The Artichoke Vol. 7. No. 7/8

Dust off those New Years resolution

MARCH 2018 | VOL. 7 NO. 7/8

SPRING CLEANING

ARTICHOKE

CONTRIBUTORS

Editor-In-Chief

Safa Gangat

Assistant Editor

Lamia Abozaid

Writers

Carl Cachero Genevieve Canavan Alexandra Caprara Katherine Collier Kelly Estomo Maddysin Fisher Kabeer Garba Michael Petruzzelli Sierra Riley Lilian Rubilar Francesca Smita Soni Zlatko Tyulev Maya Vukov Jessie Whyte

Design Editor

Sarah Wong

Designers

Bri Coggans Kristina Pura-Cruz Holden Kao Samneet Mann Sarah Manyoki Mars Quave Michelle Young

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For past issues: issuu.com/artichokemag

WINTERS

IN THIS ISSUE

Entertainment

Lifestyle

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12

Out with the Old, in with the New Genevieve Canavan

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Post-Residence: What to throw out, donate, and keep Zlatko Tyulev

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Why you do not always have to hussle Lilian Rubilar

Notes Sonya Mwambu

Creative 10

Kid, of the Universe Kelly Estomo

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Warrior Katherine Collier

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Sweep J.M Whyte

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Lemon Pledge Maddisyn Fisher

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Bloom Maya Vukov

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ARTICHOKE

A Letter From

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the Editor-in-Chief

WINTERS

hello lovely artichoke readers, It’s been a time. It’s been a time being part of the Artichoke team, having the opportunity to be the assistant editor, and soon leading the team all together. It’s been a great time and I have many people to thank. Wow, I’m graduating?

But before I get into the mushy bits, I want to say I hope you all enjoyed being part of this experience as readers as I did leading those who created it for you.

I hope you enjoyed the passion we as a team put into creating content that reflects the Winters community and people on individual levels. I hope you enjoyed the mesmerizing design style in our issues. And I hope you enjoyed the witty titles we plaster onto our front page. I hope you enjoyed it all. Because I definitely did!

Now, back to the mushy bits. I first would have to thank Mayeesha Cho(wdhury) for hiring me as the assistant editor despite my comment about “having commitment issues” regarding being Editor-in-Chief once she left (never forget). Mayeesha and I joined each other as partners with

a love for doggos and a hate for grammatical errors (plus so much more). You gave me the confidence to know fourth year is worth the juggle and I should take things head on. Who knew my “commitment issues” would’ve disappeared when it was time to be Editor? Thanks for teaching me and handing me the reigns for this wonderful magazine, Cho! Which brings me to who I’ve been doing the same with, Lamia Abozaid! Thanks for dealing with my crasse attitude and 24/7 demands, you’ve managed well. So I guess I have to congratulate you on being the new Editor-in-Chief, right?

Right. I appreciate you more than I may let on, Lams. I wish you luck and I hope you kill it as Editor (keep those guest writers coming).

I absolutely have to thank Sarah Wong, our incredible design editor! I appreciate all the hard work you’ve put into this magazine from start to finish. You’ve impressed me with how quick you fix mistakes I didn’t realize were there, life saving really.

I’m glad you’re continuing on next year and I’m sure you and Lamia will make a great team!

Of course, I have to thank our team, both writers and designers!

You all did amazing this year and gave me some good content to work with, I am proud of you all and I hope most, if not all, continue to be part of the team for the new school year. Keep up that good shit.

I definitely have to thank the amazing Winters College Council for being an incredible source of support and help throughout, this issue would have (literally) not been possible without you, I love you all so much. I can’t believe it is over, wooow. The Winters community has been such a huge part of my life the last few years and it’s weird to think this will be it (or will it? Ab). I have met some amazing people and made some great connections, I hope I was able to give back adequately through this magazine. Anyway, enough of that.

Thank you all for a great time, signing off for the last time, your editor-in-chief, safa gangat

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ARTICHOKE

From the Assistant Editor

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home stretch From Starting With a Throwback, to our Thrilling Halloween issue, to A Mental Holiday- A break from your break downs, to Realistic Resolutions, to Love and Other Thugs, and finally to the final issue of the year...

As an assistant editor, I have enjoyed every moment of it. I have enjoyed meeting and brainstorming with Safa before every issue, reaching out to guest writers, editing unbelievably great work, and seeing it all come to life with Sarah and her team’s great effort.

