The Window Magazine - Nov 2013 issue by Karen Zhou

STAFF HIGHLIGHTS

Caroline Teng Staff Artist

I have three cats and they control the space I get to occupy in my bed.

Marsha Malcolm

Gerrit van de Riet

Staff Writer

I subscribe to the Stoic principle that you control what you can and don’t worry about what’s beyond your grasp. I don’t always agree with dead philosophers, but the Stoic ones make a pretty compelling case.

I worked as a costume character for two years. I was Bugs Bunny in a dance show, and Robin The Boy Wonder (from Batman) in a stunt show

Will Balogh Staff Writer

Rewind to a time when I obsessed over musical theatre and press pause on an eternal love for the arts and literature. Fast forward? The rock show has yet to blow your mind, but just wait ‘til you see me with my blond spikes (again).

Sammie Phung

Laura Arner

Hey there! I’m not actually a student from U of T, I go to OCADU. Regardless, I’d like to think that I am New College, I heard it’s pretty awesome. Hope you enjoy this magazine!

New College is and always will be my home. I try to be as involved as I can and will continue to try and maintain New’s amazing, equitable image. Even if it means giving up red panda .gifs and

Layout Editor

Staff Artist and Writer

Buffy reruns to get my work done.

The

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Perspectives

Did Fitzgerald Know Best?

Marsha Malcolm

Lookin’ Good in the Neighbourhood

Will Balogh & Caroline Teng

Editor-in-Chief

The Window Washer

Karen Zhou

Arts & Culture Thinking Outside the Fox

Layout Editors

Features/ Arts & Culture Shiaoshiao Chen Science & Tech/ Entertainment Sammie Phung Perspectives / Sports & Health Trevette Deveaux

Gerrit van de Riet

It’s Good to be Bad

Marsha Malcolm

The Art of Looking the Part

Olivia Balanyk & Laura Arner

Features

Associate Editors

Features/ Arts & Culture Sophie Munden Perspectives / Sports & Health Cathlin Sullivan Science & Tech /Entertainment Mavra Bari

Copy Editor

Michael O’Leary

Contributors

Ashani Francis-Collins Caroline Teng Cathy Su Christian D. Raharja Erica Tsou Gerrit van de Riet Laura Arner Marsha Malcolm Olivia Balanyk Rina Baba Shiaoshiao Chen Sophie Munden Will Balogh

Business Manager Amanda Liao

Distribution Manager Shudipta Shabnam

For the Love of Marriage

Will Balogh & Caroline Teng

Into the Breach

Sophie Munden & Caroline Teng

Playing at St. George

Ashani Francis-Collins

Science & Technology

Pausing Your Life: A Guide to Effective Napping

Rina Baba & Shiaoshiao Chen

Much Ado About Molly

Marsha Malcolm

STOP. REWRITE. EXPRESS: Investigating Genes

Bob the Scientist

Sports & Health

Movember: Behind the Moustache

Laura Arner

De-stressing Through Fitness

Christian D. Raharja & Erica Tsou

Entertainment

November for Fandoms: Sneak Peak

Gerrit van de Riet

These Hunger Games

Will Balogh

Not-so-studious Fantasies

Laura Arner

Looking Ahead to November

3did fitzgerald know best? PERSPECTIVES

“

by marsha malcolm

As much as parents want to be able to protect their children, it is equally important that they allow them to experience their lives for themselves...

In 1933, F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote a letter to his eleven-year-old daughter, Frances, while she was away at summer camp. To celebrate

his 117th birthday this letter has gone viral, and his advice from the ‘30s has begun to resonate again today. Although Fitzgerald does make some valid points in his advice to his daughter, some of the things he has to say are quite shocking and ill advised, especially in light of how young Frances was at the time. Fitzgerald urges his daughter to live her life to the fullest by honing and utilizing all of the abilities she has at her disposal. Like any parent, he wants her to become a fulfilled, well-adjusted, productive member of society. Interestingly, Fitzgerald does not seem to think that happiness is something important enough for his daughter to worry about: he claims misery and happiness are dramatic emotions that don’t exist in real life, and therefore are of no consequence. At this point, today’s parents would give Fitzgerald’s letter incredulous looks — how could happiness not be something important enough to worry about? There are shelves of selfhelp books, movies, and seminars devoted to the pursuit of happiness, yet Fitzgerald was seemingly blind to its existence in 1933. Such bizarre advice can likely be attributed to Fitzgerald’s own depression and instability. It can be hard for well-meaning parents to see beyond the blinders of despair even for their own children. Though they try their best, parents aren’t perfect and neither is their advice.

”

Fitzgerald’s words ring truer when he advises his daughter not to waste time worrying about trifles such as insects, failure, and popular opinion. Bugs will be bugs, we cannot always succeed at everything, and popular opinion cannot and should not always be trusted (the old adage of everyone jumping off of a cliff comes to mind). Nevertheless, he again gives her less cogent advice urging her to forgo dolls (at eleven years old, I remember still playing with a Barbie or two myself) and to not worry about boys. A girl on the cusp of puberty will soon have the mindset and hormones to not only worry about boys but physically respond to them as well. Perhaps due to Fitzgerald’s own troubled marriage, his wish to spare his daughter the pain that significant others can sometimes cause is admirable but shortsighted. As much as parents want to be able to protect their children, it is equally important that they allow them to experience their lives for themselves without restrictive proscriptions beyond the basics of “don’t steal” and “do your best.”

A perfect parent will never be found, but many are well meaning and may not be able to see when their advice falls flat. Your mom will always be your mom and your dad will always be your dad, but this doesn’t automatically make them right when it comes to parenting (although they would no doubt disagree). As young adults, we have a much better sense of when to disregard parental suggestions and when to take them to heart (unlike Fitzgerald’s poor daughter). Weeding out the good from the bad will become easier as the years pass; you will be able to determine what’s best for you as opposed to what your parents may feel is best for you. At any rate, they’ll have to give you some credit when you’ve graduated, moved out, and are gainfully employed. Part of growing up is being able to go your own way, despite what Mom, Dad, or F. Scott Fitzgerald might have to say.

PERSPECTIVES

lookin’ good in the neighbourhood

“

by will balogh artwork by caroline

Mirror, mirror on the wall…

make me the fairest one of all!

Irrespective of age, gender, or level of wealth, a lust for good looks is fanatical if not savage in the urban Canadian mindset, but in discussing beauty, attention does not typically fall on the select minority that stitches together contemporary concepts of Western beauty — the minority that objectifies art and expression as an economic liaison. At heart, Canadians recklessly buy into this objectification while simultaneously singling out pop culture as a legitimate source of innovation, which cannot then manifest itself elsewhere lest it bastardize the already-systemized norm. Art too abruptly loses its beauty, trapped beneath a glass ceiling. You become a lot like an unsalaried runway model when you parade about with your indigo Le Château scarf draped across your neck, a computerized mock-up of “the creator” on autopilot; you are a product, somebody else’s huge ego effectively slotted into society with bronze highlights streaking your darkish roots. You look good and everybody wants what you’ve got. Alas, the truth stings: beauty means business. Media personalities, movie stars, pop divas,

socialites, and vloggers align themselves with mutually exclusive representations of Western beauty and write off all the nonconformists as losers, outsiders, and wallflowers. In doing so, they obnoxiously debauch reality in order to guarantee that the public unwaveringly embraces them (“the mainstream”), and casts others aside. What, though, spurs this pursuit to play dirty and be front and centre? The answer is foul, but really no surprise. … Of course, dollars! That said, the debauching process requires help from you and me. Today’s status quo makes no secret of the wedge driven between “standard beauty” and an array of underground fashions. The fit, tanned, thin, well-to-do metropolitan is a glamour god and far surpasses the country cowboy or the steampunk beatnik by default, which outrageously but still stonily murders the independence, personalities, and “thumbprints” with which all creators outside this imposed norm function. Ultimately, they get alienated from the market competition — and we the public are to blame. Canada is to blame, too, we who without asking questions simply assume that that select minority boasts an absolute authority; but in terms of artistry and the imagination, such a title cannot not exist. That minority takes on an undemocratic role, laughing

beauty is a contagious repercussion of pleasure and good vibes..

