Vol. 56, Issue 5

Volume 56 - Issue 5 October 6, 2022 theeyeopener.com @theeyeopener Since 1967

PHOTO: JES MASON

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EYE-DITORIAL

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Read the report online at: www.torontomu.ca/ombudsperson

Editor-in-Chief Abeer “Group Soup” Khan News Edward “Week Starts Sunday ” Djan Thea “Personally Fight” Gribilas Prapti “Begone Fever!” Bamaniya Photo Jes “3 Michelin Stars” Mason Vanessa “Construction H8er” Kauk Peyton “Thesis Legend” Keeler-Cox Online Alexandra “Oddly Specific Request” Holyk Abby “Grrr Bike Chain” Hughes Features Mariyah “Brownies!” Salhia Arts and Culture Madeline “Seulgi Supremacy” Liao Business and Technology Christina “Bestest!!” Flores-Chan Communities Asha “Story Chaser” Swann Sports Gavin “It Has An Anus!” Axelrod Jack “Best Loiter-er” MacCool Fun and Satire Zarmminaa “Fudge Plug” Rehman Media Sonia “RUSL’s Star” Khurana Youdon “Cutest Mask” Tenzin General Manager Liane “Indoor Socks” McLarty Advertising Manager Chris “12 Files” Roberts Design Director J.D. “VR Veteran” Mowat Contributors Sania “New Year, New Chair” Ali Max “I’m So Shocked” Loslo Nalyn “Do-Re-Mi” Tindall Victoria Sofia “XOXO” Vesovski Dexter “Scrum Slides” LeRuez Mario “Plays Baseball” Russo Matthew “Access Denied” Davison Crina “Shootah” Mustafa Todd “fllwrs.com” Ash-Duah Mikayla “Cooper Rush” Guarasci Konnor ‘“ <3 Hot Moms” Killoran Sam “Speak Up” Beaudoin Matthew “Camera Wrap” Lin Nashra “Downsview” Syed Raphael “Notes” Chahinian Bana “Flu Game” Yirgalem Armen “Walker Stan” Zargarian Mitchell “Wrap It Up” Fox Keirsten “Dominant Possession” Spade Shawn “Defiant Cap” Heerema Keiran “Incognito” Gorski Bashair “Pumpkin Spice Hater” Ali Fredrick “Gourmet Buff” Reyes Max “Lunch Time” Berardi

NEWS

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Here’s what you missed at the September Board of Governors meeting

By Prapti Bamaniya A motion was passed to hold a student referendum to raise the compulsory health and wellness fee at the Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Board of Governors’ (BoG) meeting on Sept. 28.

The vote will be to increase the current health and wellness fee, according to board materials, for all full-time and part-time undergraduate and graduate students from $3.93 to $34.90 per term.

According to Jen McMillen, viceprovost, students, the referendum

will take place in late October or early November. If the referendum is passed by students, the university will implement the increased fee starting September 2023.

According to McMillen, The funds will go toward increased access to mental health services and integrated care and navigation. “The institution has been investing in student wellbeing increasingly over the years,” she said. “But we’ve gotten to a point where there’s only so much we can do without this partnership.”

A minimum of 25 per cent of the increased fee revenue will be spent

JES MASON/ THE EYEOPENER

to support and better front-line wellbeing operations.

This includes hiring additional clinical and support staff, process improvements and wait time reduction, which will benefit students in the fall 2023 semester, McMillen said.

She added that the remainder of the funds would be put toward a new 18,000 square-foot student wellbeing centre located near O’Keefe House, a project that is still pending approval of the BoG. The centre will open in fall 2025 if approved.

McMillen said the university needs to enhance student wellbeing efforts because of the negative mental health impacts after the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Surveys have found declining mental health among Canadians during the pandemic due to high levels of anxiety and loneliness, as well as changes to the care they were able to access,” said McMillen in the meeting.

For the last six months, McMillen said the office of the vice-provost, students spoke to student focus groups to make this decision. “We have been engaging with student

leaders around campus to really talk tation week, which ran from Aug. 28 to them about what might be a… to Sept. 5, said TMU president Mogood value for [students’] money.” hamed Lachemi at the meeting.

