Volume 51 Issue 14

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

Issue 14 Volume 51 January 20 2025

themedium.ca

ATTEMPTED MARTIAL LAW SURVIVING LEADS TO SOUTH KOREAN (AND LEARNING) IN A SUBSCRIPTION ECONOMY POLITICAL CRISIS

THE RISE OF THE #WOMENINMALEFIELDS TIKTOK TREND

On December 3, 2024, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in Seoul, South Korea in an unannounced live television broadcast, sending shockwaves throughout the nation. On January 15, 2025, he became the first...

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The #WomenInMaleFields trend first gained traction in November 2024. Women took to making satirical reels about the frustrations they faced when dating men, sharing toxic behaviours they were subject to and... >> read more on page 09

“I cannot believe I have to pay 170 dollars just to be able to access the test questions for this course!” My roommate bemoaned the other day. This conversation brought back memories of being in first year and paying....

>> read more on page 06

SPORT

How to fill a stadium:

The American playbook for college sport success Everything is bigger in America.

From cars to parking lots, houses to mansions, supermarkets to wide open spaces, it is a common stereotype that everyday aspects of American life are typically bigger compared to the rest of the world. But few things encapsulate this saying as much as the behemoth that is American college sports...

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Photo by Alex Batchelor on Unsplash

FEATURES

ARTS

A dialogue between the centuries Mashiyat Ahmed Opinion Editor

Social media moguls: The power and pitfalls of influencer beauty brands Milica Samardzic Staff Writer

Back in the first year of my undergraduate studies, my friend informed me about a book club that a couple of students were starting. Partly from personal curiosity and partly to respect my friend’s suggestion to join the club, I headed into one of The Symposium’s meetings on the sixth floor of Maanjiwe nendamowinan.

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In the digital age, influencers have the opportunity to become entrepreneurs, turning their online fame into a lucrative business. Brands like Sister Cosmetics by James Charles and Shane Dawson’s collaboration with Jeffree Star Cosmetics highlight these influencers’ advantages and struggles. Although these businesses thrived and relied on a high supply of loyal consumers, their brands suffered after Charles and Dawson faced public backlash when personal scandals arose.

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NEWS

Editor | Samuel Kamalendran news@themedium.ca

Attempted martial law leads to South Korean political crisis After a failed attempt to enforce martial law, South Korea’s President entered legal limbo as he battled impeachment proceedings.

Illustration credit: Ramiya Sureshkumar

Diana Fu Associate News Editor

O

n December 3, 2024, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in Seoul, South Korea in an unannounced live television broadcast, sending shockwaves throughout the nation. On January 15, 2025, he became the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested after a weeks-long standoff with authorities investigating him.

Yoon to order arrests of all potential political opposition figures under the guise of an “anticommunist investigation authority.”

Copious leading figures in South Korean politics condemned the declaration. DPK leader Lee Jae-myung live-streamed his journey into South Korea’s National Assembly to oppose the decree, calling Yoon’s actions “illegal, unconstitutional, and anti-citizen” and urging all South Koreans to protect democracy. The People Power Party (PPP) leader Han Dong-hoon echoed Lee’s words, emphasizing the need to “stop [martial law] along with the people.”

Both leaders had been targets for arrest under martial law.

Despite the placement of various obstructions, South Korean legislators managed to reach the voting chamber of the National Assembly. By 1 a.m. local time the following day, the National Assembly approved the lifting of martial law unanimously. Yoon withdrew the martial law declaration after his cabinet met about four hours later.

Afterwards, Han Dong-hoon indicated that the PPP may change its position due to Yoon’s defiance. However, this was contradicted by the PPP’s floor leader, Kweon Seong-dong, who maintained a position against Yoon’s impeachment amidst a possible ethics committee hearing of party members.

On December 14, the opposition launched a second impeachment motion against Yoon.

Han Dong-hoon decided to let PPP members vote their conscience to reconcile the two factions. The second impeachment motion succeeded with 204 voting for impeachment.

With Yoon impeached, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo became the acting President.

Further impeachment amidst judicial Immediately after the lifting of martial law, appointment spat

Effects and fallout of the martial law declaration

Struggle for impeachment

In his declaration, Yoon decried the National Assembly as obstructive, calling their opposition to his agenda “budgetary tyranny” supporting a “legislative dictatorship.” He further called the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) an agent of “pro-North [Korean] state forces.” He conveyed that the purpose of martial law was to “eradicate the root causes of national ruin and the anti-state forces.”

calls began mounting for Yoon’s impeachment, especially as DPK politician Kim Min-seok said on December 5 that he believed Yoon would try to resume martial law should the President’s authority remain intact. Kim had previously warned of Yoon declaring martial law back in August.

Supporting Yoon’s statement, the formal martial law decree placed various restrictions on political expression, media circulation, and potential strike action. Further testimony revealed that the decree allowed

On December 12, Yoon made his first public speech since the lifting of martial law, defending his declaration by continuing to accuse the DPK of being a vehicle of North Korean interests. He also contradicted prior claims of an agreed-upon resignation as he continued to defend declaring martial law.

The PPP initially opposed extending impeachment to Yoon. In a statement on December 5, the PPP said it preferred Yoon resign from his party position instead, in preparation for a future resignation date. As such, when the National Assembly held its first impeachment vote on December 7, all PPP members abstained, thus failing to reach the 200-member quorum needed for presidential impeachments.

As the impeachment trial started, tensions immediately escalated regarding the judicial appointment of the Constitutional Court of Korea. A president can only be impeached if six or more judges within the nine-member court find them guilty.

When the second impeachment motion was approved, the court only had six judges. However, with the support of Acting President Han Duck-soo, the PPP blocked new appointments to fill these vacancies.

In response, on December 27, the DPK drafted an impeachment motion against Han

Duck-soo for obstruction by blocking these judicial appointments. The motion passed with all 192 opposition members voting in favour, while the PPP boycotted the vote.

Han Duck-soo’s removal meant that Choi Sang-mook, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, became the new Acting President. The DPK has threatened Choi with impeachment if he obstructs Yoon’s impeachment trial. Choi has responded by filling two of the three vacancies within the Constitutional Court.

Standoff and arrest As the trial developed, Yoon refused to cooperate with any impeachment inquiries, ignoring legal summons to appear at the trial. In response, on December 30, the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) issued an arrest warrant for Yoon, even as he and his presidential guards continued to be uncooperative.

