THE VOICE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO MISSISSAUGA
September 8, 2015 Volume 42, Issue 1 themedium.ca
Controversy over “reverse racism” UTMSU Facebook and Instagram post sparks online debate over racism NICOLE DANESI NEWS EDITOR A social media post published by UTMSU has sparked intense debate over racism and what it means for both white and racialized groups. The Facebook and Instagram post was published on July 28 as part of a wider UTMSU campaign defining social equity concepts. The post in question defined the term “reverse racism”. According to the post, “There is no definition for this term because reverse racism does not exist. An oppressed group cannot be racist towards those in the dominant group (white people) because though they may be prejudiced, they are not in a position of power to actually be racist towards them.” Other terms included in what is described by UTMSU as an “educational campaign” include racism, intersectionality, xenophobia, respectability politics, and cultural appropriation, all of which were posted online throughout the summer. Since being published, the reverse
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Nearly 100 comments have debated the post on Facebook. racism post has received nearly 100 Facebook comments debating the definition. The other terms received zero to two comments. According to UTMSU VP equity Zehra Ramsha, UTMSU did not expect the post to receive the reaction
it did. “Nobody was expecting this kind of backlash,” said Ramsha, who explained that the campaign was intended to serve as an educational tool for students learning about equity. Ramsha, however, told The Medium
the term “reverse racism” should never have been included in the campaign and she did not approve the post prior to publishing. “The term ‘reverse racism’ should not have even been put up,” she said, explaining that the term was too sub-
stantial to be posted and the definition should have been written differently. “It seems more a personal definition rather than a generalized definition,” she added. “It’s really sad but not surprising that many white people took this post offensively because it isn’t meant to attack whites at all,” said Sherry Ghaly, UTMSU’s anti-racism coordinator. “It’s simply stating that white people are given privileges in society not afforded to people of colour.” Ghaly, who wrote the definitions, said that racism must be understood in terms of the broader social factors. “When [people of colour] are discriminatory in North America, it’s meaningless; we do not have nearly the same political, social, or economic clout to influence policies or curriculums, or make changes wherever we see fit. White people do possess such clout though, [and] their prejudices have the ability to alter the lives of POC on a very grand scale, as it has for centuries,” she said. Racism continued on page 2
Orientation Weeks abound at UTM UTMSU complains of competition as Office of Transition hosts new frosh week NICOLE DANESI WITH NOTES FROM FARHAT AMINI First-year students had several options when choosing where to celebrate their first week at UTM this year. Aside from UTMSU’s annual frosh week, campus groups welcomed firstyear students with festivities hosted by the Muslim Students’ Association and the Office of Student Transition, a new department at UTM, which organized a free Eagles Take Off frosh week. The orientation week included campus tours, sessions on time management and critical reading, a yoga class, and a tour of the nature paths on campus. “I think the students really enjoyed it,” said Chrissy Sharma, a Campus Experience LAUNCH Leader who
Prof is gone? UTM is keeping mum on why a prof is no longer here, and what happened to his classes. Medium News, page 3
The value of an education People say that university teaches us to think critically. But does it really? Medium Opinion, page 4
Beauty and bodies Our arts editor writes about having her body painted so she could become walking artwork. Medium Arts, page 6
Max’s big ride to UTM
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UTMSU, the Muslim Students’ Association, and the Office of Student Transition host frosh events helped organized Eagles Take Off. Sharma also said in a telephone interview with The Medium that the Eagles Take Off orientation was in
response to feedback administration collected about first-year students in previous years and that the orientation was intended to provide students
with a way to learn about the campus and discover resources available to them. Frosh continued on page 3
Andrew Sedmihradsky and his son biked 600 km to raise money for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Medium Features, page 8
Battle fought and lost U of T Varsity Blues suffers loss during their first game against the McMaster Marauders. Medium Sports, page 11
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Breaking the fall Students greet new reading week with mixed reactions
August 24, 2:38 p.m. Medical Call A RAWC staff member reported an injury in the high performance room. An ambulance was dispatched and the injured person was transported to Brampton Civic Hospital. August 24, 4:46 p.m. Fraud under $5,000 UTM staff reported fraudulent use of a U-Pass that was handed over by a MiWay security officer. August 27, 3:07 a.m. Medical Call A student reported having difficulty breathing. EMS was contacted and the student was transported to the Credit Valley Hospital. August 30, 2015, 3:00 p.m. Fire Call A fire alarm in the RAWC was activated. Campus Police and the Missis sauga Fire Department attended the
scene. A heat sensor in the north-east stairwell activated due to a high level of humidity. September 1, 1:10 p.m. Medical Call UTM student was injured while participating in a frosh orientation activity. Medical assistance was provided by ECSpeRT and EMS attended. Student was transported to Credit Valley Hospital. September 1, 11:10 a.m. Motor Vehicle Accident UTM student reported their vehicle was hit while parked in lot 8, lower deck. September 2, 11:15 PM Controlled Drugs & Substances Act Campus Police received a report of a marijuana smell at a unit in Oscar Peterson Hall. Campus Police seized marijuana found in the unit and several males were investigated.
These reports are those that have been released to The Medium and do not necessarily constitute an exhaustive list. Students can contact the UTM Campus Police at 905 828 5200, Peel Regional Police at 905-453-3311, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Saini goes on leave
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Principal Deep Saini will return to UTM on January 1, 2016. EESHA HASAN UTM principal and U of T VP Deep Saini is looking to determine his priorities for the campus while on a a six-month administrative leave following the announcement of his reappointment. During his leave, Saini will focus on publishing his research and planning his next five-year term as principal of UTM. “As a senior administrator, I am focusing on the future direction of UTM,” said Saini in a telephone interview with The Medium. “There are a lot of possibilities and I am trying to establish priorities for my next five years here as principal.” Saini was appointed for a second five-year term as vice-president of the University of Toronto and principal of UTM on February 26. According to Saini, professors can take a one-year sabbatical after
six or seven years of service. Administrators can take one year of administrative leave after working five years. In Saini’s place, chemistry professor and UTM VP special initiatives Ulrich Krull was announced acting principal as of July 1. When asked about his role as acting principal, Krull explained how different the job is from his regular administrative tasks and role of developing new programs and courses. “I do not commonly have such extensive opportunities to meet and work with the students at UTM,” Krull stated in an email to The Medium. “I am always impressed with the energy, skills, and ‘joie de vivre’ that the students at UTM bring to their many broad activities and interests.” Krull will step back into his role as VP special initiatives on January 1, 2016, after Saini returns to office.
