The Mike, Issue 3 (2017-18)

The official student newspaper of the University of St. Michael’s College since 1947.

Volume LXX, Issue 3 November 1, 2017 readthemike.com

NEWS

ARTS

OPINIONS

LOGOS

U of T to implement mandatory leave of absence policy (page 3) Bill 62: populism in the name of “religious neutrality” (page 10)

The awful truth about campus book sales (page 6) Pope Francis’ message to we, the youth of Canada (page 12)

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NEWS

News Editor: Aaron Panciera news@readthemike.com

Admission of a Mission

Volume LXX By students, for students.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Josh Scott editorinchief@readthemike.com MANAGING EDITOR Liam McConnell managingeditor@readthemike.com BUSINESS MANAGER Rhonda Rathburn business@readthemike.com

A summary of the USMC’s mission and goals

WEBSITE EDITOR Angela Feng

Braedon Balko CONTRIBUTOR

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Emily So OUTREACH DIRECTOR Josh Simpson DESIGN MANAGERS Varisha Naeem, Garnet Ryu

MANAGING ONLINE EDITOR Prijanga Ahilan

DELIVERY MANAGER Manyi Luo

SENIOR COPY EDITOR Jamie Stalcup

CONTRIBUTORS Ethan Deneault, Braedon Balko, Chan Lee, Emily Barber, Abdul Ali, Nicholas Rita, Kaelan Unrau, Bisma Ali, Rashida Abbas, Nazanin Zarepour, Sam MacMillan, Charlie Mitchell, Jessica Afonso, Aaron Au, Lindsey Peng, Mykola Potapenko, Pran Sathiy

NEWS EDITOR Aaron Panciera news@readthemike.com ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR Bardia Besharat OPINIONS EDITOR Julia Orsini opinions@readthemike.com ASSOCIATE OPINIONS EDITOR Bryan Liceralde FEATURES EDITOR Téana Graziani features@readthemike.com ASSOCIATE FEATURES EDITOR Vacant ARTS EDITOR Miranda Mirabelli arts@readthemike.com ASSOCIATE ARTS EDITOR Ascenza Paolella LOGOS EDITOR Francesco Rampino logos@readthemike.com SCIENCE & TECH EDITOR Jiaxing Huang science@readthemike.com SPORTS EDITOR Ben Denomme sports@readthemike.com PHOTO EDITOR Layla Pereira-DaSilva ILLUSTRATION EDITOR Jennifer Boothby COPY EDITORS M. Kalaczynski, Rebeca Ancer, Mara Ng, Kristine Sahagun

FACULTY ADVISOR Randy Boyagoda COVER IMAGE “My Ferrari,” by Ethan Deneault LOGO DESIGN Le nonpareil Chris Quental VACANCIES Video Editor (1), Design Manager (1) Associate Features Editor (1) If you’re interested in any of the above positions, please email Liam at managingeditor@readthemike.com.

The Mike has been the official student newspaper of the University of St. Michael’s College (USMC) since 1947. It is published bi-weekly, 12 times a year, with a circulation of 2,000, delivered to over 40 newsstands across U of T’s St. George campus.

Like most academic or corporate organisations, the University of St. Michael’s College (USMC) has a public statement available on its website that outlines its proposed “Missions and Goals” — essentially the driving philosophy and objectives of USMC as an institution.

Its overall mission is simple. USMC aims to be “Canada’s leading English-speaking Catholic University”. Considering USMC’s connection to U of T, and U of T’s high standing in world university rankings, this mission may be considered accomplished according to some metrics.

Moving on to goals, the statement asserts that St. Michael’s College is interested in pursuing knowledge for the sake of knowledge, which is common among academic institutions. Because of its identity as a Catholic university, it is particularly interested in pursuing knowledge of the Christian tradition. However, USMC also wants to point out that it is not exclusive to Catholics, and it is accepting of people from every background.

Another goal pertains to the environment of USMC. Specifically, USMC wishes to

create an environment that allows for the “intellectual, moral and spiritual development of its members”. It also advocates for the values of the gospel and their effects on individual and social life.

USMC argues that it can fulfill its mission and goals through three academic units.

First of all, St. Michael’s College, the undergraduate division of USMC, will implement USMC’s mission and goals in conjunction with those of U of T. The Faculty of Theology, on the other hand, will serve to accomplish USMC’s mission and goals through its theological education and research. The Continuing Education Division is one which offers lifelong learning through non-degree programs and seeks to support leaders in the Catholic community. Finally, John M. Kelly Library is a sort of academic hub which is dedicated to meeting the research needs of all of USMC students.

The mission statement ends by promising that the USMC is committed to forging a community based on “the Spirit of Christ”, which aims to form individuals within its institutions through both academic rigours and common activities like mass.

The Mike is a proud member of the Canadian University Press (CUP). The Mike is published by The Mike Publications Inc. and printed by MasterWeb Inc. on recycled newsprint stock.

The Mike has complete editorial autonomy from USMC. All editorial inquiries should be directed to editorinchief@ readthemike.com.

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram @readthemike.

You can also find us on the web at readthemike.com.

In the hustle and bustle of fall and midterm season, it’s easy to forget just how gorgeous our USMC and greater U of T campus is. This reading week, take a breath, a stroll, and relax (but not for too long), and take solace in the fact that U of T (finally) has a fall reading week, as well as, if you’re reading this issue on the date of its release, the knowledge that it’s only three days away. USMC.

Need to Know: Your USMC Writing Centre Book online and do so early, as appointments tend to fill up quickly Chan Lee CONTRIBUTOR Do you need help with assignments or would like to help other students? The University of St. Michael’s College (USMC) Writing Centre offers USMC students and students enrolled in USMC courses support with assignments and with any writing-related questions they may have.

It offers objective criticism of students’ written assignments in any subject (for assignments ranging from English essays to chemistry reports to scholarship applications). Instructors can help students with such topics as focus, organization, and grammar. Each session, which may take up to 45 minutes, can help students develop their writing and revision skills.

Students who wish to utilize the Writing Centre can

do so by visiting the USMC website at the following link: https://stmikes.utoronto.ca/students/writing/#To_ Book_an_Appointment.

Individuals who book an appointment should, however, adhere to the cancellation policy, which states that students who need to cancel an appointment are asked to do so at least 24 hours in advance.

The Writing Centre also hosts drop-in sessions on Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in room 302 of the Kelly Library. The drop-in sessions are helpful for students who could not get an appointment, have last minute questions, or would like to get additional support from other instructors and students.

Jenna Brooke, an associate professor in the teaching

stream at USMC and the director of USMC’s Writing Centre states the goal of the Writing Centre as to “provide writing support to St. Mike’s students and students enrolled in USMC courses.” She also mentioned that since appointments tend to “book quickly,” (especially during the busier times of the academic year), and so, she advises that students register for sessions as soon as possible.

USMC offers students a wide range of programs to assist them in their academic work, and the Writing Centre is one of them. It’s a great resource for students who are struggling with written assignments or are looking for additional feedback.

NEWS

Website: readthemike.com Facebook/Twitter/Instagram: @readthemike

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U of T to Implement Mandatory Leave of Absence Policy

Policy faces backlash, challenges as officials seek approval Aaron Panciera NEWS EDITOR While the statement claims that the leave of absence is not disciplinary or punitive, if a student is subject to this mandatory leave they do not have the right to invoke it, instead having to appeal the decision to the University Tribunal’s Discipline Appeals Board.

However, for the situation to even get to the point where a mandatory leave of absence is given, a specific process outlined in the policy must be followed.

The University of Toronto’s Governing Council boardroom. U of T.

The University of Toronto (U of T) announced in early October a university-mandated leave of absence policy for students whose behaviours reach the “threshold for intervention.” According to the policy, a mandatory leave of absence will be invoked if, “due to mental health or other similar personal issues,” a student’s behaviour is dangerous or is impairing their educational experience or the experience of those around them.

The idea for this policy was first proposed in the Annual Report of the Office of the Ombudsperson for 2014– 15. This policy is intended to target only students who exhibit these behaviours because of mental health issues. Similar behaviour with no evidence of poor mental health could fall under other university policies unrelated to the one being proposed.

Office of the Ombudsperson The initial report for 2014–15 included four recommendations “aimed at ensuring that existing and future academic programs are designed to acknowledge the rights of those with mental health disabilities to equitable treatment.” These recommendations were triggered by multiple student complaints to the Office of the Ombudsperson, with 26 of those respondents stating they were registered with Accessibility Services.

According to the report, “Accommodations (or the perceived lack thereof) were important contributing factors in their complaints.”

To correct these shortcomings, the Ombudsperson recommended four key changes. These are highlighted by the need for a plan to help the university accommodate students with mental health needs, ensuring “consistency and accountability” when following the current guidelines, requiring a section on accessibility

and accommodation in new program proposals, and developing guidelines and support for programs that have students suffering from mental health which may create potential harm for the surrounding community.

The University’s Response In response to the Ombudsperson’s report, U of T published an Administrative Response in October of 2016.

It is the last recommendation made by the Ombudsperson that the response, and the subsequent policy, focuses on.

“The administration is in the process of preliminary consultation and drafting of a policy that will address voluntary and involuntary compassionate leave from the university in cases where serious mental health needs arise,” the response states. It is this particular guideline that the proposed mandatory leave of absence policy focuses on.

The Policy This policy is proposed with the overarching guiding principles that all students have the right to pursue their academic aspirations and that all students have the right to institutional support. The primary aspect of this policy, the actual leave of absence, is meant to be a last resort.

“The draft Policy is intended for a very small number of students who meet the high threshold for intervention as described in the draft Policy and the presence of mental health or other similar concerns provides a context for University action that is not disciplinary in nature,” the policy reads.

Initially, when the head of a department feels that a student’s behaviour reaches the “threshold for intervention,” they will contact the Vice-Provost, Students. The Vice-Provost then decides whether or not to follow through on the claim. If they decide to follow through, a Student Support Team and Student Case Manager will be assigned to the student in question. Only after this happens will the student be notified that their behavior has resulted in a referral to the Vice-Provost’s office.

The Student Support Team and Student Case Manager will then discuss alternative accommodations with a student to try and avoid a leave of absence.

If this fails, the Vice-Provost along with the Student Support Team and Student Case Manager will try and agree to a voluntary leave of absence with the student.