More than 1,000 students moved Here’s what else you missed at the into residences, he added. Among September BoG meeting: them were 316 international students arriving from a total of 51 Updating new signage countries, as well as 773 domestic While many signs on campus have students—78 per cent of whom are been changed to reflect the universi- from Ontario. ty’s new name, Saeed Zolfaghari, the vice-president, administration and The “Made of Grit” campaign operations said there are more than The school’s new “Made of Grit” 10,000 signs that need to be updated. campaign is a “big part of the renamHe added that de-branding and up- ing process and defines who we are,” dating efforts are underway. said Lachemi.

For TMU’s digital environment, He added that the campaign’s proZolfaghari said computing and com- motional video had reached 5.7 milmunications services are transition- lion exposures and has been watched ing systems to the new name to at least 1.6 million times since its minimize disruptions for the com- release. munity.

This means making changes that Appointing an actuary for the are visible to users on the web- school’s retirement pension plan site first before handling back-end The BoG passed a motion to appoint changes on the site, which must be Willis Towers Watson as the actuscheduled as they cause disruptions ary for the university’s retirement to the whole site, explained Zol- and pension plan for the Dec. 31 faghari. valuation.

Orientation Recap The next meeting is set to take place on Over 2,500 students attended orien- Nov. 20.

Q&A with new journalism chair Ravindra Mohabeer

By Sania Ali Ravindra Mohabeer joined Toronto Metropolitan University’s (TMU) School of Journalism this summer as the new chair after his appointment in July.

His hiring came after former chair of the School of Journalism, Janice Neil and undergraduate program director Lisa Taylor both resigned from their positions in March of last year, as reported by The Eyeopener.

Their resignation came after a public letter accused the school of inequitable treatment of Black, Indigenous, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ students in the program and called on its leadership to better support marginalized students.

Since then, associate professors Asmaa Malik and Gavin Adamson have been serving as interim co-chairs of the program as of March 2021.

Over a year later, the School of Journalism welcomed Mohabeer, whose term began on July 1.

Will this addition spark the change J-school students have been asking for?

The Eye spoke to the new chair to hear his plans and perspectives as he begins the new role: What are your specific plans for incorporating mental health, equity and inclusion initiatives in the program?

There was a recognition after COVID-19 that the focus on mental health has become far more acute as

What are the main issues you would like to address as chair?

Having the program re-centre on the understanding of it being a people-based interaction around education, rather than necessarily being a program to which people just happen to be a part of.

What experiences do you have in journalism specifically that you feel will prepare you for this position?

My background comes in various ways, from different practices and formations of fact-based storytelling. Fact-based storytelling to me has been the core and the nexus of a lot of my work. The academic and curricular approach is a foundational difference between this being a journalism training ground and this being a journalism school. Because the training ground is something that feels like it comes just exclusively from a workplace and a school that teaches journalism has a combination of both of those things. My balance of understanding the nature of how the inside and the outside of the institution function together.

What drove you to apply for the position?

I’m not going to lie—it’s a shiny job.

It’s a wonderful thing to be in such an incredible environment.

From an outside perspective, the other thing is the challenges that have occurred within the School of Journalism in terms of equity and inclusion and the overall shift in the balance of how the program has run. It’s an interesting place to step back into and it’s a challenge that I think I’m up to. Here is a possibility to engage in meaningful change in a very important place that can have a ripple effect across the entire industry.

In the past, many students expressed not feeling safe enough to convey their concerns about the program—some issues pertained to the administration’s issues with students—prompting an open letter that was written last year. What are your thoughts on this letter?

I read it with great interest and I was very pleased to see students are that passionately engaged. It was useful for me to read that, read over the curriculum, read over whatever I could find as an external person to see what I would do and how I would respond. I also know that the letter was a big risk. It’s hard to tell

people struggled more both publicly and privately. Up until now, a lot of people, particularly students, have tried to cope quietly in a way that is not always helpful to them. The focus on balance, equity and inclusion are necessary foundations and pillars for my approach to how I’m going to orient myself in the beginning to make sense of how the school functions now and to figure out the next steps going forward from there.