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The first fall reading week will be implemented next year. KARUNA ISRANI Students are having mixed reviews about the fall reading week announcement made by UTM in the spring. Starting October 2016, UTM students will now have two reading weeks during the academic year in place of one. The added break is scheduled to occur during the four days immediately following Thanksgiving Monday and will extend the total length of the fall term from 12 to 13 weeks. While a fall reading week will not affect the teaching period during the semester or the duration of the winter break, the addition to the semester could shorten the length of the study period prior to December exams. The traditional February reading week will remain as is. According to Diane Crocker, registrar and dean of enrolment management, UTM administration had been in talks for approximately two years about the implementa-
tion of a fall reading week. After reviewing the fall schedules from a number of other universities across Canada, campus administration felt a fall reading week would serve the students’ best interests. “I believe all students can be more successful if given more time to learn,” said Crocker, who also said the new break would especially benefit first-year students, who are adjusting to the overwhelming transition from high school to university. The idea was introduced during past town hall meetings and students were sent an online survey to provide their thoughts and feedback on the proposal earlier this year. Students, however, have mixed opinions about the new break. Candice Dela Cruz, a third-year digital enterprise management student, agrees the break is exactly what students need in the midst of midterm season; however, she does not like the possibility of a shortened study break.
“I’d rather have school start one week earlier and still have the study break before exams remain the same,” she said. Alistair D’Cruz, a fourth-year digital enterprise management specialist, agrees with the UTM administration and believes a break would provide first-year students with the opportunity to refocus after their first month as university students. However, he feels it may not be as useful to upper-year students, who would rather have extra time to study prior to exams. A proposed schedule for the fall reading week has been released online, outlining the dates that it would occur on from 2016 through to 2020. UTM joins Ryerson University, who initiated a fall reading week in 2012, and Wilfrid Laurier University, who began a three-year trial period in 2014. The effectiveness of the fall reading week will be reassessed in two years.
Academics disagree on reverse racism definition Racism continued from cover The term is highly debated even amongst academics. “There is no such thing as reverse racism,” says Vannina Sztainbok, a U of T professor in the Department of Social Justice Education. “Racism is supported by a racial hierarchy. It means that the major structures in our society—economic, political, legal, ideological—are dominated by, and benefit, one racial group over another.” Sztainbok also agreed with UTMSU when it came to the wording of the definition. “In our world today, we know it is white people, as a group, who benefit from the current political, economic, and ideological systems and that this is a direct result of settler colonialism, imperialism, and
the trans-Atlantic slave trade […] I believe that the UTMSU blurb explains very articulately that for there to be racism, there needs to be power.” Other academics have taken issue with the term.
“I believe that the UTMSU blurb explains very articulately that for there to be racism, there needs to be power.” “To me the term reverse racism is a misnomer,” said Akwasi OwusuBempah, a recent U of T PhD graduate and assistant professor at Indiana University Bloomington in the
Department of Criminal Justice. “Racism is racism. To suggest otherwise is to assume that racialized individuals and groups cannot and do not hold any power whatsoever,” said Owusu-Bempah. When asked about the term, UTM’s equity and diversity officer, Nythalah Baker, stressed the importance of generating conversations on the issue of equity. “The university encourages students to engage in conversations and academic dialogues and to have different perspectives on these issues, and it is within UTMSU’s rights to engage in these conversations,” said Baker in an email to The Medium. As of press time, the post remained on both UTMSU’s Facebook and Instagram accounts.
Gun photos removed
09.08.2015 THE MEDIUM NEWS
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BINGE-WATCH THIS SUMMER?
Denia Hurst 1st year, life sciences
Zahra Sina 1st year, life sciences
Prison Break.
Modern Family.
Deniil Nesterenko 1st year, life sciences
John Ballantyne 1st year, political science
Breaking Bad.
The Brink & Ballers.
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More than 1,107 students participated in UTMSU’s Space Jam frosh week orientation. Frosh continued from Cover According to Sharma, the Office of Student Transition partnered with other departments, including the UTM International Education Centre, the Health and Counselling Centre, the Office of the Registrar, and the RAWC, to host the activities. Sharma also told The Medium in a telephone interview that many of the activities were hosted concurrently to provide students with the opportunity to choose a session or activity that was of most interest to them. Sharma was not aware of the total number of students who attended the Eagles Take Off orientation. The theme of UTMSU’s frosh week was based on the 1996 Warner Bros. movie Space Jam. According to UTMSU president Ebi Agbeyegbe, more than 1,107 students participated in the festivities. Early bird tickets cost $105 while general admission was $125. “The participation of students at UTMSU organized events and workshops has been phenomenal,” said Agbeyegbe. UTMSU hosted a carnival, pub night, workshops, and pep rally as part of the week. COMPETING FROSHES In an email to The Medium, UTMSU president Ebi Agbeyegbe spoke against the Eagles Take Off frosh with claims that the new orientation generated competition between the two organizers. “This is precedent-setting and challenges the partnership we have developed with the university in providing a mix of social and academic
programming for incoming first-year students,” wrote Agbeyegbe. “This has also led to an unhealthy competitive atmosphere between UTMSU orientation staff and leaders with student staff working for the Department of Student Affairs/Student Life.” Sharma, however, claimed the department did not intend to generate any competition between the two groups. “It was never meant to be a competition,” said Sharma. “It is up to the students to pick and choose what they would like to do and create their own orientation experience.” According to Agbeyegbe, UTMSU expects to investigate the cost of the Eagles Take Off orientation. “We will seek to find out how much funds the university administration has spent on the conflicting orientation week programming,” said Agbeyegbe in an email to The Medium. MATURE STUDENTS FROSH UTMSU also hosted their first mature students’ orientation this year for first-year students 25 years and older. “[UTMSU] organized an event to create opportunities for mature students to meet other new students, meet industry leaders, and learn more about how they can succeed in the industry they work in,” said Agbeyegbe. UTMSU encouraged students to participate with their families in events such as a campus meet and greet and a Blue Jays game. POSING WITH GUNS On August 31 at 11:35 p.m., UTMSU posted photos to their Facebook page in an album titled, “Frosh Wel-
come Day Photobooth”. Numerous photos displayed individuals posing with two black replica handguns with an orange tip on the end of the barrel, including some showing students aiming the replica firearms at others. According to Campus Police Services manager Robert Messacar, the photos did not infringe on any university policies and no complaints were filed. Messacar also informed The Medium that Mark Overton, UTM’s dean of student affairs, was in contact with UTMSU about the photos. “I asked UTMSU to discourage the use of realistic-looking toy or sport weapons based on the possibility of someone thinking they might be real, which could result in an emergency services response,” said Overton. “UTMSU very quickly removed some related pictures from social media, in support of a safe campus environment.” According to Agbeyegbe, the photographs were outsourced from a vendor, which at this time cannot be confirmed. The Medium was unable to verify who uploaded the images to the UTMSU Facebook page. “UTMSU ordered a photobooth from an external vendor,” said Agbeyegbe in an email to The Medium. “Once we became aware of images and the presence of replica toy guns, they were removed due to concerns that students would find the depiction of guns offensive or traumatic.” By September 2, the photos were removed from the UTMSU Facebook page.
Luis gone from U of T NICOLE DANESI NEWS EDITOR Francisco Luis, a professor from UTM’s Department of Historical Studies, has left the University of Toronto for unknown reasons. In a statement provided to The
Medium on last Wednesday, Jane Stirling, UTM’s marketing and communications director, confirmed Luis’ departure. “The matter you refer to was addressed in the courts and Mr. Luis is no longer associated with the university,” said Stirling. “Students
were provided with appropriate supports as needed.” It is currently unclear the cause for both Luis’ departure from the university, and the court case mentioned by Stirling. It is also unknown when Luis departed from his role.
