Vol. 56, Issue 3

Volume 56 - Issue 3 September 22, 2022 theeyeopener.com @theeyeopener Since 1967

SUMMER SHOWDOWN A SMASHING SUCCESS PAGE 10

PHOTO: PEYTON KEELER-COX/DESIGN: JES MASON

NEWS

2

TMU upcycles old merchandise through new donation project

By Jake MacAndrew Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) has started a new initiative this month to upcycle older Ryerson branded merchandise.

Students, staff and community members can drop off stationery, signage and merchandise that have the Ryerson branding from September to October. The materials will be reused, recycled or upcycled as part of the Branded Materials Transition Project (BMTP).

“It’s not often that you get

a chance to to play around in this way and create something special”

The project is collecting items on Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the Mattamy Athletic Centre (MAC).

In a email statement to The Eyeopener, the unversity said, “Swag featuring the Ryerson name can no longer promote awareness or visibility for the university.”

Some donated materials, such as binders and electronics, will go towards the Materials Exchange organization, where participants can donate a variety of materials which can be turned into equipment and items needed to support education.

Other materials like textiles will

VANESSA KAUK/THE EYEOPENER

be donated to community sewing programs like The Scadding Court Sewing Hub located in Toronto, which repurposes materials for sewing workshops.

“If TMU is encouraging students to accept our new name by recycling their Ryerson merch, I think the TMU merch should be more affordable,” said Amelia Papaikonomou, a second-year professional communications student. She said students might not participate if there is no monetary incentive to donate, such as a campus store coupon.

Fashion professor Osmud Rahman said the lack of incentive is a

missed business opportunity.

Sustainability strategies where clothing donations are encouraged by a discount coupon for the next purchase are often successful, according to Rahman.

“It helps the brand image,” he said. “[When stores] give you coupons, that means you come back to buy more right from them.”

Shaan Soomro, a second-year business technology management student, said he wishes the project would also help people in need of these materials.

“There are people around the world who would strongly ben-

efit from the [donation] of old merchandise more than us,” he said.

The effectiveness and sustainability of clothing donation programs are determined by the use of donations, according to Rahman. He thinks programs like these can be problematic if materials are wasted.

“It costs more money and energy,” he said. “Much clothing is not made from one single fibre, it’s a mix of fibres—that is difficult to separate.”

Anika Kozlowski, a fashion professor at TMU, noted that large amounts of North American clothing donations end up being shipped out to other countries, particularly

those in Africa and Central South America, which she hopes is not the case with TMU’s project. “It just causes large environmental and social destruction,” said Kozlowski.

The Creative School at TMU will also be repurposing old merchandise in a sustainable fashion show in conjunction with Kozlowski and the university’s athletics department.

The sustainable fashion show is slated to feature outfits designed by 20 TMU School of Fashion alumni with a background in sustainability or upcycling.

“It’s not often that you get a chance to play around in this way and create something special where you don’t have to worry about selling it,” said Kozlowski.

The fashion show is set to take place in November at the MAC to celebrate its 10th anniversary, along with new uniforms and cheers. Proceeds of the event will go toward the TMU Bold Equity and Inclusion Award, which will “address inequity and the ongoing impacts of historical exclusion of Black and Indigenous students,” according to the university.

“That’s what’s great about upcycling, it’s just that it’s extremely creative, being able to take any kind of material destined for landfills and trying to add value to that,” said Kozlowski.

TMU community weighs in on the new bivalent COVID-19 booster dose

By Manroop Aulakh Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) students are divided on whether they will be getting the new COVID-19 vaccine that protects against two strains of omicron, after a government of Ontario announcement that young people will be eligible for the new vaccine.

Although TMU’s vaccination and mask policies are currently on pause, the university said in an email statement to The Eyeopener that it may need to reinstate these requirements if public health indicators change.

“We encourage all community members to be fully vaccinated and remain up-to-date with current public health vaccination recommendations,” the statement read.

Adriana Arana, a fourth-year nursing student said she’s pro-vaccine and will be getting the shot.

“I’m okay with it. I’m a nursing student so I’ve looked into vaccines [that] we studied and how they work and everything,” she said. “When I weigh the pros and the cons, there are more pros to it and in my opinion, there actually aren’t any cons.”

This booster was created by Moderna to more effectively target both strains of COVID-19 that are currently circulating. The new bivalent

vaccine targets the original virus and the Omicron variant that drove the largest wave of infection and hospitalization in the pandemic, acccording to a study done by the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force.

“There are more pros to it, and in my opinion, there actually aren’t any cons” The new vaccine is believed to trigger a strong immune response against both strains and is expected to extend the durability of protection.

“The bivalent COVID-19 booster is a safe and effective way for people to better protect themselves against the most recently circulating COVID-19 variants in Ontario,” said Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore in a Sept.

12 press release.

Ari Castillo, a first-year biology student said she doesn’t plan on getting the vaccine anytime soon unless it’s required. Out of personal choice, Castillo would not get the vaccine but will get it if there seems to be future restrictions on those who do not.

“I’ll get it if I have to but I wouldn’t want to get it.”

Liam Robinson, a first-year English student said he would get the vaccine.

“I’ve gotten all the other ones and it just makes sense to keep going at this point. It seems to be like flu shots where you just wanna keep upping it so you update it enough and you’re protected,” he said.

Robinson said he will be getting it for his own sake and isn’t bothered if others get it or not.

“It helps you and protects you more, but it isn’t something you absolutely need to keep everyone safe.”

Second-year business management student Demetra Tsitsos echoes Robinson’s belief that it is a personal decision but said she would get it.

“I would like them to not mandate but to just highly suggest it,” she said.

To prioritize distribution of the vaccine, appointments for those aged 18 and over will be paused until Sept. 26. Currently, clinics are providing appointments to vulnerable populations.

Christine Elliot, the deputy premier of Ontario, stated that the COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters are the best tool to keep people healthy and out of hospitals. She added that it will ensure that Ontario’s economy stays open as kids go back to school and as the weather cools, keeping people indoors.

Tsitsos agreed and said allowing

PEYTON KEELER-COX/THE EYEOPENER

younger people to get the vaccine now is a good thing.

“I like it because there’s a lot of people on campus than before, last year it was only a few people. So I think people should maybe get it,” she said.

In an email to The Eye, Timothy Sly, a professor and epidemiologist at TMU, said the new vaccine is an excellent opportunity for students and it will protect well against infection.

“The original vaccines that were trialed and introduced early in 2021 were based on the original variant and were 90 to 95 per cent effective at that time,” he said. “Subsequently, we have seen those variants replaced by a series of variants and sub-variants that are further removed.”

He added that getting this vac-

cine is helpful as it involves layering new antigens with existing vaccine antigens. Because antigens induce immune responses in the body and there is the possibility of gaining immunity from infections, Sly said, the range of immunity the new vaccine will give is very valuable.

He also said the new bivalent vaccines are updated to match variants that are currently dominant, as well as the original strain. “Not only will the new vaccines decrease the likelihood of infection and severe illness and help reduce transmission of the virus; but they could also decrease the likelihood of developing long Covid.”

