September 26, 2016

Naomi Klein speaks at LaFontaine-Baldwin Lecture page 4

Vol. CXXXVII, No. 4 September 26, 2016 thevarsity.ca —— The University of Toronto’s Student Newspaper Since 1880

Schism at St. Mike’s On September 19, SMC President David Mulroney announced intentions to put forth a new policy governing its main campus groups. Mulroney criticized SMCSU’s program of events for being at odds with SMC’s reputation as a Catholic institution and decried the union’s financial management practices and expenditures.

PHOTO BY SANDRO PEDHAR, COURTESY OF THE OFFICE OF DAVID MULRONEY

Tom Yun News Editor

President of the University of St. Michael’s College (SMC) David Mulroney plans to release a new policy governing its relationship with its three main campus groups.

The proposed framework was presented to the Collegium — SMC’s highest governing body — last Wednesday, and it would affect St. Michael’s College Student Union, The Mike newspaper, and the St. Michael’s College Residents’ Council.

Mulroney announced his intention to report on the proposed policy

to the Collegium last Monday in a blog post on SMC’s website.

Unlike many of the levy-collecting student societies on campus, such as the University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU), the three main student groups at SMC are not separately incorporated entities and exist as organizations within SMC. In an interview with The Varsity, Mulroney explained that the policy would formalize accountability measures for mandatory levies that the college collects and transfers to the student groups. The policy would also see an academic advisor appointed to all three of the student

groups.

SMC has previously lacked such a policy governing student societies. U of T policy requires student societies to submit audited financial statements of the previous year before December 31 and operate in a matter that is “open, accessible, and democratic.” Failure to do so may result in the university withholding the student society’s levy funds.

“While we are the instrument that passes over the student levy, increasingly, the best practice at U of T is before we pass it over, we’d like to be sure that you have in place mechanisms for managing it transparently

and fairly,” he said. “At U of T, there’s a kind of governance framework that says why and how you do this, why the administration has the right to do that. At St. Mike’s, we didn’t have that constitution in place.”

SMCSU President Zachary Nixon declined The Varsity’s requests for comment. In a public Facebook post, SMCSU Vice-President Jessica Afonso expressed her discontent at Mulroney’s blog post, saying that many of the issues raised were already being addressed by SMCSU’s executive, and that the union ought to be treated as an autonomous entity.

SMCSU, page 3

Comment

Features

Sports

Science

UN-fair?

Questioning the United Nations’ criticism of Israel

Suffering inside Eating disorders are physically and mentally harmful

The skating dead Zombies hit the ice at Varsity Arena

Reptile rising U of T researchers discover a new species of lizard

Page 10

Page 12

Page 22

Page 20

2 • THE VARSITY • NEWS

news@thevarsity.ca

Photo of the week

Vol. CXXXVII, No. 4 21 Sussex Avenue, Suite 306 Toronto, ON, M5S 1J6 416-946-7600 thevarsity.ca thevarsitynewspaper @TheVarsity the.varsity the.varsity The Varsity

MASTHEAD Alex McKeen Editor-in-Chief

editor@thevarsity.ca

Jacob Lorinc Managing Online Editor

online@thevarsity.ca

Jaren Kerr Managing Editor Mubashir Baweja Creative Director

managing@thevarsity.ca creative@thevarsity.ca

Ariel Gomes Senior Copy Editor

copy@thevarsity.ca

Tom Yun News Editor

news@thevarsity.ca

Teodora Pasca Comment Editor Rachel Chen Features Editor Lisa Power Arts & Culture Editor Shaan Bhambra Science Editor

comment@thevarsity.ca features@thevarsity.ca arts@thevarsity.ca

Sean Smith Sports Editor

sports@thevarsity.ca

Vanessa Wang Design Editor

design@thevarsity.ca

Nathan Chan Photo Editor

photo@thevarsity.ca

Elham Numan Illustration Editor

illustration@thevarsity.ca video@thevarsity.ca

Shaq Hosein Video Editor Isaac Seah and Tony Lee Web Developers

web@thevarsity.ca

Mahdi Chowdhury Associate Design Editor

Perlyn Cooper Associate Comment Editor

Vacant Associate Photo Editor

Vacant Associate Features Editor

Vacant Associate Illustration Editor

Gabrielle Warren Associate A&C Editor

Vacant Associate Video Editor

Hannah Fung and Connie Liu Associate Science Editors

Vacant Associate Senior Copy Editor Kaitlyn Simpson and Emaan Thaver Associate News Editors

Nighttime view of Front Campus. NATHAN CHAN/THE VARSITY

science@thevarsity.ca

Vacant Associate Sports Editor

Recipe Spaghetti Carbonara INGREDIENTS: • • • • • • • •

5 rashers of bacon 3 cloves of garlic 1 cup of white wine 1/2 cup parmesan cheese a healthy dose of black pepper 3 eggs mushrooms (optional) spaghetti

INSTRUCTIONS: 1.

2.

3.

Copy Editors Uma Kalkar, Sayeh Yousefi, Dorsa Rafiei, Adriana Areco, Madison Bruno, Jared Conny, Karen Tang, Eleanor Lazarova, Michael Teoh, Julie Shi, Sophia Savva, Emma Clarke, Kelly Bilenkis, Marcelo Rondon, Zi Ting You, Lauren Park, Evan Maude, Rishika Wadehra, Nic Bryenton, Brock Edwards, Sean Smith, Adina Samuels, Sameen Chaudhry, Nadin Ramadan

4.

5.

Designers Joshua Ugiomah, Jillian Schuler, Sonali Gill, Piyumi Konara, Shiqi Ju, Alexander Hurka, Mahdi Chowdhury

7.

6.

Mix garlic, wine, and pepper, then set aside Whisk the eggs together, mix in the cheese, then also set aside Slice bacon strips into 1/4 inch pieces, fry in pan until the edges start to brown Boil pasta When the bacon begins to brown add the wine mixture, bring to a boil, and let simmer until pasta is cooked Drain the pasta when cooked, add egg mixture, and mix thoroughly Add wine mixture, mushrooms, then toss and serve

business@thevarsity.ca

Kary Cozens Business Associate

kary@thevarsity.ca

Yaakov Spivak Advertising Executive

3

23

2

15

2

13

2

13

2

9

1

4

1

Theft

Suspicious person

Trespass

Mischief

Medical

Emergency phonecall

4

Suspicious package

yaakov@thevarsity.ca

The Varsity is the University of Toronto’s largest student newspaper, publishing since 1880. It is printed by Master Web Inc. on recycled newsprint stock. Content © 2016 by The Varsity. All rights reserved. Any editorial inquiries and/or letters should be directed to the sections associated with them; emails listed above. The Varsity reserves the right to edit all submissions.

Inquiries regarding ad sales can be made to ads@thevarsity.ca. ISSN: 0042-2789

25

Suspicious circumstance

BUSINESS OFFICE Cherlene Tay Business Manager

Crime Reportings September 1–22

CORRECTIONS: An article in the September 19 issue entitled “Fusion Radio seeks 200 per cent levy increase in referendum” misspelled the names Ramisa Tasfia and Ayman Ali. The Varsity regrets the error.

Harrassment

Suspicious incident

Noise

Dispute

Indecent act

Demonstration

Missing person

SEPTEMBER 26, 2016 • 3

var.st/news SMCSU, from cover

NATHAN CHAN/THE VARSITY

SMCSU’s expenses included expensive lunches and trips to Blue Mountain.

Financial management issues at SMCSU Despite the lack of a formalized policy, the college withheld SMCSU’s fees twice last year for failing to retain a charted accountant and to publicly announce its annual general meeting (AGM).

“We did that just because we felt responsibly, we needed to ask these questions,” said Mulroney. “But this [policy] now makes explicit that our ability to do that [sic].”

SMCSU is currently the subject of an ongoing investigation, which the college initiated in July.

Mulroney explained the investigation found that SMCSU’s finances were primarily cash-based due to the union’s frequent club nights that take cash at the door and are often poorly accounted for.

“Being a cash-based organization we felt was problematic,” he explained. “Then, we found out, and were sort of horrified to discover, that after club nights, the take isn’t counted for about a month, it just goes into the safe. And people were writing IOU notes, taking cash and writing IOU notes.”

In his blog post on the SMC web-

site, Mulroney decried what he called an “entitlement culture” present in SMCSU’s leadership and compared the union to a fraternity house.

According to Mulroney, the investigation also found that SMCSU executives expensed trips to Blue Mountain with the previous executives “without really an agenda” and frequently used union money to purchase meals that ranged between $80 to $100.

Mulroney continued, “It was compounded by the financial mismanagement because we found that people were being reimbursed by Paypal accounts that other members of SMCSU didn’t even know about.

And that, while some people thought that there was only one key for the cash box, there were actually several keys for the cash box.”

“When we asked people about it… they said, ‘Well, we thought because we work very hard, this was a way of rewarding us. There was no other reward for us.’ That’s what every organization tells itself, what every public servant who goes wrong tells himself or herself. ‘I’m entitled to this because I have to work hard.’ So there’s a very hard lesson here but it’s a lesson that’s being learned with

other people’s money.”

Mulroney also clarified his comparison of SMCSU to a fraternity: “Because one of the people who came forward said, ‘When I think about it, we’re more like a fraternity because we have things that we’re told are secrets that belong to SMCSU.’” SMCSU’s events Mulroney’s criticisms also concerned SMCSU-run events. In his blog post, he wrote, “SMCSU’s program of activities had almost nothing to do with the life of a Catholic intellectual community” and described the relationship between the college and the union as “two solitudes.”

“I had specific comments about club nights themed ‘Cowboys and Schoolgirls.’ I said, ‘I think that’s sexist and inappropriate,’” said Mulroney. “I had particular comments about another SMCSU event. I think it was called a ‘Bachelor/Bachelorette Auction’ and by chance, I happened to be walking through Brennan Hall coming from another event when it was going on, and I said, ‘I think that event is wrong on many levels and I don’t want it to be happening at St. Mike’s.’”

Mulroney also targeted Brennan

Hall, which is the college’s lounge space and also houses SMCSU’s offices. He told The Varsity that the space was becoming “unfriendly” and identified the pool table that was placed there as a “magnet for territorial and possessive behaviour.”

“Every time I’d walk by the pool table, guys were really, really swearing. There was a woman at the Tim Horton’s ten feet away who was covering her ears,” he said.

Mulroney continued: “I got a message from a woman who works at St. Mike’s, and she said, ‘David, I was in Brennan Hall this afternoon and I felt that it was [an] unfriendly space to women. The music was kind of sexist, misogynist. Can you do something about that?’ So, I had raised this with SMCSU many times. We finally just took the pool table out.”

In addition, Mulroney said that he had asked SMCSU if the union could help sponsor a Syrian refugee family, at the request of a group of Theology students. “Their immediate response was, ‘That’s not part of our agenda. We’re busy. The students won’t want to sponsor it.’”

SMCSU eventually agreed to help with the sponsorship, but an audit found that the union had not paid the money it pledged.

Mulroney, who is an SMC alum, described SMCSU during his time as an undergraduate student as “very socially committed.”

“This was an activist campus. And I find now the focus is so much on social events that it’s very hard to squeeze in, to get attention from them for things [that] are really worthy of that,” he explained.

Reaction According to Mulroney, reception to his announcement has been mixed.

He has received “a lot of responses from people who are involved with SMCSU saying, ‘This is unfair and, you know, what about all the good things that we do, and let’s preserve the status quo,’ and others from stu-

dents who are saying, ‘I always felt closed off from SMCSU, I never felt welcome, I thought it was like a club that I wouldn’t belong in. I didn’t even feel welcome in Brennan Hall.’”

In her Facebook post, Afonso said that the announcement was unwelcome, and that the policy Mulroney proposed was unnecessary. “The investigation is still in progress, but the College wanted to take some seemingly proactive (but more like “preemptive”) measures to ensure that the the [sic] union’s Council was operating to the highest standards of accountability and transparency,” reads a portion of Afonso’s Facebook post. “Here’s the thing: The Executives already wanted to do all these things with our Council.”

Afonso’s post went on to explain that the executives had already planned measures, such as holding another AGM, transitioning away from a cash-based system, making changes to the sort of events hosted by the union, and “[restoring] the relationships between SMCSU, our clubs, the College’s administration, SMRC, the Mike, and the don teams.”

“This year’s Council was doing everything a bit differently, and arguably better,” Afonso continues. “But hey, question, did we get an ounce of credit for that? Nope. And this article sure as hell reinforces that answer.”

Afonso also stressed the importance of SMCSU’s autonomy: “As a Council, WE decide on the events, programs and services offered. You gave us that autonomy because you trust us; we come from similar demographics, similar experiences, similar opinions, and similar values.

We share similar aspirations. Who really knows you better: the College’s senior administration, or us?

We have an entire year to enhance your experience at the College, so let US make it happen.”

UTMSU to hold plebiscite on effectiveness of Governing Council Plebiscite data to shape structural reform, UTSMU president says Katrina Wozniuk Varsity Contributor

The University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union (UTMSU) wants to know if students feel represented at Simcoe Hall through the Governing Council. The union is holding a plebiscite asking, “Do you believe that through the Governing council, students are part of decision making at the University of Toronto?”

Nour Alideeb, President of UTSMU, told The Varsity “The information from the plebiscite question will be presented to relevant stakeholders to support or dispute proposals for structural reform.”

Unlike a referendum, a plebiscite is nonbinding and is being adminis-

tered to for the purpose of soliciting feedback from students.

Alideeb believes the Governing Council is in need of structural reform because of potential unequal student representation.

“There are a number of issues with Governing Council ranging from unfair electoral processes and lack of transparency to poor representation of graduate, undergraduate, full time and part time students,” she explained.

“With that being said, some of the major topics that impact [students’] lives the most, such as tuition, parking, residence and food costs, often increase with little to no student input.”

