Wednesday, September 9, 2020 - FROSH

SINCE 1906

Western University’s Student Newspaper

FROSH ISSUE 2020

ANASTASIIA FEDOROVA GAZETTE

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 9, 2020 VOLUME 114 ISSUE 2

frosh issue

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We’re all frosh this year A letter from the Gazette’s editor, Emily Tayler EMILY TAYLER, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Volume 114, Issue 2 WWW.WESTERNGAZETTE.CA University Community Centre Rm. 263 Western University London, ON, CANADA N6A 3K7 Editorial 519.661.3580 Advertising 519.661.3579

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: EMILY TAYLER MANAGING EDITOR: RANIA OSMAN CREATIVE DIRECTOR:

SPORTS:

LIAM AFONSO

ALEX MCCOMB

COORDINATING EDITORS:

JORDAN BLOOM

HOPE MAHOOD

OPINIONS:

TANIYA SPOLIA

HOPE MAHOOD

NEWS:

COPY: GABBY GLASIER

ASHLEY GOVEAS

BELLA PICK

KIRAT WALIA ELAN PEDERSEN

GRAPHICS:

REBEKAH RODRIGUES

ANASTASIIA FEDOROVA KAUSTAV SHARMA

CULTURE: TANIYA SPOLIA

PHOTO:

SARAH WALLACE

YIFEI ZHANG

KENDRA CAREY

VIDEO:

MUDIA IYAYI

LIAM AFONSO

SAMANTHA BLOOM

NYREN MO

GAZETTE ADVERTISING & COMPOSING MANAGER IAN GREAVES

COMPOSING MAJA ANJOLI-BILIĆ

VOLUNTEER IN THIS ISSUE: CATHERINE DANKO

Things are a bit different this year.

Western University is facing its greatest challenge in recent memory, and every decision the school make directly affects you.

As a student, you likely paid thousands of dollars to attend university online this year — and an additional several thousand more if you’re an international student. You’re facing invasive proctoring software every time you take a midterm and risking exposure every time you step in a grocery store.

Whether you’re on campus, in your student rental or your childhood bedroom, your productivity and safety now rely on how cautious your roommates are.

You’re facing a lot of choices as you embark on this new path, and a lot of difficult decisions.

To match the strangeness of the past six months, we’ve made our annual frosh issue a little different too. This year, it’s like everyone is frosh: not sure how to get around campus, confused about how to access school services and figuring out a new study system with a brand new type of course delivery.

The Gazette is working (remotely) around the clock to publish stories students care about — because we are students.

We’re facing the same questions as you are — is it a good idea to bring that friend into your social bubble? How vigilant you should be about wearing a mask outdoors? And will ever you be able to stay sane after staring at the same wall above your home desk for eight months straight?

We’re tracking London’s daily case count and providing student-specific news and updates. We’re concerned about your quality of education, especially given the hefty ticket price, and if the school is maintaining your privacy in the process. We’re questioning housing policies and emergency planning, because everything is up in the air right now — it’s like we’re all first-years trying to figure out where the Health Sciences Building is if it isn’t next to the Natural Science Centre.

While we may not have all the answers right now, we’re figuring this one out together.

And the Gazette will be there to provide all the updates along the way.

Stay safe Western.

MARTIN ALLEN GAZETTE

HOPE MAHOOD GAZETTE A cart left alone on move-in day at Ontario Hall.

VOLUNTEER@WESTERNGAZETTE.CA

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All articles, letters, photographs, graphics, illustrations and cartoons published in The Gazette, both in the newspaper and online versions, are the property of The Gazette. By submitting any such material to The Gazette for publication, you grant to The Gazette a non-exclusive, world-wide, royalty-free, irrevocable license to publish such material in perpetuity in any media, including but not limited to, The Gazette‘s hard copy and online archives.

The Gazette is owned and published by the University Students’ Council.

KAM RAPERSIN GAZETTE The empty Gazette office. It’ll look something like this all semester.

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Students speak out against skyrocketing international tuition

Students are putting their families' finances on the line to afford up to $5,000 more in tuition this year.

ANASTASIIA FEDOROVA GAZETTE

ASHLEY GOVEAS, NEWS EDITOR Western students are petitioning against hikes to international students’ tuition amid the coronavirus pandemic — an event that has burdened students with economic uncertainty and caused concern over the quality of education as universities shift to online learning.

International students can expect their tuition to rise between $2,000 and $5,000 this year, depending on their program and year of study. Students began to vocally oppose the increase after Western University announced its decision to move most classes online for the 2020-21 academic year, leaving international students with dramatically increased tuition fees despite global economic uncertainty.

Sophie Wu, a domestic second-year math and school for advanced studies in the arts and humanities student, along with Wendi Huang, a third-year domestic student at Ivey Business School, began UWO receipts, an Instagram account and website aimed at educating the Western community about rising international student tuition, highlighting students’ experiences, petitioning the school’s decision and seeking better financial transparency.

Domestic students’ tuition has

remained unchanged as the Ford government instituted a 10 per cent tuition cut for Ontario universities in 2019 along with a tuition freeze for the 2020-21 school year.

Wu and Huang would like to see Western provide an unconditional bursary to subsidize international students’ expenses.

“At first I thought ‘this doesn’t really affect me,’ especially because many domestic students like myself [assume] that international students can afford a high tuition in the first place,” Wu said. “But after talking to friends who are international students, many of them are putting their families' finances on the line.”

Peer research universities charging higher average international tuition rates is cited as the primary reason for the tuition increase in Western’s 2020-21 capital budget.

According to a CBC report, fewer international students accepted offers of admission to Western this year, despite an increase in the overall number of offers sent out.

The university sent 7,054 offers of admission to international applicants, compared to 5,308 offers made last year.

Despite this increase, only 12 per cent of applicants who were offered admission this year accepted, which is a decrease

from last year’s 18 per cent.

This spring, 861 international applicants accepted offers of admission for the 2020-21 year, but Western expects to see only 630 new international students attend.

Wu and Huang created a public email template addressed to Lynn Logan, Western’s vice-president of operations and finance, which encourages increased financial transparency from the university.

The team received an email response from president Alan Shepard on Aug. 19, which outlined that the increase was part of the “necessary changes to … academic programming and preparations for a safe return to campus.”

In the email, Shepard cited hiring support staff for online course development; investing in personal protective equipment for all students, faculty and staff; developing safety plans to manage building capacities and pedestrian traffic flow and increasing student financial aid as some of the “substantive incremental expenses” Western is faced with this year.

Shepard added that Western is reducing ancillary fees and increasing financial aid in order to offset tuition costs.

Nistha Chakraborty, a fourth-year

psychology major and international student at King’s University College, began a petition with Kanvi Gupta, also an international student at King’s, to fight the increased tuition after seeing the outrage circulating on social media.

The pair received nearly 3,000 signatures after posting their petition in the Facebook group “‘Must Knows’ for courses at UWO.” “It was so exhilarating to see [that] much support, not just from international students but also from domestic students,” Chakraborty said.

“I think that really says a lot about the situation and how it’s just not fair.”

But despite their outreach, the pair are yet to receive a response from Western after writing an email to Shepard and the administrations at both Western and King’s.

Wu said she felt disappointed at Western’s “dismissal” of the work that she and others have put into investigating the school’s finances.

“I think [because of the pandemic] we’ll never reach a state where the school is operating [ideally],” she said. “But the school … is forcing international students to pay without actually increasing the quality of the service that they’re providing.”

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GRAPHIC BY ANASTASIIA FEDOROVA

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2020 •

TEXT BY HOPE MAHOOD

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How does Western stack up against Ontario universities?

REBEKAH RODRIGUES, NEWS EDITOR The past months have been a whirlwind for university faculty, administrators and students, as schools scramble to develop new structures to operate through a pandemic.

With limited guidance from the federal and provincial governments, universities have been left to rely on their local public health authorities’ recommendations and provincial social distancing guidelines to develop their fall plans. This results in schools across the province taking drastically different approaches to course delivery, residence and more, meaning, now more than ever, the university you choose will to shape your student experience.

COURSES ON CAMPUS Around a quarter of Western University’s courses will have in-person components this semester, which while low, is significantly more than many other Ontario universities.

McMaster University is going almost fully online and its facilities on campus are reserved mainly for research.

Ryerson University has taken this a step further and barred students from using campus buildings unless they have received special permission from the school, with almost all their programs going online.