Sly said this is the type of vaccine update that we need as we prepare for the gradual transition from pandemic mode to endemic mode.

3

NEWS

Stuck at home: TMU international students struggle with delays in acquiring student permits

By Yanika Saluja With Immigration Canada experiencing a large application backlog, international students at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) are encountering delays in receiving their student permits.

After months of waiting for their permits, international students say the delays are not only adding stress due to piling assignments, but they’re also struggling to meet new people while stuck abroad.

“The delay in my Visa makes me unable to attend classes and meet new classmates,” said Bingwin Wu, a first-year hospitality and tourism student from Japan.

“It’s absolutely very stressful to be in this situation and we are only allowed to wait,” said Wu. “There is nothing else I can do.”

Wu applied for her Visa in June 2022 and has still not received any updates from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Wu feels that, by being forced to remain online, she is missing out on the in-person class experience.

“It’s a pity that I couldn’t attend the first in-person classes,” said Wu. “I was very excited to be in-person.”

However, Wu added that she is trying to prioritize her mental health and manage her stress levels

PEYTON KEELER COX/THE EYEOPENER

by spending as much time with her family and friends as possible and acknowledging that these issues are out of her control.

“I think I am able to deal with the stress and uncertainty because I think everything happens for a reason,” said Wu. Unnati Madan, a first-year business management student from India, has been waiting for twoand-a-half months for her Visa to arrive, resulting in constant stress due to uncertainty.

Madan was hoping to have received her Visa before this month,

so that she could have participated in classes in-person.

However, since she was unable to receive it in time, she had to pivot to online learning, causing her to lose a class she was looking forward to.

“I had to drop one of my favourite classes because it could only be inperson,” said Madan. “It’s frustrating.”

According to Ashish Agarwal, students around the world, especially in Toronto, are facing substantial difficulties in getting their Visas.

Agarwal is a Canadian immigration consultant, licensed by the

Government of Canada. He specializes in helping students in India get into universities and colleges in Canada and assists with the corresponding Visa process, with offices in both India and Toronto.

He said due to the delay in their applications, a lot of students have had to defer their semester and delay their plans.

“A lot of students didn’t want to study online and the universities were giving an option to study online,” said Agrawal.

“Parents have been worried, especially because they want their kids to

pursue their career in time,” he added.

According to the IRCC, in the first quarter of 2022, 175,000 study permit applications were received and are in the process of being reviewed.

At TMU, International Student Support (ISS) said they have been working to provide the best experience for international students who are still overseas.

ISS said they are trying to include international students now and make them feel as comfortable as possible when they arrive in Canada.

“We welcome and support newcomers to Canada as they adjust to the new Canadian environment and culture,” said TMU in an email to The Eyeopener.

The ISS has a team of International Student Advisors who can help provide group immigration advice both in-person and online for students who are still abroad.

The ISS added that it continues to consider the difficulties of international students continuing their studies online and has developed an “Action Plan.” The Plan provides appointments to students who are in need of assistance with their academics, finances and social transitions.

Students can also attend workshops and meditation sessions run by the ISS.

Students, faculty hope new Magnet advisory board will lead to greater opportunities

By Julia Tramontin Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) and job hunting site Magnet have created an advisory board to further the platform’s growth.

The advisory board, “brings outstanding leaders together from across Canada, representing a crosssection of organizations and interests, skills and expertise,” according to an announcement posted to TorontoMet Today.

Self-proclaimed as “Canada’s opportunity platform,” Magnet was first launched in 2014 and has over 170,000 job hunters, 34,000 employers and 110 post-secondary schools using its site, according to the university.

It is a non-profit, career development site serving both job-seekers and employers.

The board will consist of 15 members “each an expert in their field and dedicated to driving innovation and systems-level change” in the Canadian job market, the announcement read. This includes some TMU faculty, such as Anna Triandafyllidou, the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration and Integration and Frederic Dimanche, director of the Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, who is currently on sabbatical.

The board will also be chaired by former finance minister Bill Morneau. Back in 2020, Morneau resigned from his roles as minister and member of Parliament following controversy over awarding a $45.53 million contract from the federal government for the administration of a student grant program, despite his close ties with the charity. Morneau has maintained that he never wanted to serve more than two terms in office.

“We are excited to have Mr. Morneau as the chair of our advisory board. Mr. Morneau has a wealth of knowledge and experience that will be invaluable to our board,” the university said in an email to The Eyeopener.

“Our board members are passionate advisors, leveraging their expertise and commitment to ensure Canada’s future prosperity in a volunteer capacity for a set term.”

“We hope that the new advisory board will help Magnet gain new labour market insights, specifically in the area of the future of work, which could in turn help generate more opportunities in an everchanging labour market for students and recent graduates,” wrote Wincy Li in an email to The Eye. Li is the associate director of career education at the Career, Coop and Student Success Centre at

TMU. The centre is responsible for offering career development resources to students and alumni.

To use Magnet, job seekers can sign up with their email to create a free account and then fill out a profile to get matched with employment opportunities. Magnet also offers guided job searches, employer invites tailored to the user’s skills and jobhunting resources.

Ramish Syed, a first-year graduate student studying mechanical engineering at TMU, used Magnet to apply to internships and jobs after finishing his undergraduate degree.

“There was a decent amount of opportunities available for my program and it’s easy to apply through the website. The smaller user base also made it easier for me to get interviews,” Syed said.

While job sites like LinkedIn are often the first choice for professional development, some students who have chosen to use Magnet report not having a good experience with the site.

“I’ve used it a few times, but I find the search function to be pretty confusing,” said Kirsten Huber, a fifthyear biology student at TMU. Huber said they only found jobs through the TMU online co-op portal, but are open to trying Magnet again under the new advisory board. “I’m not familiar with many of the peo-

ple who are on the advisory [board] but I think it does give potential for new changes and new perspectives.

I will be watching Magnet and seeing what the board does.”

With finding employment often being a stressful and difficult experience, students are hoping the advisory board could potentially ease that burden for those using Magnet.

Syed said he’s seen some fellow students struggle to find internships and co-ops.

“Hopefully this could open up more opportunities for TMU students and possibly facilitate more internship opportunities as I’ve seen some fellow students struggle to find internships and co-ops,” said Syed.

TMU professors are also hoping the advisory board expands opportunities for students. This is especially welcome in the hospitality and tourism industry, which Wayne Smith, interim director of the Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, said is facing issues with employment and understaffing.

“It sounds like [the board] are looking for ways to increase the number of opportunities, increase utilization of other tools and really try to give students one more place they can go to and one more place that they could possibly link to,” Smith said. “It sounds like [the board] are looking for ways to increase the number of opportunities.”

4

TIFF SZN

The Eye at TIFF: Photo highlights from the festival Photography by Vanessa Kauk and Sonia Khurana

Editor-in-Chief Abeer “Indecisive About Dinner Choices” Khan News Edward “Of Course You Would, Gavin” Djan Thea “I Agree” Gribilas Prapti “Mario!” Bamaniya Photo Jes “It’s Corn!” Mason Vanessa “HANDS” Kauk Peyton “Ice Ice Baby!” Keeler-Cox Online Alexandra “Please Sleep” Holyk Abby “Please Rest” Hughes Features Mariyah “Comfy Clothes” Salhia

Rajat Barmecha posing at the red carpet premiere of Kacchey Limbu.