NEWS EDITOR NICOLE DANESI NEWS@THEMEDIUM.CA Nicole is a fifth-year CCIT and environmental management student excited to graduate this year and pursue a career in communications, philanthropy, or politics—she hasn’t decided yet. Born and raised in Mississauga, Nicole is excited to travel the world post-graduation. After returning from her first trip (and first time on an airplane) to New York City this summer, Nicole has her eyes set on Paris as her next destination.
In her spare time, you can find Nicole listening to her all-time favourite artist, Taylor Swift (whom she has tickets to see for the sixth time in concert later this fall) or you can find her curled up watching Rory Gilmore rule the Yale Daily News on Gilmore Girls. In fact, after a summer of watching Gilmore Girls after her second year, Rory inspired her to join The Medium and give journalism a try. Two years later, Nicole is excited to be this year’s news editor. Follow Nicole on Twitter and Instagram @nicole_danesi.
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MASTHEAD EDITORS Editor-in-Chief Maria Iqbal editor@themedium.ca Managing Editor Maria Cruz managing@themedium.ca News Nicole Danesi news@themedium.ca A&E Kate Cattell-Daniels arts@themedium.ca Features Farah Qaiser features@themedium.ca Sports Eric Hewitson sports@themedium.ca — Photo Mahmoud Sarouji photos@themedium.ca Design Sarah Yassine design@themedium.ca Copy Akshaya Sharma copy@themedium.ca Online & Blog Corey Belford Kimberly Johnson blog@themedium.ca online@themedium.ca ASSOCIATES News Menna Elnaka A&E TBA Features TBA Sports TBA Photo TBA Copy TBA GENERAL STAFF Webmaster Luke Sawczak web@themedium.ca Distribution Manager Alex Ciesielczuk distribution@themedium.ca
Our $28,000 investment We pay thousands of dollars for our education, but what are we getting out of it? last year, I was expressly told that I couldn’t contact departments on my own and had to go through the Media Relations Department downtown. Worse yet, when I contacted MR, I either didn’t receive responses because they couldn’t meet my deadline, or I received vague, impenetrable non-answers that even the English major in me couldn’t interpret. Another good example can be found in a recent article published in Harper’s Magazine. In it, William Deresiewicz spoke against what seems to be the commercializing of postsecondary education. He opens his essay, “The Neoliberal Arts—How College Sold its Soul to the Market” by looking at the mission statement at a U.S. college and comparing it to the text written on banners posted around the campus. The mission statement is written by the college’s founder and discusses the mandate of a college to teach students to “think clearly and independently”. The second text is made up of four words: leadership, service, integrity, and creativity. Kind of like what was written on our old Boundless posters. As Deresiewicz points out, the four words are vague enough to carry a wide array of meanings, yet the banners themselves don’t mention anything about learning how to think.
For Deresiewicz, the second set of words represents exactly what is wrong with postsecondary education today: it’s all about the buzz, and not enough about the learning. The flash without the substance. That reminds me of how at the end of last year, UTM told its students that they could still get all of their credits—even for courses that had been shut down during the strike—despite the four weeks of missed classes. What are we learning about the value of our education? Perhaps it’s time for us to really think about why we continue to pay thousands to fund our postsecondary education. In any economic transaction, the consumer pays for a service. If the company’s service isn’t satisfactory, the consumer should call them on it. So, why don’t we do the same here? Perhaps it’s because we’re too busy not attending class. Or signing the attendance sheet and then logging into Facebook. In the words of Deresiewicz, we need an institution “that recognizes it has an obligation to its students”. It’ll be up to us to point the university towards this obligation. And that’s something long overdue.
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You’d think that Maria, a fourth-year double major in English and professional writing, would be better with words, but nope. Not too much is known about Maria other than that she spends half her paychecks in Chapters and is part of the minority who think that Captain America is the best superhero. She has finally converted to liking poutine and had her first grilled cheese sandwich at 22. She also spends a lot of time avoiding having her photo taken.
Starting his third year at UTM and his second year as photo editor, Mahmoud has been taking photos for The Medium since his first week at UTM. He’s always looking for more volunteers to help him take photos! He loves anything that has to do with movies and may have a slight unhealthy addiction to them. Mahmoud is majoring in criminology and sociolegal studies and still has absolutely no idea what he wants to do with his life.
Akshaya is a third-year linguistics and Italian double major who also has varying levels of skill in French, Tamil, Spanish, and German. She is starting her second year as copy editor at The Medium and is excited to see where this year takes her, with graduate studies on the distant horizon. When she’s not combing articles for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors, Akshaya enjoys curling up with a good book or game controller in hand.
Mayank is in fourth year, specializing in digital enterprise management. This is his third year working with The Medium and his first as advertising manager. He has always found the process involved with the making of advertisements and the messages they convey very intriguing. Additionally, he loves to keep himself busy and prefers his Netflix account over free samples at Taco Bell.
Back in first year, I was asked to write a letter to myself outlining all of the things I wanted to accomplish by the end of the year. I never ended up writing that letter, but it’s four years later that I understand the value of such an exercise… To put things into context, I read an article in the final issue of The Medium last year by then-features editor (also a friend and colleague) Madeleine Brown, called “Why are you here?”. In it, Brown reflected on how often it seemed that students would “attend class, sign the attendance sheet, and never once check in”. She wondered why she seemed to be the only one who ever did the readings, never missed class, and actually enjoyed what she was learning. We are, after all, paying $7,000+ per year to fund our tuition. And that’s not even counting the costs of textbooks or laptops. So why do we bother? I guess it comes down to what we want to get out of it by the time we leave. I think we’ve all heard of the dangers of going to university simply for the career potential. (Where are the jobs now, anyway?) There’s also the argument that asserts that university will teach you how to think. But does it, really? As a recent graduate from the English program, I guess I can safely say that I’ve learned how to think critically when it comes to
literature. But what about real life? Take last year’s strike, for example. I had received no information from the university about the potential for a strike taking place at the end of the year. I didn’t even hear about it from my profs. By the time U of T decided to spill the beans about it, it was days before the strike actually broke out. And the notice came after an email from UTSU that week about a possible deadlock. Meanwhile, U of T and CUPE 3902 had been in negotia-
Postsecondary education seems to be all about the buzz and not enough about the learning. The flash without the substance. tions over the contract for several months. If they wanted us to know about it, they had plenty of time to tell us. But they didn’t. That’s where critical thinking comes in. Even after the strike broke out, U of T refused to respond to some key questions about what was going to happen. When were the two parties going to return to bargaining? What was going to happen to our courses? Would we still be able to graduate? When I tried asking these questions as news editor
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Political critique of Pan Am madness AGM artists look beyond the facade of Panamania, mixing art, politics, and nationalism KATE CATTELL-DANIELS A&E EDITOR Let’s imagine that Sports, Fine Art, and Politics are people and they all end up in a room together. All three know each other, probably though mutual exes or college roommates. It’s not like they don’t talk, but they don’t get together on their downtime for drinks, either. Now think about the Pan Am and Parapan Am Games. It’s a sporting event, but one that has been heavily endorsed by politicians. An event where Toronto’s infrastructure has changed to accommodate the events, and accessorized with a wide variety of arts-related events. Now don’t get me wrong—I like sporting events. But as the Art Gallery of Mississauga’s exhibit Be a Sport suggests, there is more going on than just the games. My favourite piece was NRA Sponsored Rhythmic Gymnastics Competition by Diana Thorneycroft. This series of three photographs first intrigued me because of the different approaches it encourages. I first read it left to right, like a comic strip, only to realize that it works the same right to left and centre outwards. The centre panel features a half-dozen Ken-type dolls doing a rhythmic gymnastics routine in pink tutus and leotards. They are obvi-
