Ultra Vires Volume 22, Issue 2 - October 2020

ULTRAVIRES.CA

October 28, 2020

VOL. 22, ISS. 2

THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO FACULTY OF LAW

Faculty Council Discusses IHRP and Admissions Council meeting discusses IHRP controversy, changing 1L demographics, and postponement of budget and tuition details SABRINA MACKLAI (1L JD/MI) On October 21, the Faculty Council met for the second time this academic year.

Addressing IHRP Director Hiring Controversy, again

PHOTO CREDIT: JACQUELINE HUANG

In-person Teaching Suspended as City Rolls Back to Stage Two Administration announces classes indefinitely shifting to remote delivery for the Fall AVNEE PARANJAPE (3L) On the evening of Saturday, October 10, about a month after the start of the term, students were informed that the Faculty of Law would be transitioning to exclusively remote learning starting October 13. In making this decision, Dean Iacobucci cited University Provost Cheryl Reghr’s request that faculties consider whether inperson teaching is “essential.”

The Faculty’s announcement comes amidst the implementation of campuswide measures, including the closure of f itness facilities, take-out only food services, and limits on social gatherings. These changes were announced in an October 9 statement by the University of Toronto, which described lab courses, music, and

practical instruction as examples of “essential” in-person activities.

The email sent Saturday evening indicated that the move to remote learning followed public health measures implemented by the provincial government. These measures began Saturday at 12:01 a.m. and will run for 28 days, meaning that classes will not return to in-person settings until after the Fall reading week, if at all. While building and library access remains open to the large majority of students who elected to take in-person classes, Dean Iacobucci cautioned that the administration was “not conf ident that in-person classes will resume this semester at all.”

The University of Toronto was among a

minority of law schools across the country with a substantial in-person component for course delivery, alongside Queen’s and Western. While some institutions such as McGill have already determined that the Winter term will be primarily remote, the Faculty has yet to make such an announcement. Dean Iacobucci indicated that the Faculty will continue to follow guidance from the University, but did not suggest any particular plans for after November 6.

As f igures in Toronto have surpassed 300 new cases daily, it remains to be seen whether the curve can be substantially levelled of f to allow for a return to in-person learning before the end of the term on December 9.

Since mid-September, allegations have circulated that the Faculty of Law rescinded an offer to Valentina Azarova to become the Staff Director of the International Human Rights Program (IHRP). The Faculty was allegedly influenced by a sitting Tax Court judge to not hire Azarova, based on her work on the Israeli-Palestenian conflict.

At the meeting, Dean Iacobucci reiterated the announcements made in his October 14 and 15 emails to the law school community. He stated that he is concerned with the “incomplete and incorrect information about the search [for the director of the IHRP]” disseminated publicly. He further stated that upon his request weeks ago, the University has established an impartial review to assess what happened. In the meantime, Professor Emerita Rebecca Cook will serve as Interim Director of the IHRP, and she will be developing the next steps for the program.

Dean Iacobucci also cited two reasons for his initial reluctance to comment on the IHRP matter at the Octobery 7 Faculty Council meeting. First, he could not comment on how the University was processing his request to establish a review. Second, Dean Iacobucci wished to wait for the establishment of a review to comment because it would enable Professor Cook the “freedom to think about the present and the future.”

Dean Iacobucci is confident that the IHRP’s volunteer work and support for summer externships will continue as planned. However, whether the clinical course will still run depends on Faculty teaching capacity. If the course does not continue, Dean Iacobucci said he would ensure that the five students currently enrolled would be accommodated, to the extent feasible.

Dean Iacobucci emphasized that “the IHRP is and will continue to be a critically important program for the Faculty.”

Admissions Statistics Professor Ben Alarie presented the JD Admissions Committee Report. For the 2020-21 year, there were 2204 JD applications, 371 offers made, and 212 students registered, representing an offer rate (offers over applications) of 17 percent. The yield rate (acceptances over offers) of 57 percent is down by two percentage points from last year.

Notably, more offers were made this year compared to last year’s 347 offers. Professor Alarie stated that this was in anticipation of an unusually high

Continued on Page 3

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE VIRTUAL DOGGIE DAY

RIGHTS REVIEW

HALLOWEEN COSTUMES FOR 2020

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UV INDEX NEWS 84 Queen’s Park Crescent Toronto, ON M5S 2C5 Ultra Vires is the independent student newspaper of the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. We provide a forum for diverse viewpoints on topics of interest to our readers. We aim to foster dialogue on academic and social issues between students, the faculty, and the broader legal community in Toronto, Ontario, and Canada. Our content does not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board. We print six issues per year. Ultra Vires is printed by Master Web Inc.

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Vivian Cheng & Angela Gu

EDITORS NOTE Dear law school communit y and beyond, Happy spooky season! We hope you are stay ing healthy and safe as the law school locks down (again). Congratulations on mak ing it through the f irst half of the weirdest semester ever. We know it must be tough, but we’re happy that the law communit y has endeavoured to stay connected through these unprecedented times.

In this issue, you’ll f ind some updates from Facult y Council, a continuation of the IHR P Saga, some precious photos of law students’ pets, and a delicious Rag u recipe to hopefully keep you warm.

RIGHTS REVIEW

In-person teaching suspended as City Rolls Back to Stage Two

1

Faculty Council Faces Hiring Scandal

3

Faculty Council Discusses IHRP and Admissions

1

Exploring International Human Rights Law 22 in Canada

Meet the Mooters 2020

4

My Summer with PEN Canada

22

Changes to the 1L Professionalism Training

4

23

IHRP Hiring Controversy: U of T Announces Review After Persistent Pressure

7

A Summer at OCASI: The Role of Community Advocacy Against Gender-Based Violence

SLS’ Halloween Plans

7

FEATURES

Editorial

21

A (Remote) Summer with the SASLAW Pro

21

Bono Project

OPINIONS Battling Information Overload

24

The Future of In-Person Classes

24

UofT Law Made a Mistake by Opting for Hybrid Classes

25

What is Going on in Academia?

25

A New School in Uncertain Times

26

Beets: Delicious or Devilish?

26

(Solicited) Advice for 1Ls

8

1L Study Resources Go-To Guide 2020-2021

8

The Zoom Awards

11

Running an Equity Club During COVID-19

11

An Experienced Culinary Guide to Eating Well in Toronto

12

Who’s Who at the Faculty of Law

13

Oh, the Places You’ll Zoom!

27

Just treats, no tricks

14

Presidential Debate Bingo

28

Virtual Doggie Day

15 18

A Totally Real Day in the Life of UV’s Social Media Manager

28

CLSA Blog In Print: In Conversation with Sean Robichaud

Mask Etiquette 101

29

ASSOCIATE OPINIONS EDITORS

Ragù for Students at Home

19

Natasha Burman & Sabrina Macklai

20

Halloween Costumes for 2020, the Spookiest Year of Them All

29

U of T Law in Pictures, 2020

NEWS EDITOR Alexa Cheung ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR Ivy Xu FEATURES EDITOR Alisha Li

If you have comments on this issue or stories to pitch, you can reach us at editor@ultrav ires.ca.

ASSOCIATE FEATURES EDITORS Angela Feng & Jacqueline Huang

Thanks for reading and good luck w ith exams and assignments!

OPINIONS EDITOR Annecy Pang

— Vivian Cheng & Angela Gu Co-Editors-in-Chief, Ultra Vires

DIVERSIONS The Most Spooktacular Zoom Backgrounds

27

for All You Goblins and Ghouls

DIVERSIONS EDITOR Adrienne Ralph ASSOCIATE DIVERSIONS EDITOR Harry Myles EDITORS AT LARGE Safa Bajwa & Graham Rotenberg LAYOUT EDITOR Alexandra Fox RECRUIT EDITOR Hussein E.E. Fawzy PHOTOGRAPHERS Katrina Keller & Jacqueline Huang

ADVERTISING If you are interested in advertising, please email us at business@ultravires.ca BUSINESS MANAGER Austin Ray ERRORS If you notice any errors, please email us at editor@ultravires.ca.

SUBMISSIONS If you would like to submit a tip, letter, or an article, please email us at editor@ultravires.ca.

Ultra Vires reserves the right to edit submissions.

FREDDIE, PHOTO COURTESY OF SYD PALTER. SEE “VIRTUAL DOGGIE DAY” ON PAGE 15 FOR MORE.

NEWS

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February 28, 2020 | 3

Faculty Council Faces Hiring Scandal

Meeting marked by tension and silence AVNEE PARANJAPE (3L) On October 7, the Faculty Council held its first meeting since the International Human Rights Program (IHRP) hiring controversy arose. Dean Iacobucci provided few answers, despite many questions from student representatives and a handful of faculty.

IHRP Questions Continue

The spectre of the IHRP affair loomed over the meeting. As Dean Iacobucci opened the meeting, he indicated that he had said everything he could in prior statements, and that this issue was a Human Resources one and therefore not a matter for the Faculty Council.

The discussion was not, however, so easily curtailed.

As the Dean pressed forward with the agenda, Professor David Schneiderman quickly raised a point of order, asking why the Dean, as chair, had not called upon those who had written questions in the chat. (The chat was only visible to Council members and not observers).

The Dean reiterated that the IHRP was not a matter for Faculty Council discussion purposes.

Schneiderman then asked what steps the Dean had taken to ensure the future efficacy of the program. In response, the Dean stated that since the IHRP currently lacked a director, there was no one in a formal position to make a statement to the Faculty Council.

Students’ Law Society (SLS) President Robert Nanni summarized the unaddressed student concerns around the IHRP. Some students had criticized the anti-Semitic undertones of media reports. Some students considered the situation an act of anti-Palestinian racism. Nanni emphasized that students were most concerned about the future of the program.

Later in the meeting, SLS Representative Jean-Pierre D’Angelo raised a motion to discuss the faculty’s plans for the IHRP, emphasizing that this academic question fell firmly within the Faculty Council’s mandate. The motion was seconded by Professor Mohammad Fadel, and de-

spite the Dean’s resistance, was narrowly carried with strong support from student representatives.

In the ensuing discussion, faculty members raised a number of different questions.

Professor Fadel asked when more information may be available, while Professor Ariel Katz asked at what point the Dean would be willing to discuss this matter. Professor Kent Roach underscored the importance of ensuring that the principles of academic freedom extended to clinical programs, and asked the Dean to affirm this point. In response, the Dean referred to his prior statement that academic freedom was not an issue in this matter.

The Dean also refused to answer questions on the status of the program or timelines for a new hiring committee. When Professor Anver Emon noted that Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and other partners had spoken out, he asked whether there was an effort by the University to rectify reputational harms.

While the Dean thanked him for the question, he did not respond and moved on to the next speaker.

Near the end of the meeting, Professor Denise Réaume asked the Dean to say something that would reassure students of the security of the future of the IHRP. He responded that he was not prepared to say anything about the future of the IHRP, and abruptly concluded the meeting.

An Unusual Academic Year

Earlier in the meeting, Dean Iacobucci recognized the exceptional nature of the year, thanking the faculty and the efforts of the nonacademic staff in transitioning to online learning. The Dean further thanked faculty for contributing research funding to hire 60 short-term Research Assistants over the summer.

Two new programs were also discussed. The Investor Protection Clinic provides services to communities vulnerable to unscrupulous investment advice, and is helmed by new director Ivy

COURTESY OF JACQUELINE HUANG

Lam. The Future of Law Lab features alum Josh Morrison as its new director, and will work on how the law and its practice are evolving.

Truth and Reconciliation Committee

Professor Douglas Sanderson spoke to the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee, which was focused on updating the 1L curriculum to find enough hours equivalent to a one-credit course dedicated to instruction in Aboriginal, Indigenous law, and cultural competency. The Committee recommended that the administration formalize the delivery of these hours. Professor Sanderson noted that two of the planned hours went to Black Lives Matter con-

tent and other initiatives this year, but that they hope to regain that time in the future.

The Committee had been tasked with exploring the development of a new mandatory course on legal history in Canada, which would explore Indigenous legal traditions up to and including s. 35 of the Constitution Act 1982, in addition to other possible topics. This would be a step towards implementing Call to Action 28 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which asks for a mandatory course in law schools on the history of Indigenous peoples and the law. The Dean indicated that this would be part of the mandate of this year’s Committee.

Faculty Council Discusses IHRP and Admissions continued from page 1 number of deferrals; there were 32 deferrals of admission this year, whereas the long-term average is around 20 deferrals each year. This is roughly a 60 percent increase in deferrals.

Professor Alarie also summarized the 1L class profile statistics. The median GPA on the best three years of undergraduate study increased from the year prior to 3.86 on the OLSAS 4.0 scale. The median LSAT remains 166. Interestingly, Professor Alarie noted that while Admissions can focus on having the highest scoring LSAT takers as possible, they know empirically that “once you get to a 165, 167 LSAT score, any additional points aren’t really indicative of stronger law school performance or stronger professional results.”

There were not many substantial changes in the demographics of the class compared to last year. The median age was 23 and the average age was 24. Forty-two percent of the class self-identified as students of colour, a significant increase

from the previous two years of 35 percent. Seven students self-identified as Black, an increase from the two to three Black students in previous years.

Professor Alarie attributes this increase to the prominence of Black Future Lawyers. He anticipates this number to grow, especially with the launch of the Black Students Application Process for the 2020 application cycle.

Six offers were made to Indigenous students, with four recruited into the class. Professor Alarie stated that the Admissions Committee is hoping to increase this number with the support of Indigenous Initiatives Manager Amanda Carling.

SLS Updates Students’ Law Society (SLS) President Robert Nanni (4L JD/MBA) received concerns from faculty members regarding virtually replicating the in-person experience. He noted that students find it effective when professors encourage class par-

ticipation, attend to questions raised in the chat, and are open to feedback.

Nanni also discussed the successful launch of the first SLS lunchtime trivia of the academic year on October 13 with 84 sign-ups. These virtual sessions will be held bi-weekly for the remainder of the semester. The SLS also plans to host a new virtual contest series this year, the first of which being the Baby Photo Guessing Contest.

GLSA Updates Newly appointed Graduate Law Students’ Association (GLSA) President Anil Nair (GPLLM candidate) briefly expressed concerns over the ability of international graduate students in different time zones to write exams synchronously.

He also expressed that the lack of in-person learning has made many graduate students feel disconnected from the rest of the law school community.

Postponed Budget and Tuition Details Around this time of year, Dean Iacobucci ordinarily gives a budget presentation at Faculty Council. He stated that “this year, unusually, I have no idea what tuition is going to be for next year.” This is due to uncertainty at both the provincial and university level.

Ontario’s Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities mandated a 10 percent tuition fee reduction in 2019-20 and a tuition fee freeze in 2020-21, but Dean Iacobucci indicated that the government has provided no framework for the upcoming academic year.

Dean Iacobucci stated that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is also uncertainty surrounding the University’s finances which impact the law school’s budget. Dean Iacobucci hopes for greater clarity by November, but regardless, he plans to deliver a budget at the November Faculty Council meeting.

FEATURES

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Meet the Mooters 2020 Teams for 12 competitive moots selected ADRIENNE RALPH (2L) The 2020 –21 upper year competitive mooting tr youts took place between September 14 and 16. This year, 86 people tried out for the 58 available positions on various moots.

Candidates were required to arg ue an imag inar y class actions case before panels of three judges. Panels were mostly made up of 3Ls who participated in competitive moots last year, w ith facult y members joining for the second round of tr youts.

This year, all tr youts were conducted over Zoom. The case involved arg uing that an anonymous plaintif f ’s class action, relating to an alleged breach in privacy by a sports-themed dating app, should be certif ied. Potential mooters primarily had to contend w ith the f ive criteria set out by s.

5(1) of the Class Proceedings Act. The Moot Court Committee of fered some words of support to all those who tried out: "The MCC would like to congratulate ever yone who tried out this year on the overall excellent caliber of the tr youts. We would also like to thank ever yone who participated in the tr yout process for their patience and energetic embrace of the v irtual format, which we were using for the f irst time. We were thrilled w ith how many people did tr y out, and hope the tr yout process of fered an insight into v irtual litigation, which is sure to take

place at increasing rates going for ward."

Below are the f inal tr yout results. The male-to-female ratio is 33 percent to 67 percent.

Note: Combined degree students are labelled by their year at the law school , e.g. students who were in their non-law year last year are 2L s.

