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REFORMING POLICE CULTURE FOR POLICE PRACTICES IN CANADA
Professor Julius Haag explains the ‘why’ and ‘what now’ behind a declining trust in police services through the lens of policing in the Greater Toronto Area.
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Maryam Raheel
Zainab Khalil
Contributors
BEYOND MEDICAL THREATS
Internalized efforts to humanize the colonizers is a beloved formula among Western powers. They delegitimize colonial violence and their inhumane structures.
>> read more on page 07
Many people consider the students at U of T as closed off and perpetually preoccupied because of academic rigor. But I can’t entirely agree with this opinion. Sure, it’s generally more challenging to make friends in university because of the transition to a new environment with new workloads, and the desire for new social aspirations.
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NEW YEAR’S DAY 2.0: WHY EVERYONE IS ON THEIR FITNESS GRIND THIS SEPTEMBER
Attending a fitness class or playing a sport can be a great place to meet friends, destress, and find that extra boost of motivation to do your course readings.
>> read more on page 11
Celesta Maniatogianni Contributor
On September 6, Statistics Canada’s August Labour Force Survey revealed that Canada’s unemployment rate rose 0.2 per cent to 6.6 per cent last month—the highest rate since May 2017, excluding the pandemic years in 2020 and 2021. The report noted that while the labour market gained 22,000 net jobs, the increase was only true for part-time work, which increased by 66,000, while full-time positions saw a decline of 44,000.
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How basketball intramurals are helping me find peace in my weekly routine
Alejandro Rodriguez Contributor
Growing up in Mexico, basketball was always a huge part of my life. Like most kids, the bright lights of the biggest stage—the NBA—always lit up my imagination. However, as I got older, I formed a deeper appreciation of basketball as a way to hang out, see friends, and tune out the stresses of school.
Life as a student at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) is anything but easy, and I’m sure any students reading this can relate.
Madhav Ajayamohan Features Editor
Earlier this year, thousands of workers including teaching assistants (TA), postdoctoral fellows, service workers, and library workers among all three University of Toronto (U of T) campuses gathered to demand better pay, support, and working conditions.
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Jada D’Sa Contributor
It is no secret that the pandemic had an intense impact on Toronto’s liveperformance industry. Concerts and festivals struggled to gain traction after venue limitations were lifted, and smaller venues were notoriously forced to close due to the loss of profit. As reported by the CBC, these barriers had little effect on highprofile artists but were exponentially damaging to local musicians.
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Mississauga residents are demanding greater measures to be taken to prevent future weather disasters after two catastrophic rainfalls occurred over the summer.
Vanessa Bogacki Contributor
Over the 2024 summer, regions in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) including Mississauga experienced record-breaking rainfall and flooding, leaving residents, businesses, and emergency crews grappling with the storm’s devastating aftermath.
On July 16, heavy downpours flooded Mississauga streets and highways, trapping drivers in their vehicles, flooding homes, and causing creeks to overflow into parks and greenspaces. The City of Mississauga’s 311 Call Centre received nearly 2,000 calls on the day of the rainfall alone, with Mississauga Fire responding to over 160 emergencies—a toll which does not include requests for information or public assistance.
The intensity of the rain was such that maintenance hole covers were being dislodged, creating hazards for both vehicles and pedestrians. Emergency calls were placed for elevator rescues, motor vehicle collisions, alarm activations, and welfare checks for citizens and business owners stranded by floodwaters.
According to Platoon Chief Steve Kraft, who told insauga.com, the incident was a “lifetime event,” meaning it was a day like no other. In only a few hours, there were nearly 106 millimetres of rainfall, which is more than the average of 75 millimetres the city typically receives for the July month.
No deaths were reported however the rainfall caused an overflow from Etobicoke Creek into the first floor and parking lot of Tyndall Seniors Village—a long-term care and retirement home near Eglinton and Tomken in Mississauga. Water rescue teams used boats at the home to transport more than 100 residents to safety in what took nearly a 12-hour operation.
116 residents were transported to two other long-term care facilities and two
hotels, with none requiring emergency medical treatment.
Meanwhile, in Toronto, the rainfall flooded the Don Valley Parkway and resulted in power outages leaving 37,000 Toronto Hydro customers without power. The estimated financial damage from the rainfall is C$1 billion.
One month later, on August 17 and 18, in a disastrous case of déjà vu, the city experienced more heavy rain, with some areas in Mississauga receiving upwards of 170 millimetres.
Similar to July’s rainfall, August’s rainfall resulted in flooding on roads, trapping drivers in their vehicles, and forcing creeks and rivers to reach capacity or overflow into their surrounding environments. Fire crews rescued 27 people over the two days, including trapped drivers and individuals in elevators which stopped after power surges.
The occurrence of two major weather events over months and the greatness of their impact has brought to light the need for more effective storm-resistant infrastructure.
The city has invested over C$231.5 million in such infrastructure since 2016 and is in the process of implementing its 10-year long stormwater program which includes an additional C$340 million for ongoing system upgrades and maintenance.
Given the consequences of the storms, residents and community leaders voiced their concerns for a more urgent approach to future weather disasters.
In a letter to councillors, resident Winston Harding writes, “…the recurrence of such a disaster indicates that more robust measures are needed to safeguard our community.”
As Mississauga grapples with the aftermath, many are calling for stronger flood prevention measures in the city’s long-term environmental planning.
Celesta Maniatogianni Contributor
On September 6, Statistics Canada’s August Labour Force Survey revealed that Canada’s unemployment rate rose 0.2 per cent to 6.6 per cent last month—the highest rate since May 2017, excluding the pandemic years in 2020 and 2021.
The report noted that while the labour market gained 22,000 net jobs, the increase was only true for part-time work, which increased by 66,000, while full-time positions saw a decline of 44,000.
According to the report, although unemployment rates have risen across all age groups, youth experienced the greatest increase, with youth rates rising in August to 14.5 per cent, up 3.8 and 2.6 percentage points for young men and women aged 15 to 24, respectively. In comparison, core-aged workers aged 25 to 54 saw an increase of only 0.9 percentage points.
These rates revealed that August was the fourth consecutive month of minimal overall employment change.
Statistics Canada also highlighted telling data on summer student employment in 2024. The unemployment rate for students this summer was the highest since 2012, excluding the summer of 2020. Students aged 15 to 24 who attended school full-time in March and planned on returning to school in the fall faced an unemployment rate of 16.7 per cent, a considerable increase from last year’s rate of 12.9 per cent.
