaint That, ultimately, is why I filed a human rights complaint. After I got home from that final meeting with the Dean of Students, I looked over the hasty notes I had taken, hands shaking in anger, while she paraphrased to me the confidential resolution in my case. I went back

“

I don’t mention this to condemn those people or say they have it all wrong, rather, I think this impulse demonstrates how we’re conditioned to see sexual violence: namely, as a matter first and foremost for the criminal justice system to deal with. Because of this, we see sexual violence as exceptional, as something only people who seem like criminals could do, as a horror so immense we can’t even talk about it.

more hopeful notes, outlining what I thought was supposed to be a policy that was flexible enough to meet the needs of survivors. Looking back months later, that same hopeful vision of the university I once had was gone, and the thought of any other survivor encountering that policy and having the same hopefulness — only to eventually be crushed — filled me with dread. Watching the university pass a new sexual violence policy and pass it off as progress with seemingly little public skepticism, I started to worry. What if the process I had started had merely been a waste of my time? What if, after all I went through, this process had helped no one except for my rapist? So I started researching. I spoke to others in Silence is Violence, who validated my sense that what happened was not okay. I spoke to Gray, who referred me to the Human Rights Legal Support Centre; their lawyers are now representing me. While I spent second semester quietly planning my complaint, at each step thinking only about what I had to do next, I worked with Silence is Violence on a poster campaign that went viral, sharing the stories of survivors who had been blamed and silenced like I had. The university’s response to scrape our posters off bus shelters and lamp posts around campus instead of trying to actually acknowledge and address the problem was telling. At the same time, the rush of messages we got after that one night of putting up posters signalled to me that survivors at this campus had long been in desperate need of this kind of acknowledgement. When I was finally able to file my human rights application, I decided to go public with my case: I did a story with the Toronto Star and held a press conference in Trinity College to set the record straight. I knew that U of T would only deal with sexual assault if there were consequences for not doing so, and I felt I owed it to every other survivor to try my best to make that happen. If this article makes me seem pessimistic, I’m not. Don’t get me wrong, it’s hard to hear horror stories about the same administrators, counsellors, and community safety officers while maintaining hope for a better future. But at this point, in passing a new sexual assault policy after holding a single consultation for each campus, U of T is making little effort to show survivors that it cares. And students have noticed. Over the past year, grassroots activism has arisen on campus, aimed at stopping perpetrators from maintaining power in their communities. I’ve seen too many nods of recognition from students passing SIV posters, I’ve been on the receiving end of too many whispered stories of ‘I haven’t told anyone this, but…,’ and I’ve spoken too many times with survivors dreaming up their own forms of justice to underestimate our determination to change this. I just hope U of T is ready. This is the first installment of The Varsity’s investigative series exploring sexual violence at the University of Toronto.

Arts&Culture

September 25, 2017 var.st/arts arts@thevarsity.ca

Bill Burr thinks Canadians are a bunch of animals “You invented a sport where you skate around with a club and fighting is legal Anil Partridge Varsity Contributor Bill Burr's latest special, Walk Your Way Out, was released on Netflix in January. Photo courtesy of MICHAEL O'BRIEN ENTERTAINMENT

You might recognize Bill Burr’s name because one of his jokes offended you. Or you might love that his jokes offend people. Regardless, the comedian has been proving himself to be a multihyphenate, dabbling in acting, podcasting, and scripted television. Burr ventured to Toronto this past weekend for the Just For Laughs comedy festival, which opened on Thursday, September 21. He spoke to The Varsity about his tour, parenting styles, and why Kim Jong Un is like a drunk guy on the weekend. The Varsity (TV): How’s your tour been so far? Bill Burr (BB): It’s been great, I mean it’s the most fun job, I do a bunch of different jobs in entertainment and this one’s the most fun. I still love it the way I loved it way back when I started, and I’ve got a brand new hour of stuff since my last special… Toronto’s one of my favourite cities, so I’ll have a good time. TV: Do you find that people respond differently in Canadian cities and Canadian audiences in terms of taking offence and being sensitive? Canada has this reputation for being super polite and delicate. BB: I know, but you guys aren’t though. You’re a bunch of animals. You lose the playoff series and you go burn down your city. There’s the popular version of what

you guys are like and there’s what you guys are really like: you guys drink like animals, you love hockey, you know, you invented a sport where you skate around with a club and fighting is legal, so I mean… in a good way, I don’t find you guys to be polite. Thank god you’re not polite, so I have a lot of fun when I’m up there. TV: You filmed your last special right before the election, and you talked about feeling like you had to just watch dumb daytime TV, just filling up on all this dumb stuff to disconnect from this terrible political reality. How’s it been for you since the election in terms of that? Do you still feel like you need to disengage and sort of take the escapist route? Because it seems like things are getting worse. BB: Well, I mean, that’s what watching the news will make you feel — news has always done that, it will always make you feel like things are getting worse. I don’t think — I think things are changing, obviously, I’d probably say obviously global warming’s the biggest issue, you know, that’s obviously gonna affect everybody else, but I have a faith in humanity. TV: Really? BB: I think most people, yeah, because most people are decent human beings, it’s really

just a small number of people with a tremendous amount of power getting everybody all stirred up. I mean, look how much Trump can get people stirred up, he talks about entire countries, callin’ em rapists and this and that… [he] just has a complete inability to look at a big picture, and how we’re all connected, and what leads to certain things, and certain dynamics, and certain decisions that people make. It is a really crazy guy there in North Korea shootin’ off his fireworks like it’s some drunk guy on the weekend. I mean just sittin’ there, shooting it over... he said he shoots it over Japan, it’s a small island north of it, I thought it was like he’s shootin’ it over Tokyo. I was like this guy’s out of his mind. I can tell you right now, that guy is not one for this world. What he is doing… I kind of respect it because the guy’s just thumbin’ his nose to everybody, so he definitely has some balls. He’s also a dictator’s son, so I think he lived such a sheltered life and was probably called some sort of a god that he has no grasp on the devastating ass-kicking that he’s going to receive if he continues to do what he’s doing. But having said that, I just became a dad, and I come home and my daughter’s the most wonderful thing I’ve ever experienced in my life. TV: That’s incredible, congrats. BB: I’m playing drums, I’ve got the new