On the other side of the spectrum, the University of Toronto — despite its location in the heart of the country’s largest metropolis — is matching Western’s delivery rates, with over a third of its courses containing in-person components.

Some Ontario universities are also limiting the amount of in-person opportunities available to first-year students, reserving most in-person learning for upper-year courses.

Though Western is offering in-person components for students in all years of study, first-year students at Queen’s University will have fully-online course loads, with the exception of nursing students. The University of

Waterloo will also hold all first-year lectures, tutorials and labs online, but upper-years will have some in-person course offerings.

Schools have also taken varied approaches to enforcing mandatory in-person components. Western said that nursing and dentistry students will have mandatory in-person components, whereas students in other faculties can be accommodated if they can’t go on campus. Similarly, Waterloo will make some of its science and math in-person components mandatory. No other school has said there will be mandatory in-person components.

RESIDENCE At Western, suite-style rooms can contain two students if they both choose to have a roommate, while traditional style residences will be all single rooms. Waterloo is taking a similar approach, opening all residences to students regardless of whether they have in-person classes. Rooms will be single occupancy.

Western is also keeping its guarantee that each first-year student is given spot in residence, even with a 26 per cent increase in domestic students.

Wilfred Laurier University and the U of T St. George Campus have also made this commitment to incoming first-years, although Laurier has not specified whether double rooms will be turned into single rooms to accommodate social distancing measures.

Toronto schools Ryerson and the U of T St. George Campus are both currently accepting residence applications. Ryerson, as per usual, is allowing students to live on campus only if they have in-person classes and are unable to commute.

McMaster and Queen’s are taking a cautionary approach to residence, with McMaster’s residences restricted to students with mandatory in-person courses. Queen’s will be admitting 2,300 students to residence — half of their normal capacity — and rooms

KAUSTAV SHARMA GAZETTE

We took a look at universities' COVID-19 plans to see which schools are doing the best — and which ones are falling behind.

will be single occupancy based on priority. This is in stark contrast to Western’s residences this fall which will be filled to about 70 per cent capacity, with 3,800 students expected to live on campus.

SANITARY MEASURES Currently, most schools are enforcing social distancing measures and face masks in communal spaces, however some are taking additional measures to ensure safety on campus. Waterloo recommends students conduct coronavirus self-assessments before coming to campus, similar to the questionnaires Western asks staff to complete before returning to campus each day. U of T Mississauga Campus plans to shrink-wrap desks in lecture halls to help students identify which spaces are safe to sit.

While the evolving pandemic means none of these plans are guaranteed to last through the year — or even the term — all of Ontario’s universities said they are aiming to maintain these structures until at least January 2021.

LIAM AFONSO GAZETTE Socially distanced parents wait at their cars while dropping their kids off at Saugeen-Maitland Hall for the first time.

Western battens down the hatches in prep for a ‘second wave’ KIRAT WALIA, NEWS EDITOR As students flood back to London this fall, ready to bask in the student lifestyle after six months of quarantine, Western is already making plans in case they have to shut campus down again.

The “second wave” is what medical professionals are calling a potential second peak of coronavirus cases, which many project will come handin-hand with this year’s flu season. To prepare for this possibility, Western University’s top brass are planning for a phased shut down of campus, which includes suspending in-person classes and closing campus buildings within the first four hours of declaring an outbreak.

A directive must be given by either the province, local public health authorities or Western’s president Alan Shepard in order to declare a coronavirus outbreak and begin the phased shutdown, according to a report presented to Western’s Board of Governors. The report does not clarify how many cases would constitute a community outbreak.

The university’s Emergency Response Team — led by vice-president operations and finance Lynn Logan — would notify students of closures. Emergency notices have previously been communicated through mass-alert emails sent out to the community.

“We can’t speak about specifics or hypothesize about what might happen,” said Logan. “What is important to know is that Western has a very robust emergency management response program that is already in place.”

In addition to cancelling in-person courses and shutting down campus buildings, the report states that all students living in residence must report to their dorms within the first four hours of an outbreak

and await further instruction, though Housing and Residence Services will continue operating through all phases of a shut-down.

Western projects 70 per cent of residence will be occupied this fall, with 3,800 students expected to live on-campus according to Chris Alleyne, vice-president of Housing and Ancillary services. But, even with 30 per cent fewer students, the university is making plans to respond to an outbreak in its dorms.

According to the board’s report, any student living in residence who tests positive for COVID-19 will be provided “a single room space with a private bathroom and meal delivery service,” where they must stay until they have completed a 14 day quarantine and gone 24 to 48 hours without showing symptoms.

Students in residence who have been exposed to the virus will be tested and similarly quarantined until their results are returned.

“We planned as best as possible at this point,” said Alleyne. “We have … a very robust emergency operations group that will be monitoring and managing the situations with the experts from the medical profession.”

Students living off-campus who are exposed are also required to quarantine for 14 days before returning to the community.

After the first few hours, a campus shut down would slow dramatically — as researchers would take the next five to seven days to safely shut down non-essential labs and projects. A week after an outbreak is confirmed, campus is set to return to running only its essential services.

“We’re still going to take care of our students,” said Logan. “And we’re going to do that in a way that is the Western way, which is caring, first and foremost, for the health of our students.”

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2020 •

Feeling burnt out?

You may have ‘caution fatigue’

Caution fatigue occurs when people have little motivation or energy to comply with safety guidelines.

ANASTASIIA FEDOROVA GAZETTE

SARAH WALLACE, CULTURE EDITOR What was only supposed to be six weeks in isolation has turned into six months, and after almost half a year of tracing contacts and social distancing, many mental health professionals believe Canadians are experiencing a variation of burnout called “caution fatigue.”

Caution fatigue occurs when people have little motivation or energy to continuously comply with safety guidelines, like coronavirus social distancing. According to healthcare professionals, this mental state is defined by chronic stress, the inability to process new information and a desensitization to warnings.

“At the beginning of the pandemic, we were all hypervigilant to the virus and taking important precautions to ensure that we were social distancing, wearing masks and engaging in good hand hygiene, all in the name of flattening the curve,” says David Dozois, a Western University psychology professor. “However, the longer the pandemic has lasted, the more people start to let down their guard.”

A survey conducted by Mental Health Research Canada found that, since the pandemic began, 20 per cent of Canadians have felt high to extreme levels of anxiety, compared to five per cent before the pandemic.

Self-reported cases of depression have also risen, from four per cent to 10 per cent in the same time frame.

Young people ages 15 to 24 are the hardest hit group, with 64 per cent of those surveyed reporting their mental health has worsened during the pandemic, according to Statistics Canada.

“Amidst the current outbreak of COVID-19, you may be experiencing feelings of fear, stress or worry — these feelings are natural when facing circumstances that are beyond our control,” says Kerri Arthurs, Western’s manager of wellness and well-being.

“This situation is both uncertain and temporary. It’s okay to not feel okay, and it’s also okay — and encouraged — to seek help and support.”

The pandemic can feel unpredictable and disheartening at times. But, there are things students can do to fight burnout.

Arthurs and Dozois suggest limiting the intake of COVID-19-related news to 30 minutes or less a day from credible sources — such as the Middlesex-London Health Unit or the Government of Canada — to avoid overstimulation.

Dozois also says you have to acknowledge the situation and validate your feelings, but adds it’s important to distinguish between probability and possibility.

“An extreme example of a possibility is thinking you might die from COVID-19,” he says. “It’s a possibility, but you can’t live your life focused on all the possibilities; you make choices based on probability.”

While it’s important to consider possibility versus probability, Dozois stresses finding a proper balance between following health guidelines and reducing how often you worry.

“Don’t be overly positive or foolish and disregard the prudent guidelines,” says Dozois. “Think beyond yourself and recognize that your actions can significantly affect those who are elderly or vulnerable.”

To help students stay engaged in a primarily online environment, Arthurs and Dozois both agree that students should structure their day.

“You will be more productive if you set aside designated periods throughout the week to view lectures, do your readings and complete classwork,” says Arthurs.

Arthurs also suggests setting aside time to be self-compassionate and take care of yourself.

“Make sure to schedule time for your physical and emotional health, fun, creativity, social connection and stress relief,” she adds.

Dozois understands that connecting with others may be difficult during the outbreak, but suggests using tools like Zoom and FaceTime to communicate in a more personal way.

