Bandersnatch 23, Issue 1

virtual since 2023

student life news

Arts entertainment sustainability opinions science mindfulness

procrastinator

BANDERSNATCH

BANDERSNATCH

2 contents 1. Student Life

p.4-5

with Jessy Kelada

2. news

p.6-7

with Samathar Senso

3. Arts & Music

p.8-9

with Noémie English-Moreau

4. Entertainment

p.10-11

with Stéphanie Zhang

5. Sustainability with Elizabeth Gratton

p.12-13

contents 3 p.14-15

6. Opinions with Léa Gennaro

p.16-17

7. Science & tech with Rachel Braunstein

p.18-19

8. mindfulness with Yugi Reyes

p.20-21

9. Procrastinator with Iman Chaudhry

4 Student Life SUJAC and their priorities for this year

edited by Jessy Kelada

As we approach the end of the semester, the executives of John Abbott College are excited to present our priorities for the year ahead. We have carefully selected four key focus areas: sustainability, affordability, student spaces, and events. I'll briefly touch upon each one.

Sustainability is our top priority because we recognize the urgent need to protect our environment and the planet. In order to accomplish this, we are making sure that each of our events is sustainable by offering compostable cutlery. Additionally, we support the mini forest which will be situated near the bus stop in front of the college.

Our second priority is affordability. Buying quality food is a luxury, but we do not believe this should be the case. We will be subsidizing various expenses every semester in order to give a helping hand to students.

Enhancing student spaces on our campus is our third priority. We deem it a clear element that is missing on campus, and we understand that a vibrant, inviting environment is crucial for your educational experience. We have several projects that we would love to create, such as revamping the fish bowl and making a new student space near the cafeteria.

Patricia Chlystek Vice President of External Affairs Finally, John Abbott College is known for its amazing events. Our dedication to organizing fantastic occasions, such as multicultural week and club day, remains unchanged. We are committed to continuing these beloved traditions!

In addition to our priorities, we have participated in numerous executive meetings and the general assembly of all English colleges. After overcoming challenges and obstacles, we successfully held this assembly on October 13th, with representatives from Vanier, Dawson, Champlain, Marianopolis, Heritage, and Collégial Internationale Sainte-Anne. We discussed our collective goals and ideas to foster intercollegiate activities over the next two semesters.

Again, we wish you a wonderful semester.

Remember that your concerns and ideas matter to us, and we are always here to assist you in Penfield10! Your input is crucial in shaping the John Abbott College experience, and we look forward to a year of positive change and growth together.

Sincerely, Patricia Chlystek

Light's out Sonia Hussain Staff Writer The recurrent power outages at the college have become all too familiar this semester, directly tied to the fact that the institution had been relying on generators to keep its operations afloat. The generators had been working overtime to ensure that essential systems like emergency lighting, security, and the most basic functions of daily life are maintained as well as Wifi and other functions critical to the operation of the college. However, the generator's dependability had its constraints, and during extended outages, the school had no option but to temporarily cancel classes in any affected building.

Students and teachers alike have had to adapt to the sudden disruptions in their schedules. While most students rejoiced at the prospect of gaining a few hours back in their day, many teachers worried that they would fall behind in the material they needed to cover, finding clever ways to catch their students up. The outages, while they proved to be a constant challenge, instilled the college community with a strong sense of resilience and adaptability, serving as a reminder that education can thrive even in the face of adversity. With the newfound sense of perseverance infused in the walls, the college was pleased to announce to its students and faculty that it was successfully reconnected to the Hydro-Quebec power grid and that the generator has been turned off. Hopefully, all will remain that way for the remainder of the semester.

One outage in particular knocked the power out in all of the buildings including the dormitories. Many residents experienced food going bad among other things. Fortunately, the residents were refunded for any lost resources.

Source: https://blog.shoptexaselectricity.com/understanding-common-causesof-power-outages/

edited by Jessy Kelada

Student Life

Teacher Strikes: Impact on Cegep Students

5

Sonia Hussain Staff Writer Teacher strikes can have profound and farreaching effects on students with consequences extending to both their academic progress and overall well-being. These strikes, often resulting from labor disputes and demands for better working conditions and pay, can lead to school closures and the cancellation of classes. The most immediate and apparent consequence is a pause in the student's learning. This has the potential to create gaps in their knowledge and skills that are hard to compensate for during the short semester. Moreover, Cegep students often depend on their teachers for guidance, support, and mentorship during this transitional phase of their lives. Teacher strikes deprive students of this. In addition, these strikes can also affect extracurricular activities, such as sports teams and clubs, which play a significant role in the student's development of interpersonal relationships.