Currently, there are 50 members on U of T’s Governing Council,

which makes decisions on the university’s most important issues. Of those, 25 members are administrative staff, teaching staff, and current students. The other 25 members are from external groups, such as alumni and Lieutenant-Governorin-Council appointees.

Alideeb says that she hopes for structural reform in order to get students and U of T staff more involved with the Governing Council.

“I would like to see a structure wherein the proportion of students, staff, faculty, and administration have equal seating,” she said. “The current structure seems to exclude student voices and prioritize external groups for what happens at the University of Toronto.”

Currently, UTM Campus Council

DOMINICK HAN/THE VARSITY

Voting will take place from September 27–29. represents UTM and reports to the Governing Council. Before the UTM Campus Council was established in 2013, Alideeb explains that there was the Erindale College Council. “[The Erindale College Council] was comprised of over 40 students, full time, part time, graduate, undergraduate, union representatives… teaching staff, and administration. Students made up

over a third of the committee to ensure that students’ issues were at the forefront of all discussions.”

Voting for the plebiscite will take place from September 27–29.

Polling stations will be located at the Instructional Centre; the Communication, Culture, Technology Building; and the Davis building.

4 • THE VARSITY • NEWS

news@thevarsity.ca

Naomi Klein speaks as LaFontaine-Baldwin Lecturer at 6 Degrees conference Klein talks citizenship, climate change, Leap Manifesto Kaitlyn Simpson Associate News Editor

Activist, author, and journalist Naomi Klein was chosen as the speaker of this year’s fourteenth LaFontaineBaldwin Lecture that took place last Monday at Koerner Hall.

The lecture entitled “The Leap Years: Canada Beyond Extractivism” was part of 6 Degrees, a threeday forum spearheaded by the Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC).

During the event, leaders came together to discuss problems relating to citizenship and inclusivity and to propose possible solutions to these complex problems.

Klein’s work has primarily focused on economics and writing books, such as No Logo: Taking Aim at the Brand Bullies and The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism, where she criticized corporate capitalism and neoliberalism.

More recently, Klein has turned her attention to the dangers of climate change. Her latest book, This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. the Climate, was a New York Times bestseller and has garnered significant attention world-wide as a reality check on the relationship between climate change and capitalism.

Klein is also heavily involved in Canadian politics. She helped to create a policy proposal aimed at combating climate change, called the Leap Manifesto.

A former U of T student, Klein once served as The Varsity’s Editorin-Chief. She dropped out of U of T after her third year to pursue a position at The Globe and Mail.

An Indigenous powwow drum group called the Smoke Trail Singers performed at the event. They performed a piece called “An Honour Song for Mother Earth’s gift of the waters which provide for us all,” and then delivered a statement of land recognition to the territory of Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nations.

Canadian philosopher John Ralston Saul introduced Klein to the stage and conducted an interview with her after the lecture.

The lecture ended with the Nai Syrian Children’s choir singing “Singing for Peace” in Arabic, English, and French. The choir consisted of Syrian children ages six to 12, who are all recently-arrived refugees to Canada.

Klein on Canadian stories While introducing Klein and her vast body of work, Saul recounted a history of Canada, putting particular emphasis on Louis-Hippolyte LaFontaine and Robert Baldwin, the 1848–1851 leaders of The Great Ministry, “a government built on di-

Klein warns that Canada’s current environmental policies could result in 4–6 degrees of warming. MAYA WONG/THE VARSITY versity, inclusion, non-violence and a powerful commitment to the public good.”

Klein also spoke about Canada and the many different stories that make up this country. She began with her own Canadian story and her “dirty Canadian secret” as she calls it: “I’m actually American.”

Klein went on to explain her story of holding joint citizenship with the US and Canada, as her parents were born in the US. More critically, Klein addressed some of Canada’s darker stories: “It can be painful to look too closely at the stories that make us feel good,” she said.

Klein spoke of Canada’s involvement in wars, as well as institutionalized racism in the immigration system where migrants can be “thrown in jail for years, charged with absolutely no crime.”

“Three migrants have died in detention in Canadian jails, just since March,” Klein continued.

Canadian stories, values, and identity are not fixed concepts, she argued.

Instead, Klein explained, they

are bound to change and sometimes this is not without struggles, “which is why regular people, not just governments, need to be active participants in this process of retelling and re-imagining our collective story.”

Making the leap Klein spoke extensively about the Leap Manifesto and the research and consultation process involved in its creation.

The Leap Manifesto is a list of callsto-action that Klein co-wrote, which became the subject of debate at April’s New Democratic Party convention. The manifesto calls for the complete removal of non-renewable energy sources in Canada with an approach that recognizes Indigenous communities as the “original caretakers of this land.”

The document also calls for rapid and radical change to the structure of Canada’s economy, instead of a gradual approach to weening off non-renewable resources.

It has received significant amounts of feedback from all parts of the political spectrum. Some poli-

ticians were particularly, upset by the manifesto. For example, Alberta Premier Rachel Notley called the manifesto “naïve” and “tone deaf.”

Despite the apparent backlash, the Leap Manifesto has garnered 42,451 signatories, including Neil Young, Ellen Page, and Alanis Morissette. It has also been endorsed by various organizations and some businesses, including the Toronto chapter of Black Lives Matter, Idle No More, and LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics.

Klein stressed the importance of “climate justice” and how issues of climate change intersect with other issues: “This is a global movement that is about finding integrated solutions, policy that will radically impact climate science, while simultaneously fight inequality on every front — particularly racial injustice.”

Klein commented that, when planning for the Leap Manifesto, the authors ensured that nostalgia would not be a theme because the past “never represented Indigenous sovereignty” and “excluded many communities of colour” from the conversation.

Canada, Klein argued, is a moderate nation that is adverse to extreme change; this is why Klein doesn’t deny the fact that the Leap Manifesto is a radical document.

Klein argues that the absence of a “leap” in Canada’s policies and practices will inevitably lead to a radical place because: “If we stay on the road we’re on and we don’t do much of anything, it takes us to a very radical place: 4-6 degrees of warming.”

“This is why I sometimes say the future is radical, we just have to choose which kind of radical we want,” Klein continued.

Former Governor General of Canada Adrienne Clarkson concluded the event by discussing the ICC and 6 Degrees: “You know, John Ralston Saul and I co-founded the ICC a little over 10 years ago after leaving Rideau Hall; we dreamed of having something that we have now — like 6 Degrees.” She described the importance of welcoming newcomers and assisting them in their transition to Canadian life.

SEPTEMBER 26, 2016 • 5

var.st/news

CFS responds to letter from 10 student unions calling for reform UTSU one of 10 signatories Aidan Currie Varsity Contributor

NATHAN CHAN/THE VARSITY

The CFS continues its advocacy efforts on campus.

The National Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) has told The Varsity that she will work with each of the 10 student unions that signed onto a letter calling for CFS reforms. The University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU) was one of the signatories of the open letter, which was released Monday.

According to UTSU President Jasmine Wong Denike, the UTSU and nine other student unions began work on the letter after the CFS National General Meeting in June.

Denike stated that the signatories of the letter “would like to require the CFS to post all of its important documents — including minutes and financial statement — online” and to guarantee speaking rights for members who submit motions to a general meeting. Denike expressed support for reforming the process of leaving and joining the federation by introducing

measures such as online voting for referendums.

When asked about the contents of the letter, CFS Chairperson Bilan Arte said that they have “taken seriously the issues raised and commit to working with these students’ unions and others to ensure their concerns are addressed.” She also noted that the CFS would follow up with all 10 of the students’ unions that signed the letter.

Despite the criticisms, the letter affirms that the signatories remain committed to the CFS’ principles.

A portion of the final paragraph of the letter reads, “We hope that our fellow members will work with us to create a fairer, more open Federation in which all students feel at home.”

Arte explained that the CFS encourages member participation, ensures that every submitted motion is held to debate, and that every delegate receives a copy of the

minutes and financial information, adding that the CFS is working to get more documents online so that students may freely access them.

“While it’s important to review internal processes, students’ unions and the CFS also exist to fight for students,” said Arte, while citing the CFS’ involvement on campuses with regards to their campaign to eliminate tuition fees.

Meanwhile, other student groups are in the midst of a petition campaign — called You Decide UofT — in an attempt to have a referendum on the UTSU’s continued membership with the CFS. In response to the UTSU’s letter, You Decide UofT representative Jonathan Webb told The Varsity that the campaign is “neutral and has no reaction to the content of the letter” but believes it will be a good discussion piece in the event they should be successful in having a referendum.

UTSU launches campaign against sexual violence, holds town hall Campaign a response to U of T’s Draft Policy on Sexual Violence

Under provincial legislation, universities are required to have a policy on sexual violence in place by January 2017.

LOGO COURTESY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO STUDENTS’ UNION

Kaitlyn Simpson Associate News Editor

The University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU) held a consultation session last Monday on the university’s Draft Policy on Sexual Violence. The consultation session also marked the launch of U4Consent, UTSU’s anti-sexual violence campaign.

U of T’s Draft Policy on Sexual Violence has been created in response to provincial legislation requiring universities to have a substantive sexual violence policy

by January 2017. After universitywide consultations — beginning in November 2014 — and a report outlining recommendations by an expert sexual violence panel, the draft policy was released September 7.

“The purpose of the U4Consent Campaign is to raise awareness about consent culture on campus, provide spaces for survivors to come together, and ensure that the administration is consulting students on the provincially mandated sexual violence policy,” UTSU President, Jasmine Wong

Denike, told The Varsity by email.

Two survivors of sexual violence spoke with The Varsity after attending the U4Consent consultation.

Natasha* spoke on the event, highlighting that it was a safe space: “Unlike the recurring theme of ‘rape culture’ and other forms of oppression in other university setting, during this session survivors’ stories were valued and heard without interruption or opposition.”

Natasha also mentioned how people belonging to marginalized groups, even if they were not

survivors, were encouraged by UTSU to share their experiences and opinions on the policy.

Another survivor, Taylor*, said that she appreciated that UTSU was taking on the campaign, and that Silence is Violence — a sexual violence support group — was involved in facilitating the event.

Taylor added that she found it “slightly frustrating that this work has to be done by student groups rather than the (paid) university staff who were supposed to be consulting students.”

Denike said that “insufficiencies”

in the extent of the university’s three one hour consultation sessions motivated the UTSU to hold the town hall. She added that the sexual violence policy will not be sufficient to make students feel comfortable coming forward with accusations.

An online forum has also been set up by U of T administration for students to give feedback on the draft policy until October 12. *Name changed at individual’s request.

6 • THE VARSITY • NEWS

news@thevarsity.ca

ASSU proposes referendum for fee increase Proposed levy increase of $3.00 to support course unions, bursaries Lesley Flores Varsity Contributor

The Arts & Science Students’ Union (ASSU) is proposing a referendum that will ask students for a $3.00 fee increase from $9.50 to $12.50 per term commencing in the 2017– 2018 school year. This new fee would also include a “cost-of-living adjustment” that would automatically tie the fee to inflation.

ASSU successfully sought a levy increase in 2010, from $7.50 to $9.50. According to ASSU President Ondiek Oduor, the union currently funds 66 course unions, 11 of which were added since the previous fee increase. Oduor said, “If this levy increase is successful, it will allow us to increase our funding towards our Course Unions which [allows] them to host more of their events, seminars, and socials.”

Oduor also highlighted how fee increases would support the ASSU’s grants and bursaries. He noted that with the previous fee increase, “we have increased the amount of money designated towards awards and bursaries from $15,000 to over $35,000.”

Since the last increase, ASSU also dedicated over $8,500 to create the ASSU Travel Grant Fund, a total of $150,000 to scholarships,

ASSU was previously awarded a levy increase in 2010. ZHENNI LIAO/THE VARSITY and $10,000 to a joint fund with the Dean’s Office for undergraduate research. “If this referendum is passed,” Oduor said, “We will continue to follow the same pattern to ensure that more financial aid is given back to students who need it.”

Lobbying efforts would also be supported by the fee increase, Oduor said. ASSU has committed to meeting with the Dean’s Office to push for the establishment of a longer Fall Reading Week — which would fulfill the results of last year’s referendum on the topic — and the

union is also meeting with the university to advocate for the release of written comments from student course evaluations in the interest of “academic transparency.”

Additionally, the fee would support the union’s event programming, which includes academic

talks and Exam Jam de-stressors.

Oduor noted that expenditures have outpaced the ASSU’s ability to maintain healthy finances: “We are now operating on a budget that now far exceeds our income,” he explained. “Over the last few years we were able to sustain ourselves by dipping into our reserves; however, our auditor has recently told us that this is not good practice.”

In addition to the proposed fee increase, the ASSU is slashing “approximately $100,000 in line items in our operating budget this year to remain fiscally balanced,” Oduor stated. “Previous to this revision, we were already operating at one of the lowest levy [rates] for a Student Union in Canada.”

The referendum for the $3.00 fee increase and cost-of-living adjustment will be proposed on October 3 at the first ASSU council meeting of the 2016–2017 school year. If the motion passes, the referendum will be held from November 2–3.

The ASSU constitution currently does not allow for online voting, but constitutional changes are being proposed for online voting via the Office of Student Life’s system.

Computers will be available for onsite voting during the referendum in the Sidney Smith lobby.

SGRT seeks to form new student union Round table plans to be formalized as St. George Students’ Alliance Jack O. Denton Varsity Contributor

The St. George Round Table (SGRT), a gathering of the college and faculty student society leaders at UTSG that exclusively represent first-entry undergraduate students, is moving to create a new student union called the St. George Students’ Alliance (SGSA).

Open meetings were held last Monday and Wednesday to discuss bylaws proposed by the SGRT. The role of the SGSA would be to provide a platform of democratic representation for first-entry students, all of whom would be default members.