On January 3, 2025, South Korean authorities first attempted to breach the presidential compound to arrest Yoon. However, this attempt was blocked due to continued resistance by the Presidential Security Service.

On January 11, following police questioning about his actions preventing the warrant from being carried out, the Presidential Security Service head, Park Jong-jun, resigned.

Following this, on January 15, investigators finally breached Yoon’s residence, taking him into custody.

As of January 16, the impeachment trial is ongoing, with Yoon remaining in CIO custody. South Korean politics remain heavily polarized over the affair.

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Mississauga City Council passes motion to declare food insecurity an emergency Amidst significant increases in food bank usage, The Medium spoke with the CEO of Food Banks Mississauga to understand what drove the City of Mississauga to declare food insecurity an emergency.

Photo credit: Sara Li

Martin Tsvetanov Contributor

T

hrough a motion passed on November 13, 2024, the Mississauga City Council officially declared food insecurity an emergency. Food insecurity has been a pressing issue in Mississauga, with food banks in the city serving one in 13 residents, a significant increase from one in 37 in 2019. For more answers, The Medium interviewed the CEO of Food Banks Mississauga, Meghan Nicholls on food insecurity in Mississauga.

In their news release, the City of Mississauga stated that many residents in the city are facing various challenges including rising living costs of housing, gas, and other essentials like hygiene products, medications, and cleaning and clothing items. Due to the lack of adequate government assistance and stable financial support, many residents are left vulnerable and unable to make ends meet.

Food drives are not enough Nicholls explained that while Food Banks Mississauga and its sub-agencies still need donations, donations alone will not fix the problem of increasing food bank demand.

Instead, Nicholls said that we must focus on the root issues if we want to reduce food insecurity. The first solution is for the province to fund food banks and food insecurity relief programs.

Currently, Food Banks Mississauga receives no funding from either the provincial or federal governments, and only one per cent of its funding comes from the Region of Peel. Nicholls stated that in comparison, all provinces except for Ontario have made investments to offset food insecurity in the past five years.

This financial situation means that virtually all funding originates from donations, which, although substantial, are unreliable and unsustainable. Nicholls stated that we need a good policy to allow food banks to properly and consistently fund their operations.

Nicholls also stated that the government should seek to create conditions under which people can afford food. She noted that one way the province can do this is by increasing investment in social programs such as Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program—initiatives from which 30 per cent of Food Banks Mississauga visitors receive their incomes. Furthermore, given that individuals with full-time jobs make up around 27 per cent of visitors, Nicholls advocates for increasing the minimum wage in Ontario by C$8 to equate it with the provincial living wage.

Regarding the future, Nicholls mentioned that Food Banks Mississauga experienced an 80 per cent increase in visitors in 2024 alone and that she does not think this figure will decrease amidst an absence of government plans to address food insecurity. If its current course is followed, Food Banks Mississauga predicts that in two years, one in eight Mississauga residents will visit food banks, equivalent to 100,000 people.

To minimize the income-to-costs gap, Nicholls discussed investing in affordable housing and noted a report from a Hamilton food bank that stated that half of their visitors would lose their housing if they did not have the food bank to offset their food costs. She discussed the need for the government to have a hands-on approach to housing and that as a human right, housing should not be used as an investment vehicle, citing the National Housing Strategy Act.

Challenges of addressing food insecurity through emergency declarations There are two main goals behind the emergency declaration—to increase public awareness so food banks can receive financial donations, and, in the long term, to raise the issues of high living costs and food bank funding to the provincial and federal governments. This effort involves collaborating with other cities at forums like the Federation of Canadian Municipalities of Ontario, where Mississauga City Councillors will attend to further pressure higher government. However, despite such joint-advocacy efforts, reception is limited, according to Nicholls. Nicholls said that she has been advocating for these issues for over 15 years and still, federal and provincial politicians skirt the proper response of investing in areas that will reduce food bank usage.

The future of food banks Regarding the future, Nicholls mentioned that Food Banks Mississauga experienced an 80 per cent increase in visitors in 2024 alone and that she does not think this figure will decrease amidst an absence of government plans to address food insecurity. If its current course is followed, Food Banks Mississauga predicts that in two years, one in eight Mississauga residents will visit food banks, equivalent to 100,000 people.

Those who are looking for ways to help can donate to Food Banks Mississauga on their website. For those unable to contribute financially, raising awareness and speaking out about the issue can still make a meaningful impact.

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One motion passed, others deferred for future discussion at UTMSU meeting

Photo credit: Arumitha Sasiharan

The University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union discussed various issues and achievements at their yearly meeting, including the U-Pass program and extension of the credit/no credit option.

Celesta Maniatogianni Associate News Editor

O

n November 28, 2024, the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) Students’ Union (UTMSU) held their Annual General Meeting (AGM) where UTM students had the opportunity to raise issues and have their ideas heard by the UTM community.

Issues to be brought up at the AGM were submitted ahead of time as motions. Before the meeting, the AGM planned to discuss the creation of an open committee focused on implementing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s (TRCC) 94 calls to action; investigating the benefits of a maker’s space at UTM; initiating a review and revision of the University of Toronto (U of T)’s land acknowledgement; and the lobbying for larger multi-

faith prayer spaces for both men and women.

The other motions, which were classified as late submissions and sent after the deadline, included the formation of a mass strike campaign/committee at UTM for Palestine; the creation of an opposition union to the UTMSU; lobbying for more express MiWay bus routes to continue operating during exam seasons; and allowing the UTM Sexual Education Centre (SEC) to continue operating in their current office space in the Student Centre.

The AGM began with an overview of how voting on motions would work during the meeting, followed by a call to order, a land acknowledgement, an equity statement, and the approval of the agenda.

In her address, UTMSU President Joelle Salsa first acknowledged the UTM students affected by the conflict in Palestine and repeated calls for U of T’s divestment of resources from Israeli-affiliated companies and institutions.

“The UTMSU is here to make your voice heard,” stated Salsa at the meeting, addressing the attendees. She also highlighted the impor-

tance of the AGM and student participation in decision-making, saying, “We’ve proven that united action works… let us leave tonight with an impact.”

UTMSU executives took turns discussing the union’s recent achievements and initiatives, including their accessibility campaign, the Transit Advocating Party, the extension of the credit/no credit option, and even events such as Lobby Week, Orientation Week, and allyou-can-eat buffets.

Also discussed were UTMSU services, such as their Headshot Service, U-Pass program, and Food Centre, as well as an overview of UTMSU’s audited financial report from the previous year.