Bow man Ta x Moot Thien Thuong Hoang (2L) Hannah Bourgeois (2L) Lynne Westerhof (3L) Caroline Harrell (3L) Ca l laghan Moot Dan Schechner (2L) Nicole Nowoselsk i (2L) Julia Now ick i (2L) Michael Shaf fer (2L) Lavalee Forbes (2L) Nicholas Buhite (2L) Adam Dav is (2L) Madeleine A ndrew- Gee (2L) Ryan Shah (2L) Ellen A n (2L) William Hall (2L) Colin Hunt (2L) Jamie Corbett (2L) Rachel A llen (2L) Yasmin Masoudi (2L) Madison Kerr (2L)

Winkler Class Act ions Moot Taskeen Nawab (2L) Henr y Dennis (2L) Jenna Kara (3L) K rist y Milland (3L) Compet it ion Moot Leah Kelley (2L) Sof ia Sugamar (2L) Daniel Gao (3L) Mackenzie Cumberland (2L) Fox IP Moot Hannah Cinel (2L) F lint Patterson (2L) Samantha Kokonis (2L) Matthew Mohtadi (3L) Ga le Cup Moot Ema Ibrakov ic (2L) Militza Boljev ic (2L) Emily Tessier (2L) Sophie Zhao (2L) Julius A lexander Isaac Moot Aya Refaat (2L) Mackenzie Claggett (2L) Madeline Stewart (3L) A rtimes Ghahremani (3L)

Jessup Moot Abrahim A hmed (2L) Molly Campbell (2L) Natasha Williams (2L) Ava A rmand (3L) Labour A rbitrat ion Compet it ion Braxton Mur phy (2L) Oliv ier Bishop-Mercier (2L) Laskin Moot A inslie Pierr ynowsk i (2L) Audrey-A nne Delage (2L) Adrienne Ralph (2L) Robert Nanni (3L) Wa lsh Fam ily Moot F lorian Nag y (2L) Hannah Lank (2L) Venessa Secktakof (3L) Raoof Zamanifar (3L) W Ilson Moot My im Bakan K line (2L) Greta Hoaken (2L) Meg Cormack (3L) Maija Fiorante (2L)

Changes to the 1L Professionalism Training Students from five equity-facing groups respond to the Faculty’s changes in mandatory first year equity training SABRINA MACKLAI (1L JD/MI) On September 22, Assistant Dean Sara Faherty informed the 1L class by email that their joint professionalism training ( JPT) would be restructured “in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, and in response to student feedback.”

Traditionally, 1L students were required to attend two day-long JPT sessions, one on the last Friday of September and another on the last Friday of January. These were tentatively scheduled for Friday, September 25 and Friday, January 29. The restructuring cancelled these sessions and replaced them with a series of mandatory virtual lunchtime events revolving around anti-bias work.

In a follow-up email to 1L students on October 14, Assistant Dean Faherty announced that the first two lunchtime sessions are scheduled on November 9 and November 11. These sessions will focus on justice and equity. The first will provide basic anti-oppression training and the second will focus on racism in the legal profession. The remaining Wednesday afternoon sessions will occur sometime in January and February, and details are not currently finalized.

Students will be evaluated by their responses to short essay questions.

In her October 14 email, Assistant Dean Faherty stated that the previous format for JPT scheduling is not workable “due to the changes

to the Faculty’s academic schedule brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.” Indeed, some 1L classes are scheduled on Fridays, which were historically reserved for professionalism training events. Assistant Dean Faherty continued: “In past years several students have suggested holding a number of shorter sessions spread across the year, and it looks like the 2020-2021 year will be the year we finally pilot this format.”

Beyond changing the JPT from day-long to lunchtime sessions in order to accommodate scheduling adjustments, the content also changed. In her October 14 email, Assistant Dean Faherty states that “the JPT has always focused on contemporary issues, and long embraced the importance of understanding diversity in the legal profession.” Speakers have been asked this year to “reflect on the relevance of recent events, such as the Black Lives Matter movement, in their presentations.”

Though Assistant Dean Faherty does not name the “several students” who voiced concerns about the JPT, earlier this year five equity groups at the law school — Asia Law Society (ALS), Black Law Students Association (BLSA), Indigenous Law Students Association (ILSA), Out in Law (OIL), and South Asian Law Students Association (SALSA) — wrote in an open letter to the Deans’ Office a call to action to “re-

view and revise the 1L Ethics and Professionalism training in recognition of the diverse and unique experiences of racialized students at the law school.” Their suggestions included mandating attendance at equity, diversity, and inclusion training sessions, and increasing opportunities for greater training in this area. These groups also recommended hiring professional consultants trained in equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) work to lead all 1L ethics and anti-oppression training, and recommended ensuring the content of ethics training includes meaningful discussion on the legacy of colonialism, anti-Black racism, and systemic legal discrimination.

In light of the recent changes to the JPT, Ultra Vires reached out to the same five equityfacing groups for their comments. The following can be attributed to Annecy Pang (2L), Asha Gordon (2L), Karlie Nordstrom (2L), Daniel Yang (3L), and Dhriti Chakravarty (2L) on behalf of ALS, BLSA, ILSA, OIL, and SALSA respectively: “Our open letter was partially based on our feelings of the inadequacies of the existing professionalism and EDI training offered during the 1L curriculum. In 2019-2020, the training consisted of day-long sessions on Fridays in J250 that featured a variety of guest speakers that spoke on a range of topics. We felt that, although

some speakers such as Toni De Mello were amazing, many students were not engaged during the training. We conducted an informal survey of our peers and many indicated similar opinions.

We met with Assistant Dean Faherty, Assistant Dean Archbold, and Student Mental Health & Wellness Program Manager Terry Gardiner on September 3 to voice our concerns and offer more concrete examples on how the EDI training could be revamped. Our suggestions centered on having smaller sessions more frequently, and throughout the entire three years of legal education so students are actually able to have a discussion and critically engage with the material and confront their own biases.

We have not heard from the Assistant Deans since that meeting regarding the 1L training, and found out through the grapevine that the training originally scheduled for September 25 was cancelled and a series of lunchtime sessions centered around anti-bias work will take its place.

We hope that after these sessions, students, especially those that are not from historically marginalized backgrounds, are well-equipped to recognize and dismantle systemic racism within the legal sphere.”

Editor’s Note: Annecy Pang is UV’s Opinions Editor.

NEWS

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NEWS

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IHRP Hiring Controversy: U of T Announces Review After Persistent Pressure Faculty Council meeting triggered a series of actions from the administration AVNEE PARANJAPE (3L) AND IVY XU (1L) The hiring controversy continues to develop at University of Toronto Faculty of Law. In September, Dean Iacobucci allegedly withdrew a directorship offer to fill the vacancy at the law school’s International Human Rights Program (IHRP).

Supposedly, this was influenced by a donor — and sitting Tax Court judge — concerned about the candidate’s scholarship on Palestinian human rights issues. Calls for investigation have been persistent ever since the story broke out. After much public consternation, U of T announced that the Faculty would be conducting an external review on October 14. Dean Iacobucci also appointed Professor Emerita & Co-Director, International Reproductive and Sexual Health Law Program Rebecca Cook as interim director for IHRP. A Faculty Council meeting on October 7 brought students and faculty no closer to finding answers

From the opening of the meeting, the Dean emphasized that concerns around IHRP were “Human Resource matters” not to be discussed at Faculty Council. The precise purview of the Faculty Council is not very clear as it lacks a consolidated constitution. According to the document creating the Council in 1941, a power and duty of the

Council is to “consider and report to the Senate upon such matters affecting the School as to the Council may seem meet.”

Nevertheless, attendees of the meeting had quickly begun to populate the chat with questions about the IHRP. Professor David Schneiderman raised a point of order to ask why the Dean, as chair, had not yet called on those attendees. The Dean responded that as the IHRP had no director at the moment, no one would be in the position to make a statement to the Faculty Council.

Later during the meeting Students’ Law Society Representative Jean-Pierre d’Angelo introduced a motion to discuss the faculty’s academic plans for the IHRP. A roll call vote was taken. The majority of professors present opposed the motion, but it passed by a margin of three — with every student representative voting in favour.

Repeated questioning on a number of matters — from imminent student expectations for IHRP, to academic freedom for Faculty employees — yielded no response. The Dean acknowledged the frustration but repeated that he had already said everything he could say in his previously-released statements. Perhaps the Dean was legally constrained from saying more. Professor David Dyzenhaus said to the Globe and Mail that many

of his colleagues are inclined to trust the Dean’s integrity.

The administration subsequently announced an external review and appointed an interim director

The day after the Faculty Council meeting, nine professors released a letter to Vice President and Provost Cheryl Regehr. They criticized Dean Iacubucci’s handling of the controversy as “highhanded manner of governance” and “rule by fiat.”

The Faculty Council meeting and the professors’ letter helped generate another round of publicity on the controversy (Globe and Mail and Toronto Star links).

A week after the Faculty Council meeting, the university’s Vice President of Human Resources and Equity announced an external review. Its aim is to provide “(a) a comprehensive factual narrative of events pertaining to the search committee process and (b) the basis for the decision to discontinue the candidacy of the search committee’s preferred candidate.”

Professor Bonnie Patterson, former President of the Council of Ontario Universities and former President and Vice-Chancellor of Trent University, will conduct the review. A public written report

will be submitted in January, and its findings will eventually be made public.

The official statement also stated that cooperation with interview requests from the review was voluntary. Critics highlighted multiple omissions from review’s mandate, namely, whether academic freedom covers clinical positions, whether a job offer was indeed made, and the substance of the donor’s alleged interference, and an analysis of the Dean’s response.

Doubts also emerged as to whether this will truly be an “impartial” review. Louis Century, a member of the IHRP Alumni Network Committee, questioned if Patterson was in a position to conduct an unbiased review. In a `Twitter thread, Century outlined Patterson’s past decisions as a higher education administrator in disregarding dissent and downplaying academic freedom.

On October 15, Dean Iacobucci responded to another concern expressed at the Faculty Council meeting — the impact of the IHRP Director vacancy on the program’s academic future. In an email, the Dean announced that he has appointed Rebecca Cook as the interim director.

Cook is a Professor Emerita at the law school and a well-respected human rights scholar. Her leadership will hopefully help IHRP clarify its future in such a challenging time for the program.

SLS’ Halloween Plans Get ready for a spooktacular October!

THRYN IRWIN (2L), SLS SOCIAL AFFAIRS REPRESENTATIVE

MONDAY, Oct 26 Pumpkin Carving Contest

A pumpkin carving contest to start the spooky season! Students can pick up a pumpkin, carve it, and submit a photo of their gourd-eous baby for a chance to win a prize. SLS will be reimbursing students up to $10 for the cost of pumpkins and carving tools while supplies last.

Let your creative spirit fly!

SLS will be accepting pumpkin submissions up until November 1 at midnight. Voting for the best school pumpkin will start Nov 2 and run until Nov 8. The winner will be announced the first day back from reading week!

SLS Trick or Treat

A pumpkin emoji will be hidden somewhere on the SLS webpage. If you are one of the first 10 people to find the pumpkin, you win!

TUESDAY, Oct 27 Halloween Trivia

We partnered with Out in Law for this event for some spooktacular questions.

Guess the Candies

A classic game played at Halloween parties everywhere. Students had the opportunity to test their estimating abilities and guess how many candies were in a jar. The photo was sent out Tuesday morning with winners eligible for a prize.

Submissions for these guesses will be open until Friday Oct 30 at 5 p.m. The winner will be announced shortly after that!

WEDNESDAY, Oct 28 Spooky Movie Night

Join us online tonight at 9 p.m. to watch a classic Halloween movie from our childhood. Feel free to snack and chat while the movie plays and reminisce on the days where we could actually go outside to trick or treat.

10 Word Horror Story Contest

SLS is partnering up with the Law Library to bring you a writing contest! Get your Poe on and come up with a terrifying

10-word max short story to win. The stories can scare us, thrill us, intrigue us, disgust us – the world is your oyster. Stories will be posted on the library site to get everyone into the spooky season!

The top writers in the following categories will win a prize: (1) Best Overall; (2) Scariest Story; (3) Funniest Story. Some examples to get you excited:“Forgot to brief my cases, was cold called.”

“Don’t turn around, it doesn’t like to be seen.”

Submissions will open today and will be open until midnight on Nov 1. The library will be choosing the top stories and the winners will be announced on Nov 9.

THURSDAY, Oct 29 Murder Mystery Mixer

Join the SLS for a virtual mixer on zoom starting at 7 p.m.! Students will be broken up into teams of four – there will be a drinking game themed icebreaker and then the teams will compete to f igure out a virtual mystery. After the game is complete, the rooms will open up for students to move

around and mingle. Drinking homemade potions and witches brew is welcome Students will be broken into a 1L only zoom group and an upper year only zoom group. The f irst team to f igure out the mystery from each zoom event wins prizes!

Sign up will close on October 28 at 10 p.m.

You can sign up as a single, pair, or a team of four for the event.

FRIDAY, Oct 30 Costume Contest

Submissions will open for you to submit your ultimate Halloween costume. Whether you wore it this year or when you were f ive years old, we want to see the best of the best.

This is your chance to f inally get bragging rights for winning a costume contest – pride and gift cards are on the line.

Submissions will open today and will be open until midnight on Nov 1. Voting will commence from Nov 2 - 8, and the winner will be announced on the f irst day back from reading week!

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8 | February 28, 2020

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(Solicited) Advice for 1Ls Upper Years give their take on how to succeed as a 1L ALISHA LI (2L) With school closing (again) and the term slowly approaching exam season, Ultra Vires asked our upper years to share some insight into how to handle exams, how to stay well, and how to survive law school in general.

Tips for Academic Success “Read the code!” - Kent Roach ( Jamie Corbett, 2L).

I did not succeed academically (Anonymous).

Some respondents suggested to stick to methods that work for you: Ignore other people’s pace. Follow your own study habits and don’t get too caught up in the stress (Anonymous).

That said, many upper years had specif ic pointers: Create your own summaries (Lucy Yao, 2L).

Read and brief your cases before lectures. Take notes. Summarize the briefs in three lines each.

Make a map out of the summaries. Don't do more than two practice exams per subject ( William Mazurek, 3L).

Study groups can be helpful for motivation once you've already understood the law, but less helpful for actually learning it in the f irst place (Anonymous).

Focus less on remembering all of the doctrine or the intimate details of cases, and more on how the material all f its together as a cohesive whole and how you might use it to help someone in a real-life predicament (Teodora Pasca, 3L).

Check the past exam answers in the SLS dropbox.

Make sure to check all grade levels to get an idea of what gets you extra points. In terms of study groups, don’t go for who seems the “smartest” —

you’ll spend a lot of time with these guys. Make sure you like them and you work well together (Anonymous).

Listen carefully to how the professor structures and narrates the material. They have their own unique bend on the subject matter that you can pick up. Understanding the professor's storyline will help you write the exam (Anonymous).

Extracurriculars A lot of advice focused on f inding a few things you like and sticking with them:

Try to remember that self-comparison to other 1Ls is irrelevant to your own success ( Jamie Corbett, 2L).

Hang out with non-law folks (Anonymous).

Try to maintain a regular schedule, wear pants when you’re studying at home to put yourself into a studious mindset, and see people in your social bubble because the social isolation is real. Law Chats and the Student Wellness Off ice will likely have better recommendations, going further than "wear bottoms” (Lucy Yao, 2L).

It's good to choose two-ish things that you're interested in, and then you can take a more active role in upper years (Abdullah Khan, 2L).

Have a routine time during the day where you just don't touch anything related to law school. Preferably right before bed so you don't dream about case law (Karan Sharma, 2L).

Don’t worry about stacking your resume. Your mental health and schoolwork are your f irst priorities (Anonymous).

Talk to your upper year mentors; they are an excellent resource and they have been through this before (Abdullah Khan, 2L).

If you're doing something in a perfunctory manner, or just because it seems prestigious, employers will see right through that (Anvee Paranjape, 3L).

It is very easy for law school to slowly take over your life, so don't feel like you have to abandon the things you enjoyed and valued before you got here (Teodora Pasca, 3L).

What will help you through interviews is being able to show interest and passion in your pursuits (Melody Chan, 3L).

Find a balance between law school and other parts of your life. Things seem much less dire when you get out of the "law bubble" (Melody Chan, 3L).

On the other hand, you never know what you’ll discover!