Unemployment rates were particularly higher among the three largest racialized groups. Black students experienced the highest rate at 29.5 per cent, while Chinese and South Asian students faced rates of 22.4 per cent and 21.5 per cent respectively. The rates increased significantly for all three groups in comparison to the same period in 2023, with growth ranging from 5.1 to 10.1 percentage points.
One contributor to increased unemployment is higher interest rates, which have prompted employers to hire fewer staff as a method to cut costs, resulting in increased competition.
For those seeking assistance with career development, the UTM Career Center offers multiple resources and programs for students at the University of Toronto Mississauga. From resume critiques to the Job Shadow Program, which consists of shadowing a professional, there are numerous ways in which the UTM Career Center can help its community.
campaigns while maintaining a few of its long-served legacies
Food insecurity, financial hardship, and housing challenges are among a few issues the University of Toronto Mississauga Student Union plans to take on this academic year.
As the 2024 academic year unfolds, the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) Student Union (UTMSU) is set to launch various exciting initiatives to enhance campus life.
In an interview with The Medium, UTMSU President Joelle Salsa shared insight into the union’s upcoming plans, including new campaigns, ongoing projects, and renewed efforts to tackle key student issues.
community
Aiming to tackle food insecurity and enhance campus community building, the UTMSU is introducing an all-you-caneat buffet for students. Following a successful pilot over the summer, which took place on July 22, this initiative will be a regular feature through the fall and winter semesters, offering students affordable and nutritious meal options.
The UTMSU is also making strides to bridge the gap between students and university governance. Efforts are underway to keep students informed about governance meetings and offer them a platform to voice concerns directly to university administrators. These efforts aim to ensure students have a say in shaping university policies.
union will expand its focus from fossil fuel divestment to also address the ongoing genocide against Palestinian civilians. The UTMSU is calling for the university to disclose its investments and divest from companies complicit in the genocide.
According to Salsa, the idea behind these initiatives is to “cultivate a more connected, transparent, and supportive campus environment.”
Many of UTMSU’s key initiatives from previous years will carry on into the 2024 term. The push to extend the Credit/No Credit deadline remains a top priority, with the union working alongside other University of Toronto (U of T) campuses to gather student feedback for more policies.
Transit advocacy also remains a key focus this year. UTMSU’s Transit Advocacy Party, an open committee in collaboration with UTM’s Urbanism Club, New Democratic Party Club, and Liberal Club, recently secured a huge win for UTM commuters. Their collective efforts pushed MiWay to launch the new Route 126 Burnhamthorpe Express, which started running on September 2 this year. The route links UTM with the Kipling Bus Terminal and the Kipling TTC Station, offering students a more convenient riding experience around the city to or from campus.
The UTMSU is particularly focused on supporting specific student demographics, such as international students and firstyear students. The union remains committed to ensuring that all students have access to all necessary resources, from academic to financial support, as they navigate university life.
Rising tuition fees and financial instability pose critical challenges for many students across the university. The UTMSU will continue to advocate for free and accessible post-secondary education, having recently met with the Presidential Search Committee to call for increased student funding.
Food insecurity is another significant issue for certain students. The UTMSU Food Centre, a vital resource for many students, is expanding its services with the introduction of Tre Dish, a fresh grocery delivery service. This new program offers affordable produce to students, helping to ensure that no student goes hungry on campus.
The UTMSU is particularly focused on supporting specific student demographics, such as international students and first-year students. The union remains committed to ensuring that all students have access to all necessary resources, from academic to financial support, as they navigate university life.
UTMSU is not only dedicated to supporting students on campus but also actively encourages students to get involved and contribute to these efforts. “Your involvement sets the direction for what we do, from organizing events to shaping new policies and campaigns,” according to Salsa.
To address financial hardship, housing challenges, and university administration issues, UTMSU has partnered with student unions from the St. George and Scarborough campuses to enhance student services across all three campuses.
As UTMSU heads into another year of advocacy and student support, it is prepared to tackle challenges and share its successes with the student body. With new campaigns, ongoing collaborations, and a focus on building a strong sense of community, the union’s work this year is sure to leave a mark on the UTM community.
Ontario can expect to see an increase in treatment services across the province following the shutdown of supervised consumption services.
Samuel Kamalendran News Editor
On August 20, Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones announced that Supervised Consumption Services (SCS) within 200 metres of schools and childcare facilities will be forced to close by March 2025.
The new policy will shutter 10 consumption sites, five of which are in Toronto. The rest of the sites are in Ottawa, Kitchener, Thunder Bay, Hamilton and Guelph. Nine of the facilities are provincially funded and one is privately owned.
SCS enables individuals to consume drugs under supervision to reduce the chance of overdosing. According to Health Canada, “Canadian and international evidence [shows] clearly that supervised consumption services help to save lives, connect people to social services and serve as pathways to treatment.”
In her announcement, Minister Jones stated, “In Toronto, there’s been numerous stories of altercations, stabbing, shootings, and even a homicide in the vicinity of these sites.” Reports of assault in Toronto in 2023 were 113 per cent higher whereas robbery was a staggering 97 per cent higher in neighbours close to SCS sites.
However, data from Toronto police reveals otherwise and even reports crimes such as bike thefts, break and enters, shootings, thefts from vehicles, robberies, and homicides decreasing in areas with SCS, often more than they did in other parts of the city.
In a press conference on August 21, Premier Doug Ford defended his government’s decision, pointing to the need to protect the communities in which the facilities are located: “I’ve listened to the people in the neighbourhoods. I’ve consulted with them. I’ve been getting endless phone calls about needles being in the parks, needles being by the schools, and by the daycares. That’s unacceptable,” Ford stated.
The premier’s administration also announced a C$378 million investment in 19 Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment Hubs, which will provide support for mental health, primary care, substance use, employment, and social service needs. Its focus on treatment and recovery as opposed to supervised drug consumption was echoed by Ford on August 16 when he stated, “What works is rehab, detox beds, supporting these people with good paying jobs.”
Growing concerns as SCS face closure
detail the need for SCS, which provide “critical services” and “have saved countless lives in Toronto.”
Moise also pointed to how closing sites will not reduce drug usage but instead increase public drug use and the transmission of in-
The reviews both recommended the expansion of consumption and treatment services. The supervisor’s report, prepared by Jill Campbell, also commented on the range of community responses, which included feedback which attributed community safety concerns to the consumption site and the voicing of support for the centre and its clients.
The reviews both recommended the expansion of consumption and treatment services. The supervisor’s report, prepared by Jill Campbell, also commented on the range of community responses, which included feedback which attributed community safety concerns to the consumption site and the voicing of support for the centre and its clients.
The government’s decision to close certain SCS has sparked concern among frontline health workers and community leaders.