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AGM offers both hard-hitting politcal critique and a lyrical photography exhibit. ously American, from flags to national symbols—an eagle sits on the grass in front of the performers. To their right, the French stand looking at them, dressed in blue swim trunks, chests emblazoned with a large F. To the left stand the Canadians, clad in red shirts and snow boots. In the background, a Mountie figurine points a little girl in the direction of the American team. Oh, and I forgot to mention—a few Ken dolls are carrying guns. To me, this piece is about nation-
alism and competition, but it’s also just plain absurdity. The pictures are funny, yet awkward. Nothing like this ever happens and yet, in a way, it does. There is a performance art aspect to sporting events: tickets are sold, seating arranged. And there is a military aspect too—the competition is all about where you’re from and who you’re rooting for, not to mention the concept of “beating” the other country’s team. A fourth photograph on the wall,
that in fact has nothing to do with the previous series, shows a green field on which American football players and Canadian hockey players engage in battle. A comment on how sports are treated with as much reverence as war, this piece also shows the conflicts that occur between Americans and Canadians—on and off the field Another piece that caught my attention was Weber and Schneider’s Wimbledon-inspired quilt and video installation. A quilt with a green back-
ground and white lines covers the floor to represent a tennis court. At opposite corners, two TV monitors face each other. Playing on both is a video of two girls (one per screen) wearing sweatbands and swaying back and forth in the frame. Periodically, they emit the grunting noises tennis players are known for, though on a half-hearted scale. The product is almost sexual, which admittedly has me feeling a little uncomfortable. I don’t really want to stand around and watch, and yet, as I walk through the galleries, this is the piece I keep coming back to. I think Be a Sport is one of the most challenging shows I’ve seen at the AGM. It’s hard to be passive; this show forces the viewer to have an opinion. The Art Gallery of Mississauga is comprised of three galleries: here, two rooms have been dedicated to Be a Sport. The third currently houses a photography exhibit, showing yet another side of the elusive Pan Am Games. Assembled on the walls are individually framed photographs, all in plain standard size. At first, I wonder who took all these pictures and why, but my question is quickly answered by a blurb on the wall. Each picture was taken by an amateur photographer, and there is one photo per country that participated in the games. Pan Am continued on page 6
Inside Out cleverly blends art and psychology Pixar’s latest flick offers a fun-filled adventure take on psychology and the workings of the brain MAYANK SHARMA This summer set the bar for next year’s summer films. With strong storylines, performances, and special effects, summer releases kept viewers well entertained. Amid all the standalone critically acclaimed films and the massively profitable franchises, I decided to tap into my inner child and go for Pixar’s Inside Out. And as far as Pixar’s track record goes, it was simply outstanding. Inside Out revolves around a preteen girl named Riley and her family’s relocation from Minnesota to San Francisco. However, the central characters are not Riley or her family members, but rather the five personified manifestations of her emotions: Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Fear (Bill Hader), Anger (Lewis Black), and Disgust (Mindy Kaling). They work in Riley’s conscious mind, where they have the ability to control her actions and her memories. When they lose control over Riley, causing her to feel extreme sadness and apathy, they must collaborate and work together to understand Riley’s state and ultimately
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Ever wonder what goes on inside your brain? Look no further than Pixar’s Inside Out. figure out their own purpose of being in her conscious mind. From a cinematic standpoint, this film is a masterpiece. However, I wanted to better understand the film’s focus on psychology and its accuracy on the subject. So, I turned to my reliable comrade for advice— Google. Psychology Today covered
Inside Out as one of its discussion topics for its articles. According to the article, 11-yearold Riley begins showing symptoms of early Adjustment Disorder. She finds it difficult to pretend to be happy having left everything behind. The film’s director, Pete Docter, indicated a parallel with the film’s plot-
line and an incident from his own life. The director said that he experienced similar behavior as a child when his family relocated to another region. Riley’s five emotions are in fact the universally validated emotions that are experienced by human beings. The use of memory in the film
serves as an important aspect in plot development—memories are divided into long-term and short-term memories, which exist in the human mind. Inside Out works on a deeper level than just a summer kids’ movie. It is also an educator for both children and their parents—you can’t tell me you don’t understand your brain a little better after seeing this film, regardless of whether you took PSY100. The film wraps up by giving us an idea of what goes on in an 11-yearold’s mind as the child inches towards puberty—and adulthood. The film also reminds us to pay attention to every emotion because that results in the proper functioning of an individual and one’s overall wellbeing. The movie teaches us that every emotion is equally important, and that by numbing sadness, a person also numbs happiness. Inside Out is one of Pete Docter’s and Pixar’s finest works yet. So if the film is still playing in a theatre near you, grab your 3D glasses and head there as soon as you can.
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THE MEDIUM 09.08.2015
AGO presents explosive new exhibit Camera Atomica documents the events and aftermath of Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and USA bomb tests KEENA AL-WAHAIDI In keeping with my experiences at the Art Gallery of Ontario, I was duly impressed by their current exhibit, Camera Atomica. This year, art historian John O’Brian has curated a collection of photos in the first part of an eight-part series currently exhibiting at the gallery, with further exhibts to come. He brings his opinions, perspectives, and challenges to the heart of art in downtown Toronto. Camera Atomica showcases some of O’Brian’s rawest work yet. His aim is clear and simple, making the exhibit both historically appealing and original. The photo gallery displays three sections of the first part of the series: Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Test and Protest, and Radiation and Uranium. However, the first room doesn’t compare to what follows in terms of depth and perspective, and the subject matter itself proves to play an even bigger role in the last two parts of the exhibit. O’Brian doesn’t hold back in his efforts to display the intense, and sometimes powerful, outcome of
WIKIPEDIA.ORG/PHOTO
Nuclear weapons are devastating, but also hold potential for optimism. human brutality. He’s not afraid to show the outcome of nuclear testing and the consequences of radiation, such as the severity of the Americans’ bombing of Japan in 1945. The exhibit, one might find, is neither happy nor sad. Rather, it
is merely a reflection of a collection of emotions. One particular example of this is shown through a photo of a boy, about 15, carrying his little brother on his back in the aftermath of the bombing in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It’s tragic,
Painting a new picture The Human Canvas Project explores body love through paint KATE CATTELL-DANIELS A&E EDITOR I open my eyes and I’m looking right at Matti Maclean. He’s my height, with piercing eyes and a black Tshirt that says “I PAINT PEOPLE” in white block letters. The experience of having my skin painted is not something I can easily express with words. Sensual, but not sexual. Intimate. Comfortable. I first found out about the Human Canvas Project from my friend Courtney Keir, a UTM theatre and drama studies alumni. But it took me two years to work up the courage to go myself. Bodies are so political. So much, these days, depends on how you look. As an actor, I know this. There are roles I “can’t” play because of my long brown hair, pale skin, and blue eyes. Slowly though, I’m coming to a different kind of conclusion. I look the way I look, and if you don’t like it, I don’t care. I refuse to starve myself, straighten my hair, or slather mascara on my eyelashes. Today, I am a human canvas. I am joining the ranks of hundreds of others who volunteer their skin to Maclean, who invites me in, puts on some music, and asks me what colours I like. Maclean is a no-fuss kind of guy, and that makes me comfortable. He picks up a cake of purple body paint, rolls his brush in it, and starts laying colour on my neck and chest. I was never the kind of kid who got dirty a lot. I avoided messy activities, and even as an adult I get a little squeamish about things like
digging seeds out of pumpkins at Halloween. But paint is different somehow. It’s cool, kind of refreshing. And covered in shades of blue and purple and silver, I feel like one of those blue people from Avatar. It was like I’d been born that way, and I was already feeling a little sad about having to go home and wash it all off.