As long as you aren't burning out, try new areas of law you might be interested in. You can get a feel for what areas you might like without having to invest into an entire course in upper years (Anonymous).

Taking Care of Yourself Get lots of strenuous physical exercise. If you don't have time, reduce your studying levels so that you do ( William Mazurek, 3L).

Miscellaneous advice, insight, or information Ps get degrees. Ps also get jobs but that doesn't rhyme (Lucy Yao, 2L).

Don’t be afraid to speak up or make a fuss if something isn’t right ( Jamie Corbett, 2L).

There is this mythical event called “Call to the Bar” and once a year it is hosted at the most magical venue: Sneaky Dees. One must attend this CTTB at Sneaks prior to graduation (Anonymous).

(Editor’s note: CTTB is currently on hold sine die, pending discovery of a bar that can accommodate 75 law students while also following social distancing rules.)

And for those looking ahead to recruits: Network now and build relationships. They'll serve you well later on ( William Mazurek, 3L).

Articling employment rates for students at the Faculty are around 93 percent every year. So there’s no need to panic ( Yuki Qui, articling student).

P.S. You don’t have to do corporate law, despite the crushing pressure you may feel ( Vanessa Sectakof, 3L).

Finally, many upper years wanted 1Ls to know that as strange and diff icult as times feel right now, things will turn out okay: You’re probably already pretty awesome so just keep doing you (Karan Sharma, 2L).

1L doesn’t determine your career or your life. Relax (Avnee Paranjape, 3L).

S pend thi s time f igur ing out what you are tr uly pa ssionate about , and focus your energ y on those things. Wor r ying about what e ver ybody else i s doing i s a tre mendous wa ste of energ y and a di sser vice to yourself (Teodora Pasca, 3L).

Whatever direction you wish to take the law, be mindful of your place and your power within the system.

The law is a tool accessible only to a select few and we have the opportunity to use it, whether in work or in our personal lives, to improve our society, our country, and our world, writ large. The first and most important step is to be humble, be kind, and be conscious of privilege and bias. The rest will follow (Rachel Bryce, 4L).

1L Study Resources Go-To Guide 2020-2021 A handy tool for where to find the most helpful study aids HUSSEIN E. E. FAWZY (1L) WHEREAS exam season is quickly approaching; and WHEREAS Reading Week (read: “Exam Prep Week”) is finally near our doorsteps: The following guide has been generated as a handy tool by summarizing some of the most important resources for 1Ls’ daily studying needs to assist students in navigating their way through the plethora of resources.

SLS Study Resources The SLS has a rich database dedicated for your study needs (note: the SLS has emailed the access password to all students on September 2). There, you will find general advice and guides, such as: • “The SLS Guide to 1L.” This guide includes a handy timeline for major co-curricular events throughout the year, as well as a concise dictionary covering 45 words that will make you fluent in frequently used law-school jargon.

• The “General Study Tips and Tricks guide” is a

high-level synthesis of law students’ best study practices. It includes advice on topics such as: generating reading notes and summaries, interacting with professors, using class time wisely, preparing for exams, writing exams, and reviewing graded exams.

• Also, be sure to watch out for the following upcoming guides: “SLS Guide for Transfer Students” and “Online Interview Guide.”

• In addition to the general advice above, you will find course-specific summaries and maps that have been submitted by high-achieving students in their respective courses, both for 1L and upperyear courses. These are organized by the course instructor.

• Another helpful SLS Study resource is the database for exam answers. There, you will find answers to 1L and upper-year exams in selected years that were generated by high-achieving students.

E.legal Past Exams Database The E.Legal past exams database is an official repository of previous exams organized by subject, instructor, and semester. Although you will not find every single exam on that list, there is enough to keep you busy for a while.

Bora Laskin Electronic Library The digital version of the historic Bora Laskin Library is where you will find access to a plethora of essential study resources, including: • Treatises and loose-leafs • Quick links to frequently accessed resources such as CanLII, HeinOnline, Lexis Advance Quicklaw, and Westlaw Next • Guides on how to find cases, books, journals, and current and historic legislation • An entire tutorial on legal research and citations

• Research guides by legal discipline Academic Support Program The Academic Support Program (ASP) is a free and confidential service that connects 1L students with upper-year high-achieving students one-on-one to assist with academic support and to provide coaching. A maximum of three sessions can be arranged where students can obtain academic advice that range from exam preparation to course-specific advice.

Meet with a Learning Strategist Learning Strategists are experts in their fields who can help students address frequently encountered challenges, including heavy reading loads, time management, exam preparation, note-taking, avoiding procrastination, and many other essential skills.

Appointments are free (but limited) and are managed by the University’s main Academic Success Center.

“How do I prepare for an open-book exam?”

Answers to your most important questions, and expert advice on how to succeed in your first year of law school.

EMOND’S FREE GUIDE TO LAW SCHOOL:

emond.ca/law-school @EmondPublishing

Why did you choose McMillan?

McMillan has fostered a culture that has allowed me to forge a career path that aligns with my goals and interests and makes the best use of my experiences and skills. I also get to work with professionals I respect and who are always eager and willing to assist. It is a firm full of lawyers who are passionate about their work

Paul Davis National Chair, Capital Markets and M&A

2017 • 2018 • 2019 • 2020 Take the lead in your career.

McMillan LLP | Vancouver | Calgary | Toronto | Ottawa | Montréal | Hong Kong | mcmillan.ca

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February 28, 2020 | 11

The Zoom Awards Showcasing good examples of online learning experiences at the Faculty SABRINA MACKLAI (1L JD/MI) With the recent shift to remote delivery for the fall term, Ultra Vires wants to highlight some of our students’ favourite experiences of Zoom law school.

From incorporating asynchronous components to being receptive to feedback, there are many ways in which professors have created an effective online learning experience.

Avoiding Zoom Fatigue Since the pandemic began, the phrase “Zoom fatigue” has risen in prominence. It’s no secret that video calls can be exhausting, especially when you have multiple throughout the day. To combat this, some professors are incorporating asynchronous material to reduce the amount of time spent on call.

In her Evidence Law class, Professor Martha Shaffer provides a mix of synchronous and asynchronous lecture material. There are live classes twice a week with the remaining material delivered in recorded lectures. All lectures, including the synchronous ones, are recorded and uploaded so students may review the material at their own pace. This is a significant inclusion, given the Students’ Law Society’s ongoing request for the Faculty to adopt recorded lectures.

Professor Shaffer intentionally researched best practices for online teaching and its effect is clearly shown through her students’ rave reviews. Ema Ibrakovic (2L) writes, “I really like this format because we get through a lot of content and I'm not exhausted after a lecture. It's way easier to focus this way.”

For his Administrative Law class, Professor Andrew Green also provides students with recorded PowerPoint lectures. This, along with his proactive approach to soliciting and incorporating feedback, led Flint Patterson (2L) to write, “Andrew has been flexible, adaptable, and compassionate throughout.

He is deserving of recognition.”

Similarly, students in Professor Angela Fernandez’s Legal Process class watch a recorded lecture before their half-hour live Q & A session, twice a week. Notably, Professor Fernandez’s recorded lec-

tures are accompanied by an auto-generated audio transcript, an important consideration for students with accessibility issues.

Using Visual Aids and Other Tools Many students cited the effectiveness of lectures involving visual aids like Powerpoint slides and other tools like online polls.

For example, Professor Rory Gillis’ frequently makes use of PowerPoint in his Canadian Income Tax Law classes. Andrew Easto (2L) writes “Professor Gillis keeps it simple. Shared-screen PowerPoint presentation with helpful excerpts from cases and secondary materials. Just having the names of cases and judges is a huge help. Given that this is a tax course, he also makes good use of tables with figures to illustrate the implications of a given rule in real terms for taxpayers.” Adding on, Molly (2L) writes “Professor. Gillis elicits student participation and engagement by relating the contents of the course to big-picture topics and events. This is particularly useful when you're at home and can be easily distracted by the contents of your fridge. His slides are also useful learning aids which provide key material without being the main focus of the lecture. Additionally, he makes sure to check on-line participation so students at home can actually be involved.”

Commenting on Professor Brenda Cossman’s Family Law class, Joseph Mercado (2L) writes “Her use of slideshows, engaging polls, and amazing commentary make family law online classes a pleasure to attend. She engages with student comments and is responsive to class feedback (she became very cognizant of her paper-shuffling after the class pointed it out). Plus, her sense of humor always makes my day — and I am not alone in thinking this! I think it is her openness with the class and enthusiasm for the content (combined with very structured, but simple, slideshows) that make online family law classes great.” Similar to Professor Shaffer, Professor Cossman took an online course about online teaching to

prepare for remote delivery. Many students commented on their enjoyment in her class.

Other innovative tools include interactive PowerPoints, online polls, and “word clouds”. Emily Albert (1L), commented that she enjoys when her Constitutional Law professor Ian Lee “fills in PowerPoints interactively as we go”. For Legal Ethics, Justice Lorne Sossin and Professor Moya Teklu “monitor the zoom chat well [and] have online polls that facilitate discussion” (Liam Turnbull, 3L). Finally, in International Law Theory and the Rule of Law, Professors Jutta Brunnee and David Dyzenhaus “constantly check for messages and raised hands (literal or Zoom). They encourage participation and discussion between seminars and create word clouds which are shared in class. Most importantly, they are both great at facilitating discussion by relating comments to one another, adding additional commentary, and thanking the speaker.” (Lauren Lam, 3L).

It’s clear that students enjoy the use of these tools.

Mimicking the In-Person Experience Overall, what impressed the majority of students was when the remote learning environment matched the in-person experience as closely as possible. This includes professors engaging in discussion, being receptive to answering questions, and employing the same effective tactics used in the classroom.

Rebecca Xie (2L) is in Professor Jim Phillips’ Trusts Law class, which has been delivered remotely since the beginning of the semester. She writes, “His classes are always interesting, engaging, and full of Professor Phillip's trademark humor and personality.

He's very responsive to chats and raised hands, and he always stays behind after lectures to answer questions just like many professors would for in-person courses.” These sentiments are echoed by Caroline (3L) who writes, “Professor Philips records every lecture which is incredibly helpful if your internet cuts out. He also has not had any technology issues and seamlessly transitions between screen sharing, moni-

toring the chat for questions, and lecturing. Professor Phillips provides the same high quality of teaching via Zoom as he does in person.”

Dominique Wightman (1L) may have put it best when he writes about Professor Peter Benson’s Contract Law class, stating that “His energy is not even slightly dampened by virtual education. I’ve been in class with Professor Benson in person, and he is as engaging and direct over Zoom as in the classroom.

His approach to online pedagogy isn’t particularly unconventional or creative — it’s really the same format as an in person lecture — but I remain engaged and leave every lecture fulfilled. Something has to be said for a Professor who can maintain the attention of Gen Z students on MacBooks without fundamentally altering their teaching style. Professor Benson has an energy that punches through any impediment presented by online learning.”

Making Connections In the era of online learning, it can be difficult for students to connect with their professors as they would in an in-person setting. Likewise, it can be difficult for professors to “teach into the void.” Good online learning experiences ultimately require both students and professors to make an effort to connect.

Some professors have gone above and beyond in doing just that. In my Tort Law class, Professor Bruce Chapman has done an incredible job at keeping students engaged and excited for class. Graeme Wyatt (1L) writes, “I think online teaching can make it difficult for professors to connect with their students on a personal level. Professor Chapman is not scared to make jokes in a class where he can't see everyone smile or hear everyone laugh, and that requires some serious courage in the face of potential awkwardness. His efforts to keep the tone of the class light and welcoming actually make me want to leave my camera on because I feel like he wants to connect with me. Also, he did an entire class with a snail as his background.”

Running an Equity Club During COVID-19 Student leaders reflect on the challenges and opportunities for running an equity group during a once-in-a-generation pandemic ALISHA LI (2L) With school going back online, making connections is harder than ever. In the past, equity clubs around the law school have held a large role in building connections by fostering communication, organizing events, and advocating for inclusivity in the legal community. This begs the question: how has that changed during the pandemic? Ultra Vires (virtually) sits down with the Faculty of Law’s various equity clubs to talk about how they have adapted in response to COVID-19.

Ultra Vires (UV): What does your club do in a typical school year?

CLF hosts weekly lunch meetings to discuss topics related to integrating faith with work and life. CLF also hosts social events, participates in a student conference, and aims to organize at least one event for the broader Faculty of Law community.

Indigenous Law Students’ Association (ILSA): ILSA aims to (i) provide social support and networking opportunities for Indigenous students and those interested in Aboriginal Law, (ii) provide opportunities for the rest of the law school community to engage with Indigenous issues, and (iii) advocate for the inclusion of Indigenous content in other aspects of the student experience.

Asia Law Society (ALS): ALS typically holds socials, organizes academic panels, and contributes to the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers’ (FACL) events.

Jewish Law Students’ Association (JLSA): In a typical school year, JLSA hosts a mixture of social events, holiday celebrations, networking events, and speakers.

Black Law Students’ Association (BLSA): BLSA hosts a combination of social and professional development events to support current Black law students, in addition to hosting events/programs for the Black Future Lawyers Program in partnership with the U of T Law administration.

Muslim Law Student’s Association (MLSA): MLSA seeks to raise awareness of issues affecting Muslims within the law school community. MLSA also seeks to eradicate legal barriers to justice within the local Muslim community, and to provide support and advice for Muslims entering the legal profession.

Christian Legal Fellowship (CLF): Normally

UV: How will COVID-19 impact your club’s operations?

or Hanukkah parties, but hopefully we will be able to celebrate some holidays together on Zoom.

Most clubs traditionally hosted a mix of networking events, panels, social events, and holiday celebrations. However, due to COVID-19, most (if not all) future programs are moving online. This comes with its obvious problems, but has also led to unexpected advantages.

MLSA: We hope to revive the MLSA and create a welcoming community for Muslim-identifying students on campus. We strongly believe that it is possible to create meaningful connections virtually — and we hope to do just that.

ALS: Virtual events are sometimes blessings in disguise: they allow us to be more creative with our social events and we don’t have to worry about commuting for joint socials with Osgoode Hall’s Asian Law Students Association.

BLSA: Trying to build a community of support for our 1L students despite COVID-19 restrictions has been a learning process. On the other hand, the transition to virtual events allows us to collaborate with folks and BLSA Chapters across Canada!

JLSA: Networking is a real challenge. We’re promoting events to a wider range of people, as there are no geographic constraints, but obviously networking is less effective in a big Zoom call. Celebrations of Jewish holidays are also going to be difficult this year.

We won't be able to have in-person Sabbath dinners

UV: How will your club preserve what makes it special? How will it continue to provide its members with events, support, and social connections?

ALS: We’ll continue to provide opportunities for students to connect with each other and with alumni, and to advocate for equity within the legal profession. We plan to continue hosting (virtual) socials, and are brainstorming ways we can celebrate Lunar New Year together online. Other planned events this year include a panel on the intersection of mental health, Asian identity, and the legal profession, and a recruitment-based event.

BLSA: BLSA has always been a very tight-knit group given our small membership. Maintaining

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Running an Equity Club these ties and building a community of support for new members has been our biggest challenge so far.

We support our students through hosting wellness events and creating informal mentorship within our team. We work to create a culture within BLSA where any member can reach out to any of the execs for guidance when they need it.

CLF: Our club has focused on creating a space where people can come together to have a community within the law school. We want to be present so that people can feel comfortable sharing their experience and contributing to our conversations. We want to preserve this by continuing to offer community in small groups online, to check in with each other, and to engage with the broader law community online as well.

ILSA: It’s been really important for ILSA to find ways to continue offering events this year and to make sure all our Indigenous students are getting the support they need despite the shift to remote learning. Further, Indigenous communities across Turtle

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Island are still out there defending their land and their rights, and so it is important that our law school community finds ways to stay engaged with these ongoing issues. COVID-19 has required an adjustment in how we approach these goals, but it hasn’t changed their importance. If anything, the need to support our Indigenous communities at the law school and beyond is more urgent than ever.

JLSA: We’re trying to have Zoom events, but frankly it’s tough. Recently, we amped up our social media presence and created a Facebook group to encourage people to engage and interact more.

MLSA: We hope to facilitate relationships between law students and the wider legal community through special events and mentorship opportunities.

UV: Outside of events organized by equity clubs, what are some other ways students can connect with peers and stay involved with the larger legal community?

ALS: Stay connected with alumni and peer mentors, and look out for opportunities to get involved through organizations like FACL. BLSA: Being at the Faculty of Law can be incredibly challenging, even in the best of circumstances.

