Volume 51 Issue 11

The Independent Student Newspaper of the University of Toronto Mississauga Since 1974

Issue 11 Volume 51 November 18 2024

themedium.ca

U OF T RECEIVES $52 MILLION TO UPGRADE ITS NIAGARA SUPERCOMPUTER

KA: THE LONE POET OF BROWNSVILLE UNDERGROUND RAP SCENE

EAGLES VOLLEYBALL DROPS SETS, TEAM REMAINS OPTIMISTIC

On October 15, 2024, the Digital Research Alliance of Canada, in cooperation with the Government of Ontario, approved a funding package of 52 million dollars...

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On October 12, 2024, it was announced that Kaseem Ryan had passed away. As a New York Fire Department Captain and a first responder on 9/11, Kaseem undeniably....

On Sunday, November 10, the UTM women’s tri campus volleyball team played their second game of the season against the top ranked team in the league...

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Eagles crowned soccer champions after undefeated season SPORTS

Pietro Arrigoni Columnist

The Eagles completed a historic season by taking home the championship title after a fierce battle against UTSG Reds at Varsity stadium last Sunday.

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NEWS

ARTS

First Black chancellor installed at U of T in nearly 200 years

My fascination with the mundane: A photo essay

Celesta Maniatogianni Associate News Editor

Keira Johannson Arts & Entertainment Editor

Successful investor, philanthropist, and TV personality Wesley J. Hall has officially been installed as the University of Toronto’s (U of T) 35th chancellor. While his three-year term began on July 1, he was officially installed on October 28 ahead of the fall convocation ceremony for U of T’s Faculty of Arts and Science graduates.

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For breakfast last week, I ate toast with peanut butter and when I sat down at the kitchen table, I noticed a bird perched on the hydro line outside the window. There was something simplistically beautiful about the bird, how it sat there watching the world go by...

FEATURES

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OPINION

Shape your future with SAGE, a society dedicated to student academic success Zainab Khalil Associate Features Editor

Are you a geography, environment, and geographical information systems (GIS) student eager to get involved on campus? Are you looking to make new connections and gain valuable skills for your future?

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How will the new American administration affect Canadians?

Roy Su Contributor

The recent American election results could profoundly affect Canada, influencing our economy, social policies, and international alliances. For Canadian students and young adults, these shifts are not abstract political changes but realities that could shape their futures.

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NEWS

Editor | Samuel Kamalendran news@themedium.ca

Ontario bans international students from its medical schools starting 2026 The Ontario government has announced a moratorium on all international applicants to Ontario medical schools starting from the 2026 to 2027 school year in a provincial effort to combat the province’s doctor shortage.

Diana Fu Associate News Editor

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The Ontario government is also spending C$88 million to expand its “Learn and Stay” grant program to motivate domestic medical students to stay in Ontario once they graduate. Through the expansion, the government covers 1,360 additional eligible undergraduate students from the 2026 to 2027 school year onwards.

The “Learn and Stay” grant program covers educational expenses for medical students, including tuition and textbook fees, provided that they “commit to working in the same region where [they] studied after [they] graduate”—according to the eligibility requirements on the Ontario website. Currently, the program covers students in nursing, paramedic, and medical laboratory technology programs, including undergraduates who take a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

However, data reveals Ford’s 18 per cent claim was inaccurate. Out of the 3,833 students during the 2023 to 2024 school year, only 10 international students were enrolled in medical schools, making the actual percentage about 0.26 per cent. Additionally, inquiries to Queen’s University School of Medicine and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, two respected medical schools in Ontario, found that these schools admitted no international students in the past year.

The proposed ban comes as Ontario is experiencing a shortage of family doctors. According to the Ontario College of Family Physicians (OCFP), as of July 11, 2024, over 2.5 million Ontarians have no family doctor or primary care support. According to research from Upstream Lab at St. Michael’s Hospital, an additional 670,000 Ontarians live more than 50 kilometres from their family doctor.

The OCFP estimates that should current trends continue, that number will rise to 4.4 million by 2026, corresponding to one in four Ontarians no longer having access to primary care. The shortage comes as a survey done by the OCFP in May 2023 indicated that 65 per cent of the family doctors surveyed plan to leave their practice, citing long work hours, confusing administrative work, and lack of governmental support.

Wes Hall, who is renowned for his commitment to diversity and inclusion, will serve as U of T’s first Black chancellor despite the university’s almost 200-year history.

Celesta Maniatogianni Associate News Editor

n October 25, Premier Doug Ford announced Ontario will no longer allow international students in medical schools starting in the fall of 2026 but will cover tuition costs for more than 1,000 Ontario students who plan on becoming family doctors.

According to Ford, 18 per cent of students in Ontario medical schools are currently international students with no plan to stay in Ontario after their studies are up. Ford also said that the new legislation would ensure that Ontario medical schools reserve 95 per cent of spots for Ontario residents and leave the rest for students from other parts of Canada, completely shutting out international applicants.

First Black chancellor installed at U of T in nearly 200 years

Illustration credit: Ramiya Sureshkumar

In addition, family doctors also accuse the Ontario government of not paying them enough through the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) to continue their practices. During the last decade, while inflation rose by 25 per cent, the billings by OHIP to family doctors only rose by 6.1 per cent, indicating that family doctor pay is lagging, especially with greater administrative burdens increasing their workload.

Programs designed to address these concerns have been proven successful before, with British Columbia gaining 700 family doctors a year after it changed its payment models to account for consultations with other doctors, reviewing lab work, and other administrative tasks. The changes, made in February of 2023, relieved some of the pressures family doctors faced through greater compensation, making it more appealing to continue practicing family medicine there.

Broader trend against international students Ford’s actions against international students for medical schools rose amidst a growing backlash against the number of international students enrolled in Canada. A new survey conducted in April 2024 by Navigator revealed that out of the 1,500 random adult Canadians surveyed, 58 per cent felt there were too many international students currently studying within Canada.

Earlier on September 18, the federal government announced a general reduction in temporary residence, including international students, an announcement that came after Leader of the Opposition Pierre Poilievre stated his support for limitations on international students and a decrease in immigration outright, blaming the current numbers for the ongoing housing crisis.

It is possible that Ford established the ban on international medical students following the same logic, blaming them for exacerbating Ontario’s healthcare crisis regarding the shortage of family doctors.

Universities have pushed back against the new caps for international students of all kinds, arguing that it will harm Canada’s global reputation as a leader in higher education by dissuading highly skilled applicants from wanting to study in Canada. A significant amount of universities’ revenue also comes from international students’ tuition fees, which may impact their future capabilities due to their limited finances.

Illustration credit: Buket S. Baykal

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uccessful investor, philanthropist, and TV personality Wesley J. Hall has officially been installed as the University of Toronto’s (U of T) 35th chancellor. While his three-year term began on July 1, he was officially installed on October 28 ahead of the fall convocation ceremony for U of T’s Faculty of Arts and Science graduates.

Dr. Wes Hall will serve as the first black chancellor of U of T, despite the university’s almost 200-year history. As chancellor, he will act as the ceremonial head of the university, responsible for presiding at convocations, conferring degrees, and acting as an ambassador to the “wider community and alumni worldwide,” according to an article on the U of T website.