Zoë Dodd, an organizer with the Toronto Overdose Prevention Society, referred to the facilities as “lifelines” and stated that the closures “will kill,” while Lorraine Lam, an outreach worker, in a conversation with the CBC, described them as the handing out of “death sentences.”
Numerous Toronto leaders have also spoken on the announcement, given the number of facilities which are in Toronto and the number of overdose deaths in the city, which has increased by over 300 per cent between 2015 and 2021.
Toronto Centre City Councillor Chris Moise, who is also a former addictions counsellor at a local hospital, described to CTV News in
fectious diseases like HIV and Hepatitis C. He also noted that the city was not consulted by the province regarding their plan.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow released a joint statement and shared it on X with Moise, stating, “We are concerned that the provincial closure of existing harm reduction services will have significant consequences – such as more overdose deaths, more strain on police, fire and paramedics, more crowded emergency rooms, and more public drug consumption.”
Shutting down SCS sites and implementing expansion of treatment initiatives
The decision to shutter SCS came soon after the August 19 release of two reviews sanctioned by the Ministry of Health on the South Riverdale Community Health Centre (SRCHC) after the death of Karolina Huebner-Makurat, who was fatally struck by a stray bullet from a nearby gunfight which took place beside the SRCHC.
The supervisor’s report stated that there was a “dearth of research on the negative and unintended impacts” of SCS and pointed to how they “formalize” drug-related activity in a community in a way that simple awareness of drug use does not.
The report also noted that the meeting minutes from a Community Liasion Committee showed that there was little evidence that safety concerns raised by a community member were taken seriously and responded to.
The report’s recommendations ultimately stated that “evidence shows that consumption treatment services are a necessary public health service, implemented to save lives and prevent accidental overdose death related to substance use.”
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Musk’s disastrous handling of X highlights the importance of media literacy and critical thought.
In the first week of September, the Brazilian Supreme Court ordered a nationwide ban on accessing X (AKA Twitter). The ban was issued as Elon Musk, the owner of the platform, refused to ban accounts that were spreading election misinformation and violating Brazil’s hate speech laws. This event is just another result of Musk’s hellbent crusade against the “woke leftist” mob for the right of freedom of expression on his platform.
When Musk acquired the then called Twitter back in the fall of 2022, he stated that he considers himself as a “free speech absolutist” and he wanted Twitter to act as a space where fellow users can express their beliefs freely, without the threat of being censored by the “authoritarian woke mob”. As soon as Musk was reigned as the new owner of Twitter, the usage of the N-word skyrocketed by 500%.
Since then, hate rhetoric has run rampant across the platform, resulting in advertisers pulling out of the platform and now countries blocking their citizens from accessing the site. Not only is X’s fight for “free speech” falling flat, it also exposes the role financial, socioeconomic, and even racial privilege plays in deciding who controls the dissemination of information. To fully understand how X got to this point, we must look at the timeline of Musk’s Twitter posts, from tweeting innocuous memes to becoming the echoer of right-wing political rhetoric.
In 2018, Elon Musk was at the forefront of pop-culture. From smoking weed on Joe Rogan’s Podcast to dating the edgy electronic artist Grimes, Musk became every guy’s ultimate fantasy and captured the imagination of pop culture like never before. 2018 was also the time he started tweeting more frequently, everything from Tesla updates to outdated memes. He balanced the image of being the richest man alive and just a “regular Joe” who watches anime and shares dank memes like the rest of us.
Over the next two years he’d tweet glimpses of his growing right-wing politics to his millions of followers who viewed him as a genius. When the COVID-19 lockdown shut down the whole world in 2020, Elon Musk’s twitter account was one of the main sources of misinformation surrounding the virus. He “predicted” that the Coronavirus would be “eradicated” a month after the lockdown was enforced. He then went on to call for the imprisonment of Dr. Anthony Fauci, one of the leaders of the US coronavirus task force. He then started to echo right-wing sentiments against immigrants, minorities and the LGBTQ+ community. He once simply tweeted “pronouns suck” which garnered hundreds of thousands of likes and retweets. By the end of 2022, he gained nearly 100 million followers through his political takes. It’s clear that he found an audience of chronically online conservatives who take his word as gospel, which enables him to consistently post harmful information.
In 2022, Musk took over Twitter and immediately gutted half the employees working for the company, including the content moderation team that managed misinformation and hate speech. He then reinstated prominent neo-Nazis and rightwing accounts like Tommy Robinson and Andrew Tate. He also monetized the blue verification badge, which diminished any credibility the badge gave to journalists, public figures, and academics as a source of accurate information, perpetuating the toxic link between financial privilege and credibility. In 2023, Twitter Blue subscribers were rewarded with shared ad revenue if their tweets drew a lot of traffic. This created a career for trolls to “rage bait”, or tweet highly polarizing content with the aim of inciting anger for the sake of online engagement.
Online echo chambers on platforms like X, Instagram and TikTok are legitimizing hateful rhetoric to youth. A study published by the British Journal of Developmental Psychology detailed that teens as young as 14 years of age are the most susceptible group to fake news. Teachers that were surveyed reported that many of their students were complicit in Holocaust denialism, and that they believed COVID was a government ploy to control the masses.
With advancements in AI technology, it’s increasingly more difficult to tell apart a deep fake and a real image. And it doesn’t help that teens and young adults look up to Elon Musk as an objective truth teller. As Musk keeps giving the world stage to grifters and conspiracy theorists, we are at risk of having a society that doesn’t know who to trust.
It’s important for media literacy to be implemented in school and university curriculums. Educators must teach youth how to navigate their way through a digital web of lies. It’s important especially for children, who might have parents that are victims to fake news, to have a place where they can develop their media literacy skills objectively and be taught to not always believe information they read, to always look for peer-reviewed sources, and to think about who benefits the most with the spread of misinformation.
As Musk’s erratic way of running X enables harmful ideologies to spread, it’s essential for the public to gain the skill of spotting and rejecting fake news, and to not allow a few billionaires to control the way we communicate to each other.
Why
the gross, unappealing, and vulgar aspects of your existence should be cherished.
Rhianna Buck Contributor
In the distant recesses of my memory, I recall being in the kitchen of my apartment and feeling delighted when my roommate told me with a smirk that I was a “dirtbag”. In a place and time where we are perpetually hung up on the maintenance of images, there is great value in recognizing the ways that we are vulgar, confused, and rough.
The 1999 song “Teenage Dirtbag” by Wheatus describes a relatable narrative of being young and feeling virtually invisible, with the repetitive chorus stating that the singer sees themselves as, “just a teenage dirtbag”. In the daily motions of young adult life, each of us are the protagonists of this song.