JES MASON/THE EYEOPENER

somebody that they have been dif- some thoughts about the idea that ficult or wrong. there is great value in having specific courses about specific issues How would you ensure that ra- that are related to the 2SLGBTQ+ cialized, 2SLGBTQ+ and other his- community, to the various BIPOC torically marginalized groups feel communities, collectively and safe in journalism classrooms? separately. But then, there’s also My experience in the 70s, 80s, 90s value in having that being part of and so on is completely not the ex- a central focus across the entire perience of a lot of students we have curriculum because it shouldn’t today at all. It’s so foundationally be, ‘OK, I checked that box, that different that sometimes it’s hard course that I took and therefore for people to recognize that it is a I’m an expert now.’ combination of equity, but also trying to learn that the way the world Answers have been edited for clarity works is not your world. I’ve had and length.

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By Max Loslo Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) students are struggling to find available and affordable living spaces near campus, despite the frequent stream of condominiums being added to the Toronto skyline.

Elm on Yonge, a new condominium being built at Yonge and Dundas streets, is the most recent example of a condominium building being developed close to campus that may be financially unfeasible for many students.

With average rent prices recently hitting a record high—according to a report released by the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board this summer—students say out-of-reach options are the norm.

Rhaia Egleston, a first-year RTA student who recently moved into an apartment with her sister, said finding a place to live was more challenging given their statuses as current full-time students.

“There were multiple places that denied us because we were students,” said Egleston.

“I’m so shocked we even got the place that we did,” she added. “Our landlord had over a hundred offers on it.”

Cherise Burda, a professor in the urban planning department at TMU

NEWS

and expert in Toronto real estate, urban planning and housing affordability said the current housing situation in Toronto for renters, including students, is dire.

She said a mix of different factors including a market built for home ownership, a dramatic rise in the renter population and a lack of units built specifically to rent has resulted in a housing crisis.

“All the cards are stacked against rentals right now,” said Burda.

“All the cards are stacked against rentals right now” She added that those in lower economic classes, including students, are being particularly affected by the crisis. “Students are a casualty of this.”

Burda also said condominiums like Elm on Yonge are not solutions to the crisis students are facing.

“These condos aren’t cheap, they’re very expensive and we don’t have rent control on anything that was built after 2018.”

It was announced in June that rent in Ontario will be capped at 2.5 per cent, which is over two times the 2022 increase.

“We haven’t been building an affordable rental supply,” said Berda.

PEYTON KEELER-COX/THE EYEOPENER

Berda added that buildings that are built specifically for renting are a way to improve the situation. At TMU, this might look like on-campus housing built for students. However, TMU’s resident options are lacking when compared to other universities.

McMaster University, which has a similar number of students as TMU, has over four times the space for students who wish to live

on campus. There are 12 residence buildings compared to TMU’s three buildings, equating to 4186 beds at McMaster compared to TMU’s 1114.

“It’s not enough,” said Chrys Dimitrakopoulos, a first-year RTA sport media student. “This school is so big.”

Dimitrakopoulos transferred from York University in 2021, where she said the housing options were far more accessible.

She added that demand exists at TMU for on-campus housing. “A lot of people would move here if they had space for students.”

Dimitrakopoulos is still looking for housing and is hoping to find an apartment for next September, however, she has found it difficult so far.

“It’s quite pricey,” said Dimitrakopoulos, referring to the current market. “Especially if you’re a girl trying to find a place with security that’s not just an apartment on the street.”

Dimitrakopoulos has seen the condo developments near campus, including Elm on Yonge, but she said they are going to take too long or may be financially out of reach.

“It’s going to be beautiful but I know it’s also gonna be pricey.”

Elm on Yonge plans to be completed in spring 2027, long after many current first-year students will have graduated.

For students who have managed to get a spot in one of the school’s residence buildings, facing the current renting market when their time in residence ends can be daunting.