hour, I’ve got F is for Family [the animated Netflix sitcom Burr created and stars in], the Sun is shining today, there’s all kinds of great things going on, that even if that [guy] shot a missile over right now and killed me, I could die. TV: I don’t want to dwell too long on that stuff. You’ve got F is for Family. Do you think you could talk about the idea for that and how that came about? BB: I was telling childhood stories on stage and everybody was laughing, but every time when I went to pitch a show that was even remotely like my childhood, it was like, ‘Oh, that’s gonna be bad for kids to watch, that’s misogynistic, it’s this-opic, that-opic, thisist, that-ist.’ But when I pitched, ‘It’s a fat dumb guy who can barely tie his shoes, married to some hottie who’s way smarter than him, and who rolls her eyes all the time about how dumb he is,’ they’re like, ‘Oh that sounds funny!’ This interview has been edited for clarity and length. For more of this interview, visit thevarsity.ca.

A playlist for the waning summer Soundtrack to the remaining days of September heat The rock musical draws inspiration from

Teodora Pasca Comment Editor

The summer months are over, but it's still boiling hot outside. Why not pop on this playlist, ditch your books for the beach, and take advantage of the last few scorchers of the year? “Chameleon” by Pnau Put this song on while you’re studying, and even hours of organic chemistry will make you feel like you’re the star in a music video. A rather uneventful one, but still. “Elephant” by Tame Impala This Aussie group is one of my go-tos for summer car rides. “Elephant” comes with a

downright filthy bassline, perfect for rolling into your 9 am lecture a half hour late. “Havana (feat. Young Thug)” by Camila Cabello I unapologetically perform a song-and-dance routine to this song in my empty apartment on Friday nights. Leaving Fifth Harmony was a controversial move, but Camila, you’re doing amazing, sweetie. “Blaze Up The Fire (feat. Chronixx)” by Major Lazer My hot take is that Major Lazer can make anything sound good.

“Chelsea Dagger” by The Fratellis Set this song as your morning alarm and you’ll be venturing out into the choking humidity in no time. “Rollin (feat. Future, Khalid)” by Calvin Harris Calvin Harris released a few contenders for song of the summer this year, but this one takes the gold for its mellow vibe. “Sweet Life” by Frank Ocean Frank’s newer stuff is great, but it’s hard to overshadow the classics. Soak in this gorgeous piece while lounging poolside —

preferably not at the Athletic Centre. “High Alert (feat. Sara Hartman)” by Netsky Take this one with you outdoors. The instrumentals will hit you like a gust of wind. “San Francisco” by The Mowgli’s Ridiculously catchy, this song is substantially sunnier than the foggy city it’s written about. Give it a couple of listens, remember that winter is two months away, then move to Cali and call it a year.

SEPTEMBER 25, 2017 • 15

var.st/arts

Sean Spicer’s Emmys appearance was a mistake Why the former press secretary should be ignored until he acknowledges his misdeeds Kevin Yin Varsity Contributor

Less than two months ago, most of the United States and the rest of the free world breathed a sigh of relief when White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer announced his resignation, signalling what many thought would be the end of his public life. This was not to be the case. Spicer’s cameo appearance during the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards, hosted by Stephen Colbert, was controversial to say the least. His reference to his own falsified claim that President Trump’s inauguration crowd was “the largest ever” took nerve. Though initially received with surprise and laughter, many took to the internet quickly afterward to rightly condemn Colbert’s choice of guest. The issue with Spicer’s appearance was not that he made light of serious lies and that his perpetuation of “alternative facts” allowed discriminatory and sometimes violent political groups to gain traction without any factual support for their beliefs. The real issue was that Spicer never really made amends for the damage he wrought. Redeeming one’s public image usually seems to follow a certain process. First, you make your mistake. Second, you acknowledge your mistake. And third, you laugh about it at

the Emmys. Spicer forgot about step two. While his awkward personality and willingness to find humour in the situation are certainly endearing, it is nothing but a distraction from his lack of clear verbal remorse. In his interview with Jimmy Kimmel days before, you can see his regret. You can feel it and sense it, but you never hear it. Kimmel offered ample opportunities for Spicer to acknowledge his untruths, but Spicer unabashedly dodged the one question most viewers had on their minds: do you stand by President Trump’s lies? It seems that Spicer’s regret is not so much for the repercussions of his work for the American people but primarily for himself and the abuse he endured from the press while at the podium. As far as Spicer is concerned, he is as much the victim as the uneducated voter who now believes The New York Times peddles fake news. The part of him that does recognize his mistake, if it exists, seems unable to acknowledge it publicly, both because it would be an unwise political move, but also because he lacks the integrity. Compromising one’s beliefs to get ahead in the working world is not a unique position. This might have been excuse enough for Spicer’s lack of apology if he had remained under the radar and reaped no benefits from his work in disinformation. But that’s not