As a means of social survival, young people tend to adopt a fundamental self-fixation, one that carries much anxiety with it. Social media does little to help with this: we want to embody the aesthetics, ideas, and kinds of beauty that we repeatedly consume. We take time to curate an image of ourselves that meets the standards of having the kinds of charisma to be remembered, be part of a group, or to maybe be something beautiful. Like peacocks, we spend our time on a display for others to see, symbolic of how we have the ability to sacrifice functionality and still survive, proving that we are desirable.
But what about the rough edges? I think of the most beautiful people I know, and how their grime and visual lapses in aesthetic hint at a rich inner life. You, with the small spider tat-
Turns out, there are as many perspectives as there are students.
too on your thigh, faded and interrupted by scars you placed there. You, who has a plain and tattered backpack, juxtaposed by the motorcycle jacket worn underneath. You, with the red sneakers that are, at this point, more a social courtesy than shoes.
There’s a strange intimacy then, in the recognition of something that seems out of place, excessive and odd. It’s as if their humanity is poking through. Even though many of us feel our social reputations and future life opportunities could be tarnished by having a little vulgarity slip, I think it’s quite the opposite. The willingness to be a dirtbag is to not turn away from all the childish, faulty, offensive, and needy parts of oneself, both inside and out. By seeing these parts of ourselves, we see them in others.
By boldly letting bits of our grime show we silently signal to others that they too are safe to do so. In living this ideology of acceptance, we practice a kind of self-compassion where no part of us is wrong or bad, though some parts are less palatable than others. This compassion, when started internally, can bleed out into our worldviews and interactions. Perhaps we can learn to see that another’s public display of something we deem inappropriate is deeper than it seems.
Perhaps it is simply one of these vulgar parts of self that has been boxed in so tightly that it only finds expression in these occasional outbursts. By confronting our own vulgarities and validating them, we create more space for the acceptance of others and their oddities. If you are willing to be moved by the world, to get your hands dirty, you reap all the benefits of true engagement with reality on its terms. When you are willing to fall, to see the ways in which you are pathetic, you begin to see that everybody else is just trying to find their place in the abstraction. Your receptivity acts as a beacon, and those who have also come to terms with all the ways they are backwards can find great comfort in knowing you both are teenage dirtbags. By embracing that we are foolish and stumbling, we just may attract someone who is lame in the same core ways we are, and there lies real connection, in the sharing of humiliation as humility.
The age-old question of making friends ...
From lockers to lecture halls and back again
Many people consider the students at U of T as closed off and perpetually preoccupied because of academic rigor. But I can’t entirely agree with this opinion. Sure, it’s generally more challenging to make friends in university because of the transition to a new environment with new workloads, and the desire for new social aspirations. But I’ve found that once you approach a person or someone approaches you and a rapport is built, the first step of communication becomes much less daunting. It is not as complicated as people make it out to be. Once that first step is taken, making friends becomes much more accessible and can lead to friendships that will hold up throughout your university career and beyond!
One of the most effective ways to make friends is by joining academic societies, clubs that share your interests, and even programs and workshops led by the university to meet new people. From my experience, engaging in activities that require collaboration is the best way to meet new people.
Don’t hesitate to take that first step. I often like to think of making friends like a blank piece of paper. There is no starting point, but once you figure it out, everything falls into place!
With several food options, endless seating, and, of course, the Tim Hortons, it’s no surprise that the William G. Davis building teems with university life. The constant buzz of activity is representative of a strong campus community as students gather in this space to socialize, study, and connect with each other.
Although it paints a perfect picture of university life, I can’t help but find the Davis building’s atmosphere reminiscent of high school. The groups huddled together in specific seats, people with similar schedules using this time and space to unwind, and the pulsing energy of shared academic stress evokes memories of secondary school social scenes, lacking only a lunch monitor to control noise levels. In the Davis building, my friends and I still tackle the same question we used to back in high school: “where should we eat for lunch?”
Walking past packed tables before turning the corner and narrowly dodging backpacks in the congested hallways feels oddly like navigating my high school hallways for the first time. It pulls me into a state of alertness rather than offering a place to unwind.
The chatter spills down the stairway to the Recreation, Athletics, and Wellness Centre (RAWC), prompting me to play out my anxiety-reducing routine to comfortably maneuver through such a populated and chaotic environment. The daily climb up those perpetual steps are followed by a quick retrieval of my phone. With my iPhone clutched in my grip, I notify my mom of my safe arrival to campus, open and close Instagram two or three times, and confirm my class hasn’t suddenly changed location after three months in the same room.
While some may find comfort in the familiar energy and chaos, I much prefer the spaces in the more modern buildings such as the Instructional Centre (IB) or Maanjiwe nendamowinan (MN). Large crowds swarm these areas as well, but Davis’ design and layouts are particularly like the typical setup of a high school cafeteria – albeit with better tables and chairs.
Though you won’t find me hanging around the Davis building food court, its reminiscent atmosphere might just kindle unexpected nostalgia for students and offer an escape amidst the overwhelming pressure that comes with university life.
While polio threatens the health of Gaza, the liberation of Palestinians threatens the West and the Zionist entity.
Yasmine Benabderrahmane Contributor
Internalized efforts to humanize the colonizers is a beloved formula among Western powers. They delegitimize colonial violence and their inhumane structures. As we approach the one-year mark of the ongoing genocide in Gaza, these efforts continue to creep in the shadows of Western media, political and presidential campaigns, and public sentiments.
When the first polio case in Gaza was identified, Israel’s reluctant agreement to a temporary “humanitarian pause” for aid made headlines. The mainstream coverage of polio resulted in an inevitable process of Western imperialism: politicizing humanitarian crises. And this politicization created a threat in Gaza beyond the medical realm.
The first form of threat targeted the existing humanitarian crisis in Gaza: a crisis that expanded across the two million displaced lives, intensified already catastrophic food insecurity, obliterated an already collapsed medical system, and decimated the entirety of Gaza’s infrastructure. For that, the politicization of the polio outbreak has developed into threatening a system that hangs by a thread.
This type of politicization of humanitarian crises transcends the twenty-first century and the Middle East. When the Korean peninsula saw an outbreak of food insecurity following the Korean War, the North Korean humanitarian aid case controversies surfaced between US-led initiatives and the US. Likewise, when Afghanistan sought humanitarian assistance following US advances in the region, humanitarian aid from the West was determined by political expediency not human necessity.