If the student will not agree to one, the Vice-Provost will inform the student of their university-mandated leave of absence. From there, the university will work to create alternative arrangements for the student after they are no longer enroled, and will set guidelines for when they return to their studies.

However, it is important to note that these are only general guidelines for the procedure, and as a whole, each case will be handled differently to fit the student’s needs.

Process for Approval While the policy is currently in the approval process, its success is not a guarantee. For it to be an official university policy, the Governing Council must approve of the policy on December 14. However, before this happens, the policy must go through far more steps than this. Most notably would be when the policy gets to the Academic Board on November 23. If the Academic Board does not recommend the motion, then the policy will not be brought to the Governing Council.

U of T, USMC Raise Tuition for 2017–2018 2017–18 sees a tuition rise for Arts & Science students Bardia Besharat ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR The University of Toronto (U of T) and the University of St. Michael’s College (USMC) raised the tuition costs and college fees for students for the 2017–18 academic year. The tuition rise has been an issue at U of T for a couple years as the administration continues to raise prices for students.

Overall, tuition payments for full-time USMC students rose from $7,972.02 per year to $8,243.40 per year.

The rise in tuition has come as both U of T and USMC increased their fees. Most notably, all University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU) levies increased from last year at the university level, and the St. Michael’s

College Student Union (SMCSU) levy and USMC fee have increased for all full-time USMC students.

Despite this rise in price, USMC tuition still compares favorably to its counterparts: Victoria College (Vic), Trinity College (Trin), and University College (UC). Tuition prices at both Vic and Trin are considerably higher than that of USMC, with full-time Vic students paying $8,439.28 a year and full-time Trin students paying $8,381.61 per year. The only college of the original four that pays less than USMC is UC, which has tuition payments of $8,009.42 per year.

Some of the tuition fees for both USMC and U of T as a whole highlight college and university institutions many students may not be aware of. For example, every U of T student pays a $3.75 levy each toward the “U of T Community Radio” and all USMC students pay $15 per semester for the “SMC Campaign Fund.”

The Mike intends to take a closer look at these expenses.

We reached out to Stefan Slovak, USMC director of communications, but he was unable to provide comment at press time.

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EDITORIAL

Editor-In-Chief Josh Scott editorinchief@readthemike.com

Editorial: Building & Becoming I hope that there are a few things you’ve come to realize by the time you pick up this issue. Number one: this year, The Mike has completely revamped itself. It’s become a stronger, more potent representation of the quality of the University of St. Michael’s College (USMC) and its students. And number two: this newspaper has thoroughly overhauled its online presence.

My position might come as a surprise to some of you since it, like many things in and about our paper this year, is new. I am this year’s Mike Managing Online Editor. My job is to, with the help of my incredibly dedicated web team, raise the presence of this paper online. But, although I am new to The Mike, I am by no means new to St. Mike’s itself.

The Mike, in previous years, has mostly dedicated its time and effort into its print versions, just like many other traditional newspapers. It’s important to understand that our paper needed to reconsider its approach in order to catch up to our readership. It’s no secret that news is consumed differently today than it has been in the past. The newspapers that stand any hope at staying relevant to their audiences recognize this and adjust accordingly. We plan

to do just that, without sacrificing the quality of our content.

This year, The Mike will have a renewed focus on becoming more accessible to you, and on representing, informing, and facilitating USMC students better in the process. A large portion of our ability to do so will stem from the ease with which we provide you access to our content via the web. We intend to make each and every one of our regular issues this year available in full digital form for you to read online via Issuu, and also plan to make each and every one of our regular articles available online for you to read on our website, www.readthemike.com.

However, our online takeover won’t stop there. The Mike’s web team and I have really tried to expand our horizons through social media. That’s why, as of this year, you can now read and reach out to us via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: Find us @ readthemike. We also plan on introducing a few new traditions utilizing our social media platforms, including social media challenges (with a chance to win some very exciting prizes), and engaging with our audience much more than we have done in the

past.

Making our paper more accessible to our readership involves opening the conversation to all USMC students in a new way. It is my belief that implementing new online traditions can help create this relationship that fosters inclusivity while upholding our paper’s quality and journalistic integrity. This is something that we will strive for this year.

This paper is meant to be the voice of USMC students, and a product of the best we have to offer.

That’s a little hard to do when not all USMC students are even aware that St. Mike’s has a student newspaper, and those that are, remember it for what it was last year, which I think does a great injustice to the quality of our paper as of this year.

By the time we’re done, that’ll have changed. The Mike will be not only known but respected campuswide, and a point of pride for USMC and USMC students alike. We hope you’ll come along for the ride.

Your 2017–18 Managing Online Editor, Prijanga Ahilan

Issue 3 At A Glance...

We cover a lot of controversy this week in The Mike.

This issue, in News (page 3), you’ll find an article on U of T’s contentious “leave of absence” policy, and hear a bit from those trying to implement the policy.

Speaking of policy, you’ll find an argument against Québec’s new Bill 62, the divisive leglislation on religious garb, in Opinions (page 10).

On a bit of a lighter note, we also discuss the fallen glory and corrupted intention of college book sales in Arts (page 6).

In addition, we’ve reprinted and unpacked a message from Pope Francis, who addresses the youth of Canada in Logos (page 12). He encourages us to come together and embody enthusiasm and joy: an entreaty as contrary to the outrage and controversy that permeates modern life as it is needed because of it.

We’re happy to bring you the first in a bi-weekly series of profiles of USMC students. This issue, we hear from Ethan Deneault — the artist responsible for our cover image this week — as he discusses photography in Features (page 16). We’ve included some of his other work as well, so check it out.

Here at The Mike, we also try to keep a simultaneous eye on the past and the future.

In Sports, we reminisce with some USMC intramural legends of years past (page 14). In Science & Tech, you’ll even learn a bit about the changing face of healthcare and the technology that is becoming commonplace in and out of hospitals. Plus, a whole lot more!

We’ve transferred to a new web domain: readthemike.com.

Check out our website and let us know what you think!

You can also like/follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @readthemike. #content #presence #shamelessselfpromotioninabox

NEWS

News Editor Aaron Panciera news@readthemike.com

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Influx of International Students to U of T

Spate sparks debate: are students choosing Canada over the US because of Trump, or has Canada and U of T’s reputation grown?

Emily Barber CONTRIBUTOR A dramatic increase in the number of international students at U of T has many wondering why the sudden attention, and what this bodes for the future. Much speculation has arisen as to where this interest is coming from: Is it a general demand for Canadian universities, U of T’s reputation, or does it have more to do with recent global developments?

“International applications to first-entry programs have more than doubled in the past five years and continue to increase about 20% per year,” states Richard Levin, Executive Director of Enrolment Services at U of T. Clearly, students are choosing U of T more than ever before, so the next question is where are they coming from? According to the “Facts and Figures 2016” report released by the university, as of 2016, 14,467 undergraduate international students were enrolled; primarily from China, India, South Korea, the United States, and Hong Kong. Of these countries, China made up the vast majority, with 9,187 students enrolled

in 2016. Graduate students follow a similar trend, with 2,985 in total and 1,057 of them from China.

There has also been debate as to whether the election of U.S. President Donald Trump has spiked interest in American students. Among those interested parties is the Globe and Mail, which, in its recent Canadian University Report, wrote an article regarding Canadian universities as a growing destination for international students, highlighting U of T and McGill. They attribute increasing numbers not as a response to Trump, but to a genuine interest in Canadian schools and multi-culturalism, as well as the relatively lower fees charged in comparison to American universities.

This is evident from an interview within the article in question, where it is revealed that, “There’s a real surge in interest from around the world,” says Ted Sargent, vice-president, international, at U of T. In addition, more of those top candidates are accepting offers to

attend and are enrolling, he says. “So, their interest in us is very genuine. They’re not just scattering applications around. This seems only partly due to the United States falling out of favour for some students and more a result of Canadian university recruitment.” U of T is actively attracting international students, and it seems that students are responding, often regardless of political situations.

Hans Xu, a first-year computer science student from the United States, affirms that view. “The tuition is relatively cheaper when compared with U.S. universities, and there are so many research opportunities in Toronto. Toronto is probably the most international city in the world,” says Xu. When asked why U of T in particular, he cites his reasons as the university’s “good program reputation and its repute for being an academically rigorous university”.

USMC Student Improvement Fund Who? Everything you need to know about your Student Improvement Fund Abdul Ali CONTRIBUTOR In the spring of 2000, the St. Michael’s College Student Union (SMCSU) proposed a “Student Improvement Levy,” introducing a levy paid by all St. Mike’s students to fund projects that “enhance and improve the overall student experience”.

All students pay an ancillary fee of $15 each semester to fund projects — which come into being through a process of application, review, approval, and finally execute.

A prospective project begins with applications from students. The Student Improvement Fund Committee — equally composed of students and administrators — then examines applications ensuring that applications satisfy the levy guidelines and brings approved projects into being.

Although this may not be common knowledge, all USMC students have paid for and enjoyed the projects executed by the Student Improvement Fund. If you’ve ever used the Brennan Lounge furniture to eat lunch or partake in the occasional gossip, then you’ve

enjoyed an initiative directly funded by the Student Improvement Fund.

Mike’s. He further added that he has never heard of the Student Improvement Fund before.

Or, alternatively, when you desperately needed to charge your phone and you happened to run to a charging station in Brennan Lounge or the Kelly Café, then you have once again used a past-project of the Fund.

“I have not heard of the Student Improvement Fund before this email,” said Victoria Terech — another firstyear student at St. Mike’s — in an email to The Mike.

Consequently, there is a dire need for better communication between the student body and the Student Improvement Fund.

Projects including the study cubicle in Brennan, furniture in Kelly Café, and new group study desks are some of the enhancements made by the Student Improvement Fund.

The advantages of the levy are indisputably visible, but where the committee lacks clarity is in informing students of the ongoing projects and their benefits.

“The students should be aware of all the projects that are being done using the funds they have provided.

And the SIF team should try to keep the students updated and aware of how they can benefit from such projects,” said Omar Elbardisy a first-year student at St.

Calling all writers and reporters!

Would you like to cover what’s happening around USMC and U of T? Do you have a desire to try your hand at journalism? If so, you’re in luck!

Here at The Mike, we’re looking to grow. We’re currently seeking reporters in order to expand our News team. ALL ARE WELCOME AND NO APPLICATION OR PRIOR EXPERIENCE IS REQUIRED. All we ask for is enthusiasm and a willingness to learn!