THE WHITE HOUSE/PUBLIC DOMAIN

what happened. Many celebrities were quick to embrace the ‘new Sean,’ flooding social media with selfies with him. Likewise, Spicer was quick to embrace his newfound popularity, no doubt a refreshing change from his dismal reputation while working for Trump. Television deals, public speaking gigs, and consulting jobs are now all on the table for him. Barely a month ago, Spicer turned down an offer to be on the 25th season of Dancing with the Stars. One needs not advocate for his punishment to agree that this kind of treatment is undeserved. The question we are left to ask are: where are the cheek kisses from James Corden for those of us who didn’t forget that Hitler also used chemical weapons? The speaking fees and consulting work for those who didn’t argue that we could “disagree on the facts?" The Harvard fellowships for the many of us who

HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH

did not commit Spicer’s greatest crimes of enabling and furthering the uninformed, racist, and misogynistic will of Donald Trump? It sets a poor political precedent that someone can work to effectively ban Muslims and still be rewarded so kindly by society’s elites. Sean Spicer’s words in the White House were neither as innocent as he now wants us to believe nor as guilty as an Instagram critique by Jason Isaacs that compared him to Nazi Joseph Goebbels makes them out to be. He is not President Trump, but he served as a willing mouthpiece who perpetuated lies for the Commander in Chief. He should be treated as such, or ignored, until he finds the strength to apologize, rather than be given Emmy cameos and celebrity companionship.

2017/2018 HART HOUSE THEATRE SEASON

U OF T’S PERFORMING ARTS LEADER SINCE 1919

HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH Book by John Cameron Mitchell Music and Lyrics by Stephen Trask Directed by Rebecca Ballarin Featuring James King and Lauren Mayer

SEPT. 22-OCT. 7, 2017 harthousetheatre.ca WARNING: Coarse language, mature themes and sexually explicit scenes

Season Sponsors:

16 • THE VARSITY • ARTS & CULTURE

arts@thevarsity.ca

TIFF film review: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri The Grolsch People’s Choice Award winner is a blisteringly hostile, cynical delight Arjun Kaul Varsity Contributor

This year’s Grolsch People’s Choice Award winner stands out from previous winners of the coveted TIFF award, which include La La Land, 12 Years a Slave, The King’s Speech, and Slumdog Millionaire. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is possibly the most cynical and blisteringly hostile movie to win the award in years, and TIFF is all the better for it. At the helm of this train of bitterness is Frances McDormand, who rampages through the film — and the small town inhabited by her character — in a fashion reminiscent of Michael Douglas’ adventures in Joel Schumacher’s Falling Down. Don’t be surprised when Oscar buzz starts surrounding McDormand, because her performance here might be her best since 1996’s Fargo. Here, McDormand's archetype of Midwestern niceness is channeled into the embittered Mildred Hayes, whose daughter has been raped and murdered in her small Missouri town. After months without news on the culprit from the police department, Mildred rents three billboards on a less-travelled road near the town and uses them to directly

call out the police for their lack of results. Director Martin McDonagh’s previous films, In Bruges and Seven Psychopaths, were great, at least in part because they were about horrible people caught in situations of their own horrible making. Yet here, in what may be his best film yet, McDonagh manages to pull off an altogether trickier task: making his characters not just funny or mean but thoroughly unpalatable through the questions they and the audience are forced to answer. In doing so, McDonagh masterfully applies shades of grey to seemingly every level of this film. What happens to our anger when we realize that the police might have already done all they could? What happens to our sympathy for Mildred when she reveals herself to be a deeply problematic, impulsive, and violent person — much like the people from whom she wants to protect her children? Credit must also go to the rest of the cast. Aside from an incredible turn from McDormand, Sam Rockwell stands out too, funnelling his genial and oddball image into the role of a friendly small-town cop who is racist, sexist, xenophobic, and frighteningly familiar. A viewer will recognize a union of

The Grolsch People's Choice Award is often a predictor of awards season success. Photo courtesy of TIFF

great writing and acting when it’s a struggle to distinguish a singular standout performance. Woody Harrelson is surprisingly sensitive, John Hawkes is heart-stoppingly menacing, and both Lucas Hedges and Peter Dinklage exhibit remarkable range. Thanks to McDonagh’s writing and other factors including Carter Burwell’s beautiful and thoroughly southern score, this is a world that feels incredibly lived-in. McDonagh’s theatre sensibilities shine through as he crafts a small town that feels as intimate as any stage.

The characters are noticeably emotive, emphasizing soft sighs, awkward glances, and choking back tears. Mildred’s anguish is visible in her every line and expression. In some ways, this movie is not without contradiction. It will make you sympathize with a racist, and it might even make you hate its protagonist. More than anything, it’s full of lively and engaging characters that the viewer will come to realize are simply tired of what life has thrown at them — whether it be death, sadness, boredom, or anything in between.

A lesser movie might simply explain that life is unfair and that forgiveness is all we have. McDonagh knows this and wisely shows people as being full of dimension and far from the platonic ideal of tolerance as their anger, bitterness, and passion bubble to the surface. By leaning into the mess and embracing the flaws of all its characters, the movie becomes a richly complex and memorable — not to mention hilarious — work of art.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch is hilarious and heartbreaking Spectacular performances from James King and Lauren Mayer add to the show's immersive experience Linh Nguyen Varsity Contributor

On September 22, Hart House Theatre kicked off its new season with a bang, opening with an amazing production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Its themes of gender and sexual identity are very relevant today. The show’s premise is especially creative: rock star Hedwig Robinson, played by James King, and her band, The Angry Inch, played by Giustin MacLean, Iain Leslie, Erik Larson, and Robert Purcell, are on tour, and Hart House Theatre is one stop along the way. The audience is integrated into the show, encouraged to sing along and raise their hands. The musical was also customized for the setting of both Hart House and Toronto. Jokes were made about the theatre’s subterranean setting and the lobby’s ‘funeral home’ quality. This blend of fiction and reality made the story much more engaging, funny, and personal for the audience.