There’s that overused quote about beauty being in the eye of the beholder—this project takes that concept to a whole new level. Under any other circumstances, I wouldn’t normally be caught standing in a bra and a pair of shorts in front of a guy I’d met 10 minutes ago. But in no way did the Human Canvas Project make me feel exposed. In fact, I feel significantly more exposed on a day-to-day basis whenever I try to wear a skirt or a tank top and walk in a public place. The Rose Will studio is a kind of sanctuary filled with half-finished paintings and friendly cats. It’s a good place to have time with my body. I’m not thinking about anything except the feeling of paint as my skin turns into an outward expression of who I am on the inside. There’s that overused quote about beauty being in the eye of the beholder—this project takes that to a whole new level. Plus, I get a chance to ask the questions that have been
piling up. I ask Maclean about the demographic of people who come to the Human Canvas Project. Most participants, he tells me, are young Caucasian women. I wonder about why that is. Why don’t men want to be canvases? Why not people of colour? Is it some kind of heteronormative “ideal” beauty thing? Maclean also paints relationships: he has several couples in his collection, and he tells me he’s trying to get one of his canvases back with his twin. Based on what Maclean tells me, he wants as much diversity as he can get. Regardless of being a white woman myself, I’m still incredibly happy just to be here. My painting takes less than an hour, covering me from hairline to the V of my bra, and all the way down both my arms. In some places, I shimmer with silver and gold. In others, black rings or speckles overlap the base colour. I feel both covered and exposed, flawless and incredibly vulnerable. Maclean snaps a few pictures of me against a slat wall a few feet from the studio. When he’s finished, he looks at me and says: “Ready to see yourself?” Maclean has a point— I’ve seen my arms and some of my chest, but I realize I don’t know what I look like anymore. That’s kind of a refreshing thought. I won’t even try to be modest. I look amazing. Heading home on the subway, a lot of people stare. For twenty minutes on public transit, I am a walking piece of art. The only thing missing is Maclean’s signature.
and it seems they’ve lost the rest of their family and only have each other. The viewer can see what devastating consequences the event has brought, as well as the desire between the two brothers to help each other live.
Through the series, one can feel the bitterness of the Japanese people, but also their triumph, at least from the surviving members. This is also consistent throughout the third section, Radiation and Uranium. After the United States ran some nuclear tests at the Nevada Test Site in St. George, Utah, residents were seriously affected. Some of their stories can be found in the series, photographed by Carole Gallagher. The extremities of nuclear testing and bombs have been measured out to quite an extent through the photos put together by O’Brian. Not only does it allow the viewer to realize the barbaric effects of nuclear energy, but it touches on how fragile life itself is. We learn that human beings can come out of rough circumstances alive and yet go on with their lives. For example, the photo entitled Mr. and Mrs. Kotani: Two Who Have Suffered from the Bomb, show a couple laughing with their child even after an event that will never fade in their memories. Camera Atomica runs at the Art Gallery of Ontario until November 15.
Art sharpens its claws Pan Am continued from page 5 I like this exhibit for a couple of reasons: first, it provides insight on daily life as seen by an inhabitant of the country in question. It also makes the Pan Am Games about something other than sports—it’s about people, their nationalities, and their lives. It highlights the human side of things. However, the layout is problematic.
Countries are grouped together, by no obvious logic, on three walls. And in order to look up which photograph corresponds to which country, I have to keep going back and forth to the little map on the wall. The Pan Am Games have a right to their place—both critiqued and idealized. Be a Sport runs at the AGM until September 13.
ARTS EDITOR KATE CATTELL-DANIELS ARTS@THEMEDIUM.CA Kate Cattell-Daniels is a graduate of UTM’s theatre and drama studies program (2015) and also holds an English major from UTM and a diploma in acting from Sheridan College. Kate spent her four years at UTM reading novels and plays and going to rehearsals. She has contributed to The Medium for three years, including
two years as associate arts editor, so Kate is very excited to join this year’s editorial team. Besides journalism, Kate also writes poetry, plays, and reads pretty much anything she can get her hands on. Currently, Kate is writing, acting, and getting a master’s of information at U of T’s iSchool on the St. George campus. In her spare time, Kate enjoys libraries and drinking more tea than is probably healthy.