We suggest that folks take advantage of the ease at which you can join a virtual event and the enthusiasm of lawyers/alumni to help out law students, while keeping in mind the importance of physical and mental wellness.

CLF: Use clubs as a starting point to connect with other students on a more personal level.

JLSA: It’s important to find your community and to keep connected with the people you already know.

It’s too easy to get isolated in these weird times, and friends and colleagues appreciate people reaching out and checking in.

UV: Do you have any other comments for our readers about your club, how to handle

being a law student during this time, or anything else in general?

CLF: Be conscious of caring for your physical and mental health. Make time for the things that fill you up, whether that’s connecting with friends, caring for your body and mind through exercise, or finding a creative outlet.

JLSA: Equity groups are all about creating supportive communities. I hope Ultra Vires readers, especially upper years, take the initiative to build connections and support one another. Law school is hard, but gets so much easier when we have people to rely on.

MLSA: While we may have to be physically distant, there is no need to isolate socially. Stay connected: join a club, hop on Zoom calls with your classmates, and study with some peers.

These interviews have been edited for brevity and clarity.

An Experienced Culinary Guide to Eating Well In Toronto New to Toronto? You’re in luck. Here are some soonto-be-go-to places to eat GRIFFIN MURPHY (1L) A common theme from my inaugural month at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law has been students new to the city asking an important question: where does one go to eat good food? As a native Torontonion who happens to know other native Torontonians, I have luckily compiled a selection of Toronto neighborhoods, each with an acclaimed food spot to give you the excuse to venture out there.

voke Toronto’s Bay Street clientele to flock over to the market on lunch breaks. Spring for the “Gobernador” - their piece de resistance consisting of smoked marlin, grilled shrimp, and shredded cheese. Two tacos will get you through dinner, while three will keep you going through the neighbourhood’s after-hours bar scene.

1. Entertainment District - Pai

Toronto’s King West scene is the centre of yuppie nightlife, and the centre of King West is the intersection of King and Portland, starring Belfast Love, Wilbur, Early Mercy, and the venerable Italian sandwich shop known as Porchetta & Co. The house special is its porchetta sandwich, filled with crackling porchetta, truffle sauce, and parmesan on a sourdough bun for $7.25 with mustard or hot sauce included.The joint also sells fried chicken sandwiches if pork isn’t up your alley.

Just a stone’s throw from the TIFF Bell Lightbox, Pai is a star in its own right that constantly lands amongst Toronto’s best rated restaurants. The restaurant’s northern Thai cuisine features delicious fare for vegans and meat lovers alike (with its Kanom Jin Nham Ngeaw, a pork rob and tomato soup, frequently selling out), all in a deceptively large basement dining hall. Pai also occasionally serves as a late-night haven, boasting a cocktail menu dedicated to Toronto Raptors past and present. After a Kawhian Punch and a couple of DeMartinis the memories of the Celtics series will start to fade.

2. Kensington Market - Seven Lives The eclectic Kensington Market neighborhood sells everything from discounted suits to specialty longboards, but it’s the Seven Lives tacos that pro-

3. King West - Porchetta & Co.

4. The Annex - Sushi on Bloor While Vancouver natives may justifiably turn their noses at Toronto’s sushi scene, Sushi On Bloor is a worthy institution just off campus which has fed OSAP-plagued students for time immemorial. Solid portion sizes and fresh catches are delivered to your table with miso soup and salad for $9.75 during lunch hours.

5. Rosedale - Black Camel Toronto’s upper-class Rosedale community opens its doors to the proletariat by way of its intimate and affordable Black Camel sandwich shop, an intimate space specializing in its brisket, pulled pork, and club sandwiches. If you get lucky, you may even be waiting in line with a corporate firm partner.

6. St Lawrence Market - Carousel Bakery Toronto’s world-famous St Lawrence Market has been visited by the likes of Anthony Bourdain and Bobby Flay, and actually served as Toronto’s city hall for much of the 19th century. Offering some of the city’s best produce, cheeses, meats, and fish, the market is also a local lunch favourite. Remember Buster’s Sea Cove for its lobster rolls and Uno Mustachio for its Italian sandwiches, but Carousel Bakery reigns supreme for its distinction as the global birthplace of the peameal bacon sandwich.

7. Leslieville - Maha’s Much akin to Dorsia from the 2000 blockbuster American Psycho, snagging a table at Maha’s for Sunday brunch has come to be heralded as a status symbol for the millennial Torontonian in the recently-gentrified Leslieville. While they don’t offer reservations, expect a lineup for this intimate purveyor of Egyptian brunch.

Sip on Turkish coffee, Egyptian black tea or a honey-

cardamom latte before digging into the Cairo Classic, a traditional spread of fava beans, tomatoes, onions, falafel, boiled eggs, homemade tomato feta, and charred balady bread.

8. Scarborough - Bakery on the Go Just hear me out. While the TTC subway system may be lacking in reliability, geographic reach, and general buen vivir, it handily makes up for its shortcomings through its culinary excellence. Bakery on the Go at Warden Station has gained a cult following among Toronto’s (far) east-enders for offering some of Toronto’s finest Jamaican beef patties at the cost of a toonie. While Scarborough is admittedly quite a committed pilgrimage from campus, just hop on the green line and it will take you right there. You won’t even have to leave the station.

9. Etobicoke - Plan B Burgers Etobicoke has gifted us with Pearson Airport, the Ford family, and one of the only places in the city for South African barbeque. Enter Plan B Burgers: a casual institution just outside the Royal York subway station which offers burgers, boerewors (a coiled variant of sausage), and braai ( a traditional barbeque platter). All meats are charred well-done in accordance with South African mandate, and their “JoBurg’er” will only put you back $12.

A MAP OF SOME OF THE BEST PLACES TO EAT IN TORONTO. IMAGE COURTESY OF JENNIFER SUN

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February 28, 2020 | 13

Who’s Who at the Faculty of Law in 2020 Introducing you to some new faces, and familiar faces in new roles

Christopher Essert, Associate Dean, JD Program Associate Dean Essert graduated from the JD Program at U of T Law in 2005 and returned to the Faculty to teach in 2018. In his new role, Essert works closely with Assistant Deans Sara Faherty and Alexis Archbold to administer the JD program. This means working with Faculty to set up the course listings, working with students on their concerns about their classes, and overseeing co- and extracurricular activities. His main goal is to “ensure that all of our students have the best experience possible, and to keep things running smoothly and effectively.”

Associate Dean Essert is teaching small group tort law this semester, and large group property law next semester. This fall, he has also hosted Q & A sessions with Assistant Deans Faherty and Archbold to share information and answer questions about the Faculty’s physical distancing efforts and the shift to online learning.

CHRISTOPHER ESSERT ASSOCIATE DEAN OF THE JD PROGRAM

ANNECY PANG (2L)

Terry Gardiner, Student Mental Health & Wellness Program Manager

Over the past few months, you may have noticed a few emails introducing you to new members of the staff at the Faculty. This article will introduce you to some of the new faces (or the same faces in new roles) around the law school.

Gardiner is a social worker trained as an individual and family therapist who has worked at U of T for 12 years supporting students in a number of capacities.

He joins the Faculty at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged students’ mental health and when we are experiencing a global awakening “to the prevalence of racial injustice and its impact on our society,” says Gardiner.

Rebecca Cook, Interim Director of the International Human Rights Program (IHRP) Professor Emerita Cook was the founding director of the IHRP in the late 1980s and returned this month as Interim Director to develop the possible future directions of the IHRP. Cook says her main goal in the interim role is “to do a review of the program to determine what we have done well and what we might do better moving forward.” She plans to speak with various constituencies, including students, alumni, and faculty members to gather insights on how to move the program forward. Cook also plans to connect with human rights programs at other law schools to share learnings.

REBECCA COOK INTERIM DIRECTOR OF THE IHRP

In her interim role, Cook plans to support the ongoing work and looks forward to working with Research Associate, Ashley Major, who is overseeing the four working groups and leading the new Venezuela Accountability Project. The program has grown “by leaps and bounds” since Cook started it and she wishes to share the IHRP’s impressive accomplishments with the law school community.

In his role as Student Mental Health & Wellness Program Manager, Gardiner is responsible for: working with staff, students, and faculty members to guide the evolution of the Faculty’s mental health strategy, developing and implementing innovative programming, and assisting students to effectively navigate the mental health and wellness resources available to them. He plans to respond to the needs of the community as “it is important [...] to provide culturally responsive, relationship-based mental health services that support positive outcomes for students.”

TERRY GARDINER STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAM MANAGER

The 2021 IHRP fellowship program will be proceeding this year and will be coordinated by Kim Snell, Manager of Experiential Education.

This semester, Gardiner facilitated the training for mentors in the Peer Mental Health Support Program and the Peer Mentorship Program. He has also connected students with relevant mental health and wellbeing programming at the Faculty and the University at large.

Ivy Lam, Director of the Investor Protection Clinic Lam joins the Faculty to lead the new Investor Protection Clinic which will provide free legal services, public legal education, and experiential learning opportunities to those of vulnerable communities who have suffered harm, or are at risk of suffering from financial loss relating to their investments.

Joshua Morrison, Director of the Future of Law Lab Morrison is a lawyer by trade and joins the Faculty to lead the new Future of Law Lab which sits at the intersection of law, innovation, and technology. Previously, he worked in a legal technology start-up in a hybrid role as a business development strategist and a manager of a team of lawyers, financial specialists, and software developers.

The Investor Protection Clinic is home to three working groups this year: Project CLEO, Project Explorer, and Project SRO. Members in Project CLEO produce content for Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO)’s website to provide investment protection information and resources for the public. Project Explorer aims to create a visual map which identifies different administrative agencies, regulators, self-regulatory organizations, and stakeholders which regulate investments and sets out the different routes that retail investors may take to seek recourse for financial loss. The students in Project SRO will critically assess the recent Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) consultation paper on self-regulatory organization (SRO) from the perspective of investor protection.

Jacob Reynolds (2L) and Shawn Lallman (2L) are the working group leaders for Project SRO and describe it as a highlight of their year so far. “I wanted to get involved because when I started investing myself, I realized that there is not a lot you can do to hold companies accountable because it’s a very complicated process,” says Lallman.

Reynolds was originally a finance major in undergrad. When he was growing up, his father struggled with getting relief from investments, so it is “one of the ways I wanted to help give back with my legal degree.”

Gardiner says that “this role is an exciting opportunity [...] to focus on mental health, and work collaboratively with the law school community to explore what wellness looks like for our many diverse community members. [He] aims to work with students, staff, and faculty so that together [they] can enhance the culture of caring within the law school.”

In the role, Morrison plans to champion all of the existing technology initiatives at the University of Toronto and Faculty of Law and plans to “develop initiatives that will introduce students to new ideas and skills that will augment their in-class training.” Together with Professor Anthony Niblett, the Lab’s Academic Advisor, Morrison plans to create an environment “where students, academics, lawyers, and the community can explore questions about the evolution of and, for lack of a better word, future, of law and the profession.”

JOSHUA MORRISON DIRECTOR OF FUTURE OF LAW LAB

Students do not have to be experts in software development or artificial intelligence to be a part of the Lab’s initiatives. This fall, the Lab is hosting two events as part of its inaugural Speaker Series: one featuring Maura Grossman (speaking about fundamentals of AI and issues of bias) and another featuring Professor Gillian Hadfield in conversation with Niblett. While Morrison is still in the planning stages for what the winter semester will look like, he anticipates initiatives around topics like legal design, design-thinking, or intellectual property.

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Karen Bellinger, Acting Executive Director of Downtown Legal Services (DLS)

Charlie Williams, On-Location Student Mental Health Counsellor

Bellinger joined DLS as a staff lawyer in 2007 and supervised students in the criminal law and academic offences division. As the Acting Executive Director, Bellinger oversees the administrative tasks that keep the clinics running, and facilitates the clinic students’ Monday evening seminar classes. Bellinger says it has been “a busy time [...] especially given the challenges posed by the pandemic. But, having wonderful staff lawyers and support staff has made my job much easier.”

Williams joins the Faculty as its embedded counsellor after Salima Jadavji’s position was eliminated last year. All of the on-location counsellors are hired centrally by Health & Wellness and assigned to different colleges or faculties. The idea is to have a designated counsellor who can build familiarity with a particular program. The position of on-location counsellor aligns with Williams, she says, because it ensures the “services provided are accessible to students as well as relevant and specific to people’s own lived experiences, communities, and diverse needs.”

Williams provides one-on-one counselling for students in areas such as: depression, anxiety, trauma, stress, loss, transition, identity, relational concerns, self-esteem, suicidality and building tools for emotion regulation and distress tolerance. She uses an integrative approach informed by several modalities in order to “engage, support and empower students from a trauma-informed, client-centered and anti-oppressive framework, to address the interpersonal and systemic barriers impacting their lives.”

To request an appointment, please call the Health & Wellness Centre at 416-978-8030 (select option “5”) and indicate your interest in receiving counselling with Charlie Williams at the Faculty of Law.

Just Treats, No Tricks In Vino Veritas AMY LIN (2L) If you are still deciding which w ine to dr ink this Halloween weekend, you’ve come across the r ight article. So pick up a bag of your favor ite childhood candy and join us in explor ing the mag ical world of “Franken Wines,” or what muggles refer to as “w ine blends.”

The process of blending allows the f lavours of dif ferent grape var ieties to come together and fashions a new exper ience for the palate. If you are look ing to sink your teeth into a bold red, check out Danica, Saw yer, and Tom’s rev iews for a broad range of local and international selections that w ill take you from Niagara to California to Bordeaux. For those who prefer an easygoing white blend, A lexa dishes on a new discover y that has bew itched her this month. Finally, if you are extra committed to stay ing on theme, sk ip to Reyna’s thoughts on an intr ig uing orange w ine.

You may notice that a few new names are featured in this month’s rev iew. I’d like to also take a moment to introduce our 1L executive members: Reyna Maner ikar, Sawyer Peloso, and Tom Russell!

Danica Bennewies T he Foreign Af fair T he Conspiracy 2017 $19.95 at the LCBO Look ing for the per fect glass of w ine to go w ith your favour ite Halloween mov ie?

Look no further than The Conspiracy 2017 from Niagara Peninsula w iner y, The Foreign A f fair. This dr y red w ine is a blend of four var ietals: cabernet franc (45%), cabernet sauv ignon (35%), merlot (15%), and petit verdot (5%). This is your t y pical Bordeaux-t y pe blend; however, the w inemak ing st yle adds an unexpected tw ist. The Conspiracy is made in the Italian R ipasso st yle, meaning that after the grapes are fermented and blended, the w ine is passed over the dr ied sk ins and lees of Appassimento red grapes, adding an in-

tr ig uing f lavour and depth. The result is a dr y, fruit-for ward blend w ith a spicy f inish. This w ine is lighter than your t y pical Bordeaux blend, mak ing it a versatile, easy dr ink that can transition f lawlessly from appetizers to dinner. Pair w ith a margher ita pizza and scar y mov ie for a spooky night in!

A lexa Cheung Flat Rock Twisted W hite 2017 $17.95 at the LCBO A s an eager newcomer to the world of w ine blends, I decided to tr y my luck and pick up the f irst blend I found at my local LCBO. Luck ily for me, I struck gold. This local Ontar io white w ine blend of R iesling, Gewürztraminer, and Chardonnay is br ight and cheer y, which br ings me back to sunnier days loung ing in var ious parks in the cit y. The fruit y notes and cr isp taste of this bott le were almost enough to make me forget the grey, gloomy weather outside my w indow.

Upon opening the bott le, I noticed the delicious f loral aromas of the w ine. On the palate, the f loral notes were less noticeable. The notes of lime and pear were the stars of the bott le, w ith a good balance of acidit y and sweetness. The w ine was extremely enjoyable on its own, but it would also go great w ith a meal or a snack. I enjoyed mine w ith a light dinner of gr illed chicken, but I imag ine it would also be good w ith a light salad w ith a v inaigrette.

If you are feeling especially fancy, a charcuter ie board w ith var ious cured meats, grapes, berr ies, and sweet, nutt y cheeses like Emmental and Gouda would also be a great pair ing.

