The Melange September 2022 Issue

vision statement

Our vision is for The Melange to be a light hearted and enjoyable read, to shine light on what constitutes the Artsci experience (in terms of our formal degrees, but also in terms of day to day goings on!), and to bring Artsci students together to appreciate each other’s written and visual talent

We want The Melange to be a positive force within the Artsci community; as such, we will not be accepting or publishing submissions that are discriminatory or hateful There is room for thoughtful critique or for kind hearted teasing in the name of humour or satire, but there is not room for pieces that insult anyone, are hurtful, or perpetuate racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, ageism, or religious discrimination We also want all information published in The Melange to be factual, correct, and clear; please note that fact checking and resulting edits for non fiction pieces will be included in the editorial process

Content guidelines

Think about The Melange and all of its content as aiming to be community building: when designing your submission, check with yourself: “Is this contribution supportive of my Artsci community?” (though your contribution doesn’t have to be about Artsci!)

If you want to create a piece on a faculty member, admin, student, or alumnus, please get their consent (and evidence of consent, to show our editors) for the specific way in which you will be portraying them before you create or submit your piece

Note: Merely referring to an individual in passing (i e when they’re not the subject of your piece) doesn’t require formal consent, but please note that The Melange’s editors reserve the right to edit these names out of a piece if their inclusion is inappropriate

Please aim to keep submissions under two pages/ 1000 words maximum We will assess submissions on a case by case basis, but generally we are looking for short pieces

We accept poetry, short stories, comic strips, recipes, humour and satire, book reviews, reflections, visual art, fun riddles or crossword puzzles, and any other categories of submissions you come up with! Be as creative as you want! We can’t wait to enjoy your work :)

Submission and editorial process

Submissions should be sent exclusively to themelangebyartsci@outlook.com. Please attach your submission to the email as an online Word document and indicate in your message what type of submission it is (e g “historical fiction comic strip” or “interview with an Artsci alumnus”) If yours is a written piece, feel free to attach any images you would like to accompany it on the page or provide suggestions for accompanying illustrations for our team of artists to take on!

One of our editors will contact you directly within a few days of the contribution deadline to notify you whether there is space for your piece in the upcoming issue or whether we will need to save it for a future issue If your piece is accepted, there will be a specific editorial timeline We reserve the right to reject submissions if they do not follow our content guidelines

Editors will work one on one with contributors to edit their pieces. There will be an initial round of edits, which the editor will return as feedback to the creator for any necessary or suggested revisions A final draft will be sent from the creator back to the editor, who then will complete final touch ups Please be available to make revisions to your piece in the week following the contribution deadline, since our turnaround time for edits will be quick!

no.

Well folks, we’ve made it!

High fives and good vibes all around for completing the first month of university. Whether it’s your first year or your fifth, making it through another start of the semester is no small feat In fact, making it through any beginning is nothing to be scoffed at; beginnings tend to indicate change, and change is STRESSFUL

Being in my fifth year, I’ve been thinking a lot recently about the connection between beginnings and endings For me, this back to school season is the beginning of a whole series of endings It marks my last first day of fall semester; some of my last opportunities to get free pizza at SASS meetings; the final time I’ll be shocked and appalled by the length of the MUSC Starbucks line (ok, the appalled part never really goes away, but the shock is a first time seeing it this year only special).

Something I’ve been reminding myself, and that I’d like to remind you, dear Reader, if you too are feeling your quota of existential everythingis ending and next it’ll be my life dread running a little high this month, is that most beginnings occur without us even noticing.

You likely don’t make note of the first time you feel truly at ease around someone, or the first time you make it from one end of campus to the other without inadvertently doing three laps around Arts Quad, or the first time you get your printer to work without having to sheepishly call your dad All these little moments represent the meagre beginnings of powerful things: a friendship, an intimate knowledge of a place, a sense of independence Getting too caught up in tracking all the “last times” the endings can obscure the ubiquity of beginnings And what is life if not a series of starts?