Hedwig’s husband and back-up singer Yitzhak, played by Lauren Mayer, opened the show by reading the theatre rules, her skillful acting helping her draw laughter just by clearing her throat. With only six cast members, four of whom were non-speaking band members, the show’s success rested largely on Mayer and King’s shoulders — and both delivered spectacular performances. From Mayer’s comical opening to belting out bars of Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” to soloing “The Long Grift,” her powerful voice — in contrast with her quiet character — made for an impactful presence onstage. King’s performance was phenomenal. Even dealing with minor technical malfunctions and stumbling over lines, he recovered flawlessly and did not break character for a second. Despite the lack of intermission, the audience remained completely immersed — and, in the case of the man sitting in front of me who received a very enthusiastic lap-

dance, maybe too much so. Since the musical is supposed to be Hedwig’s concert, the band and their instruments dominated the set. There was nonetheless room for creativity in the production’s design, especially in Hedwig’s marvellous costumes and wigs and in the sets of certain songs, such as “Origin of Love.” The lighting details were also noteworthy, especially the shadows cast during the penultimate song, “Wicked Little Town (Reprise).” I found myself blown away by the show’s attention to detail and its stellar performances, which managed to be both hilarious and heartbreaking, sometimes simultaneously. Despite being familiar with the plot, I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. My friend, who came in knowing nothing about the show, felt similarly. The curtain was met with an immediate and much-deserved standing ovation. This story is sincere and touching, and the sheer emotional display by the actors — when delivered

James King as Hedwig. Photo courtesy of HART HOUSE THEATRE PRODUCTION

as well as it was in this production — is its strongest feature. Hedwig’s life is so unusual that almost no one can relate on a superficial level, but as King noted in an interview with The Varsity last week, everyone

can relate to the feelings of heartbreak and the desire for acceptance that lie at the core of the show. Hedwig and the Angry Inch is playing at Hart House Theatre until October 7.

Science

September 25, 2017 var.st/science science@thevarsity.ca

Should you run a marathon? Despite past fatalities, marathon running is generally good for you Andrea Tambunan Varsity Contributor

At 28 years old, Ryan Shay was an elite longdistance runner. He was among the many competitors fighting for a spot to represent the American team in the marathon event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Little did he know that qualifying run was going to be his last. Five and a half miles into the race, the athlete collapsed in Central Park. He was rushed to Lennox Hill Hospital, but, having suffered from heart failure, his life could not be saved. It’s stories like these that raise the question: are marathons doing more harm than good? The good Running has a long history of benefits to human health and physiology. One of its most well-known effects is on the cardiovascular system. Marathon running has been shown to lower one’s risk of fatal coronary disease. Direct correlations have also been found between running and life expectancy. Several studies have shown that runners experience an increase in life expectancy compared to non-runners. According to Professor Jack Goodman from the U of T Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, there are many benefits, both physiological and psychological, to running. “There’s clear health benefits from mental health [like] lower rates of depression [and] greater indices of quality of life,” he told The Varsity. “Cardiovascular health improves. The risk for chronic diseases like hypertension and heart disease and certain types of cancers...

Countless marathons take place worldwide every year. IAM_CHIHANG/CC FLICKR

are lower, for both men and women. There are physiological improvements in vessel function, heart function, [and] your muscles adapt and become more efficient,” he said. The bad Despite the innumerable health benefits to running, recent studies have released some conflicting results. A study published in Heart showed that excessive exercise for long periods of time can undo its health benefits. According to CBS News, “exercise... lasting longer than one to two hours can overload the heart.” Over many years, this could lead to thickening of the heart tissue, which in turn raises the risk of developing an irregular heartbeat and sudden cardiac death. Marathon running can also have negative effects on the blood vessels. “There’s a

recent study that has shown that the vessels that supply their heart — the coronary vessels — they may actually have a little bit more calcium in them than average, [and] calcium in a blood vessel isn’t a great thing because it’s involved in the process that helps clog the arteries up,” Goodman said. Recent evidence may also indicate a correlation between long distance running and cardiac scarring. Goodman and his colleagues are currently studying this correlation in middleaged long-distance runners and triathletes. “Out of about 85 — close to 100 — people that we’ve done, a small percentage do in fact show scarring on the heart muscle and fibrosis,” he said. While direct evidence has not clearly linked fibrosis, or scarring, with exercise, there is evidence indicating its presence in runners.

The cause At first glance, it may seem like endurance activity is the cause of death in many athletes. But according to Goodman, exercise is merely a trigger of an underlying heart condition. “In younger individuals, typically less than 40, a common cause of sudden death is a problem with their heart muscle that’s undetected and is likely hereditarily driven… Their heart muscle, even though it’s healthy on first appearance… they’re not really growing and maturing properly, and they’re very vulnerable to lethal arrhythmias,” he explained. “In other words, people with healthy heart[s] don’t die of a marathon,” Goodman said. He pointed to the well-known example of Ryan Shay. “It turns out that his heart wasn’t really healthy. It had a problem in the way [his] cells reproduce and he was vulnerable to a really bad arrhythmia.” The verdict While there is evidence of the benefits to physical exercise, proof of the dangers of marathon running have yet to be found. Although stories of athletes dying during marathons can come as a shock, scientifically, there is no cause for concern. Goodman noted that more lives are saved by having marathons. “We save more lives from motor vehicle accidents by closing roads off to run marathons than [we have] people dying of marathons… that’s how rare it is.” Long-distance running promotes good health and, with proper training, it brings little to no adverse effects. From what we know, marathon running can increase your life expectancy, and it sure won’t cut it short.