We offer Staff Reporter tags to any USMC students

Focusing on the future, the Student Improvement Fund looks to add more infrastructural features to St. Mike’s for an overall lift in student experience. The future projects of the Fund include: a half basketball court, new furniture in Kelly Library, and improvement to the USMC weight room.

The Student Improvement Fund is an effective avenue for a collective approach to developing the quality of the St. Mike’s student experience. An emphasis on its communication with the students will, in prospect, allow for an informed and extensively participating student body.

who contribute to 25% of our regular issues, which means a minimum of 3 separate issues (given that we produce 12 on the year, bi-weekly). Staff membership entails voting rights in next year’s masthead elections, as well as in any other elections or voting situations before then and, since we are also anticipating becoming CCR-approved, would also be an exciting, low-commitment way for you to add to your respective CCRs! Just email Aaron, our News Editor at news@readthemike.com. Please don’t hesitate to reach out. If this opportunity sounds in any way like it might be up your alley, don’t self-reject! Just shoot him an email!

He’d be happy to hear from you, and gladly tell you more.

Volume LXX By students, for students.

Is there a story at USMC or U of T that isn’t being covered? Is there something you’d like to see us investigate?

If so, let us know!

Send all tips and piping hot scoops to news@readthemike.com, or editorinchief@readthemike.com.

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ARTS

Arts Editor Miranda Mirabelli arts@readthemike.com

Coffee House Helps the Homeless Cards4Humanity and Pair-a-Dice collaborate for a good cause Nicholas Rita CONTRIBUTOR On Thursday, October 19, two of the University of Toronto’s (U of T’s) clubs collaborated to host a Coffee House event in Sam Sorbara Hall. The event, hosted

by Cards4Humanity and Pair-a-Dice, was to raise money and awareness to aid the homeless population of Toronto. Guests at the event were invited to play a large variety of board games, listen to intriguing performances and, of course, indulge in coffee, tea, and cookies. The night was an interactive and fun way to relax and forget about typical school struggles as well as provide an opportunity to donate to a great cause.

There were amazing performances from different singers and instrumentalists who played instruments such as the Guqin, the Guzheng, and many more!

and Fridays from 12–6 in Brennan Hall.

With a little over three weeks of planning, preparation, and organization, Cards4Humanity and Pair-a-Dice’s amazing club members created a remarkable event that connected different people for a good cause.

The event was an enjoyable and memory-making occasion where different people could meet up, make new friends, play board games, and know that their $5 entry fee was going toward a good cause and helping those who are less fortunate.

One of the intriguing instruments. Nicholas Rita / THE MIKE.

for the homeless. Not only is this an incredible way to help those who are less fortunate, it also gives donors a reliable way of knowing where their money is going while also allowing the opportunity to provide a sense of dignity and respect to those on the streets.

Cards4Humanity is open to new members and meets weekly on Wednesdays from 4–5 in University College (UC) 148.

A sample scene from the Cards4Humanity and Pair-a-Dice hosted Coffee House in Sam Sorbara Hall on October 19.

Nicholas Rita / THE MIKE.

Cards4Humanity is a club that aims to eliminate the negative stigma surrounding donating money to those who are homeless and living on the streets. To do this, the club hosts events throughout the year to raise money which is then used to provide gift cards

Pair-a-Dice Gaming is the first board game club at U of T. This club possesses a collection of over 50 board games, including games such as Codenames and Crabs Adjust Humidity, a spoof of the original card game Cards Against Humanity. Its purpose is mainly to create a comfortable, safe, and fun environment for people to drop in on their free time to mingle, play games, and meet new people. Pair-a-Dice is an amazing way to meet new people and create a bond over games, fun, and good conversation. The club welcomes everyone, and encourages everyone to feel free to drop in on Tuesdays from 3–5 in Hart House

The Coffee House event was an unprecedented success, as it offered students a great way to de-stress from school, midterms, and exams while also donating their money. The performances by those who volunteered their time were extravagant. Despite some technical difficulties with the microphone, the performers continued to entertain the audience and provide background music for those playing the games.

Another scene from the Coffee House.

Nicholas Rita / THE MIKE.

Paper Trail

The awful truth about college book sales Kaelan Unrau CONTRIBUTOR

Oh, Autumn! Season of mists, mellow fruitfulness, and varsity book sales. At the University of Toronto (U of T), four colleges — Victoria, St. Michael’s, University, and Trinity — host annual book sales of their own, through which 10s of thousands of pre-loved titles are paired with eager new owners.

That is how it should be. But this year, something felt off. The books — they looked older, shabbier. Where once one might have found a mint copy of Heaney’s Beowulf, there now stood The Selected Works of Carlyle: Volume 3 in rag-tag hardcover. (What had become of the first two volumes I do not know.)

Perhaps it was just a bad haul? Surely, the used-book supply, like any other yearly yield, must see its ups and downs. But I suspect the operation of a far less innocuous cause.

Let me explain how these suspicions germinated. On the opening day of the Victoria College sale, as I was skimming across the tables of general fiction, I came upon a Reader’s Digest edition of Silas Marner. It was a handsome book — a hardback with tasteful illustrations — although slightly marred by an inked inscription

on its title page. I opted for a different copy. A few days later, I was browsing the shelves of a Bloor Street used book store when what did I spy but another Reader’s Digest Silas Marner. I flipped to the title page. There was the very same inscription, staring back out at me.

Thus, I hereby contend that book resellers — yes, book resellers — are ruining our beloved book sales.

Book resellers, who, armed with a cardboard box or four, indiscriminately snag any title with presumptive resale value. Eliot. Dostoevsky. Penguin Classics. Any newish-looking softcover in good condition. As a result, an essential dimension to these sort of sales—the thrill of the hunt, the community of fellow bibliophiles — has been compromised.

Yet resellers also pose a problem on a strictly economic level. If people are purchasing books at book sales and proceeding to flip them at used bookstores, then these sales are in effect subsidizing the efforts of the third-party resellers. If one wishes to support the Kelly Library, say, then one should elect for a direct monetary donation. Its value would go further. Conversely, the library, if it truly wishes to maximize its fundraising revenue, should cut out the middleman and itself sell

to used bookstores directly. And as for those who wish to donate used books, the directive is similar: sell the books yourself and donate the profits.

These solutions provide little solace if one actually likes book sales. But what are the alternatives? At present, I can think of at least two avenues for book sale reform.

First, organizers could implement transaction caps. For instance, attendees could be barred from purchasing more than 20 books at a time. People could always buy more than 20 books, but it would take more time to do so, which would have the effect of decreasing the profit margins for reselling.

Second, organizers could ensure that attractive stock gets added to the sale tables throughout the day. So long as the “best time” to hit up a book sale remains uncertain, resellers face greater risk and thus enjoy reduced economic incentives. At the same time, non-resellers would have a greater incentive to visit a book sale after those critical first few hours.

Of course, spurning resellers means spurning part of the present-day book sale client base. But these sales are more than just economics, right?

ARTS

Website: readthemike.com Facebook/Twitter/Instagram: @readthemike

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Getting in Touch with Your ItalianCanadian Heritage Acting (in) Calabrian, a lecture by Anna Migliarisi Miranda Mirabelli ARTS EDITOR

On October 19, 2017, Professor Anna Migliarisi hosted her second of three lectures based on Italian-Canadian plays and playwrights. Her lecture titled Acting (in) Calabrian took place in the main Italian Department building, Carr Hall. She is and expresses her history as an Italian-Canadian, specifically from Calabria, Italy. Migliarisi is a producer, director, writer, private coach, and most importantly, she is a teacher. Migliarisi obtained an undergraduate degree from the School of Dramatic Art at the University of Windsor as well as earned a master’s and a Ph.D. with distinction from the University of Toronto. Migliarisi is a very well-published scholar in literature and is known to be a respected woman within the theatre community. A valued director and prized teacher, Migliarisi directed Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, Luigi Pirandello’s Six Characters Looking for an Author, Sophie Treadwell’s Machinal, and many other modern classics for the Acadia Theatre Company.

Migliarisi teaches one of the many Italian courses U of T offers, called “Ital-

ian-Canadian Plays and Playwrights.” In this class, she teaches the importance of the what and how within a play, as well as central themes and importance of Italian heritage within the plays that are required. Migliarisi is very proud and honoured to have collaborated as an actor, producer, and dramaturge for more than 30 years with award-winning actor and playwright Tony Nardi on very historically significant productions, including A Modo Suo (A Fable) and Two Letters… And Counting! Her lecture on October 19 focused specifically on his play A Modo Suo (A Fable), a 1990 production written and presented entirely in Calabrian.

Migliarisi and Nardi first met in 1982 when he had offered Migliarisi a small part in a play. Due to both actors being born in Calabria, Italy, they befriended each other instantly and worked together on many projects. Magliarisi and Nardi were taught that speaking the dialect of Calabria was shameful, and it was known that it was better to just not say anything at all in their native tongue.

After realizing there was nothing to be

ashamed of, both actors accepted their roots and put on a show. A Modo Suo (A Fable) was uplifting due to it being presented solely in Calabrian because this was a language many saw as appalling.

The play gave the audience a sense of community since the language in the play was something people did not feel comfortable speaking.

The “Italian-Canadian Plays and Playwrights” class also speaks of Nardi’s classic play, Two Letters… And Counting! published in 2007. This outspoken theatrical monologue is composed of three separate letters, containing some actors’ struggles with cultural stereotypes in Canadian theatre as well as the challenges and fallacies by present day theatre critics and directors. The piece takes the audience through the struggle of Italian-Canadian actors and the stereotypes that come along with them, including family and immigration struggles. Nardi makes it very clear that this is not all that it means to be Italian, and, although it does play a big part, it does not define the Italian community.

In the series of three lectures, Professor Anna Migliarisi speaks about the history of Italian plays and where they had come from as well as their significance to the Italian-Canadian community. She shows she is very well-known in the theatre community with her contacts and knowledge concerning the struggles of Italian-Canadian actors and their playwrights.

Professor Anna Migliarisi and A Modo Suo (A Fable) writer Tony Nardi.

Miranda Mirabelli / THE MIKE.

Surviving Between a Native and White World A review of Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian Ascenza Paolella ASSOCIATE ARTS EDITOR The title says it as it is. Sherman Alexie, the author of the astounding novel, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, was born a Spokane Indian. He grew up where the novel takes place, on a reservation, also referred to as the “rez” in the book. The “rez” he grew up on was set in Wellpinit, Washington state.