This mentality continues to contaminate current social activism. For example, the genocide in the Demoncratic Republic of Congo, and the military power struggle funded by foreign interests in Sudan are often reduced to a second thought in boycotts and divestments, laced by the politicization of humanity and the by-product of Eurocentrism on African humanity.
Furthermore, politicizing polio threatens attempts to eradicate it. When the polio outbreak is reduced to a mere halt in a Zionist political agenda, the Gazan population will be suspicious of any attempts to eliminate the outbreak – especially when those attempts are made by the very same power imposing the genocide. This forms a second threat, one that is commonly known as a resurfaced colonial legacy: vaccine mistrust.
The history of vaccine mistrust continues to stand as one of the most prevalent contexts in Canadian legacy and statehood. The mass genocide and near annihilation of the First Nations was executed through the biological warfare of smallpox and its supposed vaccine distribution. This hesitancy forms the foundation of the health illiteracy crisis among Canadian Indigenous peoples. How can a people trust an occupying force determined on their complete eradication?
This is the very same question that
haunts Gaza now.
Since the Nobel Prize discovery of the poliovirus vaccine in 1949 at Boston Children’s Hospital by John Enders, Thomas Weller, and Frederick Robbins, polio cases have seen a mass reduction, with only 2 globally recorded cases in 2021. The sudden reappearance of polio in occupied Palestine drove some to interpret it as a declaration of biological warfare on Gaza.
Secondly, the weaponization of health by Zionist entities has become a norm in Gaza — from the mass murder of doctors and hospital staff, to more than 90 attacks on health care facilities by the Israel Occupation Forces,. Israel has proven its disregard for Palestinian wellbeing. So, the distribution of polio vaccines due to worldwide pressure is all but an act on the global stage and vaccine mistrust becomes only an instinct to the scene.
One health care worker in Gaza reported to Medical Aid for Palestinians:
“The painful reality is that [Gazan] kids will be vaccinated in the morning and we as medical teams will receive some of [the same] kids as casualties from bombardments and airstrikes in the evening.”
This is especially relevant when the promised “humanitarian pause” was soon dismissed. One health care worker in Gaza reported to Medical Aid for Palestinians: “The painful reality is that [Gazan] kids will be vaccinated in the morning and we as medical teams will receive some of [the same] kids as casualties from bombardments and airstrikes in the evening.”
This creates a third and final threat: the threat of fractionalizing Gazan liberation efforts. Palestinian journalist Bisan Owda raised suspicions on Israel’s polio vaccine distribution on September 1, 2024, via Instagram. The argument rested in the lack of trust in an occupation determined to eliminate Palestinians as a people since 1948. In response, a Palestinian journalist, Hind Khoudary, declared the dangers of such claims in a series of Instagram stories.
The debate between the journalists on a global platform saw the momentary fraction of ideas amongst activists of the Palestinian liberation movement. The division was one that reflected the many motives taken upon occupational forces to disperse ideas of liberation as a motion of intensifying colonial projects.
Through this, the distraction of colonialism becomes apparent and the internalized efforts of humanizing colonizing powers follow. For while polio threatens the health of Gaza, the liberation of Palestinians threaten the humanity of the West and the existence of the Zionist entity.
Editor | Madhav Ajayamohan features@themedium.ca
Professor Julius Haag explains the ‘why’ and ‘what now’ behind a declining trust in police services through the lens of policing in the Greater Toronto Area.
On September 10, Julius Haag, a professor of the Department of Sociology at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), hosted his presentation at the Hazel McCallion Central Library about policing issues in the Greater Toronto Area titled, “Policing at a Crossroads: Racial Justice, Community Safety, and Police Practices in Turbulent Times.”
The presentation examined the evolving role of police officers in response to the public’s declining trust in law enforcement and discussed ways to restructure the police’s role to ensure community safety.
Professor Haag stresses that the role of the police is complex. Police officers provide various services such as mediation, dispute, and referral that require significant discretion. “It’s expected that no matter what your problem is, you can call the police, and they will come to your problem,” Professor Haag explains. However, as police officers are entrusted with significant authority and lethal power to perform their duties, the misuse of discretion is eroding the public’s trust in law enforcement.
Police brutality and racial profiling are not only issues in the US but they receive less attention in Canada, partly due to the lack of systematic collection of race-based data, according to the presentation. However, instances of involuntary contact—which refers to an encounter experienced by a member of the public that an officer initiates—have revealed significant racial disparities across Canada. In these interactions, officers may ask for information that potentially reveals a person’s unconscious bias.
“It’s interesting how widespread these practices are,” Professor Haag comments. According to Professor Haag, these disparities were more pronounced in affluent and predominantly white neighbourhoods, which “suggests that Black people found in those areas were deemed to be out of place.”
The presentation revealed that recent datasets express that Black people are three times more likely to be stopped than their white counterparts in Canada. Young Black men aged 18 to 24 are 2.5 to four times more likely to be stopped than the Canadian population would predict. Black people are also more likely to be stopped from proactive police efforts such as traffic stops and street checks.
Following the emergence of this data, police argued these outcomes result from a higher population of Black people living in higher crime neighbourhoods with intensified surveillance.
Professor Haag introduced the effect of race and place to counter this dismissal of officers’ unconscious bias. According to Professor Haag, the effect of race and place refers to how racial prejudice and a geographical location amplify bias against marginalized communities. “There is a patterning of suspicion that’s associated with the location that individuals are found and police associations of danger or suspiciousness.”
Professor Haag also collaborated with sight agencies to develop a body of evidence on the use of force. Local datasets from the Special Investigating Unit found Black people were nearly 20 times more likely than white people to be shot and killed by the police in Toronto.
A dataset from 2018 by researchers from CBC News found that between 2018 and 2020, 68 per cent of people killed in police encounters suffered from some form of mental illness.
Professor Haag believes these results pose serious concerns with the rising reliance on police as first responders, especially for marginalized communities and those who suffer from mental illnesses.
While the public relies on the police, the police also depend on the public. Professor Haag highlights how law enforcement often seeks the public’s assistance, whether through reporting problems or providing information for investigations. In this way, the public becomes co-producers of community safety, but this cooperation can hinge on the public’s trust in the police.
Professor Haag mentions recent scholarship from the past 50 years which reveals what motivates the public to trust the police, and it hinges on procedural justice. We decide whether or not to trust the police based on how fairly we are treated.
Professor Haag examines the importance of procedural justice with the example of disputing with your neighbour, “We call the police; they speak to my neighbour, and they get all the information from them and listen to their views. They say, you know what Julius… they’re right, you’re wrong. I don’t care what you have to say. Have a good afternoon.”