Students at the college can experience stress and anxiety when strikes disrupt their educational routines. The uncertainty of when the strikes will end and how they will catch up on missed coursework can create a heavy burden on their mental health. If the tension between the government and the union continues to escalate, these strikes may not only become a reality, but become semi-regular for the college. If any student is feeling anxious about this, please feel free to use resources such as the Heath and Wellness Center on campus at Herzberg 138.

Please be aware that the union is attempting to address the labor disputes and find solutions that minimize the negative effects on students.

Source: https://secteurpublic.quebec/info-nego-front-commun-la-parole-est-auxtravailleuses-et-aux-travailleurs/

Bill 96 Brings Big Changes to Cegeps Jessy Kelada Student Life Editor In the upcoming school year, thousands of students are starting their education in Quebec's Cegeps, and changes are being made in programs.

One of the reasons for these changes is linked to Bill 96, designed to protect the French language. While the most profound changes are coming in 2024, the preparations are already in motion to cap enrolment numbers, prioritize English-eligible students, and introduce French-language classes.

Under this law, English Cegeps now categorize students into those with English eligibility and those without it, which is determined by family history. Fall 2024 Students at John Abbott College with the eligibility will need to complete three additional French language courses or three program courses in French, while those without it will take three courses in French. To accommodate these changes, schools have invested in support measures. While it appears straightforward, the impact on school organization, facilities, and teaching teams has been significant.

The Bill also places a cap on English Cegep enrolments, and there are fines if the limit is exceeded. This limit can't be more than 17.5% of all the students. Additionally, Bill 96 affects some teachers who may lose their jobs if they can't teach in French.

While Bill 96's objectives to protect the French language are crucial, its implementation is reshaping Quebec's Cegeps. These changes will undoubtedly affect both current students and those considering a Cegep education in the future, as English-language colleges strive to adapt and provide high-quality education within the new regulatory framework.

6

NEWS

Edited by Samathar Senso

Popular cold medicine ingredient declared ineffective Samathar Senso News Editor As the wind gets colder and the hours of daylight progressively shrink, an unforgiving infection begins lurking in the air: the common cold. A common reflex when battling a cold is to grab an over-the-counter cold medicine whose labels and advertising claim are expertly formulated to fight all symptoms thanks to ingredients specifically chosen for their effectiveness.

Well, according to the FDA, the american food and drug administration, a common drug called phenylephrine has been proven to be ineffective in treating nasal decongestion and is no better than a placebo when taken orally after decades of being used for this purpose. This substance is found in a long list of drugstore medications such as Benadryl, Tylenol, Advil and Dayquill in the form of syrups, pills and nasal sprays.

Phenylephrine is a drug commonly used to treat a stuffy nose caused by a cold, allergies and the flu. It’s ineffectiveness might have been overlooked when it was initially reviewed by the FDA to treat congestion in the 1970’s since at the time they tested it’s effectiveness by measuring the airflow in patients nasal passage before and after taking the drug to test for congestion relief. Today, they study the clinical symptoms experienced by the participants of the clinical study instead. Another apparent reason might have been a conflict of interest, since six out of the seven studies used to prove the product's efficacy were conducted by none other than SterlingWinthrop, a pharmaceutical company which manufactured the ingredient. In addition, it is often used in conjunction with other ingredients which are proven to be effective such as acetaminophen, which means even though some medications containing phenylephrine offer relief, it isn't the active ingredient responsible for the products efficacy. While phenylephrine has been proven to be ineffective at treating congestion when taken orally, it is still believed to be effective when used in nasal sprays such as in Vicks Sinex and many generic nasal sprays.

Source: Flickr

The american retailer CVS recently announced they plan to remove some orally administered products which contain phenylephrine as the sole active ingredient. This measure isn’t widespread since other US retailers such as Walgreens are choosing to keep these products in stores while still monitoring the situation. It's worth mentioning that the FDA only announced this breakthrough in September 2023 following a Non-prescription Drug Advisory Committee meeting . In spite of the fact it’s been proven to be ineffective as an oral medication, phenylephrine isn’t considered harmful when taken in its recommended dose.

In Canada, no major retailer has taken any action in removing the product since Health Canada is still reviewing this recent finding. To many Canadian health specialists, this news comes as no surprise since the effectiveness of phenylephrine has often been under scrutiny. In 2011, Canadian Paediatric Society questioned the use of this ingredient in a statement co-authored by Dr. Michael Rieder, a professor in pediatric clinical pharmacology at Western University, who stated that there is no evidence that most common cold medicine ingredients such as phenylephrine effectively work.

According to the Yale School of Medicine, phenylephrine isn’t the only ingredient in drugs meant to fight the common cold that is ineffective.

Edited by Samathar Senso

NEWS

The cost of living crisis in Quebec Samathar Senso News Editor From the price of eating out at a restaurant to the price of everyday necessities such as groceries and housing, the cost of consumer goods in Canada has skyrocketed in recent months due to inflation.