As you read this Back to School issue of The Melange, I hope you reflect on the subtle beginnings that initiated the many beautiful things that now comprise your life It might make you feel nostalgic and, if we’ve done our job right, it might make you feel hopeful

Happy perusing, Emily O’Halloran and the Melange Editorial Team

Contents

Editors: Anitra Bowman, Amarah Hasham-Steele, Charlotte Johnston,ElleKlassen,,EmilyO'Halloran,NavyaSheth Contributors:NatalieChu,TessMacdonald,FlynnO'Dacre Artists/Illustrators: Jayda Hewitt, Grainne Mangan, Kristen Rasmussen, JadynWestenberg,AudreyWu, Layout/ArtEditors:AmandaDam,MayaZabian

In Acknowledging ILand n Acknowledging Land

McMaster University recognizes and acknowledges that it is located on the traditional territories of the Mississauga andHaudenosaunee Nations, and within the lands protected by the “Dish With One Spoon” wampum agreement

This is the land acknowledgement pasted at the end of each official McMaster email, and the phrase repeated again and again throughout one’s time at McMaster It’s the phrase first years are greeted with on their first day at this institution It’s the sentence I had written down and given to me to recite on each tour I gave to prospective students

When I arrived at McMaster in 2019, I had never heard the words Haudenosaunee Nation, or the word Mississauga in any context other than something derivative of Toronto The land acknowledgements thrown at us throughout Welcome Week were a jumble of words through a microphone: what on earth is a hi de guai? Haida Gwai? What? I understood the acknowledgement was something to recognize land, but the idea of a Wampum Belt was so abstract for me that it didn’t register, really.

Now that a few years and a few INDIGST courses have passed, the meaning of a land acknowledgement has changed (and come into being, really) for me McMaster’s Dr Eugenia Zurowski, Six Nation’s Kitty R Lynn, Dr Renae Watchman and so many more have all brought me to the place I’m at currently. While the email taglines accomplish the bare minimum of implicating the university in the politics of the land, a land acknowledgement shouldn’t be a script; it can and should be a recognition of where your knowledge comes from, how the land shapes your thinking, and how you can take care of it

Arts & Science’s continual call is to narrow your focus, to make your knowledge applicable What does that word mean? What does it imply? How is it applied? So let’s do it here. Where does my knowledge come from? I come from Thunder Bay, home to the Anishinaabe and within the lands of the Robinson Superior Treaty It’s also home to the highest homicide rate per capita in Canada (1), a high school for far north Indigenous students, and a pair of rivers that are the site of reluctant investigations into the deaths of seven of these students over the course of ten years (2). My knowledge comes from being adjacent to (but mostly unaffected by) this horror: going to school literally across the street, being friends with someone who found a body, driving through Fort William First Nation for cheaper gas

My knowledge also comes, however, from hiking at Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, picking strawberries by the pound, and discovering the Bruce Trail when I got my bike working in first year at McMaster It comes from standing very still for a long time in a cornfield in Dundas, and it comes from the fact that I have clean drinking water while thousands of homes in Six Nations are without and have been for decades (3)

I am not an authority on land acknowledgements or decolonization, and my voice here is not the one that matters This is just what I’ve found is a more intimate and long lasting way of practicing land acknowledgements, and could be useful to those of you who cringe at the repetitive scripts but aren’t sure what else to do Taking action is always the goal; this is not action In many ways it’s as self serving and performative as the copying and pasting But action always starts with what’s in front of you, so look there What's in front of you? Where do you come from? What land are you on?

mental health (and news engagement!) long term I think this was accurate; now that school is starting again and I ve had a break, I feel ready to re engage with what’s going on in the world Even so, I must take in the news carefully and stay in touch with how it is impacting me. This means staying vigilant against doomscrolling, which is extremely easy to fall into given the bleak sociopolitical climate in the US and Canada and the addictiveness of social media algorithms It also means prioritizing maintaining a positive outlook over being up to date on current events If I’m thinking about politics and my mood veers too far into stressy depressy panic mode, I know it’s time to fill my head with some pleasant Stranger Things meta analysis

Measures to stay mentally well while being politically engaged can also be proactive Although I typically have a bleak perspective on political issues within our neoliberal capitalist society, I have learned to try to center hope Staying hopeful helps me to remain motivated by love for people, nature, and the potential of human society, rather than by anger and vitriol towards oppressive hegemonic forces and those wielding power. I follow some news sources that periodically focus on sharing only good news. I try to center my engagement in positive visions for the future

Manifestation is one way to stay focused on the positive parts of life as a form of protection from news induced desperation I like the concept of manifesting. I like that most people who use the term don’t truly believe they are bringing events into being by meditating on them, but they do it anyway. I like the idea of spending time imagining positive things happening for yourself and others I don’t think it changes what occurs, but I do think it makes you more likely to experience otherwise neutral events as positive This article on the phenomenon cautions that insofar as manifesting might de incentivize people from exerting energy on practical measures to achieve their goals, it can be harmful. However, the article also notes that most people “manifesting” are doing so as a spiritual, social, or grounding practice, rather than as a form of magic.