“Have meaningful conversations that don’t focus exclusively on the pandemic,” he says. “Try to do things that will give back to the community — we are happier when we are invested in others.”

While making adjustments and refocusing concerns amid the pandemic, don’t forget this period of adjustment will be different for everyone.

“This process is not linear or well-defined,” Arthurs said. “Patience and flexibility are really important.”

For students needing support, crisis counsellors from the Canadian Mental Health Asociation will be available to students through a walk-in clinic in the University Community Centre from Sept. 8 to 10 and 14 to 17. Video and telephone counselling will also be available through Student Health Services.

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GRAPHIC BY ANASTASIIA FEDOROVA

TEXT BY HOPE MAHOOD

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Clubbing, casual drinks and the coronavirus: what to expect this fall With new fines for house parties and restrictions on bar-goers, Richmond Row will likely look a little different this year.

TANIYA SPOLIA, COORDINATING EDITOR While London is once again bustling with students who are infamous for “knowing how to party,” the city is making sure Richmond Row does its part in maintaining health and safety regulations.

Outdoor patios in London have been open since June 12, which brought an influx of young people out of isolation and back to their favourite restaurants downtown. Provincial law mandates that patrons stay seated at the venue with tables set two meters apart and capped at six people.

As per stage three regulations, restaurants and bars are now permitted to have guests indoors; serving food, drinks and hosting live entertainment.

However, earlier regulations still stand and dancing is strictly prohibited — leaving clubs without their main attraction. Additionally, face coverings are required by law when entering any enclosed location.

Bars and restaurants are also required to maintain customer logs for 30 days to support contact tracing.

While London businesses are maintaining efforts to keep people distanced amid the pandemic, not all students are confident returning to London’s night scene.

“Clubs are a [coronavirus] petridish,” said Jing Yan Li, a student in her second year at Ivey Business School.

Although restaurants are attempting to standardize distancing, Li doesn’t believe students will follow suit.

“I think that, especially after not really being able to go out for a lot of the summer and not seeing friends and stuff, a lot of people are probably going to be looking for social interaction,” she explained. “If you’re sitting at a table and you see someone you know at another table, I don’t doubt that people would just get up and go say ‘hi,’ chat, mingle and things like that.”

Even if distancing measures are upheld indoors and on patios, fourthyear kinesiology student Lauren Giuffre has her doubts about visiting Richmond Row hot-spots after wandering London streets this summer.

“There definitely are [social distancing] regulations in place on the patios but the line-ups are packed around the corner. What’s the point?” asked Giuffre.

Currently Barney’s, the El Furniture Warehouse, The Barking Frog and Cowboys Ranch have opened outdoor patios. Indoor seating is also now available at The Ceeps and the El Furniture Warehouse.

As fall approaches, Lost Love Social House has teased a rooftop patio on their Instagram, set to open as the school year begins.

Despite the effort to attract students back to Richmond Row, the

LIAM AFONSO GAZETTE

idea of standing six feet apart from friends has many Mustangs focused on alternative social gatherings. Though large gatherings at home also come with their own set of risks.

“I’d definitely spend more time in house gatherings just because there’s less regulations about it,” said Giuffre.

“You can have people over and do what you want versus going out and paying for drinks … it kind of restricts your night.”

Gone are the days of busy lineups and crowded booths: welcome reservations and seated dining. The 2020 party scene is being painted in

a different light than what returning Mustangs are accustomed to.

“It sucks … I always said that before I graduate, I’ll go [to clubs I haven’t yet visited], but I didn’t go in the past two years and now I can’t go because they won’t be open,” said Li. “It’s a missed opportunity.”

LIAM MCINNIS GAZETTE

You could be fined up to $750 for partying in quarantine KENDRA CAREY, CULTURE EDITOR Richmond Row’s usually-packed dance floors have now been vacant for months.

Bars and restaurants that used to be filled shoulder-to-shoulder with students every weekend, like The Ceeps, are open but with restrictions and limited capacity — and definitely no dancing in close quarters with someone outside your bubble.

For some, club culture is an essential part of making the best of their experience at Western University. But, as many are aware, a club that packs people like sardines is not the ideal

place to be during a global pandemic.

But, many students have historically chosen to brave the lines outside the Barking Frog rather than attend a house party, with police tightening restrictions on parties at Fake Homecoming, introducing new hefty fines under the nuisance bylaw and threatening students with anti-party charges on Facebook, leaving some students wondering if hosting a gathering is worth it.

Orest Katolyk, London’s chief municipal law enforcement officer, has been investigating emergency calls to house parties during the past few months of quarantine.

“We are aware of what has been happening in other countries when things reopen with large gatherings and then you get spikes, that is what we are trying to avoid with all the students coming back,” he says.

Katolyk confirms indoor parties can accommodate up to 50 people, while outdoor gatherings are more flexible with a capacity of 100 people in accordance with stage three of the provincial reopening plan. If the gathering is taking place both indoors and outdoors, the indoor limit applies.

“Individuals should still maintain physical distancing of at least two metres from people outside of their

social circle. The number of people permitted to be in a social circle remains at 10,” explains Katolyk.

As the majority of students can appreciate, student rentals are not built to accommodate 50 people remaining six feet apart at all times — it would be nearly impossible to pull off.

The party’s hosts are not the only ones risking repercussions. Everyone attending a party that exceeds the 50 or 100 person limit will receive a fine of $750 and “further charges could be laid by police or municipal law enforcement,” according to Katolyk.

The Middlesex-London Health Unit, the city’s local health authority,

has been trying a different approach — running a series of campaigns about the dangers of house parties. The most eye-catching being a stick-figure house party telling students “We know this is complicated, so we asked the summer intern to help us out ... parties = higher risk of COVID-19.”

Sophie Mera-Joyce, a fourth-year criminology student at Western, admits the potential fine makes her a bit anxious.

“Outdoors would be fine, but I don’t think indoors is okay. The fine scares me, that would suck,” she says.

She adds it’s a tough situation as you can never be certain where people have travelled recently.

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Conversations and Coronavirus How to navigate the ‘COVID-19 talk’ with your roommates ELAN PEDERSEN, NEWS EDITOR Everyone has heard the classic roommate horror stories.

The shower hog who spends virtually all their waking hours in the washroom. The rowdy roommate, whose unrelenting chatter into the wee hours of the morning makes you late for your 8 a.m. class.

Then, and quite possibly the worst, there’s the one with terrible hygiene, leaving your living space smelling just as funky as their unwashed socks.

But, those with roommates now have a new situation to ponder — coronavirus.

London and the rest of Ontario entered phase three of reopening earlier this summer, allowing indoor dining in restaurants, movie theatre showings and malls to open their doors. And no matter how opposed to the idea you may be, you might be stuck with a roommate who loves having people over or heading to Richmond Row on the weekend.

While it may be difficult to initiate formal discussions about boundaries, you have resources to navigate these tricky conversations.

So, here are the dos and don’ts on how to talk to your roommate about staying safe and healthy while in quarantine.

DO

SHAPE THE CONVERSATION AROUND YOUR COMFORT LEVEL. While some roommates may be inclined to debate the matter, the conversation must be shaped around your values and safety. Your roommates need to understand that you are compromising your well-being for their social habits.

Of course, listening to your roommate’s frustrations and reasoning is critical to a productive conversation, but ultimately, you can’t surrender your sense of safety and well-being. Recognize their position, but always refocus the conversation to your values and identify their specific actions that bother you.

ANASTASIIA FEDOROVA GAZETTE

DO

BE HONEST AND TAKE WESTERN’S EFFORTS SERIOUSLY. Western University’s Housing and Ancillary Services will provide strategies to help students initiate this turbulent discussion, from roommate agreements and conflict resolution plans in residence, to off-campus advisors and mediation services for students living outside the Western bubble.

It is critical that students are candid about their boundaries early on. It may be difficult — awkward even — but being up-front will help avoid potential disputes and uncomfortable situations down the road. And that’s a win!

DON’T

DON’T

IGNORE THE PROBLEM. Suppose your roommate agreed to your boundaries, but a couple weeks into the year their actions say otherwise. We all wish if we just close our eyes, the problem will dissapear — but it won’t.

Not only will ignoring the problem build unnecessary tension between you and your roommate, but it is also deeply unfair to you. If your roommate is doing something that bothers you, never suppress the urge to talk to them, especially if you are worried about it affecting your health.