Throughout the novel, the readers begin to notice the similarities between Alexie and the main character Junior. The main character was born a hydrocephalic and so was Alexie. Similar to Junior, Alexie attended Reardan High School off of the reservation, near a rich farm town area where all the other students were white. The novel was able to transform his life experiences into an excellent read for the students of the “Children’s Literature” course (ENG234) at U of T. Junior speaks directly to the reader and is also the illustrator, cartoonist, and narrator of the novel. He feels terrible about his life, gets beaten up due to his lisp and disability, he stutters, and “looks like a freak.” Alexie uses this anger built up in Junior through his illustrations where he can express what is it like to live his life. The bestselling author tells the story of Junior’s experiences using words and images of cartoons which are able to speak to the reader on different levels. Junior is determined to take his life into his own hands as a budding cartoonist who

deserves to be given the same opportunity as others, which is why he attends Reardan High School.

acters and genres, but The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian has truly spoken to its audience that consists of students, teachers, and others. Alexie has been able to work with the voice of a teenager, which has allowed him to use true emotions and thoughts so that the reader feels as though it is being read to them by their friend or parent.

The students of my English class at U of T read this short novel as one of our required readings for the semester. However, the text has proven to be much more than a reading that was forced upon us. The novel provided insight and thought-provoking questions to the reader and allows readers to expand their thoughts on the differences between the Native and white cultures.

The influential ending leaves readers with a sense of happiness and clarity, although can be left for interpretation for different individuals. The novel was able to teach its audience that there is plenty of joy to be had.

Junior from The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie.

For 15 years coming, Sherman Alexie has been faced with the many troubles of surviving between the differences of the Native and white worlds. Alexie has done so by exploring through various different char-

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian does not hide any details but offers the readers a funny and hopeful read full of resiliency, metaphors, and relationships that take a turn for the better. Therefore, even if you are nothing like Junior, the novel will still present itself as absolutely true and relatable in many ways.

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FEATURES

Features Editor Téana Graziani features@readthemike.com

Spooky Shenanigans at Sorbara Sorbara Residence became, shall we say, a bit unlivable for an evening as Lower Level was transformed into a scary haunted house...

It’s that time of year again when you end up seeing skeletons outside of your biology class and hear the Ghostbusters theme somewhere in the distance. I had thought this time around, amongst the festivities, I wouldn’t encounter anything scarier than my midterm marks. However, I was gravely mistaken. St. Michael’s College’s very own Sorbara Residence put on a house of horrors that wasn’t for the faint of heart. It ran from 7 to 9 p.m. on Sorbara Lower Level, put together by some friendly spirited students.

Crew members worked in an eerily efficient manner to transform Lower Level into a scene from your nightmares. Dividers were hung, splitting the hallway into two. Guests were to walk on the left side of the dividers, take a U-turn, and exit through the right. Blood (fake blood, of course) was splattered on bathroom mirrors, and bloody handprints were taped onto the laundry room walls. The hallway was dimly lit by an intense crimson hue. A well accompanied soundtrack was nothing short of unnerving, as sinister music echoed through the halls in attempts to drown out the screams of the attendees. Actors included Yash Shah, Julia Passeraelli, Enyi Anudu, Daanish Shah, Elizabeth Shaha, Georgiana Dusa, Jeremy Hernandez-Lum Tong, Christian Silva, Sebastian Bonham-Carter, Nick Fleming, and Ian Cappellini (see if you can identify any of them in the photos). They were dressed quite sharp for the occasion, with disheveled wigs and costumes making them look like picture-perfect ghouls. A few looks included Yash, who could have been seen wearing a hand-painted red mask. If you were brave enough to approach him, you just might have asked if his tattered, bloody shirt was actually Yeezy Season 5. Ian had spent a lot of time in the makeup chair because obviously we wanted to make sure his contour was properly blended. His face makeup ended up being a terrifying work of art. Julia, who rocked an intricately demonic costume, looked frighteningly flawless.

Bisma Ali / THE MIKE.

I had the pleasure of working behind the scenes, and working alongside a wicked team to bring this event together. The psychiatric facility-themed adventure could give American Horror Story: Asylum a run for its money. There was a ton of chaos that was to be witnessed later that night, but fortunately, setting up for the show was exempt from the madness. Set-up crew members included Elizabeth Shaha, Christian Silva, Jeremy Hernandez-Lum Tong, Nick Fleming, Sebastian Bonham-Carter, Amira Alex Abdalla, and Julia Passeraelli. There were scary costume transformations to be made, and fake cobwebs to be hung. The haunted house also included detours in a bloodcurdling bathroom, a frightening laundry room, and a grand finale piano display by one of the patients.

Bisma Ali / THE MIKE.

Bisma Ali CONTRIBUTOR

hidden in the dark, making a dramatic entrance, while the guests struggled to run out the exit. We had Jeremy playing a scary symphony on the piano, accompanied with a Joker-esque laugh that would have made the late Heath Ledger proud. As Jeremy begged the attendees to stay with him because he was lonely, we had Enyi or Daanish hiding amongst the dividers, looking to scare their next victims. I had the opportunity to walk through the haunted house myself, and the crew involved really went out of their way to make sure you left their facility a little shaken up.

Bisma Ali / THE MIKE.

The haunted house organized by Sorbara was an exhilarating event to have checked out. The involved individuals who helped make this come together did a fantastic job at tugging at your deepest fears. The thrills were quite a treat!

Bisma Ali / THE MIKE.

After the set had been completed, it was time for the actors to take their places. Our first performances started around 7 p.m. Guests were given a tour of the institution in groups. A few attractions included the unfortunate instance in which you turned a wrong corner. If that were the case, you would have bumped into Ian, dressed in a killer clown costume, which in contrast made Pennywise appear friendly.

When the terrifying tour guides brought you into the laundry room, you would have walked into a scary scene of Julia in character, weeping over her lost child. If you weren’t paying attention, you would have gotten a serious scare from Yash, who was cleverly

Bisma Ali / THE MIKE.

FEATURES

Website: readthemike.com Facebook/Twitter/Instagram: @readthemike

9

All Characters Are Round

The comeback of supporting characters Rashida Abbas CONTRIBUTOR If you own a TV or a laptop (or a smartphone or tablet, etc.), then I’m sure you must have had an intimate encounter with Netflix typically in the form of “Netflix and Chill” sessions as they are colloquially called. If so, then you must have also heard of Netflix’s two breakout TV shows: Stranger Things (2016) and 13 Reasons Why (2017). You may think these two shows are connected just because they’ve catapulted Netflix’s reputation into another universe (the upside down possibly). Well, think again. Surprisingly, both massive hits also sport supporting characters that succumb to an untimely demise. What’s interesting is that both these characters, Jeff and Barb, have garnered internet fame posthumously with graphically emotional memes protesting the injustice of their deaths.

The infamous Barb from Netlflix’s Stranger Things (2016).

Let me backtrack a bit. Weren’t supporting characters those forgettable faces that were literally the writer’s spare tools, only to be used when needed? I remember the days nobody cared about the protagonist’s best friend: the one who always provided sound advice and never lived any life of their own. I remember the days supporting characters were referred to as, “That girl/guy. You know, the one who just parties or is there to make the protagonist look good.”

Well, those days are gone. Now, supporting characters get eulogies and internet memorials. What happened?

Why are Barb and Jeff igniting an internet outcry with millions of voices banding together to demand #justiceforbarb and #jeffatkinsdeservedbetter?

First off, Barb and Jeff are really just two plot devices written for the sole purpose of dying. In other words, they’re cardboard flat characters. They were not written to explore the complexity of the human mind. They were there just to die. The writers couldn’t care less about those characters. They were there to drive the plot forward. So, how did these flat characters who were not supposed to incite any emotional investment become a massive internet phenomenon (debatably propelling the Netflix show into further fame and fortune)? How did the viewers start to care more about these one-dimensional characters than the writers did?

One reason could be that they died young. Barbara and Jeff both play the “I’m-the-best-friend-here-onlyto-guide-the-leading-lady/man-in-the-right-direction.”

In Barbara’s case, she was there to tell Nancy that Steve is an asshole boyfriend who doesn’t deserve her. Whereas in Jeff’s case, he was there to push Clay to tell Hannah he loves her. Both characters tell us something important about the protagonists (Nancy is with Steve for shallow reasons, and Clay needs to find some guts and tell Hannah he loves her). But what do we know about Barbara and Jeff’s desires and dreams besides Barbara wanting the best for her friend and Jeff wanting to pass math? Nothing really. Except that they both end up dead. Why? Because they’re supposed to represent the teen-dying-too-young trope.

Their characters weren’t given a chance for complexity, because they died too young. We never got to discover them and that could be what the internet is

grieving over. But whatever the reason may be for this internet trend, we have to wonder what this internet phenomenon is saying about our post-modern society.

Jeff (to the left) from Netlflix’s 13 Reasons Why (2017).

I think this sudden emotional interest in supporting characters is working toward the integrity of a narrative. In our own life we often see people as supporting characters. The people we meet on the street, subway, bus, lift, etc., don’t appear to be as complex and profound as we are. But their lives do matter just as much as ours. They shouldn’t be ignored or overlooked.

The overwhelming attention that Jeff and Barb are receiving represents a progressive step forward for our generation. We are recognizing that our stories should start to reflect our lives, because people who may be the supporting characters in our lives are actually the protagonists in their own lives. What that means is that their deaths, and their lives matter.

So, Jeff and Barb are mirroring a very hopeful societal paradigm that we will not only start to perceive our real life supporting characters as integral to the narrative, but also begin to perceive the people in our real life who we ignore or dismiss as flat as being complex and well-rounded like we are. It’s time to live by the mantra, “All characters are round.” And, by virtue of that, “All people are round.”

1981–85 USMC Mulock Cup Champs: Then & Now Then...

USMC.

Cold Eyes, Toronto

...And now!

Mara Ng / THE MIKE.

Read more on pages 10 and 15!

Leslie Belzak / USMC.

Made with a mix of comic markers, colored pencils, and pigment liners, and inspired by the following line from the song “Get Dark” by The Zolas: “Cold breath, Toronto, we go bar to bar through underground tunnels.”