Quebec is the province which has seen the most significant hike in the cost of essentials in nearly all sectors such as food, transportation and shelter. In fact, while Canada as a whole has seen a slight decrease in the rate of inflation which went from 4.0% in the month of August 2023 to 3.8% in September 2023, the inflation rate in Quebec has

According to a study led by researchers at Dalhousie University, the average family of 4 in Canada will need to spend, on average, 16,288.41$ a year on food in 2023 compared to 15,222.81$ in 2022, which is an increase of 1,065.60$. With Quebec’s higher inflation rate, this figure is expected to be noticeably higher in the province. .Therefore, while the rate at which grocery prices are going up is decreasing, the actual price of food products are still going up and so are grocery bills.

instead increased from 4.6% to 4.8%. While this jump might seem negligible, it has had a much more significant impact on people's wallets.

Rise in the cost of transportation

Rise in the price of food

The cost of overall transportation, which encompasses anything from the cost of buying a vehicle and paying for gas to public transport fares

Although the overall price of food products has gone down these past months, with a 12-month

and taxis, has increased from 2.3% in August to 3.2% in September. Conversely, the cost of buying a car has decreased compared to last year. Yet, this is

percentage change of 5.9% in September compared to 6.8% in August, these figures don’t tell the whole story. As a matter of fact, the cost of individual food

of little consolation, since owning a car has never been this expensive with the price of a used car being a little over 39,000$ which pales in

categories in Quebec has risen disproportionately compared to other provinces. For instance, fresh

comparison to the average sticker price of a new car being nearly 68,000$.

fruit prices have risen 8.1% this September in Quebec which is a considerable leap when compared to Ontario’s meager 3.1% rise.

Impact of the hike of prices on health While the increase in prices has caused strain on people’s wallets, it has a similar impact on their overall wellbeing. According to the National Payroll Institute, over ⅔ of workers live paycheck to paycheck by spending the entirety of their salaries every month on expenses and over 30% of workers rely on their savings and loans to cover their expenses.

These financial burdens cause consumers higher levels of financial stress which have a negative impact on their mental health and in the long term can also impact their physical health.

Source: iStock

7

8

edited by Noémie English-Moreau

Arts & Music

WHAT IS BEAUTY? Alessia Laranjo Staff Writer

Her breathtaking eyes as vacant as the heart Of an empty corpse as the city falls apart.

Tell the children who cry at their father’s defeat.

That this was for the men who bow at her feet.

Her suitors lock her sound with their own pair of keys.

Now her screams only trigger the light sway of trees.

The barbaric god that flew from Greece Pushed their world away piece by piece.

Why do they need the hallow beauty ‘s worth?

They fight for her life, but she was dead at birth.

How many should die to feel the heat of her sheets?

Her soul accompanies death on all hallow streets.

Every drop of their blood that must feel the deploy.

All this for the love of Helen of Troy.

edited by Noémie English-Moreau

9

Arts & Music

The 2023 World Press Photo Exhibit Noémie English-Moreau Arts & Music Editor The World Press Photo Exhibit, now in its 16th year in Montreal, takes place annually at Marché Bonsecour. At the end of each year, World Press Photo invites international photographers to submit their work from the past year. This year, like every year, an enormous amount of work went into the exhibit. With 6 jurors, 3752 photographers from 127 different countries and 60 448 submitted photos, a lot of time is spent perfecting the showcased pieces.

Hannah Reyes Morales, World Press Photo

Anush Babajanyan, World Press Photo

This exhibit allows all its visitors to reflect.

It leaves you with a new look on the world and your heart full of hope for the betterment of these struggling populations.

It is essential to enter this showcase with an open mind.

There is very little representation from Canada, if any, this year, and therefore, it is all about the greater world that we live in. Not only is it about empathy, love, joy and perseverance, but also about sickness, anger and strength.

This year’s winning photo is a depiction of the violence from the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In the photo, a Russian airstrike has just hit a maternity hospital and an injured pregnant woman is being carried out of it.

Unfortunately, her baby was stillborn and she, too, died half an hour after its birth. It was chosen because the ‘jury felt the photo depicted an attack on the future of Ukraine’.

After their selection, the photographs are showcased worldwide with various themes such as the importance of family, social justice, human rights and climate change.

The goal of this exhibition is to promote freedom of press. It establishes a platform for the artists to share the truth of their home countries and to educate others about the harsh realities of those around the world who are more vulnerable than us. Some photographers even ask for their names to be taken off in fear of persecution after showing scenes that depict governmental violence against their population. Others leave their name to send a message and demonstrate that they will not stand by the horrible treatment seen in their country.