We really appreciate you folks - thank you from the bottom of my heart. Something that I have personally learned this year from working as an assistant editor is to be very very patient.

I look forward to read more phenomenal work in the next academic year and I also hope to see some returning writers and designers. lots of love and respect, lamia abozaid

WINTERS

what a year!

Working on Artichoke as Design Editor this year has been an amazing experience and I’ve enjoyed every minute. I’ve learned many things this year, but the biggest takeaway was realizing how much I love working with editorial and art direction.

Thank you to everyone who’s been apart of our issues and a huge special thank you to Safa for bringing me on as Design Editor. From your clever title puns to seeing your passion for writing, its been a pleasure working with you and I am so happy with how everything has turned out this year. Lastly, a big thank you to my wonderful team of designers. I really appreciate your commitment and enjoyed seeing your creativity in making Artichoke come to life.

I can’t wait to see what next year will bring for Artichoke. Thank you all once again. with love, sarah wong

From the Design Editor

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ARTICHOKE

Notes |

BY SONYA MWAMBU

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whenever i hear someone say something interesting, funny, weird or outrageous I make a note of it on my phone. I do this in the hopes of one day being able to write a screenplay and use these one-liners within the dialogue. Until that screenplay is written (who knows when), I have put together some of the things that my friends, family and complete strangers have said over the past school year.

BRITTNEY

INT. RESTAURANT - DAY

NATHAN

INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT

A group of drunk friends stumble into their kitchen. The clock on the stove reads 3:25 am. britanny 23, opens the fridge and begins looking. She finds a beer, but when she goes to pull them out a glass container falls to the floor making a loud bang as it shatters.

Fuck!

A waiter brings out glasses of water and sets a few straws down on the table. JOHN, 22, picks up a straw, puts it in his glass and begins drinking.

SHELLEY

You know straws are killing this planet.

Yo shut the fuck up! There are people in this house that need to wake up early for Church in the morning.

BRITTNEY

We don’t go to church... We drink beers.

Brittney proceeds to crack open a cold one.

JOHN

THE END

Well I guess I’m contributing today.

EXT. DOWNTOWN TORONTO - NIGHT

THE END

Two friends are huddled, shivering, waiting to show the bouncer their IDs.

ENTERTAINMENT

LOIS

I’ve always wanted to hook up with someone in a public place. Like something completely spur of the moment you know.

NOTABLE MENTIONS

“A bat is like a puppy with wings”

BETH

“How do you tape ice to your nipples?”

When you have sex somewhere and you climax, a piece of you stays there like a horcrux in Harry Potter.

“How do you tape ice?”

“I don’t have enough confidence to be arrogant”

They hand the bouncers their IDs. THE END

“I have no confidence and I’m arrogant. They’re not related”

INT. PAINTING STUDIO - DAY

“Russ is like the Nickelback of hip hop”

Three friends are enjoying a wine and paint night.

JOSH

I don’t know how Rick Ross does this.

NICOLE

The fuck does Rick Ross have to do with this?

JOSH

You know the painter.

HARRY

Rick Ross is a rapper...

NICOLE

You mean Bob Ross?

JOSH

Well shit.

THE END

One day I shall write a screenplay incorporating all this dialogue, but until then I shall continue taking up all the storage space on my phone.

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ARTICHOKE

UNIVERSE

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BY KELLY ESTOMO

CREATIVE

you wanna stay? then stay.

You wanna leave? WELL, sit in bathtubs of your own water, familiar grime and all of the day’s sweat encapsulating you like a liquid universe, like you are the biggest and brightest star in your Fisher-Price galaxy. You see? You have your own universe here. You hold it all in your tiny hands. So stay. But you wanna leave, I hear you say. You wanna go out and change! change what? the world, or something? yourself? Do you need distance to grow? Oh no,

Original Photo by Javier Allegue Barros

You need roots! And to cut away unnecessary branches, because that view from the trunk is a sunset you’ve seen before.

But, sweetie, you wanna change.

You wanna leave. Honey, I cannot let you do that, so leave. But only

for a while. Come back when I need warmth. It will get so cold and empty here without you.