Reyna Manerikar T he Audacity of T homas G. Bright Orange Wine 2019 $16 .95 at the LCBO

This fall, why not tr y a w ine that matches the leaves? Orange w ines have been making a comeback over the last couple of years. Or ig inally from countr ies such as Slovenia, Georg ia, and Italy, orange w ines rarely use additives, which has made them popular in the recent natural w ine movement. W hite grapes are fermented on their sk ins, which results in their orange hue, as well as their more robust, tannic taste compared to other white w ines.

The Audacit y of Thomas G. Br ight is a blend of 50% pinot gr ig io and 50% gerwürztraminer that hails from Niagara, ON. This orange w ine has warming honey and stone-fruit notes on the nose, yet the palate is dr y and cr isp, reminiscent of a granny smith apple. It is a fun w ine to transition from the light whites of summer into the heav y reds of w inter. I would pair this w ine w ith a r ich butternut squash soup.

Saw yer Peloso Maison G inestet G rand Vin de Margaux 2018 $42.95 at the LCBO This w ine is from the Bordeaux reg ion in France, which is known for its red w ine blends. It is a blend of cabernet sauv ignon, cabernet franc, cabernet merlot, and petit verdot, and comes from a v ineyard known for its red-clay soil, which produces r ich and fruit y w ines. It is slight ly expensive, mak ing it ideal for someone look ing to celebrate an achievement, or impress a fr iend, peer, or signif icant other. A lternatively, you may just be look ing to treat yourself w ith a glass of fantastic red w ine courtesy of your L ine of Credit! Either way, I promise it is worth tr y ing.

W hen I uncorked it, I let it decant for one hour, and used t hat t ime to roast a leg of lamb. Bordeau x blends genera l ly pa ir ver y wel l w it h lamb. Before t he f irst sip, I took

a second to get a wh if f of t he st r i k ing aro ma character ized by lavender and rose peta l. T h is mesmer izing aroma was a clear in it ia l sig n t hat t he invest ment was l i kely to be wor t h it. T he f irst t h ing I no t iced upon tast ing t he w ine was t he text ua l intensit y and bold ness t hat is characterist ic of most Bordeau x w ines. I persona l ly tasted h ints of blackber r y, raspber r y, and cher r y, and found t hat t he st r i k ing aroma rea l ly added to t he overa l l ex per ience of t h is f irst taste. Beyond t h is in it ia l bold f irst taste, t here was an except iona l ly smoot h f in ish due to t he f ine-g ra ined tann ins. T h is smoot h, pleasant f in ish ma kes it much more pa latable for nov ice w ine d r in kers who may be of f-put by a bitter f in ish.

Tom Russell Ravenswood Vintner’s Blend Zinfandel 2017 $17.95 at the LCBO R avenswood was founded in 1976 in lovely Sonoma Count y, Ca l ifor n ia. T heir website cla ims t hey made t he Zinfandel g rape a staple of t he Ca l ifor n ia w ine scene… I am not sure if I can fu l ly attest to t hat just yet, but for now I’l l ta ke t heir word for it.

The Ravenswood Vintner’s Blend Zinfandel 2017 is a mix of 76% zinfandel, 21% petite sirah, and 3% var ious red w ine grapes. It is a smooth, full-bodied, extradr y w ine at three grams of sugar per litre and an alcohol content of 13.5%. Its colour is a see-through cherr y red w ith a bit of a v iolet tint. It’s a smooth w ine w ith notes of blackberr y, vanilla, and cranberr y. In terms of pair ing, I would recommend anything from the meat aisle. If you’re going to tr y to pair it w ith poultr y, I would recommend a heav ier sauce. A s a general rule, I would say this w ine would be happiest w ith a heart y, savour y meal.

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February 28, 2020 | 15

Virtual Doggie Day Don’t stress, just look at our pets ANGELA FENG (1L) During pre-Covid times, Doggie Day was when students were invited to bring their beloved canine companions to the law school to spread joy and reduce stress. Although we will have to make do without a Doggie Day this semester, Ultra Vires hopes to bring some smiles with a compilation of pet photos submitted by law students. Thank you to everyone who took the time to submit these adorable photos and introduce their pets to the community!

Thumper

Lepa

Nado

Instagram: @ mr.thumperthehusky

Instagram: @lepinjapopov

Instagram: @Corginado521

From: Militza Boljevic (2L)

From: Thomas (1L)

From: Will Hu (2L)

Thumper is a big two-year-old boy and a cuddly sweetheart who is scared of most things. He enjoys napping all day long and acting as my compost bin. Other important things to note about Thumper: (1) he also answers to Thumperino, (2) he gives paw even when not asked, (3) he only eats strawberries if they have been cut into four, and (4) he is longer than any other dog I know so I am convinced he must be part corgi.

Lepa is six months old. She loves sitting on my keyboard during Zoom lectures and punching the computer screen. She enjoys going for walks and climbing trees in Queens Park.

An eight-week-old corgi puppy who everyone thought was a feisty alpha in the beginning, but turned out to be a heart-stealing cutie

Lucky (dog), Mick (grey kitten), and Jagger (orange kitten)

Fred Weasley

Instagram: @mick.and.jagger

Instagram: @EtobicokeFosterRabbits

From: Karlie Nordstrom (2L)

From: Jane Fallis Cooper (1L)

Lucky has been Karlie's bestie for 15 years. He loves her a lot but his absolute favourite things are food, naps, and his rubber ducky. Mick and Jagger just joined the family this October! They are seven weeks old and spend most of their time wrestling, but love to cuddle and get belly scratches when they're all played out.

Meet Fred Weasley — one half of the George and Fred bunny duo that I am currently fostering! These are two really cute rabbits who are available for adoption through @Pumpkinsacres. I can confirm that they make readings much more enjoyable!

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Barley & Hops

Freddie

Panchy

From: Cameron (1L)

From: Syd Palter (1L)

From: April Lewtak (1L)

Barley & Hops are named after the two principal ingredients in the beer we used to home-brew when we named them. Both dogs are from the SPCA and were adopted when they were already fully grown. Now they're starting to slow down a little more with age, they struggle to go on long walks which reduces the workload. But I probably couldn't care for them on my own given how many hours I spend in the library. My parents do almost all of the work.

Freddie is in fact a female! She loves learning about Contracts with Professor Benson, spoonfuls of peanut butter, and her dog-cousin. She's born in Michigan and required immense Immigration Law research to figure out how to get her home in the middle of Covid. Ultimately, she aspires to be a Supreme Court Justice. Stay tuned for her journey.

Panchy is a rescue that I adopted from Iowa 2 years ago. I drove 28 hours total in one weekend to get him and it was the best/most exhausting thing I’ve ever done. His full name is Panchero, which is a Mexican food chain in the U.S., but that name was just too long. He’s the most laid back dog you will ever meet and I used to bring him to work all the time, where he was a huge hit. I wasn’t sure what my schedule would be like in law school so he’s living with my parents right now while I figure out my routine. He’s loving all the grass and space but I miss him, and need him back soon for the stress relief he provides!

Lazy (siamese); Oscar (pure white persian); Baby Boy (striped); Bootboot (grey/white himalayan) From: Amy (2L) In terms of fighting ability, I would rank them in the order of Lazy, Bootboot, Baby Boy, and Oscar. Bootboot may be old but Baby Boy and Oscar are stupid. I love them.

Charlie

Milk

Azlan (white one), & Kinza (darker one)

Instagram: @charlie.the.mini.dachie

From: Meaza (1L)

From: Sana Najafi (1L)

From: Portia (3L)

Milk has 10 times more personality than I do and has been called a cat in a dog's body by my roommates. Fun fact: she sleeps with her head on the pillow and her feet towards the end of the bed like a human.

These guys are half brothers, and often make cameos in my Zoom classes and meetings. They’re annoying sometimes but they also always seem to pick up on when I’m extra stressed, and come for a cuddle which I always appreciate.

Charlie is a one-year-old mini dachshund who loves peanut butter, trail walks, and defacing stuffed toys. Little Charlie makes Zoom School of Law infinitely better!

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February 28, 2020 | 17

Tobacco and Mocha

Austin

Lexie

From: Reya (1L)

From: Robert Nanni (4L JD/MBA)

From: Vivian Cheng (2L)

I adopted these siblings the weekend before law school started. Being kittens, they're super hectic but also big cuddlers.

Austin is a nearly-three-year-old Bichon/Terrier mix. He's always with his green frog toy, either scouring for food or scooped up in my arms as a stress reliever (law school, am I right?).

Lexie is a bichon-poodle mix, this is her when she was a pup :)

Marlow

Oden

Olive

Instagram: @adventurousmarlow

From: Tomas Jirousek (1L)

From: Rachael (1L)

From: Sid (2L)

Oden lives in Whitehorse, Yukon, and enjoys walks in the mountains and chasing squirrels.

Olive is a shih tzu.

He always wants to have fun and eat. Loves going for walks and meeting other dogs.

Miso From:Annecy (2L) Miso is very food-motivated and likes to play with hair ties. She is great company during online lectures but has been known to walk in front of the camera during a virtual firm tour.

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18 | February 28, 2020

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CLSA Blog in Print: In Conversation with Sean Robichaud

A look at the life of a criminal defence lawyer CAMERON COTTON-O’BRIEN (3L) Since he was called to the bar in 2005, Sean Robichaud has made a name for himself as a prominent criminal defence lawyer in Toronto. In addition to being lead counsel at Robichaud’s, a f irm focused on criminal defence matters, Mr. Robichaud hosts the popular Of Counsel podcast, where he interviews prominent lawyers from across the province.

Mr. Robichaud sat down with a writer from the Criminal Law Students’ Association to offer his perspective on criminal defence and how interested students can approach this f ield as a career.

The interview has been condensed and lightly edited for clarity.

What is the difference between practising criminal defence as opposed to working at one of the big f irms?

SR: What I think I’d say to anyone getting into criminal law in the f irst instance is, your personal life and professional life are strongly intertwined. And that is only alleviated if and when you have the discipline to start delegating your responsibilities to others in the f irm, i.e. if you hire more people. But if you are a solo practitioner, you’re always on call.

You always need to be available for your clients. You need to deal with emergencies.

You’re basically an emergency room doctor at all times. And you go to the hospital every day of the week.

And that is a diff icult thing. People should be conscious of it going into it, because if you’re not, you’re going to get overwhelmed, and it’s going to contribute to things like mental health issues. Having the ability to manage that, and the ability to say no during certain times, or delegating, is crucial to maintaining the law practice. But that of course conf licts with the business side of things, because from the business point of view, the only way you will get those clients is by being available to answer their questions. Clients don’t care about how you feel that day. Clients don’t care whether you are going through a personal crisis.

How do you approach clients when you have diff icult information for them?

SR: You should never try and make things seem better than they are. You should always be direct with your clients, because if you’re just telling your client what they want to hear, then that’s what they want you to deliver as a lawyer. So if your client can’t handle the truth [...], then that’s not a client that you want. They can make their own choices on how they want to deal with that truth based on your advice, you can never take that away from them. But if they simply can’t hear the truth, or they disagree with you, even though they’re wrong in law, then you should just tell the client that they should perhaps seek other counsel. [...]

Part of the importance of the solicitor-client relationship is trust. It’s fundamental.

Without trust, which is derived from that authenticity and truthfulness, there is nothing there. And that distrust is going to hurt you throughout the relationship and beyond.

What advice do you have for law students interested in pursuing a career in criminal defence?

SR: There’s a couple ways [to pursue that path], and both can be done at the same time. One is to commit. One of the f irst things I look at in the resumes that come to our f irm is at what point did this person commit to criminal law. If they didn’t take evidence for example, or criminal procedure, then I’m not interested — if you didn’t decide three years ago about where you want your life to be, then I’m not going to be part of your journey. I’m more than happy to join you on our criminal law journey together — but you need to have made that choice a long time ago. I’m not your parents. So commit.

[For] most of the people that I know who have gone into the criminal bar, it’s been a rather organic way for them to reach that point.

For those that aren’t within the standard hiring procedure, almost all hires that come from criminal law are reactive to emergencies that unfold within the practice. For example, as of now we are f ine with our staff.

But if after this interview I get two calls on a homicide, which is possible, we are hiring next week.

Do you prefer jury or judge-alone trials?

SR: My preference is always jury trials. Because I feel juries get it right far more often than judges do. [...] It’s a very rare day that I would prefer a judge trial over a jury trial.

Because in my view, the collective wisdom of twelve people is far better than the opinion of one person, [who] has often been made rigid over years of practice, [and who] is hard to persuade.

I know with a great degree of predictability how my case is going to go when I f ind out who my judge is. [...] With a jury, the only thing I know is that the person is going to get a fair shot at reasonable doubt, and that’s why I prefer them. Juries are very thoughtful, they’re very perceptive, and they bring perspective that judges don’t have because they have such wide [experience].

Is there anything you wish you had known during law school?

SR: Decide sooner than later what you want to do. Specialize and then just commit to it […] because that’s going to set you apart, and the more you learn about criminal law, the easier it’s going to be to advance within it. Taking an extra course or two may seem like a little deal right now, but it’s going to have an exponentially benef icial effect once you get into practice because you’re not going to have time to do that later on. The other thing is just try to get to know people within the legal community that you want to practice in. […] Those people are going to

SEAN ROBICHAUD. COURTESY OF SEAN ROBICHAUD

open up a lot of opportunities for you and give you guidance when the time comes.

The pitfall is make sure you learn when to say no — you don’t have to say yes to everything. Say yes to the things you should and focus on them. You are far better off trying to focus on doing good quality work on them than trying to take on everything and doing poorly at all of them.

Are there any books you would recommend to an aspiring criminal defence lawyer?

SR: If you were going to put down one book, I would say read The Fall by Albert Camus.

This series by the Criminal Law Students’ Association introduces the law student body to the wild, wild world of criminal law and criminal justice.

Articles will be published in print in Ultra Vires as well as on the CLSA’s website, uoftlawclsa.weebly. com/blog. To pitch an article to the CLSA blog series, please contact the CLSA Blog Editor, Teodora Pasca, at teodora.pasca@mail.utoronto.ca.

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February 28, 2020 | 19

Ragù for Students at Home

Make sure you turn your camera off when you eat this JACQUELINE HUANG (1L)

I picked up the habit of cooking in bulk while backpacking in Australia. I lived on my own and worked in the countryside, and oftentimes the nearest supermarket was a 45-minute drive away. I went into town every 10 to 15 days, bought bagfuls of food, cooked them before they expired, and froze the leftovers. Your freezer becomes your good friend if you cook for yourself — striking a nice balance between taste and convenience.

This ragù recipe is one I’ve cooked many times, and it has never failed me. It is based on ragù alla bolognese, just with added vegetables and tomatoes. I think a stronger presence of vegetables brings out more sweetness and tanginess. The ragù is loaded with flavour, keeps well in the fridge, and freezes beautifully. On nights when I was not in the mood to cook, I would simply grab a portion from the freezer, and a hearty meal would be ready in no time.

This is ideal for stay-at-home students who want to take a little break in between readings (to give the pot a good stir) and fancy some good food at the end of the day, and for days to come.

The Recipe The key to making a good pot of ragù, in my opinion, is a long, steady simmer. I cook my pot for six hours — so from noon to early evening on a weekend night. From my experience, the flavour only starts to infuse after three hours; four hours is good enough, but I argue that six makes it even better.

There is nothing tricky about this recipe — it’s hard to mess up once you get all the ingredients simmering, and from then on the only thing you need is a little bit of patience.

Ingredients (Serves 8) 2-3 onions 2 carrots 4 celery stalks 1kg lean ground beef * 1 big can of tomatoes, or 1/2 bottle of passata 1 glass of white or red wine 500mL beef/chicken/vegetable stock 250mL milk 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary, or 2-3 tsp dried rosemary leaves 4 dried bay leaves 3 cloves of garlic (optional) 1 star anise (optional) 1 piece of rind from Parmigiano Reggiano or Grana Padano (optional, but recommended) ** olive oil, salt, and black pepper * You can put any kind of ground meat or stewing/roasting cut: ground beef and pork, beef roasting cut, or kangaroo mince (it’s a thing in Australian supermarkets). ** The cheese rind works magic in soups and stews. Just remember to f ish it out before serving.

HOMEMADE RAGU, DELICIOUS! COURTESY OF JACQUELINE HUANG

Pasta to serve with Preferably a long, f lat pasta. But really, this sauce pairs well with most pasta shapes you have in your pantry. It also works great as the base in baked lasagna.