Photo of The Year: Evgeniy Maloletka, World Press Photo

edited by Stephanie Zhang

10 entertainment Prepare for another adventure! A Review of the One Piece Live Adaptation Nicolas Tremblay Staff Writer Last November, I discussed the Netflix live adaptation of the famed manga and anime to be divisive among fans of the Straw Hat pirates. This is due to the fact that the previous anime and manga live adaptations of other works have failed to please, which led One Piece fans to feel be doubtful about the series that was released on August 31st of this year. As expected, there were different reactions to this adaptation of One Piece, ranging from positive to negative and mixed. My watching experience was positive and the show surprised me in various aspects such as special effects, its stunning visuals and its fidelity to the manga.

For those who do not know the story of One Piece, it follows Monkey D. Luffy, an aspiring pirate who wants to become King of the Pirates in a world dominated by the World Government. In order to achieve this dream, he has to find the One Piece, a mysterious treasure left in the Grand Line by the previous Pirate King. The first season of the Netflix show covers the East Blue Arc where Luffy meets his closest friends and creates the Straw Hat pirates.

My greatest fear before watching the show was the depiction of the power system in the live-action version. Powers in the manga and anime are widely used and range from Luffy stretching his rubber body to Buggy, a captain who can split his body in different parts in order to attack his opponents.

Strangely enough, the powers in the live adaptation did not feel forced or awkward at all; New sentence: they were well represented and contributed to the action sequences. Also, VFX were used for larger ocean shots and were visually stunning. On the other hand, large ships and grandiose sets were built and added beauty to this visual adventure.

The plot of the Netflix show is very close to the manga and anime, with some changes to make the viewing experience more interesting for a new audience.

While some of these changes do not affect the original story, others felt forced at times. But for someone who has not seen or read the original works, it does not have the same effect. The characters are very interesting and their development is well rendered in this adaptation, which made me feel closer to them and felt as a member of their crew.

Overall, Netflix's One Piece is a great representation of the original masterpiece created by its author Oda. Its imperfection makes it interesting, its visuals and character development bring back the same feeling of excitement when watching the animated version. I strongly recommend watching it and for non-anime watchers to give the animated version a chance.

The second season of the Netflix show was recently announced on the platform's website due to the largely positive reactions to the first season.

edited by Stephanie Zhang

Source:Flickr

entertainment

11

What’s the Latest in the Hollywood Labour Strikes?

Rhiannon Davies Staff Writer

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike The WGA strike began on May 2nd of 2023 amid concerns about the share of revenue writers were receiving from content they produced and the use of AI in writers' rooms.

This comes after many failed attempts to make a new deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). The WGA focus was on concepts such as ‘mandatory staffing’, which would require studios to have a minimum number of writers on a project, ‘duration of employment’ which would obligate studios to employ those writers for at least a minimum amount of time “whether needed or not”.

Another highlighted issue was guaranteeing that every writer on a production team has access to pension and health care funds. On September 24th in the strike’s 145th day, the WGA announced that they reached a tentative agreement after meetings with several studio CEOs. In their official announcement on the 24th, they described the deal as “exceptional with meaningful gains and protections for writers in every sector of membership”. Details include a pay increase of 12% over three years, a major increase in residual payments, an agreement on AI usage in the writers’ room and a guaranteed 10 weeks (about 2 and a half months) of work in the development stages.

On the 26th of September after a vote on the matter, WGA union leaders declared the strike would end. The WGA strike officially ended on September 27th at 12:01 A.M PDT (3:01 A.M EST) on its 148th day.

The WGA made a statement of support on October 2nd, 2023, for the ongoing SAG-AFTRA labour strike.

The Actors Strike SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) went on strike July 14th of 2023 after a continuing dispute with the AMPTP regarding a multitude of issues. The major issue in this case is wage increases, residual payments, and the use of digital replication. The union put forward a wage increase of 11% to combat record inflation. This was met with a counter offer of a 5% increase which was rejected.

A very pressing problem is digital replication, which is really an issue of compensation and consent. Studios pay a background actor for a day’s work but retain their digital likeness to use it amongst others, creating completely generated backdrops for films and TV shows.

However, they don’t compensate or ask for the consent of the actor. This results in a loss of work and income for background performers.

Studios are also looking to digitally alter dialogue and scenes featuring principal actors without informed permission. Ultimately, there is the desire to train new AI systems with these likenesses without the explicit consent of those who it was taken from.

As of now, the strike has gone on for over 80 days and no type of agreement has been reached.

The 85-day (about 3 months) period both unions were on strike has been the largest interruption to the film and television industry since the COVID-19 pandemic.