SONIA KURANA/THE EYEOPENER

Roost, enthusiastically speaking with the VANESSA KAUK/THE EYEOPENER

Arts and Culture Madeline “No More TIFF !!” Liao Business and Technology Christina “Golf Girly” Flores-Chan Communities Asha “Fuck Allergies” Swann Sports Gavin “Super Like” Axelrod Jack “On Camera” MacCool Fun and Satire Zarmminaa “Caramel Plug” Rehman Media Sonia “Red Carpet” Khurana Youdon “BP Tix Secured” Tenzin General Manager Liane “Storage Shower” McLarty

Fans waiting for Harry Styles at the premiere of My Policeman.

SONIA KHURANA/THE EYEOPENER

Advertising Manager Chris “Minion Torrent” Roberts Design Director J.D. “Coconut Cake” Mowat

Actor Andreja Pejic posing for the cameras at the Dalíland red carpet.

VANESSA KAUK/THE EYEOPENER

Fans wait at the barricade of the red carpet of Dalíland.

VANESSA KAUK/THE EYEOPENER

Prisioner’s Daughter, speaking with the press.

VANESSA KAUK/THE EYEOPENER

Contributors Manroop “Where R The Epidemiologists!” Aulakh Yanika “Socials Legend” Saluja Jake “New Swag” MacAndrew Julia “Cool!” Tramontin Krishika “No Students :(” Jethani Rochelle “Outsold Shakespeare” Raveendran Jack “JMMA” Wannan Joseph “Twitch Tracker” Casciaro Fatima “Goes to TMU now” Raza Rebecca “Best Zodiac” Morrison Todd “Tha Godd” Ash-Duah Konnor “Blue Collar” Killoran Andrew “Himofey Mozgov” Yang Ilyas “Certified Cover Boy” Hussein Sam “Still Waiting” Beaudoin Dexter “My Dorm” LeRuez Mikayla “HDMH“ Guarasci Alek “War On Photo Holes” Zivkovic Jaden “Off The Market” Ho Keirsten “Birthday Was Tuesday” Spade Nashra “Hotspot” Syed

ARTS & CULTURE

5

Picture perfect: Editor’s picks from TIFF 2022

this year’s festival had it all

By Madeline Liao This Place TMU journalism grad V.T. Nayani’s feature debut had a memorable premiere at TIFF. This Place tells the story of two young women, Kawenniióhstha (Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs) and Malai (Priya Guns), as they explore their respective cultures and come to understand their place in the world.

Although primarily described as such, This Place is so much more than just a love story. From Kawenniióhstha searching for her estranged father to Malai and her brother connecting with theirs, it is a story of VANESSA KAUK/THE EYEOPENER family, identity and formulating one’s own idea of self.

This Place beautifully creates a Chevalier well-rounded narrative around the Directed by Stephen Williams, this two main characters and shapes myself, I reflected on my childhood breathtaking period drama took me them to represent relatable people experiences while watching the film right back to my weekly piano les- and life stories. and felt connected to these characters. sons. Featuring an incredible perforScenes of a young Dong-hyun pulling mance by Kelvin Harrison Jr., Cheva- Riceboy Sleeps his eyes back and throwing out his lier is a powerful biopic inspired by This one had me bawling like a baby lunch because of classmates’ grimacthe life of composer Joseph Bologne, in the theatre. Vancouver-based di- ing at the smell hit hard.

Chevalier de Saint-Georges. The film rector and actor Anthony Shim’s While each person’s experience follows Saint-Georges’ rise to musical film tells the story of a mother and with immigration and settling into a and reputational greatness, followed son’s life in Canada in the 90s. After new space is different, Riceboy Sleeps by his impending downfall as the the loss of her son’s father, So-young spectacularly captures the essence French Revolution sets into motion. (Choi Seung-yoon) and her son of new beginnings and what it feels Of course, a movie about a com- Dong-hyun, (Dohyun Noel Hwang like to be viewed as different. poser must have a tasteful score— as a child and Ethan Hwang as a teenand it did. A brilliant combination ager), leave South Korea and settle in Soft of compelling visuals, narrative and the suburbs of Vancouver.

Another TMU grad also had a bigmusic, this film is a window into Riceboy Sleeps is a powerful repre- screen moment at the festival this a part of history that is often con- sentation of the immigrant experi- year. Soft, written and directed by cealed as a result of whitewashing. ence in Canada. As an immigrant film studies graduate Joseph AmenThis year’s Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) was met with big stars and even bigger crowds. Back in full swing, TIFF 2022 hosted some notable premieres of international and Canadian flicks. The festival also showcased work from Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) alumni, including V.T. Nayani, Joseph Amenta and Luis De Filippis.

For those who didn’t have a chance to attend the festival, The Eyeopener’s arts and culture editor Madeline Liao has compiled a list of must-see films to keep on your radar. Lights, camera, action!

ta, follows three dynamic young personalities—Julien (Matteus Lunot), Tony (Zion Matheson) and Otis (Harlow Joy)—as they navigate life in the Greater Toronto Area. The film is so many things at once; celebratory, tragic and lively, but above all, it is real. It is based off of Amenta’s personal memories and recounted experiences of other queer people they have met, allowing Soft to portray honest instances and characters that makes the fictional story feel true.

In addition to giving the audience authentic queer characters, Amenta gives a voice to Toronto’s queer community by highlighting areas like The Village, adding music by local queer artists and telling an un-

apologetically genuine story.

What’s Love Got To Do With It? Shekhar Kapur’s romantic comedy was cheesy and cliche, which means it did its job. A classic friends-to-lovers trope, the film explores the intermingling of cultures and traditions in a genre that has often lacked diversity.

The film—or rather documentary filmmaker Zoe (Lily James)—follows her childhood best friend and neighbour, Kazim (Shazad Latif), on a journey in the world of arranged marriages. While it follows the typical rom-com formula, What’s Love Got To Do With It? combines tasteful humour with endearing character dynamics to make for an entertaining film.

speaks to pretentious quarter life crises

By Rochelle Raveendran Ambition dies as you age. Our retinas degenerate, priorities sharpen and we uphold our relationships to be what matters most in life. But on a small, static island off the Irish west coast in 1923, what does ambition look like in the first place?

For Pádraic (Colin Farrell) in the dark comedy The Banshees of Inisherin, written and directed by Martin McDonagh, it’s simply enough to wear his niceness as a badge of pride as he strolls over sloping green plains to enjoy a daily pint with his best friend, Colm (Brendan Gleeson).

The film, which screened at the Toronto International Film Festival

COURTESY OF TIFF

last week, explores how Pádraic’s life is shaken on an otherwise unexceptional afternoon when Colm rejects him and terminates their friendship. “I just don’t like you no more,” he says bluntly.