The power of science communication Samantha Yammine uses Instagram to share her research and enthusiasm for science Srivindhya Kolluru Varsity Contributor

Samantha Yammine is a PhD candidate in her final year at the University of Toronto in Dr. Derek van der Kooy’s Neurobiology Research Group. She is also a science communicator. Although science communication manifests in different ways, at its very core it’s about explaining science-related topics and research to non-experts. Scientists generally do this by stripping their research of jargon and voicing their message in ways that can be easily understood by the general public. Yammine started out in science communication by writing tweets for the Ontario Institute of Regenerative Medicine during the second year of her PhD studies. Since then, Yammine has moved her passion for science outreach to her Instagram account, science.sam. According to Robert A. Logan in his article “Science Mass Communication,” science communication started out in print during the first 30 years of the twentieth century in the US. Some scientists sought to educate the public about science to make rational public affairs decisions and improve the quality of their lives through science policy, public affairs, and public opinion.

The purpose of science communication hasn’t changed much since. Yammine explained to The Varsity that by communicating her research through various social media platforms, she hopes to pique her audience’s interest in science. “We talked a lot about policy and science policy and why communication is important so that we can have a positive impact on science policy in Canada,” said Yammine at the Science Writers and Communicators of Canada conference she attended two weeks ago in Ottawa. At the conference, Yammine and fellow science communicators discussed the role that social media plays in this field. With the rise of Twitter and Instagram, science communicators and journalists have had to keep up with social media’s pace and influence. Yammine regularly posts on her Instagram account, which has over 9,600 followers, and she has shared over 240 posts. She takes around 40 pictures a day, and only one or two will make it onto her Instagram. She shares pictures of brain stem cells, laboratory equipment, and different science events around Toronto. Last month, she covered the Dunlap Institute’s coverage of the solar eclipse and shared photos from the event. “I picture my lab mates reading and I also

picture my sister reading who is not in science,” said Yammine when explaining her process of posting content. Instagram is her social media outlet of choice because she is able to share both photos of her in the lab and of her doing normal things like going out to dinner. “If people aren’t going to listen to science, it’s because the people talking about it... might not relate to them or think that they’re trustworthy,” said Yammine. As a teaching assistant, Yammine noted that the classroom may be an intimidating setting for many students. “I think that communication needs to be taught more in science... It is a skill to learn, and I think science undervalues quality of writing to its detriment.” Yammine stressed that learning how to communicate through writing will be useful, especially for students considering graduate school, where they will eventually author publications and write grants. “Even in a lab report, your intro has a point — you’re introducing the topic that you’re studying.” In fact, she recommended that students learn to write concisely by using Twitter or Instagram, whose character limits force students to summarize their findings in short sentences. Science communication has been a re-

Samantha Yammine works as a science communicator to educate the public.

Photo by SYLVIA ALMEIDA, courtesy of SAMANTHA YAMMINE

warding experience for Yammine so far. Her favorite part is receiving messages from students who tell her they are motivated by her posts. She also loves seeing posts from other young women who are inspired to pursue science. “If you value science, and you want to combat pseudoscience and fake news, put your engagement, your clicks, your likes, your comments where your values are,” she said.

18 • THE VARSITY • SCIENCE

science@thevarsity.ca

AI can now identify people as gay or straight from their photo Algorithm achieves higher accuracy rates than humans Nouran Sakr Varsity Staﬀ

A study from Stanford University suggests that a deep neural network (DNN) can distinguish between gay and straight people, with 81 per cent accuracy in men and 71 per cent in women. The research was based on a sample of 35,326 facial images of white men and women that were posted publicly on a US dating website. The DNN, a machine learning system, was presented with pairs of images, where one individual was gay and the other was straight. The DNN’s algorithm displayed even higher accuracy rates when presented with five facial images per person: 91 per cent in men and 83 per cent accuracy in women. Human judges, when presented with one image, achieved a much lower accuracy rate: 61 per cent for men and 54 per cent for women. According to the research, there were certain trends in facial features that distinguished between gay and straight people. Narrower jaws, larger foreheads, and longer noses were common among gay men, while gay women were more likely to have smaller foreheads and wider jaws. The authors of the report, Yilun Wang and Michal Kosinski, concluded that homosexual

men and women have more androgynous or gender-atypical features, expressions, and grooming styles. Many are concerned that this kind of software may be a violation of people’s privacy and may also be abused for anti-LGBTQ+ purposes. Megan Boler, a professor at U of T’s Department of Social Justice Education, whose areas of expertise include sexual orientation, believed that the use of such psychometric data profiling is dangerous and is of little beneficial use for public or private interests. “One can easily envision how using AI to label facial photos ‘lesbian’ or ‘gay’ can be used in nefarious ways — to hurt individuals, violate privacy, make public information that should be private,” she wrote in an email to The Varsity. “Many employers or governments can discriminate against individuals if they believe they are lesbian or gay.” Boler stated that it is difficult to imagine how the use of this information could benefit the individuals or society. Mariana Valverde, a professor at U of T’s Centre for Criminology and Sociolegal Studies and one of the founders of the Sexual Diversity Studies program, believes that such technologies promote stereotypical thinking about sexual orientation and gender. “I would say

that whether using AI or using one’s own eyes, the idea that you can tell who’s gay and who’s straight by merely looking at a picture of their face is ridiculous,” she said. Graeme Hirst, a professor in the Department of Computer Science, stated that this technology could be an invasion of privacy if it were institutionalized, in the same way that other kinds of profiling could be. Hirst added that, although building a facial ‘gay or straight identifier’ is not very helpful, it could not be abused either. Given the percentage of error, he believes that if individuals or governments wanted to inflict harm on people based on their sexuality, they would find better ways to identify them. Hirst, however, thinks that technology cannot be blamed for any harm done, nor can its inventors if their intentions are good. The real issue, in his opinion, is rooted in people’s prejudice and intolerance, which allows them to misuse technology. “The real problem here is not that this technology could be used for bad things, the real problem is those bad things exist,” Hirst stated. The authors of the Stanford study also pointed out in their report that artificial intelligence could eventually be capable of finding links between facial features and political views, personality traits, or psychological disorders.