We will water you with plastic bottles and you will grow too tall and I will forget the calm of your sleepy eyes, and I will forget how the lights flicker back on when you smile, but I do not even know who you are anymore. You are the sky. So blue, maybe sad, even, but I am raining, I am pouring, and all you do is grow, and you leave, and I am afraid there will be no trace of you here anymore!

“RESIST the urge to pluck me out of the ground.

This is not your property.

Do not fret, we will all decay, and we will settle back into the earth, where, little did you know, we have always belonged.”

When we planted you, you were ours.

But that is wrong. because maybe, you belong to the universe. and here, bunny, you will forever stay.

So you can leave.

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ARTICHOKE

Warrior

BY KATHERINE COLLIER

a day that starts off just as any other can change your life in ways you never knew.

Open up your closet and let your emotions be your guide.

Everything is the same; when suddenly, everything you ever knew is shattered to pieces scattered on the endless floor.

That which does not bring you joy, should not be.

It is endless because it has no end in your mind; only in your soul will it end.

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Some pain comes from within, breaking you apart at your seams, crumbling your foundation until it is dust.

And only a deep clean will rid you of this pain you feel, this stress you feel.

Cleansing your soul, but also your life, results in a feeling most glorious and pure light.

Let the demons in your mind free as you chase your burdens away with strength.

Show them what they will fight should they not concede to your victory immediately.

Everything will be resolved, and now is the time.

Spring is a time of healing and of love.

Clean not only your minds, but your hearts.

Forgive and forget and be forgiven evermore.

But learn from your mistakes warrior.

Learn to not repeat them.

Learn to nurture growth.

Nurture self healing.

You are a warrior who makes what they are given their holy weapon.

You will not bow down or give in, this is your glory.

Nurture love.

Spring-cleaning.

Section

Sweep

BY J.M WHYTE

you say you want to be me -even though “being me” meansHold on.

There are stories I am not yet ready to tell.

I do not know who you think I am, but, man.

-Everyone goes through hell, and wishing you were someone else is not -flattering -kind -and most importantly -gonna solve your problems All that does is erase my experiences and pain It basically forces my past down a drain, and let me tell you.

I do not live in a vacuum.

My past has shaped, So be caregiver, not broom.

Do not sweep my life to the corner of the room because you are desperate to stop being you.

I am sorry you are hurting, -but I am too.

Let’s heal together, me and you.

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ARTICHOKE

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LEMON PLEDGE THIS IS DEDICATED TO THE HEARTBEAK KID.

BY MADDISYN FISHER

CREATIVE

“they say that when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

But I made lemon pledge instead.

Lemon pledge to clean.

To cleanse.

To disinfect.

You see, I needed to do some spring cleaning.

Of my soul and of my mind.

The winter brought on the harshness of reality and I was no longer equipped to handle the figment of real life.

So I cleaned.

I wiped away the dark memories.

I scrubbed away the fear.

I dusted away the nightmares.

Out with the old, in with the new.

Goodbye to you, you, and you.

No more mold.

No more grime.

No more mess.

Spring cleaning lead to the rejuvenation of the heartbreak kid who needed to scrub everyday, but the stains would remain.

The heartbreak kid who needed to say goodbye, but was too busy taking care of all the dying flowers that they forgot the sun existed.

The heartbreak kid who needed to survive, but they could not breathe under the mess of the stress and expectations put on by everybody in the neighborhood.

Lemon pledge was my new beginning.

My new path.

My new redemption.�

Sincerely, MadFish

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ARTICHOKE

BLOOM

BY MAYA VUKOV

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guess what? It is the end of the school year.

You survived. You are here. You made it through.

It was one roller coaster of a ride, was it not?

How are your stress levels right now? How is your health? This time last year was the first time I discovered a new kind of stress. A kind that does not go away even after all the projects and exams are over. A kind of stress that sits with you and as a result, that summer I had to re-evaluate my health. So I pose the questions:

How have you been treating your body and your mind this year? Have you overwhelmed yourself with tasks you have not felt you have been able to do a quality job on all at the same time? Have you been hitting up Popeyes too much? (sorry Popeyes, some of us still love you). Have you been going to sleep at 5am every day? Did you do any physical activity besides walking to class?

The point I am trying to make here is that mental and physical health are intimately intertwined.