New College Student Council President Nicholas Grant is the chair of the SGRT subcommittee that is tasked with forming and formalizing the proposed SGSA. Grant told The Varsity, “The central purpose of the SGSA is to formalize the relationship that currently exists within the SGRT. The SGSA would allow for a democratic mandate that is stronger than that of the SGRT, since students will be directly electing their representatives to

Students attend the SGRT’s open meeting. SILA ELGIN/THE VARSITY the SGSA.” Grant claims that SGRT is more effective at student engagement because college and faculty events already tend to have better attendance than events

of other campus-wide groups.

The intent is to tap into college or faculty engagement to bring students across UTSG together, Grant explained.

The SGRT first pushed for

the foundation of a student association exclusive to UTSG in 2014 following the Report of the Student Societies Summit. The summit took place after three divisional societies held referenda

on defederation from the University of Toronto Students’ Union, citing concern about the democracy of the latter.

Recommendations of the report included the creation of an independent elections and appeals board and the establishment of a discrete Chief Returning Officer position for fee-drawing societies.

Grant said, “The SGRT holds the belief that the concerns raised during the Student Societies Summit still hold true, and form the primary motivation for the formation of the SGSA.” Currently, SGRT events are funded by contributions from the student societies that comprise its membership. Grant told The Varsity that the SGSA will seek to impose a levy of no more than $1.00 per student in order to replace the current system of funding.

Moving forward, there are plans in place for campus-wide elections of Commissioner positions on the Steering Committee of the SGSA. In addition, divisional student societies have the ability to appoint or elect their own members internally.

SEPTEMBER 26, 2016 • 7

var.st/news

U of T professor leaves The Walrus over creative differences Nick Mount steps down from fiction editor role Helena Najm Varsity Staff

U of T professor Nick Mount has parted ways with The Walrus, a magazine which publishes longform journalism along with creative works, after serving as its fiction editor for five years.

The English professor first joined The Walrus’ team as a fiction writer in 2010.

In an interview with the National Post following his appointment, he commented that publishing the writers he taught in his classes was an “extension” of his commitment to “introducing readers to the best writers of our time and place.”

However, he recently ran into disagreements with The Walrus’

management team, when it expressed concern about the publication of fiction pieces featuring words they deemed too lewd for print.

Issues between Mount and the magazine date back to January, when Mount published a short story

by Stephen Marche that included a description of an act of bestiality, according to The Globe and Mail.

The decision to publish the piece was met with outrage from some readers, who even cancelled their subscriptions, prompting the management team to warn Mount about publishing controversial material.

On September 16, Mount sent an email to past contributors announcing his resignation, explaining that the magazine’s shift

towards publishing more familyfriendly fiction did not parallel his own literary interests.

Marche and Margaret Atwood, authors who have previously contributed to The Walrus, were amongst those who expressed their support for Mount and his contributions to Canadian literature.

While there have been rumours of alleged censorship, Mount seemed understanding of the magazine’s choices. In his resignation letter, he acknowledged that the publishing team likely had its own priorities, including securing advertising and maintaining readership. Mount noted that he and the magazine had parted ways amicably.

Mount declined The Varsity’s request for an interview.

SHAQ HOSEIN/THE VARSITY

Mount, seen in The Varsity’s “Professors Read Mean Reviews” video.

Proposal for development of 666 Spadina Avenue submitted to city Property owners eye new midrise apartment building, stacked townhouses

Owners of the property await approval from the City of Toronto.

EMILY MILANA/THE VARSITY

Emaan Thaver Associate News Editor

The occupants of the rental units at 666 Spadina Avenue may shortly see an additional residential establishment constructed in the vicinity.

Spadina Towers Inc., the owners of the current apartment building, submitted a development proposal to the Toronto City Council for consideration in July 2016.

The documents — prepared by planning consultants WND Associates — detail the proposed additions

to the property, an 11-storey building with 120 rental units to be constructed to the south of the existing 25-storey high-rise, along with eight new stacked townhouses lining Sussex Avenue.

The proposal also includes plans to construct 475 square metres of privately-owned, publicly-accessible space for the benefit of the surrounding community.

The new residential building is designed to include private balconies for most units, outdoor and indoor amenity space, and upgraded landscaping.

Additionally, it would also house 530

square metres of commercial retail space facing Spadina Avenue.

The planning report also includes an amendment proposal to the current zoning bylaw that governs the area, which would “facilitate the construction of the proposed midrise building and stacked townhouses.”

According to the proposal, the amendment would contain “new regulations related to building setbacks, vehicle parking supply, and would implement more contemporary standards related to amenity space and bicycle parking.”

Designed by Toronto architect Uno Prii in 1972, the existing apartment building on the corner of Spadina Avenue and Sussex Avenue has been listed in the City of Toronto’s Inventory of Heritage Properties.

The residence has also been a popular off-campus housing choice for students because of its proximity to campus facilities. Located in Harbord Village, the building is a less than 10 minutes from Robarts Library and the Athletic Centre on foot.

According to the planning report, 666 Spadina Avenue’s midrise development project would “add to

the vitality of this section of Spadina Avenue, increasing its attractiveness for continued investment” and “animate this segment of the street where there is currently very little interest for pedestrians.”

Preliminary designs for the new site layout were unveiled on April 11 at a Ward 20 pre-application meeting, with the development proposal and bylaw amendment application following in July.

The project is awaiting approval from the City of Toronto.

8 • THE VARSITY • NEWS

news@thevarsity.ca

U of T’s debt remains at $1 billion Numbers reported to Business Board show $11 million increase since July 2015 Jenna Moon Varsity Contributor

The University of Toronto’s debt sits at $1 billion dollars as of August 31, 2016, according to the status report on debt presented to the Business Board on September 22.

The $1 billion debt has remained a constant figure in the university’s financial record since June 2014, when the outstanding debt initially surpassed $1 billion.

The total amount of debt has fluctuated only marginally since then, sitting at $1.012 billion in July 2015. The actual outstanding debt for the university now totals

$1.023 billion, an $11 million increase from the 2015 figure.

The university allocates a debt limit of 5 per cent of the university’s annual expenditures. The status report shows that the actual outstanding debt currently sits at 3.5 per cent of expenditures, well within the Business Board’s $1.5 billion limitation for the 2016– 2017 year.

Of that 3.5 per cent, 1.2 per cent comes from internal loans. This includes the university’s pension debt — $121 million — which totals 0.4 per cent of the internal loans.

The remaining 2.3 per cent stems from external debts due to institu-

tions outside of the university.

Of the university’s external debt, $715.8 million is tied up in external debentures, which are unsecured loans without the backing of assets.

This is a slight decrease from the $717.6 million outlined in the February 2016 status report on debt.

The report notes that net allocations, borrowing that is approved by the Business Board, stood at $1.2 billion up to August 31, with $220.1 million available for future allocation. This amount includes an allocation change of $1.9 million.

KENNETH TRUONG/THE VARSITY

The $1 billion figure has remained constant since 2014.

SIU investigating double shooting near UTSG Unidentified assailant, Halton police officer opened fire, SIU says Tom Yun News Editor

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is investigating a shooting that occurred near one of the entrances to St. George subway station on September 20.

According to the SIU, preliminary evidence indicates that criminal defense lawyer Randall Barrs was shot at 3:30 pm outside his office at 23 Bedford Avenue. Afterwards, the assailant was shot by a Halton Regional Police plainclothes officer, who was conducting surveillance in the area.

Both men were rushed to hospital; Barrs suffered gunshot wounds to his legs and the assailant is in critical condition.

U of T Campus Police and Toronto Police Services closed off Bedford Road between Lowther Avenue and Bloor Street West; the road has since reopened.

The SIU is a civilian agency responsible for investigating instances involving police officers that result in serious injury, death, or sexual assault allegations and has the ability to lay criminal charges on officers, if deemed necessary.

TOM YUN/THE VARSITY

Bedford Road was closed off between Lowther Avenue and Bloor Street West.

Minimum wage to rise next month Fifteen cent increase to take effect October 1 Emaan Thaver Associate News Editor

Ontarians making minimum wage will see a 15 cent rise in their hourly wages next month.

The province’s annual wage increase will take effect on October 1, bringing the current $11.25 per hour rate to $11.40 per hour for adult employees.

The increase also extends to workers in other categories. Students under the age of 18 will now be paid a minimum of $10.70 per ELHAM NUMAN/THE VARSITY

hour, as opposed to the previous $10.55 per hour.

Licensed alcohol servers will also see their minimum wages rise from $9.80 per hour to $9.90 per hour as of next month.

According to the province’s news release, minimum wage rates rise each year as a “result of changes to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 that tie minimum-wage increases to Ontario’s Consumer Price Index, a recommendation by the Minimum Wage Advisory Panel.”

The latest 1.33 per cent wage increase is the tenth such increase since 2003. Ontario’s hourly minimum wage is the fourth highest in the country.

Nunavut has the highest minimum wage in Canada, at $13.00 per hour for adult employees. The Northwest Territories are second at $12.50 per hour, followed by Alberta, which as of October 1, will boast a minimum wage of $12.20 per hour.

Yearly increases are announced in April and implemented by October.

Comment

September 26, 2016 var.st/comment comment@thevarsity.ca

Playing the patriotism card ELHAM NUMAN/THE VARSITY

Accusing protesters of being unpatriotic is a devious way of suppressing dissent MEET THE COMMENT TEAM Saambavi Mano Varsity Columnist Third-year Peace, Conflict, and Justice Studies student at Victoria College Victoria University Students' Administrative Council (VUSAC) Chair Covers world politics, pop culture, and campus life

In the month since Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers quarterback, first chose to remain seated during the American national anthem, news feeds around the world have been flooded with opinions as to whether or not his mode of protest was ‘unpatriotic.’ What should have been the focus instead were the issues he is protesting: racial profiling, police brutality, and racial inequality.

The answer to these debates is quite simple. Sitting or kneeling during the anthem is not illegal, nor is it against NFL rules. In fact, Kaepernick’s protest is perfectly in line with American values: it acknowledges the anthem as being representative of the values the United States claims to uphold. Therefore, attempts to discredit or even to stop his protests are reminiscent of the kind of militarism the US frowns upon when turning its gaze to other countries.

It is interesting to look at situations in which protests have been framed in a similar manner in other democratic countries. It is also important to address the implications this has for protesters living in these countries.

Kanhaiya Kumar, a student at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, India, was arrested on charges of sedition under section 124-A of the Indian Penal Code. This section was originally part of the sedition laws implemented by the British during colonial rule; it was meant to restrict speech or conduct that incited people to rebel against the authority of the monarch.

The law, in this case, was used by the Delhi police to accuse Kumar of raising anti-India slogans at a student rally

protesting the hanging of a Kashmiri separatist convicted of terrorism charges.

The slogans in question included, but were not restricted to, a call for the Indian government to recognize the struggle of Kashmiri people for their democratic right to self-determination. Given that Kashmir is currently involved in a controversial boundary dispute between India and Pakistan, the government and many of its right-wing supporters twisted the protests in such a way that they were framed not in terms of opposition to human rights violations, but as opposition to India as a country.

Despite the fact that Kumar denied saying anything against the integrity of the country and reaffirmed his faith in the Indian constitution, he was kept in police custody until he was granted interim bail for six months. The Vice-Chancellor of the university responded by forming a disciplinary committee and academically debarred Kumar and seven other students after receiving an initial investigation report, despite later discovering that the slogans in question had in fact been raised by a group of outsiders in masks.

It is easy to dismiss Kumar’s experience as incomparable to Kaepernick's on the basis that it occurred in a country that does not enjoy the freedoms we do in Canada or the United States. Yet, India is a democracy that upholds values such as social, economic, and political justice, and the liberty of thought, expression, and belief. The situations of Kumar and Kaepernick are very similar in the sense that they are both accused of being unpatriotic while attempting to speak up for marginalized people in their countries.

In other words, the threat of being persecuted on accusations of anti-nationalist protests is not rare, even in democratic countries.

This possibility was what caused much of the dissent to the Anti-terrorism Act, 2015, otherwise known as Bill C-51, introduced by the Conservative government at the time. The bill aimed to stop “terrorist propaganda” and increase the sharing of federally held information about activity that “undermines the security of Canada.”

The government at the time insisted that the legislation was not meant to restrict methods of protest. However, many

feared that it would instead be used to restrict protesters opposed to petroleum projects, as well as Indigenous groups fighting to protect their land and water.

Joanna Kerr, Executive Director of Greenpeace Canada, points to a recent leak of a Royal Canadian Mountain Police intelligence report that addresses “threats to the Canadian Petroleum Industry” to show how even the most democratic modes of protest can be framed as threats to national security.

Kaepernick’s protests have likewise been framed as unpatriotic by people who adopt these arguments in an attempt to silence legitimate protest. Broadcasters and fellow footballers have argued that, while Kaepernick’s concerns may be valid, his methods are inappropriate.

Not only is this infantilizing, but it perpetuates the idea that others — especially those who have not experienced the injustice that Kaepernick is protesting — have the right to determine when and how someone gains the freedoms they are supposed to be entitled to under the United States Constitution. Framing the debate in terms of anti-patriotism is a great and bitter irony.

When questioned about recent backlash and even death threats that he has received in response to his protest, Kaepernick responded, “There’s a lot of racism disguised as patriotism in this country. And people don’t like to address that.

And they don’t like to address what the root of this protest is.” This was never about the way Kaepernick protested but rather about what he was protesting.

We should be wary of the patriotism card being used as an argument against protestors of governments; supposedly national values are often twisted to reaffirm rights for a select few in any given society. Furthermore, labelling a protest as unpatriotic can have serious repercussions for protesters, as exemplified by the way both Kaepernick and Kumar have been treated.

No protest ever has, or ever will, garner complete public acceptance — indeed, protests are disruptive by nature. What should be clear in such cases, however, is that accusations of anti-patriotism are not valid responses to democratic protests.