”

at us as an oligarchy. When all is said and done, Western concepts of beauty “dictate” the here and now inasmuch as other concepts of beauty pervade far reaches of the globe. The first rule of beauty has to be that time-worn quote that “beauty is what you make it, not what others tell you,” and though it may be starved of novelty in 2013, time cannot abridge the magnitude of its message. After all, nobody in the world should base his or her confidence or degree of self-worth on what the media states is the norm. The media is never your ally; it just wants your money. You must do what you want in order to look good for yourself, which is to say that you will feel good. Beauty is a contagious repercussion of pleasure and good vibes. A critic is likely to argue that this pleasure is exactly what motivates the populace to adhere to beauty norms. Be that as it may, these norms nevertheless discriminate against all the “different” expressions of beauty found in cultures around the globe — as if lining them up to toss some rotten tomatoes at them. In no way is this objectification reasonable. If a Canadian coos at a hockey jersey and a lavish skort, would a Moroccan and a Thai be expected to do the same? That scenario would probably not come to fruition. Rather, the Canadian would be the fish out of water, and there is no pleasure in this feeling. The tables have turned: everybody picks on everybody else. To a Moroccan, a burqa (a headpiece) is among the norm, and implies shielded beauty. To some Thai women, neck rings are all the rage, shimmering in sunlight. I look at beauty as a personal conquest. No man is too camp and no woman too gothic. All the colours and patterns in the world are yours for the taking — whether avocado pinstripes or last month’s trench coat. Art is free and beauty is art. It is subjective, but all of us Canadians unfortunately buy into the Western impulse that beauty comes from a greater power. Nope. That so-called power is just hungry for money. So wear the hell out of that chunky moose sweater – relish in your power to strut your stuff.

PERSPECTIVES

advice column

the window washer

02 01

“how do I be good at everything?” You don’t. No one is. Anyone who pretends they are good at everything is lying to you and themselves. The point is to pick your battles. Study something that interests you. Join clubs and teams that you are passionate about. Make time for your friends and family. Make sure you don’t go broke. Try and make yourself happy, and be happy on your own, because there will be people who will see that happiness and try to take that from you. Pace yourself with all your responsibilities. And spread your focus. What I mean by that last one is to remember the saying “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”; to that I would add, “no work and all play leaves many regrets and stupid mistakes for Jack to deal with later.” Doesn’t have the same smooth ring, but it gets my point across. Don’t have pinpoint focus, especially in your first undergrad degree, but also be careful not to shoot for too many stars.

make

“are you a girl or a boy?” So, I have gotten this question, or some variation, a lot. My identity is anonymous for a reason; otherwise it would be marked at the beginning of the article. What do you hope to gain from getting a bit of my identity? Are you looking to validate some form of authority? I already claim to have none. Are you just curious? Everyone is, but who I am should not affect the way I respond to your questions enough for it to matter. But let me not get too distracted from your question: my gender. I understand enough from that one random Women and Gender Studies class that enforcing the gender binary this way has some problems of its own — but I am not here to criticize the question you asked. Unpacking it more, I fail to see the importance of what I could be missing by adhering to one of these two categories. Am I missing information by not identifying as girl or boy? Is this an indicator of my maturity by not asking me if I am a woman or man? This should not affect how you ask me questions, because unless you tell me your gender in the question I will always assume that you are some genderless person in the ether of space and time. It is my goal to only apply relevant information to you, and I expect you to do the same for me. As you read you will learn more and more about me. Some of it may be uncomfortable, some of it may be funny, and some of it will be random babbles. The point is in the end my gender, level of privilege, age, race, year of study, program of study, nationality, or any other defining characteristic that biases me, will be acknowledged when appropriate and not a minute before it. This is not one of those appropriate times.

THINKing by Gerrit van de Riet Artwork by Caroline Teng

Ylvis' “The Fox” is just like any other weird European pop song: things only really start to get interesting when you lose count of how many times you’ve heard the annoyingly infectious chorus. As I listened to yet another iteration of the song's refrain, there was only one question on my mind, the same irrepressible question that has doubtlessly seared the skills of 85 million listeners that came before me: what noise does a fox make?

ing this sounds? bly not

song to promote awareness of fox Something tells me that’s probathe case. Time for me to listen again. The song begins by listing off the onomatopoetic noises of other animals. Wait a minute, though — does a dog even go

A quick YouTube search and several adorable fox videos later, it became pretty clear that there is no single fox noise. What didn’t hit me until I watched the Ylvis video again was that each noise the duo claims to be a fox noise is, in fact, a fox noise. Gering-ding-ding-ding-ringerdingering refers to the squawking sound foxes sometimes make while playing. Wapo-po-po-po-po-pow is the sound arctic foxes make according to a 2008 recording by Gerrit Vyn (and with a name like that we can trust him). Hatee-hatee-hatee-ho is a Vixen scream usually believed to be used as a mating call. Joff-tchoff-tchoffo-tchoffo-tchoff is an alarm bark used by adult foxes to warn their cubs of danger. Chacha-chacha-chacha-chow is the low-key noise that the Ontario red fox makes, judging by a 1966 recording by William W.H. Gunn. Fraka-kaka-kaka-kaka-kow is gekkering, or the sound foxes make while fighting or playing around. A-oo-oo-oo-ooo would be the sound of a grey fox according to James R. Howell III. A-hee-ahee ha-hee A-heeahee ha-hee is the sound of a cub or fox crying. So: if Ylvis already knows what the fox says, what do they keep asking us for? Are they us-

woof? I have never heard a fish blub, nor a frog croak. I also have definitely never heard an elephant go toot. So why, when it comes to the call of the enigmatic fox, does Ylvis embark on a feat of scientific scrutiny? What is with the inconsistency here? Perhaps Ylvis is using onomatopoetic animal calls to comment on the restrictive and inconsistent nature of the English language in regards to. May-

be it extends to a more global idea of linguistic iniquities as a whole — Ylvis is Norwegian after all. I mean, dogs don’t go voff (Norwegian), ouaf (French), yfádi (Greek), bunana (Bengali), or any other translation I could find on Google Translate. None of them match up. Perhaps this is another “Gangnam Style”-esque critique of culture, a kind of social commentary disguised as a party song. But there seems to be is a crucial difference between “The Fox” and “Gangnam Style”. While Psy uses many of his songs to raise awareness of issues surrounding Korean culture, the intent of Ylvis, who also have a talk show on Norwegian television that frequently pulls harmless joke pranks on the public, remains a little less obvious. It might be that they are attempting to satirize the bizarre, meretricious characteristics seemingly inherent within the viral “genre” by subverting the listener’s expectations of truth within the lyrics. Pretty smart. But then again, since the video went viral, they have appeared on Ellen saying that it is a joke song, and I can’t help but wonder if maybe their own foxlike cunning lies in an ability to latch onto a trend and imitate it for the sake of some pretty damn effective self-advertising. But maybe, like “Gangnam Style,” it is best to leave it as it is: two Norwegian dudes throwing a ridiculous, furry party in the woods. It seems that ridiculous is what the duo does best, and that’s exactly what makes it so catchy and popular. Don’t believe me? Give “Stonehenge” a listen next.