Method 1. Finely chop the onions, carrots, celery stalks, and garlic (if using). Rinse the rosemary and take the leaves off. If using a big chunk of meat, cut it into smaller pieces.

2. Heat some olive oil in a pot or wok over medium heat. Add the chopped vegetables. Cook, constantly stirring, until they are soft, around 10 minutes.

3. Heat some olive oil in a big pot over medium-high heat. Add the ground meat or roast cut pieces. Stir and brown the meat on every side. When the juice reduces, add in the cooked vegetables. Then, add the glass of wine. Let the liquid reduce again.

4. When the liquid has mostly evaporated, add the stock, and the canned tomatoes or passata. Throw in the rosemary leaves, bay leaves, star anise (if using) and the cheese rind.

Season with salt and pepper (but not too much). Bring it to a boil, and then turn down to low heat. Cover most of the pot and let it simmer.

5. Cook for at least 4 hours, stirring every 30 minutes to 1 hour (a good reminder to stand up and move around). If it seems dry before it’s done, add some more boiling water. Check seasoning after 3 hours, and season to taste.

6. 0-45 minutes before done, add in 250 ml of milk. Stir well, bring to a simmer, and check the seasoning again. Take off the lid, and let the sauce reduce to your desired consistency.

When it’s done, discard the bay leaves, star anise, and cheese rind.

7. Cook your pasta just before the sauce is done. Toss a couple ladles of sauce with the pasta and a bit of the pasta cooking water in a pan over medium heat. Serve with grated Parmigiano Reggiano or Grana Padano. Enjoy!

Storage Divide the rest of the sauce into individual portions and save them for those busy days. The sauce will last for about f ive days refrigerated and a long while in the freezer.

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U of T Law in Pictures, 2020 The law school, post-transition to remote learning JACQUELINE HUANG (1L)

FOBS ARE REQUIRED FOR ENTRY TO THE LAW SCHOOL, AND THIS ENTRANCE IS NOW A DESIGNATED EXIT.

THE GOODMANS LLP CAFE IS CLOSED - STUDENTS HAVE TO VENTURE ELSEWHERE FOR THEIR CAFFEINE FIX.

STUDENTS STILL STUDY IN THE LIBRARY, EVEN ON WEEKENDS.

THE ATRIUM ARMCHAIRS ARE POSITIONED TO ALLOW FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING.

ACCESS TO PRINT COLLECTIONS CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

SUNLIGHT CASTS OVER THE EMPTY BUILDING.

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February 28, 2020 | 21

RIGHTS REVIEW The International Human Rights Program at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law An independent student-led publication Editors-in-Chief: Rachel Bryce (4L JD/MGA) and Abdullah Jamshed Khan (2L) Senior Editors: Taskeen Nawab (2L) and Sabrina Sukhdeo (2L) Junior editors: Martha Côte (1L) and Sterling Mancuso (1L) Graphics Editor: Yuxuan Wu (2L) Social Media Editor: Ellen An (2L)

Dear Readers, In light of the ongoing controversy surrounding the hiring of Professor Valentina Azarova to fill the multi-year vacancy of the Directorship of the International Human Rights Program (IHRP), we wish to provide some optimism regarding the topic of this issue: IHRP fellowships.

Despite dissatisfactory answers from Dean Iacobucci and the insufficient “investigation” announced October 14, the short-term future of the IHRP is no longer completely uncertain. With the announcement of Professor Rebecca Cook coming on as the second interim Director of the IHRP and with concerted efforts from members of the administrative team, IHRP fellowships are still a go!

These fellowships consistently bring fulfilling and exciting work to University of Toronto law students passionate about international legal issues and practice. Not only can our legal boundaries expand through unique applications of the law and meaningful collaborations, but the contributions of IHRP fellows have the potential to push international legal norms forward and add to precedent-setting projects that benefit individuals around the world. For a sense of what fellows have done in past years, see the Fellowships Highlights from 2019, 2018, 2017, and more in our Archive. For a sense of what the 2020 IHRP Fellows achieved despite the pandemic, and how you may still forge a meaningful fellowship experience as COVID-19 continues, see our four excellent submissions in this issue.

The Faculty of Law’s Manager of Experiential Education, Kim Snell, wishes to reas-

sure all interested students that the fellowship process will continue as normal. In email correspondence with the Rights Review Editors in Chief, she directs students to the following: 1. Later this fall, the International Law Club hopes to host an information session on the student experience of IHRP summer internships 2. Ms. Snell will participate in the CDO info session on all Law School Summer Employment Program (LSSEP) opportunities, likely to be held early November; and 3. The IHRP website will be updated soon, including the fellowship guide.

Ms. Snell further clarifies that in light of the global pandemic and the continued uncertainty around international travel, all students will be asked, as part of their applica-

tion, whether their proposed host organization can support remote work, if necessary. If students are starting to research, reach out, or apply to potential organizations, they may want to specifically engage on this question.

Finally, if anyone has questions or concerns about the fellowship process, Ms. Snell welcomes your correspondence. You can reach her at: kim.snell@utoronto.ca.

We thank Ms. Snell for her clarifying answers and for her hard work ensuring IHRP fellowships will occur as usual. We also look forward to collaborating with everyone involved in the interim IHRP leadership and welcoming Professor Rebecca Cook to the interim Director position with open and grateful arms.

Sincerely, Rachel and Abdullah Co-Editors-in-Chief

A (REMOTE) SUMMER WITH THE SASLAW PRO BONO PROJECT PRACTICING INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW REMOTELY

By Sabrina Sukhdeo (2L)

This summer, I had the privilege of being one of the three fellows for the South African Society for Labour Law (SASLAW) Pro Bono Project. As I am sure was the case with every International Human Rights Program (IHRP) Fellow with plans abroad this year, the university-wide moratorium on international travel was a bitter pill to swallow at first. The SASLAW Pro Bono Project, now entering the third year of its partnership with the Faculty of Law, was set to host selected students in Johannesburg where we would have helped assist unrepresented and indigent litigants at South Africa’s four Labour Courts.

However, while we were unable to get that hands-on experience, the IHRP and SASLAW allowed us to assist several meaningful and inspiring legal projects over the summer, dealing with land justice, workers’ rights, and Indigenous rights. In particular, I had the opportunity to work with the Land Rights Programme at the Legal Resources Centre (LRC), a human rights organization and legal clinic with a formidable history of resisting apartheid injustices.

Laid out in the LRC’s most recent strategy, land justice is currently at the top of their agenda, given that inequitable access to land

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underpins many of their country’s most persistent struggles. Indeed, it is reported that, while de jure apartheid ended almost 25 years ago, 72 percent of arable land remains in the hands of White South Africans, who account for just fewer than 10 percent of the total population. Furthermore, a large number of South Africans reside in informal urban settlements, which deny many residents security of tenure and access to safe and healthy living.

I joined the team as they had just kicked into gear to take on several high-impact land rights cases. One particularly interesting project I assisted involved exploring recordal systems for recognizing the de facto rights of land occupants. Many countries grapple with instituting and maintaining systems of first registration, which formally grant tenure rights to those who are otherwise shut out from vital property rights. These endeavours are often targeted at those living in informal settlements and Indigenous communities with customary tenure, among others, and vastly vary in success.

In South Africa, labour tenants — specifically, farm dwellers who derive their rights to be on and use land through providing labour to the landowner — are also shunted to this precari-

ous legal position. Accordingly, these farm dwellers’ rights as workers are inextricably tied up with their struggle for land rights. To support the LRC in tackling this issue, I researched different models of recording tenure rights and examined the strengths and weaknesses of each. This research will be used to glean insights that can be applied to the fraught context of labour tenancy in South Africa.

I also had the incredible opportunity to lend research support to the appeal of a groundbreaking land claim led by the Hai||om people in Namibia. Like other Indigenous communities around the world, the Hai||om people were dispossessed of their ancestral lands.

The community is now fighting to have their land rights over the famous Etosha National Park recognized.

One key battleground has been the issue of standing: the Hai||om litigants want to represent themselves without having to defer to the Hai||om Traditional Authority, a creature of the Namibian government whose interests as such inexorably conflict with the interests of the community. To help further flesh out this issue, I was tasked with examining comparative and international authorities on minority rights, Indigenous rights, and procedural law.

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This research will assist the Hai||om people in charting their litigation strategy for what has shaped up to be a long road to justice.

Though all this work was completed remotely — and on a six-hour time difference from the countries in question — I frequently got face time with the lawyers supervising my work.

Zoom conferences provided several opportunities to discuss the projects to which I was assigned, as well as delve into broader conversations about human rights advocacy and progressive lawyering on the whole.

These interactions, coupled with my research work, allowed me to gain a new appreciation for the interconnected nature of the struggles for land rights, workers’ rights, and Indigenous rights. I am grateful for the time that Petra Molnar at the IHRP, Clare Fincham at SASLAW, and the staff at their partner organizations spent to ensure I and the other fellows had a satisfying summer.

While not the adventure abroad I envisioned, my SASLAW Pro Bono Project Fellowship still proved to be an educational and motivating experience as I continue to find my role as a law student and soon-to-be legal professional in movements for social justice here at home.

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RIGHTS REVIEW

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EXPLORING INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW IN CANADA A SUMMER AS AN IHRP IN-HOUSE RESEARCH ASSISTANT

By Vivian Cheng (2L)

This summer, I worked as an in-house re search assistant for the International Human Rights Program (IHRP). As someone who came to law school hoping to pursue human rights and social justice work, I consider myself privileged to have had the oppor tunit y to work closely on pressing issues in these areas through this fellowship, and to have made an impact — no mat ter how small — on real people’s lives. While I didn’t get to work in the Swiss palace that houses the Of fice of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, or travel to a dif ferent European cit y ever y weekend, I had an incredible experience.

Over the summer, I gained substantive legal research and writing skills authoring two repor ts on international issues that require at tention in Canada. The first repor t outlined the liabilit y of government, administrative bodies, and corporations if an employee sexually exploited someone or had been sexually exploited while abroad. The second pro vided a snapshot of the law for stateless persons in Canada; i.e. legal procedures and protections af forded to stateless individuals, and areas where Canadian law fell shor t of its obligations to the international communit y.

The challenges of advocating for the international human rights approach were

fascinating and made this work incredibly intellectually stimulating. Above all, I enjoyed picking apar t the nuances in this area of law. As I delved deeper into my research, I discovered that Canada has of ten adopted a lower standard for protecting human rights than the conventions they signed required. In other instances, I could not find evidence of a clear-cut approach to ensuring justice for sur vivors. Because of the ill-defined and nascent state of law in my work, I had to think creatively — turning to doctrines of contract law, tor ts, legal process, administrative law, and business organizations, among others, to make my case or ar ticulate its weaknesses. To this end, I had to learn quickly, synthe sizing all this information to of fer comprehensive and nuanced answers to complex research questions.

The program also of fered oppor tunities to work collaboratively and socialize, albeit over Zoom. The IHRP staf f and fellows had bi-weekly cof fee chats, where we could talk about our lives, our work, and other human rights issues that were exacerbated by the pandemic (bonus: I saw so many pets). Working with Ashley Major, the IHRP’s in-house law yer, was par ticularly rewarding because of how much suppor t and feedback she gave me. Before this fellowship, I had never

PHOTO OF PALAIS WILSON IN GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

writ ten a substantive research document, so her feedback was invaluable.

I still hope to one day visit Europe and revel in the beaut y of the Swiss alps, the delight of pain au chocolat, and the magnificence of European architecture, but for now, I am satisfied to have done impor tant work this summer.

If you are at all interested in international human rights or are seeking an intellectual challenge, I definitely recommend taking advantage of IHRP’s fellowship program. It was truly an enriching and transformative experience that instilled confidence in my abilit y to work successfully within legal advocacy.

MY SUMMER WORKING WITH PEN CANADA AN IHRP FELLOW’S EXPERIENCE RESEARCHING THE INTERSECTIONS OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND TECHNOLOGY

By Annecy Pang (2L) This summer I spent seventeen weeks at PEN Canada, one of PEN International's 145 national centres. PEN celebrates literature, defends freedom of expression, and helps threatened writers resettle in safe countries.

For my fellowship, I researched and compiled a report on the impact of social media algorithms on freedom of expression in Canada, Mexico, the Philippines, and the United Kingdom. The report considers how governments use the law to address problems such as misand dis-information, hate speech, and the intimidation and harassment of journalists. It will likely be published later this year through PEN Canada, and is hopefully only the first stage of a multi-year project that will assess the benefits and harms of big digital platforms.

I was drawn to the International Human Rights Program (IHRP) fellowship because I

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wanted to delve into the intersection of technology and law through a flexible summer position. I was interested in protecting people’s rights in an age when powerful algorithms reduce individuals to a collection of data points.

Luckily, PEN Canada and the IHRP had an ongoing project that fit my interest, so I picked up right where the 2020 IHRP clinic students left off. Due to the fellowship’s flexibility, I was also able to contribute to an op-ed with Downtown Legal Services on the painful legal limbo of three Uyghur men seeking family reunification in Canada, which was a truly eye-opening experience.

One challenge that I faced over the summer was working entirely from home. I found it hard to focus on government reports when the fridge (and all its delicious contents) were mere steps away!

Moreover, while I always planned on staying in Toronto for the fellowship, I had hoped for the opportunity to do some fact-finding work abroad. The COVID-19 pandemic threw that hope out of the window, but I nonetheless had a meaningful experience.

The summer fellowship at PEN Canada reinforced my interest in emerging technology and the intersection with the law. I had the chance to connect with scholars, activists, and organizations who work in combatting disinformation. Looking ahead, I hope to continue researching and advocating for the protection of individual rights as technology becomes ever more powerful and intrusive. I would encourage any students who are interested in the fellowship to pursue it and to reach out to potential organizations early.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF ANNECY PANG

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A SUMMER AT OCASI: THE ROLE OF COMMUNITY ADVOCACY IN THE FIGHT AGAINST GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AN IHRP FELLOW FINDS THE SERENDIPITY OF CHANGED PLANS WITH THE ONTARIO COUNCIL OF AGENCIES SERVING IMMIGRANTS

By Taskeen Ather Nawab (2L)

It was 11 a.m. in Februar y, towards the end of my criminal law class, when I re membered that the deadline for the IHRP fellowship funding application was an hour away. I was prepared for a frighteningly adventurous summer with Equalit y Ef fect to work on a challenge to Malawi’s rape corroboration law. Funding was the last obstacle I had to conquer before heading to Africa for my 1L summer. To my delight, by March 10, it was approved!

At the same time, whispers of the pandemic were growing into a cacophony, and no less than six days af ter the guarantee of funds, we were in complete lockdown. As the internship was largely field-work based, it was pushed indefinitely, and Blant yre, Zomba, and Lilongwe gave way to that single room in Toronto for the foreseeable future.

Despite the initial feeling of defeat, the formidably resourceful Petra Molnar, interim Director of the IHRP in the 2019 2020 academic year, swept into the whirlwind and produced a plethora of alternative organizations for me to work with on the ubiquitous issue of violence against women. A few weeks, emails, and inter views later, I was in a Zoom call with Dr. Margarita Pintin-Perez of the Ontario Council of Agencies Ser ving Immigrants (OCASI), coming on board as a summer fellow.

My summer was spent working on a por tion of a five -year project on building leadership capacit y to address genderbased violence (GBV ) against non-status refugee and immigrant (NSRI) women.

Specifically, it centred on the experiences of non-status women in Canada at the intersection of domestic violence and immigration enforcement. I was pulled into the deep end of work that had already begun under the leadership of a set of tireless women. The learning expe rience that followed was both enriching and eye -opening.

As a Pakistani national, I had grown up heavily cognisant of the discriminator y ef fects of borders on access to oppor tunit y, and had learnt to navigate them as an inescapable realit y. Three months at OCASI, however, revealed the weakness of that approach. The Building Leadership Capacit y Project highlighted that as a societ y seeking to alleviate systemic discrimination, we needed to advocate against the status quo. Taking par t in the project’s execution taught me that by centering af fected voices and connecting distinct communit y advocacy ef for ts, we can bet ter situate ourselves to shif t a

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SOLIDARITY AGAINST GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE PHOTO CREDIT: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

culture that has become desensitized to the appalling harms of systemic discrimination. The pandemic and the Black Lives Mat ter protests amplified the inequalities that these initiatives were looking to uproot.