In the film, death looms inescapably over the villagers. The film’s title refers to female spirits in Irish folklore—banshees—who wail to warn about impending deaths. Insherin’s own banshee, Mrs. McCormick (Sheila Flitton), freely doles out ominous predictions. As a reaction to life’s fragility, Colm’s cruel attitude isn’t unfathomable. Tedious relationships are now fickle to him compared to the immortal compositions of Mozart.

Though Colm is in his sixties, his Farrell plays Pádraic like a baffled extreme behaviour feels like early puppy, brows contorting as he wontwenties pretension. ders what he did to offend Colm.

News of the feud soon touches every corner of the close-knit community, A new devotion to his where social niceties are cardinal and gossip cloaks itself as concern. longer tolerate banality Eventually, all the villagers, including Pádraic’s long-suffering sister, It’s the desire to produce some- Siobhan (Kerry Condon), are badthing meaningful when you feel less gering Colm about his decision. relevant than ever before. University campuses like Toronto MetroThe pressures of politan University’s are inversely bustling compared to 20th century us up for hard falls Irish islands, but they make you feel equally unproductive.

Death anxiety peaks in your twenPádraic’s indignance gradually deties, according to a paper in Death volves from witty, lived-in exchangStudies. Colm doesn’t fear death, but es with Colm to irreversible fury. he’s crushingly aware of it. Without When Pádraic refuses to accept his any children, Colm throws himself decision, Colm presents a sickening into leaving a legacy by achieving ultimatum: for every time Pádraic cultural importance. bothers him, he’ll cut off a finger from We’ve all been Pádraic before, hit his fiddle-playing hand. The threat is with a senseless social media soft- less self-defeating than it appears. block. Yet, it was the blocker who The bizarrely violent saga also struck me hardest in this film. Colm prompts Siobhan to reconsider her has had an artistic awakening since own suffocating life, spent living the end of his friendship with Pa- with her brother and chasing his draic. A new devotion to his fiddle beloved donkey, Jenny, out of their means he can no longer tolerate ba- shared home. nality. “Niceness doesn’t last,” he says In a telling scene, Siobhan corto Pádraic’s disdain, “but music does.” rects Colm for repeatedly referring

to Mozart as a 17th century composer. Mozart died in 1791. The pressures of intellectualism set us up for hard falls; look no further than a TMU tutorial discussion for proof. For Colm, death—or at least maiming—would relieve him from his struggle for relevance against a ticking clock.

Gleeson gives a fascinating performance, distant but with affecting moments that suggest he feels forced to pursue this course. He grounds the film with a life set squarely between resolve and regret.

Born to Irish parents, McDonagh affectionately lingers on the fictional Inisherin’s peaceful rural landscapes. When accompanied by a bright choral score, it’s understandable why Pádraic is so content at the film’s opening. Animals are followed attentively, with moments of personality stressing their connection to their owners. Even as Pádraic grows lonelier, his bond with his donkey, Jenny, is unshakeable. Only interspecies friendships emerge unscathed as humans and animals alike hurtle towards the inevitable end.

Human consciousness is a contradictory burden in Banshees, freeing and trapping characters as they struggle in their quests for purpose.

no guarantee GRADUATING TMU STUDENTS SAY ONLINE LEARNING HAS IMPACTED THEIR FUTURE EMPLOYMENT PROSPECTS WORDS BY MARIYAH SALHIA

A

fter trying to complete a double major in philosophy and music at Carleton University but being unsuccessful, Joseph Gleasure still found himself working at a Real Canadian Superstore in Mississauga, Ont. In his six years at the grocery store, he worked shifts all over the schedule and in more departments than he can remember. One day during a regular shift, he thought to himself, “What the hell am I doing here? I can’t work here forever.”

Three years into his job at the store, Gleasure finally came to the conclusion that he wanted to go back to school, but deciding what he wanted to study was difficult. “Am I gonna pour another $30,000 into a degree that’s going to get me a grocery store job?” He needed a program, unlike the one at Carleton, that would keep him engaged for another four years and get him closer to a career he was truly passionate about—his goal has been to work in fashion purchasing, with the ultimate goal of working in Japan.

VISUALS BY VANESSA KAUK Finally, he landed on the fashion program at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) and started in September 2019. He had heard about the program’s reputation for being hands-on and was looking forward to getting the in-person experience he missed out on the last time he was in school in 2014. “[TMU] fashion used to have a really strong reputation for being a technical program,” he says. “People would come under this program and they would be technically competent for the real world.”

But less than a year into the new degree, the pandemic hit and Gleasure says the program’s elements, that he thought previously prepared students well for the industry, were taken away from them when classes pivoted online.

He remembers sitting at his desk with a cup of coffee, paying close attention to his professor who was explaining the details of an assignment integral to the course. His professor explained

_

features

that each student was to put together a 50-page book of written and photo content they pulled from other sources. The professor stated that in past years, students had to produce a physical 100-page book, with all original written content and two photoshoots that they produced and shot themselves. He sat at his crowded desk, mouth agape at what the assignment had been reduced to because of the pandemic. “I was like, ‘Oh. This is daycare compared to what it was,’” he says.

Now, Gleasure has just seven credits left to complete his degree but any job prospects he’s feeling good about after his impending graduation haven’t come as a product of his degree. Instead, they’re a product of the hard work he’s done outside of his schooling.

As for his degree, Gleasure says he thinks it’s more of a formality.

“Companies need to see that you have this piece of paper on your resume,” he says. Without the degree, Gleasure says people wouldn’t call him back when applying for jobs, so finishing his undergrad was a needed step. Nonetheless, he says he’s still going to make the most of his time left, despite feeling unfulfilled.

“I’m just gonna bust my ass and do everything I can to get the most out of this program.”

For TMU students approaching graduation like Gleasure, working towards a bachelor’s degree feels like an expensive step that’s offering less job security than ever. Coupled with two years of watered down learning during online school, the question of how students will be prepared for future employment after graduation looms heavier than ever on their minds. And that’s if they can even find employment.

A Pew Research study found that only 69 per cent of 2020 university graduates were employed by 2021, compared to 78 per cent of 2019 graduates, who were employed by 2020. According to Statistics Canada, 10.3 per cent of university graduates were unemployed in 2021, a considerable jump from 7.6 per cent in 2019. Last month the unemployment rate in Canada rose by 0.5 per cent to 5.4 per cent. While this rate is still low in comparison to the record-high nationwide unemployment rates in previous years, in August, employment dropped amongst Canadians between the ages of 15 and 24.

“Everybody got hit [by unemployment rates], but certainly students are among the worst.

Students at all levels,” says Anil Verma, a professor emeritus of industrial relations and human resources management at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto.

He says for older students, especially those in university, it was tough for them to enter university, graduate, do lab work, get a job and be integrated into a new organization.

Still, Verma says getting a university or college degree is like a stamp on your forehead. Then, students have to go to employers with their degrees and say, “‘Look, I did my four-year course.’”

Verma says in the past, bachelor’s degrees were enough for employers to hire a candidate.

Now however, employers are also looking for strong skill sets. “Whether you’ll be hired depends on your ability to demonstrate that you can use your knowledge to solve problems,” he says. “And this trend is increasing.”