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09.08.2015
UTM father, son bike to raise $55,000 Despite various challenges, Max’s Big Ride raised both awareness and funding for DMD FARAH QAISER FEATURES EDITOR This summer, UTM’s Andrew Sedmihradsky and his four-year-old son Max, who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, pedalled 600 km from Ottawa to Hamilton, across the TransCanada Trail. During their 11-day bike ride, the cycling duo passed by several stops, including UTM, to raise awareness and funding towards research for the cure to the disease. DMD is a debilitating neurodegenerative disease that affects 1 in 3,500 boys. Victims have an average life expectancy of about 25 years. Through Max’s Big Ride, approximately $55,000 were raised for Jesse’s Journey, a Canadian charity dedicated to funding research for DMD around the world. Sedmihradsky, who is a global mobility coordinator at UTM’s International Education Centre, had done rigorous training to prepare himself for his biking adventure. “I knew that I could do the ride physically, but I didn’t know what it would be like for Max,” he says. “I thought that I would place Max in his front seat, and ride him around the corner. Once the press was gone, I would put him in the car and then I would ride by myself.” But Max insisted on joining Sedmi-
UTM MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT/PHOTO
On June 30, Andrew Sedmihradsky and his son Max stopped at UTM. hradsky for the entire ride—despite the rough terrain, poor weather, and even swarms of insects. “Once, we had to wake up at 5:30 in the morning to make it in time for the interview at eight at a radio station in Toronto,” says Sedmihradsky. “Max said, ‘I wanna go—let’s go!’ “ Throughout the entire journey, Max enjoyed himself greatly; he received ice cream daily and a massive number of presents. Near the end of the journey, their support van—driven by Sedmihradsky’s parents and his wife, Kerri—
was beginning to run low on space. It wasn’t all toys and fun though— Max remained optimistic during the tougher of times too. “There was a day when there was a big storm,” recalls Sedmihradsky. “We spent hours talking about ninja school and how to become a ninja.” The pair set out from Parliament Hill, Ottawa, on June 21—which, coincidentally, was also Father’s Day. “I hadn’t actually considered that,” says Sedmihradsky. “But I did plan to end on July 1 so that we could join in on
the Canada Day celebrations.” Sedmihradsky’s original plan was to start early each day and ride for a few hours. Max and Sedmihradsky would then take a break with their family in a nearby park and then continue onwards. On average, they biked about 55 km daily. However, things didn’t always go according to plan. As the cycling duo left Perth and headed towards Arden, they encountered a rougher path of the Trans-Canada Trail. As Sedmihradsky continued biking along the Trail, the
water puddles kept getting deeper. At one point, he couldn’t continue riding since the trail was entirely flooded and the duo was being attacked by swarms of deer flies. “Max had a cover on, so that meant that the deer flies couldn’t get to him. But every once in a while, they would hop in on the side and then all hell would break loose,” says Sedmihradsky. “At that point, I was asking myself: what am I doing to my son?” For that particular day, he chose to turn back and return Max to the comfort of the support van. Despite the challenges, both continued along their journey enthusiastically and were met with overwhelming support. When Sedmihradsky rode into Tweed with Max, he was shocked by the massive welcome: there were fluorescent signs, fire engines blaring their support, and several children present to celebrate Max’s ride. “ “When I made it, I was completely stunned,” says Sedmihradsky as he describes the scene. “I just told myself that I have to look busy—I didn’t know what to do!” The duo reached the UTM campus on June 30. “Again, at UTM, I knew that something was happening,” says Sedmihradsky. “But that didn’t prepare me.” Max continued on page 9
The rise of public shaming on the Internet With hashtag use on the rise, public shaming campaigns now often result in online bullying MAHNOOR AYUB #Activism. Not familiar with the term? Try and recall #HeforShe, #Yesallwomen or #Bringbackourgirls. Leading to some of the most powerful social media movements of the last few years, “hashtag activism” is now often referred to as Facebook revolutions. However, have you heard of the recent Ashley Madison hacking scandal or glanced over Rachel Dolezal’s Twitter account? If you have, chances are you’ve noticed a significant number of angry comments from those who are using social media to express their extreme dissatisfaction. Up until the late 1900s, public shaming in small communities was widely used as an official punishment. However, the evolution of the Internet, followed by exponential globalization, has widened the boundaries of who constitutes the “public” and the resulting repercussions. While often associated with politicians and celebrities, public shaming has crept its way into the lives of ordinary children and students, establishing its roots in social media and pre-
MAHMOUD SAROUJI/THE MEDIUM
With the power of hashtags comes great responsibility: to be empathetic. senting itself as online bullying. Justine Sacco’s example shows how one careless comment can not only lead to a dismissal from your job and disappointment from your family, but also scornful remarks from strangers all over the world. “Going to Africa. Hope I don’t get AIDS. Just kidding. I’m white!” was the ill-considered tweet sent just before she boarded the 11-hour flight from Heathrow to Cape Town. It caused Sacco to become the
number one worldwide trend on Twitter, and also opened her up to enraged remarks from strangers criticizing her and her employers online. The uproar caused her to lose her job and the respect of her family and friends. As students, a strong similarity to the Sacco incident can be seen by how easily students join in on “ridiculingbandwagons” on social media, especially Facebook pages in which they maintain anonymity.
“I find it surprising how often we forget [that] the person we collectively comment against on the confessions pages, while remaining anonymous, still remains a distressed student just like all of us,” says Rubani Qaumi, a fourth-year student pursuing a major in biology for health science. A 2011 University of Toronto Scarborough study, “Ironic Effects of Antiprejudice Messages: How Motivational Interventions Can Reduce (but Also
Increase) Prejudice”, discusses how imposing antiprejudice ideas on others can in fact result in those people reacting with increased prejudice. Paradoxically, while contributing to public shaming may seem like a good way to stop prejudice, it can actually have the reverse effect. Although the motivations for participating in such public shaming acts may vary, the most frequently seen cause remains common: mental health. “Students who are plugged in are exposed to content that has been digitally manipulated and retouched; fashioned to inspire envy and poised to aggravate insecurities,” says Jordan Foster, the team leader for Peer Health Education on mental health. “Our mission is to create a positive and safe environment in which students can discuss a given issue,” says Foster. The rise of the Internet has given us freedom of expression, but has it also robbed us of the freedom to make mistakes? Being an empathetic bystander is increasingly becoming insufficient in the face of strong online resentment.
09.08.2015 THE MEDIUM FEATURES» 9
Does reverse racism exist?
To kick off this year’s column, I’ll start by sharing my own beloved recipe.
MAHMOUD SAROUJI/THE MEDIUM
MARIUM FAISAL When UTMSU posted a photo last week pertaining to “reverse racism”, comments immediately flooded in debating whether or not the term should even exist. However, when I searched the term on Google, one of the first few results displayed was from Urban Dictionary, which began to put doubts in my head. If being racist towards Caucasians existed, shouldn’t it just be termed racism? Why coin a new term for it? When UTMSU posted a definition of the term up on their Facebook page, it caused a lot of controversy. Most of the outrage and backlash was at how callous it was to believe that reverse racism—a term used to describe acts of racism against people who belong to the racial majority—didn’t exist. When asked about her views on it, Diala Saab, a second-year psychology major, said, “If someone discriminates against someone [else] because of their race,
it’s racism,” regardless of how you want to label it. “Society shouldn’t be a jigsaw puzzle where pieces of human[kind] are acknowledged to be more dominant than others.” Sherry Ghaly, a third-year psychology major who wrote the definition for UTMSU, didn’t believe it was so simple. “[The term] isn’t meant to attack whites at all. It’s simply stating that white people are given privileges in society not afforded to people of colour,” she says. “Racism is fundamentally tied to the notion of dominance and power, and people of colour do not have this position in society; only white people can truly be racist,” Ghaly added. In other words, a minority group, such as Africans or North Americans who have had their history embedded in slavery and oppression, cannot reproduce the kind of racism that exists at a kind of structural and institutional level that affects their historic oppressor, i.e. a majority group, Caucasians. “When people of colour are dis-
criminatory in North America, it’s [not as significant]—we do not have the political, social, or economic clout to influence policies,” she said, adding that racism committed by white people can impact the lives of people of colour “on a very grand scale”. According to this view of racism, one form of it is an institution and the other is personal. When a majority group is insulted, it does not affect them the same way it affects those who are a minority. When a minority group is stereotyped and insulted through years of a system that has been put into place, the result is a lack of basic rights, and reduced access to jobs, benefits, and much more. We can get lost in the technicalities behind the phrase “reverse racism” but one thing is for sure: racism has become a part of everyday lingo, but behind the six-letter word is a history that affects people today, individually and collectively. It isn’t tangible, but it is something we can see all around us.