outside the fox

IT’S GOOD TO BE BAD by Marsha Malcolm

As viewers, we can’t help but be captivated by characters that are

our moral polar opposites. In the late ‘90s and early 2000s, Tony Soprano was a favourite mobster bad boy that made us feel equal parts envious, conflicted, and disgusted. Today, our favourite rule breakers include Jesse Pinkman and Walter White (Breaking Bad), Dexter Morgan (Dexter), Jax Teller (Sons of Anarchy), and Nancy Botwin (Weeds). If this doesn't convince you, the most highly anticipated video game this year is the fifth chapter in the hyper violent Grand Theft Auto saga. Clearly, there is something compelling about rule breakers, even though most of us may have never broken a serious law in our lives. Since the Depression era when Bonnie and Clyde were robbing banks with their crew, there has been a fascination with outlaws as a distraction from life’s difficulties. America’s recent economic problems could perhaps represent evidence of a pattern of praising bad guys as a distraction from economic woes. These larger-than-life lawbreakers offer a glimpse into lives that we could never hope to live ourselves, owing to our indoctrination into a society which ostensibly rewards the law-abiding citizen. But for an hour every week, we can see what it’s like to whack a wise guy, cook blue-coloured, 97%-pure methamphetamine, stalk and kill a serial killer, or sell weed on the sly in the comfort of our own homes, without any of the inconveniences that come with breaking the law. For human beings, escapism has always been a means of coping in difficult circumstances. The flavour of the distractions favoured by audiences today reflects an interest in seeing characters who make their own rules in the face of a world where the social contract is merely optional instead of compulsory. Like Bonnie and Clyde, the rule breakers that have so captivated viewers recently are individuals that exemplify the best of the worst — they are really good at being really bad. This type of “negative achievement” makes bad girls and boys infinitely more attractive than characters with regular nine-to-five jobs who lack criminal ambition. If the social contract were optional in the real world, there is no question about which characters we would emulate if given the chance. Valorizing villains reveals an interest in figures that go against the grain in their endeavour to shape the world as they see fit. Free will in its purest, most unadulterated form — unrestricted by rules and regulations — is what these characters demonstrate, and what audiences may actually be drawn to. The desire for the power to ignore proscriptions is understandable in our Hobbes-based world, but most people will remain content with popcorn, television, and vicarious thrills instead of real wrold violence, mayhem, and lawlessness. It is clear that boundaries are necessary for limiting the Heisenbergs and outlaw motorcycle gangs of the world. As much fun as it is to watch these characters, it would be terrifying to actually have to live with them. These characters and their families attract danger, and do not always come out unscathed in their dealings. Nevertheless, we will continue to watch and be shocked from the comfort of our own homes, a safer place to be than in breach of the social contract.

The Art of

Looking

the Part by Olivia Balanyk Artwork by Laura Arner

Picture yourself on a normal school day, walking on campus, passing crowds of students. Instead of just letting the many faces pass you by, take a closer look. Who are the writers? The painters? The musicians? It’s impossible to guess just by looking. Or is it? You might look for a pair of dark-rimmed Ray Ban glasses, some vintage leather boots, skinny jeans, a plain old t-shirt or plaid button-up, bold red lipstick, messy hair, maybe a beard for a guy and suddenly, without even realizing, you have bought into the stereotypical image of artistic youth today — the hipster. But why has this look become so synonymous with a creative personality? I have met people who aren’t necessarily photographers, who have bought old, professional cameras only to use them as inconveniently large necklaces. Another acquaintance scoured the city to find an old typewriter she could use to “become” a writer, but skipped most of her English classes because she openly couldn’t be bothered. Ridiculously, it seems the desire to cultivate the artist persona has become more important than cultivating art itself. So I decided to do an experiment. My objective? To find out just how much youths (myself included) create and judge identity based on appearances, and to use the hipster trend as an example of this. I set about looking for students who fit the stereotypical description of a hipster: the skinny jeans, the vintage shoes, the Ray Bans — the works. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it didn’t take long for me to find a suitable specimen. Fifth-year student Sally was wearing black sunglasses, a bright t-shirt, a vintage overall dress, and a pair of short leather boots. Before speaking with her, I already had a preconceived notion that she might be an artistic person. She assured me that she was, telling me she enjoys music and drawing. Did she consider herself a hipster? no. “I try to dress myself in a way that represents me,” she said. “In my opinion, the term 'hipster' has be-

come too vast and difficult to use.” Fifth-year student Tyson had messy blond hair, a thick beard, dark skinny jeans, and short suede boots. He expanded on his take of the hipster term, saying he preferred to “evoke the original hipster look from the 1940s, based on ‘hippies’ who listened to jazz music and poetry.” He said that pop culture has warped the meaning of 'hipster' into a superficial fashion statement.

The more students I interviewed, the more apparent the correlation between arty style and personality became. They all said they were indeed writers, painters, and musicians, and even said I was not the first to assume this about them upon first impression. But these visible examples of the stereotype were not the interesting subjects. How

many talented people did I pass by without a second glance, just because they did not fit the hipster image I was looking for? As we unconsciously internalize trends, we begin to judge by appearance, even though we have all been taught to never judge a book by its cover. If the trend creates the identity, self-expression gets weakened in the process. Instead, it is replaced by a stronger impression of how others see us. And it should never be trendy to judge by appearances. Definitions are not absolute, especially when defining the broad spectrum of what creativity means or looks like. So next time you are walking down the street and take a closer look at the faces passing by you, remember: there is no “artist” shirt or hairstyle. An old camera or a typewriter will not make you a better artist. The “artist” does not belong to any possession. The “artist” can only belong to the person.

For the For the Love of Love of Marriage Marriage by Will Balogh Artwork by Caroline Teng by Will Balogh Artwork by Caroline Teng

Love and social status have plenty in common, even in 21st century Canada. While marriage is often the result of a cherished courtship process, the “often” sometimes reveals itself in the wake of a proposed arranged marriage — which is all fine and dandy until one party wants to run for the hills. An arranged marriage develops into a case of a forced marriage, but one user comment posted to a CBC webpage seems to imply that Canadians are on the fence about the Canadian government taking action in an issue which bears no cultural resemblance to their own. Forced marriage is not neoteric to the Canadian social climate. When the South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario (SALCO), a not-for-profit organization operating out of Toronto, publicized the results of a twoyear study on forced marriage which it conducted between 2010 and 2012, it made headlines on the CBC and in the Toronto Star. The results asked more questions than they answers: of the 219 reported cases, 92% percent were female. Alarmingly, one quarter of these women were between sixteen to e i g h teen years old when they