10 • THE VARSITY • COMMENT

comment@thevarsity.ca

The Trans-Pacific Partnership's effect A state under scrutiny on Canada depends on policy responses In the midst of ongoing conflicts, singling Evaluating the TPP requires in-depth examination, students can help in a number of ways

Protestors express opposition to the TPP. SumOfUs/CC FLICKR

Ling Ge Chen Varsity Contributor

Initiated by the United States and signed by 12 Pacific-Rim countries including Canada, the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) is arguably the most ambitious free trade agreement in history. The TPP has sparked protests across Canada and has frequently been criticized at U of T. Despite backlash from some sources, it is interesting that the data used to evaluate the TPP is not as solid as it may seem on the surface.

We must keep this in mind when evaluating the TPP’s true effects on Canada.

This is important because the TPP may directly impact students themselves. Therefore, it is crucial that students understand and are able to critically evaluate the agreement as it progresses.

There are three major studies regarding the overall quantitative effect of the TPP on Canada in the long run. Namely, these are Petri and Plummer’s 2016 projection of a 1.3 per cent increase in real income; Capaldo, Izurieta, and Sundaram’s 2016 projection of a 0.28 per cent increase in GDP growth and a 58,000 loss in employment; and Ciuriak and Xiao’s 2014 projection of a 0.1 per cent increase in GDP and an approximately 0.8 per cent increase in labour.

However, none of these studies are free of bias, due to limitations and methodological errors.

The theoretical basis of Petri et al. attempts to incorporate the interfirm productivity differences from the seminal Melitz model formulated in 2003. However, this study overlooks the fact that Melitz leaves out firms’ entry and exit decisions in order to simplify computation. Furthermore, the Melitz model fails to account for the productivity growth that would come from the introduction of new technology. These two factors signify that the welfare improvement through variety gains is also lower than anticipated.

Essentially, this underestimates

the potential gains from trade. It also unrealistically assumes constant total employment and a balanced current account. Such assumptions overlook trade liberalization’s effect on the labor market.

In contrast, Capaldo et al. imposes other assumptions. It assumes that when facing severe competition, firms fire workers, and the government devalues currency. Such adhoc adjustments overestimate trade’s damage within labour markets.

Capaldo’s use of Petri et al.’s conjecture of the TPP provisions — the latter of which were based on the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement (KORUS), prior to the signing of the TPP — once again underestimates the potential gains from trade, because it leaves out more ambitious provisions.

Finally, in 2014, Ciuriak and Xiao generated projection results by incorporating Petri et al.’s 2012 conjecture into a dynamic version of the General Trade Analysis Project model. This methodology is problematic for two main reasons. As mentioned above, this underestimates the benefits of trade due to being based on the less ambitious KORUS. Secondly, the theoretical basis of Petri et al.’s methodology also incorporates imperfect competition, but Ciuriak and Xiao’s model assumes perfect competition for all sectors, which is clearly an error. This creates a contradiction in terms of market structure, which severely undermines this study’s credibility.

It is clear that some of the main studies related to the TPP’s impact on Canada are riddled with deficiencies. It is therefore faulty to evaluate its effects solely on their basis.

To better forecast the TPP’s effect on Canada, we should not only account for these errors, but also attempt to tackle the TPP’s projected changes with respect to legislation — which are usually hard to quantify.

Though none of the three studies are totally reliable, one qualitative trade-off seems certain. On one

hand, trade liberalization will bring opportunities for innovation and productivity, especially for large corporations. On the other hand, increased competition in the labour market will make it hard for young and unexperienced university students to find entry-level jobs, while simultaneously benefiting experienced workers in exporting industries.

Consequently, for the TPP to be in Canadians’ best interests, current university students should urge the government to provide responsible policy designs that minimize the harms on young and inexperienced workers and maximize the potential benefits of trade liberalization.

As classical trade theories imply that ‘winners win more than losers lose’ during liberalization, students can urge the government to provide more policies linked to redistribution, which would reallocate some of the gains in exporting industries to compensate for inexperienced workers’ losses. This would put everyone on a more even playing field and, therefore, make us better off.

Current students can also urge the government as well as universities to provide more courses and support that help students start their own businesses. Even though innovation in technology brought by trade liberalization will make some traditional jobs obsolete, students can aim to create their own jobs and niches within the labour market, in order to complement or utilize this innovation most efficiently.

Although there will always be issues with economic models, whether the TPP is in Canada’s best interest will depend on consequent policy responses. In this sense, students can take matters into their own hands and urge the government to be responsible when managing the TPP’s effects.

Ling Ge Chen is a Master of Arts graduate who specialized in Economics.

out Israel is not the way to move forward

CONTINUED ONLINE: Read the rest at var.st/israel

PATRICK GRUBAN/CC FLICKR

Over the years, the UN has paid disproportionate attention to Israel compared to other states.

Ari Blaff Varsity Contributor

There is one nation, which is globally singled out like no other: Israel. Although the nation is fairly small — approximately the geographic size of El Salvador — it has become the focal point of international denunciation.

The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has condemned the country 62 times from June 2006 to August 2015, which seven more times than the sum of all other nations combined.

Remarkably, in March 2016 it was the only state of 193 that was censured by the UN Commission on the Status of Women, and following a 2007 vote, the country’s alleged transgressions became a permanent agenda feature for forthcoming council sessions.

In light of ongoing IsraeliPalestinian conflicts, such criticism has spread to university campuses as well. It is important when considering such discourse to look not only at Israel’s shortcomings but also at its successes, for seeing all sides is crucial to finding resolutions to even the most complex disputes.

This is not to excuse Israel of criticism for its often oppressive and destructive policies — in fact, it should be criticized — but to attempt to offer a fair and productive perspective on the basis of which we should move forward.

What is often missing from antiIsrael discourse is any mention of its successes. For instance, Israel hosts the largest Gay Pride Parade in the Middle East, attracting nearly 200,000 participants. According to travel site Wonderful Odysseys Worldwide, Tel Aviv in Israel is the "most gay friendly" city in the world. Israel is also only one of two countries to enter the twenty-first century with a net-gain in trees.

In terms of representation, women in Israel have served in the highest national offices, and ethnic and religious minorities, such as

Circassians, Druze, and Bedouin, account for some of the country’s most decorated soldiers and senior political figures.

Nevertheless, Israel has been consistently criticized, and much of this criticism stems from its treatment by the UN. Apart from the UN’s adoption and ratification of Resolution 181, which partitioned Mandatory Palestine into independent Arab and Jewish states, the organization has woefully failed to maintain a balanced hand on Israel-related issues.

Following the invasion of Israel in 1948 by five neighbouring nations, the UN repeatedly disempowered Israel from defending itself.

The velocity with which the organization has pursued such policies has increased over the years. From the UN’s 1975 ratification equating Zionism to racism, to the proliferation of various international committees and divisions, such as The Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices in the Territories and Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Palestinian Territories Occupied since 1967, initiatives that continue to validate and justify a prejudicial double-standard when evaluating Israel have been pursued.

These demarches flourished in the 1970s and 1980s as the UN ideological blocs crystallized with the advent of the Non-Aligned Movement. In 1974, Yasser Arafat, then leader of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), was invited to speak in front of the General Assembly. Arafat's political and militant group Fatah actively engaged in terrorist attacks against Israel: the two most notable being at the Munich Olympics and the infamous Coastal Road Massacre, resulting in over 100 casualties.

Ari Blaff is a student at the Munk School of Global Affairs. This article is continued online: var.st/israel

SEPTEMBER 26, 2016 • 11

var.st/comment

Meme storm The marriage of politics and social media foreshadows concerning implications, both on- and offline

ZAHRA DANAEI/THE VARSITY

Nicholas Wolf Varsity Contributor

The 2016 US presidential election campaign has been riddled with controversies and scandals. One candidate in particular, Donald Trump, has muscled his way into the public eye with his childish aggression and sharp tongue. Today, having weeded out all other Republican contenders, Trump has been nominated by the Republican party as their candidate for the next President of the United States, in spite of the many concerns raised about whether he is qualified for the job.

Considering the immaturity and pettiness with which Trump has treated his rivals and the criticism he has garnered for his positions on immigration and trade, these concerns are well founded.

Though he has been compared to fascist dictators like Benito Mussolini, many people continue to find Trump hard to take seriously; shamefully, I too used to find his persona hilarious. As the election draws near, it has become clear that Trump isn’t just a clown for everybody to point and laugh at. Not only is he serious about winning, he is also gaining followers by the hundreds.

In the midst of this trend, a cohort of Trump supporters have adopted his confrontational style on social media platforms, such as Twitter and reddit. Their weapon of choice? The Internet meme.

A popular meme used by Trump supporters is the phrase “Crooked Hillary,” referring to a series of scandals involving Hillary Clinton’s emails. Trump’s online supporters are not the only ones using memes in this fashion. His critics often refer to Trump’s supporters as “Trumpanzees,” something that has become relatively well known in Internet circles.

Though we may all enjoy a good meme, it cannot be denied that this practice is loaded with meaning. In fact, the implications of politics mingling with Internet culture can be serious.

Comments on YouTube videos often have little to do with the actual video. Instead there is usually intense political and cultural posturing, peppered with discriminatory slang and profanities.

Even this would not be such a serious issue if it weren’t for the existence of the Internet ‘echo chamber’ – a region in cyberspace where people with similar ideals and beliefs typically congregate. Theoretically, an en-

tire website can be an echo chamber, but a social media network may also find itself increasingly divided by many separate echo chambers. Though the proliferation of communities of people congregating over shared views is not inherently wrong, problems occur when feuds erupt between different online communities, whose members may harbour an intense emotional connection to their own groups.

It may be amusing to watch grown adults arguing over a character from a children’s television show, but it is not particularly amusing to be caught in the crossfire of a more serious online debate. This is often the case when riots break out following rumours and criticism directed at a certain toupéetopped politician.

We should all be familiar with the fact that the Internet can be a very hateful place. It is difficult to control one’s emotive impulses on the web for two different reasons.

The first is anonymity: in many cases, anything you say on the Internet is unlikely to be traced back to you. The second reason is that, partially due to freedom of speech gone astray, there are generally few consequences for aggression, trolling, or hate.

Some websites, particularly reddit, may

have strict moderation of its forums, chatrooms, and comment sections, yet others — YouTube being a prime example — may have none whatsoever.

It would seem that the mixing of politics and Internet culture is evidence of the start of a new era: what occurs on social media goes on to influence events in the real world.

Given that the Internet has tended to be the domain of trolls, bullies, and sinister types, this is a real concern.

Trump may be one of the first major politicians to reach such notoriety on social media, but he won’t be the last politician to create a firestorm on the web. It is likely that future generations will continue to use similar tactics, meaning that the balkanization of the Internet will continue.

We must seriously consider the possibility of the Internet influencing the real world in terrible ways: the existence of echo chambers online may breed hateful or toxic ideologies.

For now, watching a politician rise to power on the back of such a beast is no laughing matter.

Nicholas Wolf is a second-year student at Innis College.

Reclaiming control Eating disorders are about more than vanity Hareem Ashraf

Varsity Contributor

I

ate whenever, whatever, and however much I wanted to, and no one could stop me. For numerous reasons, I was always stressed and exhausted as a child, making food my ultimate coping mechanism.

During my time in high school, I would find myself staring at an empty family size bag of Doritos far too often during the week. I subsequently gained a lot. By the age of 17, I was slipping into my second stage of obesity.

During that time, I found that society does not give these types of illnesses the authentication and accreditation they deserve, because they have an illusionary linkage to ‘vanity.’ Realistically, it is quite the opposite. Eating disorders are real mental illnesses, and the lack of legitimacy they receive needs to change.

Due to prolonged research and an outpouring of therapeutic effort, the tables have shifted towards acceptance of eating disorders as real issues — not entirely, but it is a humble start.

In August 2010, American Viewpoint conducted a national telephone survey of American adults for the National Eating Disorders Association. Eighty-two per cent of respondents believed eating disorders to be real physical and mental illnesses that should be treated; only 12 per cent of respondents believed them to be related to vanity.

However, if you have ever laid eyes on the magazine section at a cashier lane, the expectation of certain body parts looking a certain way in order to appear ‘beautiful’ is evident on their covers. Cosmopolitan’s May 2016 issue reads, “Flat Belly Fast!

ZERO CRUNCHES.” Eating disorders are not vanity, but they can be induced by body image insecurity.

Unhappiness with a certain body type can even fuel binge eating disorder (BED), eventually exacerbating the situation. Contrary to popular portrayals of eating disorders, not all of them are centred on extreme weight loss.

As a child, I was bullied for my size, poked and prodded by people telling me to lose weight or else my health would decline. They would warn me — as if I didn’t know it myself — about feeling trapped in a body you did not wish to be in.

I did not aspire towards this lifestyle — I felt like I was thrown into it, with a complete loss of control. The pressures surrounding me made me feel as though food was an enemy, yet I couldn’t help but have this eerie and delusional love-hate relationship with it.

Although I am still learning the ropes of a healthy and active lifestyle, I have ceased to hate food and the act of eating, which has speeded my recovery process immensely.

It took six years to realize I was tired of a way of life that I did not wish to be a part of anymore.

“I realized it was eat or die”

Rachel Ng, a second-year student at Ryerson University, also experienced life shackled to the restrictions of an eating disorder — anorexia nervosa. She became anorexic when she was nine but only got professional help seven years later. At 17, she went into cardiac arrest and required one and a half years of inpatient care to stabilize her health.

“Besides the obvious rules of eating everything I’m given in recovery, I had to replace a crumb if one fell on the floor, be supervised in the bathroom, and I wasn’t allowed to stand up without permission,” Ng said. “It was so hard that I ran away a few times and ended up getting a security guard to wheel me around in my wheelchair everywhere for a few months.”

Food choices also influence the way people feel about themselves. The Journal of American Dietetic Association reported, “81% of 10 year olds are afraid of being fat.