DO

BE CONFRONTATIONAL.

TALK TO SOMEONE.

The last thing you want to do is delay the conversation until you can’t take it anymore, so all your suppressed frustration — which you’ve likely already indicated through passive-aggressive actions — erupts into a confrontation.

Starting your conversation by listing every way your roommate has wronged you and wielding your roommate agreement like a sword won’t create mutual grounds for understanding. Instead, your roommate will likely refuse to listen and emotionally withdraw, like a turtle hiding in its shell.

Speak in a calm but concerned manner when highlighting how their actions have effected you to foster a more productive conversation.

If you have exhausted your problem-solving strategies and the situation remains unchanged, you are not left hanging out to dry. Whether you’re living in residence or off-campus, Western can provide support. Don’t be afraid to reach out to your residence don or off-campus adviser.

After all, it is your home too, so it’s important to make it feel like one.

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Instagram accounts highlight discri

By Mudia Iyayi, Culture Editor

TANIYA SPOLIA GAZETTE

Content warning: this article includes quotes that use anti-Black racial slurs.

“I was a Black student at Western. In my first year I was excited to be in one of the ‘party’ residences. One Sunday morning, my friend walked into our floor study room and saw in angry capital letters, scrawled across the whiteboard: KILL ALL [N-words]” This was the first of many anonymous responses submitted to UWO Minority Story, an Instagram page which shares students’ stories of racism and discrimination, sparking a renewed awareness of racial injustice on campus.

The page has amassed nearly 4,000 followers since it was created over the summer and inspired a slew of similar pages, each seeking to discuss discrimination at Western University.

In a matter of days, pages such as Ivey at the Margins, Black at Western and Untold by Western Greeks emerged, providing more platforms for students looking to share their stories.

Even beyond Western, schools such as Queen’s University, McGill University and Dalhousie University have seen their own iterations of pages documenting discrimination.

Vanessa Patterson, a Western alumna, created UWO Minority Story after seeing the Black at Harvard Law account, which was created to call attention to anti-Black racism at Harvard Law School.

Patterson realized that racism in post-secondary institutions was not solely an American problem, acknowledging the role Canadian universities play as well.

Although these pages seemingly spawned overnight, they are a product of the advocacy by Black individuals in society and their calls to change the oppressive status quo.

News stories over the past few months have brought conversations about discrimination and racism to the public consciousness, specifically addressing antiBlack racism. These discussions made their way to Western through the work of campus cultural clubs and president Alan Shepard’s Anti-Racism Working Group, the latter of which provided documentation of racist incidents experienced by students and staff on campus.

These discussions created the perfect opportunity for the Instagram pages, as they now had the momentum and the wider public awareness to have these serious conversations.

Despite the page’s popularity and national media attention, Western has not addressed the allegations and did not provide comment when asked.

Since the first post on July 8, the page has published nearly one hundred submissions, ranging from inappropriate microaggressions to overt and blatant acts of racism. At the time of publ ication, the account has 89 posts.

And while Patterson reads the experiences of others, it was her own endurance of racism during her time at Western that inspired her endeavour.

She recalls the lack of accountability taken by her residence advisor when she and her friend found the words, “kill all [N-words]” in a study room at Saugeen-Maitland Hall.

“What ended up happening is [my resi have evidence,” explained Patterson. “I d heard about the incident, but I was never s floor, no one followed up with them and t A similar sentiment was felt by the creat asked to remain anonymous for fear of a inspiration for her page to personal exper business administration program at Ivey B “When you’re marginalized, you feel a you are feeling, because people don’t sp you or about the way you present yoursel “But when all these stories come out, you She explained the anonymity of the sub comfortable reporting incidents.

“It is much harder to speak up when socially ostracized. Ivey loves to stress that ers.’ You don’t want to gain the reputatio think that makes a lot of people less inclin platform would be a great way to get at th The account amassed over 4,000 follo page has received hundreds of submissio discrimination at the school.

So far, reactions to the pages have been and students alike praising the role it play Craig Dunbar, a professor of finance a discussions surrounding diversity and incl “Over the past several years, I’ve been classroom. I’ve also been more outspoken and the fact that everyone can learn finan enough. I need to do better. So I’d like to h

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imination and prejudice at Western

idence advisor] didn’t take any pictures to don’t know if the residence manager ever spoken to. The four Black students on the that was the end of it.” tor of the Ivey at the Margins account, who academic repercussions. She also credits eriences of discrimination in the honours Business School. as though this is an experience that only peak out. You think it is something about lf or some fault within yourself,” she said. u see it is a much larger systemic issue.” bmissions allows individuals to feel more

you see something for the fear of being ‘your classmates are your future co-workon of being difficult early on,” she said. “I ned to speak out. I thought an anonymous hat.” owers since its first post in early July, the ons documenting myriad experiences of

n overwhelmingly positive, with professors ys in holding the institution accountable. at Ivey, spoke of the importance of these lusion at the institution in a LinkedIn post. n more mindful of my own actions in the n about the need for diversity in our field, nce,” said Dunbar. “I don’t think it’s been hear from you.”

Despite gaining thousands of followers and national media attention, Western has yet to acknowledge students’ allegations.

Other faculty members such as Nicole Haggerty and Frank Li have taken a pledge to stand in solidarity with marginalized students and acknowledge the severity of the page’s accusations.

Ivey released a statement on July 10, acknowledging the nature of the submissions on Ivey at the Margins and addressing the importance of having these conversations about inclusion and diversity. The institution vowed to put forth an action plan to combat discrimination in the near future.

The Instagram page, Black at Western University, was created for Black students and alumni to share their experiences encountering anti-Black racism on campus. Some of the incidents documented occurred as far back as the 1980s, during the time Philippe Rushton was conducting racist research.

Untold by Western Greeks serves as a platform to share marginalized-student experiences in fraternities and sororities at Western. The page highlights discrimination, racial stereotyping and sexual assault allegations in the Greek scene.

But, not everyone took a liking to the online acknowledgement of discrimination and racism on campus. The Instagram account Ivey Appreciate was created in rebuttal to the seemingly negative portrayal of Ivey on other pages. The since-deactivated page sought to discuss only positive experiences of students at Ivey.

Critics of the page said it undermined the valid experiences of racism and discrimination experienced by other students. Some of the page’s comments even equated its emergence to saying “All Lives Matter.”

“We don’t need to talk about how great Western and Ivey are, they are already celebrated institutions. What we need to talk about is how we can prevent the incoming students of marginalized background from having to experience the stories that I shared on my Instagram page,” explained Patterson.

Both women are confident about the role their pages serve in documenting incidents of discrimination at Western.

“I’m optimistic about the future of change and how this account can help raise awareness, so there is more of an impetus to act,” said Ivey at the Margins’ creator.

“It gives quantitative data points and a better sense of what types of issues need to be tackled.”

Patterson stressed the importance of structural and systemic change at the university. She suggested more practical anti-racism and anti-discrimination training for all faculty, staff, sophs and student leaders at Western, saying it should not fall onto students and alumni to bring forth the change needed at the institution.

“I want Western to recognize that this type of racism, queerphobia, ableism et cetera is not just in the social circles,” said Patterson. “It’s in the classroom, it’s in residences, at the soph rallies — it is everywhere. It is up to Western to make sure this behaviour is not tolerated.”

These accounts are hoping Western will understand these incidents have always occurred, they are simply now being broadcasted.

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WHAT IS PROCTORTRACK DO

The robo-proctoring software collects biometrics

P

BY KIRAT WALIA

KAUSTAV SHARMA GAZETTE

roctortrack, an invasive robo-proctoring software commonly used in remote testing, has become the norm at Western and other universities as schools look for ways to maintain academic integrity with remote learning.

The software uses a computer webcam to monitor students during major assessments like tests and exams. It tracks keystrokes, monitors screens and scans students’ faces and knuckles — watching for hints of academic dishonesty.

Western University struck a deal with Proctortrack in anticipation of e-learning, giving professors the option to mandate the use of the software for class assesments in classes. Students in those courses must use the proctoring service to pass their exams.

Despite Western’s assurances of the program’s safety and security, critics have raised concerns about the software — especially regarding its potential to violate the privacy and compromise the personal information of students who are required to use the service for class.