I’m some type of spiritual I believe that many of the forces dictating our lives have yet to be discovered I think of these forces as relating to some intangible “energy,” like what’s used in reiki or other spiritual practices. I wouldn’t say I necessarily believe in these practices, but I like to imagine expansive ways we can influence fate So, if manifesting good things for myself and the world helps me to cope with staying attuned to the news, I don’t really mind that it’s changing nothing except what I anticipate in life.

ArtbyJaydaHewitt, LevelII

Please enjoy these manifestations for the school year.

Myhousematedynamicswillbepositive. Second-year Artscis, or anyone living in student housing for the first time, this one’s for you. Finding a house to rent is difficult enough when you have a solid group of friends to move in with; I can only imagine trying to do it without a pre arranged group Most people’s housing will be determined by now, but housemate dynamics might have yet to unfold On behalf of all Melange readers, I am manifesting smooth navigation of housemate socialization, chore sharing, guest policies, and general cleanliness of your student houses.

Iwillhavegoodgroupmembersforallmygroupprojects. Group projects are a fact of life Maybe with the power of manifestation behind us, we can avoid redoing all the work of the group members whose efforts didn’t live up to our pretentious standards <3

Iwilladheretoaregularsleepschedule. This means no one is allowed to ask me to hang out after 11pm on a school night unless your plans involve manifesting feeling rested the next day

Iwillprogressthroughmythesisataregularpace. Fourth-year Artscis and anyone completing their thesis, I’m manifesting this for all of us We all agonized over choosing topics that are important to us, so this shouldn’t be too hard Let’s set up regular meetings with our supervisors so that we can continually disappoint them by not meeting deadlines we set for ourselves stay accountable!

JKRwillbevisitedbygodandun TERFherself Ok, before you point out that I’m supposed to be enlightened to focus on the positive, consider: JKR un TERFing herself would be a positive thing I really just need her to make her entire fortune an endowment for counteracting transphobic policy outcomes and then disappear from the public eye.

I’llfallinloveagain I thought this day would never come, but alas Manifesting that a hot queer baddie breaks my heart this year!

byElleKlassen,

you've done it! You've successfully made it through the September rush and settled into the routine of the year. Surely this calls for a celebration, right? Take this quiz to find out how you should celebrate!

Ever get stuck trying to decide how to fill your elective space? Worry no more! The Melange has you covered, with our selection of some of our favourite electives that Mac has to offer

Greek and Roman Mythology

CourseCode: CLASSICS 2D03

Professorwhotaughtthiscoursetome: Dr. Patricia White

What I liked about this course: The content was super interesting and the readings were manageable Additionally, assessments weren’t too difficult!

WhatIthoughtweresomeofthemostinterestingtopicsthiscoursecovered: Ancient Greek and Roman Gods and Goddesses, Ancient Heroines, and Epic Quests.

What types of assessments this course used: There were quizzes (which were open book at the time), one essay, and a final exam

Introduction to Mental Health and Illness

CourseCode: HLTHAGE 1CC3

Professorwhotaughtthiscoursetome: Dr Mat Savelli

What I liked about this course: We examined a variety of mental illnesses, some of which I’d never studied before, through a range of lenses

What was unique about this course: The lectures were structured as conversations between Dr Savelli and guest speakers, so we were able to learn from people who work in the mental health and illness field.

What I thought were some of the most interesting topics this course covered: I found the discussions on controversies within the subject area fascinating For example, we looked at pharmaceutical companies, conspiracy theories, and changes in medical science as factors that influence our notions of diagnosing and treating mental illness.