Following these discussions, only around half an hour remained in the AGM for students’ motions to be heard. By the end of the meeting, only one had the opportunity to be voted on.

The AGM attendees voted to carry a motion which would create an open committee focused on implementing the TRCC’s 94

calls to action. The committee, which is to be called the “Committee to Indigenous Justice and Collaboration,” would seek collaboration across U of T’s tri-campus community, and advocate for the recognition of the calls to action.

The rest of the motions, however, did not have a chance to be heard during the AGM, and instead, were voted to be referred to UTMSU’s board of directors, to be discussed at a later date. The UTMSU has not yet set a date for when these motions will be heard.

Two executives from UTM’s SEC, who were hoping to advocate in front of the student body for their motion of allowing them to remain in their current office space, say they have not been updated on whether their motion will be heard again by the UTMSU. Instead, the Centre, which offers UTM students free resources and services relating to sexual education and health, including peer counselling, contraceptives, and educational material, were able to have their move-out date extended until the end of April 2025 at which point they will be moved to a smaller space in the Student Centre.

MASTHEAD EDITORIAL BOARD Editor-in-Chief Hannah Wang editor@themedium.ca Managing Editor Aya Yafaoui managing@themedium.ca News Samuel Kamalendran news@themedium.ca Opinion Mashiyat Ahmed opinion@themedium.ca 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

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05

OPINION

The nostalgia industry Why the increasing commodification of nostalgia is politically dangerous, especially now.

Mashiyat Ahmed Opinion Editor

Directed by Woody Allen and set in Paris, the 2011 film Midnight in Paris follows a writer named Gil as he travels back in time through a series of surrealist moments. Subconsciously dissatisfied with how modernity has affected art and his relationships, the seemingly plotless film is sprinkled with moments of surrealism as Gil travels back in time to 1920’s Paris.

Dancing in dimly-lit Parisian nightclubs with the literary greats of the time, sipping coffee with Hemingway, and discussing art with Salvador Dali are just a few of the activities that push Gil to realize what he’s missing in his real life and relationship.

Nostalgia has always decorated the human experience: we are a species uniquely aware, perhaps excruciatingly so, of the passage of time. But it’s a mistake to think that if we could simply travel back in time to an era devoid of iPhones and other technological conveniences, or that if our jobs and democracies weren’t subject to AI or the whim of billionaire decision-making, that we’d be any happier.

A testament to the past or something more sinister: nostalgia and politics Gil realizes the timelessness and inescapability—and if I’m being honest, the foolishness—of nostalgia. As he slips in and out of aimless conversations with the eccentric personalities he meets, he sees that the people of the 1920s mirror the same dissatisfaction and cultural stifling that he feels. They yearn for the 1890s, just like how our parents in the ’90s yearned for the ’60s. And I don’t know about you, but the ’90s and early ’00s sound fucking fantastic to me.

The nostalgia industry is a term I give to the emphasis and effort our modern society places into culturally reproducing the past.

The marketing motto of this industry promises that consuming its goods will elicit a “feeling” of the past that we were robbed of, a sense of comfort based on shared experience. In River Quintana’s essay The Cult of Yesterday, the author claims that, “capitalism, it seems, can’t let go of the past. Like a necromance, it reanimates the corpses of bygone trends, ideologies, and aesthetics.”

The use of nostalgia as a tool to drive consumption is not simply limited to commodities to be held, worn, or watched. Our ache for the past creeps into the arena of politics, and politicians exploit nostalgic desires of the masses to idealize a nation by constantly referencing the country’s “prime.”

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Editor | Mashiyat Ahmed opinion@themedium.ca

What instantly comes to mind is Donald Trump’s infamous slogan “Make America Great Again,” or “Let’s Take Back Control,” a motto which draws on right-wing sentimentalities of a period in western Europe before the region was “overtaken” by immigrants, particularly from Muslim countries. Nostalgia is not so innocent in politics: in my humble opinion, it’s no surprise that manufactured consent and the demand for the past converges with the rise of right-wing extremism and conservatism, especially among, but not limited to, youth.

This yearning motivates our political chants and trends, and stems from using immigrants as scapegoats for governmental or institutional failures. For people that are even slightly aware of history, this political abuse of nostalgia is fostered through an anti-revisionist and biased narrative of history.

Photo credit: Sara Li

Sure, these chants and right-wing ideologies refer to a glorified past that did exist, but for whom did they exist? When Trump promises to make America great again, he’s referring to an era in American history where dominant narratives and the status quo clearly and unequivocally served the ruling class (not that this still isn’t true); a time where the access to any type of autonomy and power was something marginalized people could only dream of.

These are still aspects of the status quo we struggle with today, but it’s clear from my end that rising class consciousness hurts the fragile echo chamber of right-wing radicals by critiquing how the ruling class profits from turning a blind eye to the world they risk destroying.

Disenchantment and political imagination: a way forward?

The usage of nostalgia to fuel right-wing populist thinking and propaganda has been all over the news, and has left people divided, confused, and disillusioned. With more disillusionment comes more nostalgia.

But what about us?

Why are we (myself included) susceptible to this type of nostalgia, which clearly doesn’t serve me beyond the slight respite in dread I feel? I draw from personal experiences and the slew of Instagram comments I stay up reading all night when I say that regressing back to the past, at least for Gen Z, is a coping mechanism to deal with the state of the current world. The vision nostalgia serves isn’t real, but the world it aims to distract us from is: and that world, whether like it or not, will shape our future. Nostalgia’s sinister power lies in the fact that, in consuming and regurgitating the past, we forget that the present shapes the future.

The failures of our political leaders, the loss of community we experience when our lives transition into the digital, and the current information diet of constant climate emergencies, genocidal happenings, and systemic abuses of power have caught up to me. How do I grieve all this, and more importantly, glean a path forward for myself in an ever-complex and uncertain world? Nostalgia seems the only option for any sense of warmth, closure, and certainty.

If enough people commit to this fallacy disguised as a harmless interest in the past’s aesthetics, ideologies, and activities, what happens to the present and future? By embracing and leaning into the nostalgia industry, not only are we giving more steam to the engine but, in the process, we are also stifling the power of political imagination to shape the world we want to live in.

I have no major solutions here. However, I think that, as young people, we can’t fall victim to nostalgia’s allure, especially in the political sense. Building resistance against the doomerism that nostalgia—and increasingly, our leaders—capitalize upon is not an easy feat, but I think it starts with realizing that wielding our political power comes in many forms; not just voting for elections.