51% of 9 and 10 year old girls feel better about themselves if they are on a diet.” Ng’s story is an example of an eating disorder developing from a very young age.

“It was only until seven specialist doctors gave me the choice to enter hospice [end of life] care due to failing organs that I realized it was eat or die,” Ng said.

Like in Ng’s case, many eating disorders can prove to be nearly fatal, and anorexia nervosa is the third most common chronic illness among adolescents. This does not include the numerous reports and findings on BED and bulimia nervosa. Some people also exhibit signs of multiple eating disorders and do not fit into a single category.

According to Dr. Blake Woodside, psychiatrist, U of T professor, and director of Toronto General Hospital’s inpatient eating disorder program, those with anorexia nervosa are genetically predisposed to it. “Something has to happen to them to activate the genetic predisposition,” he explained. “An example is physical assault resulting in post-traumatic stress disorder acting as the activation.”

Most of the people he has encountered with eating disorders are those who have been abused sexually or physically. Eating disorders can also develop with other mental illnesses, like depression.

One first year student at UTSG, who prefers to remain anonymous, became depressed in grade 12 and had a low appetite. She decided she wanted to focus on getting healthy as her depression and anxiety got worse.

“When I realized this, I decided I wanted to actually use ‘losing weight’ as a distraction to the depression, and in my mind I figured, ‘If I focus on my body, the depression will feel less consuming, and at the same time I’ll lose weight finally!’” she said.

However, due to her depression, she became “reckless,” eventually testing low calorie levels of 500–800 per day. She joined an online forum of people with eating disorders for weight loss help. Although she never mentioned her eating disorder to anyone, her guidance counsellor eventually took notice.

“I tried to get better on my own instead and focused on another extreme diet with lots of fruits,” she said. “I figured it was better than starving but I still wasn’t going to eat like a normal person because at that point I was scared of a lot of foods. When I upped my intake, I started having lots of digestion problems, and my doctor gave me probiotics for that. Eventually I started gaining weight. At first I was horrified, but gradually I stopped focusing on that. The depression was getting better too.”

She added, “Even though I am better now. It still lingers in the back of my mind.”

In a similar way, I still struggle with the urge to raid my kitchen and leave my fridge completely empty, but I am better at maintaining control and knowing there are other activities I can use as an expressive outlet.

A plethora of disorders, no singular response

Eating disorders are not static or uniform and need to be talked about. They are not something we can throw a blanket response over and forget about; one individual’s eating disorder is never the same as another’s.

The experiences different people have dealt with can quite literally shape the activation and development of these illnesses. One of Woodside’s patients had four different types of depressions, and throughout that time, the patient had developed anorexia nervosa.

Woodside and his colleagues are working towards novel therapeutic techniques to aid those suffering with eating disorders. One of the five programs he described is called ‘Neuromodulation,’ which uses specific area techniques to rewire the brain to work in different ways.

“We are interested in this because there are many documented brain abnormalities with anorexia,” he said. “We try to use transcranial magnetization, which is nonseizure inducing. It stimulates a tiny part of the brain in the area responsible for processing feelings, bingeing, and purging.”

Also, Woodside and his colleagues are currently in the process of developing ‘Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation’ (TMS) specifically for bulimia nervosa; they are currently waiting to hear about a grant for their research before they get started. It would be for treatment resistant patients, and they would receive around 20–30 sections of the therapy, which is based on how the brain is wired.

Woodside explained that patients with bulimia nervosa are weight and shape preoc-

There is strength in seeking help

As university students, our time is precious and it goes by fast. Taking the time to observe and understand your health will benefit you both mentally and physically. Understanding that not everyone speaks about or exhibits signs of their struggles may help create the solutions people with eating disorders need.

“It has been a year since I recovered psychologically and became weight restored, but I still see doctors once a week because I waited too long, so I encourage anyone with even the slightest bit of eating disordered tendencies or thoughts to get help right away,” Ng said.

Reaching out for help does not have to be difficult or frightening. Celebrity fitness trainer and weight loss coach Heidi Powell said in a blog post, “Seeking help may seem like a sign of weakness, but it is truly a sign of strength.” Connecting with others can help the healing process.

There are many facilities available not only at U of T but all across Ontario as well. For those battling eating disorders — take the first step and reach out for help. It may just prove to be the first raindrop in a storm of health benefits on the way to recovery. Eating disorders are real, deadly, and very scary, and no one should have to deal with them alone.

According to the November 2014 report Eating Disorders Among Girls and Women by the Standing Committee on the Status of Women:

Peak age among adolescents:

19-20 16-20 18-20

Anorexia nervosa Bulimia nervosa Binge eating disorder

Mortality rates in Canada:

10-15% 5%

Anorexia nervosa Bulimia nervosa

Anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any mental illness MIA CARNEVALE/THE VARSITY

cupied, addicted to dieting, and only binge as a result of being hungry. These individuals attempt to control or reduce the caloric impact of their consumption via induced vomiting, laxative intake, or exercise.

On the contrary, those with BED are unrestrained eaters and do not necessarily diet.

Due to these differences, the treatment methods for each diverge significantly.

“Every body is different”

What exactly, is the fascination with weight and the way our bodies look? I still ask myself this question every day. Frustration bubbles inside of me as I realize that phrases like ‘I’m having a fat day’ are considered an acceptable topic of conversation.

Dr. Hilde Bruch, author of Eating Disorders: Obesity, Anorexia Nervosa, and the Person Within, wrote, “The obsession of the western world with slimness, the condemnation of any degree of overweight as undesirable and ugly, may well be considered a distortion of the social body concept, but it dominates present day living.”

We are expected to look aesthetically pleasing and fit a window of perfection that does not exist.

For example, a few years ago on Twitter, there was a viral floating around that said, “If you weigh more than 200 pounds, please don’t wear leggings in public.”

Somelife published an article about this tweet and Bowling Green State University student Sara Petty, who took a stand against the fat shaming participants. They compiled a stream of her photos in which she took pictures of herself in each of the categories of clothing people were condemning someone of her weight for wearing. She conclusively tweeted, “Girls: Wear whatever the hell you want.”

Fat shaming is one cause for the influx of negative mentalities amongst those struggling with eating disorders. People like Sara reassure the world that we do not have to feel uncomfortable in our bodies. Instead, we should be able to live comfortably without the pressure of reaching unrealistic ideals.

The National Eating Disorders Association wrote, “It is important to remember that every body is different. We all have different genetic and cultural traits. Even if everyone started eating the same things and did the same amount of exercise for a whole year, we would not all look the same at the end of the year.”

When I was struggling with my BED, I truly wished to change but did not have the positivity or motivation to flip my life around. Not knowing how to escape a horrible habit like this is frightening. I reached out to family members and they supported the start of my weight loss and fitness journey.

Woodside said, “Families have a bad reputation with eating disorders since back in the 1980s. They are blamed for these illnesses, but they actually help the struggling family member get over the disorder — they don’t cause them. They are the greatest support.

Families do not cause eating disorders. Period.”

According to the 2015 study “Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation, and EatingRelated Pathology, in a National Sample of College Students” in the Journal of Adolescent Health:

Breakdown of eating disorder diagnoses:

15.82% 2.06% 3.66% 0.55% 3.53% 2.97% 1.85%

Transgender Cisgender sexual minority Cisgender unsure men Cisgender heterosexual men Cisgender sexual minority men Cisgender unsure women Cisgender heterosexual women

LGBT students are the most high risk for eating disorders.

Arts&Culture

TIFF

September 26, 2016 var.st/arts arts@thevarsity.ca

Newest Blair Witch installment doesn't live up to the hype.

Read more TIFF in Review at var.st/tiff

The Artery of Toronto Online platform seeks to bring artist and audience together

Ben Harrison Smith Varsity Contributor

F

rom the salons in Paris to the basement clubs in London, small, communal spaces have long been breeding grounds for artistic trends and movements. As Toronto embraces its newfound cultural relevance, various art scenes are buzzing; from hip hop to theatre or poetry to ballet, there is something happening everywhere.

Now is a time to be excited to participate and support each other as artists and neighbours. Artery is a new online platform dedicated to bringing artists together with spaces and audiences, with the aim of inspiring and supporting people to create art.

Artery users can sign up to the platform as a host, a performer, or an audience member. Shows are posted on the site, and a limited number of tickets are put up for sale — enough for people to fill the small venues.

According to co-founder Salimah Ebrahim, the idea of interaction between artist and audience has been around for a while. “The basic idea is not new — from Mozart playing in

living rooms to the Harlem Rent parties of the 1920s. What we are doing is building a platform that makes it easier... for artists, hosts, and audiences to connect with each other and make these showcases happen,” Ebrahim explains. Ninety-five percent of Artery's profits go to the artists and the host.

The events themselves have an intimate, almost party-like feel; the easy-going environment allows for connectivity amongst all in attendance. After the show, you may suddenly find yourself conversing with the person who had just performed their poetry or stand-up comedy, as if they were someone you'd met at the punchbowl of a house party.

This May, an event called Dirty Laundry Poetry came across my News Feed on Facebook.

The thought of a poetry slam in a laundromat seemed exciting; a mundane space was to be taken over by art. People were gathered inside, the audience side-by-side with the performers.

I recently attended another Artery gathering: a ballet performance and a short film playing

Artery transforms common spaces into performance stages.

“So much of a city’s creative life is invisible and hard to access... With Artery, we believe there is room for more intimate experiences and even experiments“

simultaneously in the garden of a house in Leslieville. It felt strange walking into someone’s house as if it were a gallery or stage.

As I stood watching the ballerina perform a few feet in front of me, I felt a connection to the art that I had never experienced before. The show featured some up-and-coming talents in ballet, yet it felt like a backyard party. The intimacy enhanced the performance for everyone, and after the show was over, there was a shared cosmic energy in the garden.

Toronto is one of Artery's pilot cities, and while it is still in beta, the platform has plans to come alive around the world, from Brooklyn to Beirut. Performances by accomplished artists are featured amongst low-key musi-

Toronto is one of Artery's pilot cities.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ARTERY TORONTO

cians and poets looking to create a night of unity and expression.

Artery is a platform to be utilized by those looking to experience culture, as well as those who have something to offer and to share with others.

As Ebrahim put it: “So much of a city’s creative life is invisible and hard to access. Or rather we are often only invited to connect with creators across an orchestra pit. With Artery, we believe there is room for more intimate experiences and even experiments—to perform some bluegrass on a stoop, or to see your backyard as a place where a poet can test out some new lines.”

SEPTEMBER 26, 2016 • 15

var.st/arts

Equality on the cutting room floor Women filmmakers still face adversity in a male-dominated industry Ben Harrison Smith Varsity Contributor

Since the advent of film, the industry has been dominated by the voices of white men. Historically, there has been little room for stories that do not coincide with the worldview of this demographic.

Yet, as long as there have been great male filmmakers, there have been equally skilled female counterparts.

Esfir Shub, a major player in Soviet cinema, was responsible for the birth of compilation film, but her contributions have been significantly downplayed.

In recent years, female filmmakers have broken barriers set by a maledominated industry. For example, Kathryn Bigelow the Academy Award for Best Director for Hurt Locker in 2010, and Sofia Coppola Best Screenplay for Lost in Translation in 2003.

Despite these notable moments, success stories are few and far between, and a major problem still exists in the Hollywood filmmaking circuit.

In a 2015 study, the Centre for the Study of Women in Television and Film found that women accounted for just 12 per cent of directors for 250 domestic grossing films. Although this was an increase from the previous year, the discrepancy between the number of male and female directors is glaring.

When the news dropped that Ava DuVernay, director of Selma, would be working with Disney on A Wrinkle in Time, she became the first woman to direct a film with a budget of $100 million. The shift in opportunity for female filmmakers in Hollywood seemed to be tangible for the first time.

However, the industry has had a dif-

ficult time realizing change. In all levels of film, from grassroots productions to big budget features, many voices continue to be left out.

When Toronto based filmmaker Julia Galle was asked about the prevalence of sexism during production she responded: “There have been moments, even when I’m directing, where male members of the crew won’t trust my judgment. I have to constantly justify the choices I’m making in a way my male counterparts don’t have to. Most of the time when sexism occurs, [it’s] not as overt as we might think. [It’s] not a matter of the voice of men being more dominant, [it’s] in the constant undermining and underestimating of the capabilities of women on sets.”

A result of the inequality that exists within the film industry is a skew towards certain types of stories being told through film. As Galle pointed out: “Women and non-binary people make up a huge portion of the population and our experiences are just as valid. Our voices are essential in every way possible, even beyond film.”

Documentary filmmaker Amber Fares has a knack for providing a voice to the unheard and giving depth of character for those often overlooked by the western gaze. Her film Speed Sisters is based in Palestine and focuses on the first all-women racecar driving team in the Middle East. Using their persistence and talent, the characters galvanize their conservative community.

According to Fares, finding funding for films is an issue across the board, before issues of sexism are factored in.

On creating a low budget documentary filmmaking, she said: “The amount of funding... and who it goes to is such a small number anyways that I don’t

PHOTO COURTESY OF SOCDOC STUDIOS

know about me being a male or being a female deterred anything. To tell you Amber Fares, the truth, I think I had a lot of opportu- co-founder of nities... at a time when there was a lot SocDoc Studios. of interest and a lot of effort to sort of equalize the playing field.”

Fares’ work acts as a silver lining, highlighting the shift and increased visibility of female filmmakers. An example of this is the Sundance Film Festival’s Women at Sundance community.

After three years of research, the organization came up with a set of initiatives to provide a base for women directors: artist support, financing, raising awareness, and networking and collective impact. Basically, Women at Sundance is using research, program-

ming, and funding to give a voice to female filmmakers.

Additionally, the Sundance Film Festival is reformatting itself as a forum to showcase works by artists that are supported through the organization.

As Galle puts it: “There are groups of women and non-binary people helping and educating each other within the film community in Toronto… Personally my goals are to have more female crew members for my projects.