Introduction to Game Theory

CourseCode: ECON 3M03

Professorwhotaughtthiscoursetome: Dr. Zhen He

What I liked about this course: This is an elective for people who have already taken Artsci Economics in second year Do you remember that unit we looked at game theory with those square diagrams? Well, if you thought those were fun, you should definitely check this course out! It involves using those diagrams to solve lots more interesting problems. What I thought were some of the most interesting topics this course covered: It is largely based in logical reasoning and is mostly theoretical It also involves a heavy mathematical reasoning component (which may sound scary to some people, but I dislike math and even I found the math easily manageable!)

What types of assessments this course used: There were three quizzes over the course of the semester, a midterm, and a final exam The final exam was worth a lot, but its questions were quite fair and balanced

Introductory Logic

CourseCode: PHILOS 2B03

Professorwhotaughtthiscoursetome: Dr. Brad Shubert

What I liked about this course: I’m a logic person I really loved puzzling out the proofs! If you liked the deductive logic in first year argumentation, this course is just you getting to do that for thirteen weeks

What I thought were some of the most interesting topics this course covered: The prof included quite a few practical applications of formal logic, which I thought was cool My favourite part was just doing the proofs, though!

How many hours per week did this course take, on average: Not that many, to be honest You’d be surprised how quickly you can do proofs once you get comfortable with the logical rules I would say like an hour or two of homework on top of lectures and tutorials, maximum

Planetary Astronomy

CourseCode: ASTRON 2E03

Professorwhotaughtthiscoursetome: Dr Ralph Pudritz

What I liked about this course: It went in depth about the math and physics behind a bunch of astronomical phenomena It was super fascinating to learn both the mathematical reasons behind various rules of the universe as well as the theoretical backdrop for it all, and the implications of the ways our universe works

What was unique about this course: It was pretty interdisciplinary on the science end of things: a lot of physics, geography, and chemistry overlapped in unique ways!

What types of assessments this course used: Assignments (which were fairly straightforward and fun to do) and tests (which were less fun but still relatively straightforward)

Politics from Below

CourseCode: POLSCI 3PB3

Professorwhotaughtthiscoursetome:Dr Inder Marwah

What I liked about this course: ARTSSCI 2A06 was a prerequisite for this course, so content went beyond analytical critique of Locke, justice, and democracy and delved into specific political ideologies and models that I had never heard of before. We learned about a variety of diverse potential socio-political configurations involving grassroots organizing

What was unique about this course: Most class time was discussion based, with lectures pre recorded as homework The discussion questions were highly generative and specific, so both breakout room discussions and whole-class discussions were engaging and fascinating.

What I thought were some of the most interesting topics this course covered: Zapatismo, prefigurative politics, Anarchism, and the Black Power movement

The Big Questions

CourseCode: ASTRON 2B03

Professorwhotaughtthiscoursetome:Dr Laura Parker

What I liked about this course: We covered the basics of astronomy and expanded on some of the topics we learned in the modern physics part of Artsci Physics As it says in the course name, we covered some of the questions I have long wondered about but never had the chance to study in detail questions about the origins of the universe, how we know what we do about stars, and more.

What was unique about this course: We learned about complex topics in very straightforward, accessible ways notably, this course did not include any mathematical component For students like me, who are less than fond of math, this was a major draw How many hours per week did this course take, on average: There were typically a couple of lectures per week and quizzes embedded, so it was easy to review the content Other than the week before the midterm and final exam, this course only took a couple hours per week outside of watching the online lectures

Philosophical Psychology

CourseCode: PHILOS 2F03

Professorwhotaughtthiscoursetome: Dr Barry Allen

What I liked about this course: Dr Allen was knowledgeable and a very good lecturer! I went to almost all of his office hours and every conversation was fascinating. The readings were well chosen and felt very relevant to the content.

What was unique about this course: I wasn’t sure what to expect when I took this course, but it turns out it was investigating the philosophical justifications for the existence of the mind We began with Descartes’ dualist theory and progressed to almost modern times with the advent of materialism (your brain is just another organ in the machine of your body). Super interesting!

What types of assessments this course used: There were two 1200 word papers (with interesting prompts!) which really helped you to build a solid argument The final exam was a straightforward multiple choice affair which tested your general knowledge of the philosophers’ ideas.