“It’s a little scary to be honest,” said Owen Hill, a first-year RTA student. “I’m an 18-year-old kid who’s never lived on his own and now I’m looking at places to live in downtown Toronto that cost way too much money.”

Hill added that in a perfect world, he would stay on campus after his first year. “Living on [residence] is the easiest thing, if I could live on

[residence] for all four years I would.”

When asked about the lack of affordable housing available close to campus, the university referred The Eyeopener to a previous statement given as part of an entirely separate Eye story about people who are unhoused.

“There were multiple places that denied us because we were students” “We will continue to explore more affordable methods to expand residence space near campus and support students in their search for off-campus housing to help them feel less stressed when navigating the housing and renting market in Toronto,” the forwarded email reads.

But these efforts have not stopped many students from having to commute long distances.

Dimitrakopoulos commutes an hour each way to campus. She said this is a burden on her daily schedule.

“Commuting takes up an hour of my time,” she said. “If I lived down here I could spend more of my time working.”

Burda echoed Dimitrakopoulos’ sentiments, adding that the conditions of the market need to change.

“We’re at a critical point where we need to build homes for renters,” said Burda.

“We have had more cranes in the sky for the past four or five years than any city in North America,” said Burda, who adds that she believes the direction of the current market is failing many, including students.

“We’re building [after] building [after] building,” she said. “We have turned out hundreds of thousands of condo units over the past 10 years. How much of that is affordable housing?”

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ARTS & CULTURE

By Nalyn Tindall The Toronto Concert Choir (TCC) hopes to bring classical choral singing back to campus. The choir, which started in 2020, follows in the footsteps of the former Oakham House Choir, who were a part of Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) for over 35 years.

The choir previously received financial support from the Palin Foundation, a not-for-profit corporation that operates the TMU Student Campus Centre. After a severe funding cut as a result of the 2019 Student Choice Initiative, the choir had to stop rehearsing at the historic Oakham House. This also led to the choir’s name change, but despite this, their history remains.

The group is currently seeking a new rehearsal space on campus but have yet to find success.

Previously composed of up to 100 members including students, faculty and community members, the group is now struggling to regain its strength. The group rehearsed online throughout the COVID-19 pandemic but recently got together to rehearse in-person for the first time under their new name on Sept.

12. Approximately 50 members returned, with very few TMU students and staff involved.

“It’s been challenging because the university does not have a lot of space,” said Donna Koller, an early childhood studies professor at TMU and member of the choir. “So class-

rooms and students take precedence.”

Koller noted that the makeup of the group has added to this challenge. As the choir is a diverse group of community members, students, faculty and alumni, it’s hard to arrange a time and place to practice around their many schedules and different lifestyles. The pandemic made this even more challenging as students and staff were the only people allowed on campus last year.

“We hope that we will be under the protection of the university,” said Matthew Jaskiewicz, the conductor and musical director of the TCC. The choir is currently rehearsing at the St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church but they hope to find a more suitable space covered by the university.

“I still believe that we serve some kind of purpose here” Despite being affiliated with TMU from its beginnings, the choir feels far from a student group. The group was founded with students in mind but has struggled to attract young members. “The presence of all these outsiders, they are here because without them, there wouldn’t be a choir,” said Jaskiewicz.

Second-year professional music student Zoey Ryen said she had no idea TMU had a choir. “I did choir for most of my life and if I had

Binge-watching is more than a mindless act of consuming multiple episodes in one sitting. It’s become a way of life, something some people plan into their calendars.

That being said, binge-watching a show is sometimes easier said than done. In fact, some people might spend more time looking for a show to watch than studying for their midterm exams.