The inclusion of women can’t be left up to men, because it simply won’t happen. Women need to employ each other and work together within the film community.”

Extraordinary Student of the Month: Steven Worboys Worboys is a shutterbug turned philanthropist George Moshenski-Dubov Varsity Contributor

Extraordinary Student of the Month is a monthly series within The Varsity's Arts & Culture section that highlights the exceptional roles University of Toronto students play in making their community better.

Steven Worboys is a third-year undergraduate student from Australia majoring in Health Studies, with a dual minor in Drama and Book and Media Studies.

Worboys has photographed numerous events, including Woodsworth Frosh Week 2015, Woodsworth Orientation Week 2016, Rotman Commerce Marketing Association Conference, and the Woodsworth Gala. The most special aspect of his photography is that Worboys donates his pay to The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids).

Over the last 12 months, Worboys has donated around $1,000, while also helping to raise awareness about SickKids.

Worboys first picked up a camera "around the age of 15 or 16." When asked why he donates the money he makes from photography, Worboys answered: “Photography is not a steady term of employment, unless you get a professional gig, so it’s a side thing I do. Maybe I'll get three or four opportunities a year. I felt that I could make a difference with the money that came in through that."

Worboys explained his choice of community events: “I saw what the community of Woodsworth was, I wanted to give back in a way and I looked at photography, and I can give to those who need it more." He also added, “I like the community side of photography… you bring a camera and people crowd around it, and I like how photography brings people together, especially when you release it into the wild, and people will talk about it."

When asked why he donates to SickKids, Worboys opened up a little with a touching personal story. “Back in forth grade, I woke up with this lump on my

arm and I had to get surgery to remove it. We had to go to... the [Royal Children’s Hospital], and I had a really positive experience there, all the doctors helped me out, they were really nice and friendly... The whole process just made me feel like way more comfortable, so I really wanted to give back to something similar, after going through my process."

The advice that Worboys gives to others is: “It’s not just about money. If you have time to go volunteer, that’s just as valuable. Even just spreading the message, getting the message out there.

Even just talking to someone for maybe a couple minutes, even if they don't volunteer in their entire lives. Even just getting the message out there about these charities is equally important as time or money."

If you know an extraordinary student on campus and wish to nominate them, email arts@thevarsity.ca; provide their name, email, and why they deserve to be featured.

ANNETTE SZELIGA/THE VARSITY

Worboys has donated around $1,000 to SickKids.

16 • THE VARSITY • ARTS & CULTURE

arts@thevarsity.ca

The Side Piece

Sue-Ann Levy on the importance of speaking up “Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there, you’ll see that it gets easier and easier as time goes on” Gabrielle Warren

Associate Arts & Culture Editor

Content warning: discussion of assault, sexual assault.

Sue-Ann Levy is a columnist at the Toronto Sun that is well known for staunch conservative views and unapologetic ways of conveying them.

Her column and other means of commentary have drawn some ire, particularly among leftists she has covered, who accuse her of being abrasive and closed-minded.

I was 10 when I first heard Levy on CFRB 1010. Before this point, I had never heard a Canadian media person speak so openly against the status quo or provide an opening for alternative discourse by challenging listeners and pushing conversation.

Although I did not agree with all her views, at a young age I realized her voice was important.

She recently released her book Underdog: Confessions of a RightWing Gay Jewish Muckraker late last month. For those who don’t know her, it acts as an introduction to the Toronto journalist, but for those who do, it provides insight into her world.

I caught up with her before her book signing event at Hart House on September 14.

As someone deemed 'controversial', her image in the Canadian media can be polarizing. As I sat down with Levy on a sunny afternoon, my aim was to see her as she saw herself — not as how others perceived her.

Beginnings Levy’s path to journalism was not direct. As a child, she had another

passion. “I wanted to be an actress, so I used to take Broadway musicals, rewrite them, write poetry, and then perform," she said. "I conscripted my brother to be involved and I would perform them for the family.”

It was her grandmother who pushed towards her current profession, because she “[thought] that a nice Jewish girl doesn’t go to acting school [and] that I should become a journalist because I like to write. So she really pushed me and inspired me to be a journalist,” stated Levy.

Her political views developed at an early age: “I also discovered politics really early thanks to an uncle that was very involved with the Conservative Party. So, I have... very happily been able to mix all of my loves: writing, politics, and a little bit of acting — because I go on the radio all the time.”

Turning point As we spoke, my curiosity about Levy's unique career path grew. Her explanation of her motivation to speak out was sobering: “I had several things happen to me over the years.

First of all, growing up in Hamilton I was bullied and made fun of and labelled as an outsider, and then in my last year of journalism [school], I was beaten and assaulted and left for dead. I was at Carleton University, I was at my last year, and I discovered that the system wasn’t actually there for me in many ways.”

The assault had altered the course of her life. Levy explained, “I had always been outspoken, I always had a sense of social justice, and then when all of these things happened — coupled with living in the closet and questioning my sexuality — I said that even though I have been traumatized,

REUSHEN AKSOY/THE VARSITY

Sue-Ann Levy discussing her new book at Hart House.

I got to speak up for others… Those who I call the underdog, because I was the underdog.”

I wondered if Levy's proclivity for dissent came naturally to her, or if it was the result of a personal evolution.

She responded, “It was an evolution.

It built over time. Unfortunately, I was outspoken for others but not so much about myself.”

As she avoided her own trauma and grappled with her identity, Levy was driven to bring attention to other types of injustice. “I started to really hone in on people who I felt were betrayed by the system. And I was naturally attracted to people who had stories to tell. When I started covering education in the early 90s, I covered the injustices in the system — the waste and mismanagement,” she said.

Against the grain One of the focuses of Levy's book is her conviction that she has been sidelined for her divergent political views.

“The left — who I write about — have ignored me and tried to silence me or tried to pretend it’s not out there…

CBC have, to this point, refused to interview me, although I used to be on way back when. CP24 has banned me

because the general manager there doesn’t like my outspoken views,” she commented.

Levy then explained the bullying she has been experiencing online: “You’re fat, you’re a dyke, you’re an idiot. I have had that happen in the last week or so and definitely since the book came out.”

As a woman that switched professions later in life, was sexually abused twice, and struggled with her sexuality, I realized that Levy was more multi-dimensional than many perceive her to be.

When asked what advice she has for students who are struggling to speak up, Levy said: “Don’t be afraid to put yourself into the discourse. I always say that it only takes one or two people and then others will follow. There [is] strength in numbers.

People should be entitled to say [what they believe]. My editor... said to me always stay calm. Always state the facts, always stay calm, and don’t lower yourself to the name calling.

Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there, you’ll see that it gets easier and easier as time goes on.”

When things get hectic, remember: UMatter Club seeks to bring awareness to mental health Sabrina Ramroop

Varsity Contributor

UMatter is a student-led initiative that has teamed up with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) to work towards increasing the well-being of students.

This year is the first year that UMatter has operated at U of T. Their goal is to address the negative stigma that surrounds mental health and combat it through education. This includes discussing de-stressing techniques, hosting seminars, and connecting

students with the help that they need.

UMatter will also be holding fundraisers throughout the year.

On September 20, UMatter kicked off the school year with their first ever back-to-school barbecue. The executives were there introducing themselves to students and giving away free food. UMatter utilized this time to hit the ground running; they immediately got students discussing issues surrounding mental health and well-being.

UMatter wanted to get students involved to build the support and

aid they needed to succeed throughout the year. Students engaged with the club through one of its many campaigns focused on mental health, as they answered the question: “What do you associate with mental health?”

Some answers included: stress, therapy, student wellness, the heart, anxiety attacks, misunderstanding, negative stigma, 'get over it', and getting help for your problems.

The UMatter team plans to tackle the problem of maintaining students’ mental health by helping them

explore the resources made available to them.

UMatter will be holding bake sales and a de-stressing art therapy session. Artists will be teaching students about the importance of maintaining their own mental health, by using art and creativity as a form of therapy.

The executives have listened to students’ requests and also plan on hosting a seminar where they will address issues surrounding mental health.

Did you know?

UTM and UTSC both have their own comedy clubs!

The University of Toronto Mississauga Comedy Club hosts workshops and events, while the University of Toronto Scarborough Comedy seeks to bring funny people together.

Protip: Feeling stressed? Deep breathing can help reduce anxiety, regain focus, and improve thinking. Find a comfortable place and set a timer for 10 minutes. Close your eyes and take slow, very deep breaths. Continue to breathe deeply, focusing on your breath. If you feel your attention wandering, gently guide yourself back to your breathing until the timer stops. It can be difficult to make time for relaxation, but it is invaluable to your mental health.

Events: Just for Laughs 42 September 22 to October 1 Multiple locations, including: Yuk Yuk’s, Absolute Comedy, Comedy Bar, Second City Victoria College Book Sale September 22–26 Old Vic Building Trinity College Drama Society presents: The Maltese Bodkin September 28 to October 1 George Ignatieff Theatre UTM Communication in Family Life October 7 Davis Building (Council Chambers, room 3130) UTM

Science

September 26, 2016 var.st/science science@thevarsity.ca

Why is climate change denial still an issue?

A student’s perspective on climate change skepticism We didn’t have a relevant image so here are some people with a camera. TOWLE N/CC FLICKR

Fatin Tawfig Varsity Contributor

Leonardo DiCaprio made waves at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival with the world premiere of Before the Flood, a documentary highlighting the increasing scale and severity of climate change impacts around the world.

The Oscar-winning actor, producer, and United Nations Ambassador of Peace also used the film to provide a platform for climate scientists to debunk some of the pervasive myths advanced by climate change deniers.

The film is a stark reminder that, despite decades of increasingly alarming warnings from the scientific community regarding the projected effects of climate change, climate change skepticism is still a problem.

Indeed, the Republican Party in the United States has nominated a presidential candidate who has publicly attacked the veracity of anthropogenic climate change on several occasions. What is arguably more disturbing is that a significant portion of the populations of the US and Canada continue to deny the effects of climate change.

This is despite the fact that, concerning the link between human activity and the rapidly changing climate, the science is clear, and it has been for some time now.

A paper published in 2009 surveyed climatologists who are active publishers on climate change and found that 97.4 per cent of these experts supported the claim that human activity is causing changing global temperatures.

Similarly, a 2013 paper examined close to 12,000 abstracts from papers published between 1991–2011 on the topics of “global warming” or “global climate change.” Of those abstracts that stated a position on anthropogenic global warming, 97.1 per cent supported the

consensus position that human activity is linked to climate change.

Further, beyond overwhelming agreement on the part of climate scientists, the body of climate change science itself offers multiple independent, converging lines of evidence to support the claim that there is a causal link between human activity and climate change.

Examples of this converging evidence include: the observed sea level rise; melting sea ice; increasing moisture in the air; more fossil fuel carbon in oceans, trees, and air; satellites recording less heat escaping to space; a cooling upper atmosphere as a result of greenhouse gases trapping heat in the lower atmosphere; and many more.

In the past, climate change deniers have tried to dispute this scientific literature by taking issue with the interpretation of the data offered by climate science. Most often, this has been in the form of an argument positing that the changes and trends identified by climate scientists are, in reality, components of the earth’s natural temperature variation. Thus, the argument goes, the current global warming trend is part of the planet’s natural warming and cooling cycle, which has in the past yielded ice ages and other significant deviations from the norm.

Professor W. Richard Peltier of U of T’s Department of Physics and Director of the Centre for Global Climate Change Science states, “All of these excuses for denial have now been entirely debunked.

The planet continues to warm and the expected impacts of the warming are being felt, for example, in the increasing frequency and severity of extreme meteorological events.”

Given the absence of any remaining scientific basis for climate denial, explaining the stubborn persistence of this position requires looking to economic,

ideological, and psychological factors.

The ongoing controversy engulfing multinational oil and gas giant ExxonMobil regarding its alleged climate science cover-up is a reminder that actors endorsing climate science skepticism can be fueled by powerful economic incentives to maintain the status quo.

Evidence has come to light suggesting that Exxon has long had scientific evidence supporting the causal connection between burning fossil fuels and dangerous climate change but chose to mislead the public and its shareholders by promoting climate change skepticism instead.

This dynamic parallels earlier attempts by tobacco companies to discredit scientific findings that suggested a causal link between smoking cigarettes and lung cancer throughout the mid-tolate twentieth century.

The similarities are not superficial — in fact, some of the individuals and organizations involved in Exxon’s climate change skepticism strategy were also involved in manufacturing scientific skepticism for the tobacco industry.

Beyond economic incentives, people may harbour psychological and ideological incentives that encourage climate change denial.

Researchers have found that individualists in the United States are more likely to accept the scientific consensus on anthropogenic climate change, if it is compatible with their ideological beliefs.

In the study, individualists and hierarchs who read an article on climate science that recommended deregulation and increased nuclear energy capacity were more likely to accept the scientific claims compared to a second group who read a nearly identical article that instead recommended increased regulations.

In another example of motivated cognition and ideological leanings, Peltier

also notes that the persistence of climate denial can be partially traced back to a “deep distrust” of expert opinion, along with a “high degree of anti-intellectualism and disrespect for, and misunderstanding of, the scientific method whereby we seek understanding of the natural world.”

To understand the impacts of climate denial, it is important to clarify what is meant by ‘scientific consensus’ with respect to climate change. This phrase signals that the relevant scientific community has overwhelmingly accepted the evidence that there are significant, longterm changes in the earth’s climate, and that these changes are causally linked to human activity.

This phrase does not indicate, however, that there is also universal agreement within the scientific community with respect to the extent of climate changes, the most likely future trajectories that the changes signal, or what action should be taken by governments, institutions, or individuals in response to climate change.

Thus, while climate change denial remains problematic, tackling it is only part of the challenge of addressing the types of damage highlighted in DiCaprio’s film.