Fight Against the A

One cake at a Time

Truly, what season is more recognizable than fall: changing leaves, pumpkins, general red orange brown yellow tones, the existential dread in realizing yet another year nears its end However, most notable is the return to school And with the return to school, we also have an influx of apples What symbol is more associated with back to school sales and scholastic environments than apples? Not to mention the “leaving an apple on a teacher’s desk” stereotype that I, personally, have never witnessed Maybe I just never paid attention Nevertheless, September brings apples Floods of apples An overwhelming orchard of apples that, no matter how many we pick, keeps growing and replenishing. Here begs the question: what does one do with this looming flood of apples? Many would recommend apple pies an obvious and truly delightful comfort food but here in Artsci, we have an individuality complex. So, I say go against the grain and get to making some Cinnamon Apple Cake! Like any recipe, we need some ingredients

1 ½ cups brown sugar to make your own brown sugar, mix 1 ½ cups white sugar with 1 ½ TBSP molasses

⅓ cup any vegetable oil or melted butter/margarine

1 egg for a vegan recipe, substitute ¼ cup of unsweetened applesauce

1 cup buttermilk to make your own buttermilk, mix 1 TBSP white vinegar or lemon juice in milk and let sit for about 2 mins it will get clumpy, that’s ok for a vegan or lactose free recipe, follow the above step with any milk subs

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 ½ cups flour

1 ½ cups peeled and chopped apples ( 2 apples), into about 1 inch cubes

½ cup white sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

1 TBSP butter, melted

Like many recipes for baked goods, this cake does require an oven so I’d suggest making a friend or acquaintance with access to one that you can use for a while PRE-heatyourovento325˚F(175˚C) as you PRE pare for the transition from summer to school Whiletheovenispreheating,mixtogetherthebrown sugarandoil. This mixture is deceiving as it will look like a creamy caramel. I promise you that is not what it tastes like. Keep going though; it will reach a point where you can taste it (I promise).

Addthebuttermilk,egg,andvanilla.Whenmixedand combined,addthebakingsodaandflour. I bet you’re asking now, “Tess Where are the apples Please, you told me this would help deal with the piles and piles of goddamn apples on my porch, but they seem unfazed and keep threatening to drown me ” First of all, take a breath You’re in an interdisciplinary program Although dealing with a tsunami of Honey Crisps and Ambrosias was not on the Artsci

JaydenWestenberg, LevelII

supplemental, you’re capable Second of all, have patience You’ll need it in the coming months as assignments seem to grow old and raise their own families before they are returned I promised you apple advice, and I am going to deliver

Onceallingredientsarewellcombined,stirinthechoppedapplesuntilevenlydispersed There you go! A little apple assistance

Here is where I deliver my second promise: this batter CAN be tasted Of course, proceed with caution as raw flour and raw eggs are not *technically* safe to consume (Note:thisismywrittenwarningtoabsolvemeofanylawsuits) Practice thinking for yourself and making your own decisions here: yet again another helpful practice for school

Pourthebatterinagreased9x11inchpan(oranycakepan–cakeisn’tpicky).Inasmallbowl,mixtogetherthecinnamon,white sugar,andbutter.Sprinkleevenlyovercake. This is also something you can taste! Something simple and sweet as a treat for all your efforts

Bakeintheovenfor45mins,oruntilaskewerorknifeinsertedcomesoutclean. I recommend getting started on any work or readings you’ve been procrastinating while this is baking (Note:thisismoreofaself calloutthananything) Oncedone,allowthecake tocoolinthepanforaround15mins,thenremovefrompanandplaceontoawirerackorplatetoletitcoolcompletely Sliceinto squares or any shape! Like the pan shape, this is up to whatever your heart desires

And with this, you are done! Take your cake and press onward! Making friends as an adult can be intimidating but making friends as an adult with CAKE is easier. They say you attract more flies with sugar than vinegar, but you attract more university students with free food. Go forth into this semester with the knowledge that while you may not know what’s in store, you can conquer the flood of apples and, hey, you know how to make Cinnamon Apple Cake Not everyone can say that

The year is 2014, the month early September. The sky is blue; the air smells of a distinct mix of coffee, pencil shavings, and Axe body spray; and the sounds of leaves crunching under Ugg boots is borderline unbearable Today is the first day of school For me, it’s the first day of grade nine: my initiation into high school The stakes have never been higher

ed eUncool)

Uncool)

Being a diligent student and an aspiring organizational icon, I set all my school supplies out beside my backpack the night before. I had two binders split into two sections each, with the dividers labelled (in my very neatest handwriting) with the names of each of my classes; a fully stocked pencil case overflowing with pre sharpened pencils and the good kind of sharpeners from Staples; my brand new, beautifully functional scientific calculator everything else I could possibly need for a day at school.