Instead of aimlessly scrolling through the recommended sections of Netflix or Amazon Prime Video, here is a list of carefully curated, PEYTON KEELER COX/THE EYEOPENER binge-worthy TV shows and where to watch them from writer Victoria fall, look out for the drama in season Sofia Vesovski. three, episode 11, “The Treasure of Serena Madre,” where it-girl Serena Gossip Girl (Crave) Van Der Woodsen brings home a The classic Gossip Girl Thanksgiving married politician to stir the pot. episodes capture the essence of the fall season. However, it seems like Big Little Lies (Hulu) Thanksgiving brings much more Big Little Lies is a dark comedy folthan turkey and pie on the Upper lowing the lives of five of the East Side. Throughout the six seasons wealthiest women in Monterey, of Gossip Girl, lies, arguments and be- California. These women appear to trayals take no holiday breaks. have perfect lives, until the façades If you are binging Gossip Girl this come crashing down when they find

known we had a choir I would’ve gone to one of their performances or even tried out myself,” said Ryen.

Jaskiewicz has directed the choir since it was established in 1984. “I still believe that we serve some kind of purpose here,” he said. “There’s lots of young people who graduate from high school and they used to sing or play in bands and they are coming here and they miss it. They want to continue with the music.”

He hopes that interested students will find the group and be able to come sing, as this is the reason the group was created. The choir is the only group practicing classical music at the school, according to Jaskiewicz.

TMU communication and culture graduate Emma Whyte joined the choir in 2017 and has been with the group since.

“I’m just excited that the choir is back,” she said in an email to The Eyeopener. “I just enjoy getting to sing and read music in a group setting like this…I’ve really enjoyed it because the music is both challenging [and] fun.”

Fifth-year aerospace engineering student Lester Pinlac has been a member of the choir since 2019. He said the choir has been a meaningful part of his university experience, allowing him to meet new people and take part in something he feels is worthwhile.

“It definitely helps in alleviating a lot of the stress that comes with school and academic life. It’s an outlet for me

themselves involved in a full-on murder scandal.

Throughout the series, viewers are constantly searching for answers to two prominent questions: who has been murdered and who committed the crime, which will boost the urge to binge this series.

How to Get Away with Murder (Netflix) As spooky season approaches, it is the prime time to binge a lengthy thriller

JES MASON/THE EYEOPENER

to sing my heart out,” said Pinlac.

He hopes to see more student engagement with the group and wants students to know the choir isn’t as serious as they may think.

“It’s a lot more relaxed and it’s definitely more enjoyable when you sing with people,” said Pinlac.

Many members of the choir said they hope to see a return to its former size. The choir is seeking ways to further advertise the group, though finding the funds to do so is complicated as the group is currently funded by choir members.

“I hope to see a real cross section of faculty and students and staff who work on campus come together in joyous music,” said Koller. “I just think that would really be representative of a really socially inclusive campus.”

The choir rehearses every Mon-

day evening and continues to accept new students, free of charge. So far, the members say rehearsals have been going well as they prepare for their first of two concerts this year.

The choir has played an important role in developing the university’s musical community over the last 38 years. As the Oakham House Choir, the group sang at various events and competitions, including Nuit Blanche, the Toronto Kiwanis Music Festival and the Karl Jenkins concert at Carnegie Hall.

“It’s great to get to share our music with friends and family and getting to sing our music with an orchestra is a really unique experience,” said Whyte.

The Toronto Concert Choir will perform their first concert of the year in early December. A venue has not yet been booked for the concert.

like How to Get Away with Murder.

The mystery of who killed sorority girl Lila Stangard leaves the boundless lead, Annalise Keating, to fill in the blanks of that night. While doing so, she discovers the skeletons in her own closet, as well as those of five of her law school students.

Annalise will do anything to protect the ones she loves, the same way she will do anything to win a case. And when she’s caught between the two, anything is possible.

Stranger Things (Netflix) This sci-fi drama, set in the 80s, follows the disappearance of Will Byers, who was taken by a monstrous creature into an alternative dimension called the “Upside Down.” This rift between worlds leaves Will’s friends to solve the mystery with the help of Eleven, a girl who was raised in a lab to have telekinetic abilities.

If you want to get a head start on spooky season, tune in to the Stranger Things Halloween episode, “Chapter Two: Trick or Treat, Freak” in season two.