Even in settings where there is universal agreement that anthropogenic climate change is real and requires action, translating the climate science into effective policy instruments and then successfully implementing those instruments is immensely challenging. It is especially difficult to accomplish this in a manner that addresses the simultaneous, often competing concerns of the global South, Indigenous peoples, business groups, governments, environmentalists, and countless other stakeholders.

18 • THE VARSITY • SCIENCE

science@thevarsity.ca

Eight U of T science faculty join Royal Society of Canada as fellows Honour recognizes accomplishments of U of T researchers Hannah Fung Associate Science Editor

One of the greatest challenges of our time is determining how to maintain biodiversity in the face of natural and human disturbance.

Dr. Marie-Josée Fortin is harnessing the power of statistics to model some of the most complex issues in conservation biology.

On September 7, Fortin and 11 other U of T faculty joined the Royal Society of Canada as fellows. Of the 12 U of T inductees, eight were from the fields of engineering, mathematics, and biological and physical sciences.

Fortin, a Professor in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Toronto, is one of the leading figures in spatial ecology. She is interested in how ecological processes and human activities influence the probability of organism movement through a fragmented landscape.

By developing novel connectivity metrics based on network theory, which describes the relations between objects, Fortin estimates the path by which animals disperse in their environment. The probability of dispersal is species-specific and is mediated by the type of land cover that organisms encounter.

Fortin’s findings have shaped conservation strategies for a range of ecosystems.

She is also known for her work on novel boundary detection methods which can be used to investigate how ecotones — the transition area between biomes — shift in response to changing environmental and cli-

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

Dr. Marie-Josée Fortin studies the probability of organism movement. matic conditions.

When analyzing remotely sensed data, we might ask, ‘How do we know that the signals we receive are real?’ To answer this question, Fortin developed boundary statistics based on graph theory and randomization tests to delineate spatially cohesive boundaries and how their limits move through time.

The overarching goal of her research is “to help researchers and government agencies [make] better assessments of biodiversity, and to develop more accurate methods of

Canada’s Largest International University and Student Travel Expo

Study Travel

Work

r Voluntee

OCT 1-2

METRO TORONTO CONVENTION CENTRE EXPO • 1 pm - 5 pm SEMINARS • 12 noon - 5 pm

www.studyandgoabroad.com

measuring biodiversity and its distribution,” Fortin said.

The Royal Society of Canada boasts more than 2,000 active fellows. It was founded in 1883 to support research in the arts, humanities, and natural and social sciences.

“It’s nice to be recognized,” said Fortin. “[The honour] shows that there are important discoveries being made and to be made in the field of ecology.”

As a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, she hopes her research will gain more ex-

posure and that the ideas will become more widespread and applied.

In a statement to U of T News, Vivek Goel, U of T’s Vice-President of Research and Innovation, said, “As one of the top research universities in the world, the University of Toronto’s primary mission is to create new knowledge. We are incredibly proud of these 12 scholars — U of T’s newest Royal Society of Canada fellows — who embody that spirit in their exemplary work as they continue to blaze new trails in their fields.”

For those planning to pursue a career in ecology and evolutionary biology, Fortin believes that it’s important to “like the journey” as “there’s no such thing as a finished product” in science.

“Be creative, persistent, and like it… People who are most successful [are those who] like what they’re doing,” she said.

The following U of T science faculty will formally join the Royal Society of Canada as fellows in a ceremony on November 18: Patricia Brubaker, Department of Physiology; Julie Forman-Kay, Department of Biochemistry; Marie-Josée Fortin, Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology; Gordon Keller, Department of Medical Biophysics and UHN; Javad Mostaghimi, Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering; Jeremy Quastel, Department of Mathematics; Aephraim Steinberg, Department of Physics; and Stevo Todorcevic, Department of Mathematics.

SEPTEMBER 26, 2016 • 19

var.st/science

A digital sense of touch for surgeons Force-sensing surgical technology wins $10,000 prize at U of T Entrepreneurship Hatchery Demo Day

Science Around Town HackerNest September Toronto Tech Social HackerNest is Toronto’s very own tech social. Tangerine’s Vice President of IT Strategy, Research and Development, Vinay Venugopal speaks.

Date: Monday, September 26 Time: 8:00–11:00 pm Location: 1 Toronto Street Admission: Entry by donation (suggested $10) Demystifying the US Healthcare and Life Sciences Market A great opportunity to understand the challenges for the Canadian stakeholders in the healthcare and life sciences sector aiming to enter the US Market. The panelists include industry leaders Pravin Chaturvedi, President and CEO of Pivot Pharmaceuticals and Jessica Holmes, Executive Director of Reimbursement from Argenta Advisors.

SensOR can be placed onto any surgical tool. CONNIE LIU/THE VARSITY

Connie Liu Associate Science Editor

Tools are said to be an extension of a surgeon’s hand. For that reason, they should be as specialized as the surgeons who use them.

Among the 14 teams who competed in the Dragons’ Den-style Demo Day hosted by The Entrepreneurship Hatchery of U of T Engineering this summer, SensOR placed as one of the top three.

Their pitch, a ‘smart skin’ technology aimed at improving surgical precision, impressed the panel of judges and was awarded $10,000.

Co-founders Robert Brooks, PhD graduate in Mechanical Engineering at U of T, and Justin Wee, PhD candidate at the Institute of Biomaterials & Biomedical Engineering, set out to tackle the problems associated with minimally invasive surgery.

Contrary to traditional surgery involving open incisions and direct tissue contact, the minimally invasive technique, known as ‘endoscopic’ surgery, involves inserting longer tools into smaller incisions. For patients, this means less scarring, faster recovery, and a lower risk of bleeding. For doctors, this means working from outside the body with tools as long as a third of a metre and relying on an external monitor to display the procedure.

“We’re giving surgeons the sense of touch they had in open surgery back in minimally invasive surgery,” said Brooks.

Surgeons will be able to ‘feel’ what they are doing and have much better control, ulti-

mately reducing readmissions, scarring, and post-operative pain.

The product is a film that can be placed, like a sticker, onto any make or model of surgical tool on the market. Rather than replacing the million-dollar portfolio of tools, hospitals can simply wrap the film onto existing equipment and turn them into force sensors.

The film works by sensing the minute deformations in the tool when it pushes against body tissue. The metal deflects slightly and is detected by an array of sensors that determine exactly how and where it is deflecting. This allows the device to track not only the amount of force but the direction and type of force that it receives as well.

SensOR is one of the first to explore miniaturization in the field of force sensing. Other sensing technologies, like ultrasounds, do exist, but are often designed as bulky, external items. Only recent technology has progressed to the compactness and miniaturization seen today, allowing what should have been a large, external instrument to now be placed on the side of a medical device.

“I see a world where, first of all, everything is going to be moving toward minimally invasive surgery. We have an aging population which means we can’t do the very invasive procedures we used to,” said Brooks. “Sensing has revolutionized almost every other industry. If you think about your smartphone and the number of sensors on that, [and] the things that it’s opened up — and yet in surgery, they’re still using full mechani-

cal tools with the exception of MRI and ultrasounds.”

The idea for this project began when Ted Gerstle, Wee’s PhD supervisor and general surgeon at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), noted how residents training for endoscopic surgery were only evaluated on the speed and accuracy of their sutures, without considering the force.

After searching, and failing, to find a tool on the market, Brooks and Wee started developing their own technology.

“We found [that the device] was not only useful in training or knot-tying… it was useful outside of general surgery,” said Brooks, listing internal surgery, neurosurgery, urology, cardiac and thoracic surgery, and ENT surgery among the applicable fields. “This was a fundamental problem… to all of minimally invasive surgery.”

This summer, The Hatchery moved SensOR from an idea to a product, a business plan, and a pitch. “We had the technology coming into The Hatchery, but we didn’t have a product. We didn’t have a clear message that someone with a business background — not just a medical doctor or engineer — would understand,” explained Brooks. “We’ve been able to really refine what our value is, in a way that investors and the average person can understand.”

SensOR plans to launch its product into research and training markets.

While researchers using the device will help to validate it, surgeons training with this device will help to facilitate its seamless adoption into the healthcare

Date: Friday, September 30 Time: 8:30 am to 12:30 pm Location: 101 College Street (auditorium) Admission: Free with registration Bioethics Seminar — Clinical Ethics at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne: How We Do It, Who We Do It With , Who We Do It For This week, clinicians and ethicists alike from Royal Children’s Hospital come together to open a dialogue about ethical decisions dealing with children’s care and healthcare referrals.

Date: Wednesday, September 28 Time: 4:00–5:30 pm Location: Health Sciences Building, 155 College Street, room 108 Admission: Free with registration Mastering the MCAT — Free Pre-Med Seminar For those interested in medical school, Prep101 is hosting a seminar that explains everything you need to know about medical school from admission process to your pre-requisites. The event is being held at UTM. Date: Thursday, September 29 Time: 5:30–7:00 pm Location: Davis Building, 3359 Mississauga Road, room 2105F Admission: Free with registration

20 • THE VARSITY • SCIENCE

science@thevarsity.ca

Chicken... without the egg?

New research finds that fertilized embryos without natural eggs may be possible

VICTORIA BANDEROB/THE VARSITY

Mishka Danchuk-Lauzon Varsity Contributor

Scientists from the University of Bath (UB) in England have made a discovery that challenges the current view of human reproduction. The research suggests that in the future, reproduction could be possible without the use of an egg from a woman’s ovaries.

The team, led by Toru Suzuki at the UB

Laboratory of Mammalian Molecular Embryology, was able to produce healthy mice from a sperm and pseudo-embryo. A pseudoembryo is an unfertilized egg that has been tricked into becoming an embryo through the help of chemicals. Approximately one in four pregnancies were successful using this procedure.

This discovery suggests that it could be possible to produce a human being from a

non-egg cell, such as a skin cell. This form of reproduction would allow male same-sex couples to have children using their own cells and sperm. As in in-vitro fertilization (IVF), the embryo would be carried to term by a gestational mother.

This is one of many examples of scientific research that has shattered current beliefs about reproduction.

In the constant push for scientific understanding, scientists must not downplay the importance of ethical principles pertaining to their research. David Resnik, Bioethicist at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, defines ethics as “the norms for conduct that distinguish between acceptable and unacceptable behaviour.” Notions of what is ‘acceptable’ or ‘unacceptable’, however, can vary dramatically from person to person.

Donald Ainslie, a professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Toronto, posed the following questions in light of this finding: “There are two kinds of questions that need to be asked in these kinds of situations. First, how should each of us as individuals make sense of such a change in how we reproduce? How should we integrate these possibilities into our sense of what is at stake morally in our human ways of living?

Second, there are questions of policy, both at the state level (should such reproductive techniques be regulated?) and at the professional level (should such research be allowed?).”

Ainslie added, “The real question, however, is why people would think they need to have children genetically related to them, despite there being many children in need of adoption or fostering. And we should be wary of a kind of genetic determinism, in which we discount the role of the gestational mother.

She must be recognized as more than a mere container, but rather as someone who, from a biological point of view, has helped to bring the child into existence and who will have had a significant impact on who the child becomes.”

There are also legal considerations at play. “Canada currently does not allow paid surrogacy arrangements, so the gestational mother involved in carrying fetuses developed through these new techniques would need to be acting altruistically,” said Ainslie.

“We would need to ensure her rights are being respected if she agrees to carry a child in this way (though this is no different from the current situation when a woman serves as a surrogate via IVF).”

The possibility of human reproduction without the use of a woman’s egg is a breakthrough in the field of science. As with any research, however, there are many ethical and moral questions accompanying this discovery that need to be resolved. Nevertheless, the reality of creating babies from skin cells might be closer than we think.

University of Toronto researchers discover novel anole lizard species Anolis landestoyi follows the pattern of paired anole radiations on Caribbean islands Pascale Tsai Varsity Contributor

Evolutionary researchers have found further evidence supporting the convergent history of anole lizards on the Caribbean’s Greater Antilles Islands. A University of Toronto research team led by Dr. Luke Mahler discovered Anolis landestoyi, a novel anole species in the Dominican Republic. The existence of Anolis landestoyi and its similarity to Chamaeleolis, a Cuban, chameleon-like lizard, extends the pattern of diversification to anole lizards throughout the Caribbean, indicative of an event called adaptive radiation.

Anole lizards on each Caribbean island generally behave and appear similarly to other groups of anoles that live on separate islands in the Greater Antilles. This pattern, known as convergent evolution, stems from the similarity in selective pressures on the anole habitats followed by the similarity in adaptions as a response.

Although they are from unrelated families, the different anole groups on each island are referred to as ‘replicated adaptive radiations’ and possess traits almost identical to their counterparts across the Caribbean Sea. Around one fifth of the anole lizards discovered are not considered to be radiations, as they possess no known counterpart. “We’ve always regarded these as exceptions to the rule — deviations from a general pattern of replicated adaptive radiation,” Mahler explains.

Seems like Chamaeleolis? Look again. CHRISTOPHE ANDRE/CC FLICKR Prior to the discovery of Anolis landestoyi, the Cuban Chamaeleolis had no counterpart. Chameoleolis, a giant chameleon-like lizard with a particular affinity for forest branches, shares no recent ancestors with Anolis landestoyi. However, Anolis landestoyi immediately shocked Mahler and his team with its striking resemblance to Chamaeleolis.

Anolis landestoyi has optimal limb length for branch walking and well-designed colouration for reclusiveness. It is clearly well adapted for the same kinds of activities as Chamaeleolis and, yet, lives over 850 km away. As the counterpart to Chamaeleolis,

Anolis landestoyi extends the charted pattern of radiations of anoles on separate Caribbean islands and provides researchers with the knowledge of the existence of one fewer unpaired anole.

This ‘pairing’ between unfamiliar anole lizards on separate Caribbean islands holds great significance, particularly for evolutionary biologists who follow the anoles’ convergent evolutionary pattern. Anolis landestoyi, paired with Chamaeleolis, is one more example of an anole counterpart that exhibits all the expected characteristics of its habitat, while emulating the traits of its neighbouring counterpart.