married. Love andSurprisingly, social statusthe havefindings plenty inshow common, 44% even of participants in 21st century in theseCanada. non-consensual While marriage unions is often to Canadian the citizens result ofora permanent cherished residents. courtship process, But what the of the “often” males sometimes and thosereveals that diditself not in theit wake make to theofaltar? a proposed How often arranged does forced marriage — which marriage occurisbehind all fine drawn and dandy curtains? until And one party if this wants is the to state run offoraffairs the hills. in Ontario, An arranged what marriage can be assumed developsof into the rest a case of the of acountry? forced marriage, Why, though, but isone there user intended comment ignorance posted to a CBC atwebpage aimed the custom? seems to imply that Canadians are on the fence about the Canadian government of Knowledge taking Canadian action history in an issue seems which to bears be a thing no cultural of wishful resemblance thinking. to Canadians their own. are content to snuggle up to their existing ways Forced of life, marriage but that isonly notdistances neoteric to themselves the Canadianthe from social various climate. customs Whenandthepolitics Southout Asian of Legal Clinic which these of luxuries Ontario were (SALCO), born. This, a not-forhelped profit the with organization notion that operating forcedout marriages of Toronto, are publicized associated ordinarily the results of with a two-year the thirdstudy world, on forced marriage primarily Middle which Easternit and conducted South Asian between re2010 and gions, veils2012, the fact it made is that headlines this marital on the custom CBC and in theCanada pervaded Toronto longStar. before The confederation. results asked more questions than they answers: of the 219 reported The First cases, Nations 92% people percent were doing were itfemale. when Alarmingly, they occupied one quarter Canada of from these coast women to coast were between long before sixteen the British to eighteen or theyears French old initialwhen they ly made married. contact. Surprisingly, Tribes would the findings intermarry show in 44% of order to participants maintain honour in these and non-consensual properties, and unions the bride’s to Canadian family always citizenshad or permanent final say in resthe idents.ofBut value thewhat groom-to-be of the males (theand father those usually that did notthat made make decision). it to theUpon altar?the How arrival oftenofdoes the forced marriage Europeans with occur their feathery behind drawn hats and curtains? “culAnd if came ture” this is the a noticeably state of affairs parallel in Ontario, custom what to can bethe which assumed European of the eliterest and of monarchies the country? had Why, though, adhered for centuries is there intended beforehand. ignorance Even if the aimed atRevFrench the custom?promoted olution enlightenment in wlsuch aK n omanner

edgetoofcontemplate Canadian history seemsonly to befora thing as marriage love of — wishful thinking.individual demonstrating Canadiansthinking are content and to a snugsepagle up from ration to their status existing — there waysseems of life,tobut exist thata only Cadistances the variousworks customs nadian ideathemselves that this from enlightenment for and politics As everybody. outofof2013, which thatthese understanding luxuries were has born. in This, helped with notion that forced holes it, but it does notthe mean that people canmarriages are whichever ordinarily associated with to the them. third not choose best appeals world, primarily Middle Eastern and South Asian regions, veils do theMiddle fact Easterners is that this How, though, andmarital South custom pervaded Asians factor into Canada the equation long before anyway? confederation. The First people were it when they They bringNations their customs like doing the Europeans did, occupied Canada fromcustoms coast toarecoast be-a only this time those at a long bit of fore the British or the society. French initially made concrossroads in Canadian The social climate tact.altered has Tribesinwould Canada: intermarry marriageinnoorder longer to acts maintain as a honour andto properties, precursor land inheritance and the or abride’s bloodline’s family presalways hadItfinal say in the of the two groom-toervation. represents, at value least legally, halves be a(the father made deeper-level that decision). Upon of whole with usually reciprocated, feelings. the the arrival of the Europeans with their feathery But report indicates that cultural precepts are hats as andeffective “culture” came noticeably cusjust acrossa the pond asparallel they were tom to back in which their home the European country. Men elite and and women monarchies “are had adhered pressured intoformarriages centuries– beforehand. usually by family Even memif the Frenchcommunity Revolutionelders, promoted enlightenment in bers, or religious leaders – insuch a upholding manner ascultural to contemplate marriage only cluding traditions, family reputafor love — demonstrating individualand thinking and tion and honour” (CBC). Immigration monetary a separationwere fromalso status — there to reaexincentives reported as seems common ist a Canadian idea that this enlightenment sons behind forced marriages (The Torontoworks Star). for everybody. As of 2013, that understanding has holes This issue in crosses it, butallitbinaries, does not bemean they age that orpeople even cannot orientation. sexual choose whichever With 68% bestof appeals forced to marriage them. victims suffering from verbal abuse, 59% sufferHow,from though, do Middle Easterners and from Southsexual ing physical violence, and 26% Asians factor intoneed the equation anyway? informed abuse, students to be especially of the reality of forced marriage, not just beThey bring customs Europeans cause it so their greatly affectslike theirtheage bracket, did, but only because this timeclear-headed those customs are at bit of a also thinking anda rationalicrossroads Canadianif society. The social climate ty may be in deficient there arises, for whatever has altered marriage noinstance longer acts as a reason and in at Canada: whatever time, an wherein precursor to victim land inheritance or amarriage bloodline’s presthey are the of a forced (SALCO). ervation. It represents, at least legally, two halves of a whole deeper-level feelings. Help is at with any reciprocated, student’s disposal in Canada and But GTA, the report that cultural precepts are the whereindicates the Network of Agencies Against just as Marriage effective (NAAFM) across the they were Forced is pond based.asNAAFM apback in community their home country. and women points partners Men to assist with “are sepressured into marriages – usually by family memcurity measures and offers a range of available bers, community elders, orand religious leaders – inresources from lodging therapy to moncludingaid. upholding cultural traditions, familymore reputaetary A curious reader can learn at tion and honour” (CBC). Immigration www.forcedmarriages.ca; a complete and monetary list of incentivesaswere commonthere. reaservices well also as anreported FAQ areas featured sons behind forced marriages (The Toronto Star). Rather than close the doors on issues that inThis issue deed belong crosses to Canadians all binaries,—beand theyforagewhatever or even sexual orientation. With 68% or of lethargy forced marriage reason, too, whether apathy — these victimsnecessitate issues suffering from thorough verbal abuse, investigation 59% suffering in orfromtophysical 26% sexual abuse, der come violence, full circle,and both in from the historical and studentssense. need Only to bethen especially the modern will the informed reality of of forced reality of forced marriage, justissue because it so marriages come to light asnot a real to which greatly affects their agea bracket, butsuch alsoas because Canadians cannot turn blind eye, in the clear-headed thinking and rationality bepage. deficase of the unnamed blogger on themay CBC cient if there arises, for whatever reason and at whatever time, wherein There is much left an to instance be desired, but ifthey Caare the victim of a forcedof marriage (SALCO). nadians are descendants the enlighteners, then there is some stepping up to be done. They Help to is enlighten at any student’s in Canada and have those thatdisposal are troubled and remind the thebetter Network of to Agencies themGTA, that where there are things come. Against Forced Marriage (NAAFM) is based. NAAFM appoints community partners to assist with security measures and offers a range

Into the Breach By Sophie Munden Artwork by Caroline Teng Facebook is an integral part of what it means to be a young adult these days. Love it or hate it, we’ve all got our thoughts on it. This got some of us in The Window office thinking: maybe it’s time for an experiment. How important is Facebook in our lives really? Can we live without it, or are we a dependent generation? Of course, I stumbled into the role of willing victim participant, and thus a fortnight of Facebook abstinence ensued.

fortable and sticky web of the social network. Why? Because it’s safe there. I can think about everything I say or do for as long as I like before I commit to it. I can choose exactly how I represent myself. My cover picture is like the billboard of life, or the dodgy horoscopes in the back of the Metro or that Go Transit magazine. I know you know I know exactly how much GTA V has grossed to date, and am therefore culturally awesome. I don’t have to worry about dealing with people’s reactions when I tell them things I probably wouldn’t have to their faces; I can wage war, make peace, and send pictures of cats dressed up as unicorns. If that’s not true contentment, I don’t know what is.

Wednesday, September 18th 2013

of which has been me commandeering people and begging them to become human Facebook proxies. This has all been accompanied by the Shakespearean death of my Blackberry, taking all of my contacts with it. I can’t deny it — Facebook does have its uses, and without it, I seem to be one step behind the game. Friday, September 28th Truth be told, I’m getting used to not having somebody always talking me through life. Je suis une femme libérée, who has evidently been filling up the temporal voids left by Facebook’s absence by learning some wicked French skills.

Friday, September 19th 12.01am In order to give my fingers something to do It’s official. I have ‘deactivated’ myself, like I’m a suicidal C-3PO. I am “one of THOSE people.” My electronic pulse is rapidly fading, taking my social life with it, leaving me with a sense of dread I can only compare to two things: the five minutes before my course selection start time on ROSI, or how I imagine Mufasa felt when he threw himself into a herd of stampeding wildebeests.