I worked with people for whom navigating systemic discrimination was only one arm of a long-run war ef for t where advocacy was the main cavalr y. I spent mornings meeting communit y advocates (on Zoom, of course) working at dif ferent levels of ser vice deliver y across Canada to alleviate the adverse ef fects of GBV. Corresponding af ternoons were spent on calls with Margarita, working on repor ts while discussing the systemic vio-

lence inherent in immigration policies that facilitated the continued marginalisation of women who were seeking refuge from persecution.

In the same breath, I saw the power and the limits of legal advocacy. Where as law yers were trained to formally lend their voices to clients and ex tend their grievances to cour ts for adjudication and to the legislature for policy change, communit y advocates were positioned to harness the full force of those voices to deliver wide -scale impact.

These months showcased the boldness, patience, and communication re quired to achieve sustainable cultural

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shif ts in at titudes towards marginalised communities in a system programmed to work against them.

At the close of the summer, I headed out to meet some of the incredible people at the Rights of Non-Status Women’s Network in a back yard lit by fair y lights.

With vegetable chips, guac and a strong ginger ale as the evening’s sustenance, we spoke about advocacy fatigue, shared experiences as women of colour and ironically, how depressingly radical jolts in histor y of fered greater hope for success to long-run advocacy ef for ts.

Despite the travel advisor y, I had unlocked a new communit y in an other wise strangely isolating summer.

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OPINIONS

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Battling Information Overload

Staying sane amidst the Zoom classes, Quercus notifications, and endless emails SABRINA MACKLAI (1L JD/MI) I woke up this morning to 40 unread emails, 16 Facebook alerts, and too many messages to count. Before eating breakfast, I was already tired and ready for the day to end.

I’ve struggled with information overload in the past. It’s all too easy to feel overwhelmed by the excessive amount of information we receive on a daily basis. Coupled with keeping on top of pandemic-related news and adapting to a now completely virtual law school experience, these past few weeks have been especially diff icult.

This is not really the Faculty’s fault. The information we receive from the school is important and needs to be distributed accordingly. They also seem to be trying to limit the number of emails sent out. For example, the weekly Headnotes and daily Events Calendar newsletters, which summarize daily an-

nouncements and upcoming events, are good ways to keep students informed without f looding their inbox.

Still, the daily barrage of information can leave many, including myself, feeling paralyzed. I wish I could say the solution to this stress is as easy as unsubscribing from a few email threads and turning notif ications off for Facebook groups. Unfortunately, doing so would probably result in missing valuable information.

There is hope, however. In our current day, the problem is so prevalent that Googling “information overload” pulls up several documented coping mechanisms. My personal favourite is the “2-minute rule”; if a task takes two minutes or less to complete, like replying to an email, just get it done immediately. This can prevent creating a daunting inbox. I also like the idea of setting

dedicated time aside each day to read over all my emails or go through all the posts in one of the various student Facebook groups.

To help me keep track of things, I’ve been using Google Calendar. There, I schedule all my classes, club commitments, and other events (with their accompanying Zoom links) as I’m made aware of them. I adopted this system after nearly missing a career development event and it’s been effective so far. I’d recommend at least trying to have all those important times and links in one place for easy review.

Beyond tools and techniques, there are strategies to modify your thinking and behaviour so that you’re better equipped to handle vast amounts of information. The Faculty’s Student Mental Health & Wellness Program Manager, Terry Gardiner, is an advocate of mindfulness. This is the practice of

being presently aware of your body, mind, and feelings. Gardiner and mindfulness practitioner Elli Weisbaum lead a weekly practice on Mondays for all interested U of T law students.

Ultimately, how you manage information overload depends on your personal circumstances. While some may benef it from checking their inbox once per day, others may f ind that a full inbox makes them feel anxious. What is important is f iguring out what works best for you.

On a f inal note, I’d like to remind you to be kind to yourself. We’re all adjusting to this increasingly virtual world and navigating it in our own ways. Try different approaches, take breaks when you can, and know that support is available from both the Faculty and your peers. Overcoming information overload is hard but possible.

The Future of In-Person Classes Oh, Flavelle House, how I miss thee JENNIFER SUN (1L) There is never a dull moment in 2020. Just when you think a level of normalcy has returned, things have changed yet again. To be honest, when I decided to write this piece, I was planning to speculate if the surge of COVID-19 cases would impact our in-person classes. Well, that’s an easy answer. And here I thought I f inally had an opportunity to apply my fortune-telling skills...

As we all know, we shifted to exclusive remote learning on October 10. With the recent spike in daily reported COVID-19 cases in Toronto, the provincial government has rolled us back to Stage 2 pandemic restrictions. This is obviously an unfortunate development. Many of us, myself included, are disappointed. We must, however, remember that much of this is beyond the control of the Faculty or even the University. When looking at the big picture, the decision was understandable. Even if the Faculty did not experience any clusters of positive cases, as conf irmed during the October 19 Q&A session with Associate Dean Christopher Essert, we cannot ignore the increasing risk of COVID-19 exposure through other means, such as commuting (especially by transit), shopping, or other activities that occur outside the classroom. Now, the question to ask is when can we return to in-person classes?

In order to predict the future, we must look to the past. This is a common theme in any f ield, let it be law, science, or history.

Taking Ontario and Toronto’s daily record of COVID-19 cases published by Public Health Ontario, I marked three important dates for comparison below: (1) when the winter term of the 2019-2020 academic year transitioned to remote learning in March; (2) when the current fall term began with inperson 1L Legal Methods classes in late August; and (3) when the fall term transitioned to exclusive remote learning in October.

These can be visualized in the following chart.

A picture is worth a thousand words. After doing this analysis, I must admit I am surprised our in-person instruction lasted as long as it did. I think we can all agree that the second wave is here. And to make matters worse, winter is coming. Everyone will have to stay indoors, which is a paradise for COVID-19. It makes sense to minimize the need for indoor congregations at this point.

Consequently, I am not optimistic that inperson classes will return this term. I suspect the province may extend Stage 2 restrictions beyond the planned 28 days, especially since daily reported cases in Ontario and Toronto seem to have plateaued in the 800s and 300s respectively.

Considering the high risk of exposure, I do not think it is reasonable to demand a return to in-person learning right now. If we can rely on the past, I believe we may resume in-person classes once Toronto cases

GRAPH OF DAILY REPORTED COVID-19 CASES IN ONTARIO AND TORONTO WITH NOTE OF RELEVANT LAW SCHOOL DATES. IMAGE COURTESY OF JENNIFER SUN

are down to a level similar to what we experienced in early September. How long we must continue to physically and socially distance is less certain. From what we have seen so far, I would predict that normal in-person classes will not resume until we have a vaccine, perhaps in the spring of 2021.

The prospect isn’t ideal but I comfort my-

self by remembering that we at least had a month (and slightly more for 1Ls) of in-person classes when many other law schools decided to deliver all courses remotely from the start. And more importantly, I am grateful that I was able to meet my fellow 1Ls and many upper years in-person. Let’s hope we can go back sooner rather than later.

OPINIONS

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UofT Law Made a Mistake by Opting for Hybrid Classes The shift to remote learning came too late VIVIAN CHENG (2L)

JACKMAN LAW, ON A CLOUDY DAY. PHOTO COURTESY OF JACQUELINE HUANG

On October 10, the Faculty of Law made the decision to revert back to remote learning as it had done earlier on in the pandemic in March. While I agree with this decision, it came far too late.

At the time of this decision, the seven day rolling average had risen to 694 — up from 116 on July 10 when the decision to adopt the hybrid model had been announced. If you look at the charts, cases are and were

clearly on the rise. I can’t speak for everyone, but surely this must have caused anxiety for students attending in-person. Even if students had no qualms about safety, the uncertainty must have made planning for events dif f icult.

While these numbers are alarming, this should come as no surprise. Experts warned us that the fall would bring a second wave.

Given its second wave, why did U of T Law adopt this wishy-washy situation knowing full well there was a good chance of being relegated online?

U of T Law enticed students to attend inperson classes, with the allure of providing as many in-person services and activities as possible, but this was short-sighted (and likely disappointing to many students given how many in-person events were actually offered).

International and out-of-province students had to move or leave their families — in the midst of a pandemic — to attend classes. Given the time dif ferences between Ontario and other locations, it is perfectly understandable why these students may have chosen to do so. But making this decision meant paying the pricey Toronto rent (upwards of $2000) for housing, which now serves little purpose. Students either had to stay in a city they may have had little ties to, forego the money used for rent, or engage in potential legal battles with their landlord. What’s worse is that, due to the pandemic, less job opportunities were available to students who may be paying their way through law school.

And for international students, making

this decision posed the additional burden of quarantining for two-weeks upon arrival and securing visas.

If these students want to leave, they face expensive travel costs and, in some circumstances, travel restrictions.

In-person learning, as well as the sudden shutdown, also posed safety issues. Firstly, the masks provided by U of T have been criticized for being inadequate. While this isn’t a direct criticism at the Faculty of Law, this shows a lack of commitment to safety on an institution-wide basis. Secondly, commuters had to face increased COV ID-19 risks just to get to class — as the semester went on, public transit became progressively more crowded, making it dif f icult for social distancing to take place. Finally, students may have chosen to return to their hometowns, risking spreading the virus to their friends and family.

I understand that socializing, participating, and utilizing resources in person is benef icial for a multitude of reasons. I also understand that professors may hate teaching to a blank screen. However, socialization at the school had been limited precisely for safety reasons. What resulted was the worst of two worlds: attending in-person classes with minimal social interaction. Ultimately, the benef its of fered by the state of in-person classes did not outweigh the logistical nightmare that U of T Law created.

While U of T Law made the right decision for students’ safety, now, U of T also created this headache by failing to act prudently and decisively.

What is Going on in Academia?

Recent Lack of Civility Legal in Scholarship Troubling and Embarrassing WILLIAM MAZUREK (3L) Law students are often imbued with the premise that reputation and civility are everything in law. In some cases, legal academics fail to live up to that standard. Social media is replete with statements from academics that are uncivil, personally aggressive, emotionally motivated, and lacking in any form of legitimate analysis.

These same transgressions have recently spread into publications. An August 2020 working paper by Stephan Wood (a professor at Allard School of Law, University of British Columbia), Meinhard Doelle (a professor at Schulich School of Law. Dalhousie University) and Dayna Scott (an associate professor at Osgoode Hall Law School, York University) is a particularly jarring example.

The paper, entitled “Responsible Scholarship in a Crisis: A Plea for Fairness in Academic Discourse on the Carbon Pricing References”, is slated for publication in the 43rd volume of the Dalhousie Law Journal.

The article in question is in response to another article entitled “Federalism, Subsidiarity, and Carbon Taxes” written by professor Dwight Newman at the College of Law, University of

Saskatchewan.

Both articles deal with the constitutionality of the federal carbon tax. The Newman article suggests the tax cannot be constitutional under the federal POGG head of power, while the Wood, Doelle, and Scott article criticizes Newman’s reasoning.

The issue with the Wood, Doelle and Scott article arises in the way it is framed. Rather than simply criticizing Newman’s argument on its merits, the article accuses Newman of “distorting the published work of scholars with whom he disagrees, [...] portraying them in derogatory terms. [...] and selectively presenting the relevant case law to suit his purposes.”

“We take no issue here with the substance of Professor Newman’s criticism of the Saskatchewan and Ontario GHG pricing reference decisions,” the authors of the working paper claim.

Yet, the only legitimate criticisms they raise are substantive disagreements with Newman’s argument.

The sum total of the distortions the authors actually make are a few sharp quips in Newman’s article. For example, the authors disapprove of

Newman’s mention of the activist-sounding title of another’s author’s article1 and his characterization of other authors as “these sorts of environmental law academics”.

The remainder of the authors’ criticisms of Newman’s article amount to substantive criticisms of his reasoning and use of the case law.

The fact that the authors’ criticism are mainly substantive begs an obvious question: why did they not simply criticize Newman’s article on its merits rather than accusing him of irresponsible scholarship?

To be clear, Newman’s article itself is no model of civility and poise. It takes aim squarely at academics authors (Nathalie Chalifour and Jason MacLlean) and makes its fair share of unbecoming statements.2 However, these unbecoming quips actually constitute a very small part of Newman’s article. The substance of Newman’s analysis is doctrinal and does not rely on his views of Chalifour and Maclean.

The authors may not like Newman’s tone, but their peer-reviewed version of a hit-piece does nothing but make the situation worse. Rather than responding directly to what they obviously

view as a faulty argument, their article attempts to impugn Newman’s personal credibility.

If the authors of the working paper actually practiced what they preached, they would respond to Newman’s arguments directly, and on its merits. Attempting to dress up substantive criticisms as undermining another professor’s ability is itself a form of irresponsible scholarship.

Ironically, the working paper states that “ad hominem attacks against other researchers are also inconsistent with the principles that everyone directly affected or involved in research should be treated fairly and with respect.”

That is quite the claim for a paper which attempts to impugn the credibility of an author rather than responding to his ideas. That, one might recall, is the definition of ad hominem.

1

Specifically, Newman said: “While climate change policy is an immensely important area for governments, that context does not change the Constitution. Some might wish that it did-for example, Chalifour has published under such titles as ‘Making Federalism Work for Climate Change.’”.

2

For example, the article claims “environmental advocates like Chalifour and MacLean have a tendency to write in overly narrow ways”.

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26 | February 28, 2020

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A New School In Uncertain Times

A 2020 transfer student reflects on coming home

GRAHAM ROTENBERG (2L) W hen I packed my bags to attend an A mer ican college in 2013, I didn’t know what was in-store for me. I knew that it would consist of lecture halls f illed w ith students, warm beer, and manicured greens. This new adventure was (somewhat) far away from home and an adventure where I knew no one. But, to be honest, I was most ly excited. The opportunit y for a fresh start in a new countr y felt bigger, and perhaps most important ly, dif ferent. I loved it. I spent seven years liv ing in dif ferent parts of the Northeast spending time in Prov idence, Washing ton D.C., and New York Cit y. Four years in college, two years work ing, and one year in law school.

A l l it took was a globa l pandem ic, t he r ise of popu l ism, and Ti kTok to induce me to come home. A fter spend ing many years away, I t hought I cou ld share some ref lec-

t ions on ret ur n ing to t he Great W h ite Nor t h after l iv ing in t he U. S. for t he better par t of a decade.

W hen I star ted col lege, I felt d if ferent.

I n jest, I got made fun of for how I spoke.

T h is good humored “ch ir ping ” cont inued when I star ted work ing. Despite t he cu lt ura l sim i lar it ies bet ween t he Un ited States and Canada, t here are d if ferent words for t he same t h ing and ot her words t hat are t he same but sa id d if ferent ly.

Pawsta instead of Pa( h)sta. SU BSTA Nt ive in t he Un ited States vs. SubSTA N Tive here. Bean ie instead of toque. A 30 rack of beer instead of a t wo -four. T he sl ight id iosy ncrat ic d ist inct ions add up.

T he del iver y of educat ion is ca l led d ifferent t h ings in Canada and t he U. S. At U of T L aw, classes are descr ibed as “ lect ures” whereas at t he Un iversit y of M ich i-

gan L aw School, my prev ious school, t hey were ca l led “classes.” I t h in k t he d ist inct ion is substant ive. At M ich igan L aw, st udents d id a lmost a l l of t he ta l k ing w it hout not ice. T he success of lear n ing depended on your classmates, and you never k new who was going to be on- ca l l. At U of T, professors do an excel lent job d ist i l l ing concepts and pu l l ing out t he key doct r ina l lear n ings for st udents (in var y ing for mats because of COV I D -19). T he more Socratic U of T professors, at least so far in my ex per ience, prov ide people w it h a heads up t hat t hey are going to be ca l led on on a specif ic day.

I don’t k now if one is better. It is just d if ferent. But, I g uess my m idter ms w i l l be t he judge!

Bot h st udent popu lat ions are wonderfu l; I feel for t unate to have had t he oppor-

t un it y to attend such g reat schools. A lt hough COV I D -19 has ta ken schools on l ine, t hose f irst few week s at U of T a llowed me to meet some of my classmates and feel somewhat integ rated into t he commun it y. I feel luck y. T he intel l igence, comm it ment to excel lence, and genera l w i l l ing ness to be fr iend ly are a deep par t of U of T’s commun it y (and were a par t of M ich igan, as wel l). I feel for t unate to attend law schools where ot her st udents are comm itted to helping one anot her succeed. I’ve been able to meet g reat people t hrough st udy g roups, st udent organ izat ions, and classes. By no means has it been easy. It’s d if f icu lt to st r i ke up a conversat ion w it h someone wear ing a mask sitt ing si x feet away. But I feel luck y to be a par t of lega l commun it ies where t he st udents are n ice, smar t, and inclusive.