Dr. Hall told U of T News that he is “honoured to serve as an advocate and ambassador for an institution committed to empowering the next generation of leaders and changemakers drawn from all sections of society.”

Dr. Hall grew up in a plantation workers’ shack in rural Jamaica, where his grandmother raised him and his siblings. He moved to Toronto at 16 to live with his father, and at 18, he began working to support himself while taking night school courses to earn a law clerk certificate.

Dr. Hall started his professional career as a mailroom clerk before moving his way up to a position as a law clerk, eventually landing his first managerial position at CIBC Mellon. In 2003, he set up his shareholder advisory firm, Kingsdale Advisors, which has since grown to become one of Canada’s leading firms of its kind.

Dr. Hall is also the executive chairman and founder of WeShall Investments, a private equity firm with a diverse portfolio of companies predominantly led by BIPOC entrepreneurs. He is considered a champion of diversity and inclusion and is “deeply committed to creating opportunities for disadvantaged individuals and communities,” according to U of T President Meric Gertler.

Dr. Hall also serves as the founder and chairman of BlackNorth Initiative, a non-profit organization offering mentorship to Black entrepreneurs in Canada. He also appeared on CBC’s “Dragons’ Den” as an investor since 2021.

Before being elected to serve as chancellor, Dr. Hall had pre-established ties to U of T. In 2021, Dr. Hall partnered with U of T’s Rotman School of Management to create and instruct the first course on Black entrepreneurship and leadership in Canada. Dr. Hall also received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from U of T in 2023.

“His professional and personal accomplishments and talents make him eminently qualified to take on the position of chancellor,” said Gertler.

“On behalf of the entire University of Toronto, I thank him for his willingness to contribute his immense talent and experience to the advancement of our academic mission.”

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U of T Receives $52 Million to Upgrade its Niagara Supercomputer The funding will see the development of the supercomputer and signifies the academic community’s collective pursuit of computing success at U of T and in Canada.

Diana Fu Associate News Editor

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n October 15, 2024, the Digital Research Alliance of Canada, in cooperation with the Government of Ontario, approved a funding package of 52 million dollars for the University of Toronto (U of T) to upgrade its Niagara supercomputer.

The Niagara supercomputer is run by SciNet, U of T’s dedicated supercomputer facility, whose stated purpose is to assist Canadian researchers with their work using its computational resources.

According to SciNet, the current specs of the Niagara supercomputer consist of 80,640 cores, which can operate parallel jobs of up to 1,240 cores each. The supercomputer also uses 202 GB of RAM, boasts three petabytes of storage space, and has an estimated peak performance of 4 petaflops. These specs allow the Niagara supercomputer to be one of the most powerful supercomputers currently operating in the Canadian research environment.

Illustration credit: Buket S. Baykal

The upgrades from the funding would substitute Niagara’s core system with a replacement that will roughly triple its computing power.

Storage capacity will also increase substantially, with an expected rise of 80 per cent, significantly increasing the supercomputer’s research potential.

Such a great amount of power is necessary to combat the many pressing problems researchers are tackling today. According to Rutwa Engineer, an Assistant Professor of Mathematical and Computational Science at UTM, “everything from AI to climate change… anything that has a large amount of data that needs to be passed in” would require using the supercomputer.

Since its launch on August 15, 2018, SciNet has intended to use the Niagara supercomputer for research applications. According to SciNet Chief Technology Officer Daniel Gruner in a

video uploaded by Compute Canada, SciNet built the Niagara supercomputer to facilitate basic research of all kinds, no matter the field.

Gruner also mentioned that any researcher could utilize the digital resources in the Niagara supercomputer to conduct their research for free due to the ever-increasing digitization trends within the research world.

Notably, on August 16, 2022, a study detailing changes in the ocean due to the effects of climate change used the Niagara supercomputer to model the data therein. The study found through data from Niagara that the melting of ice due to climate change induced staircaselike structures to form within the ocean environment as the freshwater of the melting ice caps meet the warmer salt water of the ocean, potentially accelerating melting speeds. The study represents how the continued development of the Niagara supercomputer can benefit research in such important fields.

Nowadays, the Niagara supercomputer serves at the forefront of Canadian advanced research computing, and U of T’s upgrades promise to progress the nation’s standing on the global stage. Professor Engineer notes that the Niagara supercomputer is already among the “top 100 globally for [research] supercomputers” and that the upgrades have the potential to further increase the prestige of U of T’s research computing capabilities internationally.

Students can also utilize the supercomputer, especially as the upgrades brought by the funding will grow its capability even more.

“It allows [students] to work on their projects, both in an academic manner, a research manner, as well as a professional manner that they could showcase on their resumes,” explains Professor Engineer. However, she cautions that students can use the Niagara supercomputer only for research purposes under supervision.

“There are monitor logs that monitor [student] access, and their supervisor would have access to [them] to make sure that [the supercomputer] is being used in an academic matter and not for anything [unproductive].”

The estimated completion date for the upgrades has yet to be publicly released. However, Professor Engineer estimates them to be finished by around mid-2025.

QSS council highlights successes of programs and initiatives across UTM Administrators and student leaders meet to discuss new figures from departments concerned with student well-being.

Aaron Calpito Associate News Editor

Services shared new facts and figures with the Council about their programs and initiatives.

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From September to the end of October, DRAW reported the Recreation, Athletics, & Wellness Centre (RAWC) saw 5,918 unique student uses, representing “just over 30 per cent of the total UTM student population,” according to the meeting’s presentation slides. The RAWC counted 50,916 check-ins in total during the same period, noting that an increasing number of students use multiple facilities when they visit the RAWC.

n November 6, the University of Toronto Mississauga’s (UTM) Quality Service to Students (QSS) Council convened to discuss the university’s programs and initiatives to facilitate student wellbeing.

According to its Terms of Reference, the QSS Council comprises of UTM staff and student leaders, including, among others, the VicePresident and Principal of UTM, the President of the UTM Students’ Union, and the President of the UTM Association of Graduate Students. The council is a largely consultative body that meets each month with the intention of improving the student experience at UTM. At this month’s hybrid in-person and Zoom meeting, representatives of the Department of Recreation, Athletics & Wellness (DRAW), the Health & Counselling Centre (HCC), the Student Services Hub, the Early Learning Centre (ELC), and Hospitality & Ancillary

Representatives emphasized DRAW’s ongoing commitment to inclusivity, re-asserting its mission “to create an inviting and safe space for all students to engage with each other, [and] build lasting relationships and community.” It claims that “one-third of all the programs offered by DRAW at the RAWC are considered inclusive.” Past and upcoming events at the RAWC, such as a Powwow dance class, a 2SLBGTQ+ solidarity swim and drop-in sport, and indoor ice skating, were also highlighted.

The HCC’s representatives revealed footage of the brand-new HCC Clinic, located in room DV 1152 in the William G. Davis Building.

They report that from May to April, the clinic facilitated 12,623 appointments with nurses, physicians, counsellors, and other HCC staff.