that the winning duo with the healthiest
Now, I’ll be very honest with you all: I
meal would get ice cream. I suppose it was
can’t actually cook. Well, that isn’t com-
a little counter-productive to reward the
pletely true: I can prepare a variety of sal-
healthiest meal with junk food, but given
ads. I can make a tasty set of garlic bread
that this was a high school in the middle
(yum), a rustic pizza (read: a bread with
of a desert—I lived in Saudi Arabia—it was
melted cheese and veggies on top), and a
definitely the best way to motivate a class
few other simple recipes.
of lazy high school students. My partner
You can go ahead and have a laugh, but
and I decided to prepare chicken fried rice,
I’m the type of person who’ll head to lec-
mainly because I adore fried rice and my
tures with snacks, order pizza if there’s a
partner could handle the chicken.
study group, live off my mom’s hot meals,
Now I wish I could say that we won the
or just stare wistfully at food (beyond my
competition. But sadly, our meal was a tad
budget) at Deerfield Hall. I still haven’t
salty (I’m looking at you, soya sauce.). We
worked out why I love watching the Food
were beaten by the tabouleh—a Lebanese
Network (I’m looking at you, Cutthroat
vegetarian dish. (My wonderful chicken
Kitchen and Gordon Ramsay—stop reeling
fried rice lost to soggy veggies?! Unbeliev-
me in with the intense competitions and
able.)
those desserts!).
UTMSU’s definition of reverse racism sparked controversy on their Facebook platform.
school. My biology teacher had decided
But anyway, enough reminiscing about
There is one meal that I am proud of, though: my chicken fried rice. I remember preparing that meal spe-
the past—here’s my recipe for chicken fried rice. If a hopeless cook like me can manage to make it, anyone can.
cifically for a cooking competition in high Chicken Fried Rice (Inspired by traditional chinese fried rice and adapted from my mom’s delicious cooking) SERVES 6
INGREDIENTS
pan. Once the oil is hot, add the chopped
• 3 eggs
carrots and stir fry for about 2–3 minutes.
• 200 g chicken filet • 500 g long-grain rice (uncooked weight), cooked and left to go cold • 1 large capsicum, chopped • 5 green onions, finely chopped • 2 carrots, chopped into squares
4. As the carrot is cooking in the frying pan, add in the cold rice and stir fry for another five minutes until completely heated through. 5. Add the chicken pieces, followed by the
• 200 g peas
chopped capsicum and green onions.
• 2 tbsp ground white pepper
At this point, add the soya sauce, white pepper, and the lemon juice.
• 1 tbsp soya sauce • 6 tbsp vegetable oil • Spices: red chilli powder, black pepper
6. Stir fry for about 3 minutes, making sure to constantly turn the rice around the frying pan.
• salt and pepper
7. Push the entire mixture to one side of METHOD
the pan. Pour the beaten egg mixture
1.Boil the chicken filet, adding appropriate
into the newly vacated area, and allow
pinches of salt, black pepper, and red
the egg to fry. Once the egg is set,
chili powder for about 10–15 minutes.
break it up into smaller pieces and mix
Once the chicken is cool, shred the
it with the rice and vegetables in the
chicken into smaller pieces. 2. Beat the egg, add the black pepper, and place it to one side for later use. 3. Heat the vegetable oil in a large frying
frying pan. 8. While at low heat, cover the frying pan with a lid for 5 minutes. 9. Serve immediately.
Cycling duo stopped at UTM
UTM MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT/PHOTO
A huge crowd welcomed Andrew Sedmihradsky and his son Max as they cycled to UTM.
FEATURES EDITOR FARAH QAISER FEATURES@THEMEDIUM.CA
Farah is a third-year molecular biology specialist and chemistry minor. When Farah isn’t worrying about deadlines, she spends her time reading cliché YA books. She is also a fullblown TV show addict, with her top favourites being Game Of Thrones and NCIS. Farah loves the winter. No, she isn’t deluded—after spending her entire life
in Saudi Arabia, Farah detests the sun with every fibre of her being. Farah has recently entered the world of bird watching. She still can’t recognise different bird songs, but she’s slowly getting the hang of it. As for the future, Farah has yet to decide her path. Grad school? Sleeping? Stay tuned to find out!
Max continued from page 8 UTM welcomed the two with a huge crowd—and more importantly for Max, an ice cream truck. As an observer present in the crowd that day, I can say that it was quite refreshing to see the support for Max at UTM. It was clear that both father and son were exhausted, but Max had nothing but smiles for everyone. “The people who organised the welcome—especially my colleagues Veronica Vasquez and Zoya Tahir— were absolutely amazing,” says Sedmihradsky. “Principal Deep Saini was
about to go on his sabbatical in a few hours but he came out to the event, so I was really surprised to see him there! Really, I was just amazed. I don’t even know what I was expecting.” Their journey ended in Hamilton in time for the Canada Day celebrations. “The day it was over, I washed the bike,” says Sedmihradsky. “It was comfortable and fun—it was like a home.” He says that his biggest challenge was not the continuous cycling or the rough terrain—it was about openly addressing Duchenne muscular dystrophy. “One thing that I struggled
with was that I didn’t ever want to be in the spotlight,” he explains. “But I didn’t know any way to do this without putting myself out there to some extent. When I look back at it all, the biggest challenge was just taking it all in and saying ‘thank you’. I’m glad someone filmed the moments because I still can’t believe that it happened.” Max’s Big Ride isn’t over though— this is only the beginning. Sedmihradsky is planning his next adventure. For his part, Max has already decided his own plans: he’s aiming to do a Mummy’s Big Ride.
09.08.2015
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Blues lose to defending champions Varsity Blues couldn’t sustain a half-time lead, losing 55-33 to the Marauders ERIC HEWITSON SPORTS EDITOR The Varsity Blues football team seemed to shine as bright as the afternoon sky on August 30 during the first two quarters of play against the defending Yates Cup champions, McMaster Marauders. But to their dismay, a faulty second half cost them a lead, and they eventually fell 55-33 in their season opener at Varsity Stadium. A possible upset loomed over the McMaster faithful when the Blues led 26-24 at halftime, but the Marauders pulled out on top. The main thorn in the Blues’ side was CIS all-Canadian receiver Danny Vandervoort, who made ten catches for 168 yards and four touchdowns for the opposing squad. He connected with second-year quarterback Asher Hastings, who went 26-34 and 383 yards and five touchdowns. Blues quarterback Simon Nassar picked up right where he left off last year, when he led the league in many offensive categories, throwing 29-for-49 for 361 yards and one touchdown. His favorite target, fifth-
JAMIE MACDONALD/VARSITYBLUES.CA
It was the first game of the year for the Blues, who have three home games left at Varsity Stadium. year receiver Boris Isakov, made six catches for 87 yards. Second-year receiver Domenic Battistella caught the only touchdown thrown that afternoon when Nassar threw it from the Marauders’ one-yard line.
Even though the Blues allowed the Marauders 55 points, there were exceptional standouts from the defensive side, including fourth-year linebacker Adrian Bernard, who had transferred from Susquehanna,
Pennsylvania. Bernard led all the players with eight tackles, adding a sack and forced fumble. Other standouts include Brittley Mokube, Jaiden McBride, and Trevor Harvey, who each had 6.5 tackles.