12 Sustainability edited by Elizabeth Gratton

Taylor Swift's Private Jet's CO2 Emissions

By Andrea Sanchez Benitez Staff Writer In 2022, Taylor Swift's private jet carbon emissions ranked her first place amongst celebrities with the most polluting private jets, which is causing backlash from fans on social media. According to a Statista report titled, "Per Capita Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) Emissions from Fossil Fuels in Canada from 1970 to 2022," the average carbon footprint per capita in Canada for 2022 was 15.22 metric tons. In stark contrast, Taylor Swift's private jet emitted over 500 times more CO2 than the average Canadian. A Yard study "Just Plane Wrong: Celebs with the Worst Private Jet CO2 Emissions" analyzed data from the CelebrityJets Twitter page, revealing that from January 2022 to July 2022, Taylor Swift's private jet generated a staggering 8,293.54 tonnes of CO2, earning her the dubious distinction of being the top celebrity contributor to private jet carbon emissions.

According to the Yard study, the pop star's jet had completed a total of 170 flights, adding up to 22,923 minutes or 15.9 days. Moreover, the study reported that the average flight did not exceed an hour and a half. "Taylor's jet has an average flight time of just 80 minutes [... ] Taylor's shortest recorded flight of 2022 was just 36 minutes, flying from Missouri to Nashville."

Shortly after this study's release, Taylor Swift's representative defended the singer by pointing out that not all of the recorded flights were for Taylor Swift herself. The representative stated to E! News in the article, "The Truth Behind Taylor Swift's Private Jet Usage" that: "Taylor's jet is loaned out regularly to other individuals, [...] To attribute most or all of these trips to her is blatantly incorrect".Despite these efforts, Taylor Swift faced criticism from many, including her own fans.

BuzzFeed News compiled social media responses in their article, "Taylor Swift Is Being Called Out For Refusing To Take Accountability After Her Rep Defended Her Private Jet CO2 Emissions By Saying That Her Plane Is 'Loaned Out Regularly'."

Responses included comments like "I don't care who's on the plane; it shouldn't be making all those flights and producing all those emissions. If you own it, you're responsible for it," and "She loaned out HER jet; it's hers lol she is responsible," as well as, "You've really gotta hand it to Taylor Swift's publicist because 'she generously rents out her jet for her poorer friends who can't afford their own personal jets to use' is the funniest possible way to put a humanitarian spin on her carbon emissions."

While Taylor Swift ranked first in the Yard study, she is not the sole celebrity responsible for excessive CO2 emissions. The other nine celebrities mentioned in the study saw their jets produce between 3,033.3 and 7,076.8 tonnes of CO2. The cumulative carbon output from the jets of just ten individuals has a significant impact on the environment. Given the current climate situation, it is essential for celebrities to acknowledge their contribution and actively seek alternative solutions to reduce their environmental footprint.

Sustainability edited by Elizabeth Gratton

JOIN ECOJAC!

13

By Isabelle Ede Editor-In-Chief

Have you ever seen some climate news and felt devastated for the rest of the day? Maybe you care about the environment but you are unsure where to start or who to talk to? EcoJAC can help!

In the past, we created a plant propagation station the Zen Zone. Personally, I have had the privilege to participate in environmental internships as well as apply for a government grant to help bring awareness to our waste sorting and plastic We are student-based and habits. student-led activist club that guides students’ ideas and If you are an activist, a plant possible projects. We also take freak or an interested soul, care of our favorite hang-out EcoJAC has a spot for you! spot, the Zen Zone! Our meetings are all about welcoming new people, discussing current climate issues and new project ideas.

MEETINGS:

Mondays 5:30 in H-217

14 opinions

Edited by Léa Gennaro

Stop Trying To Fix Him

By Andrea Sanchez Benitez Staff Writer "He's a jerk to everyone, but I promise he's really nice when we are one-on-one."

"He's emotionally unavailable, but maybe I can change him."

"He doesn't want to have a monogamous relationship, but maybe I can change his mind."

Do these scenarios give you déjà vu? Most of us have met a person who can't seem to break out of this vicious cycle, and perhaps that person might even be you. These people always seem to go back to that one guy who is blatantly emotionally unavailable, and yet they cling to him with the hope that with time, they will be able to fix him and that they will be the one to finally break through to him.

Sure, the whole idea that the “jerk just needs to meet the right person to change” works fine in Gilmore Girls, Vampire Diaries, and Grease, but in the real world, someone shouldn't cling to the hope that they are the chosen one who will finally change the person they have their eyes on. The fact is, the odds aren't in your favor, and that mission is like trying to get a chicken to fly for more than 20 seconds; you just shouldn't bet your money on it.

According to that same article, this is due to the fact that some people believe that by convincing an emotionally unavailable guy who doesn't usually settle down, it creates a sense of validation. Dr. Seide says, “You think that if you can land one, you must be pretty, funny, and smart enough to have won this prize”. Thus, this craving for changing these types of guys is a product of societal pressures on women. I believe that we shouldn't condone this mindset.