I try to be politically active, but it doesn’t look like what you’d expect. I don’t enthusiastically head to the polls every time an election comes along. I teach myself about the world, invest in local initiatives and movements, and support my local libraries, businesses, and independent newspapers. I join causes that are dear to me, such as the Spring, which puts socialist ideas into practice in the Greater Hamilton and Toronto Area. My feeling of power comes from the fact that I build my future, something that nostalgia can’t easily steal.

There’s a quote from Midnight in Paris that I love, and perhaps it can help us when thinking about how we can work towards a better future: “the artist’s job is not to succumb to despair, but to find an antidote for the emptiness of existence.”

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Surviving (and learning) in a subscription economy Illustration credit: Sehajleen Kaur Wander

Students are sick and tired of being forced to keep a separate piggy bank to pay for course materials and content they don’t even own!

Jia Bawa Associate Opinion Editor

“

I cannot believe I have to pay 170 dollars just to be able to access the test questions for this course!” My roommate bemoaned the other day. This conversation brought back memories of being in first year and paying at least 100 dollars out of pocket for each course.

Once you finally get past the Hunger Games that is U of T course enrollment, there’s a giant wall in your way before you can actually start reaping the benefits of the exorbitant tuition you pay each year: buying textbooks.

Most first- and second-year courses at U of T require students to purchase hefty textbooks with hefty prices to succeed in the course, with professors often citing the fact that textbooks greatly supplement one’s learning. While this can be true, mandating textbooks to such a degree where a student risks losing participation marks without it or must budget harder because of the costs associated sounds fundamentally unfair to me.

Playing with piracy First year courses are notorious for weeding out students to narrow the applicant pool and success rate. If success in a course hinges on buying extra materials, often masqueraded as “recommended preparation”, what about students who are forced to make a choice between all these extra textbooks and one month’s groceries? Most students cannot afford this, and it significantly hinders their academic success and enthusiasm, not to mention their mental health.

In lieu of buying textbooks from the official licensed companies, many students turn to pirating sites as alternatives to gain access to their required readings. Shadow Libraries refers to online databases of books and articles that are inaccessible for ordinary Internet users for a variety of reasons: the publications could be discontinued, out of print, not easily obtainable, or protected by paid firewalls.

The use of these pirated sites is problematic as it violates various copyright laws and can leave students liable to legal action,

but it remains a popular practice among university students to cope with the inaccessibility of traditional textbooks.

Piracy is undeniably an ethical violation, as it constitutes a theft of intellectual property and utilizing an author’s work without appropriate compensation is condemnable. Piracy also puts the student who pirates at risk: from financial scams to personal data theft and security risks, piracy isn’t the best idea when it comes to digital safety.

But for students like me and countless others, it’s not so simple.

I am in no way endorsing that students forgo the violations and risks piracy represents just to save money, but the fact that many students resort to piracy indicates larger problems tied to questions of access, privilege, and worth in academia. Limiting access to credible and ground-breaking research by imposing paywalls highlights the gatekeeping and elitist nature of academia. But, this is the model that academia was founded and continues to thrive upon.

Pulling back the curtain on inaccessibility and true ownership So, piracy is unethical, but so is the normalized exploitation of students, based on factors beyond our control, in the name of an education we paid for. Universities in under-developed and non-affluent countries also struggle with egregious paywalls (with no return policy) and structural limitations, which compromises their research and contributes to the larger problem of whose work is represented in the academic world.

So, why are academic journals and credible information so expensive and inaccessible, while misinformation is often left to proliferate free of charge? Taxpayers’ dollars and the government pay for research to be conducted, published, and distributed. What’s the point if such research will only end up in the hands of the few?

Having access to prestigious science journals like Nature means paying yearly or monthly subscription costs. How often have you wanted to read an article, only to realize you must pay $30 a week to access it?

In reality, a price tag seems attached to any content nowadays.

From music to movies to documentaries, we are forced to pay our way into any “information” in this subscription-based economy, whether for entertainment or educational purposes.

Having monthly or yearly subscriptions is not only indicative of how inaccessibility is built into our economic model, but also promotes and normalizes codependency with these “services,” and in the process, eradicates a true and genuine sense of ownership.

Who is really benefiting from this? The answer, my friends, is astonishingly unoriginal: corporations! Not only do they benefit monetarily, but they also take away the power of control, curation, and influence from the consumer, one subscription and paywall at a time.

In the throes of capitalism, nothing is sacred.

What professors should do: a student’s perspective There has been a push in academia in the last few years towards open science, a movement with a goal to make scientific research, data, code, and publications easily and freely accessible to ordinary people, without the hassle of countless barriers.

This is a very important step towards making science readily available to common people, which encourages and promotes transparency and equity, resulting in faster progress and leaving a greater impact.

Some U of T professors are also advocates of the open science movement, and this can be observed by the way they structure their courses. Many of my forensic science and psychology professors feature open access textbooks as the required reading for the class, removing the barrier of needing to pay to do well in the course. If there is a paid component, like practice questions, many professors provide the students with practice questions of their own in the lecture slides based on that paid material, so that no one needs to pay extra.

When it comes to streaming services and other subscriptionbased networks, the lure of such things is harder to escape. After all, there’s nothing better than coming home after a long day of lectures (and paywalled research papers) to the comfort of a Netflix show. While this is okay, as students, we need to remind ourselves that utilizing free resources at our local libraries or contacting researchers directly are ways to lighten the weight on our wallets when it comes to the prices we are often encouraged to pay for the sake of academic success.

Ultimately, the traction and popularity of open science has been steadily growing, and it wouldn’t be presumptuous to hope that in the next 5 years, most professors will break barriers and promote greater accessibility by no longer forcing students to pay extra for textbooks.

07

features

Editor | Madhav Ajayamohan features@themedium.ca

TEDxUofT Mississauga hosts conference looking at how change impacts different aspects of life

TEDxUofT Mississauga’s conference will be a “thought-provoking and enriching experience” through this year’s theme of “Change.”

Madhav Ajayamohan Features Editor

O

n January 25, TEDxUofT Mississauga will be hosting its annual conference centred around the theme of “Change,” with the tagline, “SHIFTED.” According to TEDxUofT Mississauga, the theme “will be explored from various angles, showing how change impacts different parts of life and society,” with topics including life transitions, adapting to change, and the rise of artificial intelligence. The event will showcase eight speakers from diverse backgrounds and various fields, each sharing their unique stories and experiences.