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OPINIONS

Opinions Editor Julia Orsini opinions@readthemike.com

Bill 62: Populism in the Name of “Religious Neutrality” It’s one thing to disagree with an individual’s religious practices; it’s another to forcibly undress them Nazanin Zarepour CONTRIBUTOR

What makes Canada strong, innovative, and inspiring is that this country is not a melting pot. Canada is a cultural mosaic — we are a state of ever-changing plurality and carry a multiplicity of different experiences and backgrounds. As a Middle Eastern woman, when discussing the dangers of cultural assimilation, it is not rare for me to hear the argument, “If you don’t like our culture, go somewhere else!” This argument that simply boils down the second largest country in the world to just one overarching culture is absolutely absurd! To force one another to conform is to reject the exact plurality that has allowed us to learn and progress.

The passing of Bill 62 requires people to uncover their faces to use municipal services, such as public transit and visits to the doctor. Supposedly, the aim of Bill 62 was religious neutrality — it does not bar women from wearing the niqab or the burka. It simply means that every time these women want to board a bus — they are potentially putting themselves in an incredibly humiliating position in which their otherness will be publicly exacerbated.

My aim here is not to change your view on what the niqab may stand for — as that is a whole other area of debate. This is simply an urge for Canadians to exercise their empathy — to acknowledge that if your concern was women’s rights, this bill would add an enormous amount of emotional strain onto these women. If we were to imagine a woman boarding a bus in the depths of winter and she does not feel comfortable exposing her face, do we somehow feel morally sound turning her away and leaving her in the cold?

If Québec is so concerned with “religious neutrality,” it does not account for the crucifix still hanging in the Québec national assembly. After all, shouldn’t a bill promoting secularism address the separation of church and state first and foremost? Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson described the aims of Bill 62 best: “A thinly veiled appeal at populist sentiment, in light of the divisive affects of similar efforts in which we have been witness of late.” The bill does not aim at “religious neutrality” — rather, it targets a very small minority from expressing their religious freedoms.

Québec Justice Minister Stéphanie Vallée initially said that the bill would apply to the whole duration of people using public services — but amidst the backlash, she claimed that the uncovering of the face would only be for identification or security reasons. Regardless of her intentions, both directions have an unpleasant and unconstitutional fate, as it is nonetheless disheartening that a woman must be forcibly made to uncover simply to get from point A to point B. I ask Canadians to reflect on these matters and to be an ally to those targeted by this bill. To conclude on the contradictory and populist nature of this law, I’d like to quote sociologist Gérard Bouchard: “It’s a bit surprising that a law that purports to be about secularism reduces it to one dimension — religious neutrality — and doesn’t explore separation of church and state, equality of religions and belief, [or] freedom of religion.”

Nazanin Zarepour is a third-year University College student double-majoring in Political Science and Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations.

Football, St. Mike’s, and You Football used to be a major part of the USMC experience; now, alumni-student events remind us it’s a storied one Sam MacMillan CONTRIBUTOR The 49th Annual Boozer Brown Football Tournament took place on October 22. This alumni vs. student football game is an opportunity for former University of St. Michael’s College (USMC) students to come back to the school for an afternoon of football, soccer, and food. Each year is an opportunity to connect with alumni young and old and subsequently build relationships. I have been lucky enough to make it out every year that I have been a student at St. Mike’s and the turnout is always different and interesting. This year, a majority of the players that came out were alumni who had been on the University of Toronto’s (U of T’s) varsity football team in the last 10 years. In years past, the game has been played with current students and alumni many decades removed from the lecture halls of U of T. This game may not be the oldest tradition at the college, but it is growing every year to include more and more students and alumni.

portunity for anyone to come out and be a part of St. Michael’s long football tradition while interacting with all sorts of different alumni.

For the past three years, there have been both a touch football game and a soccer match played back to back. Both of these are excellent opportunities for current students to get connected with the alumni from the college. The benefit of being able to get out on the field and play is tremendous. Being able to compete with and against other members of the St. Mike’s community makes it so much easier to get to know those people who made it through St. Mike’s five, 10 or even 50 years before you. Although it can be daunting to participate in events geared toward alumni engagement, the payoff can be great. An event like the Boozer Brown Football Tournament offers a great op-

The game, refereed by St. Mike’s intramural legend and former Toronto Argonaut Lex Byrd, celebrates the long football tradition at St. Michael’s. From 1895 until 1993, the college fielded an intramural football team that competed for the Mulock Cup with the other colleges and professional faculties at U of T. This league was a fully padded, full-contact league that played once a week. It was disbanded in 1993 due to insurance concerns from the university. The Mulock Cup became the intramural rugby trophy awarded to the winner of the U of T intramural rugby championship every year. It is the oldest trophy in Canada that has been awarded without interruption. St. Mike’s was a peren-

This year’s Boozer Brown game participants. USMC.

nial contender during the final decades of the cup and brought it home across Queen’s Park for the final three years that the college fielded a football team.

Prior to the separation of the school into a high school and the college in the 1950s, it fielded championship rugby football teams in the junior and senior leagues in the city. The tradition of football excellence has continued for what is now called St. Michael’s College School, with the school winning four Ontario high school football championships in the past 15 years. For the college itself, football has faded somewhat from the position that it held prior to 1993. However, there are 20 St. Mike’s students that are also members of the varsity football team. The role of football at St. Mike’s is certainly not what it once was, but there is still an opportunity to engage with the St. Mike’s traditions.

Get out and join the intramural flag football league, go watch a football game next season (free with a TCard), or maybe just come out next year for the 50th Annual Boozer Brown Football Tournament. It’s a great opportunity to get out, meet alumni, and participate in what is left of one of St. Mike’s greatest sports traditions.

And if football isn’t your speed, at least you can come out, play some soccer (another type of football), and share some post-match food with your fellow USMC students, both past and present.

Sam MacMillan is a fourth-year USMC student studying Peace, Conflict and Justice. He’s also a member of U of T’s varsity football team. He was the Don of Mallon House in Elmsley Hall last year.

OPINIONS

Website: readthemike.com Facebook/Twitter/Instagram: @readthemike

11

Accessible, Centralized Sports

How we really ought to improve our intramural league Charlie Mitchell CONTRIBUTOR

Sports are one of the things that bring people together regardless of their differences. They have been a fundamental part of culture and society for thousands of years. The intramural program at St. Mike’s is a testament to how important sports are.

The intramural program begins every year during the first week of school. However, intramural representatives don’t have the information regarding intramurals until just four days before teams must be registered.

Therefore, it is critical that going forward, St. Mike’s has a centralized way of communication regarding intramurals so that all the necessary information can be conveyed quickly. Several students, especially firstyears, are just beginning to take in the university experience during that first week of classes. Many don’t even know about the intramural system yet.

Based on experience as an intramural rep, this combination of uninformed students and mandatory expedited team formations lead to dissatisfaction on many facets. Several potential athletes must be turned away because they did not know about the team in time to

try out. On the other hand, many teams are dissatisfied because they can’t find enough interest to field a team, even though the real dilemma is the lack of communication.

before finding someone who is knowledgeable about the sport they are interested in. For example, if a student went to AC to inquire about St. Mike’s intramurals, they would receive Oriana Bertucci’s email. Upon emailing her, she would give them my email and then I would give them the team captain’s email. This is extremely convoluted and must be resolved by having one central location with captain information, sign-up deadlines, and try-out dates.

Sports are meant to be a fun way to socialize and compete with other students. A better system would help achieve this goal for all those that participate.

The only solution to this is to inform students before school starts about the program. Since the deadline for sign-ups is out of St. Mike’s hands, we need to be proactive about informing our student body before the sign-up date. Additionally, there needs to be a central location where anybody can inquire about intramurals.

It’s extremely inefficient and frustrating for a student to be directed toward a chain of three different emails

Charlie Mitchell is a third-year USMC student. He is double majoring in Computer Science and Statistics, with a minor in Mathematics. He co-founded the American Culture Club and was an International Student Ambassador for USMC. He plays intramural basketball, has held officer positions in the Math Union, and been involved in the Count Me In program. This year, he is the Don of More House, and the Intramural Representative for USMC.

Why the OPSEU strike is 100 times worse than a CUPE strike Contrasting the experience of U of T’s 2015 TA strike and the current Ontario college faculty strike Jessica Afonso CONTRIBUTOR

I enrolled in full-time studies at Humber College North Campus for Fall 2017. I really enjoyed the first 35 days of the Paralegal Education program; but on October 10, the Ontario Public Services Employee Union (OPSEU) declared its intention to strike to the College Education Council (CEC). On the evening of October 15, I learned that the OPSEU was officially on legal strike. That didn’t seem like a big deal at the time.

I “survived” the Winter 2015 strike at the University of Toronto (U of T).

Some students barely remember their experience because they were largely unaffected. I am one of those students.

For me, CUPE 3902’s Unit 1 strike meant that my tutorials were cancelled and any marking was backlogged, but I still attended class, completed tests, and submitted assignments. I anxiously relied on semi-regular strike updates from central administration via their Facebook page and other websites.

My instructors permitted my peers to modify syllabi. The university permitted its students to use the credit/no credit feature.

Undergraduate students

actually supported Unit 1 by wearing pins and hats, participating in a classroom walk-out, and the like. That is a sunny contrast to the Humber strike.

During the Ontario college strike I have realized that a sizeable amount of students at Humber are unaware of the meaning and purpose of a strike.

This was apparent when our elected student society, IGNITE, interviewed several students on campus about the strike. There was confusion as to why the faculty would strike outside of summer, and why students were not being considered in this decision to strike. Online discussions on the Humber College Facebook page and other related pages demonstrated a lot of misguided and misplaced resentment toward the faculty by the students at the beginning of the strike. This is likely due in part to the fact that the Ontario college strike was minimally addressed in advance by both our elected student society or administration. Instead, my instructors initiated conversation on this topic when they expressed concern for the impending strike and offered to

answer as many inquiries from students as possible in the interim period.

I was surprised to learn that a strike could result in the extension or loss of a semester because college program’s learning outcomes simply cannot be amended. If a semester is lost or extended, students would have to pay for — at the very least — unanticipated housing and living expenses. Graduation would be delayed. Work opportunities may be missed. These things were never seriously considered as potential results of the Winter 2015 strike at U of T, even when it approached its final 28th day.

The Ontario college strike is history in the making. It has affected 12,000 faculty and 500,000 students across the Ontario college system, making it one of the largest strikes in the Ontario post-secondary system history. It may also be the longest, given OPSEU’s strained relationship with CEC coupled by the provincial government’s unwillingness to intervene anytime soon.