I had decided that high school would be a new start for me. Gone was the silly nerd with a strange affinity for knee socks This year, and moving forward, I was going to be cool Demeanour? Calm Voice? Silky Shit? Together I was coming in hot and ready to be the coolest gal at Collingwood Collegiate Institute

As I flounced into my homeroom math class, I was too focused on scoping out the new faces to notice that my backpack was unusually light. Some would say, too light. I sat down and introduced myself to the person beside me After some idle chatter, we turned our attention to the teacher, who asked us all to pull out a piece of paper to start a getting to know you activity I opened my backpack and froze It was completely and utterly, and not even exaggeratedly, empty. I blinked a few times, as if the void in my bag was a symptom of dry eyes rather than of abject stupidity This was not a problem encountered by someone with their shit together

Desperate to hide the fact that I was an organizational failure, I turned to the person beside me and asked in my most casual voice if they happened to have an extra piece of paper They were happy to provide one and I felt reassured. With a bit of grit and some extremely small handwriting, I could definitely make do with only this one piece of paper for the rest of the day No problem I’m that cool, calm, mysterious girl who writes in 4 point font

ArtbyKristen Rasmussen, LevelII

As the teacher asked us to write down the most interesting parts of our summers and walk around the class exchanging stories, it hit me: writing utensils I lacked them I couldn’t ask the person beside me, since that would give away my problem I would have to walk to the other side of the class and ask someone out of earshot

Maintaining my aloof demeaner, I sauntered to the other side of class, mentally rehearsing what I’d say. ‘Hey, I’m Emily, and I’d say my favourite part of summer was going to camp! SO much fun!’ Was that too forthcoming? Whateveryoudo,NEVERmentionitwasmusicaltheatrecamp ‘What was your favourite part of the summer? Ooh that sounds awesome!’ Too enthusiastic? ‘Oh hey, before we move on, you don’t happen to have an extra pencil, do you? I must have dropped mine somewhere aha.' Bemorecasual,Emily,SELLit!!

My interaction was fine and whoever I asked clearly thought nothing of my request for a pencil I was pulling this off! I noticed the teacher writing some math problems on the chalkboard and quickly realized that a pencil and paper alone were not going to cut it This called for some subtle crowdsourcing.

With each person I spoke to, I asked if I could borrow a protractor, snag an eraser (in an unfortunate twist of fate, my pencil plug hooked me up with a golf pencil no eraser attached Still salty about that one), or use (gasp!) another piece of paper With each interaction, I began to care less about whether they caught onto the fact that I was wholly unprepared for the day. I was having some nice conversations about people’s summers, and they tended to be more meaningful when I didn’t quell my enthusiasm about their acquisition of a pet turtle named Jeeves or tone down the number of times I’d visited the cat shelter (every other Tuesday, except for when I was at musical theatre camp).

When I asked my seat partner to use their calculator midway through the lesson, I stopped trying to hide my I forgot literally everything at home problem I showed them my empty backpack and they laughed I did too When I returned the miscellaneous supplies I had borrowed, I told people about my mishap They all laughed with me, and I felt more connected to these strangers than I had thought possible in a 40-minute math review.