Among the HCC’s highlights were a handful of new services, including a newly created 2SLGBTQ+ counsellor position, a Wellness Naviga-

and average daily referrals at the Hub each saw upwards of an increase of 400 per cent since April.

Additionally, childcare at UTM through the ELC is set to become more affordable through the federal Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care system, where childcare fees will be reduced to C$22 as of 2025. These price decreases follow another blanket reduction in UTM childcare fees, which came into effect at the start of 2024.

UTM’s Hospitality & Ancillary Services’ presentation accentuated the safety and quality of life features of its shuttle bus service, which UTM students can use for free to get to the St. George Campus or the Sheridan Trafalgar Road Campus in Oakville.

Photo credit: Sara Li

tion Advisor team, and the Ask the Nurse initiative, which has facilitated over 2,900 student interactions with registered nurses.

UTM Student Affairs & Services (SAS) shared promising information about the Students Services Hub, UTM’s “first stop” for inquiries and referrals to on-campus experts, which opened towards the end of last year. In September, the number of unique interactions, total referrals,

Representatives went over features that have been implemented for shuttle users, including accessibility lifts, air conditioning, wifi, upgraded suspension, 3-point seatbelts, coach-style seating, and the FirstView Bus tracking app to track shuttles in real-time.

The next and final QSS meeting for 2024 is scheduled to take place on Thursday, December 5.

MASTHEAD EDITORIAL BOARD

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OPINION

Editor | Mashiyat Ahmed opinion@themedium.ca

Editor-in-Chief Hannah Wang editor@themedium.ca Managing Editor Aya Yafaoui managing@themedium.ca

Feelings not mutual?

News Samuel Kamalendran news@themedium.ca Opinion Mashiyat Ahmed opinion@themedium.ca

How to move on from your toxic relationship with university.

Features Madhav Ajayamohan features@themedium.ca A&E Keira Johannson arts@themedium.ca Sports Joseph Falzata sports@themedium.ca Photo Sara Li photos@themedium.ca Design Buket Simsek Baykal design@themedium.ca Copy May Alsaigh may@themedium.ca Maja Tingchaleun maja@themedium.ca

WRITE FOR US

Sameera Muna Contributor

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e’ve all been there.

You give your heart and soul to someone who promises the world, only to find out they couldn’t care less about your well-being. No, I’m not talking about your ex this time.

It’s UTM, your university, your supposed academic partner for life. For many students, UTM is the end-all, be-all of our future.

We talk about our hopes, dreams, and aspirations — all tied tightly to your degree program — only for it to feel like an unreciprocated situationship. But let’s face it: the feelings aren’t mutual.

Submitting a petition at UTM is like being in a rocky relationship where you spill your heart out, hoping for a response. By the time the answer fully arrives after an agonizingly long wait, the damage is done, you’ve spent so long in limbo that it hurts even more than the initial uncertainty.

So, what do you do when the one you’ve been counting on doesn’t care? It’s time to take the advice we’ve all heard post-breakup: get over it. UTM might not be as invested in your future as you are, and that’s a tough pill to swallow.

But, like my therapist says: it’s time to focus on you. Take hold of your own academic destiny, lean on your peers, and embrace the fact that sometimes, it’s better to be your own hero.

After all, if UTM can ghost us on our academic journey, we can certainly learn to live without its half-hearted love. So, here’s to self-reliance, resilience, and getting over that nonchalant ex you can’t seem to get of your mind.

Course enrolment at UTM feels like being stuck in a one-sided situationship. You pour your heart into planning the perfect schedule, only to be ghosted by the system. The courses you need to graduate are full, and you’re left scrambling, wondering why you even tried. It’s a harsh reminder that, no matter how much you care, UTM doesn’t always care back. Instead, you’re left on delivered, hoping for a response that never comes, piecing together a relationship — I mean semester — that was never meant to be.

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Photo credit: Sara Li

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Are time changes illogical?

Despite its many inconveniences to the modern student, the biannual time change continues to shine as an indispensable tradition.

Sunlight directly benefits our mental wellbeing. It makes sense that bright light makes us feel brighter, and I don’t need to tell you that we students have all sorts of things to stress about.

Photo credit: Sara Li

Yusuf Larizaa-Ali Contributor

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o, we recently had the biannual time change, an honoured practice revered for its chaos and confusion as we switch our clocks. Such a practice has occurred for years and is intended to allow us to effectively utilize sunlight, hence the name “daylight savings time”. It’s a great “time” because we get as much sunlight as possible throughout the day.

As such, logic dictates that every year we switch daylight savings for standard by moving one hour ahead only to switch again in March. After all, an extra hour on an isolated day is such an invaluable amount of time. This

practice started in Canada in 1908, and obviously remains relevant to our needs today.

While the change may cause other inconveniences, forcing us to change our plans and lives accordingly, it’s totally worth it for the benefit of sunlight.

The first inconvenience is one we students know well: sleep. As a result of the clocks moving back or forward an hour, we end up losing one hour of sleep. Of course, this is a very precious thing to us students because of all the time we spend in classes, work, and other commitments. Aside from being so pleasant, sleep is a factually important to our biology.

There is growing awareness of the importance of sleep to our physical health, hence why some studies mentioned that accidents rise in occurrence after time changes.

November, of all months, is such a perfect time for this drastic change, adding to the already joyous midterm period. We’ve always wanted to ensure the best results on our midterms and a disrupted sleep schedule seems like just the thing to help!

Sunlight directly benefits our mental wellbeing. It makes sense that bright light makes us feel brighter, and I don’t need to tell you that we students have all sorts of things to stress about.

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As such, in late fall and early winter, when our stress is at an all-time high with midterms and grad applications, it’s very logical to ensure there is much less sunlight during the day at this time! Maybe you don’t think so but, trust me, this is all worth it for the greater good.

That is, the benefits of having one more hour of sunlight when we switch back to daylight savings time.

Another victim of this honourable time change is our schedules, which must be reworked. After my afternoon classes, I’d use the sun’s position to structure my prayer time, and with the time change that was no longer an option.

Oh, and in the age of more online interactions, chances are that you may find yourself teaching, working with, or being with someone in another part of the world with a different time zone. Maybe this person’s home doesn’t do a time change and, boom, your calculation of the time difference must be redone.

Stuff like this happens biannually, but it’s a price worth paying, as the benefit of switching to more sunlight and then back to less is truly undeniable. After all, that extra hour gives us endless opportunities for what to do. And, yes, on the first day it totally is cool for it to be 4:00 at 5:00 and know how much leeway we have

with that extra hour. Sure, it only lasts for one day, and by the next day it’s just 4:00 at 4:00.

And sure, it leads to all these other inconveniences, but obviously having an extra hour that one day is worth the price of gold. I’m totally not going to waste that extra hour, right?

It’s so obvious that changing to daylight savings time makes sense because, it’s true, sunlight is a very good thing. I mean, don’t you love it when your day ends at 5:00 PM and it’s pitch black by the time you get home? Maybe you do, but if you don’t, it’s cool: your chances of running into a skunk or a thug are much higher when it’s harder to see, and that’s why curfews and advisories to not stay out too late exist. But this is just another minor inconvenience that is worth it for the very logical time change.