Wednesday, October 2nd The final hour is upon us, but it would seem this isn’t the end.

Of course I’ve considered cheating, briefly. I can justify it like this: People are going to notice I haven’t posted. They might start to worry. What if they even think I’ve died? What if there is an upsurge of intrigued cyber-sleuths combing my page for clues for a date/place/ manner of death. Maybe I should’ve left a note explaining that this is only a hiatus. OH GOD why didn’t I change my profile picture, I don’t want that to be the way they remember me… It’s exactly spiraling thoughts like these that made me take up this experiment. How on earth have we all got to the point where not having a Facebook profile might constitute death or dismemberment? There’s something crazy going on here, and I’m going to investigate. 12.13am “It has taken me twelve minutes to reconsider my investigation” is a prime example of the kind of status I would be posting right now.

I’ve decided to prolong my offline sabbatical (I wouldn’t have believed it either) until I figure out if my hankering, though much quieter and more docile than two weeks ago, will dissipate entirely. I still have some debating to do.

other than repeatedly type ‘face- b o o k . com’ into my URL bar, I have decide to write a Facebook related sonnet. It was that or listen to my thoughts, which today sound a bit like this: “Sophie, I don’t know how I feel about Benjamin facebook Franklin’s thoughts on facebook temperance. That’s probably because I’m so hungry. Look, a laptop — facebook. I’m so hungry. What about facebook? Stop thinking about Facebook. For once, will you please think about food instead? Pizzachickengrapeschocolatefacebookpineapples. You’ve got to be kidding me...” Wednesday, September 25th

7:00pm For the last few years, I have spent my evenings and in-betweens lovingly browsing through the pictures, statuses, and wall posts of both the people I know and those I will probably never meet, nestling myself deep into the com-

It’s fantastic to not have a constant stream of notifications reminding me of tasks and commitments and people I don’t like. Somehow, Facebook has gone from being my happy place to an interruption.

As hypothesized, the mental struggles have been superseded by the practical ones. I don’t have phone numbers, I have missed out on group discussions and class forums, I don’t know what’s going on, let alone where or when, the result

Does not having Facebook to notify you of several hundred people’s actions liberate you socially and spiritually? Absolutely. Is being offline practical? Absolutely not. The fact is that it isn’t human nature to turn down tools that make our lives easier, and Facebook happens to be devilishly convenient. At least, when we use it moderately. Take Kim Possible — she needs her Kimmunicator to get down to business, but she can’t effectively karate chop the bad guy with gadget in hand. Problems arise when people like me start to use these tools compulsively and obsessively; in the end, I — we — need to find a way to navigate our busy lives without getting tangled in the web. I don’t want to rule it out entirely, but it’s a way of life I’m leaning away from the longer I last without it. So for the meantime, it’s once more unto the breach for me, dear friends, once more. Over and out.

PLAYING AT SAINT GEORGE And seven other trends you probably don’t want to be caught partaking in. by Ashani Francis-Collins We’re the messed-up generation. How many times have you heard that before? It seems that as our parents and grandparents passed into middle age, they forgot that their fads and trends weren’t all exactly “normal” by our standards either. We’ll admit that our elders did get it right sometimes, yet while we absolutely, wholeheartedly reserve the right to reuse and recycle some of their golden oldies, there are some we should pray never come back, no matter what generation they belong to. So next time your dad asks why you just paid $40 for a pair of jeans with holes in them or ate a teaspoon full of cinnamon on camera, present him with this

1. I think there’s a stick up my a**.

Flagpole sitting was basically the planking or owling, of its time. Except way more hardcore. Seriously, people would sit on top of a pole for as long as they could, each person trying to best the last. Someone sat up there for 439 days. No exaggeration.

2. Call me Captain Sparrow. Blackening one’s teeth was, for females of the Elizabethan era in England and the 4th century in Japan, the equivalent of going out and spending $1000 dollars on a purse. The logic is that sugar was expensive at the time, so being able to afford rotten teeth was a luxury. Remind me why I go to the dentist?

3. Two’s company. Three’s a crowd. Fifteen is madness.

Phone booth stuffing was sort of like Tetris, except with human bodies and telephone booths. Also, preferably without toppling over at the end. But perhaps you deserve it if you stuff yourself into phone booths in your spare time. I really couldn’t make this stuff up if I tried.

4. Maria, your necklace just escaped.

People will do some really crazy things for fashion. That’s no different nowadays. But the Mexican Maquech Beetle, a living insect used as an accessory, takes that to a whole other level. It was considered à la mode to bedazzle the beetle and pin it to your clothes, like a grotesque permanent pet. I can only hope Claire’s doesn’t catch on.

5. Baby, move your butt, butt, butt.

I’m sure many of our female populace can relate to that feeling of utter humiliation when you realise that your pants have slid down and you’ve been showing whale tail all day. However, the increased popularity of low-rise jeans in the 2000s also brought about the fad of women purposefully showing off their thongs. Some would even decorate them with clip-on accessories. One of Gucci’s models even sported the look on the catwalk. I can’t express how glad I am to be too young to remember this. Seriously.

6. “Always watching.”

Keeping with weird trends that I actually experienced in my lifetime, what the heck was up with Furbys? Really, why did any child in their right mind ever want to own one of those? It was meant to appeal to children as an interactive pet, and appeal to parents as a pet that only required four double-A batteries. I got a Furby for my fifth or sixth birthday, and almost instantly regretted it. I swear it stared at me in my sleep. I’m probably cursed now, for all I know. They were revived twice, in 2005 and 2012, which only further serves to baffle me. Why do kids still like these things? I think I’ve found the real source of our generation’s problems, and it’s not Miley Cyrus, people.

7. Sexy St. George.

The art of fornication has had many pseudonyms in its time. Everybody knows at least a few. But I bet you didn’t know that dear old St. George has his very own. That’s right, ladies and gents. It’s called “playing at St. George.” Sounds fun already. So the next time you’re doing the deed, keep him in mind. Or, on second thought, don’t. That would be weird.

8. Bows at the ready, ladies. Both of the sexes know how hard it can be to get a message across to that person you’re crushing on. Well, the gals of the 1940s had it down to a science. Want to know how? Of course you do. Hair-bows would be placed in a specific part of the head to indicate a certain status. Top of the head = single, and ready to mingle; back of the head = take a hike, bro; right side of the head = wedding bells in the near future, back off; left side of the head = not exactly taken (wink). Nowadays we can’t even get our boyfriends to notice when we get a haircut, let alone play Battleship with hair-bows.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Pausing Your Life: A Guide to Effective Napping by Rina Baba Photograph by Shiaoshiao Chen

tudents face major distractions when trying to get their study mojo on: parties, TV shows, Facebook — sometimes even staring at walls interferes with productivity. Sleep is the ultimate double-edged sword as it can be both productive and a means for procrastination. Whether it’s out of procrastination, sleep deprivation, or a desire to take a short break, napping is an indulgence many students look forward to during the day. More often than not, we nap with the intention of waking up refreshed and ready to continue where we left off. In spite of that, when done ineffectively, getting some quick shut-eye can backfire, resulting in an amplified feeling of exhaustion or disorientation, perhaps even interfering with your sleep at night. So, how should we nap in order to reap the most benefits? According to research, effective napping is a combination of duration, timing, and setting. Sumathi Reddy’s 2013 article in the Wall Street Journal, “The Perfect Nap: Sleeping Is a Mix of Art and Science,” explains that the optimal length of a nap depends on your objective of catching a quick snooze. Our sleep cycle lasts from approximately 90 to 120 minutes, consisting of 5 main stages: Stage 1 (light sleep), Stage 2, Stage 3, Stage 4 (deep sleep), and REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, in which dreaming occurs. Because of the sleep cycle structure, the ideal duration of your nap greatly varies depending on what you want to achieve from it — 10 to 20 minutes for a quick energy boost, 60 minutes for memory