He says getting a university degree is like getting a hunting license—having one doesn’t automatically mean you will get a deer. Similarly, a degree is just one step toward the greater goal of finding stable employment, not the key. As a result, Verma says students will have to work harder to make themselves more competitive candidates, like seeking out additional professional courses, connecting with employers before reaching out about jobs and in some cases, skill tests administered by potential employers.

Gleasure, now in the final year of his degree, says there is a noticeable gap in the quality of work students produced during the pandemic, compared to before. He attributes this to a lack of engagement when classes were online, reminiscing about the number of his classmates who’d attend class in their pajamas.

“There is a noticeable difference in skill set,” he says.

into practical classes. Then, the pandemic happened. At the time, the now-fourth-year nursing student was eager to start saving time and money on her commute from Mississauga, Ont., since classes were shifted online. “I didn’t have to worry about loading up my Presto card,” she says, “I knew that I just needed my computer to work.”

But when her practical training began in the midst of lockdown in her second year, Shoebridge says she missed out on opportunities for hands-on learning that she’ll now never be able to experience. Instead of using labs and getting in-person instruction, she and her classmates were given a kit to do skills labs at home. “I had to put my fan next to me at my desk here, run an IV and count the drips,” she says. She had to insert a needle into an orange for her skills video assessment, conduct wound care on the back of her binder and practice doing sterile dressings all from home.

For Shoebridge, missing out on these labs in person feels like a loss that’s particular to her graduating class; after that lab, the program didn’t offer the same practical experience again.

In the winter semester last year, Shoebridge and her classmates came back to campus for one day of in-person labs. She says students were rushed through what felt like 10 weeks worth of content in a mere eight hours. She remembers her instructor saying, “‘OK, we’re gonna do injections, we’re going to do catheters, we’re going to do this, we’re going to do that and then we are out of here by 4 o’clock.’”

“I’m gonna test you and then goodbye. We’ll see you next week online,” she recalls being told.

For Shoebridge, this was frustrating. “We’re supposed to have so many other hours and days and knowledge and we have none of that.” These are some of the hands-on skills that many TMU students like Shoebridge and Gleasure did not get a chance to learn, especially when everyone was at home during online school.

“It’s always really important to make the distinction between knowledge and skills,” says Steve Joordens, a professor of psychology at the University of Toronto Scarborough. He says even before the pandemic, universities weren’t doing a good job of preparing students for life after graduation.

By having little opportunities for students to have face-to-face interactions with professors, they aren’t learning how to deal with uncomfortable social interactions, which Joordens says is imperative to being able to get a job.

Now, Shoebridge says the only reason she feels confident about her job prospects is because of a shortage of nurses in Ontario. Earlier this year, emergency rooms across the province were closed because of depleted nursing staff.

She used to think she wouldn’t get hired out of school, because like her fellow peers in the program, she had less experience. Now however she says “I will for sure get hired, no matter where. Because it’s a crisis.”

T

K

rista Shoebridge still remembers her first day of university, on a Tuesday in September of 2019. Relieved that it started at 10 a.m. and not at 8 a.m. like some of her other classes were scheduled to begin, she went to her lecture and made conversation with some classmates she recognized from orientation.

Since 2017, TMU’s nursing program has consistently made the Maclean’s top 20 list of best nursing university programs in Canada, so the choice of school for Shoebridge was easy. With the program boasting a hands-on approach, she was excited to get

7

oday, Gleasure has an end goal of a career in fashion at the front of his mind. With only a year left of his degree to complete, he feels confident about his employment prospects, but he doesn’t think his degree is what’s preparing him for the workforce.

Instead, it’s because of his job in marketing for a high-end furniture dealer in Toronto.

“I got that job because of work I had done in social media on my own time, completely unrelated to school,” he says. Earlier this year, he was awarded the Helen and Sulo Hutko Award by the TMU School of Fashion, for his work contributing to fashion magazines like _AD magazine, SHELLzine, Terminal 27 and for co-founding My Clothing Archive, an archival fashion page, which grew to 25,000 followers on Instagram and 13,000 on TikTok. “If I was relying purely on my education, credentials, I don’t think I would have gotten that position,” says Gleasure. “I feel like there’s a lot of people in that exact same position in my program right now.”

8

COMMUNITIES

Women students say they want better security amidst fears of sexual harassment

By Nalyn Tindall Women students at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) expressed concern over the frequency of sexual harassment and catcalling on campus. As daylight hours decrease, women on campus say they want better security in order to feel safe when walking between buildings.

Many students described the amount of open space on campus as a safety concern after multiple sexual assaults were reported last semester, according to the TMU Community Safety and Security’s website.

TMU students say they have come to expect sexual harassment on campus as part of their every day PEYTON KEELER-COX/THE EYEOPENER life. “[Catcalling] is a very common occurrence, but that’s just living in down Gould Street, despite it being downtown Toronto,” said third- a busy area. year business management student Taimur described feeling unsafe Maleeha Taimur. last spring, when a student was allegedly assaulted on campus. In March, a university community “[Catcalling] is a very member reported to TMU Secucommon occurrence” rity that they were sexually assaulted in Kerr Hall, according to a security Taimur said she has been cat- incident released by the university. called outside the Victoria building, “You never know who can come despite being in a group during the into the buildings,” she said. daytime. When asked if she felt safe Nicole Gabriele, a fourth-year on campus, she explained she has architecture student also said the mixed feelings. amount of open space between the “Yes and no because we don’t ex- university buildings can be both actly have a campus, it’s just like a big positive and negative. open space in the city,” Taimur said.

“We have OneCard access but She also said she’s been catcalled anyone can walk around campus,” on campus by other students, in- said Gabriele. “It’s part of the city. cluding an incident where a large That’s what I like about it.” group of male students shouted at She expressed appreciation for her and her friends while walking campus security but said she doesn’t

see security as often in the evening.

According to 2018 data from Statistics Canada, one in three women have experienced unwanted sexual behaviour in public.

In a statement to The Eyeopener, TMU stated that “TMU Security staff are actively patrolling on campus 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide a safe presence for students and community members.”

Campus resources like Consent Comes First and the WalkSafe Program are designed to help mitigate sexual harassment and make students feel safe on campus. The WalkSafe Program pairs students with uniformed security members to escort them to locations on campus.

The service is available to all TMU community members at all times, while Consent Comes First offers free and confidential support

Other women say that while they may not experience catcalling on campus, they feel unsafe walking around the construction zones.

The intersection of Church and Carleton streets is currently the site of streetcar construction. This intersection near the Mattamy Athletic Centre is at the edge of the school’s WalkSafe program, forcing students like fourth-year global management studies student Gillian Baker to take alternative, more dangerous routes to reach their destinations.

“Sometimes students have to leave campus to get to their classes and walk through areas with no security; that’s when the construction becomes a problem,” said Baker.

to those who have been affected by sexual assault.

“The security walk “The security walk around, but around, but are they are they really there? No,” said Gareally there? No” briele. She explained that she often only sees security guards during the day and would feel more comfortIn the same statement to The able if there was an increased secu- Eye, the university said, “The wellrity presence at night. being of our community members is one of our top priorities...We take any incidents of sexual vio“You never know who can lence and harassment on our camcome into the buildings” pus very seriously.”