Despite how logical and universal the time change practice is, more places seem to be doing away with this noble tradition. Some places enact their time changes on different dates, and other places, like Saskatchewan, don’t even do one! That being said, Quebec, New York, and Ontario, all of whom share the same time zone, have hung on to this extremely logical practice. And who can blame them?

After all, it’s obvious that, despite the inconveniences, the time change is a longstanding tradition due to its roots in basic logic.

We’ll have pizza and light refreshments and it’s a great chance to meet us!

Our office, 2nd floor of the Student Centre

Tuesday, November 19 3:30 PM - 6:00 PM

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How will the new American administration affect Canadians?

President-elect Donald Trump and his Republican-majority control of the U.S. political landscape could impose some challenges on Canadians.

Roy Su Contributor

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he recent American election results could profoundly affect Canada, influencing our economy, social policies, and international alliances. For Canadian students and young adults, these shifts are not abstract political changes but realities that could shape their futures. As the new U.S. administration takes office, its policies are poised to bring challenges that Canada must navigate with care, precision, and foresight.

Canada’s economic future President-elect Donald Trump’s trade policies, rooted in a transactional approach to international agreements, treat trade as a zero-sum game: one nation’s gain comes at the direct expense of another. This philosophy could mean a return to tariffs, like those on steel and aluminum in 2018, which saw the U.S. levy steep duties on Canadian exports. Majority of consumer products are produced and assembled somewhere other than the country the final product will end up in. Think of tariffs as a tax that a country imposes on goods, usually to garner revenue and “protect domestic procedures.” Trade Trump’s recent proposal of a 10% blanket tariff on imports could reignite trade tensions.

For Canada, a country where 75 per cent of exports are destined for the U.S., such protectionism could have cascading effects. Tariffs on essential goods like steel, lumber, or dairy would not only disrupt industries but also raise prices for consumers. Everyday items — groceries, electronics, or even cars — would become more expensive, directly impacting young Canadians whose budgets are already stretched thin.

This is particularly concerning as Canada grapples with billions of yearly deficits, bolstered by Canada’s booming immigration. Any retaliatory tariffs or subsidies to counteract U.S. policies would strain federal resources further. Historically, Canada’s response to similar U.S. measures, such as the 2018 tariffs, included dollar-for-dollar counter-tariffs and financial aid for affected sectors. While these measures provided some relief, they also exacerbated budgetary pressures and job losses for Canadian steel and lumber workers, leaving the long-term economic state in precarity.

But why does this matter? Inflation hits young Canadians hardest because they often lack the savings or financial stability to absorb price increases. Higher costs for basic goods could push more young people into debt or force them to delay milestones like buying homes, starting families, or investing in education. In my opinion, Canada must avoid short-term reactions and focus on systemic solutions that protect consumers while maintaining economic stability.

The need for sustainable economic policies: Conservative vs. Liberal approaches The Canadian economy is already under strain. Inflation, housing shortages, and healthcare funding gaps have made the cost of living untenable for many, especially young Canadians.

A protectionist U.S. administration will only amplify these challenges, underscoring the need for a robust and sustainable economic strategy. No Canadian party has yet to release an official policy addressing potential U.S. tariffs or retaliatory trade measures, but here are some predictions on the policies that may emerge in response to these pressing economic challenges.

The Conservatives advocate for tax cuts to spur growth, encapsulated in their slogan: “Axe the Tax. Build the Homes. Fix the Budget. Stop the Crime.” These tax cuts aim to not only alleviate financial burdens for individuals but also enhance the muchneeded reinvestment of businesses in the Canadian economy.

By reducing taxes, the Conservatives hope to foster an environment where businesses can thrive.

Policies like Bill C-234 aim to reduce financial burdens for farmers, indirectly lowering food prices for consumers. Their housing proposals, which include increasing construction and providing GST exemptions on homes under $1 million, are designed to address affordability.

Illustration credit: Ramiya Sureshkumar While these measures offer relief, their effectiveness hinges on execution. Tax cuts, while beneficial in the short term, can reduce government revenue needed for essential services like healthcare and education. Similarly, housing mandates depend on cooperation with provinces and municipalities, which have varying priorities and capacities.

The Liberals are likely to emphasize subsidies and direct financial support, as seen during the pandemic. These policies, while providing immediate aid, risk inflating the national deficit further. For example, programs like rent and wage subsidies helped stabilize the economy during COVID-19 but added long-term debt. However, recent adjustments to the Bank of Canada’s interest rates have not significantly improved public trust in the economy. Many Canadians remain skeptical about the effectiveness of these measures, especially as inflation continues to rise. Historical analysis by the Fraser Institute also reveals that “Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is projected to the largest debtaccumulator among prime ministers who did not fight a world war or experience an economic downturn during their tenure.”

Furthermore, policies such as increasing the capital gains tax may drive further distrust among investors and the public, as they could be seen as exacerbating the already large national deficit. While these policies aim to generate revenue, they risk discouraging investment and economic growth, leading to a cycle of distrust in the government’s fiscal management.

The challenge for the Liberals lies in balancing short-term relief with long-term sustainability and recuperating public trust. As inflation continues to erode purchasing power, young Canadians need assurances that government spending will not come at the expense of their future security.

Tariffs will most definitely create a weaker Canadian dollar. The combination of a weaker Canadian dollar and higher import costs could directly impact young Canadians, whose purchasing power is already under pressure. Essentials like groceries and technology, both heavily reliant on imports, would become increasingly unaffordable. Rising transportation costs, driven by higher fuel prices or tariffs on vehicle parts, could further strain budgets.

The Conservative Party’s proposed tax cuts offer one path to relief, aiming to leave more money in Canadians’ pockets.

However, without targeted measures to address inflation and housing, these cuts risk being overshadowed by rising costs elsewhere. Conversely, the Liberals and NDP focus on subsidies and public investments, but their reliance on deficit spending may pose risks to long-term economic stability.

Young Canadians are particularly vulnerable to these pressures because they are often in transitional life stages: finishing education, starting careers, or building families. A lack of clear, effective policy responses could leave this demographic without the resources needed to navigate these challenges, deepening generational inequities.

A Test for Leadership The potential economic impact of a protectionist U.S. administration adds yet another layer of complexity to Canada’s existing challenges. This moment represents a defining test for Canada’s political leadership.

One key issue is the upcoming renewal of the United StatesMexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The agreement’s significance extends beyond simple trade facilitation, it is a cornerstone of Canada’s economic stability. A cancellation or renegotiation under less favorable terms could severely impact industries like automotive and agriculture, disrupt supply chains, and weaken Canada’s leverage in global trade discussions. This makes the renewal of the USMCA not just a test of diplomatic skill but a litmus test for how well Canadian leaders can secure our economic future.

As of now, no official policy has been released. The Conservatives must show how their tax cuts will be balanced with funding for essential services and protecting Canada from potential trade disruptions, while the Liberals must exercise fiscal responsibility.

Young Canadians are not just voters, they are the future workforce, innovators, and leaders. Their economic stability is critical to Canada’s long-term prosperity. For students and young professionals, a stable USMCA ensures access to job opportunities in industries reliant on cross-border trade and supply chains.