consolidation, and a full cycle (90 minutes) for increased cognitive function such as creativity and procedural memory. To avoid sleep inertia, the grogginess you feel subsequent to waking up, a short 10- to 20-minute nap or a full complete cycle of 90 minutes is recommended. By planning the time span, you can effectively design the perfect nap to achieve your goal. Another important factor to consider before catching a few Zs is timing. Not only does the time of the day you take the power nap influence the ease of falling asleep, it also affects the quality of your sleep at night. As stated in Minding the Body’s “Ultimate Napping: A How-To Guide” by Linda Wasmer Andrews (2010), an excellent time to take a nap is anywhere between 1 PM to 3 PM, when the feeling of fullness after lunch is the greatest. While it’s tempting to doze off in the late afternoon when you are starting to feel the fatigue, napping too late in the day can in fact interfere with your ability to sleep at night. Likewise, taking a nap too early can cause difficulty falling asleep because you just woke up a few hours ago! Choosing when to nap, in addition to planning its duration, can greatly maximize the benefits of your break and prevent insomnia. Finally, the last factor to take into consideration is where you nap. Jennifer Soong in “The Secret (and Surprising) Power of Naps” (2011) describes that in

order to sleep effectively and comfortably it is best to find a dark place and to stay warm. The neurotransmitter serotonin, released when you are in the darkness, offsets drowsiness, making it easier to doze off. Furthermore, since the body temperature drops during sleep, it is important to stay cozy. As a result, snoozing in the dark and warmth with the alarm clock set will allow you to enjoy a comfortable break before going back to work. By strategically planning a combination of duration, timing, and setting, a perfect nap can be achieved depending on your needs for the upcoming midterms and finals season. Whether it is out of laziness to do work or seeking respite from fatigue, an effective nap can provide you the perfect pause from the real world where you will be able to find relief — just don’t overdo it!

Effecti nappin ve g is a combi nation of duratio n, timin g and se tting.

Much Ado About Molly by Marsha Malcolm

n the 1960s, teens were dropping acid. In the early 70s, kids were toking on marijuana, and moved on to cocaine when the ‘80s rolled around. In the 1990s, cocaine and heroin were in vogue, and at the dawn of the new millennium ecstasy was all the rage on the party circuit. Even if you don’t know much about Molly, I’m sure you’ve heard it referenced in popular culture (Rick Ross, Tyga, and Madonna are only a few artists who have devoted verses to this designer drug of the 2010s).

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Molly is a newer incarnation of ecstasy (properly known as MDMA or 3, 4-methylenedioxy-Nmethylamphetamine). When concerns over the purity of ecstasy tablets arose, Molly was created in order to offer a drug that provided the same effects as ecstasy without the worry about purity — or so eager consumers were led to believe. Although Molly is marketed as a new, pure form of ecstasy, it is not uncommon to encounter Molly containing undesirable chemical additives that buyers are not aware of. Cutting Molly with adulterants (undisclosed additives) meant to mimic or completely stand in for the active ingredient is a long-standing practice in the drug production culture and ensures that dealers can keep costs as low as possible and profits high, at the expense of unwary buyers. Molly is a psychoactive drug classed as an empathogenic substance. When ingested (typically in capsule form), it takes approximately fifteen minutes for Molly to enter the bloodstream, and another forty-five minutes before the “high” sets in. Molly causes users to feel love, empathy, and emotional closeness to others. Molly’s harmonious effects are likely what led to its adoption as the drug of choice for members of the Electronic Dance Music (EDM) scene, considering that its universal slogan is PLUR (Peace, Love, Unity, and Respect). Hyperactivity is also cited as another common effect of Molly, (again, not a bad thing for EDM partygoers). One “hit” of Molly lasts between 3 and 6 hours and costs roughly $20-50 dollars, depending on the dealer and demand.

is not unheard of for individuals to become deeply depressed, even after taking a single hit of Molly; this is what may lead some users to become dependent on the drug in order to ironically achieve some relief from the depression it has caused. Research has shown that memory loss is another negative effect that Molly has with prolonged use. In rare cases, death can also occur.

That being said, water intoxication is one of Molly’s ugly and less well-known realities. Drinking too much water while high can dilute the blood, causing a shift in the equilibrium of electrolytes in one’s body. In some cases drinking too much water has proven more harmful than drinking too little. After 18-yearold Leah Bretts died, Dr. John Henry, director of the National Poisons Unit at Guy’s Hospital, aptly noted, “She drank a lot of water but with a lack of understanding of why she needed to drink water. Water is not an antidote to Ecstasy, it is an antidote to dancing.” The recommended dosage of water on MDMA is usually 250 mL per hour when inactive and 500mL per hour when active Also steer clear of mixing Molly with alcohol, and take it easy on energy drinks — Molly alone will give you enough energy!

Molly is quickly becoming the drug of choice for a lot of young people because it lacks the “dirty” connotations of snorting and injecting that heroin and cocaine possess. Despite this, it is still a serious narcotic. If Molly is the poison that you pick at your next party, a reputable dealer will go a long way in ensuring that you have potent (but not deadly) product. Since Molly is typically a drug done with friends at parties, try to have someone looking However, Molly can also have less desirable out for you should you partake. A pal with a effects for its users. A lot of vigorous dancing pack of gum can help make sure that you have while high can lead to dehydration and enough fluids, and don’t get too friendly with fainting. Molly can also throw off the body’s strangers. temperature regulation system causing users to overheat (hyperthermia). The heart and While taking any new drug it is very important kidneys can also become negatively affected to know the etiquette surrounding it and know with prolonged use, namely in situations what to expect for not only yourself but others where individuals engage in “bumping” indulging around you. Hopefully, shaking (taking multiple hits, one after the other). It hands with Molly will be easier now that you know what she’s like.

STOP REWRITE EXPRESS Investigating Genes

by Bob the Scientist

About the Author Bob the Scientist knew he was special ever since he was a child. He was born in a large cave on the side of a green plain that stretched out as far as the eye could see. Bob’s family was preoccupied with hunting, sleeping, or tending the garden. What else was there to do? Nobody cared. Why were they living this way? Nobody knew. And nobody asked, except for Bob. Then Bob grew up and left his home, forever. He built a time machine so he could investigate the eternally perplexing Mysteries of Science.

STOP/GO

ou can control things like how much you sleep and whether you like mushrooms (to some extent). What you can’t control are your genes, the code in every one of your cells that tells them what proteins to produce and therefore what to do. And genes don’t just come from anywhere.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Is Bob a scientist? Or is he a robot, playing out his pre-written destiny? How much truth is there to the saying “it’s all in your genes?” Even when I was still with my caveman family, it was common knowledge that children look more like their mothers and fathers than members from other tribes. This was very interesting to me as a baby caveman. Why was it that I looked like my father (we were both bald) but didn’t think like him in any way? You’ve likely heard of Mendel’s work confirming the existence of genes and his laws of dominant/recessive inheritance, so I won’t bore you by going into detail there. I worked briefly for the monk in my youth, when I visited 1860s Europe. He might have done all of his work

Bob’s traits versus his parents’ traits: “We were both bald.” on plants, but by observing specific characteristics he was able to infer the pattern of inheritance: we all have two copies (“alleles”) of each trait in our cells, one from each parent, and in the simpler traits only one allele is ON.