It is important to note that no Canadian post-secondary institution has ever lost

an academic term due to a strike, but in similar instances the semester was extended and winter break was reduced.

Algonquin College recently advised students not to make winter holiday travel plans, and I advise the same of all Ontario college students. But that’s only if the strike doesn’t continue into that period. Although Ontario colleges have been adamant that their students will not lose the semester, faculty has not seen a tangible plan. SOS! Jessica Afonso is currently a student at Humber College. She works as a Compliance Analyst for both the G7 and G20 Research Groups at the Munk School of Global Affairs, and will soon be joining the Canadian Armed Forces Reserves. She graduated from the University of St. Michael’s College (USMC) in June 2017. She was VicePresident of St. Michael’s College Student Union (SMCSU), co-president of Get REAL University of Toronto, St. Michael’s College director at the University of Toronto Students’ Union (UTSU), and involved in St. Mike’s Orientation.

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LOGOS

Logos Editor Francesco Rampino logos@readthemike.com

Pope Francis’ Message to We, the Youth of Canada What relevance might it have for us?

Francesco Rampino LOGOS EDITOR Last week, the Holy Father Pope Francis prepared a message for the “Youth of Canada”, which of course includes us university students. This was a part of a special forum organized on the topic of youth, and was also made in order to further prepare our young people for the upcoming Synod of Bishops on Youth, which is to take place in October of next year. The point of the message, according to The Catholic Register, was “to talk about present challenges, issues, questions and needs of young people in the Catholic Church.”

Before getting into what the pope said exactly, let us first reflect on the reality which Catholic youth, and all youth of the world, face today. First, for Catholics in particular, we find that the world around us, especially our culture, has been changing rapidly over the years.

In what sense? Be it on social issues or issues of any significant sort, Catholic youth find themselves acting as the counterculture to a culture stampeding in all different directions, presenting to the world what the new trends and social norms are. Be that as it may, the question remains: What can the Catholic youth do in order to present that which they hold to be true and sacred to those who simply can’t understand? How can we persuade by appealing to reason? How can we persuade by appealing to their hearts?

Pope Francis. Alessandro Bianchi / REUTERS.

The second reality pertains to all youth around the world; what place do we have in the world we live in (in terms of social influence), and what future lies ahead for us? Furthermore, how can we prove to the world that our generation has a great amount of insight and perspective into how the world around us works? What voice do the youth of the world have in this regard? By the time this article is published, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders from Vermont would have already spoken at Convocation Hall. Even though he is already very influential for people our age, what other voices do we meet in our day-to-day life that would be able to bring to the table that same amount of enthusiasm and joy?

In his message, the pope invites us to “flood the places where [we] live with the joy and enthusiasm typical of [our] youthful age”.

that you, through accompaniment of expert guides, undertake an itinerary of discernment in order to discover God’s plan for your life; […] the plan He has for the life of each one of you, even when your journey is marked by danger and missteps, God, rich in mercy, tenders His hand to pick you up again.

Pope Francis. Marshall Connolly / CALIFORNIA NETWORK.

“Dear young Canadian friends!

I’m happy to be able to spend a little time with you, participating in your dialogue, in which you are protagonists from the Atlantic to the Pacific. There are these marvels of technology that, if used positively, provide an opportunity for encounter and exchange unthinkable until recently.

This confirms that, when people work together looking for each other’s good, the world reveals itself in all its beauty. I ask you, therefore, not to let the world be ruined by those without scruples, who only think about exploiting it and destroying it. I invite you to flood the places where you live with the joy and enthusiasm typical of your youthful age, to irrigate the world and history with the joy that comes from the Gospel, from having met a Person: Jesus, who has enthralled you and has drawn you to be with Him. Do not let your youth be stolen from you. Do not allow anyone to slow and obscure the light that Christ puts in your face and in your heart. Be weavers of relationships signed by trust, by sharing, by openness even to ends of the world. Do not raise walls of division: do not raise walls of division! Build bridges, like this extraordinary one that you are crossing in spirit, and that links the shores of two oceans. You are experiencing a moment of intense preparation for the next Synod — the Synod of Bishops — that concerns you in a particular way, just as it involves the whole Christian community. In fact, its theme is “Young people, faith and vocational discernment.”

I also want to remind you of Jesus’ words, those He said one day to the disciples who asked him, “Rabbi, where do you live?” And Jesus answered, “Come and see.” Jesus also turns His gaze on you and invites you to go to Him. Dear young people, have you encountered this gaze? Have you heard this voice? Have you felt that impulse to get up and be on the way? I am sure that, although din and dizziness seem to reign in the world, this call continues to resonate in your soul, to open it to full joy. This will be possible to the extent

That being said, after having elected our new St. Michael’s College Student Union (SMCSU) executives, what opportunities will we give them down the road to be the voices we need? How will we take their messages, and the messages of other young leaders like them, to our hearts and minds? How will we be able to reason with those who may be opposed to such messages, so as to have them accompany us also on our journey toward creating a better world? How will we welcome them to help strengthen this movement?

That being said, let us then listen to some expert advice.

The following is the full text of the Holy Father’s message:

These words — I wrote them in the letter I sent to all the young people of the world on January 13th of this year, precisely in order to present the theme of the Synod. The world, the Church, are in need of courageous young people, who are not cowed in the face of difficulties, who face their trials and keep their eyes and hearts open to reality, so that no one should be rejected or subjected to injustice or to violence, or deprived private of human dignity.

I’m sure your heart — a young heart — will not be closed to the cry for help of so many of your peers who seek freedom, work, study, a chance to make sense of their lives. I count on your willingness, your commitment, your ability to face important challenges and dare to make the future, to take decisive steps along the path of change.

Young people, let Christ reach you. Let Him speak to you, embrace you, console you, heal your wounds, dissolve your doubts and fears – and you shall be ready for the fascinating adventure of life, that precious and inestimable gift that God places every day in your hands. Go to meet Jesus, be with Him in prayer, entrust yourselves to Him, give your whole life over to His merciful love and your faith, and your faith will be the luminous witness of generosity and of the joy there is in following Him, wherever He should lead you.

Pope Francis with Catholic youth in Blonia Park, Krakow, for World Youth Day. AGENCE-FRANCE PRESSE.

Dear young people of Canada, my hope for you is that your meeting should be like that of the first disciples, that the beauty of a life realized in following the Lord might open wide before you. For this reason, I entrust you to Mary of Nazareth, a young person like you, to whom God turned His loving gaze, that He might take you by the hand. Let yourselves be taken by Mary’s, and let her guide you to the joy of saying a full and generous, “Here I am!”

Jesus watches you and awaits a “Here I am!” from each of you.

I bless you, I embrace you, and I greet you with affection while I ask you, please, to pray for me, so that I may be a faithful cooperator with your joy. Thank you.”

Pope Francis with Catholic youth in Steubenville, Ohio.

FRANCISCAN UNIVERSITY OF STEUBENVILLE.

SCIENCE & TECH

Science & Tech Editor Jiaxing Huang science@readthemike.com

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Diagnosis at Your Fingertips

How POC devices are revolutionizing health care Aaron Au CONTRIBUTOR Point-of-care (POC) devices are a new frontier of medical devices that bring medical diagnosis to doctors, homes, and the far reaches of the world. These devices are developed to empower people in any educational background to gather their own biometric data.

An arsenal of POC devices have been and are currently under development for different applications. By taking advantage of the current advances in nanoelectronics and nanofluidics, engineers are able to shrink the device into a portable system. The result is devices with different functions that come in different shapes and sizes.

One form of these POC devices is a wearable smart watch, such as Fitbit, Apple Watch, etc. Technology has enabled engineers to jam heart rate monitors and other biosensors into the super portable form factors.

Other companies have invested their technology into other biosensors; to name a few: glucose-sensing contact lenses, tattoos to monitor muscle activity and body temperature, and alcohol monitors. These portable forms of gathering biometrics are becoming more

popular as they can collect data without interfering with the daily schedule.

A more common setting for a POC device is sitting at the doctor’s office or at home. They gather information that doesn’t need monitoring on a daily basis, such as disease and virus tests. They test for a specific pathogen, but results usually appear in binary. Hence, POC devices cannot replace the doctor. Instead, they assist the doctor in making faster and more accurate conclusions. Traditional pathogen tests require the doctor to draw blood and send the samples to test centers, but in POC devices there is no transportation time, allowing for a timelier result. With the emergence of personalized medicine, POC devices may assist doctors and pharmacists in determining which drug is more effective for a patient.

Currently, POC devices face many challenges; most of these challenges are similar to those in sensors and assays. One factor that needs to be considered is specificity because it describes how accurate the test

is against false positives; this is always a challenge because molecules exhibit similar characteristics and they may be able to trick the test in thinking something is there when there really is nothing. Sensitivity of the test is also another factor that needs to be considered.

It measures what concentration of sample needs to be present to turn the test into a positive result. Sensitivity and specificity are usually trade-off metrics, meaning increasing one will reduce the other. So sensitivity and specificity of a device must be tuned to a specific application.

In addition, medical devices face a higher level of scrutiny for good reason. There are rules and regulations that protect the public from gathering false data about their health. But innovations in the realm of biosensors are giving POC devices a good run. At U of T, many labs are designing POC diagnostic devices. One lab that has gained a lot of ground in this area is the Wheeler Microfluidics Lab; it is testing its POC devices in developing countries in hopes to aid medical staff in the diagnosis of different diseases.

Shining a Light into the Rabbit Hole

Institutions, information overload, and the scientific method Lindsey Peng CONTRIBUTOR We are at the current pinnacle of scientific discovery and knowledge; this gives us an unprecedented view of the world we live in. Just 70 years ago we had no clue how even the fundamental process of biology worked in molecular terms, and now, we’re on our way toward developing portable gene-sequencers.

However, we are still struggling with the fact that, despite the liberation of education and readily available scientific information, certain groups of people reside in realities that fail to understand the nature of science.

Just last month, the Ontario Science Centre published a survey that included the following staggering result: 43% of Canadians agree that scientific findings are just a matter of opinion.

We can loosely categorize three general sources of problems that contribute to this finding: 1) The academic institution is a huge source itself.

The ultra-specialization of knowledge has solidified the rigidity of institutions and created impenetrable exclusiveness. Most advanced discoveries of today are tugged away in the minds of selective individuals.