“The discovery of this species provides new evidence for replication in this classic system of matched radiations,” Mahler contended, describing the finding as both “unexpected and expected.”

The U of T researchers did not expect to find an entirely new lizard species in their journey to the Caribbean, islands already well traversed by evolutionary biologists, but the outcomes were gratifying. The existence of Anolis landestoyi improves a well-defended argument of this non-random evolutionary pattern within the anole lizard species and, as Mahler said, “provides compelling support for the idea that the evolutionary assembly of entire anole faunas on ecologically similar islands can result in incredibly similar outcomes.”

The discovery of the Anolis landestoyi strengthens the hypothesis of commonality for the anole lizard species, with extensive implications for research in the evolutionary field. “New technologies in sequencing, imaging, genome editing, climate modeling, and more are pushing back our frontiers of biological knowledge at a remarkable pace, but there’s still so much to learn from the careful observation of nature,” said Mahler.

“One can do both, of course, and I would argue that we stand to learn the most when we use new tools and approaches to address questions inspired by good old-fashioned natural history.”

Sports

September 26, 2016 var.st/sports sports@thevarsity.ca

VIVIAN TONG/THE VARSITY

World Anti-Doping Agency gets hacked, IOC seeks help From sinner to saint, the Russian Federation is sought out to aid the World Anti-Doping Agency Daniel Samuel Varsity Columnist

A month after the closing ceremonies of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach is seeking the help of Russian authorities to solve the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) latest security problem.

Russian hacking group Fancy Bears breached WADA’s database and published the classified medical records of 66 athletes, including the newly minted fourtime Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles. The records showed that Biles tested positive for methylphenidate, which is the active ingredient in Ritalin, a medication commonly used to treat ADHD. Biles addressed her positive test on Twitter stating, “I have ADHD and I have taken medicine for it since I was a kid. Please know, I believe in clean sport, have always followed the rules, and will continue to do so as fair play is critical to sport and is very important to me.”

The hack was seen by many as retaliatory, as it followed the IOC’s partial ban of Russian athletes from the Rio Olympics and their complete ban of Russian Paralympic competitors, which were based on WADA investigations.

The hack was unsuccessful in producing new evidence of doping allegations. The breached data only contained therapeutic use exemptions, which allow athletes to take medicine that otherwise would’ve been banned. However, the hack has further drawn into question the effectiveness of WADA.

WADA, founded in 1999 by Canadian lawyer and IOC member Dick Pound, currently serves as the world’s leading independent anti-doping organization and works directly alongside the IOC. The revelation of Russia’s state-sponsored doping program ahead of the Rio Olympics left the international athletics community in a state of shock and placed WADA in the difficult position of determining the severity of Russia’s punishment.

WADA’s proposed punishment of a sweeping ban on all Russian athletes from the Rio Games was ridiculous.

Bach scathingly commented on the proposed solution saying: “Leaving aside that such a comparison is completely out of any proportion when it comes to the rules of sport, let us just for a moment consider the consequences of a ‘nuclear option.’”

Bach’s decision to request the help of the Russian Federation illustrates the very real security that threat hacking organizations like Fancy Bears present and the equally real need to protect athletes from being unfairly criticized and vilified.

If the data breaches continue, the future of WADA may depend on the information Russian authorities and the IOC find on the hackers. Many believe WADA to already be on its way out, and there may lie truth in the rumours that the IOC will introduce their own antidoping organization.

The Olympic Summit on October 8 will re-establish the IOC’s anti-doping commitment, providing IOC members with the ability to participate in shaping the future model of WADA for years to come.

22 • THE VARSITY • SPORTS

sports@thevarsity.ca

Skating zombies spotted at U of T MoveU hosts Zombie Skate, in a Michelle Kwan meets World War Z fashion Nic Bryenton Varsity Contributor

As I stood watching my friend stick an eerily convincing strip of bloody latex to her neck, I debated whether or not to apply the myriad of creams and coloured corn syrups to my face as well. The night’s theme was zombies, and a few of my residence neighbours and I had assembled to prepare ourselves. Eventually, I ceded: I, too, would be zombified.

Zombie Skate’s Facebook event page appeals to fans of The Walking Dead and Kurt Browning aspirants for a night of free skating. Not knowing many of either group and considering Browning’s last world championship win was in 1993, I was surprised to see a lineup at the door. Apparently, the event was extremely popular.

University of Toronto Students’ Union’s (UTSU) Blue Crew was at the event, eagerly welcoming the nights’ attendees. The Blue Crew is a volunteer branch of UTSU, and it runs a variety of on campus events. On account of my posse’s

enthusiastic makeup, we received an extra warm welcome: we were photographed and entered in a raffle. After filtering through lines and waivers, then sizing skates and squeezing into them, we were on the ice.

The event was part of MoveU, a tri-campus campaign that was launched by U of T in partnership with ParticipACTION. According to the website, the campaign exists to show students that “by lowering stress levels, improving sleep patterns and boosting concentration,” physical activity can be beneficial to academic life.

MoveU encourages students to integrate physical activity into their day, in whatever way possible.

Zombie Skate is part of the MoveU Skate Series: other events include Scary Skate on October 31 and Skate ’n Create on November 24.

MoveU has also organized events incorporating a variety of other activities — from bubble soccer to Pokémon hunts. “[MoveU] events are a way to engage students who may not typically

be participating in physical activity on campus,” said Kay Dawkins, Manager of Physical Activity at the Athletic Centre. “The skating events also promote that we have a rink on campus and that recreational opportunities for skating and hockey are available for students for free.”

Skate rentals normally cost $3.00, but the MoveU skate series events provide them for free.

Zombie skate turned out to be friendly to beginners, as several staff instructors were on the ice assisting new skaters. I had the pleasure of attending the event with two new residents of Canada and joining them for their first time on ice.

Our staggering strides and tendency to tumble might easily have led onlookers to mistake us for some of the Walking Dead’s nonliving characters. However, it was fun we were chasing, not brains.

On the faces of the stumbling and the smoothly-gliding alike, smiles could be seen in a not-so-zombielike light.

Eerily convincing strips of bloody latex and a pair of skates turned this human into the skating dead.

ZAHRA ZAHRAVI/THE VARSITY

So You Think You Know Sports?

Drone racing: the soaring new sport of the future

Crossing the finish line at 120/mph. RICHARD BRAMLETTE/CC FLICKR Jenny Zhang Varsity Contributor

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

Put on your heads-up display, pick up your controller, and take to a 3D course that makes the twists and turns of Formula One seem landlocked. You have probably seen breathtaking images of forests and mountain ranges taken using drones. Now you will be able to watch drones race head to head in a fast, action-packed new sport.

Robotic sports are slowly making their way onto the scene. While they challenge the traditional definition of what makes up a sport, drone racing is exhilarating and new; it lets you experience the thrill of flight at speeds of up to 120/mph from the comfort of an armchair. Participants wear special first person view (FPV) goggles and fly through courses as if they

were sitting in the cockpit of the aircraft.

Being a relatively young sport, rules for drone racing can vary from organization to organization. The World Drone Prix, for example, requires teams of at least four people. Pilots aim to finish the event by overcoming all obstacles, making at least one pit stop for necessary maintenance, and flying through at least one Joker Lane — a flight path loaded with severe turns and unexpected interferences — all while trying to avoid penalties.

The Drone Racing League (DRL), on the other hand, allows individual participation and determines the winner based on completion time and successfully passed checkpoints.

Depending on whether it is a casual match between hobbyists or a championship among professionals, race tracks can be designed using a variety of materials, from twigs and hula-hoops to the more elaborate option of stadiums and obsolete buildings.

The options for customization don’t end there: drones, goggles, and controllers are the basic equipment necessary for drone racing and a diverse range of choices are available for each.

The standard racing drone measures 250 mm in diameter and con-

tains four propellers with a camera attached to the chassis. The body of the aircraft is made of carbon fibre, a material that adequately light and easily reparable. Drones can be modified to improve speed and agility, to perform better aerial tricks, or to extend battery life for demanding races.

In respect to FPV goggles, some characteristics that contestants consider are screen resolution, aspect ratio, field of view, and digital video recording.

In the past two years, drone racing has gradually garnered international interest. The first ever US National Drone Racing Championships took place in 2015, and the 2016 World Drone Prix in Dubai offered a staggering $1 million in prize money; the event ended with a 15-year-old contestant walking away $250,000 richer.

ESPN in the US and Sky Sports in the UK signed multimillion dollar deals to broadcast the DRL, whose 10-episode series began airing this month.

According to Tech Times, drone racing is “the sport of the future,” but for now it is still racing toward widespread recognition. With its rapid growth in popularity and new broadcasting deals, it won’t be surprising to see drone racing become part of a new era in sports.

SEPTEMBER 26, 2016 • 23

var.st/sports

s

Sport

Bodies of Marlins star pitcher and two others found by Coast Guard in Miami Beach early Sunday morning Sean Smith Sports Editor

Miami Marlins ace José Fernández was one of baseball’s brightest young prospects. In his short four-year career, Fernandez won the National League Rookie of the Year Award and was a two-time All-Star.

Just after 3:00 am on Sunday morning, the 24-year-old and two others were found in the vicinity of a capsized boat that crashed into a jetty. Officials report there was no indication of drug or alcohol use, and that it appears the cause of death was related to impact rather than drowning.

Fernández was born in Cuba and defected to America at the age of 15.

He attended highschool in Tampa before being selected during the first round of the 2011 MLB Draft.

The pitcher’s fastball was clocked

at over 100/mph, but his best pitch was his curveball, which had been dubbed ‘The Defector’.

On top of his talent, Fernández had more than just a bright future in baseball to look forward to: he and his pregnant girlfriend Carla Mendoza were expecting a baby girl.

The Miami Marlins cancelled their Sunday game against the Atlanta Braves, stating they were “devastated by the tragic loss of Jose Fernandez.” They added, “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this very difficult time.”

A league-wide moment of silence before all of the Sunday games was put into effect. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said, “All of Baseball is shocked and saddened… He was one of our game’s great young stars who made a dramatic impact on and off the field since his debut in 2013.”

U of T vs. York women’s lacrosse The Varsity Blues challenge the Lions in this early morning lacrosse match-up.

Date: October 1 Time: 8:30 am Location: Varsity Centre Cost: Free HealthyU Healthy Habits Part of Hart House’s Weekly Wellness initiative, Healthy Habits is a weekly drop-in program that is designed to help you eat right.

Nutritionist Shannon Boyd addresses common themes in the world of healthy eating and adapts them for student life.

ARTURO PARDVILA III/CC FLICKR

Fernández was a young star who passed before his time.

Exasperated with the past, expectant of the future

DIANA PHAM/THE VARSITY

Toronto is riding a wave of cultural relevance and sporting achievement, which could not have been imagined when the city had painfully mediocre sports teams — and the inferiority complex to match — just a few years ago.

Last year, the Jays and Raptors were just two wins away from reaching the finals of their respective leagues; this year, the Argos moved to a new stadium, and

now Toronto FC is in contention to finish first in their conference.

Lost among this resurgence is the city’s biggest fish: the Toronto Maple Leafs. For the past two seasons the blind excitement that usually comes with the start of a fresh season has been replaced by growing feelings of apathy.

The city’s most valuable, popular, and historic franchise has become Toronto’s forgotten team.

Worn out by the irresponsible Brian Burke years and the painful Dave Nonis years — watching that

man run a hockey team was like watching a car wreck — the city collectively gave up on the Leafs.

Television ratings dipped; the city went cold on the Leafs. But, there have been some who have watched from the sidelines as Brendan Shanahan and his dream team of executives worked their magic, ridding the team of some terrible contracts, flexing their financial muscle in return for draft picks and younger talent.

This season, however, will be unlike the last two atrocities. The

Date: Mondays (excluding October 10) Time: 12:00–1:00 pm Location: Hart House, Reading Room Cost: Free World Cup of Hockey Final Series Team Canada and Team Europe wrestle for the cup as the championship comes to a close in a best-of-three series. Show your national pride by tuning in throughout the week!

A letter from a Leafs fan

Victor Ruso Varsity Contributor

un Aro d T

n ow

José Fernández dies tragically in boating accident

team will finally be talented and exciting again. The Leafs locker room will be promisingly youthful and look less like the worn out five dollar DVD bin at Walmart. There is a growing sense of excitement in the city revolving around the Leafs. But will their usual spot as Toronto’s most-followed team return?

The answer to that fated question lies within the hockey sticks of William Nylander, Mitch Marner, and Auston Matthews. ‘The Big Three’, ‘Toronto’s Triplets’, ‘Auston and his Disciples’, or whatever you want to call them will make or break the Toronto Maple Leafs.

For the first time in recent memory, Toronto is fortunate enough to claim three potential superstars as its own. The hype alone will be enough to fuel the enthusiasm of fans for the length of the season — even if the team comes in last yet again.

This is the same city that once thought David Clarkson was the second coming of Christ. The fan base in this city is desperate for the Leafs to throw them a bone.

All it’ll take is an exciting season of progress from the younger Leafs — then, the city will be drinking in that blue as if the cup was never empty.

Game 1 Date: September 27 Time: 8:00 pm Game 2 Date: September 29 Time: 8:00 pm Game 3 Date: October 1 Time: 7:00 pm Location: Air Canada Centre Cost: Free on TV, varying prices for tickets Drop-in dodgeball These fun athletic sessions will help you meet new people, exert some energy, and de-stress from school.

With two different session times available, you’ll definitely be able to work it into your schedule.

Date: September 19 to October 9 (excluding September 30) Time: Mondays, 6:05–6:55 pm and Fridays, 5:10–6:50 pm Location: Athletic Centre Cost: Free

SEPTEMBER 26, 2016 • 24

DIVERSIONS

SUDOKU