Gabriele also explained that she Though the university did not feels fortunate: as a fourth-year studisclose how many officers patrol dent, she has more familiarity with campus, the school did state that the streets around campus. She notthe number of officers are “un- ed that new students may not know changed based on hours of the day which areas are safest when walking or night.” around the school at night.

“Guards respond to calls for “I’ve had three years of living in service in emergency priority se- the city,” she said. “For first-years it’s quence,” the school added. definitely different.”

Five spots TMU students can volunteer for in Toronto

By Samreen Maqsood

the available postings within their and humanitarian aid. community or send an email to volThe group is looking for volunWhether you’re new to Toronto or unteer@cancer.ca. teers to help pack emergency kits have lived here your entire life, the for families affected by the floods. city is full of events that are always Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup Each kit includes a household water looking for extra volunteers to lend Toronto borders Lake Ontario, one purification unit, solar light and esa helping hand. of the five Great Lakes in North sential hygiene items.

Here are a few spots throughout America. These lakes are the largest Kits will be shipped to Pakistan the city that Toronto Metropolitan bodies of freshwater in the world, and given to families. Students can University (TMU) students can vol- but over 20 million pounds of pollu- sign-up for various volunteer posiunteer for. Check out The Eyeopen- tion end up in them every year. tions online. er’s website for sign-up links.

The Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup (GLPC) is a campaign that uses dif- Meals on Wheels CIBC Run for the Cure ferent types of technology to help re- The Canadian Red Cross is lookThe Canadian Cancer Society re- move plastics from the Great Lakes. ing for volunteers for its Meals on ported in 2019 that one in four Ca- According to the GLPC, 10 million Wheels program in Etobicoke, Ont. nadians will be diagnosed with can- kilograms of plastic are dumped into This program delivers meals to cer in their lifetime. Run for the Cure the Great Lakes each year. people unable to attend to their own is an annual charity run dedicated to The group accepts volunteers on nutritional needs but still want to live breast cancer, one of the most com- a rolling basis, so students can fill independently in their communities. mon types of cancer, according to the out the form at any time.

The organization is also looking Canadian Cancer Society. for volunteers for their mobile food This year’s run is on Oct. 2 and Global Medic Canada Pakistan bank, which provides food hampers needs volunteers to help with the Flood Response to those people who cannot access event planning. Positions include fun- According to BCC News, one-third local food banks in-person. draising, social media marketing, site of Pakistan is currently under water, Volunteers are accepted on a rollset-up, entertainment coordinator, impacting an estimated 33 million ing basis. More information about corporate engagement and more. people. Global Medic is a Canadian signing up can be found through the Volunteers are asked to look at all charity that provides disaster relief Meals on Wheels’ website.

PEYTON KEELER-COX/THE EYEOPENER

Tzu Chi Community Clean Up Tzu Chi Foundation Canada is an international humanitarian nongovernmental organization. They have worldwide volunteers that actively promote recycling and reduce carbon footprints. This year, they are hosting a community clean-up

on Sept. 24 at Mel Lastman Square.

Cleaning supplies such as gloves and trash bags will be provided along with a snack at the end of the day.

Students can sign up to volunteer on the Tzu Chi Foundation Canada’s website.

9

BIZ & TECH

TMU launches Red Bull Gaming Hub with a focus on virtual innovation VANESSA KAUK/THE EYEOPENER

By Joseph Casciaro Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) has officially launched its brand new Red Bull Gaming Hub, in partnership with Red Bull Canada. Since its doors first opened earlier this month, the room is available for students to visit and enhance their knowledge of video games and virtual production.

The Gaming Hub is located on the second floor of the Rogers Communications Centre and is an immersive experience.

Kristopher Alexander, a video games professor at TMU, will serve as the director of the Hub. Alexander played a big role in creating the connections between TMU and Red Bull.

“The Red Bull Gaming Hub is the one place where we focus on the components that stem outside of the playing of games,” said Alexander. “For example, every program at TMU, every job set, has a connection to video games and esports. This hub is to help teach students exactly how and why they could find a career in something they are already passionate about or have a new interest in.”

The hub has big Red Bull logos across the walls, above rows of leather gaming chairs with thin monitors on the desks in front. Eight flat

screen TVs are mounted up on the walls and two fridges, decorated with the iconic blue lights and loaded with cans of Red Bull, add character to the room.

According to Red Bull’s website, the Hub has “36 high-performance gaming computers equipped with some of the best AMD technology on the market.” AMD, Advanced Micro Devices, is a semiconductor company famous for their computer processing and graphic technology. The website also states that the room will have surround sound speakers and a library filled with torical brand partner with us at “classic” video games.

TMU is really exciting because it shows that we have gathered the “Every program at TMU, every attention of top level companies.” job set has a connection to Students will be offered training video games and esports” in three core areas at the Hub: video game design, virtual production and Benson Lam, a fourth-year TMU esports broadcasting. media production student and presiThe Hub will allow students with dent of TMU’s Esports team, is hon- an interest in gaming, the opportuoured to have the company sponsor nity to connect with peers and train the Hub. with the best equipment. “[Red Bull] is actually the first The TMU Esports team has high ever sponsor of esports and the hopes for the Hub and are excited first company that actually believed for what it could mean for their in esports,” said Lam, referring to performance as a team, said Jaden when the company signed its first Luu, the assistant manager of esports athlete, professional Halo TMU’s League of Legends team. player David Walsh, in June 2006.

“I hope to get in there with my “So, having such a popular and his- team playing together and being

able to actually be serious about what to do with the game we’re playing and talk about that in person, rather than online,” he said.

While Lam is also excited to finally have a top-of-the-line space for his team, he said the Gaming Hub allows for a more immersive and enjoyable experience for esports athletes.

“Having that kind of varsity athlete experience, walking into campus with your jersey, your mouse and keyboard, your gear and everything, it’s a really exciting thing to have,” he said.

“If you’ve ever walked into the space, you can definitely tell it was built by gamers, by people who really want to make this space accessible to everyone who wants to be involved with gaming,” Lam added.

He said the Hub isn’t too intimidating and can give people who are interested in gaming but don’t have any experience, more insight into esports. “It’s really cool because they can say, ‘Hey, I’m not an avid gamer, but I wanna see what this esports or gaming industry is.’”

According to Alexander, various gaming companies have already expressed interest in collaborating with the Red Bull Gaming Hub. “We have already connected students with jobs at Epic Games, Interactive Ontario, FaZe Clan, Behaviour Interactive, Ubisoft, among other companies,” said Alexander. “The hub is now a formalized space which has a mandate that we’ve already been pursuing for the last three years.”