This pivotal moment demands that Canada’s leaders rise to the occasion, providing not just reactive measures but proactive, forward-thinking strategies.

The potential economic impact of a protectionist U.S. administration adds yet another complex challenge for Canada’s current Liberal government to address. As our economic precarity grows in response to the U.S. election, political leadership must speak to the experiences of everyday Canadians, articulating an actionable plan to genuinely execute partisan promises and foster economic resiliency.

Young Canadians, who are among the most affected, will be closely watching, seeking leaders who offer tangible, long-term solutions to counteract inflation, secure essential services, and stimulate economic opportunities. We deserve leadership that understands their challenges and works tirelessly to address them. Anything less is not just a political failure—it is a betrayal of the future. Now, more than ever, Canadians need unified leadership that prioritizes stability and prosperity for future generations.

07

A reflection on digital activism in an era of publicly broadcast global suffering Photo credit: Milica Samardzic

Our social media feeds may numb us to the horrors of the world, but as a Palestinian, our digital spaces remain essential to liberation.

Dana Al-Habash Contributor

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ever in my 15 years living in Canada would I have ever, ever thought to see Palestinian flags waving in the streets of Toronto. I would have never thought to see so much attention on the cause of Palestine by individuals living in the West. I would have never thought that the true narrative of the illegal occupation — one of massacres, forced expulsions, cultural erasure, and racism by Zionist entities — would be so prevalent in the society of today’s youth. Why? Because as someone who, as a child, felt the need to hide their Palestinian identity in a world that deems my existence “controversial”, I had always seen racism as intertwined in our sick world.

In a society where the lives of people who look like me don’t matter, I remember classmates who were kicked out for saying “Palestine,” or told to remove their Keffiyeh — a headdress that symbolizes Palestinian culture and liberation — because it made others uncomfortable. For so long, I saw society as ignorant and hellbent on silencing my people. But since the events of October 7, 2024, and the subsequent genocide of Gazans, it warms my heart to see the drastic shift in how social media finally took hold of the narrative in Palestine, and how I began to represent myself as a Palestinian Canadian.

I’ve gone from cautiously saying I was “from the Middle East” to advocating loud and proud that I am from Palestine and will continue to fight for the basic human rights of my people until my very last breath.

Social media has changed advocacy and created this newfound visibility like never before. It has allowed long-standing social injustices, such as the 75-year occupation of Palestine, to finally receive the attention it deserves in the social and political consciousness of the masses. The Israeli military’s actions have been repeatedly condemned by the International

Court of Justice as acts of genocide and complete violations of international law. Society woke up to this when they saw graphic photos and videos of Israeli military assaults burning down Palestinian hospitals and the people inside.

Social media — be it posts, comments, or likes — puts story-telling power in the hands of those with immediate lived experiences, allowing the dominant narrative to be revised.

With just a phone in hand and stable internet connection, Palestinians like Bisan Owda and Plestia Alaqad have been able to document both the mundane and horrors of living through a genocide that has killed over 41,000 men, women, and children. Social media has broadened and personalized the definition of journalism, and in the process, elevated the intimacy and urgency of the truths told.

Social media currently remains an essential space for activism, but we must acknowledge that the constant stream of information and gruesome imageries on Instagram or TikTok causes moral exhaustion and activism burnout. Doom-scrolling is a prevalent problem that has led to mental exhaustion and anxiety, especially for activists whose social media algorithms are centered towards advocacy, social injustices, and political issues. The constant indulgence in graphic content of death, oppression, and pain can often render us numb, leaving behind the question: “Is this really normal? Should this be something I see every time I open my phone?”.

Many activists, particularly those who are well educated on social issues, feel an immense sense of duty to educate, defend, and raise awareness. I always feel an urgent sense of responsibility to correct every misconception about Palestine because, as a Palestinian, it feels as though I am the only one who can.

It goes beyond just advocacy: when injustice or misinformation circulates, it feels deeply personal, a fight for my heritage and identity. And, as much as I seize the chance to educate my peers or correct harmful narratives, I remain exhausted from constantly defending my existence and rights.

Oftentimes it feels like the least I can do is engage with the gruesome videos and create awareness of the existing suffering in as many people as I can. But that same responsibility has left me mentally and emotionally exhausted. I’m compelled to engage with painful images, yet this responsibility leaves me torn between burnout and the need to keep speaking up, especially for my people. As humans, there’s only so much horror we can witness as images of dismembered children and people burned alive bury into our minds.

This is where our current advocacy has shifted from historical advocacy. The constant exposure made feasible by social media and its many apparatuses leaves us grappling with the weight of our humanity and the limits of how much we can bear. In the meantime, we fight for justice in institutions and spaces that have historically been complicit in causing unimaginable suffering.

The fight for justice is a fight for human rights, and in this process, you may find yourself sacrificing pieces of yourself: your safety, stability, and even relationships. Mental exhaustion lies in the constant fear of one’s future while advocating for causes that may be deemed as “controversial” by society. When speaking up against Western silence or complicity in the face of Israel’s occupation – indeed, apartheid – in Palestine, we shouldn’t have to wonder whether we’ll be threatened by other parties on social media. Whether our activism will cost us our career prospects and overall life.

I have and continue to face the challenges of not knowing whether to wear my necklace with the map of Palestine during a job interview, or deciding whether to take my Keffiyeh off in certain environments to protect my safety. Undeniably, it became a back-and-forth battle between doing what is morally correct and what will keep me safe. I find this dichotomy morally exhausting, because the decision to wear a simple cloth representing my culture is the least I can do in my advocacy, despite its risks. But the challenges and anxieties I face on a daily basis pale in comparison to the agony and tribulations of my people in Gaza.

Despite my personal struggles and our collective bearing witness to Palestinian suffering on our phone screens, I ask myself, what keeps me going? To be able to fight through the inevitable challenges of advocacy in hopes for liberation and justice? To that question, I say: my people, who despite their homes being demolished in front of their eyes, or witnessing their loved ones’ bodies dismembered, can look at the world with a smile.

The mother in Gaza, who after losing her son to a bomb, raises a finger in gratitude to God, is an image etched into my soul. It reminds me that while the fight for justice is grueling and exhausting, it is also profoundly meaningful. The fact that social media has finally, after so many years, been able to humanize Palestinians and enforce the truth, is what gives me hope to continue my advocacy and celebrate my Palestinian identity.

08

features

Editor | Madhav Ajayamohan features@themedium.ca

Shape your future with SAGE, a society dedicated to student academic success SAGE is a dynamic academic society offering geography, environment, and GIS students the chance to connect and develop valuable skills through a variety of social events and programs.

Photo provided by SAGE

Zainab Khalil Associate Features Editor

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re you a geography, environment, and geographical information systems (GIS) student eager to get involved on campus? Are you looking to make new connections and gain valuable skills for your future? Look no further because the Student Association for Geography and Environment (SAGE) has you covered.

SAGE, an academic society committed to building community, providing support, and advancing sustainability, offers diverse opportunities for students passionate about the environment and sustainable practices.