Trying to fulfill these empty needs via validation from jerks is similar to trying to keep the same bandage on for too long; eventually, it's going to fall, and the wound is still going to be there.

There can be a couple of psychological reasons why some are attracted to what Hollywood may refer to as a “Bad Boy”. In fact, psychiatrists suggest that for some, this allure might be a product of societal pressures on women. Psychiatrist Dr. Margaret Seide, M.D., in the article “Why Women Find "Bad Boys" So Attractive, " Even Though We Know They're Trouble”, published

by Dina Cheney, claims that “due to societal pressures, women are often on an eternal quest for validation and that elusive feeling of being enough. The pursuit of bad boys is just another example of this”.

Furthermore, getting into a relationship when one of the partners is in the mindset that their significant other needs fixing often results in an unhealthy relationship.

This is further attested to in an article written by Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Allan Schwartz, LCSW, Ph.D., on MentalHelp.net, “Any relationship based on one person trying to fix the other is doomed to failure”. Do you really want a relationship based on craving the need to fix him? Are you really willing to set foot aboard that titanic?

Moreover, not only is it bad to have the constant need to change your love interest, it also simply doesn't work. In the previously mentioned “Why Women Find "Bad Boys" So Attractive, Even Though We Know They're Trouble” article, it was stated by the author that “The experts agree that men who don't want to change, in most cases, will not”. This claim is confirmed by sociologist and clinical sexologist Sarah Melancon, Ph.D., “ “Converting" a bad boy is a generally impossible situation”.

In short, while I think that people are free to have an interest in whomever they want; they should not base their interest on their desire to fix them, seeing as it even has proven to stem from a negative root, has a doomful outcome, and has proven to be inefficient. In addition, while I did take a female, heterosexual approach to the topic, it's a phenomenon that can affect many different people regardless of their sexual orientation or gender.

Edited by Léa Gennaro

Stanley cups are stupid.

opinions

15

By Léa Gennaro Opinions Editor

Firstly, the market for reusable water bottles is over-saturated. The point of having a reusable water bottle is to, as the name suggests, re-use it. There is no need to buy into a newly popular product because it looks a certain way. We saw the same thing occur with Hydroflasks. I’ll admit, I love my Hydroflask. It doesn’t fit in my car (I have the huge one), but I don’t travel with it. I use it to drink lots of water when I study and it keeps said water cold, which at the end of the day is its purpose. I can safely claim that most people bought one because they were trendy.

These same people are now buying Stanley cups.

Like I said, I can get behind a Hydroflask.

From what I’ve put mine through, I know they are well made. I’ve dropped it so many times, and yea it has some dents but nothing major.

They come in different sizes, so if you wanted to travel with it, you easily could, or, like me, just use it when you’re home. Even with that said, I went to Italy with my Hydroflask and it really wasn’t a burden. I have the straw attachment and I have a lid that can be easily carried so I just clipped it to my backpack. The same cannot be said for the Stanley cup.

The anatomy of that cup is so counterintuitive. It has a handle, which, to me, implies that you need to tilt the cup to drink into it, like a teacup or something. But I’ve only seen people use the handle to hold it and just drink out of a straw. The cup itself is way too large to hold with one hand, so you must use the handle, which I would imagine to be annoying. I also want to note that holding a cup by a handle and drinking from a straw looks stupid. I’ve also seen people put their Starbucks drinks into the Stanley cup. Not pour them in, but just fully put the plastic cup into the Stanley.

The entire point of a reusable cup is to eliminate the need for plastic cups, just give the barista your Stanley if you insist on drinking your Starbucks out of it. You could argue that the Stanley is “keeping the drink colder or warmer for longer”, but it's not taking you five hours to drink your Grande or Venti whatever. If you’re what I would call a “sipper”, just order a small one and save some money. All in all, do whatever you want with your money, but the next time a trendy reusable water bottle comes out, I’ll be laughing at the image of your Stanley gathering dust at the far end of your cupboard, right next to your Hydroflask.

16 Science & tech On the weekend of October 14th, many parts of North America were treated to the awe-inspiring sight of an annular Solar Eclipse. Those who witnessed it described it as a mesmerizing "ring of fire." However, if you happened to miss this celestial spectacle, I've got some exciting news for you! The next solar eclipse is not too far on the horizon - in fact, it's set to occur next year and promises to be even more spectacular than this recent event.

What's more, it'll be a while before we get another chance to witness such a phenomenon.