Gain experience and explore career opportunities through on-campus opportunities

VANESSA KAUK/THE EYEOPENER

By Jack Wannan

opportunities right on campus. Below are four ways you can dip your If you don’t know what you want toes into different industries, deto do with your life yet, you aren’t velop skills and gain experience, all alone. Across all facets of education through campus. at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), students are constantly Work for Career Boost on the hunt to figure out where TMU’s Career Boost program is they want to go career-wise—and a work-study program that hires many still haven’t decided. eligible full-time international, doYour time as a university student mestic, undergraduate and graduis a great way to discover what op- ate students into paid, part-time portunities are out in the world positions throughout the academic for you. Apart from your everyday year in various faculties and dein-class learning, there are a lot of partments across the university. resources that you can utilize to The program, which employs form connections and find career over a thousand students each

year according to the university’s website, allows hired staff to “put academic theory into practice.” Job postings can range from architectural science programming to sports broadcasting for the university’s sports teams.

Prior to being appointed into a position, students must be approved for Career Boost by Student Financial Assistance through the Career Boost Portal for undergraduate students and AwardSpring for graduate students. Once approved, the program’s paid opportunities are extensive and worth the application process.

Attend events, both on campus or online TMU regularly hosts events meant to guide and inform students about their career options. Take a glance at the school’s schedule online to see what is coming up.

Many events are focused on educating students on career opportunities and introducing them to resources that help them take the next step in their professional lives. For example, the Teaching Pathways event hosted this week helped inform students about the varying types of careers available in education.

“We wanted to show students the

power of their degree,” said Ken Lee, a career education specialist at TMU and organizer of the event.

“If you decide to pursue a bachelor of education [after your time at TMU], you can actually work in the tech sector or as a career educator. Your degree doesn’t limit you to what you can do.”

These events offer flexible accessibility options. Some are on campus, while others provide online accommodation for those who can’t attend in-person.

Join a club Along Gould Street this fall, there was a long, snake-like figure of tables that went down the street and wrapped around Lake Devo. The tables were set up by many of the school’s student clubs and groups, available for students to join.

According to TMU’s website, there are hundreds of clubs at the school, including many careerbased ones.

The Ted Rogers Sales Club, a business-oriented club, aims to teach students about “sales skills and strategies” through events and workshops, according to their LinkedIn profile.

It’s just one of the various student-run groups that can give you

the chance to hone skills that you can use in your career.

Each club has numerous positions, from management, to accounting, social media and more.

Members can take on roles that best suit them career-wise.

Volunteer around campus If committing to a club is too timeconsuming than your schedule currently allows, consider volunteering for specific events or projects related to a hobby or interest that you have.

Working on these events allows students to stay engaged with a passion of theirs while gaining experience managing and getting involved in their chosen industry.

For example, the university’s campus radio station, CJRU 1280 AM, depends on volunteer support to host on-air content or cover and review local concerts—short-term projects which journalism and radio and television arts students regularly take on.

Organizations and events don’t run themselves. Every person involved in projects held on campus is not only working on something that they care about, but gaining important career experience at the same time.

10

SPORTS

Pro Overwatch event at TMU was ‘all about validation’ PHOTO: STEPHEN KAZUMI

By Ilyas Hussein It’s the first week of the fall semester.

Hopping off the subway at College Station and heading to the Mattamy Athletic Centre (MAC), the expectation is to see the various Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) athletic teams preparing for their upcoming seasons. Instead, there’s a different type of atmosphere in the sports complex formerly known as Maple Leaf Gardens.

At the front of the building, the walls were covered in large banners showcasing characters from the popular game Overwatch, rather than the usual banner of TMU’s women’s basketball team. Players were roaming the facility, but they weren’t tradtional athletes—they were there to play video games. The hockey rink was the most packed it’s been since the pandemic and full of cheers. Everyone was there to watch video games.

Hundreds of people flooded the university’s sports complex for the Overwatch League’s (OWL) Summer Showdown event hosted by the Toronto Defiant and OverActive Media.

“People have had many doubts about esports at the school for a long time” The tournament was structured in a double-elimination format with the eight teams that qualified for the event, many coming from outside of Canada to attend. Participants included the Washington Justice, Dallas Fuel, London Spitfire, Vancouver Titans, San Francisco Shock, Florida Mayhem and the Houston Outlaws.

Over the course of the four day event, a large number of fans, including many TMU students, gathered at the MAC to watch professional Overwatch players compete against

each other at the highest level of their profession.

The main stage was laid out on top of the ice hockey rink with fans seated in the lower bowl and on top of the covered ice. Lights could be seen flashing across the stage and crowd, emanating from the large screen suspended above the players, showcasing their gameplay. The commentators’ voices could be heard blaring through the overhead speakers.

“This event has been absolutely amazing. This is my first ever live esports event and the vibes are unreal—it’s so hype,” said Xavier Oshinowo, a third-year media production student and member of TMU’s Overwatch team.

Throughout each day, there was a cool draft coming from the ice beneath the seats as the players set up on stage. Despite the chilly temperature, fans were remarkably passionate about the matches. It seemed as if nobody noticed the cold air.

They were especially emphatic when the Defiant came to play.

The hometown team had a different entrance compared to the other squads, walking through the crowd and up to the stage. Other teams would emerge from behind the stage itself.

When it was Defiant’s time to enter, every fan in the building stood up and gave out raucous cheers.

Fans were chanting for each of the players as well as rooting for the team with “Let’s go Defiant” chants throughout the tournament.

“I was really nervous for the matches, but when I was highfiving the fans during the walkout, one person hit my hand so hard that it woke me up and relaxed me,” said Hyeonwook ‘Although’ Jung, who plays offensive output characters, otherwise known as a damage-per-second (DPS) player, for the Defiant.

Following a disappointing loss on the previous day against lone European club, the London Spitfire, the fourth-seeded hosts used their hometown advantage as motivation. In their next match, they secured the win against the seventhseeded Washington Justice—their first win at a major event this year.

“One person hit my hand so hard that it woke me up and relaxed me” “Literally everyone was out of their seats cheering us on, which was quite a scene to see,” said Huisu ‘Heesu’ Jeong, a DPS player for the Defiant.

“I’m just really appreciative of all the support from the fans.”

Toronto went on to win its following two matches against the Houston Outlaws and Florida Mayhem to ensure a top-three finish at the event. The crowd began to look more full for each Defiant match as they advanced through the gruelling lower-bracket.

The Defiant swept the favoured Outlaws in a win considered to be an upset in the Overwatch community. However, their following match against the Mayhem, in the

losers bracket semi-final, was played extremely close, going the distance in a best-of-five series.

It seemed as if the pieces of the puzzle finally came together for the Defiant. Other teams could be heard chatting around the arena about how they had looked like the best team in practice, but were never able to perform well on stage until this event.

“It felt as if our careers could be on the line if we didn’t win today,” said Heesu after their win against the Justice.

Nonetheless, their Cinderella run came to a halt against the heavilyfavoured San Francisco Shock in the lower-bracket final on the last day of the event.

The Summer Showdown played a massive role in bringing people from TMU together. Over the course of the pandemic, the esports community at TMU has grown exponentially.

Rostered players in respective titles grew to almost one hundred people within the first year of the coronavirus pandemic, according to former TMU Esports president Liam Parmar, in an article written for TorontoMet Today back in March 2021.