Established in 2017, SAGE started as a small group of students interested in creating a space where geography, environment, and GIS students can come together. Almost eight years later, SAGE is now a well-known aca-

demic society on campus, offering many different programs, resources, and events.

The society is open to all University of Toronto Mississauga students, specifically those in geography, environment, and GIS. In an interview with The Medium, the society emphasized its commitment to integrating sustainability into every aspect of its work, making it an ideal match for students passionate about environmental issues.

The society recognizes the stress and hardships of student life and strongly believes that taking time to relax and connect with others is crucial for mental health. It hosts a wide range of social and wellness events throughout the year, giving students a chance to unwind and have fun while building a sense of community.

Some of the society’s fall events included a forest relaxation and nature craft at the start of the year, a hike and s’mores event, a clothing swap, and many other exciting activities.

Beyond social events, SAGE provides learning opportunities and workshops designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed for academic and professional success.

One event featured a hybrid GIS workshop designed for students to learn more about geospatial space. Another hit was their alumni panel and networking night, which provided

students the opportunity to get a glimpse at postgraduation life and to hear from alumni who went on to have successful careers.

The society recognizes the stress and hardships of student life and strongly believes that taking time to relax and connect with others is crucial for mental health. It hosts a wide range of social and wellness events throughout the year, giving students a chance to unwind and have fun while building a sense of community.

In addition to events, SAGE offers multiple programs aimed at helping students gain valuable experiences and develop new skills. One notable program is the Unite Behind The Science Journal Club, which helps students develop skills for research. This program gives students the ability to develop critical thinking skills, stay informed on current research, and build a strong academic foundation for their future.

SAGE also offers its Outreach Associate Program, where students of any field can have hands-on experience in event planning, community outreach, collaboration, and more.

The program is a great stepping stone for anyone interested in taking on future leadership roles in other clubs or even interested in starting a club of their own.

The society also offers a mentorship program designed to aid students in navigating univer-

sity life, especially those in the first or second year. The program pairs students with upperyear students to help provide guidance, advice and support.

All these programs are eligible for students’ co-curricular records (CCR), providing an excellent way to highlight one’s involvement and the skills developed outside the classroom. Participating in these programs can also be used on one’s resume and help students stand out to potential on-campus employers or even graduate programs.

SAGE is more than just an academic society—it’s a community where students can grow, learn, and make lasting relationships.

Students can join any time all year round and can look forward to more events for the winter semester, such as the Meet the Profs seminar, ROP night, a sustainability activism panel and much more.

For more information and to stay updated on events and activities, SAGE invites you to follow its Instagram page at @sage.utm.

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Arts

Editor | Keira Johannson arts@themedium.ca

My fascination with the mundane:

A photo essay

From bird watching at breakfast to cement blocks outside vacant storefronts, beauty can be found even in the dullest of places.

Keira Johannson Arts & Entertainment Editor

Ka: The lone poet of Brownsville underground rap scene Honoring the life and legacy of Kaseem Ryan, FDNY Captain and revered underground hip-hop legend.

For breakfast last week, I ate toast with peanut butter and when I sat down at the kitchen table, I noticed a bird perched on the hydro line outside the window. There was something simplistically beautiful about the bird, how it sat there watching the world go by: cars driving in a rush to get to work, people walking to avoid getting to work. The landscape was dull, a reminder that winter was about to creep into my life, uninvited. But the bird. The bird was beautiful. I took a photo of it—nothing fancy, just a quick snapshot with my iPhone—and then, a few moments later, the bird was gone.

Illustration credit: Buket S. Baykal

Tarkan Dahi Contributor

There’s a book by Patti Smith that I turn to often. Titled: A Book of Days, the collection showcases Smith’s craft in documentary practices, offering snapshots into her world, from daily cups of coffee to the graves of beloved heroes. The photographs in the collection are nothing short of normal day-to-day life. Much of the imagery is tainted in shades of gray, partly due to Smith’s use of analog film but also because her subjects tend to be void of colour themselves. Both my experience of watching the bird and my observations of how Smith sees the world around her reminded me of how the simplest of things can evoke the most meaningful reflections.

Later that day, I walked around my neighbourhood with a new set of eyes. Suddenly, things like abandoned playground structures or random cement blocks began to hold more interest than they ever had before. It made me think about how there are so many instances of beauty that we miss in a day and how fleeting a moment can be when you don’t take the time to appreciate it. For the rest of my walk, I set out to capture these fragments of mundane beauty, noting how objects of colour stood out or how the composition of the image could turn something boring into something compelling.

Perhaps the main takeaway here is that we can miss so much when we don’t take the time to notice.

With the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives, locating moments of quiet simplicity can become a rarity. And maybe it’s just me, although I’m sure people like Patti Smith can relate, but I almost find the mundane more fascinating than I do the extraordinary. Like how a random bird can bring out more emotion out of me than maybe a renowned painting would. Or how the light from an abandoned parking garage can serve as a symbol of hope amidst the looming darkness of winter.

I suppose, then, that this all becomes a lesson in noticing; how we can find art and beauty in the dullest of places. So now, it’s your turn. Go find your version of the bird on the hydro line. What meaning can you take away from the things that usually go unnoticed?

Committed rhymes, if you give it time, much is learned Firm dense, but earn strength with a young stalk - Conflicted

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n October 12, 2024, it was announced that Kaseem Ryan had passed away. As a New York Fire Department Captain and a first responder on 9/11, Kaseem undeniably impacted his community. However, what differentiates Kaseem from his peers is that he also cemented his hip-hop legacy through his work as the rapper and producer, Ka. Ka is one of the most unique rappers I have ever listened to, with a style invoking spoken word poetry instead of the hip-hop that dominates the charts. Ka’s production is minimal, using drums sparingly and instead relying on Ka’s gruff voice, which sets the rhythm of tales from his life. Ka’s voice is monotone, betraying no emotion that could glorify or vilify the life he lived. Ka is not a swaggering mafioso full of pride, but neither is he a powerless victim of circumstance. For Ka, the past is in the past. The short story is that he survived and, as he tells his tales, the dedicated listeners can inherit some of the wisdom he reluctantly earned.

Ka never wasted a word in his life.

Each line interweaves his stories of growing up in the grim streets of Brownsville, a New York neighbourhood with one of the highest

Photos credit: Keira Johannson

crime rates in the country, with his love of literature and culture.

His are not the type of songs you can lightly play in the background as you work, doing so would insult the message that Ka buries into every verse he writes. Instead, his music must be treated with care by looking through lyrics and searching for references to understand how it interplays with the themes of the album. I remember my first time listening to his 2020 album Descendants of Cain and spending hours researching every single line. I noted how Ka relates his upbringing in Brownsville to the Biblical story of Cain, who killed his brother Abel in a fit of rage and was eternally damned for this sin.

Ka sees this trend repeat itself with children in Brownsville, where blood amongst brothers in the neighbourhood is once again shed over material gains, continuing the spiral of hatred that has decimated his community.

What made Ka so great is that he never tried to change his style to appeal to the masses, refusing to even go on tour as he believed his music required a more delicate delivery to better understand the message. Knowing he would never achieve the mainstream financial success of his peers, he instead kept music as a passionate sideproject, not a career. As a result, he was never forced to censor himself or dilute his message to retain an audience. Kaseem Ryan has passed away, but the stories he’s told and the lessons he leaves us with will last forever.