Diagram of eye colour inheritance. “If you were Mendel 2.0, what would this pattern suggest? Hint: Google Eye Colour Calculator”

WRITE

But then there are traits like intelligence. As I write, Mr. Bowen Zhao is analyzing the genes of smart people, i.e. those who have a high IQ, at the world’s largest DNA sequencing facility. It’s not shocking to think that some heritable quirkiness in your DNA could shape your path to Genius. There’s a clichéd “Nature vs. Nurture” war that determines your destiny overall, so of course intelligence is more than just your genes. But I’d like to mention that even your genes are not just your genes.

It’s not just eye colour that’s being “written” by your genes. In my Viennese host family, I stayed with a very myopic 40-year-old who was weak, thin, and who had an odd shade of bronze skin. These were all symptoms his father had before he died. The curious thing was that his brother was sparkling with health. Only later did I learn that the cause was the hereditary disease hemochromatosis, in which you absorb so much iron from your food that the excess iron is toxic to your body. One brother had inherited the right copy of the gene for absorbing iron from his mother. Remember my talk of alleles, two copies of a gene, one from either parent? Well, hemochromatosis is a “recessive” disease. This means that if you get at least one gene copy that tells you to absorb iron right, you’re good. The father had two copies of the “bad” copies and the mother had one “bad” copy. So one of their children got a “bad” and a “good” copy, and the other one got two “bad” ones. It’s unfortunately entirely up to chance which copy you get.

REWRITE I’ve always wanted to have brown eyes, but it’s too early in Time. I always wanted to have superhuman fitness too (maybe on my next trip, to the year 3456, though). I have lived with hard facts like this for a while so it’s okay.

The latest epigenetics research is all about ThinkFast protein is expressed after you do a lot of homework. how exercise and life habits (slowly) encode themselves into your genome, affecting which genes are more readily used.

EXPRESS There’s still a lot to be discovered about genes, though, because the genetic code is usually not expressed in a straightforward way. I would highly recommend you involve yourself with this body of research — it’s powerful! Based on my travels, at least. Though genes can sometimes be the “STOP!” in our personal flourishing, they can also be the tools through which we become the best versions of ourselves.

SPORTS & HEALTH

movember:behind the moustache

by laura arner

SPORTS & HEALTH

It is an event that is either loved or revered, depending who you ask. It’s an entire month of scraggly, unkempt lip hangers and nose neighbours, and men proudly supporting them in the name of men’s health awareness. We see this pop up every year in November. We acknowledge it, make fun of it, and have a good time, but how many of us really know what Movember is all about, or how it came into being? In 2003, two young men in Melbourne, Australia were hanging out. They overheard that a friend’s mother was part of a local campaign raising money for breast cancer. This made them wonder about men’s health campaigns — specifically those for prostate cancer. Together, the two guys agreed to donate ten dollars to prostate cancer research while growing the greasiest nose neighbour possible by the end of the month. The challenge was accepted. More than that — the challenge went viral. Soon, there were thirty total “MoBros.” A website was made, and from that the group grew to 450, raising a total of about $54000 between them. At this point, the MoBros were established as an official Australian charity, and the awareness spectrum broadened from prostate cancer to general men’s health, such as depression awareness. In 2012, Movember and the MoBros were named one of the top 100 NGOs in the world. To date, they have raised nearly $174m worldwide, with supporters by the thousands. The organization partnered up with TOM shoes, Quantas Airlines, Google Chrome, Nick Offerman (the greatest moustache alive today), LIVESTRONG, and the Prostate Cancer Foundation. On November 1st, thousands of young men shave their faces clean and register on Movember.com as a single supporter, or as part of a team. As their lip caterpillars grow for the next thirty days, these men become spokespeople for the charity and promoters of men’s health. These actions raise not only awareness but also pledges and donations that go towards funding prostate cancer research. At

“

...movember successfully turns the much needed spotlight onto the significance of male health.

the end of the month, a large gala is held in lieu of the MoBros (and MoSistas) that have participated. The issue surrounding men’s health is an important one. Not enough attention is given towards men’s health in the media, and Movember successfully turns the much-needed spotlight onto the significance of male health. Perhaps the disease to get the most consideration during Movember is prostate cancer, which kills over 250000 men worldwide each year. It affects 80% of men between the ages of 50 and 80. Located in the pelvis and under the urinary bladder, the prostate helps make and store seminal fluid. Diseases in the prostate often create problems with urination, ejaculation, and defecation. Like most cancers, prostate cancer can lead to death if unchecked. Whether ‘staches are grown for the individual or for someone else affected, the importance of awareness and prevention is astoundingly important. The money collected by MoBros goes directly into funding for various men’s health awareness aid and research organizations. These include CPC-GNE, an organization focused on identifying genetic patterns in prostate diseases; PC-STAR, researchers of tumor treatment; ASAP, a network of community empowerment for those affected (and their loved ones), as well as numerous other organizations concentrated on the prevention, treatment, and cure for this deadly disease. So when you’re walking down the street this November and notice the sudden outcrop of greasy lip dusters, sexy soup strainers, and the elusive handlebar, remember that they stand for so much more than cringe-worthy fashion statements. Movember stands for the lives lost, lives affected, and lives that could be saved, from the shattering, rampant disease that is prostate cancer. So before you make that pledge this month — get checked! Tell your dad, your grandpa, your boyfriend, your uncle, your cousin, your friend… Get checked. Donate. Save a life.

”

SPORTS & HEALTH

de-stressing through fitness by christian d. raharja artwork by erica tsou

It’s 3:00 in the afternoon, and you’ve been studying for two days straight. You feel as if your brain is sizzling from all the information going through your head, as if it were being fried in a frying pan. You stare at the calculus question for what seems like an eternity, and eventually, all concentration is lost. You tell yourself, “Maybe I’ll take a short break on Facebook,” assuming it’ll help you refocus after a “short” break. After the short three-hour break, night falls, and you’ve acquired that hated feeling, the one that makes hairs turn grey: stress. Many students feel this way, especially when diving into exam season, including the Male Athletics Director of the New College Student Council, Chihai Nguyen. Chihai copes with this stress by going to the gym and exercising.

told me that if you stare at a problem too long you will start to tunnel and fail to see other ways to solve it. Going to the gym or picking up something new can help you refresh your mind and get fitter while doing so.”

“Going to the gym definitely helps with stress,” Chihai explains. “When you get a good workout, you don’t feel guilty, and at the end of the day, it’s like ‘Hey, I exercised, so I can eat what I want!’ Also, if you have a routine, such as benching, squatting, and dead-lifting in one day, it becomes something you look forward too. You can learn routines from friends or through your own research, too.”

“It depends on your major or courses but I find it a great stress reliever,” Rudy states. “When I was taking anatomy and learning about the muscles in the body, going to the Athletic Center helped me learn a lot about range of motion.” So, instead of procrastinating, go to the gym, or play sports. Sounds like a plan! But wait! The two gentlemen that shared their insight about fitness also have advice for people who want to start.

Rudy Budidharma, a Varsity Tennis player from New College uses sports to cope with stress, and offers a unique perspective on that calculus question many have encountered. “Participating in sports or working on strength definitely helps me relieve stress,” Rudy says. “Not exactly a technique but I find [that] being away from schoolwork and trying new sports like squash may not be a bad thing. A friend

Going back to the individual after their Facebook endeavour, that person could probably ask, “I’ve been studying nonstop, barely sleeping, why would I spend any time in the gym when I don’t have any?” Chihai explains: “It keeps me on schedule; when you schedule your work out, meals, and study time, [it] helps [you] focus a lot” Exercising can refresh your mind, and help you refocus on that exam or assignment. If your courses have any relation to exercising or the body, fitness can really help you understand the material better.