The Player of the Game for the Blues and the Varsity Athlete of the Week was second-year running back and UTM student Divante Smith. Smith had 18 rushes for 112 yards and three touchdowns. In the single game against the Marauders, Divante accumulated totals that took him half a year to accomplish last year. “I’m the same guy as I was last year; I’m keeping my mind focused,” says Smith, adding that he’s positive that he can fill the shoes of Lukas Gavac, Blues fourth-year all-star running back who went down with an injury prior to the regular season. “We looked at the first half of the game and saw that we were beating the defending [Yates Cup] champions. We know we can play against the best; all we have to do is finish off the best,” Smith continued. “Look at the way McMaster was able to come back and beat us—they’re a good team. Now we learn from that and move on.” The Blues are now suiting up against the Queen’s Gaels at Varsity Stadium on September 26 at 1 p.m. The Blues look to make the playoffs for the first time since 1995.
UTM Eagle spirit soars to new heights Revamped UTMAC executives plan to energize students through new approach to sports KARINA COTRAN August 31 was the start of orientation for the new academic year, and it happened with a bang. Frosh week began with a pep rally to introduce new students to the athletic side of UTM at the Recreation and Wellness Centre. The pep rally started off with a basketball game, where the UTM men’s basketball team played against UTM’s alumni basketball team; it was a friendly contest that saw UTM Eagle spirit soar at its highest. The start of a new school year also came with the new University of Toronto Mississauga Athletic Council. This year’s UTMAC team consists of nine individuals whose collective goal is to encourage students to get involved with sports programs and add a social aspect to athletics with events like Health Week, pub nights, and the annual Athletic Banquet hosted at the end of the year. UTMAC’s director of health and wellness, Andrew Williams, says the main purpose of UTMAC is to highlight the importance of physical activity and to emphasize inclu-
NOOR CHAUDHRY/PHOTO
UTMAC, led by president Bilal Raifai, have new interactive events planned for 2015/16. sivity by welcoming all students regardless of their athletic experience or skills. “We want to ensure that students are emotionally, physically, and mentally balanced after a long day
of studying,” Williams says. What inspired this way of thinking is that he met former 15-year NBA veteran and Toronto Raptor Doug Christie, who is head athletic trainer and owner of the athletic
facility TERNION. In their conversations, they discussed the importance of establishing a connection between mind, body, and sport. “I want to incorporate all I’ve learned from Doug and Sly into UT-
MAC’s programs and boot camps,” Williams says. “This connection is not geared solely for athletes but provides a new, refreshing outlook on life to anyone willing to join.” UTMAC also shared its plans to increase school spirit by introducing its first promotional team, “Planet RAWC”, whose purpose is to create awareness and increase hype for all events, especially games. Encouraging the theme of inclusivity, “the promo team will be the bridge between UTMAC and the students on our campus,” says UTMAC director of public relations and communications Mustapha Hashi. UTMAC president Bilal Raifai says that in addition to the promotional team, UTMAC is “introducing a bunch of new events that have not been done in the past, such as UTMAC boot camps and free outdoor yoga classes”. The new UTMAC team encourages students to stay informed by following them on Twitter at @ MyUTMAC, on Instagram at UTMACEAGLES, or finding them on their University of Toronto Athletic Council Facebook page.
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THE MEDIUM 09.08.2015
Building on the Varsity Eagle empire UTM welcomes outdoor soccer teams, giving more opportunities for students to compete in OCAA ERIC HEWITSON SPORTS EDITOR Last fall, UTM began competing within the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association, which is recognized as a leader in intercollegiate athletics in Ontario. UTM was sworn in as its 30th member, giving students the opportunity to become recognized as athletes. The Medium spoke to UTM Athletics about the past season and plans for the new one. Director of UTM Athletics Ken Duncliffe made a statement regarding the inaugural season, seeming happy with last year’s outcome and hopeful for its future. “The first year of UTM’S participation in OCAA varsity sport exceeded our expectations. Student athletes proudly represented UTM in the games of badminton, cross country, and indoor soccer,” he said. In 2014/15, UTM’s Varsity Eagles teams competed in badminton, cross country, and men’s and women’s indoor soccer. “Men’s indoor soccer captured the Sheridan College Invitational Tournament championship while women’s indoor soccer made it to the semifinals in the same tournament.
MAHMOUD SAROUJI/THE MEDIUM
UTM, an affiliate OCAA member, has four varsity sports, with two more to come in 2017/18. UTM cross country athlete Lauren Brewster qualified for the National Championship by placing in the top 25 in the province,” says Jack Krist, UTM program coordinator. This year, UTM is adding men’s and women’s outdoor soccer programs. Looking to join the bunch in
SPORTS EDITOR ERIC HEWITSON SPORTS@THEMEDIUM.CA Starting his first year as sports editor of The Medium, this former Varsity Blues football player will provide students with up-to-date information regarding UTM and U of T Athletics. Eric has written for The Medium for the past two years, holding the associate editor position for one and a half of those. Once on the inside looking out, Eric now approaches varsity athletics with a whole new perspective. He dressed 16 games for the Blues, leading the team in points in both seasons. His experience, passion for sports, and valuable list of contacts make him a great representative at this position. For the 10 percent of Eric’s life where he isn’t dreaming, thinking, watching, or actively participating
in athletics, he’s binge watching House of Cards, rooting for the notorious Frank Underwood. Other notable favourites include watching the Patriots on Sundays, Jays smashing home runs, and the Leafs scoring in their own net. The native of Cambridge, Ontario sometimes remembers he’s also a fourth-year English and professional writing major. A sports fanatic that hopes to obtain a career in sports journalism, Eric also wants to do some traveling before he settles down with a career and family. This is starting to sound too much like a Tinder profile, so just go ahead and follow him already on Twitter @eric_hewitson.
2017/18 are men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball programs. For students looking for an athletic edge beyond what is offered with UTM’s intramural programs, participating on a Varsity Eagles team offers students that opportunity, but Duncliffe warned they should be
wary of heftier responsibilities and time commitments. “This new level of sport at UTM, in addition to existing opportunities with the Varsity Blues and all of the other levels of competitive and recreational sport, offer the new UTM student the choice of participating
at a level that meets their individual needs. Each level has different time and commitment requirements, with the varsity sports being the most demanding,” says Duncliffe. Even though the men’s and women’s varsity soccer teams have wrapped up their tryout dates, students still have the ability to try out for the varsity badminton team, coached by Lam Trinh, and cross country team, coached by Adam Hassan. Badminton is holding its information session on September 15 at 7 p.m. with tryouts occurring the following week. Cross country has three more tryout dates happening in the next two weeks. Students who are interested in participating in a varsity program at UTM but are not enrolled in fulltime studies or did not make a varsity team are encouraged to join a development league team. Men’s ice hockey and men’s and women’s volleyball, indoor soccer, outdoor soccer, and basketball will each take part in a four-team league consisting of UTM, UTSC, and two St. George teams. Students wanting to find out more about each level should contact the program staff at the RAWC.