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The killer gaze:

the Terrifier franchise and women in horror Some are concerned by how the popular new Terrifier film depicts and treats women.

Skyler Piskoroski Arts & Entertainment Associate Editor

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fter a month in cinemas, Terrifier 3 (Damien Leone) is dominating the box office, earning over $60 million worldwide from its $2 million budget. The franchise has amassed a large cult following, with many placing the villain, Art the Clown (David Howard Thornton), in the same hall of fame as Freddy and Jason. Art is undeniably scary, largely due to Thornton’s performance, but some credit the horror to the veil of misogyny draped over the franchise.

Violence and misogyny are not new in horror, and the Terrifier films check both these boxes.

While it is undeniable that Art is a brutal killer, the difference in how he kills and tortures women is evident. The women in these movies are killed more gratuitously and degradingly than the male victims, with an increased focus on their bodies. Throughout the trilogy, Art is seen writing words in blood that have specifically gendered connotations and are used against women as a means of degradation.

The main issue is not that Art hates women but how the film portrays this hatred. In the first movie, it is briefly implied that Art has mother issues. However, this is never mentioned again and has nothing to do with his kills throughout the franchise. Some examples of horror films that include gendered motives are Black Christmas (1974) and Maniac (1980). In these movies, the killers target women and treat them in derogatory ways. In Maniac, the killer’s poor relationship with his mother is the reason he kills women. The main difference between how these films tackle misogynistic kills versus Art’s is that Maniac does not feel like it hates women. Instead, the killers hold the hatred, and the audience is encouraged to cheer for the survivors, not for the killer.

This is partly due to how the female characters are written. In Black Christmas, for instance, Jess (Olivia Hussey) deals with many issues such as balancing her relationship and her career, as well as an unwanted pregnancy. As a fully written character, she has more humanity and demands engagement from the audience as they learn about her. In Terrifier 3, the main character, Sienna (Lauren LaVera), is not given as much of that humanity. Although the film attempts to show the traumatic effects of past films, the conversations and scenes between the kills are not as engaging and feel more like a means of getting to the killing scenes. It is also worth noting that these attempts to show Sienna’s humanity are solely through how she has already been attacked by the killer, rather than as an independent person.

Illustration credit: Sehajleen Kaur Wander

Overall, Leone has done a successful job in his creation of Art and the films as a whole and to say that anyone who enjoys these films should be placed on a watchlist is a stretch. However, these films’ portrayal and treatment of their (poorly) written women should definitely not be overlooked.

An intersection of art and learning The Blackwood Gallery brings together artists to create a space that embraces our shared responsibility for making livable worlds for all.

cal disabilities. As a wheelchair user, Shay focused on their frustrations with the built environment: more specifically, how spaces such as university campuses are not designed through a “lens of mobility.”

Photo credit: Kirsty Carnan

Kirsty Carnan Contributor

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he Whole World in Our Hands, a semesterlong exhibition hosted by the Blackwood Gallery, held a four-session forum on November 13, 2024, with multidisciplinary artists and researchers engaging with themes of community, culture, and resilience.

I was able to attend two out of the four sessions. By reenacting the motions common in video games today, contributor Shay Erlich communicated the realities of being disabled alongside Deaf artist and curator Maryam Hafizirad, who explained the importance of Deaf View Image Art (De’VIA) through personal stories. Together, these two artists developed a complimentary dialogue about the existing gaps and tensions of our exclusionary systems and offered ways of creating a new world built on disability justice.

Shay Erlich guided the third session of the forum, talking about how their artistic production, such as manual wheelchair dance and video game design, is driven by their desire to share the complex lives of people with physi-

In their current work, Shay explores the “hybrid embodiment between technology and movement” through video games. Whether standing or sitting, the audience, including myself, acted out their versions of these common video game movements: grow, spin, swing, stomp, shoot (or point), dash, and pull.

To put it briefly, this was quite weird. These actions initially seemed easy to act out, but they quickly became uncomfortable. Movements that were once considered typical now felt novel. It reminded me of what Shay had said earlier in the session when talking about their transition into a wheelchair: “What my mind wanted to do and what my body couldn’t.”

In the fourth session, Maryam Hafizirad (signing Deaf person) and a music researcher at the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto, Ely Lyonblum (non-signing person), discussed how their backgrounds had impacted their collaborative work. They defined De’ VIA art as “Signed Music”, which includes performance, painting, and sculpture work that conveys the experiences of those in the Deaf community.

Accompanying this dialogue was a poem written and performed by Maryam with sound directed by Ely. Maryam’s anecdote shared the experience of being Deaf in an audist world.

She recalled her time in Iran in contrast with her move to Canada, expressing the importance of community and acceptance. During this performance, we, the audience, held purple latex balloons to feel the vibrations of Ely’s auditory version of Maryam’s poem.

After the sessions, Associate Professor in the School of Disability Studies at Toronto Metropolitan University, Eliza Chandler, reflected on the purpose of this forum in her closing response, recognizing that “the ways that we don’t know and know the world of disability” are important for our collective future.

Attending this forum as an able-bodied person was eye-opening. Through the artist’s practices, we were made acutely aware of the ableist culture and built environment that we all have to navigate.

The Whole World in Our Hands also includes five lightboxes, a video, and sound installation around campus and an upcoming film screening on December 5 at the CAMH Auditorium in Downtown Toronto. If you see the installations around campus, keep in mind the ideas I mentioned; it may change your perspective as it did mine.

11

sports & health

Editor | Joseph Falzata sports@themedium.ca

Eagles crowned soccer champions after undefeated season The UTM Eagles are crowned tri-campus men’s soccer champions for the first time in the program’s history.

Photo credit: Keira Johannson

Pietro Arrigoni Columnist

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he Eagles completed a historic season by taking home the championship title after a fierce battle against UTSG Reds at Varsity stadium last Sunday.

Having won all but one game this season and standing undefeated heading into the finals, the Eagles had confidence that they could take the win home. However, standing between them and the glory of being crowned champions for the first time in program history was a strong opposition with a legacy of tri-campus soccer success.

Varsity Stadium’s turf field was slick under the pouring rain, and the game began fast paced with chances coming from both sides. UTM was close to scoring early, with Aidan Gideon, but was denied after a great run in behind the defense.

Sami Mohaisen kept the Eagles’ net safe with two great saves in the first half, and the teams went into half-time all even.

The intensity of the game was, as expected, very high, and the tension only continued to build.

It was Reds who broke the deadlock early in the second half after a half-volley found the back of the net. From then on, it was all UTM. The Eagles turned the game’s momentum on its head, winning every challenge and looking increasingly more dangerous.

It was UTM’s star-boy Aidan Gideon that finally brought his team all-square. The league’s leading goal-scorer finished off a wonderful team goal, where the ball shifted side to side before finding the gap to slip Gideon on goal. After beating his marker, he didn’t hesitate to bag his eighth goal of the season.