“Make sure you’re enjoying what you do,” Chihai suggests. “Also, find friends to support you. Having a gym buddy keeps you from being

”

lazy.” Having someone to accompany you to the gym is great for motivation, since you can motivate each other, and it will keep you from slacking off. Rudy also advises having friends to lean on, and a little more:“Pace yourself: repetition, routine, and discipline, don’t be lazy. Also don’t forget to ask friends for help, especially if they know what they are doing in the gym.” There are many facilities and clubs that New College offers to help alleviate stress through fitness. Examples are intramural sport clubs, such as basketball, volleyball, and Frisbee. New College also has sports teams such as the New Dragons, New College’s dragon boat team. There are also various facilities that students can visit to go for drop-in dance classes, sports, weight lifting, or running. The Athletic Centre, which is right beside New College, offers many of these activities, along with the Hart House Fitness Centre which is located inside Hart House. To check out the intramurals available within the university, check out uofintramurals. ca. New College also offers a workout community group for individuals who want to go to the gym and have a good workout but do not know how to. There will be trainers from the college to show you the ropes and instruct you on different routines you can try.

Going to the gym definitely helps with stress...

”

ENTERTAINMENT

November for Fandoms: Sneak Peek by Gerrit van de Riet Image from bbc.co.uk

t is a cruel joke how midterms and returning shows go hand in hand. November is the mother month of fandoms, and it takes some navigation to juggle both your studies and your favouraite returning TV shows. Hopefully this TV Guide will help you plan productivity and procrastination effectively! Going off dates, there is Thor: Dark World on the 8th ; Lady Gaga’s latest album is out on the 11th ; Watch Dog comes back on the 19th; Hunger Games: Catching Fire is on the 22nd ; and the fourth season of MLP starts on the 23rd . Beyond these dates there is a new Donkey Kong game, the release of Xbox1, The Hobbit Part 2, Season nine of Supernatural, Ender’s Game, a new Disney movie (Frozen) and a ton more happening that I probably missed — forgive me, fandoms! What separates the average viewer from a fandom is their devotion to the series. To get a better idea of what these releases mean to a true fanatic I interviewed some die-hards on our very own campus.

College student, has only followed Doctor Who for two years, but is by his own admission “fully immersed in the Whoniverse.” While the special is cause for much excitement for Justin, the new regeneration of the Doctor is a more exhilarating prospect. “I think the casting of Peter Capaldi fits classic Doctor Who. I mean, the younger guys like David Tennant and Matt Smith were fantastic, but I really am excited to see an older man enter into the role once more.” He is also wagering that the Doctor’s fling with his current companion will end at the next regeneration; the inclusion of John Hurt is also especially exciting to Justin. Personally, I am excited to see three regenerations of the Doctor in one go, and with the inclusion of Bad Wolf I am willing to bet Rose from season one will be included too — but that’s just me. As for Justin, he has his own plan for the special: “The main thing that I’m doing for the fiftiethanniversary special is watching all available episodes (and the movie) right up to the season finale of series seven. On the day itself I haven’t planned anything too special other than sitting here wearing a Doctor Who t-shirt with my sonic screwdriver.”

On November 23rd, along with everything else that is happening, the much-awaited While it has not been confirmed whether fiftieth-anniversary special of Doctor Who will be airing. Justin Charlick, a fifth year New Sherlock will premier anytime soon (last I

heard it was January 2014), Karen Zhou, another New College student, weighed in on why the show is irresistible She has been a fan for almost two years now, and she recalls her experience with it. “I remember the moment distinctly because I think the first episode came out on New Year’s Day. I read Arthur Conan Doyle’s original stories when I was younger, and I loved Jeremy Brett’s rendition. I was mildly interested until about seven minutes in, when Sherlock appeared; then I was goner.” For Karen the most exciting thing about the comeback is the reunion between Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman: “I ship Johnlock!” Karen enthused. “Honestly, the show is so well produced: the music, the cinematography, the acting, costuming — hello, Belstaff coat — even with minor writing kinks, it’s such a beautiful show in every way.” With all her excitement, Karen plans to arrange a premiere of Season 3 as a viewing party in the William Doo Auditorium. So keep your eyes peeled for that! Regardless of what you are excited for, I think it is easy to say that November is looking to be a very exciting month indeed.

ENTERTAINMENT

These Hunger Games

by Will Balogh Comic by Laura Arner

Human behaviour is a curious thing, but student behaviour is even more so. Youth, camaraderie, and essay deadlines make for some amusing situations where all sense and judgement are ironically chucked out the dorm window. Students will do anything in the name of procrastination; this is one such instance. “Muh — mustard! Runnin’ down… uh — dude! It’s all in… your scruff, sick man! Ha… ha — whoa, I… am full. Can’t. Eat. No. More. Uff.” “Aw, tough luck! Guess you’re going to write me my essay, then! Ooh, you wanna do me the honour of lickin’ the muhssstard off, too?” “EW! Dude! I swear that — wow, need… to breathe. So. Full. Feel. Fat.” “Looks like I’mma win this one, bro. Start shufflin’ through my notes n’ getting’ all one with the October Revolution. And hey, don’t go over the assigned word count this time! … And don’t forget about this can of beans!” “No. I. Will. Not. Quit! I. Will. Win. This. Thing — whew!” “Like hell you’re gonna.” “Psssssht — gimme that spoon… punk!” “Ho ho ho! Bro’s got balls! Jeez, you sure you ain’t bloated yet? That was a huge hot dog! And a whole tub of frozen yogurt! And don’t forget those two bags of pretzels! And —” “Quit tryin’… to psyche — me — out!” “… Fine.” “Now… gimme that spoon!” “And that half pound of —” “Shut up! I’m gonna — hey! Seriously, dude! You coulda dropped… the beans! … Would you just hand ‘em over alread — oy! Took you long enough!” “… Easy, bro, this ain’t no race. You know that, eh? Okay, why’re you horkin’ it down like that…? Bro! If you barf on my rug… get away from my rug!” “Heheheheh! Whatcha gonna do, dude? This’d be waaay more rad than you messin’ up my lab report anyway.” “Yo! Not cool — hey, stop! … What the hell? God forbid… you’re… pissing me off!” “Yeah? Whatcha gonna do, tell Mom again?” “You — jerk — oh, go to hell…! Ugh!” “Don’t come near me, you son o’ — ooooof!” “EWWW!” “… Oy, I feel so much better.” “IT’S ALL OVER ME!” “Shouldn’ta clocked me square in the gut, dummy!” “Well you lost! Go write my history paper!” “Nah. Think I’ll play video games.” “Yo! We got papers due!” “Oh, I already wrote mine. Just gotta fix the conclusion. You thought I’d actually write yours? You’re stupid.” “I… I’m gonna...”

ENTERTAINMENT

Looking Ahead to November

11-12

Last day to drop courses with F section codes from academic record and GPA.

Fall break (no classes)

Deadline to request corrections to 2012-2013 Fall/ Winter academic record

Procrastination Workshop Worried your course work is going to start to pile up? Do you have a tendency to put things off? Come discover some helpful strategies for staying ahead of the work! This workshop provided by the Academic Success Center will be hosted at New College, please sign up by e-mail new.studentlife@utoronto.ca.

Date: November 5th, 2013 Time: 1:00pm Cost: free Location: New College Board Room (2053 Wilson Hall)

Want to feature your organization’s upcoming events on our calendar? Shoot us a request at entertainment@newcollegewindow.com with the event details by November 18, 2013.

WANT A FREE IPAD MINI? Here’s how!

Fill out the ticket on the back and submit into The Window’s raffle box (placed at the Porter’s Desk at Wilson Hall. Each month, 3 lucky winners will win New College attire. All raffle entries submitted will have a chance to win our ultimate prize, an IPAD MINI. The IPAD MINI will be rewarded after our March issue. Winners will be contacted at the end of the month.

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