Before the age of the iPhone Devanshi Adhvaryu Varsity Contributor

Since the advent of the first cell phone four decades ago, the way people communicate has evolved and so have the devices used to communicate. In light of the recent release of Apple’s new iPhone 8, we take a look at how far cell phones have come through these years.

1989: Downsized “clamshell” flip phones When Motorola realized that its previous portable cell phones were inconvenient for consumers, they developed the MicroTAC 9800x. This was one of the first truly portable cell phones, dubbed the “clamshell,” and it was small enough to fit into a shirt pocket. It was one of the earlier versions of the flip phone. The new advancements brought together an LED display, a typical 12-button keyboard, hands-free operations, a calculator, and a market price upward of $2,500 USD. 1990s: The candy bar phones The public quickly caught on to the importance and utility of the cell phone in the 1990s, and many companies like Nokia, IBM, and Benefon Esc started to develop the candy bar

IRIS DENG/THE VARSITY

phone. As the name suggests, these new phones were the shape and size of a candy bar, and they came with the basic LED screen. 2000: The origin of the Nokia 3310 — and the memes that ensued The infamous Nokia 3310 made its entry into the public in the year 2000 and has developed to cult favourite status. It remains at the forefront of cell phone history due to its emergence in popular memes claiming its hypothetical durability to withstand the apocalypse. Due to the popularity of this model, Nokia released a new Nokia 3310 phone in 2017 to return to its roots. 2004: Hip new design The Motorola Razr’s sleek, slim, and super pocketable design made its way to the fashionforward crowd of the early 2000s. 2006: The rise of the Blackberry The classic Blackberry phones were the epitome of the mid-2000s, as the Blackberry-to-Blackberry instant messaging system was made specifically for the tech-savvy business individual. The phone had the standard keyboard, a 240by-260 pixel LCD screen, and more apps than any average phone of the time. 2007: The fall of the Blackberry When the legendary iPhone made its debut,

Charmaine Nyakonda Varsity Contributor

Tackling corruption in procurement: how open contracting improved healthcare in Nigeria, Ukraine and Honduras Have you ever wondered how people can overcome corruption to ensure sustainable development of healthcare in developing countries? The Graduate Department of Pharmaceutical Studies invites everyone to a presentation on a method used by researchers to counter hindrances brought about by corruption, which resulted in improved healthcare in Nigeria, Ukraine, and Honduras. Date: Thursday, September 28 Time: 12:00 pm Location: Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, 144 College Street, Room 450 Admission: Free Ethical Futures: Imagination and Governance in an Unequal World The science community has faced many developments in terms of agricultural biotechnology, assisted reproduction, and nuclear risk. Such scientific breakthroughs bring about ethical questions essential to the progression of science. Join Professor Sheila Jasanoﬀ in a seminar focused on how global societies can tackle the challenges that come with scientific and technological advancement.

The story of how our cell phones came to be

1983: The birth of the handheld portable cell phone This was the year of David Bowie, Pink Floyd, and Motorola’s release of the handheld portable cell phone, known as the DynaTAC 8000x. The ancient brick phone was the size of a shoe box. It had an LED screen and only 30 minutes of talk time. In the early 1980s, it was priced at a whooping $4,000 USD. A few years later, Motorola released the 4500x, which was considered a “mobile” device, despite having a battery that weighed about 3.5 kilograms. At this time, it was still considered a luxury and was priced at about $2,000 USD.

Science Around Town

the world of telecommunications changed forever. Steve Jobs set the precedent for smartphones today. The iPhone came with features such as the revolutionary multi-touch interface and a laudable 4GB storage space that would later give rise to today’s iPhone. Today: All about apps and features In the past, there were only a few competitors in the market for cell phones, but today, the number is countless. The rise of cell phones in recent years has taken the world of technology by storm. Since Apple’s release of the iPhone, smartphones with bigger and better apps and features have been tailgating the market. More and more competitors try to make their mark, introducing everything from waterproof phones to facial recognition security features. Needless to say, we’ve come a long way from 3.5 kilogram batterypacked “portable” cell phones. What’s next? There has been a ton of speculation on what the future of cell phones and telecommunications may be. So, what’s next? As of now, we can expect new features ranging from holographic screens to flexible frames. But whatever the future holds, consumers will be patiently waiting by as telecommunications continue to transform the world of technology.

Date: Friday, September 29 Time: 3:00–5:00 pm Location: Munk School of Global Affairs, 1 Devonshire Place, Vivian & David Campbell Conference Facility Admission: Free You are what you absorb Nutrition is an essential part of survival — we must gain the necessary resources from the environment to support our bodies’ cells. Supplements play a large role in our efforts to maintain health, but our bodies find it difficult to break down most of them. Health and Wellness consultant Helen Atwĳiyor will be giving a presentation about groundbreaking technologies designed to bypass the challenges faced by standard supplement products. Date: Saturday, September 30 Time: 5:00–6:00 pm Location: Studio.89, 1065 Canadian Place #104 Admission: Free

var.st/science

SEPTEMBER 25, 2017 â&#x20AC;¢ 19

Sports

September 25, 2017 var.st/sports sports@thevarsity.ca

Varsity Blue Julia Gonsalves battling against Ottawa Gee-Gees defender Lauren Da Luz. ANDY TAKAGI/THE VARSITY

Blues weekend soccer recap Blues men and women enjoy undefeated weekend Silas LeBlanc and Daniel Samuel Varsity Staﬀ