Carac Allison, director of web and information technology for Western, explained the software reviews student webcam videos for indications of suspicious activity, like looking off-screen at notes or leaving the testing area.

“It’s as invasive as it needs to be and not any further,” said Allison, who clarified that all final decisions about the suspicious activity flagged by Proctortrack is made by instructors.

“If an instructor is concerned that a student might be violating academic integrity, or using it in a way that they’re not supposed to, that is always the instructor’s call.”

Western established a relationship with Proctortrack through eCampusOntario, a provincially funded non-profit organization dedicated to developing online learning at the post-secondary level. The organization encourages educators to use the software while teaching remotely.

But Allison recognizes the complaints students have levied against Proctortrack. Western Technology Services said they have worked to fix security issues students may have and Allison also highlighted Proctortrack’s dedication to protect privacy, citing their promise to periodically delete student’s information.

But, this isn’t enough for some critics. Many feel that, no matter their public commitments, this now-ubiquitous software ignores personal safety.

One of these critics is Samuel Trosow, a Western law professor who focuses on privacy. He said that while academic integrity is important, students’ privacy and personal information should always come first.

“I think it’s more invasive than it needs to be,” said Trosow. “I would like to better understand on what basis [Allison] makes

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OING WITH YOUR FACE SCAN?

s and identification every time you take an exam the claim that it’s no more invasive than it needs to be.”

In addition to common data, like students’ names and identification, the software may also collect addresses, zip codes, photos, phone numbers, email addresses, screen-captures, video recordings, biometric data and even employment history.

In their privacy policy, Proctortrack states this information can be held up to six months after a proctored test. But, the identity, profile and data collected in the identification verification process can be held for up to two years.

This kind of extended data retention can be even more dangerous when the company allows third parties to use the data, according to Trosow.

Proctortrack’s privacy policy also states their services may contain links to third parties, and these companies do not need to adhere to the same privacy rules.

“Every time you share a data set with another third party, you’re increasing the potential for data breach,” Trosow explained.

While Trosow understands the need to retain information in academic settings he said, this excessive and prolonged storage of data seems to indicate that the company may be using the information to create data banks of personal information that could be passed to third parties.

Trosow also understands certain information may be needed for exams, but asserted that a lot of the data accessed by Proctortrack is personal and unnecessary to prevent cheating.

“They’ve got all this stuff, how long are they going to keep it? And what can they do with it?” Trosow asked. “And what happens if there’s a data breach?”

The professor said eCampusOntario and Western should not promote the software, as the company’s terms of service and privacy policy raised major red flags, especially due to the amount of information the software collects.

As a member of the Board of Governors and a former member of the senate, Trosow said he never heard about the software and that it was installed without discussion by the school’s decision-making bodies.

In order to make the program work for Western, Trosow said the data collected should remain with the universities, and that all data should be deleted as soon as the assessment is verified and this type of software is equitable to all students.

“Perhaps, instead of insisting on the same traditional closed-book exam that we would use under normal circumstances, maybe we can make the exam open-book,” said Trosow. “Which really takes away a lot of this pressure.”

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Zoom through video calls with these seven hacks CATHERINE DANKO, CONTRIBUTOR

TANIYA SPOLIA GAZETTE

No one could have predicted that wearing dress shirts with slippers to work would become the new norm in 2020.

Whether you’ve been at summer school or conducting business out of your kitchen for the last three months, you’re likely familiar with Zoom.

The tech company’s revenues increased by 250 per cent in 2020, making it one of the most profitable businesses during the coronavirus pandemic — it’s now worth even more than Uber. Zoom is the go-to platform for virtual classrooms, offices and other social events with an estimated 300-million meeting participants per day.

With a mixed model of online and in-person courses on the horizon for the fall semester, learning how to make the most out of Zoom isn’t such a bad idea. Whether you consider yourself a Zoom aficionado or novice, these seven tips and tricks will come in handy in future meetings.

IMPRESS YOUR CLASS CRUSH The “touch up my appearance” feature softens complexion and smooths under eye bags, giving a mattified look while you’re on camera. This might come in handy after a late night of caffeine-fueled essay writing — or falling into a YouTube rabbit hole. To access this feature, go to settings, click the video tab, and under “my video” check “touch up my appearance.”

MAKE ZOOM YOUR PERSONAL SECRETARY The “audio transcription” feature transcribes lectures during recorded calls and allows the host to edit the transcript. When the host shares the recording, guests can search for keywords, skip to when specific words were said in the video, or download the transcript. This feature is perfect for faculty committees, meeting minutes and town halls.

NEVER MISS A DUE DATE If your mental checklist is starting to get messy, organize your work week by integrating Zoom meetings into your calendar. Compatible with Office 365, Google Calendar and Exchange, meeting links and host information will sync directly to your virtual calendar. This feature also lets you integrate and sync contacts. With your Western University Zoom License, you can also call your contacts through the app.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS — AND DOODLES Whiteboards come in handy in the physical classroom, and now they can be incorporated into e-learning as well. The “whiteboard” feature allows users to add text, stamps or draw and erase during virtual meetings and webinars. This feature is your new go-to if you’re looking to boost participation marks and aren’t much of a talker, but only hosts can choose which guests can annotate. Talk to your professors to see if this is possible before classes start.

CREATE A NEW IDENTITY If you’re choosing to complete your studies outside of London for the upcoming term, you can edit your location on Zoom to display your current city or location to other guests. You can also edit your job title, department, phone number and email address for others to see in “profile settings.”

PRETEND YOU’RE SOMEWHERE INTERESTING If your plans to backpack Europe this year backfired, the next best thing is to pretend you’re there instead.

Virtual backgrounds are an easy way to spice things up over video chat — whether you’re doing a virtual happy hour with friends or juggling work meetings, they’re fun and entertaining for everyone on the call. To add a virtual background, click settings, go to “virtual background,” and choose an image or upload your own.

EMOJIS IN REAL TIME Muting your microphone when you’re not speaking has become proper Zoom etiquette. If you want to send a message but don’t want to disrupt the presenter, you can send a virtual clap, thumbs up or raise your hand by clicking the “reactions” tab on the bottom right sidebar. To change reaction skin tone, go to settings, and under general, select your emoji.

Western University provides all staff, faculty and students with free access to Zoom, including unlimited meetings for up to 24 hours that would otherwise be paid for by the account holder. So now when you’re sitting through your fifth Zoom call of the day, in pyjamas and a button-down, you’ll know how to make the most of your meetings.

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• WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2020

KAUSTAV SHARMA GAZETTE

It’s okay to grieve your pre-pandemic life.

According to experts, it’s normal SAMANTHA BLOOM, STAFF WRITER Coming to Western each fall, whether for your first or fifth year, brings a period of transition. Many students move away from home after the summer, pull the sweaters from the back of their closets and dust off their stationary.

But this year, students face a more daunting transition than the usual back-to-school blues: school in the era of coronavirus.

This time around, the usual pressures of midterms are there, but are joined by the economic hardships and health risks of COVID-19.

This recipe of stressors could prove to be difficult on students’ mental health, which is a normal reaction to an extraordinary situation according to healthcare professionals.

“If people are not experiencing some kind of fear or some kind of despair, then I would find that to be a little bit unusual. I would find this to be more usual that people would be quite frightened and quite sad about what’s going on in their own lives and in the world at large,” says Marnie Wedlake, assistant health studies professor at Western University and registered psychotherapist.

Mental health is something that many struggle with at some point in their lives, and tools used to improve well-being may be slightly harder to come by, like socializing. Alex Benson, assistant professor of psychology at Western, discusses the importance of not underestimating the value of social relationships.

“We’re social creatures, everything we do is part of some sort of group. And we don’t do very well when we’re isolated from others,” he says.

Benson further explains that “[socializing] has been linked to a number of indicators of mental health as well as actually being socially isolated is a risk factor for mortality.” So make sure you actually get to know your floormates this year.

As with life before the virus, negative thoughts and hardships happen to everyone. But dealing with them now might require new strategies and a different outlook.

So what to do when negativity floods your thoughts?

“Don’t ignore them,” advises Wedlake. “Don’t try to deny them. Don’t try to say they don’t exist. They’re real, right?

Sit with them for a second. Sit with them with curiosity. Say, ‘Well isn’t that interesting? I’m feeling terrified.’”

Wedlake advises to seek professional help if the problem is persistent or debilitating.