I realized that I didn’t want to be aloof and cool and mysterious I just wanted to be honest hiding how “embarrassing” I was took way too much mental energy I want to say that I learned in that moment that embracing our own vulnerability facilitates stronger connections with new people, but I think we all know that I’d be lying. A single experience is unlikely to radically alter how we see the world and our place in it But it can contribute to a growing arsenal of moments that collectively form a basis for how we want to live our lives Over the course of my high school and university experience I have had many more embarrassing moments Luckily, each time I feel embarrassed it gets a little easier to embrace my vulnerability than it was the time before. I’m slowly but surely getting the hang of it, and I have past Emily’s embarrassing mishaps to thank for that

WordsbyEmilyO'Halloran, LevelIV

&Artby NatalieChu, LevelII

i have an endless fountain of soup the bowl and the broth and the buttered pieces of bread it coats my breath and my fingers and spills onto the strangers on the street and the spines of my books

would you like to try my soup?

i just want to know if i mixed the mirepoix right, if my concoction of cabinet combinations tastes tender to the tongue and how else will i know if the broth has gone bad?

people have told me they loved my soup; my tomato tortellini to my italian wedding to my thai coconut they said it was the best they ever tasted that it made them feel warm in the pit of their tummy, just like mom used to make but people who love your soup don’t piss in the bowl they don’t shit on the soup when the spoon’s taken away so now i’m back in the kitchen reheating the recipe trying to find the taste that turned sour praying people still want to have my bone broth and hearty minestrone

would you please try my soup?

i just have so much to share; it overflows from the fountain and threatens to sink through the floor i beg that you take the ladle, tell me when to stop grating the cheese

A long voicemail to a friend from home

I think I left my shoes at your house

I’m in Hamilton now, could you send them to me?

I miss their Velcro straps and fake platform heels, But mostly, the way you giggled that they looked like toddler shoes.

I’ll trade you my favorite book in exchange, Maybe you’ll meet someone who loves it like I do.

Because I had toast for lunch today

And the peanut butter left a weird crunchy taste in my mouth

It settled on my tongue as your voice swirled through my head, Your weird pronunciation of organic all I could hear.

How’s your sister doing?

I’d like to tell her about this oak I found by my house.

And when I went searching for a monarch last week

I wanted to take her home and watch her grow

An antiquated kindergarten dream

Looking back to a time when you and I shared a city, Giggling as we watched the chrysalis change color

And I wore shoes of the appropriate age

I don’t have a single sentence

You haven't listened to before

On the birds I saw or where the lilacs grow,

How my day went or which sunglasses I wore

But I hope you’ll come to see me when you can.

I have some letters saved for you

FlynnO'Dacre, LevelIII

Kristen Rasmussen, LevelIII

Global cchallenges: riticalpresponse aper Theatre: journal 2

Environmental policy:ipolicy nquiry 1

stock up on

Yomkippur

Pok: take home assignment 1

Creative writing: researching form assignment

Science speaks to power: contrarian assignment

The Melange's September issue launch! Nationa Truth an Reconcilia Day

Submissions due for The Melange's October issue

Physics: quiz 1 Econ:midterm Calculus:in classtest

Econ: assignment 2

Trees: portraitassignment

Thanksgiving Plan out all the reading you're going to do this week sleep nbinge etflix

moon

Panic about how little reading you did during reading week READING WEEK ENDS

Writing: midterm exam Digital society: documentary response the school for good and evil drops on netflix laundry day Tech: podcast go to the gym! scorpio season >:)

Diwali

Global challenges: capstone proposal

Theatre: scene study Environmental: policy policy brief draft Diversity: paper outline POK: essay 1 SPT: midterm Trees: reading analysis The Melange's October issue launch!

Intrigued by the content of this issue and want to be involved? Consider submitting a piece of writing and/or artwork to our next issue in October!

The deadline for submissions will be October6that11:59pm Once you submit, you’ll be contacted to confirm your piece has been accepted and you’ll be paired with an editor See The Melange Manifesto on page 1 for our content guidelines. Please note written submissions should be nolongerthan1000wordsortwopages.

Please email your submissions to themelangebyartsci@outlook com: they should be MS Word Doc links with editingaccessenabledforallMcMasteremailaddresses.

If you have any questions or want a second opinion on anything you’re working on, don’t hesitate to reach out to any member of our editorial team: Anitra Bowman, Amarah Hasham Steele, Charlotte Johnston, Elle Klassen, Emily O'Halloran, Navya Sheth, Amanda D, or Maya Z Or, simply shoot an email to themelangebyartsci@outlook com!

Finally, please note that we may use your submission as promotional material on our Instagram @artsci themelange or other communication platforms If you have any concerns or would prefer not to be featured, feel free to connect with a member of the editorial team We can’t wait to see what you submit!