Many members involved in TMU Esports attended the event to support the growth of gaming at the university. This was the first live esports event for a great number of people. It was also the first time some members of the university’s competitive club team met eachother in person—an opportunity

they may not have had without the tournament.

“Being able to come to an event like this at your university and be surrounded by like-minded people can remind members of the community that you’re not alone in liking video games here at TMU,” said Zachary Shami, a second-year mechanical engineering student and Twitch streamer.

“It felt as if our careers could be on the line if we didn’t win today” The Creative School has also recently launched the Red Bull Gaming Hub, a gaming facility with dozens of computers for the respective esports teams to practice and play on.

“This is all about validation,” said Benson Lam, a fourth-year media production student and president of TMU’s Esports club. “People have had many doubts about esports at the school for a long time and things like this show that esports is a real industry.”

For many, the integration of—and investment in—esports at TMU is especially important.

They say they’re glad to see the university taking more initiative.

“This is something we needed to do for a long time and I’m glad we’re doing it now because if you put your stocks into esports when it’s early, eventually you’ll see the payout,” said Oshinowo.

PHOTO: STEPHEN KAZUMI

PHOTO: STEPHEN KAZUMI

11

FUN & SATIRE

Why your sign didn’t have a Hot Girl Summer

By Rebecca Morrison

Virgo

With the weather dipping under twenty degrees, it’s time to unpack why several (all) the astrological signs were unable to enjoy their summer to the fullest. Or, more importantly, why the global phenomena known as a ‘Hot Girl Summer’ turned into a Hot Girl Bummer.

You couldn’t stop rearranging bedroom furniture or colour coordinating closets long enough to check the weather. Once you realized that your newly-enhanced closet wasn’t going to solve the chaos in your personal life, you took a two-month mental health hiatus.

Aries

Libra

You couldn’t decide between brawling with or obsessing over anyone who was mildly exciting and as a result, you didn’t see anyone at all. You also refused to give a second chance to anyone that glanced at you in even a slightly passive-aggressive way. You spent the entire break conversing with your furry companions instead.

You were way too exhausted from trying to please everyone you crossed paths with that you didn’t attempt making plans. The one time where, by chance, you found an ounce of energy to be spontaneous, you couldn’t manage to make a definitive decision on a plan and took a nap.

Taurus You refused to abandon the comfort of your 1000-thread count Egyptian cotton sheets. You also spent every dime available on Godiva chocolates, artisan red wine and face masks shipped directly from South Korea. The only time you spent in natural sunlight was inside a 100 per cent pure cashmere housecoat for less than an hour daily.

Gemini Managing both of your personalities took up your entire summer schedule, leaving no time for actual fun activities. You tried to make sure that any parties you attended featured esteemed socialladder-climbing guests. There were too many parties to remember and attend, so you ended up not going to a single one.

If you stand back, tilt your head and close your eyes, TMU is just like UofT

Scorpio

You spent the entire summer waiting for Halloween because you find joy in terrifying all of your loved ones with pranks. You also couldn’t go outside because you decided to only wear black as a fashion choice and obviously it was way too hot for all-black ensembles under that scorching sun.

Sagitarius You decided to flake on every single plan & snoozed all the alarms you made for the first two weeks of summer. Then, you spontaneously decided to quit your job and jet off on a luxurious vacation to a foreign country for the rest of the summer.

Capricorn

You picked up the slack at work because your Sagittarius co-worker quit after only working two days.

While working all the overtime Cancer and kissing any chance of a social life goodbye, your spare moments You were too busy baking treats for were spent counting the heaps of family & friends or giving serious money you made. relationship advice to anyone willing to listen. The times you did step Aquarius outside were for those 3 a.m. Mcdonald’s runs with your high school Whilst everyone else was having what besties. Even then, you became the you thought was a hot girl summer, designated human hair clip and barf you were simply different. You decidcleaner after they hurled their entire ed it was a good idea to DIY split-dye Happy Meal. your hair hot pink and green, which is also why you didn’t go out in public Leo for three weeks.

You spent the entire summer in front of the mirror (slay). The humidity turned your hair into a frizzy mess resembling a lion’s mane. You also realized there are no group projects to dominate over the summer, so you opted to stay indoors and rehearse your alpha skills for next year. Not even mercury can take away your alpha status.

My parents think I go to UofT

Pisces You refused to ignore the glaring red flags at the beginning of your summer fling and spent the remainder of the season nursing a broken heart.

When deciding between eating takeout while re-watching the Lord of The Rings trilogy and going out clubbing, Orlando Bloom’s blonde locks won every time.

By Fatima Raza Visuals By Jes Mason Toronto Metropolitan University’s (TMU) name change from the former Ryerson finally came through for hopeless University of Toronto (UofT) rejects and dropouts, who can now wrongfully identify as UofT students. Rejects just like me.

The shift from UofT to RU was a devestating blow to my parents

day I got my acceptance mail said it all.

The news of their smartest child getting accepted into Canada’s Harvardequivalent spread like wildfire across family group chats with WhatsApp forwards and Facebook posts.

Their joy was alike to that of a Brown boy whose beard finally connects or to a Brown girl who finally fights her sunset curfew. Fast forward, I ended up switching to Toronto Metropolitan University, previously known as Ryerson.

Growing up in an immigrant household, there were only three things required of me: 1) Get good grades, 2) Get better grades than the neighbour’s children and of course, 3) Get into UofT. I managed to fulfill all three requirements. Well...sort of, because I did get into the University of Toronto, Mississauga campus (UTM).

The smile on my parents’ faces the

The shift away from UofT was a devastating blow for my parents, who still refuse to accept it to this day. But let’s be fair, all immigrant parents are always in some sort of denial. Just last week, I was told by my mom that my stress-induced hair loss was in fact caused by me not oiling my hair regularly.

Our new name makes getting my family adjusted to the change in

schools coincidentally convenient.

Since I was at the Mississauga campus, going from UTM to TMU doesn’t entirely seem too bad, just a little rearrangement of the letters, right? Wrong! Unfortunately, my entire family—including relatives back home—think I go to UTM and am pursuing a prestigious degree at one of Canada’s top-ranked university.

It’s not always rainbows and butterflies but I live for the free respect.

It does get really awkward, though, when a relative of another relative happens to know someone down the street whose daughter also wants to get into UofT and reaches out to ask how I like the university.

Do they mean the classes I take in a movie theatre with dingy cup holder lap tables and NOT an ornate lecture hall? Or my campus that’s basically a mall surrounded by deserted alleyways and endless construction, which is definitely not the epitome of woodland core and high-end architecture?

I’m gonna be honest, I dig the new name. Despite the full title making it sound like I study at a subway station, I enjoy getting royal treatment at family events.

I’m sure my name comes up in the “good role model” conversations far more often than I deserve. I’m probably the child every other kid in the family gets compared to, thanks to my parents’ inability to differentiate two acronyms.

12

YOUR CAMPUS PUB Out with old, in with the new.

Help rename your pub!

DM us @ramintherye Open Monday to Friday: 5pm -11pm Closed Sat./Sun. ENTRANCE OFF CHURCH ST.

OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE TMU STUDENT CENTRE

TMUSTUDENTCENTRE.CA