CREATIVE

The hardest thing for many of us at university is not the projects or the tests or the exams, it is learning how to take care of oneself. It takes many people a long, long time to learn that skill. But see, another thing I have learned is that taking care of your body and mind is not about indulgence or laziness; quite the opposite actually.

It is about self-respect. You see, it is very difficult to get anywhere in life if you do not respect yourself and by the way, vanity and narcissism are not the same thing as self-respect. Just because you post flattering photos on Insta does not mean that you respect yourself.

But summer break is a good time to reflect on this. Summer can also be a difficult time for people as their routine is disrupted. Going home to your family after being away for most of a year can be somewhat disorienting at first, along with the general lull in activity can be uncomfortable after you have been going and going and going all year. Yes, you will be working a lot at during summer, but it maybe it is a boring job. Summer is a great time to get yourself into a healthy training regime to recuperate from a year of (feeling like) having to be “on� all the time. Plan fun activities for yourself that you enjoy so you will have things to get excited about and look forward to. Have campfires, go on road trips, go

to concerts (I am going to see Radiohead in July with an old high school friend).

Reconnecting with people you have not seen in a while is always a rejuvenating experience and hey, even if you end up working four jobs, it is still summer.

Try to make sure you can still find as much time as you can to goof off and be a kid again. You are still young and you deserve it after a stressful year. Even if it is just belting out your favourite classic tunes on the way to work, or soaking up as much sun as possible every chance you get. Even if you are taking summer school, maybe even at York? Give yourself permission to take moments to not be a college student for a little bit.

Oh, and nature! I know sometimes after living through a winter at York it is easy to forget what the colour green looks like and that it actually grows on trees.

Even if you are doing summer school, try to get a chance to go camping (or hiking if that is not your thing).

Guaranteed for you to experience the opposite environment from what you have been living in for the past eight months. Actually, even York has its moments during the summer.

So you see? Everything will start to bloom soon. This season is the start of new life. Maybe it will be the start of new life in you.

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ARTICHOKE

Out with the Old,

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in with the New

LIFESTYLE

BY GENEVIEVE CANAVAN

as i am looking out my window now, seeing the light dusting of snow on the ground and putting on a knit cardigan because my shortsleeved shirt just is not cutting it, it is hard to believe spring will ever come. But then I remember I say that every year, and soon enough I am doing homework outside, taking walks with friends around campus instead of staying holed up in our apartments, and not having to wear a jacket.

When I was younger I was always a summer girl, but as I have gotten older I have become more attached to Spring. There is something quite inspiring about flowers regrowing after the intense, hard winters we can have. It makes me remember humans can do that too.

Fourth year was definitely one that turned out to be unexpected for me, as well as many of those around me.

There was much disappointment, but even more growth and discovery.

We are taught to keep relationships in our lives because they have been a part of us for so long. If we stop being friends with someone, it is mean or rude. Yeah, it can be that.

But it can also be the right choice.

We as people are always growing and changing, sometimes at rates slower or faster than others. And growth, no matter how slow, is healthy. You are allowed to let go of a relationship, in any form, if it is no longer serving you. Whoever is not adding to your life, take them out of it. Spring cleaning does not only apply to dusting and vacuuming.

Winter can cause ruts, seasonal depression, and make you lose hope. But knowing that the days stay lighter longer, flowers burst through the frost, and that the rain will wash all the salt and sand away can be helpful. I crossed the cheesy line a long time ago, so I will say no more.

Happy (almost) spring, graduation to those who are, and end of the year to you all! May the new season bring you joy and make you a little shinier.

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ARTICHOKE

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WHAT TO THROW OUT, DONATE, AND KEEP.

BY ZLATKO TYULEV

LIFESTYLE

take it from an upper year who has been in and out of residence for the past 4 years of his undergraduate degree, garbage accumulates quickly. And if you are a hoarder, it is even worse. Think of it as packing only the essentials, even though you are moving out of a smaller place and think that you can keep most things, it always feels better to have less in some cases, and literally have less in your suitcases.

If you are not keen on simple-living culture, a quick Google, YouTube or whatever hipster engine the youngins use these days, can give you tips, lessons, and overall complete guides on how to switch up lifestyles from materialistic to simplistic living. Now, nobody is saying that you should go way too simplistic, if you still want to keep that trendy Lizzie McGuire shirt you had from middle school, then do it… if you use it often enough to justify for the fact that you still have it in your wardrobe.