The University of Toronto Varsity Blues soccer program had another strong home weekend at Varsity Stadium, earning one victory and two draws. The Blues women’s team defeated the Carleton Ravens and tied the Ottawa Gee-Gees, while the men’s team extended their unbeaten streak to nine and moved into second place in the OUA East standings with a 6-0-3 record following their 1–1 draw against the rival Ryerson Rams. Nick Lambis scored a late equalizer for the Rams on Saturday in the 85th minute to prevent the Blues men from earning their seventh victory of the season. In the 18th minute, Kenny Lioutas had opened the scoring when he headed home Marko Mandekic’s free kick. Following the draw, the Rams remain seventh in the league standings, having forfeited their first six games of the season the previous week for playing an academically ineligible player. “We know that Ryerson is a good team and that we may end up seeing them again in the playoffs, so this was a taste of what we will see come October,” Blues head coach Anthony Capotosto said in the team’s official press release following the match. “I thought that our guys put in a great shift today, fought for one another, and picked up a very important point against a very good team.” The Blues women opened their weekend doubleheader with a 1–0 victory over the Carleton Ravens on Saturday. In the tightly contested match, Blues forward Chelsea Cheung proved to be the only difference, netting the game winner in the final minutes of the match. Cheung followed a shot off the crossbar and placed her rebound attempt in the back of the net.

The Blues women also played host to the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees on Sunday, a match that ended in a 2–2 draw as both teams fought to maintain possession and created chances throughout the match. Cheung continued her strong form, netting a goal from the top of the box in the 12th minute for her fifth goal of the season. Following the goal, Ottawa sustained pressure in the Blues’ defensive third. Ottawa’s persistence eventually paid off, as Gee-Gee Faythe Lou tied the game in the 33rd minute. As the game continued in the second half, both teams played evenly, with scoring chances occurring at both ends. The tie was not broken until a long pass sent Natasha Klasios on a one-on-one with an Ottawa defender. She beat the defender and the keeper with a shot from inside the box to give Toronto a 2–1 lead in the 63rd minute. Toward the end of the game, Toronto attempted to hold on to this lead by playing conservatively and not allowing themselves to get caught too far in Ottawa’s end. This strategy did not pay off, however, as an Ottawa free kick from 30 yards out set up a perfect chance for Gee-Gee Katherine Bearne. She did not waste this opportunity and struck the ball into the back of the net to tie the game at two goals apiece. In a nerve-wracking final 10 minutes, Ottawa looked to have taken the lead in the 85th minute. However, the goal was quickly called offside. In the final few minutes, Ottawa looked dominant, but the Blues held on until the final whistle and secured a draw. The Blues women maintain fourth place in the OUA East and their record now stands at 5-4-1.

ANDY TAKAGI/THE VARSITY

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SEPTEMBER 25, 2017 • 21

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Air Canada Centre to become Scotiabank Arena Controversial name change result of $800 million deal Barry Sangha Varsity Contributor

The beloved home of the Toronto Raptors and the Maple Leafs is undergoing a controversial internal renovation in the form of a name change. On August 29, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) sold the naming rights to the arena, formerly known as the Air Canada Centre (ACC), to Scotiabank, which will change the name of the stadium to the Scotiabank Arena as of July 2018. The change is intended to last for 20 years. Although the final numbers of this deal remain unknown, a TSN source claims that Scotiabank will pay roughly $800 million under this deal. The figures round out to about $40 million per season, which exponentially tops the previous deal between MLSE and Air Canada that sat at around $4 million per season. But local fans must know that Air Canada is not completely out of the picture. It will remain the airline that represents the Toronto Raptors and Toronto Maple Leafs for the foreseeable future. Scotiabank’s deal with MLSE costs roughly $25 million more than Staples’ deal to own

the naming rights to the Staples Centre. The deal also overshadows the figure for the naming rights of Madison Square Garden, which was around $3 million. How could an arena outside of the US foster one of the biggest naming rights deal in modern history? “To be honest, it wasn’t that difficult to find interested suitors,” MLSE Chief Commercial Officer David Hopkinson told the Toronto Sun. “We felt we had a very good sense of what the market would bear.” The name change is one of many that local attractions in Toronto have undergone. In previous years, the SkyDome was renamed to the Rogers Centre, the Molson Canadian Amphitheatre was renamed to the Budweiser Stage, and the Bloor Cinema was renamed to the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema. The ACC and its history will forever be engrained in our hearts. Although the era of the Vince Carters, the Chris Boshs, and the Mats Sundins has ended, a new era for sports in Toronto is upon us. With MLSE franchises continuing to build and reach new peaks in their respective leagues, perhaps it’s fitting that this era begins under a new name.

The Air Canada Centre has retained its name since it opened in 1999. STEVEN LEE/THE VARSITY

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22 • THE VARSITY • SPORTS

sports@thevarsity.ca

The life of a Varsity Blues cheerleader Daniela Ruscica explains what it takes to be on the pom team Daniela Ruscica Varsity Contributor

School life Like all Varsity athletes, as a cheerleader, you cannot let outside factors affect your academics, game, or performance. Early morning classes can be difficult when you’ve just had a late night practice. And it’s tough having to manage five to six courses a semester while maintaining a decent GPA and attending practice regularly. Many disregard just how much time, effort, training, and creativity goes into our final product. While there are many stereotypes surrounding cheerleaders, there is more to each person behind the pom-poms. As a commitment that goes up to 10 hours