It turns out that Solar Eclipses occur relatively frequently, with two to five happening each year. For us in North America, we're going to get pretty lucky. Not only did we just have an annular eclipse, but a total solar eclipse is set to pass directly over Canada on April 8th, 2024. While eclipses generally happen two to five times a year, a total solar eclipse only happens every 18 months.

edited by Rachel Braunstein

Solar Eclipse: A Quick Guide

By Lauren Finlayson Staff Writer

According to NASA there are 4 types of solar eclipses: total, annular, partial and hybrid, the trick is being able to tell them apart, but that is simpler than you might think. The first is total, the rarest because it occurs the least and is the least likely to occur in the same place twice.

edited by Rachel Braunstein

Science & tech

Finally, there's a hybrid eclipse. This isn't really a type of eclipse itself, in fact, it's the shifting of an eclipse between appearing as total and annular as it tracks across the sky.

What you see during an eclipse is contingent on your location.

Therefore, the appearance of the same eclipse can vary significantly based on the time and your specific location.

Next is the annular Solar Eclipse, happening as its name suggests, once a year. In this case, the moon is farther from Earth than it is during a total eclipse, which gives us the impression that there is a ring of fire.

Because of this ring of fire, it is important to wear eye protection during the entire viewing of the eclipse, no matter how small the ring may seem.

A partial eclipse occurs most often and is considered not only as its own type of solar eclipse, but it's also a phase that takes place during both total and annular eclipses. For those who are not within the line of sight for a total or annular eclipse, it might still be possible to witness a partial eclipse.

17

A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes directly between the earth and the sun. However, while the annular eclipse we witnessed last weekend left a visible ring of fire, a total eclipse will completely block out the sun for a moment. It is during this time, when the sun is completely covered, that it is possible to remove any eye safety glasses you were wearing at the start of the eclipse.

Just make sure to put them back on when the moon starts moving again.

Next year, we're not going to have to relocate too much or go to great lengths to witness the total eclipse.

Seize this opportunity while you can, as the next chance won't return until 2044. Waiting for such a remarkable event can feel like an eternity, so why not relish the chance while it's right in front of you?

18 Mindfulness edited by Yugi Reyes

Featuring Andrea Sanchez Benitez Madeline Helmer Yugi Reyes

Introduction to Stoicism

by Yugi Reyes

e usually discuss philosophy in the academic contexts where it originated from. Although the topic comes W up occasionally in the odd conversation and offbeat discourse, it is not something most people care about.

Hearing about the teachings of someone who died two thousand years ago isn't exactly what most people would find compelling. How could anything they have said possibly apply to us in any way? In reality, life has not at all changed. We are birthed, and we die. We have fears just as we have dreams. At its core, the human condition has remained the same for centuries. Hope is lost, yet time and time again, it is found. How is it that in an ever-changing world, we can withstand hardship and come out victorious every single time?

Stoics believed that to lead a life of fulfillment, one must live in accordance and harmony with the Nature of the universe by accepting things outside of our control, and to excel with regard to our own essential nature as rational and social beings.

There seems to be a lot of confusion surrounding the meaning and misuse of the word ‘stoic’, considering that someone today might use the word to describe something as unemotional. It should be noted that the lowercase stoicism refers to a personality trait, whereas the upper-case Stoicism refers to the school of Greek philosophy. In contrast, Stoicism is heavily attuned to feeling and emotion.

This article was intended to introduce the concept of Stoicism, not to describe the philosophy or teach how to implement it in daily life. I believe that is for you to do. It is only appropriate to end with some of my favourite Stoic quotes from Roman philosophers.

A Cup of Self Care

By Andrea Sanchez Benitez

edited by Yugi Reyes

Mindfulness

19

s so hard m e e s g n i in 2 t a d 02 y h 3 W

By Madeline Helmer

A cup of tea can have many benefits on one's wellbeing by reducing stress and improving mental clarity.

Every student, at some given point, has probably been confronted with a feeling of stress or anxiety due to school. It is likely that this overwhelming feeling comes back multiple times throughout their academic journey. As it turns out, tea consumption can be helpful during those stressful moments, seeing as the beverage possesses many properties benefiting mental health.

“Not only does tea taste great, but there is a large and growing body of research backing it as a healthy, good-for-you beverage,” says Louise Roberge, President of the Tea Association of Canada.

In fact, amino acids, more specifically L-theanine, that can be found in most teas such as green tea, oolong, matcha, black tea, and many more, improve mental health by reducing anxiety. In the publication "Tea Time: The Positive Impact of Tea on Your Mental Well-Being" by the New English Teas, it is claimed that "L-theanine in tea has been found to increase alpha brain waves, which are associated with relaxation and reduced stress." Furthermore, Ltheanine not only reduces stress, but also improve mental clarity and work performance.

Moreover, according to an article published by Molly Roe in July 2022 on the Sweetgrass Trading, this warm drink has been found to reduce the primary stress hormone cortisol: a stress hormone that increases heart rate during stressful moments. In addition, the hot temperature of the beverage has also proven to have a positive impact on one’s well-being.