It did not take long after that for UTM to find the lead, courtesy of yet another link up play between Pietro Arrigoni and Krish Chavan, who together have been a devastating duo all season. After a dazzling run down the line, Chavan cut the ball back in the danger area of the box, finding Arrigoni, who buried a strike past the goalie.

The many fans who came out to support the Eagles erupted as they took their first lead of the game. But the job wasn’t yet over for the Eagles, and UTSG Reds began pushing hard to find an equalizer. With a little more than ten minutes left in the game, UTM put up a wall to stop any scoring chances.

Outstanding performances from center back pairing Sokol Kroqi and Chuks Ugori, as well as goalkeeper Nolan Kacou — called into action after Mohaisen’s injury — ensured the Eagles kept their lead.

As the game winded down, Krish Chavan added an additional solo goal to seal the championship for UTM. As he has consistently done this season, Chavan got the wrong side of the defender, received a through pass, and beat another opponent before slotting the ball in the far corner.

It was now just a matter of waiting for the final whistle. The Reds tried to equalize until the end, but their belief and mo-

rale were low, having conceded three times in the final twenty minutes. When the whistle finally came, UTM players rushed the field and began their long-awaited celebrations with their families and fans who came out to support. The ecstasy culminated when captain Erik Selvaggi lifted the trophy to the sky, while the whole team around him cheered in joy.

It was an amazing season for our Eagles, and this win is the product of many sacrifices made in the past few months from everyone who is part of the team. The strength of the group is what made the difference, as the boys came together to create a perfect environment for success.

Everyone played their part in this journey towards making history, but a special appreciation should go to Coaches Szabi Bozsoky and Kevin Iyamabo, the masterminds behind that took this squad to a historic first ever championship.

I got a chance to speak with Coach Iyamabo after the game, who wanted to leave the following message to the players and those reading: “What a team! Despite injuries and suspensions to key players, the guys played through any adversity and overcame it all.

This group was committed and worked tremendously hard this season, week after week, to make this happen. Today they finally got their reward. As coaches we couldn’t be prouder of the comeback win, securing our first championship in school history, and the overall performance and determination shown by the whole team this year!”

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Slow start continues for Eagles in regular season home opener Neither the men’s nor women’s teams were able to pick up a win in the second game of the season.

Eagles volleyball drops sets, team remains optimistic Men’s and women’s teams picked up a pair of losses against UTSG Blue, but coaches and players are still keeping their heads up.

Tea Falzata Contributor

Women’s team drops three sets in loss Photo credit: Sara Li

Photo credit: Yifei Pang (Kevin)

Chloe Cathcart & Evan Mowder Contributors

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he Eagles basketball teams played their first regular season home game against St. George Blue on Sunday, November 10. Coming off season opening losses, the Eagles were looking to regain confidence with a big win.

Men’s Early Struggles Too Much to Overcome St. George Blue took the fight to the Eagles from the jump. They executed early on the offensive end, hitting open cutters and finding their way to the rim. The Eagles didn’t fold, as Daekwan Michael came in off the bench and gave them a boost, pushing them to stay aggressive and put pressure on Blue. Despite fierce efforts, the Eagles still trailed 18-10 after the first quarter.

A few quick buckets from Blue to start the second quarter helped the Eagles find their rhythm. Moving the ball and playing more to their pace, the Eagles cut the lead down to four points. Just when it looked like the Eagles were on pace to take the lead, Blue hit a big transition three to halt momentum, spurring a series of buckets to take a 38-25 lead into halftime.

The Eagles seemingly had no answer in the second half. Blue kept their foot on the gas, extending the lead to 20 points. Despite late efforts from guard Kent Lingat, who led the Eagles with 20 points, Blue took home the win 74-65.

Eagles senior Andreas Jankovic commented after the game, “We just didn’t hit the shots we normally hit, and we weren’t playing team defense.” Jankovic also gave credit to Blue, noting

his opponents “passed the ball very well” and “their chemistry from player to player was very high.”

It’s back to work for the Eagles as they look to get into the win column next week. Trying to build any sort of momentum before the winter break, their final three games will be crucial.

Women’s Mental Roadblocks Transfer to the Court Following a devastating setback last week, the women’s team was determined to bounce back in their game against St. George Blue. The history between St. George Blue and UTM — from common players to past rivalries — carried palpable tension into the arena.

UTM seemingly walked on the court already hanging their heads. A strong opponent proved to be a tough mental battle for the Eagles, and with the daze of a first quarter ending in 24-5, UTM looked defeated from the beginning.

St. George Blue was able to land the ball in the paint with every touch, racking up a 47-18 lead heading into halftime.

On Sunday, November 10, the UTM women’s tri campus volleyball team played their second game of the season against the top ranked team in the league, St. George Blue. The Blues took over with a dominant first set winning 25-12 before making quick work of the Eagles again in the second set. That established the pace for the rest of the game, and despite the Eagles fighting hard to keep it close in the third set, they were unable to come away with the win. The set finished with a narrow 25-21 scoreline, and the match concluded 3-0 in favour of the Blues.

Regardless of the disappointing result, there was much to unpack from UTM’s performance. Annette Huang, the 4th year middle blocker, still believes her team has a bright future, stating, “Every set we played we got better, which shows our potential.”

David Jonathan-Holung, former men’s volleyball MVP, suggested defence should be a point of emphasis in practice, noting that “blocking was inconsistent” and it caused “more pressure on the girls defence.”

There is a long season ahead and the girls remain hopeful that they’ll improve and make a strong comeback for their upcoming match.

Men’s team follows suit The men’s tri-campus volleyball team had a similar story following their match against St. George Blue. After a hard 2512 loss in the first set, the men were able to fight hard to win the second set 2521. Although the team was able to push the match beyond three sets, the team lost their momentum in the third set, and would drop the fourth in an overall 3-1 loss. Currently, the boys have a 0-2 record, but are hoping to change that in the games to come.

Although the game ended in a loss, Taaha, assistant coach for the men’s team, stated, “It was a great game! This has been the number one team since 2015 and we got a set on them.” Taaha also noted his team’s improvement in communication, and said it felt as if his group was “really coming together.”

Since the team has only six returning players from last year, there was much to work on to develop a cohesive unit, which was acknowledged as an improvement since their previous game against Scarborough.

Tozie Amache, who played on the men’s tri-campus team last year, said that “the boys played better than expected,” despite being significant underdogs.

Even though the men’s and women’s teams hadn’t won their games, there were many positive comments on the games’ conclusions as both coaches and players walked away with their heads held high. Next week the two teams will play against Scarborough as the away team, hoping to come back to Mississauga with a win under their belts.

Speaking on the Eagles inability to find success on offense, first-year player Maurie Lawl put it plainly, “The team lacked offensive structure and confidence in each other.”

The absence of team chemistry on the floor left each individual to rely on themselves. Despite every player giving it their all in the second half of the game, the Eagles finished the game 3270. Locking down on defense alleviated some of the pain, yet they were ultimately unsuccessful.

Looking forward to next week, the Eagles are back to the drawing board to conceptualize a new gameplan on and off the court.

Stay tuned for more as our Eagles look to bounce back and find themselves in the win column in their 3rd game of the season.

Photo credit: Kaley Huang