Benson and Wedlake also agree that lifestyle structure is a key player in maintaining a sense of normalcy. Sleeping until 12 p.m., drinking a beer and then watching three hours of lectures might not be the best option — for most anywys.

The state of the pandemic can feel overwhelming without personal contact, either through Zoom, distanced meetings or spending time with those in your bubble.

“Structure is always our pal and in times of extraordinary adversity and extraordinary challenges, structure is even more important,” explains Wedlake.

The world now functions differently day-to-day, which can also bring mourning and grief over the life we want to be living but can’t necessarily have. Maintaining things that bring you joy and comfort are important, but being open to experiencing new things is going to be vital as well.

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You’ve got mail Navigating online friendships in isolation ELAN PEDERSEN, NEWS EDITOR Transitioning from high school to university is a monumental task at the best of times, but the abrupt transition to online-only events this year poses a new array of challenges for frosh — and their mental health.

Making friends will not be the same this fall, as Orientation Week and classes will run mostly online, and virtual friendships can be hard to maintain.

Despite the challenges of Zoom meet-and-greets and virtual rallies, two Western University health professionals believe that making genuine connections is still achievable.

“Human beings have an inherent need to belong, that is, to feel connected with others,” Nerida Koert van der Linden, a second-year health promotion PhD student studying social media use during the pandemic, writes in an email to the Gazette. “Online friendships can be more numerous and convenient, and might actually allow people to be more open and honest than they might be in person.”

But, online friendships also risk leaving some people in the dust. As introverts are well aware, it is sometimes easier to open Netflix than to

attend an online event when everything is online. “[Those with] lower well-being ... might be the very people who distance themselves from online interactions,” Michael Blair Evans, assistant professor of psychology, says. “It is a worry that people might fall through the cracks.”

Evans suggests this year’s frosh should seek out groups with similar interests early on, during OWeek’s virtual events and the University Students’ Council clubs week. “[There is] potential to build virtual friendships, but don’t overlook groups that students naturally form,” Evans says.

Not only do friendships help strengthen students’ sense of community, but they also give them a place to seek support and help sustain their identity, contributing to greater overall well-being.

But students shouldn’t solely focus on pursuing online friendships this fall.

“Social media interactions might increase the number of ‘friendships’ made, but not necessarily the quality of these connections,” Koert van der Linden writes. “Some research also suggests that using social media

ANASTASIIA FEDOROVA GAZETTE

exclusively to interact with existing friends may cause friendships to weaken … individuals [must] maintain some degree of face-to-face contact.”

Attending in-person events if firstyears are comfortable could be beneficial to their sense of community.

Despite masks and social distancing, there is still the potential to make healthy connections.

“Floor meetings, community socials and residence-wide programming provide opportunities for students to connect with their communities and expand their social

network,” Melissa White, acting director of Housing and Ancillary Services writes in an email to the Gazette. “[E] vents will be offered year-long by Residents’ Councils and Residence staff with the intention of developing a sense of community, engaging students socially and forming virtual friendships.”

“I would encourage students to remain as open-minded as possible when meeting friends online, to reach out to other students and to join as many orientation sessions as possible,” Koert van der Linden writes.

She also speculates that the shared experience of COVID-19 could offer frosh a rare bonding opportunity before the ice-breakers even begin.

“The unique shared experiences of these students … could also promote a distinct sense of ‘groupness’ and ‘belonging’ in this cohort that could differ from that of students in any other year,” Koert van der Linden writes.

It may not be the orientation frosh expected, but balancing virtual experiences with in-person ones may help them make the most of OWeek.

Navigating grad school during the pandemic It’s easy to overlook informal events such as virtual happy hours and workshops, but given the current circumstances, they could really help you build connections and are opportunities to have some great conversations.

CHARLOTTE NAU MEDIA STUDIES PHD STUDENT

TANIYA SPOLIA GAZETTE

CATHERINE DANKO, CONTRIBUTOR Being a graduate student has never been easy, but with Western’s classes moving online and field opportunities dwindling, incoming grad students are facing even higher risks of social isolation this fall term.

While attending grad school is an exciting and rewarding experience for many, it can also be a lonesome and weary road. A study found that grad students struggle with mental health and anxiety at a rate six times higher than the general population.

Layered on the usual anxieties, incoming students will now face added stressors of the coronavirus pandemic, with opportunities to socialize and meet people in-person on hold.

Although different than anticipated, there are still some options for grad

students to find some sense of social stability in their hectic academic lives.

Charlotte Nau, a media studies PhD student, says to take advantage of virtual events offered by your department or graduate community.

“It’s easy to overlook informal events such as virtual happy hours and workshops,” says Nau. “But given the current circumstances, they could really help you build connections and are opportunities to have some great conversations. They’re not mandatory, but if you’re looking to meet people in your faculty or even just other students in the same boat, they’re a good way to get started.”

Virtual events are being offered and are frequently updated on the Society of Graduate Students' Facebook page.

Graduate students can also expect to receive emails with registration and event details.

Nau is also the founder of Faculty of Information and Media Studies Peer Mentors —a buddy program that pairs incoming graduate students with upper-years to ease the transition and meet other students.

“We started FIMS Peer Mentors because we know how challenging it can be to get to know people in your faculty,” says Nau. “Lots of staff will be working from home and there won’t be as many familiar faces around the office brewing coffee or making photocopies.

The transition for new grad students will be the hardest. This program will at least give them the opportunity to make some connections in the department.”

The program is in its inaugural stages, withover 60 mentors and mentees for the fall term. But with social distancing measures, there are still restrictions regarding how events can be planned.

“We’re hoping to have social orientation in the Grad Club if they allow us,” says Nau. “For the most part, we’re still trying to figure out how it’s all going to work, but we’re making the effort to stay positive.”

Rochelle Furtado, a health and rehabilitation sciences PhD candidate and the president of the department’s graduate student society, says they are planning to offer social events during September.

“We’re hoping to host some outdoor movie nights and fitness classes for new and returning students,” mentions Furtado. “All of this will be done while keeping six feet away. To be as inclusive as possible, we’re also hoping to host some virtual events within the department for students living off campus.”

Furtado advises new grads to take initiative and to reach out to faculty and staff to begin networking from the get-go.

“Communication is important — especially when there are limited opportunities to meet in-person.

Reaching out to staff and students in upper-year cohorts or contacting your grad council for advice are great ways to build connections within your department. It’s also a great way to find a supervisor that matches your needs as a student,” says Furtado.

“Once you find one that fits, make sure to keep in touch and have frequent conversations about what your goals are, how often you want to meet virtually and what strategies are best for your success.”

Student are often under immense pressures to produce quality work under tight deadlines which often leaves them tired and anxious.

Master’s and PhD students are busy with their research and teaching assistant jobs all while making the conscious effort to socialize and build lasting connections.

Master’s candidate and Graduate Health Information Science Student Association co-president Laura Tomie says to be patient with yourself and not to get discouraged if things don’t get done according to schedule.

“We all like to have concrete ideas of what our future will look like, but with so much change happening so quickly, it can be disheartening if certain milestones aren’t completed when planned,” says Tomie. “Don’t be afraid to regularly re-evaluate what your capacity is and forgive yourself for not achieving your level of pre-pandemic productivity.”

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• WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2020

By Alex McComb, Sports Editor KAUSTAV SHARMA GAZETTE

Tips upper-year Mustangs wished they learned as a frosh

So, you made it to first year. You’ve enrolled in five credits, you’re looking to join a club or two and you have a part-time job. Then, add 20 to 40 hours worth of training, practices, meetings and games per week.

Now, you’re officially a student-athlete at Western University.

While Western may be known for its large campus, unsanctioned street parties and Ivey Business School, their athletics program is also something they like to boast about. With their U Sports Top 10 football, soccer and hockey teams, not to forget their 34-time national champion cheerleading squad, the competition is always tough when you’re not with the purple and white.

Balancing school and sports at a high proficiency level can be a challenge for anyone, but three secondyear Mustang varsity athletes were able to pull it off.

They have drawn from their own experiences and wisdom to help create a list of tips for incoming first-year Mustangs, hand-picked by the very students who just finished their first year at Western and their freshman year of being a Mustangs varsity athlete.

Freshmen, here is your declassified student-athlete survival guide:

TIP 1: SET YOUR PRIORITIES Both Maddie Bowles, a women’s volleyball player, and Seth Edwards, a men’s track and field athlete, agreed that time management is critical for any student. To know what needs to get done, you have to set your priorities.