Indeed, hot beverages such as tea make one feel more relaxed. According to Community Health Network, in an article titled "Happiness Is a Warm Mug," hot liquids increase blood flow by expanding blood vessels and improving circulation, allowing the muscles and ourselves to feel more relaxed.

While tea has many benefits on mental health due to its ability to reduce stress, it is important to note that, according to an article published on Healthline by the dietitian Ansley Hill, it is recommended not to exceed 3 to 4 cups of tea a day.

In 2023, we have the world at our fingertips. Dating apps and social media have made finding a romantic partner more accessible than ever. But why does it still feel so impossible? The children’s book “Millions of Cats” by Wanda Gág may give us an answer to this very question.

In an age of advanced technology and boundless connectivity, finding love in the modern world has become a double-edged sword. The paradox of choice, as shown in the classic children's picture book "Millions of Cats" by Wanda Gág, is more relevant than ever. In this book, an old man sets out to find a cat for his lonely wife. After traveling for a long time, he comes across a hill covered in millions of cats. He decides that he must find the prettiest cat and bring it home to his wife. But every time he thinks he found “the one”, he sees an even prettier cat. As funny as it may sound, this hill of infinite cats is a lot like finding love in the age of the internet. In the world of dating, this paradox of choice has manifested itself in various ways.

With countless dating apps, websites, and social platforms, singles today have an unprecedented number of potential partners at their fingertips. Yet, this abundance of choices often leaves people feeling paralyzed rather than liberated.

When browsing through profiles and swiping left and right, people can become overwhelmed by the sheer volume of potential matches. The fear of making the wrong choice or missing out on someone better can be immobilizing.

The book's central theme, that too many choices can lead to dissatisfaction, is evident in the dating world. The digital age allows people to constantly compare their current dates to the seemingly endless pool of alternatives.

This constant comparison can mess with confidence and make it difficult for individuals to fully invest in a relationship.

With the continuous influx of new dating apps and trends, many people are experiencing dating fatigue. The process of creating a compelling online profile, engaging in small talk, and enduring a seemingly endless cycle of first dates can be exhausting. This fatigue often leads to a sense of hopelessness.

While the paradox of choice may be overwhelming, there is still hope for finding love in 2023. Daters can find meaningful connections by focusing on quality over quantity. This might involve taking a step back from the overwhelming dating landscape and embracing a more deliberate and thoughtful approach to forming relationships. By learning from the book's lesson and seeking meaningful connections over endless options, people can find love and happiness in this digital age.

Balancing the possibilities of modern technology with the wisdom of old-fashioned romance is the key to overcoming the myriad of choices that dating presents today.

20

procrastinator edited by Iman Chaudhry

edited by Iman Chaudhry

procrastinator

21

DISCOVER YOUR Editor-In-Chief ASTROLOGICAL SUN SIGN

by Isabelle Ede

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

(Mar 21- Apr 19): You are a fire sign, it’s exactly how it sounds: adventurous, confident, impulsive, and unafraid of a dare.

(Apr 20-May 20): You are an earth sign, you ooze patience, warmth, and luxury but jealousy, inflexibility, and greed.

(May 21-June 20): You are an air sign, classically known to be two-faced and fake yet bubbly, smart and a chatterbox.

CANCER

LEO

VIRGO

(Aug 23-Sept 22): You (June 21-July22): You (July 23-Aug 22): You are an earth sign, are a water sign, are a fire sign, the star symbolized by the of the show with that often introverted, shy crab, you are very bossy attitude but also and analytical whilst being a perfectionist. homey, emotional, and a generous friend. prioritize comfort over all else.

LIBRA

SCORPIO

SAGITTARIUS

(Sept 23-Oct 22): You are an air sign, the romantic one, often peaceful, charming yet gullible and indecisive.

(Oct 23-Nov 21): You are a water sign, but truly an explosion!

Passion is your magnet, but secrets make you mysterious.

(Nov 22-Dec 21): You are a fire sign, truly a shining light of humour and good vibes yet tactless and irresponsible.

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

(Dec 22-Jan 19): You (Jan 20-Feb 18): You an (Feb 19-Mar 20): You are an earth sign, air sign, sometimes are a water sign but taking things slow disconnected from have your head in the with caution but quite your emotions yet clouds. However, your pessimistic and friendly and loyal. imagination grudging. sensitivity shines through.

Interested in writing?

Contact via MIO:

Editor-In-Chief Isabelle Ede DeputyEditor-In-Chief Jordan Powell StudentLifeEditor Jessy Kelada NewsEditor Samathar Senso Noémie English-Moreau Arts & Music Editor EntertainmentEditor Stéphanie Zhang SustainabilityEditor Elizabeth Gratton Zackary Laberge SportsEditor Léa Gennaro OpinionsEditor Rachel Braunstein Science&TechEditor Yugi Reyes MindfulnessEditor Iman Chaudhry ProcrastinatorEditor