Chukwunonso Nwabufo is an award-winning translational pharmacologist and the founder and CEO of OneDrug. He played a role in developing Remdesivir and Lenacapavir for the treatment of Covid-19 and HIV respectively and wrote highimpact papers advancing studies on Covid-19 and Parkinson’s disease forward.

Leo Chan is a Chief Innovation Igniter of Abound Innovation Inc. Chan works with companies like Chick-fil-A and helps the organization and employees reach their full innovative capacity. His teachings clearly work, as Leo himself is an innovator with more than 55 US patents.

Rafael Chiuzi is an organizational psychologist and an associate Professor of Organizational Behaviour at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM). During his 15-year career,

Dr.Chiuzi has focused on designing programs that enable industry leaders to harness the power of their workforce and navigate complex organizational dynamics.

Martin DeSouza is the co-founder of VisionReimagine, an AIcreative marketing agency. He has forged a unique path spanning multiple industries and 30 countries. His ventures span from helping leaders build seven-figure businesses to launching a successful media company.

Sabrina Baldini is a sex educator and coach, striving to help individuals improve their relationships and lives. Including her work as a sex coach, Baldini runs the podcast After Sex Ed for adults, teaches menstruation with a local charity, and is a Board director for a Canadian abortion rights activist group.

Sirio Berati is a creative entrepreneur and AI innovator. As a modern-day polymath, Sirio is an accomplished artist, singer, songwriter, creative producer and the developer of AI platforms like LONOvm and TalkTune. He lives and works at the intersection of art and technology, where he combines human creativity and technological advancement in harmony.

Victoria Gracie is a research trainee at the Brain, Body, and Perception lab. As someone who lived with Body Dysmorphic Disorder, Gracie studies the neurological impacts of body image disturbances. She is a changemaker in the field of body positivity and represented the body positivity movement in the Miss Canada competition, where she placed as a top eight finalist.

Keisha Lerum is a Roman history and anthropology student and has been practicing Roman Stoicism for six years with a focus on Ancient Roman culture and identity from provincial perspectives. She has included teachings from other Roman Stoic philosophers in her everyday life and values mental discipline and control. She also works as a skincare advisor and enjoys writing, camping and cycling.

Starting at 1 p.m. and ending at 5 p.m., the event is open to the public and will take place at the Maja Prentice Theatre located at 3650 Dixie Road in Mississauga. Tickets for the event are C$30 for general admission via Ticket Tailor.

Graphics credit: TEDx Marketing & Design Team

08

A dialogue between the centuries An interview with The Symposium about the importance of discussionbased learning in philosophy education and beyond.

Mashiyat Ahmed Opinion Editor

Photo credit: Mariam Khursheed

B

ack in the first year of my undergraduate studies, my friend informed me about a book club that a couple of students were starting.

Partly from personal curiosity and partly to respect my friend’s suggestion to join the club, I headed into one of The Symposium’s meetings on the sixth floor of Maanjiwe nendamowinan.

Little did I know that this book club would soon transform into a trusted and safe space to hold important conversations about the world we live in, and further our philosophical education in the process.

Philosophy is fundamentally furthered by dialogue—without a designated space and time to exchange ideas, think critically, and enjoy intellectual exploration without the mandates of performance, people cannot develop their minds.

Open to students both in and outside of philosophy, The Symposium, under the Philosophical Academic Society (PAS), offers various ways students can engage in intellectual and creative thought with like-minded peers.

A major goal of The Symposium is to encourage dialogue between people from diverse backgrounds like students, professors, and more. “What [we] try to do is bring philosophy to people outside of the program, whether it’s by movie nights or poetry sessions,” said the president of PAS, Eithar Abdulkareem, a philosophy specialist.

With The Symposium’s designated book club, focused (as opposed to open) discussions, poetry nights, and community events, “we try to show people that even if you are in another discipline, you can still participate in philosophy because philosophy is simply a way of life, it’s a way of seeing the world,” added the club’s senior advisor Mariam Khursheed, who is studying history, education, and philosophy.

The tradition of philosophy centers around charitably and humbly understanding an idea and listening to it in its entirety before responding. In our fast-paced culture, dedicating moments of our day to deep reflection and letting go of preconceived notions is simply solace.

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We are trying to break that culture, but it’s hard to break such a massive culture in a small space. [When you walk into our space], you are not coming here to win. You are coming here to understand others and yourself, and get closer to the truth.

The abstract and the practice: striking the essential balance

In mainstream culture, we picture philosophy as an elitist academic endeavour divorced from the practicalities of daily life. What’s the point of thinking about living when you can just go and live? The Symposium aims to establish a common ground between lived realities and meditating on our experiences to enrich ourselves.

“One thing that philosophy does to sometimes deter people away is that [it makes itself] very abstract; [here at The Symposium], we try to apply our ideas to practical reality, but also recognizing that the ideas themselves are important too,” expanded Eithar.

For example, Eithar reflected on the importance of contemplation as a divine act, and how developing ourselves in our minds can help us move through the world with more grace. In my first-year philosophy class, we

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discussed the implications of living in a simulated reality and the classical “mind-body” problem.

The mind-body dualism problem in philosophy explains how our consciousness interacts and influences the body. Why is it that when we find something funny, which is a mental experience, we are driven to laugh out loud or snort, which is a physical response? How can such abstract ideas be in any way useful in our lives as students and young adults?

“Let’s find ways to apply these ideas and contemplative practices to how we see the natural world,” said Eithar, “and maybe these abstract ideas of contemplation can actually have practical consequences to our relationship with nature and the ecological crises.”

Mariam cited that her first interaction with philosophy was through a critical reasoning class, where she was taught to properly dissect arguments, avoid logical fallacies, and think through ideas with structural integrity.

Think back to the last challenging conversation you had with someone. I think back to

many conversations I’ve had where I was so preoccupied with my contribution to the dialogue that I totally forgot to listen to what my friend was genuinely saying. To this, Mariam responded, “We are trying to break that culture, but it’s hard to break such a massive culture in a small space. [When you walk into our space], you are not coming here to win.

You are coming here to understand others and yourself, and get closer to the truth.”

The wide reach of philosophy and how to get involved From participating in politics to pursuing law, philosophy equips individuals with a cognitive toolkit to assess, understand, synthesize, and respond constructively and compassionately to the plethora of arguments and information that surrounds us daily.