What Winters Residence has done in the past and hopefully continues on doing, is setting up a giveaway station in the lobby for any unwanted items you want to get rid of, and other people would be free to pick them up, all free of charge and convenient.

This is the most optimal place you could get rid of old/unused clothing/shoes/accessories and the occasional can of beans you won’t be needing, because mama got that good good at home.

Once you have completely dismantled your wardrobe and shoe rack, go through your school work and items that you could recycle and do so, unless you want to keep that paper you got a C on (Cs get degrees folks). Then the small things you have laying around on your desk, racks, drawers and whatever. Quick checklist: Does it work? Is it useful? Have I used it this week/month/year?

Can I live without it? Is it a disco ball? (you throw out that disco ball, I am no longer your dad).

Pro tip: get sturdy containers! Do not be a cheap stale banana muffin, cardboard boxes break too easily, are undependable, susceptible to leaks and damages, and are completely environmentally unfriendly.

Containers are stackable (if you get them in sets), dependable, and most importantly long-lasting!

Your university, heck, your entire young adult life will be comprised of moving in and out, you have to make sure you do it right. So remember, it is better to walk into your new place purse first, and with a lesser load, it will feel fresh and a start of something new (queue the High School Musical track). Oh, and yeah, do not start packing 10 hours before you have to move, more stressful than cramming for a psychology exam… speaking of which.

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ARTICHOKE

Why you do not always have to hussle

BY LILIAN RUBILAR

Photo by Sarah Wong

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LIFESTYLE

as we approach the end of our 2017 - 2018 school year, many of us are graduating or are continuing on to the second, third, or fourth school year. Many students including myself - may be on their way to their plus one year and then: the victory lap! There are endless reason for why this has become an option for you in order to achieve your goals, but there is one thing we can all understand, which is adulthood is hard. Maybe you need more time to figure things out and feel that the academic setting is the optimal place for you to do so.

This was the case for me and my experiences in deferring graduation and deciding to take a fifth year of my undergraduate study.

There is no shame for taking a little longer, what is the rush anyways? At the start of my academic year, I thought I knew exactly what I was aiming for, and I had a four year plan to finish and get out of university as quick as possible. Although throughout the years, this plan began to feel further and further away. I reached a point in my life where I have been exposed to so much that I have lost myself in the wonders of the world and my endless choices of what I could be. I felt that I was hitting a point in my life where I did not know what I wanted to do anymore.

One day, I made a bold decision to take my time and extend my

studies by a year. I started to feel a little uneasy about the situation at first, especially when I thought about my close friends graduating before me and how this would look towards my family members. It only hit harder once I started listening to others speak and prepare for graduation. After a while, I realized that comparing myself to others and having expectations that are not my own was not helping me grow.

Today I am thankful that I have taken an extra year and went at my own pace. I am now very excited to take the opportunity to involve myself in activities that I never have been able to try!

The importance of slowing down The role of media in our lives are one of many reasons why I believe we feel rushed into achieving things at a certain time. Speed is rewarded in the current society, everything we do we want quicker and more efficient. Social media plays an important role in this. If you see most individuals your age moving on to their first apartment or car, we often measure our success with other individuals’ accomplishments.

You could find yourself asking, should I be there? Is this something I should have by now, and if not am I behind? Everywhere we turn there is pressure to value things that are done quickly. It is easy to feel that you are not up to par to the general public, but it is important

to take a step back from this and realise that going at your own pace is completely fine, and it is nothing to be ashamed about! Be your own individual and take time to define your own path, wherever it may lead.

Your last chance, live it up!

There is a definite benefit to staying within the institution of the university as you figure out what to do with yourself. York University offers a number of great resources which can assist you in making those all-important life choices, and there is something intrinsically motivating about being surrounded by, and engaged in, an institution of higher learning. Since you are taking an extra year, it is a great time to start thinking about what you would like to do differently. This extra year gives you opportunities to try new things. It is a great time and place to try new projects or initiatives! Or just getting involved with different groups, clubs, and organizations the university has to offer.

I hope that by laying out some thoughts and considerations I took into deciding to do an extra year can help decide if it is the best choice for you. It is a tough decision to be sure and, if nothing else, you can hopefully find some solace in knowing that you are not alone in making it!

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For past issues: ISSUU.COM/ARTICHOKEMAG