Gilmore Girls (Netflix) There is something so warm and cozy about watching Gilmore Girls this time of year. Fall is a season of transition, whether it’s starting at a new school or simply feeling the changing weather. Viewers get to accompany Lorelai and Rory as they navigate life in the small town of Stars Hollow.

Whatever stage you’re at in life, Gilmore Girls has something for you. Moving through the seasons and life events with the lively characters in this show will really make you feel like you’re part of the Gilmore family.

Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin (HBO Max) Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin puts an even darker spin on the haunting drama that seeps into every corner of the town of Millwood, Pennsylvania.

A reboot of the 2010 hit, Pretty Little Liars, this show follows a new group of liars as a mysterious and vengeful figure, “A,” begins to haunt them over a tragedy that involved their mothers in 1999.

If you were a fan of the OG drama, Original Sin is sure to be a nostalgicyet-fresh watch.

On Sept. 13, Michelin released its renowned guide for Toronto—a first for a Canadian city.

Michelin awarded stars to 13 restaurants in the city. Five of them were in and around Yorkville and many of them boasted several-hundred-dollar tasting menus featuring Japanese, Italian and contemporary cuisine.

As a student who’s into food, I’ve never eaten at any of these restaurants and I know I won’t be able to afford to any time soon.

But students are in luck!

Alongside the guide, Michelin

also released its lesser-known but “just-as-esteemed” Bib Gourmand recommendations, recognizing 17 affordable spots in the city. On behalf of The Eyeopener, I set out to find the best Michelin-reviewed restaurants for students. From Nashville-style fried chicken to sweetand-sour eggplant, one of these restaurants is sure to hit the spot.

The reviews are based on a few things: affordability, ambience and of course, the food. We adhered to a Michelin-esque rating system of one to three ‘eyes’: one is good and three is goddamn amazing.

THE BEST MICHELIN-REVIEWED RESTAURANTS FOR TMU STUDENTS Words and Photos by Jes Mason

On the outer edge of a run-of-themill suburban plaza in Scarborough lies a smoked meat restaurant that is anything but ordinary. SumiLicious takes after its owner and namesake, Sumith Fernando—unassuming, welcoming and captivating. The counter-service deli seats about 20 people, but the line to order was nearly out the door when I got there on a Saturday afternoon.

I ordered a smoked meat sandwich combo ($17.50) and Fernando kindly threw in a black cherry soda, a staple drink for smoked meat delis. Despite the growing crowd, I only waited about ten minutes to eat. Two cooks behind the counter were taking orders and slinging sandwiches like a well-oiled machine. They were quick and calm—hallmarks of a good kitchen.

The combo comes with a sizeable side of fries, a small coleslaw, a dill pickle and the iconic smoked meat sandwich. The soft sliced rye bread is drizzled with Heinz yellow mustard and absolutely stacked with brisket that falls apart in your mouth—tender, rich and salty

thanks to a ten-day brine and several hours of smoking. It’s surprisingly not messy to eat. The fries are perfectly crisp, seasoned with a bit of paprika, and the coleslaw is tangy and refreshing. The serving sizes were on par with most fast food combos. I showed up on an empty stomach and left feeling full, but not stuffed. Granted, I brought half the sandwich home, which was still delicious after a couple hours in my fridge. If sandwiches aren’t your thing, the smoked meat poutine is also worth trying.

For east-end students in the area, this sandwich is a great take-out option for dinner, located about 20 minutes from Scarborough Town Centre by bus.

If you have the time, the hour and a half commute from campus is absolutely worth it. It’s a daunting trek for a sandwich, but I’ve already done it twice this week.

Chica’s Chicken is an inconspicuous fried chicken joint located on the south-east corner of Keele and Dundas Streets. I walked in around 7:30 p.m. on a Saturday night, just before closing time. It was still bustling with cooks packaging take-out and calling out orders to a soundtrack of Wu-Tang and the unmistakable sound of a sizzling fryer. The vibes are cool and ca-

sual, courtesy of a hip-hop playlist and lowkey decor that borders on dingy.