Professor Haag highlights that if we believe that police treat us fairly, we are more likely to accept and abide by the outcomes.
In contrast, procedural injustice contributes to a climate of distrust and unwillingness to contact the police in times of need which pushes the public to feel the need to tackle their own problems. Ironically, abuse of discretion paired with procedural injustice creates a paradox of “over” and “under” policing for racialized people.
The tension between the public and the police creates turbulence for both public and police goals. Professor Haag explains that “the per-
vasive and long-standing distrust between many racialized communities and the police represent a fundamental barrier at [improving] the [relationship between] the police and community and ultimately fostering the kind of trusting relationships the police rely on to exercise their mandates.”
Restructuring police culture becomes crucial in revitalizing security in Canadian communities.
Professor Haag advocates for the development of several policy responses and the reforming of police culture as a powerful effort for moving forward. “We need data collection so we can trace, track, measure and understand the extent of racialized disparities in our legal system. It then needs acknowledgement from our elected officials that these are real problems, and the police are taking accountability for these issues.”
“We are well beyond the point of denial,” Haag asserts, delivering a grounding affirmation near the end of his presentation. “We’re well beyond the point of saying that this is an American problem, that this is not a Canadian issue, that this is an isolated problem. It is a systemic issue through our criminal legal system…These are areas where acknowledgement, recognition, and taking accountability are key mechanisms.”
Yet Professor Haag is wary of current movements to better police training. He emphasizes redefining the role of the police, “When we think about defunding and de-tasking, this involves a systematic review of what the police do, which emergency calls can be resolved by a better service? If such agencies don’t exist, can we create them? If those agencies do exist, can we fund them appropriately?”
Rather than better training, Professor Haag wants to restructure Canadian society in a way to spread the burden on police officers to more suitable special agencies
“We see police responsible for much of our public response issues like homelessness, mental health, substance abuse, and the effects of concentrated power.” Professor Haag’s proposal does “not [envision] a society that is free of police, but one where we minimize the need for police by finally addressing decades of concentrated social infrastructural problems that for far too long have been the domain of the police.”
Earlier this year, union workers across the University of Toronto campuses threatened to strike before reaching an agreement, a win for thousands many workers.
their work. A wage of C$50 an hour was not enough for these workers as it does not consider the cost of living for TAs in a world that is navigating a modern affordability crisis.
told rabble.ca, “Why is it that we’re also split up in these different bargaining units… We kind of really came to the realization that all those different units and locals keep us divided.”
This led CUPE leaders to present their demands in one document rather than presenting individual demands from each unit to stand united while supporting each other.
After the university refused, CUPE members went on strike before the university later reached a tentative agreement with the units in March 2024.
The question that many students contemplated earlier in the year is what would happen if there was a prolonged strike? The CUPE 3092 going on strike would have a huge impact on many classes, meaning all tutorials and lab practicals would be cancelled, not to mention any TA office hours. The grading of any assignments or term tests would be compromised since those made up some of the responsibilities of TAs.
However, if a strike occurred with CUPE 2631 and CUPE 1230 members, the consequences could be much different and far graver.
Earlier this year, thousands of workers including teaching assistants (TA), postdoctoral fellows, service workers, and library workers among all three University of Toronto (U of T) campuses gathered to demand better pay, support, and working conditions.
More than 8,000 workers at U of T represented by the three Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) trade unions threatened to strike in February of this year. These unions, including CUPE 3092, which represents contract academic workers, CUPE 3261, which represents service workers, and CUPE 1230, which represents library workers, were ready to strike to address the affordability crisis and equality concerns on campus.
In an unprecedented move, the three U of T locals banded together and went to the negotiation table as one this year. At first, U of T refused to meet with members of the unions. Eventually, this led to 94.4 per cent of CUPE workers in need of a new contract to vote in favour of a strike.
President of CUPE 3092 Eriks Bredovskis and two TAs and members of the bargaining committee, Marie Haines and Shibi Laxman Kumaraperumal, revealed why it was time for TAs across U of T to take action in an interview with The Medium.
Haines explains that dignity, respect, and a living wage were CUPE 3092’s three major demands for bargaining. Members were being overworked and underpaid as class sizes continued to grow. According to Haines, the Covid-19 pandemic escalated these issues as TAs had to transition their work from inperson to online and then back to in-person.
Haines mentions that many unit 1 workers, comprising students or post-doctoral fellow TAs, did not feel recognized for
“The cost of living, particularly after [Covid-19], has been skyrocketing. The funding from the university isn’t enough, particularly when considering that most of us rely only on our TA work to get by,” says Kumaraperumal. “The housing situation is unimaginable! The university housing isn’t affordable with our funding. It’s like the university pays us, and we give it all back to them.”
Intercampus transit was another issue many TAs faced, especially in situations where they had to teach classes on two or three campuses rather than just one.
In Kumaraperumal’s case, although he lives near U of T’s Scarborough campus (UTSC), he faces the issue of having to teach courses further at U of T’s St. George campus. “Many CUPE members come from [the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM)] or UTSC and want to teach there but they can’t live there. Most of their classes, workshops and conferences are all at St. George.”
This issue posed a concern for many students as travelling across campuses takes up time and money, and according to Kumaraperumal, the university covered none of that.
Many of these concerns have been building up over time until CUPE 3092 took action earlier this year and addressed these issues.
Luke Daccord, president of CUPE 3261, told rabble.ca in an interview, “U of T likes to talk about my local, [that represents service workers], as sort of being this non-essential part—‘it’s an area where costs should be cut wherever possible’—and you know, they told us that at the bargaining table.”
Like Daccord, Bredovskis realized that negotiations were more important than ever, regardless of their union. Bredovskis also
“[The CUPE 3092] teaches students. The CUPE 3261 cleans our classrooms,” Bredovskis explains to The Medium. “They also feed us, they work in the athletics centers, and are an essential part of U of T just like educators. The same with CUPE1230, they’re the ones at the desk when you sign out books and they’re the ones who receive them when there are intercampus loans.”
Those who would strike do not only consist of TAs, but those who take care of our campus here at UTM.
It would include the people who clean our eating area at Davis where we share many laughs and wipe off our classroom whiteboards at the end of the day. The library assistants who show us how to print documents and so many other people who make life at U of T better for everyone.
If a strike occurred, U of T would become a ghost town— closed food courts and libraries with no one behind the desk. The Math Learning Center would be incomplete and full of students with questions but no TAs to answer them. Luckily, U of T met the demands of CUPE members and this did not happen.