Getting involved in The Symposium is simple—just show up to any of their meetings, a catalogue of which can be easily found on their Instagram page @symposium.pas or simply visit their website to learn more about the variety of opportunities for discussion and engagement the club offers.

Excitingly, The Symposium also hosts the Symposium Studios, an opportunity for students to share their creative creations, which includes everything from painting to poetry, and much more. For dates and locations, please visit the aforementioned website and social media page.

The philosophical tradition is timeless and diverse—from meditations on love and happiness to the ethical implications of our increasingly evolving technologies, philosophy helps build robustness of mind so that we can navigate the complexities of the world and our place in it. The Symposium is a small but essential part of that tradition.

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Arts

Editor | Keira Johannson arts@themedium.ca

Illustration credit: Ramiya Sureshkumar

Disney’s dynamism: Exploring the festive and interactive aesthetics of Disney World From artificial “snoap” to immersive ride queues, Disney World creates a winter wonderland for everyone to enjoy, despite the infamously torturous wait times.

Tyler Medeiros Contributor

D

o you ever wish you could experience the holiday season without the cold weather that comes with it? Or maybe you’ve always fantasized about stepping into the world of your favourite childhood movie? Disney World turns these dreams into reality by creating winter wonderlands and interactive queues for their guests to enjoy.

My family and I went to Disney World during the winter break to escape the cold temperatures in Canada. We visited all four parks during our vacation and were pleasantly surprised to see them covered in Christmas decor. Each park had a fifty-foot Christmas tree, decorated with ornaments and lights, as well as wreaths and large silver snowflakes hung onto the streetlights.

Because it rarely snows in Orlando, Disney creates artificial snow using soap.

They call this artificial snow “snoap,” and it is created using a device that changes the shape of soap into snowflakes. Disney places these devices on the top of large buildings and sometimes even in the air to create the winter wonderland effect that people crave during the holiday season. Guests can play their part by purchasing a snoap wand from any store at Disney World.

Photo credit: Tyler Medeiros

If you’ve been to Disney World before or any other theme park, you’ll know that wait times can get out of hand. My family and I spent almost 3 hours waiting in line for the new Avatar Flight of Passage ride at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. At most theme parks, waiting in line consists of walking outside through seemingly endless rows of stanchions. You feel exhausted watching each minute go by on your phone or watch. But at Disney World, the experience of a ride begins as soon as you join the queue.

When Disney develops new rides for its parks, they anticipate large demand and long wait times. Knowing this, Disney creates queues that immerse guests into the world of the ride they are on. Some examples include Pandora from Avatar, Arendelle from Frozen, and Andy’s Bedroom from Toy Story. While we waited to ride Avatar Flight of Passage, we entered the lab where human beings become connected with their Avatar. My family and I got so distracted by the captivating visuals, that we found ourselves getting told to keep moving forward. Even though we waited for around two-and-ahalf hours, it felt like ten minutes.

The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is another ride at Disney World that offers an interactive queue. Guests enter the dwarf ’s mine and can interact with the gems scattered throughout. As soon as my brother and I entered the mine, we were met with large barrels of gems. These barrels can be spun to create a shimmering sound effect. They also project an image of one of the seven dwarfs, depending on which barrel you spin.

I could go on and on about the dynamic and immersive aesthetics of the queues and festive decorations, but seeing them for yourself is much more exciting.

The rise of the #WomenInMaleFields TikTok trend Women are realizing men treating them like emotional slaves and putting minimum effort into a six-year relationship isn’t normal.

Jia Bawa Associate Opinion Editor

T

he #WomenInMaleFields trend first gained traction in November 2024. Women took to making satirical reels about the frustrations they faced when dating men, sharing toxic behaviours they were subject to and switching around the wording to demonstrate what it would have been like if women behaved the same way—all posted to the soundtrack of Nicki Minaj’s “Anaconda.”

One of the most viral posts in this trend, accumulating over seven million views, featured the following text, “He was crying in bed, so I said, ‘here we go again’ and turned around and fell asleep.” Another popular post read, “I went on a date with a guy, he told me he’s bi and asked if I’m accepting of that. I said, ‘Yeah, as long as I can watch.’”

The trend first started as a form of catharsis for women, allowing them to share commonly experienced manipulative behaviour demonstrated by men in modern dating. It has since morphed into a discussion about broader gender issues like the persistent belittling of women in male-dominated workplaces and the undermining of their capabilities.

Men have, quite predictably, responded with incredible defensiveness and anger to these posts calling them out for their trashy behaviour. Instead of taking the chance to examine the underlying reasons this trend grew so quickly in popularity and perhaps reflecting on their past wrongdoings, they are doing the opposite.

As a result, there has been push-back, which manifested itself in the creation of a countertrend titled “#MenInFemaleFields,” which features content such as, “Caught me cheating so I cried and blamed my zodiac sign.”

This attempt to overtake a platform that forces men to be held accountable is typical and allows them to deflect and shift the blame.

Fortunately, these videos have not been circulated on everyone’s FYP, so it doesn’t seem as effective as initially hoped.

Social media often sees new trends that shoot up and die down in about two weeks, but #WomenInMaleFields does not seem to be dying down any time soon. This is because the trend sparked a very real conversation about how even now, in the twenty-first century, women are still looked down upon and seen as lesser than. They are not treated with the respect and humanity that they deserve in this twisted hellscape of modern dating.

In the era of dating apps, ghosting, and situationships, women are being forced to take on all this emotional labour in their relationships, tolerate emotional immaturity from their partners, and undergo hurtful experiences at the hands of their male partners. It’s a tale as old as time: women being told that they are crazy, overreacting, and too emotional. They are accused of having standards that are sky-high and are pushed to “compromise,” which is just code for letting your male significant other walk all over you and not speaking a word about it.

By opening up this conversation, women are realizing these experiences that were seemingly “normal” are actually quite unacceptable. Therefore, this trend highlights the dreadfully low effort men put into dating nowadays and provides women all across the globe with an opportunity to share and feel validated about their experiences, assuring them that they are not alone.

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Exploring the public scrutiny that influencers face when their personal lives are intertwined with their brands.

Poetry Corner

Social media moguls: The power and pitfalls of influencer beauty brands

Photo credit: Sara Li

All of My Love Maryam Uddin Contributor

I’m richest when I see a glimpse of my smile in your eyes, And I’m proudest when you wave your hand for me to hold, Yearning that tastes like drunken tendencies, my sighs Just to tease you and the low light of the overhead bulbs.