What’s worse, most scientists rely on complex arguments with sophisticated mechanisms and algorithms that do not speak to the general public. On top of all this, political and bureaucratic institutions award publications, leading to severe reproducibility issues in science that has been recently exposed to the public.

Science has become more of a career for many, as opposed to a curious ground for understanding realities — in this sense it’s no wonder the public has become so sceptical of science.

2) False information reported as facts also affects our knowledge of the world. There have been well-documented studies detailing complicated and clever tactics used by industries to exploit psychological tendencies of the public. Historian at Stanford University Robert Proctor coined it “agnotology”: the study of how ignorance is deliberately produced. The first official studies, made based on the observation of the

tobacco industry, date back to the 1950s. Now, these tactics are no longer restricted to the PR of major industries: they are readily found on the internet. The internet has allowed for the democratization of information exchange, but it has not made education and accurate information any more popular than conspiracy theories. Before the internet, we only had access to certified experts to speak in their perspective fields on the radio or TV shows. Today, anybody can publish their opinions online. In contrast with the esoteric scientific papers in which you have to go out of your way to find and pay for, conspiracy theories freely overload major social media outlets to captivate our attention.

The proliferation of fake news over facts has undoubtedly contributed to the creation of alternate realities.

3) Our collective brain has fallen far behind the state of our collective knowledge and technology. Thanks to ultra-specializations, accumulated human knowledge has become so vast and complicated that no single individual can acknowledge what is going on in any other fields we do not work in. We are either physically incapable or simply do not have the time to individually prove and work out all of the things we take for granted in our public education. To illustrate this, before you laugh at “Flat Earthers” (a group of people who believe that our planet is actually flat), ask yourself whether you can explain, on the spot to your friends, why the earth is round without resorting to satellite pictures.

We can try addressing all these problems — by, for instance, making education more attractive, using fact-checkers, imposing stricter regulations on fake news, addressing scientific reproducibility issues, etc.

However, psychological studies (the most notable by people like Daniel Kahneman and Dan Kahan) have shown that for the average person, this isn’t enough.

Counterintuitively, increasing scientific literacy can actually further polarize political tribes on issues such as climate change thanks to what we now call the cognitive biases. If you have observed an argument or been in one, you’ve probably noticed that the more facts we present to people with motivated reasoning, the more

certain facts are selectively amplified or ignored depending on how they suit our argument, and thus, the more we interpret and reinterpret.

This is perhaps not too surprising to those who understand the principle of the scientific method. Object facts are objective events, but they provide no inherent explanations as to why they happen or why they happen the way they do. Humans provide explanations with our intuitive biases in order to establish relationships and links between observations. In reality, there is an infinite number of ways to explain facts and hence, an infinite amount of ways we can fit them to our perspectives. Scientists also use cognitive biases, but they differ from those held by the general public in that scientists actually go out and test them in practice. Scientific facts are only more durable than other realities because they have been and continue to be tested and challenged. Every scientific model rests on the backbone of empiricism: only through pragmatic approaches and empirical evidence do we gain confidence in the theories we propose to describe our realities; at the same time, they can be replaced at any moment, and at the second the larger scientific community decides that new evidence falsifies a previous model.

For those who still care about the truth, we should demand better: of our scientists, of our institutions, and of our news sources. But most importantly, it is crucial to be aware of our psychological minds, our motivations. This keeps us alert of our own biases; it keeps us seeking out the truth out of curiosity and not preconceived political notions or self-interest. It is also crucial for us to understand the fundamental philosophy of the scientific method as one of the best ways to approach the truth. This will not only keep us on our toes; it will also help us navigate the rabbit hole, and serve as a welcome reminder to those who dwell primarily in heated, abstract arguments and ideas: go out and try them, let experience and the world tell you if you’re right or wrong.

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Sports Editor Ben Denomme sports@readthemike.com

The Return of St. Mike’s Greats

SPORTS

1981–85 Mulock Cup champs reunite, celebrate gridiron success Ben Denomme SPORTS EDITOR It may be difficult to believe, but over 30 years ago, some 400 St. Mike’s fans packed the stands to watch their intramural football team win the Mulock Cup four years in a row. For those who do not know, the (now defunct) Mulock Cup is the oldest trophy in Canada, and was awarded to the best intramural football/rugby team within U of T. The four years from 1981–85 were especially important to the group of men who did all the work in securing the Mulock Cup for the University of St. Michael’s College (USMC). These men, who reunited at USMC on October 14, shared some stories over dinner and revealed their past and current success.

The Mulock Cup winner’s jacket. Leslie Belzak / USMC.

One of the points stressed by these men was the commitment each player had to the team, especially the “dayhops” (commuter students).

The team practiced most days of the week, on the field now occupied by the 1080 Bay St. condominiums. Games were played with full equipment, and several of the men recounted stories of the big hits they took while

playing.

Today, there is a much different story. Tackle football has not been played intramurally at U of T for several years. In fact, even rugby, which became the only full-contact sport played in intramurals, was recently discontinued in its full-contact form. The type of football that these men played, and the difficulty with which they did so, is unparalleled in our modern university life.

Of course, a completely serious and unflinching football team is not the whole story. In fact, several players informed me of a tradition which the rookie players took part in each year. The “rookie run” was a way of introducing the first-time players to the St. Mike’s and Loretto community. It involved the players running completely naked, save for cleats and helmets, across Queen’s Park, down St. Mary Street, and up Bay Street, much to the joy of the senior players and other students.

Another tradition joyfully remembered at the reunion included both the songs and nicknames created by the team. The songs ranged in theme and subject, but perhaps the most memorable one recounted the days of the week and the events that occurred on each day; from practice to gameday, to, of course, church on Sunday. The nicknames too were varied, but were all connected by their proprietor, head coach Lex Byrd. Byrd was most certainly the star of the reunion.

His legacy as head coach of the USMC intramural football team from 1978–93 will not soon be forgotten, and neither will the impact he made on his players.

Byrd played for the Toronto Argonauts before coming

to USMC to begin his coaching career in 1978. The connections he had with the Argos allowed him to call in other coaches from all over the CFL to help him win his eight total Mulock Cups.

1978–93 head coach Lex Byrd with the Mulock Cup. Leslie Belzak / USMC.

Over the course of the night, the players made their gratefulness to Byrd known, and showed him how much his coaching and leadership meant to them.

Byrd continues to be involved with USMC through his annual refereeing at Boozer Brown, a football game that takes place between alumni and current students.

As a current student, this reunion was an enlightening experience. Just being in the presence of such St. Mike’s spirit, such enthusiasm for a trophy won 30odd years ago, was heartening. The night started with one of the most confident Hoikity Choik’s I had ever heard, all from men who had not seen each other or the school for several years. The energy in the room was contagious, and to relay a message from several players, it was like they never left at all.

(For more photos, see page 9.)

TFC Entering Playoffs After Record Season This year, Toronto’s other pro sports team is a force to be reckoned with Mykola Potapenko CONTRIBUTOR The Major League Soccer (MLS) playoffs are already in full swing, but Toronto fans won’t get to see their team play until October 29 against the New York Red Bulls in the quarterfinals of the tournament. This will be the first playoff meeting between the two teams in history.

Toronto FC (TFC) is coming off not only with the team’s greatest season in history, but the best season in league history officially after a 2–2 draw in their last match against Atlanta United. That point means that TFC finished the season on 69 points, one more than the 68 that the 1998 LA Galaxy posted in the shootout era and the 67 points that the LA Galaxy posted in 2011 in the post-shootout era. This of course means that TFC won this year’s Supporters’ Shield for the best regular season in MLS and were the first Canadian club to do so.

Toronto also won this year’s Voyager’s Cup in the Canadian Championship. With both trophies already in the cabinet, Toronto has an opportunity to complete the first treble in MLS cup history if it can lift the MLS trophy at the end of this year’s playoffs. That would certainly cement its status as the best MLS team in history for a very long time.

Of course, all this is easier said than done. TFC had a rollercoaster of a playoff last year with a huge blowout victory over New York City FC in last year’s quarterfinals before overcoming several deficits in the semi-final in what was perhaps one of the most entertaining ties in

recent memory against the Montreal Impact. Of course, their season ended in defeat at home against the Seattle Sounders in a heartbreaking penalty shootout during the final.

This year Toronto has built on that disappointment by adding a tremendous pool of depth to choose from, which has catapulted the team into its best season. New additions to the back line like Congolese international defender, Chris Mavinga, as well as Lichtenstein international, Nicolas Hasler, have added stability and experience to an already solid defense.

Victor Vazquez has had an incredible first season with the club by providing 16 assists in MLS (only one off the pace of NY Red Bulls’ Sacha Kljestan).

However, the team has been looking within its own setup to find new pieces, which explains the emergence of youngsters like Raheem Edwards, who has shown an incredible amount of talent and potential in the limited minutes he played this season. But it’s not just the new additions that have strengthened the team.

Players like midfielder and captain Michael Bradley, forward Jozy Altidore, and especially players like Justin Morrow, have seen their production and influence on the field grow in terms of importance, consistency, and quality.

All of this has culminated into a squad whose depth

allows for numerous changes to be made when necessary because of injury, suspension, or national team call-ups, without losing the identity or quality of the team. Looking back at this season, Toronto must be optimistic. It is looking to repeat with an appearance in the finals and have the regular season to prove that it is the favorite this year.

On a side note, TFC already won a third trophy this year; the Trillium Cup. It is the trophy awarded to the team with the better head-to-head record between TFC and the Columbus Crew.

In all honesty, the trophy was an MLS attempt to spark a rivalry between two teams that never had one or a reason to have one, so most fans on both sides never cared much for it. The reason I’m bringing it up is because it is an opportunity to ask those interested to look up the current situation of the Columbus Crew.

The crew’s current owner is looking to move the team to Austin, Texas. Although I have no personal love for the Crew, this kind of action is deplorable. Thus, I ask any and all TFC or MLS fans to show support for the Crew and find any ways to help if possible.

Fans are united and off the pitch we need to show that. #AllForOne

FEATURES

Features Editor Téana Graziani features@readthemike.com

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Getting Lost in the Land of Cheese & Chocolate Advice on handling newfound independence Rebeca Ancer COPY EDITOR “Je vais retourner pour sept heure!” I yelled back at Gigi as I was exiting the little white house on Chemin the Pepinniere in Fribourg. Hopefully, I had told her that I would be back by seven in my amateur French.