In the end, CUPE 3092 achieved many of its goals, including 45 per cent off the current TTC student rate and guaranteed work for some. Undergraduate TAs who completed 100 hours of work are now guaranteed work the following year. Also, mental health coverage for TAs doubled from C$2,500 to C$5,000. Whereas, for CUPE3261, all of its workers achieved a guaranteed minimum wage of C$25 an hour.
Despite these wins, this does not mean their fight is over. CUPE 3902 still has five other units that are in contract negotiations this year. However, this victory is a monumental step forward in making U of T an environment where demands are considered and heard.
Destination-free leisurely walking revealed that Mississauga is ample in aesthetic potential, but scant in creative expression.
Ramiya Sureshhkumar Contributor
Walking around the city brings you to many sites of aesthetic potential. The everyday architecture of Mississauga’s urban landscape can be particularly sightly: a stack of chairs placed by a table could be a pseudo-postmodernist sculpture; an orange-painted stump of a now-removed tree could be an imaginative artform. Romanticizing the everyday helps us find beauty in the mundane, but does that make it art?
In my view, art cannot be merely aesthetic speculation but requires conscious intent. While beautiful natural forces are at work around Mississauga, it may be a stretch to say that the city encourages public artistic expression. Over the course of a two-hour long walk, I found only a mere handful of artworks, all within a small vicinity. The rest of the journey was rewarding in sights of beauty but completely devoid of any art.
I was surprised by the lack of “low arts” on my walk. Art historian Dr. Alan Gowans defines low art in the book, Art as an EarlyWarning System by Erica Dodd and Ludgard De Decker, as “‘ideational art which perpetuate the values of society through symbols collectively inspired, anonymously executed, everywhere and immediately understood”. The only artworks I came across were explicitly commissioned or approved by the City of Mississauga, made by talented and, more significantly, credited individuals.
One such work was a set of metal sculptures of sitting birds. My immediate thoughts were that the city just really appreciates our avian
friends to the point of commemoration. Only by reading up on the piece online was I made aware that it serves as “a reminder that the project of colonialism is not over, and that we are standing on the Traditional Land of the Mississaugas of the Credit.” What’s more intriguing is that this statement comes from the artist’s website, whereas the Arts and Culture site of the City of Mississauga merely comments on the piece’s relation to Indigeneity and the New Credit First Nation community without making reference to its decolonial content. This makes it seem as though these pieces were commissioned merely for optics: to give the illusion of inclusivity, without true progression.
Conversely, the public art banners made in celebration of Mississauga’s 50th anniversary are another commissioned piece. While visually phenomenal, the banners do not seem to enshrine deeper meaning. If art affords the opportunity to structure our attention and reflect upon the immediate community, what experiences are being afforded here when the city seems to focus more on visual quality than the concepts and ideas behind them? Given that street art has a mass reach and unlimited potential as means of communication, why not be more explicit in conscious content to afford a realization in the viewer that would otherwise not have been had?
Beyond the artworks themselves, another factor barring Mississauga from being an “art city” is its lack of walkability. As mentioned earlier, art is defined by intention, and intentionality requires an audience. Being a member of this audience, or even just appreciating beauty in the mundane, requires walkable infrastructure to make that journey possible. An hour in blistering heat, with no shade coverage and no rest-stops along the route, really took away from the ability to appreciate the beauty in things. Beautiful as it may be, Mississauga still has yet to make the strides towards being the Louvre among cities.
Toronto’s concert scene is brought back by local fans, musicians, and event coordinators–despite post-pandemic challenges.
Jada D’Sa Contributor
It is no secret that the pandemic had an intense impact on Toronto’s live-performance industry. Concerts and festivals struggled to gain traction after venue limitations were lifted, and smaller venues were notoriously forced to close due to the loss of profit. As reported by the CBC, these barriers had little effect on high-profile artists but were exponentially damaging to local musicians. Not only did this predicament dishearten fans who wished to see their favorite artists perform, but it also threatened the growth of communities that were formed at these shows. After navigating these barriers for an extended period, Toronto launched a mission to revive their concert scene.
This past summer, I attended over 15 concerts/ festivals at various venues in Toronto and the GTA. I had the privilege to observe how live-music events bring communities of fans together in innovative, safe, diverse, and uniquely Torontonian spaces. Local musicians, DJs, event coordinators, and creatives from all backgrounds have unquestionably succeeded at bringing Toronto’s concert scene back.
“Bastid’s BBQ” and “Sojourn Festival” were two of Toronto’s most notable live music experiences that I felt fostered community. Bastid’s BBQ was a two-day event held by Canadian producer Skratch Bastid at The Bentway in Fort York. The space is typically used to host art installations and workshops, so concertgoers were excited to see how it would convert into a live-music venue. It is safe to say that the event lived up to its name: multiple food vendors and picnic tables made the experience feel like an actual community barbecue. The event had a lineup of breakdancing competitions, DJ sets, and live performances by hip-hop icons including The Alchemist, Slum Village, and Souls of Mischief.
Local Toronto dance music collectives held Sojourn Festival at a multi-stage warehouse in The Junction. The event was directed with diversity and inclusion in mind, curating a safe space that fans of all backgrounds and identities could enjoy. The festival boasted a lineup of DJs that went above and beyond in terms of representation, and various POC-owned food vendors were present. At both events, many of the performers were spotted hanging around with fans throughout the day as well, bridging the gap between entertainers and fans and making these experiences feel more like a community gathering than a performance.
This is not to say that larger, more wellknown concert venues such as HISTORY, Scotiabank Arena, and Budweiser Stage are not contributing to Toronto’s concert scene. But any fan can confirm that they host a different experience. Larger venues typically lack a sense of intimacy, limiting interactions between concertgoers. Despite this, the concert itself remains a topic for fans to bond over before and after the show. Fans eagerly chat in anticipation with one another in the security lines before entering the venue and discuss the different experiences they had with other fans on the same GO Train home. Although these interactions happen outside of the event, fans maintain this sense of community by connecting over their shared experiences.
From crowded arenas to living room jam sessions, Toronto is home to a diverse group of music-lovers who have sought to restore the live-music communities that were hurt by the pandemic. Today, you can experience the joys of live music in reimagined spaces among passionate fans seeking a sense of community and belonging. I’m happy to say that Toronto’s concert scene has been brought back to life as a hub for everyone with a shared love of music to thrive in a community of creativity and innovation.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Wednesday,September 18th
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
8:15 PM - 9:45 PM
Gym A/B
Tuesday,September 3rd
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM 8:30 PM - 10:00 PM
Wednesday,September 18th 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM 8:15 PM - 9:45 PM Gym A/B
WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Thursday, September 19th
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM 8:15 PM - 9:45 PM
Gym C
MEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Attending a fitness class or playing a sport can be a great place to meet friends, destress, and find that extra boost of motivation to do your course readings. TRI -
IMEN'S BASKETBALL
Thursday, September 19th
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
8:15 PM - 9:45 PM
Gym A/B
Friday, September 20th
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
like to think of September as New Year’s Day 2.0. — our second chance at fulfilling those goals we set nearly ten months ago. As we wrap up the first weeks of classes, I’m sure you’ve noticed a certain buzz in the air. It’s the buzz of the 2.0: students have returned to campus, fall classes have begun, and everyone is at the gym. As we head back into the routine of class schedules, weekly assignments, and late-night study sessions, it’s inevitable that we give those January fitness goals another shot as well.