Beets: delicious or devilish?

Editors’ Corner VIVIAN CHENG (2L), ALEXA CHEUNG (2L), ANGELA GU (2L), ALISHA LI (2L), ANNECY PANG (2L), AND ADRIENNE RALPH (2L) Welcome to Editor’s Corner, the (hopefully) monthly column where Ultra Vires’ Senior Editorial Board espouses their thoughts on arbitrary, yet divisive topics.

This month we tackle beets.

My favourite way to eat them is marinated in a lemony, bright sauce, paired with a light salad. The sweetness of the beets offset the salad greens perfectly, and the red colour of the beets also provide the perfect amount of visual contrast.

Annecy Pang

And of course, beets are a cornerstone of The Office pop culture. Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica. Out of respect for Dwight Schrute and his hardworking beet-farming family members, I must give beets the culinary respect they deserve.

Over the summer when I was craving my St. Lawrence Farmers Market fix, I ordered a pre-built basket of groceries from Grow, Gather & Co. It was also this basket that introduced me to the wonders of Eby Manor’s 4% chocolate milk — truly a godsend on the gloomiest of days. While I was unpacking the box, to my horror, there lay a beet.

I had no idea how to prepare this beet. Results from a quick Google search suggested roasting, pickling, or shaving onto a salad. None of those options appealed to me: beets are too earthy for my taste (both raw and roasted), and I was not ambitious enough to try pickling that day. I also didn’t want to stain my fingers, cutting boards, and apron pink. My partner suggested we add it to burgers (patties also came in the box), but I’ve only ever had canned beets in an Aussie burger (along with canned pineapple and an egg).

In the end, I let the beet sit, forgotten, in a cupboard behind some onions. Three weeks later on a trip to my parents’ place, I brought my mother the shriveled beet that she roasted and promptly froze, forgetting about it for months.

Alexa Cheung Beets are great! They’re delicious raw in salads, marinaded, in stews, in soups, or even, if you’re feeling adventurous and extremely resourceful, as a natural dye.

Adrienne Ralph Beets taste like dirt. That’s it, that’s the take. For context: the first and only time I tried beets was on a first date — the other person ordered a beet salad, and offered me one to try. I cautiously accepted, wanting to make sure I came across as the fun, open-minded, and adventurous catch I am (someone please date me). Unfortunately, upon biting into the beet, I was met with the overwhelming taste of, well… dirt. Perhaps it was a bit of a sweet dirt, but definitely dirt.

And no, I have not ever eaten a handful of dirt, but it’s just one of those things, ya know? Earthy, bitter, clear dirt vibes. Needless to say, our first date was also our last, but I did come out of it with a new red flag: liking beets.

Alisha Li I second Adrienne’s dirt thing. In theory, beets are great — low in calories, high in fibre, versatile enough for salad or soup. But whenever I bite into one I can’t shake the feeling that I’m chomping on a clay pot.

BEETS, A VERY DIVISIVE ROOT VEGETABLE.

Angela Gu I’m an adventurous eater, but I tend towards worryfree safe options for first dates and have to say that beet salads are an ideal first date food. And I mean beet salads without any leafy greens at all: just straight-up beets with cheese and dressing. It’s the ultimate worry-free food: often already in bite-sized pieces, without anything that can get wedged between teeth, so you can focus all your attention on the conversation. Beet salads are pretty much a wintertime staple at most Toronto restaurants and bars, and I can say that they rarely disappoint.

Outside of first-date (and second-date) scenarios, I like beets in juice form (super yum with ginger) and borscht soup. My mom makes a great borscht soup with oxtail, and I trust her taste because my parents were making avocado toast a decade before it became cool. I won’t be surprised if beets get as trendy and as mainstream as kale in the near future.

Vivian Cheng Ew. I don’t like beets, won’t go near them.

DIVERSIONS

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February 28, 2020 | 27

The Most Spooktacular Zoom Backgrounds For All You Goblins and Ghouls Some truly terrifying Zoom backgrounds to bring that Halloween spirit to your next lecture HARRY MYLES (1L) Even though Halloween is going to look quite different this year, you can still get into that Halloween mood with these spooky Zoom backgrounds sure to terrify your professor and Zoommates (Zoom + classmates = Zoommates) alike. But how does one rate “spookiness”? Is it the most terrifying?

The most blood-chilling? As law students, we love a good legal test, and so for the sake of this list, “spooky” is understood to mean “sinister or ghostly in a way that causes fear and unease” (according to the Oxford dictionary) to the reasonable person.

from a scary movie as your background shows some creativity on your part. Sure, the terrifying twins from The Shining or a dancing Pennywise are pretty petrifying. But they’re also a tad cliché. Read on for the truly spooktacular Zoom backgrounds.

A Haunted House: Spooky Level 1

Someone Sneezing on a Library Book: Spooky Level 5

Okay, let’s start off easy. A haunted house, the classic Halloween setting and a generally considered “spooky” scene. But given what we’ve seen this year, a haunted house is a bit of a yawn.

A Spooky Movie Scene: Spooky Level 2 Marginally better than a haunted house, a scene

An Unmuted Zoom Mic: Spooky Level 3 We’ve all been there. That moment of sheer terror when you can’t remember if you’re on mute and whether your entire class just heard your phone call with your mom.

In this COVID world, is there anything scarier than an open sneeze? And on a library book no less?

Setting this scene as your background will surely cause some stomachs to turn as people reconsider touching that treatise they took out for the duration of the term.

Empty Toilet Paper Shelves: Spooky Level 6 This is a throwback to the early days of the pandemic, but perhaps we’ll soon be returning to these drastic times. We are in the midst of a second wave, but hopefully people do not feel the need to hoard toilet paper this time around (I’m still a tad confused as to why this happened in the first place).

A Constitutional Law Midterm: Spooky Level 6 Really want to terrify your Zoommates? Throw one of these bad boys up and watch the faces fall. As people read your background, you’ll witness them break into cold sweats as they are reminded of recent midterms and a cumulative final a month away.

A Vacant SCOTUS Seat: Spooky Level 7 This one hurts. With RBG’s passing, President Trump now has the chance to fill yet another SCOTUS seat. Which way will the Court swing? Is ttoast? The implications are truly terrifying and lands a solid spook-level of 7.

A Positive COVID Test: Spooky Level 8 Terrifying. Just terrifying. Nothing else to be said.

A Trump 2021 Inauguration: Spooky Level 20 This background breaks the Spooky Scale. At this rate, if Trump is re-elected on November 3, we might as well call it quits. For the sake of America and the world, this is surely the scariest prospect of them all.

Oh, the Places You’ll Zoom!

The Perils of Hosting Zoom Meetings VIVIAN CHENG (2L) GRAPHICS COURTESY OF JENNIFER SUN

I thought I’d get used to the idiosyncrasies of Zoom over time. Boy was I wrong. While we’re all commiserating over this ~unprecedented~ time, I still can’t help but get f lustered every time something emblematic of Zoom happens.

I’ll share some of the experiences I have found particularly unnerving.

Then, on unlucky days, there is the issue of internet connectivity. I feel as if I’m constantly interrupting the other person as we play the precarious game of deciding when to speak. A lso, hearing your voice echo from someone else’s computer is possibly the most dreadful and humbling experience of all time. I can feel shivers down my spine as I recount these experiences.

First, there are the sound issues. You know that initial moment of contact, when you’ve admitted people to your meeting and you can’t hear anyone? My heart races everytime as I f igure out whether they’re on mute, I’m on mute, my volume is on mute, or my sound just doesn’t work. Terrifying.

Next, talking into the void. As someone who gets nervous talking into a room full of people, you’d think talking to a black screen would be better. It’s worse. I can no longer gauge people’s reactions in real-time and have to withstand the dead silence after making important points.

You also have technical things, such as transferring cohost abilities and sharing screens which disrupt the f low of speaking. Perhaps this is me just admitting that I’m not technically prof icient at Zoom.

Finally, you have the awkward sign-off. In the best possible circumstances, there are clear indicators that the meeting has ended. Even when this is the case, you still make uneasy eye contact in the last three seconds between “goodbye” and “end meeting.” In other circumstances, there are no clear indicators that the meeting has ended, and it becomes a back and forth of “thank you,” “good luck,” “take care,” and “enjoy your weekend,” and at some point, someone just needs to take the plunge and press “end meeting.”

But let’s look at the silver lining. While Zoom isn’t ideal, it gave me a springboard to write this Diversions piece. And f inally, it makes me appreciate the hard work our professors do every day to ensure we get a phenomenal legal education.

28 | February 28, 2020

DIVERSIONS

A recap of the final Presidential Debate

ultravires.ca

A Totally Real Day in the Life of UV's Social Media Manager xoxo, Influencer Girl ADRIENNE RALPH (2L) 6 a.m.: Wake up. Haha just kidding! #Influencers need their beauty sleep. There’s a reason we chose the #influencer life instead of, like… law school.

10 a.m.: Like, actually wake up. Read through the hundreds of emails begging for brand deals with UV. Respond to whichever ones offer the editorial team free food. We just hit 100 followers on Instagram, we’re a big deal now.

10:30 a.m.: Skincare time! As an #influencer for such a famous newspaper, glowing skin is a must. No St. Ives Apricot scrub here! I use some of the dozens of free promo products sent to UV each month #notspon #gifted.

11 a.m.: Read through our thousands of Instagram and Twitter DMs over brunch. Nothing better than piping hot tea with an eggsbenny! Sometimes, I even respond when our adoring followers send messages. We luv our fans <3 #goodvibes.

12 p.m.: #MeetingTime! Gotta stay up to date with all of the celebrity sightings, events, and scandals around the Faculty of Law. Vehemently Google any and all legal lingo that comes up. How is an #influencer supposed to know what things like “judicial interference” and “cognomos” mean?

2 p.m.: Scroll through TikTok. Gotta get our social media #inspo! Maybe post a tweet or two promo-ing new articles to our fans as a quick break from the #fyp.

3 p.m.: Scroll through TikTok. Definitely still need more #inspo! Plot to make UV as much of a TikTok #icon as Paper Magazine.

4 p.m.: Scroll through TikTok. The line of aesthetically pleasing bread-baking videos never ends. Contemplate shifting UV to a #cottagecore gossip magazine.

5 p.m.: After a quick email about a potential #collab, it’s time for a well-deserved nap. The constant adoring messages can get tiring, ya know?

6 p.m.: Dinner! I like to make any of the recipes written by UV’s #notspon lovely writers, or get delivery from any of our #notspon favourite spots, like the ones listed in this issue.

7 p.m.: Spend two hours attempting to take aesthetically pleasing photos of socially-distanced law school chairs. Anything for the #gram!

8 p.m.: Scroll through TikTok… or maybe YouTube? Might even scroll through TikTok while I have a YouTube video playing!

12 a.m.: Bedtime! Thanks for reading, and don’t forget to smash that #follow button on Instagram @ultravires.ca and Twitter @ultravires, xoxo <3.

IMAGE COURTESY OF U OF T LAW AND POLITICS CLUB

DIVERSIONS

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February 28, 2020 | 29

Mask Etiquette 101

The don’ts of wearing a mask JENNIFER SUN (1L) Regardless of your choice of mask, there is a proper mask-wearing etiquette. If I may be so bold, I say we have already perfected the art of maskwearing and we all deserve an HH. However, the term is not over and COVID-19 is still very much here to stay. Exclusive remote learning is not an excuse for forgetting our mastery of mask etiquette. I want to take this opportunity to remind you of some bad mask-wearing etiquette that will land you an LP. Nose out: You can breathe through the mask and you are not Pinocchio. So you better not have that nose exposed.

Mouth out: Covering your nose doesn’t mean you can expose your mouth instead. Honestly, I am not sure if this even helps with breathing. If anything, it just adds more discomfort.

Chin rest: Okay, maybe the softness of the cloth mask makes the perfect pillow for your chin. I get it. I mean, I also invested in the best masks out there. If you really want to, use a second mask for your chin and leave that first mask over your mouth and nose.

Side hanging: Maybe you forgot after eating or drinking, but please remember to put your mask back on. If this is your attempt at a new fashion statement, let me tell you that a black mask perfectly covering your nose and mouth is way cooler.

No mask: Out of the question.

See, it’s not so hard! Just cover your nose and mouth for that HH mask-wearing etiquette.

Eye mask: Sorry, can you even see me? I hate to break it to you, but if you persist, you are going to injure yourself, and COVID-19 or law school will be the least of your problems.

IMAGE COURTESY OF JENNIFER SUN

Halloween Costumes for 2020, the Spookiest Year of Them All A traditional Halloween may be a tad tricky in the midst of a pandemic, but you can still dress up and capture that Spooky Spirit!

HARRY MYLES (1L) It’s that time of year again. The leaves have turned. The sweaters have come out. Midterms have reared their ugly heads. It’s Spooky Season.

Spooktober. It’s the first time Halloween has landed on a Saturday in five years and we just happen to be in the midst of a global pandemic. Oh 2020, you just won’t give us a break, will you? Even though we can’t attend any wild Halloween parties this year, we can still dress up! Here are some of the hottest Halloween costumes of 2020: A Loaf of Sourdough About mid-pandemic, it seemed like every day a new person was posting their “first loaf!” pic on Instagram. Stores were sold out of yeast across the country and the nation truly had sourdough fever.

What’s better than a wholesome sourdough costume to remind you of your quarantine hobby and a time when it was “fun” to not have anywhere to go?

RBG The late Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away just before the American election but her memory will live on in countless costumes for generations to come.

A Zoom Call A cardboard cutout of a Zoom window around

your head is the perfect costume to capture this “unique” moment in education.

Carole Baskin (or anyone from Tiger King, there are too many iconic looks) “Hey, you cool cats and kittens!” This is another throwback to early pandemic days when quarantine was in full effect and Tiger King was the hottest show around. Carole Baskin, one of the many colourful characters on the docu-series, has quite the sense of fashion. A flower crown with a flowing tiger-print shirt and maybe a tiger stuffed animal will complete the picture.

The McGill Guide This is not 2020-specific, but still a classic costume for any year. Just remember to cite your sources!

A Highlighter The trusty tool of any law student, you simply need to dye your hair a neon colour (yellow is preferred) and wear matching clothes and you are all set to annotate any Supreme Court judgement.

SNAILS This outfit is quite low effort. All that is required is a non-law piece of academic apparel (an engi-

neering or dentistry sweatshirt will do just fine). If you really want to get a reaction, wear a Med sweater in Bora Laskin and feel the angry looks.

A Giant Mask I know, I know. This one is pretty obvious. Still, though, it had to be said and besides, a person dressed as a giant mask would be a good reminder to follow all of those public health guidelines.

A COVID-19 Swab People who haven’t been tested may think you are just a glorified Q-Tip, but for those in the know, those swabs are a truly terrifying sight (at least it was for me, but I’ve been told I can be melodramatic at times).

Baby Yoda This cute little goblin was arguably the best part of The Mandalorian and given how Season Two is due out October 30 (coincidence? I think not), I’m sure many Baby Yoda costumes will be popping up again October 31.

A TikTok Trend Full disclosure: I do not have TikTok. However, I have heard rumblings on social media of many TikTok trends that have come and gone over the

past year. Perhaps you should dress up as the guy that drank cranberry juice on a skateboard while listening to Fleetwood Mac? The world is your oyster.

Folklore/Cottagecore Earlier this year, Taylor Swift unleashed Folklore upon the world and it seemed like the perfect remedy for these painful times. Luckily, Taylor’s wholesome hits also captured another trend of 2020, cottagecore. To complete this outfit, throw together an off-white knit cardigan, a flannel, some ripped acidwashed jeans, and a cup of tea. For the truly committed, rent a tiny house in the middle of the woods and Zoom all of your classes from there.

Any Character from Schitt’s Creek The world finally woke up and realized that Canadians are actually funny! The sleeper hit Schitt’s Creek gained popularity south of the border when it was added to Netflix and more recently, the CBC production swept the comedy Emmys with seven wins. From Catherine O’Hara’s Moira in her many wigs to the iconic style of Dan Levy’s David Rose, you have many costumes to choose from.

A Dumpster Fire Pretty much sums up 2020.