I’ve got young blood, and you’ve got all of my love, I’d wear my skin thin, hope time heals what you don’t tell me, Sit on a porch wondering what you’re up to, if you’re sleepy, I’d lean in for a kiss and the wind between us would steal my words, But I have my ways to speak to you — you’ve got all of my love.

Baptized in the beating of your heart, sweetened in the heat Of your loving, heart thrumming to your gentle footsteps, Every radio static catches signal and I hear your name only, And every time I run, a sense of you catches me, and you tell me Everything will be okay — suddenly, even if I lose everything, I still feel rich — I have you, and you’ve got all of my love.

Photo by Collabstr on Unsplash

Milica Samardzic Staff Writer

I

n the digital age, influencers have the opportunity to become entrepreneurs, turning their online fame into a lucrative business. Brands like Sister Cosmetics by James Charles and Shane Dawson’s collaboration with Jeffree Star Cosmetics highlight these influencers’ advantages and struggles. Although these businesses thrived and relied on a high supply of loyal consumers, their brands suffered after Charles and Dawson faced public backlash when personal scandals arose.

A significant reason is that, like many other influencer brands, the brand is seen as an extension of the person. If an influencer is “cancelled,” there is a likely chance that the brand will be as well.

James Charles, a makeup guru on YouTube with millions of subscribers, launched Sister Cosmetics in 2019, taking advantage of his already-established platform on social media. His loyal fans were excited to support him with the makeup line since Charles emphasized that he was creating the line specifically for his fans. By sharing behind-the-scenes content, he made the fans feel involved in the development of his products, creating a connection that turned his fans into loyal customers.

However, in 2019, Charles was involved in a scandal involving allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards other influencers, leading the public to “cancel” him. Some fans chose to separate themselves from such behaviour and called for a boycott of Sister Cosmetics. However, most fans remained supportive, revealing the almost “cult-like” loyalty influencers can inspire.

This relationship raises questions about influencers’ responsibility to maintain ethical

conduct, as their life is intertwined with their businesses. The biggest ethical issue is the thin boundary between personal and professional life. When scandals occur, the company suffers as the influencer and the brand is perceived as one entity. However, this personal connection that fans feel they have with the influencer makes it difficult for fans to critique their actions, increasing the defence of the influencer regardless of the controversy.

On the other hand, Shane Dawson’s collaboration with Jeffree Star Cosmetics in 2019 resulted in a highly successful collection. Dawson, a long-time YouTuber who began his career in 2008, used his large following to market the makeup line by documenting the creation and testing of the products. So, the fans felt connected to the collection, as if they were there from the beginning. Like Charles, Dawson’s brand mirrors his personality and online persona.

However, Dawson has a history of controversial content and a list of accusations of racism and offensive jokes in past videos.

Despite this, the collaboration with Star sold out right before his past resurfaced in 2020. Then, many fans questioned their loyalty to the brand and the influencer.

Many videos came from furious fans destroying the makeup they purchased, burning his books, and swearing off his content—an excellent example of how an influencer’s actions heavily impact their brand’s image. Moreover, the controversial choice to collaborate with Jeffree Star Cosmetics made the fans question his decisions even more.

James Charles and Shane Dawson faced public scrutiny when their personal lives were intertwined with their brands. In today’s internet culture, “cancel culture” plays a significant role in holding influencers accountable, but the brands thrive on the intense loyalty of the fans, cultivating a “cult-like” phenomenon that leads to prioritizing the brand instead of ethical behaviour.

Us in Essaouira, Essaouira in Us Mashiyat Ahmed Opinion Editor

Did you know that Essaouira is the only city in The whole of Morocco that allows unmarried couples To share a hotel room together?

The seaside city makes an exception because she knows lovers can’t resist Imitating the shy sensuality of her waves, or The fleeting devotion of her cats that wait Eagerly by my grandpa’s restaurant for their next meal.

She, with her cheap tagines and Gnaoua music, Creates a place—a whole city—for us to be lovers without The need to be forever.

I want you in my tomorrow, but Essaouira knows the truth better than me; She knows that what I really want is a return to me.

So, I flew myself to Essaouira, a place without pretense, A place where desire is formless, not taking the shape of longevity, A place where our appetites are timeless, A place where freedom is more than just a feeling.

A list of features in the car I received for my twentieth birthday Maryam Raheel Contributor

1. A white body coated in the words “drive safe” and “text me when you get there,” complete with tires rimmed in “check underneath” even when it’s cold.

2. A pocket of a trunk I tuck my troubles into, hidden between half-filled suitcases with clothes I had no time to fold.

3. GPS navigation system programmed with home address(es) because “living at home” is synonymous with “living with my parents” even at 20 years old.

4. A collection of grocery bags that resists my family’s love language of cut fruits that I struggle to buy on my own. a. I cluelessly knock on watermelons before squeezing them into a bag with nail polish and acetone.

5. Bluetooth audio with an aux cord on standby so I do not talk myself into madness on the days no one bothers to call my phone.

6. A sunroof that kisses my head each time I slide into the adjusted seats, raised to a height that allows me to see higher than the car horn. a. It remains sealed shut because time tore my thirst for tender thrill and the endless sky sits too far, too distant, lost in the rearview still.

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sports & health

Editor | Joseph Falzata sports@themedium.ca

How to fill a stadium:

The American playbook for college sport success The numbers behind the massive difference in the popularity of college sports in Canada and the United States, and where U of T stands among the American college giants.

Each year, tens of millions of Americans tune in to college sports broadcasts or attend games in person, flocking to events like March Madness and the College Football Playoff. In a 2023 survey, nearly six in ten American respondents said they were an “avid” or “casual” fan of college football.

Photo by Alex Batchelor on Unsplash

Association (NCAA), the leading organization for college sports in the U.S., raked in $1.28 billion in revenue over the 2022-23 fiscal year.

Aaron Calpito Associate News Editor

Everything is bigger in America.

From cars to parking lots, houses to mansions, supermarkets to wide open spaces, it is a common stereotype that everyday aspects of American life are typically bigger compared to the rest of the world. But few things encapsulate this saying as much as the behemoth that is American college sports.

Each year, tens of millions of Americans tune in to college sports broadcasts or attend games in person, flocking to events like March Madness and the College Football Playoff. In a 2023 survey, nearly six in ten American respondents said they were an “avid” or “casual” fan of college football.