WOMEN'S HOCKEY
MEN'S HOCKEY
As great as all this is, it does beg the question: How long will this last? What happens when the buzz is over? What happens at the end of the month when suddenly, amid piling papers and tests, you don’t find yourself prioritizing your fitness goals anymore?
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
8:15 PM - 9:45 PM
Gym A/B
Saturday, September 14th
Admittedly, even I am a victim of the 2.0. I find that the excitement of a new semester comes with the excitement of a “new” self, but also with the added pressure of keeping up with completely new routines. Over the last few weeks, I’ve been to the gym more than I had all summer. But even though I find myself building a stable routine, I still worry that I’m going to eventually crash out.
3:30 PM - 4:50 PM
Canlan Sports
As someone who works at the Recreation, Athletics and Wellness Centre (RAWC) welcome desk, the back-to-school gym promises are more evident than ever. Drop-in sport registrations are full to the brim, equipment rentals are all signed out, and suddenly everyone is asking to meet with a personal trainer. The RAWC has also made some positive changes to increase its usability this year, such as extending its hours and adding more inclusive group fitness classes.
INDOO CRICKET
Saturday, September 14th
5:00 PM - 6:20 PM
As students, consistency can be challenging, especially once we hit midterm season. We start to prioritize other responsibilities and going to the gym ends up moving to the bottom of our to-do lists. However, when it comes down to it, we all deserve a break to clear our minds of everyday stressors, and attending a fitness class or playing a sport can be great places to meet friends, destress, and find that extra boost of motivation to do your course readings.
6:30PM-8:20PM
Canlan Sports
Additionally, regular drop-in sports are now in full swing, also newly featuring a series of inclusive offerings. Without any varsity teams, UTM students are eager to get involved in alternative sports programs on campus. Whether it’s drop-in basketball in the gymnasiums or tennis on the outdoor courts, registrations have remained at capacity throughout the last two weeks. And if it’s not drop-in sports, it’s excitement about tricampus tryouts or intramural sign ups.
Saturday, September 21st
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Gym A/B
So, as October slowly creeps up on us, consider giving yourself some grace. Don’t push yourself too hard in this first month that you burn yourself out for the rest of the year. If your semester course load is becoming too much, join one of the RAWC mindfulness classes like Hatha Yoga or Meditation & Movement to clear your mind. Or if you’re looking to make some new friends, swing by for one of the drop-in sports and maybe even organize an intramural team! If none of these are for you but you still want to embrace the campus sports culture, you can be a supportive fan at the upcoming tri-campus games. The options are endless and there are so many people on campus here to support you and your goals.
South Field MEN’S SOCCER
South Field
Thursday, September 19th
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM 8:15 PM - 9:45 PM
Thursday, September 5th
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
8:30 PM - 10:00 PM
Gym A/B MEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Thursday, September 19th
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM 8:15 PM - 9:45 PM
Wednesday, September 4th
South Field WOMEN'S SOCCER
MEN'S BASKETBALL
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM 7:45 PM - 9:15 PM
Friday, September 20th
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM 8:15 PM - 9:45 PM
Sunday, September 8th
Gym A/B
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM 11:45 AM - 1:15 PM
September 14th 3:30 PM - 4:50 PM
Field
North Field WOMEN'S FLA FOOTBALL
Sunday, September 8th
Canlan Sports MEN'S HOCKEY
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Saturday, September 14th 5:00 PM - 6:20 PM 6:30PM-8:20PM
Saturday, September 21st
MEN'S FLAG FOOTBALL
Gym A/B INDOO CRICKET
Sunday, September 8th
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM 3:15 PM - 4:45 PM
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
North Field
Alejandro Rodriguez Contributor
Growing up in Mexico, basketball was always a huge part of my life. Like most kids, the bright lights of the biggest stage—the NBA—always lit up my imagination. However, as I got older, I formed a deeper appreciation of basketball as a way to hang out, see friends, and tune out the stresses of school.
Life as a student at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) is anything but easy, and I’m sure any students reading this can relate. It’s almost impossible to separate our academic responsibilities from our personal life, especially when there’s always something haunting us. Whether it’s from that class you dread or a deadline from a strict professor you don’t get along with, it’s indispensable for us students to have a
space and time where you can put your responsibilities aside and focus on enjoying your free time.
With that being said, the Recreation, Athletics and Wellness Centre (RAWC) hosts intramural sports every semester, providing a perfect opportunity for all students and faculty staff to participate in friendly yet competitive environments. For those who take sports a little more seriously, there are also competitive leagues where you can compete against students who also perform at a high level in sports ranging from basketball to badminton.
As an international student who was part of the basketball team back at my high school in Mexico, I was thrilled to continue improving and working on my skills as a player when I came to UTM. I thought I would have endless opportunities to play, assuming I’d have more freedom away from home. However, I quickly realized that finding time and people to play basketball with was much harder than expected, especially as schoolwork kept me busy and other students were now a lot less willing to push their studies aside.
But when I began playing intramurals, I had a chance to compete against good competition without sacrificing much of my spare time, allowing me to stay on top of my courses.
Thursdays—the day basketball intramural games fell on— quickly became the highlight of my week. Not long after, I became more involved in the UTM sports community by joining other leagues and even working as a referee. As I participated more frequently, I quickly realized two things:
Firstly, there were tons of students just like me—passionate to play sports. For us students who never made the big leagues, intramural playoffs were our championship series, and we’d hustle and run and drip beads of sweat until the clock ran out. Secondly, not everyone aspires to become a professional athlete, and the university definitely keeps that in mind. If you’re interested in learning a new sport, meeting other students, or simply participating with friends for some fun, intramurals offer 18 leagues across 12 different sports, where anyone, regardless of their skill level, is sure to find something that works for them.
Intramural leagues are a fantastic way to take a break from stressing about classes, and to spend time with friends and colleagues. After all, what’s better than bonding with someone you know is