SP RTS SP RTS

“Blue and white, let’s fight Blues fight,” echoes from the sidelines as we, the University of Toronto Pom Team, cheer on the home team. As excitement builds from minute to minute and point after point, our jobs grow in importance. The pom team consists of dancers and cheerleaders who perform sideline routines and cheer on and support Varsity Blues teams during each football, basketball, and volleyball season. We bring talent and spirit to the stadium and court to motivate the crowd. While we cheer on the teams, the audience provides us with motivation; feeding off their excitement and energy is what truly makes it possible for us to perform and be at our best. The hype begins at practice and continues during the countdown leading up to game day. Who we are Many of us started out as dancers, but once given pompoms, you never want to put them down. Why do I do what I do? Being a cheerleader puts me in a competitive atmosphere that demands peak performance and perfect execution. I was that girl who, upon recovering from a dance injury, wanted to get right back to dancing and performing. We train to be our best and attempt to prove that there isn’t a circumstance that can stop our passion. Being a part of the pom team is important for me personally — it’s the way I de-stress and do what I love a few nights a week. Representing U of T is a privilege for all Varsity athletes. Not only are we representing ourselves, we are representing our teammates and the university as a whole. We become part of the game, and like a player seeking out a victory, we are fully involved, play after play. Beyond home games, the pom team attends many special events. Each year we share our talents at the Santa Claus parade and Scotiabank Marathon, and many of us are also involved with charity work and volunteering. Our strong team bond makes it possible for us to trust one another and help each other improve on our weaknesses. Waiting for progress at times may seem stressful, but with the proper mindset, we are all capable of achieving our goals. The stress of practice results in ups, downs, and pressure to not only remember all your routines, but to keep your friends and social life together.

write for

SP RTS SP RTS Varsity pom team member Daniela Ruscica.

Photo courtesy of THE VARSITY BLUES

per week, the life of a cheerleader is just as serious as a member of any other Blues sports team. All the work is done behind the scenes, and the end result is put on display. Practices are mandatory to establish routines and cheer: they ensure everyone is in sync and that the performance is ready for game day. The build-up to game day There is a lot of hype surrounding the leadup to game day. There is no better feeling for a cheerleader than having a full stadium of fans filled with energy. From the staff to the players, excitement is written on everyone’s face. As cheerleaders, we must arrive before the scheduled game time for our pre-game preparation, which consists of a warm-up, going over our routines, welcoming fans, and encouraging each other to perform. Previous pom teams at U of T choreographed a fight song routine to the traditional “Blue and White” song composed in 1908. In honour of keeping the culture and our university’s history, the pom team performs this dance each time the Varsity Blues football team scores a touchdown. Another important ritual is our cheer after a practice, but especially after a game. No matter the outcome — win or loss — the game is fought together. The team will huddle up in a circle, put their poms in the centre and cheer our team motto. This is the last thing we do as a team to show unity and support for one another. Whether you are a fan, a player on the team, or have pompoms or not, when the final play is made and the last whistle blows, you become part of the home team.

SP RTS SP RTS SP RTS SP RTS SP RTS SPORTS email sports@thevarsity.ca

SEPTEMBER 25, 2017 • 23

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WEEKLY BOX SCORES BASEBALL

Varsity Blues

1–3 9–2

Varsity Blues

8–7 2–6

September 23

September 24

Queen’s Gaels

Guelph Gryphons

FASTPITCH

8-0

Varsity Blues

Laurier Golden Hawks

FOOTBALL 16–41

September 23 Varsity Blues

York Lions

FIELD HOCKEY 0–3 September 23

Varsity Blues

York Lions

1–1 Western Mustangs

Varsity Blues

LACROSSE MEN’S

3–26

September 22 Varsity Blues

Western Mustangs

10–9

September 24

McMaster Marauders

Varsity Blues

WOMEN’S

10–12 Queen’s Gaels

Varsity Blues

September 24

13–3 UOIT Ridgebacks

Varsity Blues

MEN’S

SOCCER 1–1

September 23 Varsity Blues

Ryerson Rams

WOMEN’S

1–0

September 23

Carleton Ravens

Varsity Blues

September 24 Varsity Blues

MEN’S

2–2

UOttawa Gee-Gees

RUGBY 15–44

September 23 Varsity Blues

RMC Paladins

WOMEN’S

26–27

September 23 Varsity Blues

Blues drop fourth game of the season with loss to Lions Daniel Samuel Sports Editor

11–8

September 22

York Lions defeat Varsity Blues 41–16 to win Argos Cup

Trent Excalibur

The York University Lions defeated the University of Toronto Varsity Blues football team 41–16 in the 48th annual Red and Blue Bowl to win the Argo Cup at York’s Alumni Field in Toronto. The Lions put together a dominant performance, nearly doubling their first-half total in their homecoming victory. York quarterback Brett Hunchak put together a calm and collected effort, completing 19 of 27 attempts for 244 yards and three touchdowns. Adam Adeboboye had a standout performance, making 14 catches for 140 yards and hauling in two touchdown passes. Blues quarterback Clay Sequeira started the second half over regular starter Connor Ennis for Toronto. Sequeira completed 10 of 19 pass attempts for 225 yards, threw one touchdown, and made one interception, while Ennis threw for 54 yards, completing five of nine passes. Sequeira was constantly under pressure and was forced to scramble often, running for 30 yards on three attempts, and he also provided the Blues with their lone rushing touchdown of the night with 10:01 left in the third quarter. Jaykwon Thompson provided the Blues

The Blues failed to beat York.

Photo by MARTIN BAZYL, courtesy of THE VARSITY

with their best highlight of the game. Thompson made a quick catch and broke free for an 85-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter. The rookie receiver made five catches for 130 yards. Blues running back Kaleb Leach returned to action against York and ran for 70 yards for 14 attempts. The Blues return to action October 5 against McMaster University at Varsity Stadium.

SEPTEMBER 25, 2017 • 24

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