Nevertheless, instead of worrying about my translation while walking to the bus station, I was thinking about what I was going to do that day. I had already been in Switzerland for three weeks and had about two to go. My schedule was perfectly made: French classes in the morning at the Swiss-French School in Fribourg; a baguette for lunch at the Fribourg Centre, the mall crossing the street; a tour of the mall to remind myself that I had a limited amount of money; and finally, returning to Marc and Gigi’s place to have some tea, go for a walk, and watch some TV before going to sleep. It was the most comfortable schedule in the world.

Nevertheless, that day I decided to switch things up a bit. I would go to school in the morning and grab a baguette for lunch, but then, I would walk and walk down the long Rue Saint-Pierre until I arrived at a little street with ancient, orangey bricks that screamed old.

Ironically, I had arrived at the Vielle Ville, which means “old town” in French. However, as I walked down the brick road, staring at the beautiful little town surrounding me, I couldn’t help but realize something: for the first time in my life, I was all by myself in a foreign country with no idea of where to go or what to do. Reality hit me hard. I was transforming from a young girl to an independent, mature young lady who was now making her own decisions.

My parents had let me go on this trip to Switzerland alone because they trusted that I would stay in the custody of two childhood friends who lived in Fribourg.

The couple they left me with — Marc and Gigi Rod-

er — had two girls who happened to be my babysitters when I was three: Jessica and Virginie. Therefore, during the week, I was in the hands of very caring people. But the only one who was really strict about what I did was Jessica and she worked in Basel, a city an hour away. I spent weekends with her, while on weekdays I stayed with Marc and Gigi, who were the coolest substitute parents ever.

Thus, I was technically free of any responsible adult telling me what to do or where to go. It was just me, my backpack, and the breathtaking Swiss landscape at my feet. On this day, with a decisive mind, I exited the Roder household and took a bus like I did every day to school, but afterward, I went on an adventure. At first, I had an issue because I wasn’t sure what I would do if I got lost. However, I solved it by noticing that I could get on any bus near the region I was at and just get off at the school’s nearby stop. It was nothing my young self wasn’t capable of.

While pondering how to solve this problem by myself, I started to leave my worries behind, and remembered: I wasn’t a little girl who needed the guidance of an elder to explore around town; I wasn’t a little girl who expected others to solve my problems for me. I was a mature and independent young woman who knew how to handle herself in any situation.

As I came into my newly independent self, I was sitting on the Pont de Saint-Jean, eating my regular baguette and watching over the Sarine River, comparing my growth with the flow of the water. As the water flowed from southwest to northeast, I could see how patches of rocks surged from the water, and found it analogous to my life: even though there will be rough patches, I

will constantly be moving on and growing as a person.

This is where the scope of the story generalizes to include you, the reader. Life is all about taking chances and leaps even if you don’t know where you’re going to end up. If I had gone back to the Roder household that afternoon, keeping to my routine, and denying myself the rare opportunity, I never would’ve explored a corner of the world not many people know of. Perhaps this is a metaphorical example of what you can do with your own life. Being a university student gives you a type of self-governance that not many people have.

You have the ability to make your own choices and really exercise your independence. If you’re reading this, I’m assuming you’re around the age where you can start making, or have been making, your own decisions. Take advantage of that liberty to do whatever is at your disposal. Don’t doubt yourself when you’re deciding whether to take a chance or not. If you end up regretting it after, chances are it will be a good story to tell your kids.

So, if you’re going to take something from this story, I want you to consider two things. First, life is about taking risks and going on adventures that lead you to discover things you never knew existed before. They can even lead you to something that could change your life. Second, don’t ever let yourself be guided by another person. Make your own decisions and learn to live with them; these decisions are what are going to shape who you are and what your purpose in life is.

Deviate from your routine, make mistakes, and get lost!

If you do, you can always find the nearest bus to take you home again.

Sequence: A Study of Folded Spaces Jennifer Boothby ILLUSTRATION EDITOR Through this project, I explored the nature of folded spaces and how folds can both dictate circulation and enhance the way a space is experienced. Working with fibreglass, I first created a model comprised of both solid spaces and voids, then imagined the potential inhabitation of the space through a series of plan and section cuts.

Calling all USMC students!

doesn’t deserve all the hype it gets? Want to defend your new raw vegan diet? Are you disillusioned with your department’s diminishing career options? Tell us about it, and we’ll tell everyone we can.

As you may have read in our paper, on readthemike.com, or on newsstands around campus, The Mike is by students and for students. We want this paper to represent you, and be your voice at our university.

We offer Staff Columnist tags to any USMC student who contributes to three of our 12 issues this year. Columnist status entitles you to voting rights in next year’s masthead elections and will even net you a CCR credit!

Our Opinions section is the perfect way to get your voice heard. We’re always welcoming of students who want a platform to discuss the issues important to them. Do you think Stranger Things

No prior writing experience is required, and there’s no application to fill out. All you need to do is email either opinions@readthemike.com or editorinchief@readthemike.com and tell us

what’s on your mind; we’d be happy to hear from you.

If you’ve got something to say, just speak into The Mike.

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FEATURES

Features Editor Téana Graziani features@readthemike.com

Another One Bites the Dust

Can we separate the art from the artist?

Liam McConnell MANAGING EDITOR XXXTentacion, Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby, Jian Ghomeshi, Woody Allen, Roman Polanski, Casey Affleck: What do these men have in common? The fact that each has frankly sickening accusations of abuse levelled at them, which are almost universally considered to be true? Yes. But they also share the fact that they’re enormously successful artists or otherwise progenitors of art. Here’s the question that pops up every time it’s revealed that another beloved pop culture icon was a revolting degenerate the whole time (and it seems like there’s another every month): Is it still okay to enjoy their work, knowing what they did?

Can we morally sit down to watch a Miramax or Weinstein Company film; take in a Cosby stand-up routine; listen to a Ghomeshi interview; study the work of Allen or Polanski? For that matter, can we watch the movies of Victor Salva, a convicted pedophile? Can we listen to the music of Crystal Castles knowing what Ethan Kath stands accused of doing to Alice Glass? Simply put, can we separate art from the artists and ethically enjoy the output of those who believe or have done reprehensible things?

The answer is that I don’t really know. My first inclination is to take it by an artist-by-artist basis, and see how the consumption of their work makes you feel.

For example, if you sit down to watch Blue Jasmine,

and you can’t enjoy the film as fully knowing what Allen was accused of doing, then it may be right for you to forgo his work entirely. Similarly, if the music of Crystal Castles suddenly sounds different now that you know what went on during recording and on tour, then vote with your ears and quit listening. Redirecting our attention and money is the most effective form of protest in a consumerist society, given that the masses agree.

But here’s the caveat. If you make the moral decision to give up their work, you’re also giving up the work of those who contributed to it. Music, film, television — these aren’t made in a vacuum. If you refuse to watch Blue Jasmine, you’ll be depriving yourself of Cate Blanchett’s magnificent performance. If you throw out your Crystal Castles records, you’ll never hear the passion and creative intensity that Alice Glass put into her music. But this brings up an interesting philosophical quandary. Is it fair to stop watching those films or listening to that music? It seems to me that forgoing the output entirely prioritizes the abuser and not the innocent collaborator or victim. It’s allowing the actions of the perpetrator to dictate your actions.

It’s true that your lack of support of the Weinsteins, Allens, Polanskis, and Kaths (and so on, and so on) of the world will have a small but meaningful effect. But

it also affects those who share in none of the blame.

The innocent would suffer the same punishment as the guilty. Take Weinstein as an example. I’ve seen many think pieces and tweets from people who claim they’ll never watch a Weinstein Company film ever again. But Harvey Weinstein himself has been ousted from the company. It’s now staffed almost entirely by people who had no part in what he did. Why do they deserve to be punished for the abuses and manipulations of their ex-boss? On a note even more serious, what about the scores of actresses that were taken advantage of by the disgraced mogul in the early stages of their careers? I’m all for withdrawing support for the individual, but we must realize that there is a trickle-down effect.

I don’t think every case, even the ones I’ve mentioned, is quite so simple. But it’s something to keep in mind. It’s a hard decision, and a potential sacrifice, you have to be willing to make for your morals. But there’s no right answer to the question of whether or not we should continue to enjoy the work of these men. All anyone can do is be informed, realize the implications of their decision, and make the choice for themselves.

Students of St. Mike’s, V1.0: Ethan Deneault Pran Sathiy CONTRIBUTOR our vibrant city through his vision and a different looking glass.

How did you pick up photography as a hobby?

Ethan: I picked up photography mostly because my father was in the film industry and introduced me to a camera at a very young age. I still have prints of photos I took when I was 5 years old.

Where does the inspiration for your work stem from?

Ethan: My inspiration has come from a lot of different places; old film photos my dad took when he was younger, as well as films like James Bond’s Spectre, really influence parts of my work. Newer trends such as streetwear and hip hop influence my work as well. I try to take my favourite aspects of analog and modern photography to create something that is my own.

Any advice for budding photographers?

Ethan: The best advice I can give budding photographers is to “think before you shoot.” Think about how you can make your photo unique from everything else out there. Eventually you will find a trend in the photos you like to take and that will become your style.

My personal main goal is to take photos where people will say, “Ethan took that,” just by looking at the photo. As I’ve been told before, “Learn the rules, so you can break them.”

How would you say photography has contributed to and helped your personal and academic lives?

Ethan: The best thing about this hobby is that it is stress free. I can pull out my camera on a Friday afternoon and just kick back. The reality of midterms/exams takes a back seat for a second while I’m focused on shooting. There’s no pressure to capture an insane photograph just to enjoy what I do.

Ethan Deneault. Pran Sathiy / THE MIKE.

The rise of social media outlets and expression has had (and continues) to have a profound impact on student life and culture in the city of Toronto. Digital photography (and a revival in film photography) has been a large benefactor in riding the wave of new media.

Second-year neuroscience student at St. Mike’s and lifestyle photographer Ethan Deneault has been on a consistent rise. Using Instagram as his primary outlet to showcase his craft, Ethan has managed to capture

Ethan Deneault / @eth.nd.

Ethan Deneault / @eth.nd.

Ethan Deneault is also an active member of the St. Mike’s community — he was an orientation leader as well as a contributing photographer during the week’s festivities. Have a peek through Ethan’s lens and check out his Instagram @eth.nd. You can also find his work featured on this issue’s cover.