College sports make common appearances in American media, featuring in classic movies like Rudy, and in video games such as EA Sports College Football and the NBA 2K series, just to name a few. They have also gotten wrapped up in the recent sports betting craze. Ahead of 2024 March Madness, the American Gaming Association estimated that $15.5 billion would be wagered on the men’s tournament.

Suffice it to say, that the American college sports industry is a tremendous money-maker. The National Collegiate Athletic

Meanwhile, post-secondary sports in Canada have a much more modest undertone. Although sports are a fundamental part of Canadian college and university life, nothing in Canadian campus culture compares to the fanaticism surrounding college sports in the U.S.

The world of U.S. college sports boasts gargantuan facilities and huge audiences to match.

A compilation by The Guardian of the 12 largest stadiums in the world lists eight stadiums in the U.S., all of which are used primarily to host university sports events. The largest of these American venues, Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, has an official capacity of 109,901.

Not surprisingly, college sports events in the U.S. also regularly draw in large crowds. For instance, over 90,000 football fans packed the Rose Bowl in Pasadena for the New Year’s Day matchup between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Oregon Ducks. The game also had 21.1 million viewers on ESPN. The University of Toronto (U of T)’s Varsity Centre only seats about 5,000. That number is down from the former Varsity Stadium, demolished in 2002, which was able to accommodate over 27,000 fans for the 44th Grey Cup in 1956.

This is despite the fact that, based on enrolment numbers, universities are smaller on average in the U.S. than in Canada. A higher proportion of Canadians study in post-secondary institutions too. In 2022, 57.5 per cent of Canadians had a college or university credential, compared to just 37.7 per cent of Americans.

It may be the case that college- and university-level sports are not as popular here simply because they are not a big part of broader Canadian culture.

Canadian post-secondary institutions could take lessons from the Americans to mimic the success of U.S. college sports. The recent explosion in popularity of NCAA women’s basketball, for instance, is due in large part to the extensive promotion of star players and inter-university rivalries. If a bigger Canadian college and university sports scene is the goal, then better coverage, more funding for athletes, big-name brand deals, and silver-screen features are the way to go.

Or perhaps Canada is just not suited to all that fanfare. After all, $1.28 billion in annual revenue is a lot to live up to.

Here at U of T, intramurals, the Tri-Campus League, and the Varsity Blues may not be “big” in the American sense, but they are nevertheless indispensable for fostering student well-being, a sense of community, and the development of students’ athletic skills and character. For now, at least, that might be enough.

WRITE FOR US themedium.ca/write-for-us

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Stop sitting, start standing!

Sitting habits can lead to detrimental health issues, but here’s how to fix it.

Maram Qarmout Staff Writer

I

n our digital world, it’s more common than ever for students to sit at their computers doing their readings and assignments or entertaining themselves rather than standing up and walking around.

Unlike in the past, when one might go outside to take a break, students now find themselves staying in the same place after completing an assignment, watching TikToks, or playing their favourite game.

However, many students don’t realize the potential impacts of prolonged sitting and must recognize that taking active breaks isn’t just good for mental health, but physical health as well.

Negative health consequences of prolonged sitting Muscular atrophy Sitting for long periods of time leads to muscle atrophy, the weakening and loss of muscle mass. This condition prohibits strong muscles from developing, which places many students at higher risk of injuries when attempting basic movements such as walking or moderate exercise.

The longer students sit, the shorter their hip flexors become, increasing lower back and hip pain. If students don’t take care of their posture while sitting, they are also placing their back and spine at risk of long-term problems, such as premature degeneration that results in chronic pain.

Slouching The more students slouch while studying or viewing something, the additional pressure they add to their abdomens and bladder.

These inclined levels of pressure place additional stress on the bladder and heart, making it difficult for them to function normally.

In severe cases, this can lead to developing heartburn, slow indigestion, and poor bladder control.

Healthier sitting habits Photo credit: Sara Li

Furthermore, slouching may make it difficult for students to maintain their posture as they age and may often find themselves walking with an arched back as they grow older.

Blood clots and disease The longer students sit and fail to stretch their legs, the more their blood begins to pool in pockets around the body. The more blood pools, the higher the chance of students developing blood clots. When blood clots begin to develop, they may form what is known as Deep Vein Thrombosis.

This type of blood clot is highly dangerous because it prohibits blood from flowing to vital organs of the body, such as the lungs. When certain organs fail the receive the blood necessary to function, the body will suffer more detrimental health problems that may lead to death.

Some studies have also demonstrated that prolonged sitting increases the likelihood of developing diabetes, lung, uterine, colon cancer, and heart disease. Furthermore, people who sit the most have a 50 per cent higher mortality rate than those who actively stand up and walk around every 30 minutes to an hour.

Weight gain While physically active, individuals release molecules such as lipoprotein lipase that help them process eaten fats and sugars. Therefore, when someone sits all day, these molecules fail to release properly, which places them at risk of weight gain.

Mental health and memory retention It isn’t simply their physical health that students are endangering, but also their mental health. Healthline explains that because mental health benefits from proper exercise, when students spend more time sitting, they increase their chances of developing depression and anxiety.

Another study also demonstrated that poor posture can affect memory. For students who value memory retention, the way they sit may affect how much and what they remember.

Those who sit upright are more likely to retain information they’ve read compared to those who slump in their seats. Thus, paying attention to how they sit will help many students in their studies, particularly before exams when memorization is crucial.

Sitting for long periods of time comes with many more health risks, but on the bright side, the solutions are very simple.

Mayo Clinic recommends students move around every 30 minutes to an hour. It’s best to take a walk or spend some time exercising, but if the situation doesn’t allow for it, students should at least pivot around so that they aren’t in the same position for too long.

If possible, students are encouraged to use desks that force them to move around, such as sit-to-stand desks. However, with the high cost, it’s understandable that many students cannot afford to do so. As an alternative, students can buy desk stands and place them at higher surface levels to motivate themselves to stand and walk around as they work.

Moreover, it’s best if students use ergonomic chairs that are built to support the human body’s posture and comfort. This will help alleviate many health risks.

It is also important that students work on correcting their posture, that alone can help resolve many health problems. Medical News Today lists various ways for students to do this, starting from keeping feet flat on the ground, avoiding crossed legs, relaxing the shoulders, sitting up straight without straining the neck, and much more.

It will be difficult to get rid of old habits and bad postures, but it is vital for a healthier lifestyle. Students may only continue to face tasks that require them to sit all day, which is why it’s crucial for them to learn the harms of prolonged sitting and the ways to improve it. Only then can they continue to sit with ease and a healthier body.