“Set your priorities so that school is first, your sport is second and then whatever you have after comes next,” explained women’s rugby player Rebecca Riddle.

“Last year I ended up switching some of my priorities around and I ended up not playing one of my games.”

It was for this exact reason she also missed last year’s Homecoming.

She expressed that prioritizing is the one thing she wishes she did better last year and hopes the new recruiting class can learn this lesson earlier than she did.

TIP 2: BE YOUR OWN BIGGEST CHEERLEADER Lacking faith in yourself is one of the key barriers for performance. It’s especially difficult in a new environment with higher expectations.

“It’s super intimidating coming into a gym where all these [athletes] have experience and they’ve done this before and they’re older,” said Bowles. “You can’t really care [about what others think] … what you put into it is what you’ll get out of it at the end of the day…. If you train hard enough and you try hard enough and if you believe in yourself enough, then you will [be successful].”

It’s necessary to have a mindset that works to better yourself both on the court and in the classroom.

TIP 3: FIND A MENTOR Edwards shared that social support from his team and others around him is what separated him from the average student-athlete. He was able to reach new heights, physically and mentally, with the lessons he was taught by track and field veterans.

“I fed off of [Jared Hendricks-Polack’s] drive and all the extra work he put in,” said Edwards. “It really did translate into how much I really worked on not only track this year, but on myself.” “[Matthew Chan] not only balanced his academics and athletics, but also he had an overall great mentality about not necessarily having the greatest season but still being very positive and just overall a generally nice guy. That really bled into how I approach everything that I did this year,” he added.

TIP 4: KNOW YOUR CAMPUS SPOTS One of the fundamental differences between high school and university is that here, many students have more time between classes. It’s important to understand where you are most productive and where you can get a good bite to eat on campus.

While Edwards and Riddle prefer The Spoke and Booster Juice, respectively, Bowles said she enjoys her post-game and post-training meals at a campus eatery with more options: Lucy’s in Somerville House.

Lucy’s is home to a variety of options such as Bento Sushi, Doi Chaang Coffee Co., Fire Roasted Coffee, FRESH, made-to-order hot breakfast, Noodle Box and Quesada.

While finding your eatery of choice is important, the athletes expressed that knowing where you study best directly impacts your grades. Since Riddle is a King’s University College student, she often spends her study time at the G. Emmett Cardinal Carter Library. But she enjoys venturing over to main campus to find the best spot to review class material.

“I usually sit [in the sofa chairs at the Thompson Recreational Centre] and watch the swim team do their laps and I would do my homework,” said Riddle.

TIP 5: DO SOME SELF-EXPLORATION Edwards is a proponent of eating well and understanding where he studies best. But, one of the biggest tips he has for incoming student-athletes comes from a conversation he had with one of his sociology professors earlier this year about self-exploration.

“People don’t spend enough time with themselves,” Edwards explained. “I think that if you can really dig deep and find your passions, it will make it so much easier to not only distribute effort, but also to be more purposeful with everything you do.”

The track and field athlete’s own self-exploration enabled him to seek new career paths after realizing that his current program, kinesiology, may not be the route he wants to take in the future.

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Want to work out on campus this year?

Make sure you bring your mask.

SARAH WALLACE, CULTURE EDITOR As gyms begin to allow customers during Ontario’s third phase of reopening, Western is looking to invite students back. But this year, you won’t be able to squeeze in an impromptu cardio session between classes.

Western University opened the Western Student Recreation Centre and Thompson Arena Sept. 7 for students, with faculty and staff allowed later in the semester.

According to Christine Stapleton, director of Sport and Recreation Services, the Rec Centre is following all provincial guidelines, meaning the gym will have reduced capacity and new safety protocols.

Here’s everything you need to know about working out on campus before you get there: WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE VISITING As walk-ins are currently restricted, students will have to book a 60-minute block in advance to guarantee a “pod.”

The pods are individual workout spaces that allow you to exercise while social distancing.

The equipment in each pod will vary and details of what each one contains will be available upon booking.

Each pod provides students with free weights and a mat, but the equipment desk will be closed.

To book your pod, you have to go onto Western’s Sport and Recreation Services shopping website and click “Facility Reservation Access.” From there, students can reserve their spot up to five days in advance.

Cancelations have to occur at least four hours prior to your selected workout time. First-time no-shows will receive a warning via email; repeat offences will result in a temporary suspension of membership.

If you prefer assistance while you work out, there will be an option to book sessions with personal trainers.

There are numerous services that will remain closed upon initial reopening, including change rooms, the pool, showers, massage therapy, towel service, lockers, equipment rentals and squash courts. Washrooms will be open and students can fill water bottles but drinking directly from water fountains will not be permitted.

Western anticipates similar hours of operation as last year, but with adjustments for additional cleaning.

DURING YOUR WORKOUT Students are asked to arrive five to 10 minutes before their assigned workout period to work with physical distancing measures and the Rec Centre’s reduced capacity. All students have to complete the coronavirus assessment on the Western app in order to be allowed inside.

Students are required to wear a mask and use hand sanitizer as they enter, as masks are required indoors across campus. Any student exhibiting coronavirus symptoms, such as a fever or cough, will not be allowed inside the gym.

Once signed in, students will be directed to their designated pods.

KAUSTAV SHARMA GAZETTE

There are physical distancing signs around the gym to help students remain distanced.

Students are only permitted to remove their masks in their personal workout pod.

According to the World Health Organization, masks should not be worn while exercising, as it may hinder the ability to breathe comfortably.

But, you will be required to put it back on if you leave your pod at any point.

LEAVING THE REC CENTRE Students will be given a 15 minute warning and notified at the end of their session when their time slot is coming to a close. Students will then be asked to sanitize the entire pod before leaving.

Before exiting the Rec Centre, all students have to scan their Western ONECard.

Staff will also sanitize pods between workout sessions. The Rec Centre will be deep cleaned every night.

STILL NOT COMPLETELY SURE? Students who don’t want to visit the Rec Centre in person can partake in virtual workout sessions. While these sessions have been available throughout the summer, they will continue throughout the school year on the Rec Centre’s Instagram and Zoom.

“Campus Recreation will be using a hybrid approach, with a mix of in-person programming and online digital programming, to service both students on-campus and students who will be studying remotely in the fall,” reads the Rec Centre’s FAQ page.

Instructor-led fitness classes will also be available online and outdoors. Indoor classes will follow later in the semester, if physical distancing relaxes and the Rec Centre’s capacity is increased.

Read us online www.westerngazette.ca

How to get involved in sports on Western’s campus Just because varsity games are cancelled doesn’t mean you can’t stay active this fall JORDAN BLOOM, SPORTS EDITOR A global pandemic doesn’t mean Western students are unable to get the sports experience they hoped for before the world flipped upside down. There’s still plenty of options to get involved in athletics on campus, even before varsity sports restart in January.

Regardless of whether you want to step into the gym or onto a playing field in the fall, here are three options for those who want to join the athletic community on campus.

HIT THE GYM Despite all the restrictions on public gatherings in Ontario, the Western Student Recreation Centre opened to students on Sunday. Like everything else in these weird and wacky times, the gym experience will be very different.

You’ll have to register and sign up for an appointment online in order to get access to the Rec Centre this year. Western University is planning to accommodate both 45 and 75 minute long workouts, with time for cleaning in between.

The gym’s capacity will be reduced in accordance with provincial guidelines. Gone are the days of over 100 people in the weight room, every student will have enough personal space to workout while physical distancing.

Pro-tip: Whenever the gym opens up to regular capacity, follow the Western Weight Room on Twitter.

The account updates how many people are in the weight room every half hour, so you know when the time is right to go.

INTRAMURALS Not even a global pandemic can stop the quest for the coveted “Purple Shirt.”

Intramurals are about more than scratching that sports itch. They’re a great way to meet new people both in your residence and outside of it.

Intramural leagues offer a wider variety of sports and are available to all students at various levels of competition.

Most leagues also have teams for “free-agents,” or players who register without a team.

Western plans to march on with most of their sport offerings in the pandemic, with a few exceptions.

Outdoor sports like soccer, flag football and ultimate frisbee will start up in September. Indoor sports, like dodgeball and waterpolo, will wait until October and some, such as basketball and volleyball, will be modified to include fewer players on each team.

Western takes their intramurals seriously with clear rules for gameplay and eligibility, but they’re still a great way to go out and kick around with some friends.

Pro-tip: Post-game snacks at Ontario Hall might not be an option with restrictions on visitors, but the Subway across the street from the Rec Centre is open 24/7 — it’s a great spot to grab some food and chill with your teammates.

CLUBS AND COMMITTEES Western is known for their extracurricular activities and the plethora of ways to get involved on campus.

Sports are no exception. With club lists changing year-to-year, the options available to students change as well.

Last year the university had the Western Sport Business Club and the Western Sports Analytics Club.

There are also clubs dedicated to specific sports like hockey and soccer, as well as fitness-focused clubs. If you’re looking for something more charitable, Western has a Right to Play club that focuses on using sports to help children rise above challenges in other facets of their life. Keep an eye out for the Ivey Sports Leadership Conference in the winter, it always draws in big names as industry speakers.

Although Clubs Week will be held virtually this year, make sure to look at all your club and committee options. There’s a little something for everyone, you just have to go find it.

Pro-tip: Explore all your options, leave no stone unturned. Most clubs will reserve spots on their executive committees for first-years, joining one is a great leadership experience, a resume boost and a way to meet new people.

There’s a way for every Western student to join the sports community this year, from the workout benches in the Rec Centre to your desk in your house. It might take a little more searching, but somewhere in there is the perfect extracurricular for you.

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frosh issue

• WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2020

Head-to-head: Is the future of learning online?

Online classes are here to stay GABBY GLASIER, COPY EDITOR Online classes come with many new challenges students are still adapting to — but, if Western students can learn to navigate the labyrinth of campus and London’s bar scene in less than a week, we can figure out how to unmute on Zoom calls before answering a question.

Yes, there will be a learning curve, but university is about innovating for the future. And like it or not, online classes are here to stay.

Online classes are nothing new; every student has probably taken at least one in their academic career. But that’s just it — online classes are usually the occasional, one-per-year type of class. To have a whole semester purely online is another beast many students aren’t ready to face. This is the new reality during the pandemic.

But, changing the conventional means of delivering a lecture isn’t necessarily a bad thing. There’s many reasons why online classes are good — regardless of COVID-19 — and should be here to stay.

Classes delivered via laptop mean you don’t have to travel anywhere — students don’t need to deal with Western University’s infamous parking problems or push their way into a bus that is definitely over capacity.

And this year, if you’re completing classes remotely, you don’t even have to pay for a bus pass. Zoom calls are a yawn and a click away — and what university student is going to pass up the opportunity to sleep more?

ANASTASIIA FEDOROVA GAZETTE

Speaking of savings, at home you have a built-in Starbucks, Subway and Manchu Wok — it’s called your kitchen. Odds are, if you’re on campus, you’re no stranger to long lines and dropping five dollars on a daily a cup of coffee. Or two. Online classes force students to spend a little less and save a little more.

Transitioning classes online might be frightening for the majority of students, but for some, it’s a saving grace. For those who are disabled, immunocompromised or are struggling with mental health, online classes can be necessary and provide a way to access education without sacrificing their well-being.

Online classes have also forced a spotlight on the disparities in access to technology; if students need to study from home, this means that they will need a reliable internet connection and technology — aspects that have often been overlooked with in-person classes. Online education forces the university to pay attention to the issue that every student needs a laptop, not just those who can afford it. Economic divides within the student body will be more clearly seen and — hopefully — addressed.

In-person classes will return, especially for those who are enrolled in more hands-on programs. But like everything post-pandemic, they will not be the same.

At the end of the day, online classes do more good than harm — accessible education that accommodates everyone is something we should be striving for and, now that we have a foundation for it, we shouldn’t let it go.

When a vaccine comes, we’ll be right back to class SARAH WALLACE, CULTURE EDITOR The pandemic has triggered massive shifts in how Canadian universities will deliver their courses this fall — from the introduction of robo-proctors to Zoom lectures — but this shift to mass e-learning is only a temporary change.

Once we have a vaccine, we’ll all be back in the lecture hall.

Western University announced in May they will deliver the majority of classes online this fall, but still ensure 25 to 30 per cent have in-person components. This is a small number, but it shows that, while Western understands that holding fully in-person classes is completely irresponsible, it knows that online learning does not compare to in-person.

Even though digital courses can be more flexible and most are accessible world-wide, there are many courses that don’t make sense to be completely online. Archaeology students need labs to properly understand the excavation process. Students in language classes are better-off practising their verbs in front of their peers, encouraging more natural conversations.

Drama students need to act-out plays in front of audiences to properly understand their performance. Going online-only will drastically take away the quality of the education institutions are providing.

Online learning isn’t as effective as in-person learning for most students. Being in-person allows students to foster better social

connections with both their instructors and fellow students. On average, most students perform worse in online courses, especially those who already struggle in traditional learning environments.

Western also prides itself on student experience. With hundreds of clubs, councils and teams unable to run and the traditional residence experience altered to accommodate social distancing, our student experience is minimal to none. This isn’t the Western that students paid for, and it isn’t one students will accept post-vaccine.

We also have to consider that Western is a business and their main goal is to turn a profit.

In-person classes bring more first-year students into residences, making more money for the university. Being on campus encourages students to spend more on coffee, food and books.

Even without a vaccine, it may prove safer for the community to return to in-class learning. Research conducted by Cornell University found that there’s likely to be more cases among university students and staff with online classes than in-person ones. If done in-person, schools can control the testing of their students; with online classes, universities cannot enforce or provide easy-access testing.

For now, we have to settle with Zoom classes and invasive online proctoring systems. But as soon as they get the all-clear, Western will guarantee that we’re on campus.

frosh issue

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2020 •

To the frosh of 2020 A letter from the University Students’ Council president, Matt Reesor

LIAM MCINNIS GAZETTE

L

ike many Western stories, mine is one of change. As a bright-eyed, tennis-loving 17-year old, fresh out of high school, I made the decision to attend university as a student athlete in North Carolina. As you can probably guess, that stint didn’t last very long.

Weeks into my first semester, I realized that I was not happy where I began my post-secondary education and found myself looking for more — a closer community, a friend group like family and a home away from home. So, before I even set foot onto Western University’s campus, change had become an integral part of my undergraduate experience.

Western had always conjured a certain image in my head, influenced by the mishmash of stories that my dad, sister and cousins shared with me — but I never really understood it until I was sitting on University College Hill during my very first Orientation Week. Very quickly I realized I was not in North Carolina anymore, but rather, I had become a part of a truly special community.

As a first-year trying to figure out who I was and who I wanted to be, OWeek was the first time that I felt a

clear sense of direction. As I watched the beautiful chaos of it unfold, I knew that I wanted to be a part of the social science soph team. Looking back now, it turned out to be one of the best decisions that I ever made — the orientation program is where I found my community, my mentors and my closest friends.

As fun as it is to reminisce about my time as an undergrad, what’s more important is the year that you, as a Western student, have ahead of you. I won’t bother with the “unprecedented times” preface, as I am sure you have heard it a thousand times by now, but just know that this year will be one for the books. First year is a whirlwind, so make the most of your undergraduate experience and definitely don’t wait until the middle of second year to try your first Spoke bagel.

Class of 2024, you are about to pave the way for a new era of Western students, and I have no doubt that we are in good hands with you leading the way.

Things may look a little different this year, whether it be your classrooms, our events or the University Students’ Council’s clubs. Speaking

as someone who has only ever known one version of Western, I am so excited to see how our innovative student body will adapt to our new scenario in unique ways. This is a place where you’ll learn just as much outside the classroom as you do inside.

Our USC executive team has been working tirelessly to provide you with the best student experience possible — the one that we were all so lucky to receive. This year, you will interact with the USC in ways that you won’t realize, just as I did during my undergrad.

For me, it was spending Wednesday nights unwinding with a beer at Rick’s, Sunday nights at the Junction Climbing Centre with the Western Climbing Club and Fall Reading Weeks catching up on procrastinated essays.

Everyone will have a different student experience, but I know that there is a community on campus waiting to meet you.

It has an absolute honour to write this letter to all of you and I cannot wait to meet you. My door in University Community Centre room 340 — or my inbox, for now — is always open.

— Matt Reesor, 2020-21 USC President

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