I ordered the OG Sando ($12.50) over the phone about a half hour prior. The restaurant is counterservice but they recommend calling ahead to order—20 minutes before on weekdays and as early as possible on weekends, when they often sell out of all menu items.

Thankfully, my food was waiting for me by the time I got there.

The fried chicken is the star of the show. The halal chicken thigh is dry brined and breaded beautifully, giving it a perfectly consistent crunch that complements the tender meat and pickle slices. The country-style white bread is lightly toasted, smeared with buttermilk ranch and slaw. I opted for the me-

dium spice level and it was, well, medium spicy. Exactly as expected.

The ranch and creamy slaw balanced out the spice nicely and the pickles added a bit of acidity. The serving size was generous—more than enough for a one-person lunch.

Chica’s would be the perfect evening spot to hit after a closing shift or a night of bar-hopping through the Junction.

Unfortunately, it’s only open until 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 6 p.m. on Sundays. Regardless, if you’re in the mood for some deepfried goodness, it’s worth making the 40-minute trip from campus before starting a nighttime study session or heading home for the night.

At the entrance of Indian Street Food Company, the rules of the restaurant are painted on the wall in bold letters.

They include: no topless sunbathing, no running away, no flirting, no outside food and no feet on table. The quirky wall art is prescient. Mostly lighthearted with a few actual rules thrown in, it was the perfect primer for the ambiance of the rest of the night.

This quaint spot near Bayview and Eglinton Avenues toes the line between casual and fine dining. You wouldn’t feel out of place in business formal attire but you could also get away with jeans and a hoodie. Its outof-pocket decor is juxtaposed by highly professional wait staff and candlelit, cloth-clad tables. The dining area can seat about 50 people. I booked a reservation for two but it’s likely not necessary on weekdays—the place was only half-full when former Eye editor Laila Amer and I got there on a Sunday evening. The kitchen offers two rotating tasting menus—a threecourse meal for $62 and a “street vendor’s” menu for $72 (without wine pairings)—and the menu boasts an excellent selection of chaats, Indian snacks commonly served as street food. At the server’s recommendation, we opted for two vegetarian mains: their sweet-and-sour eggplant

dish ($17.75) and Maa Ki Dal, a black lentil dish ($15.25).

Both dishes were packed with flavour. The first dish had a generous portion of eggplant with hints of coriander and cayenne in the sauce.

The eggplant size did, unfortunately, matter, as we both lamented it hadn’t been cut up into smaller pieces.

The black lentil dish was definitely our favourite. It was rich, creamy and salted to perfection without being too heavy. We devoured it. We also ordered garlic naan ($4.90) and aged basmati rice ($5.95) on the side— they don’t come with the mains. The naan was the highlight of the evening. It was warm, fresh and light with the right level of stretch and crispy-ness.

Amer said she would be back if she was “nearby and hungry.” Personally, I’ll be returning in order to try the chaat dishes. For students, Indian Street Food Company is an excellent option for a semi-fancy date night that won’t break the bank. The lowlit dining area and soft music lends itself well to romance. Be warned, though, it can get a little messy, so maybe save it for the second date.

Hopefully they’ll make an exception to their no flirting policy.

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SPORTS

Super spectacular September full of slammin’ sports team’s 15-0 win over the Royal Military College Paladins this weekend, but this is a September sports recap.

The Bold men’s soccer team also went 2-2 last month, dropping matches to nationally ranked opponents in Carleton University and Ontario Tech University.

ALEK ZIVKOVIC/THE EYEOPENER

By Jack MacCool & Gavin Axelrod Summer’s over, school’s back in session and everyone is wearing their sweaters. But while the air gets chillier and the school assignments are piling up, sports are finally back in full-force at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU).

All the university’s clubs and varsity teams have returned to action and September had lots to highlight.

From homecoming to stellar moments in soccer and a perfect game from a baseball pitcher, The Eyeopener is breaking down everything you might’ve missed during a busy September full of sports.

Homecoming a hit at TMU TMU’s women’s hockey homecoming was a party many are still talking about.

Students packed Lake Devo for a pre-game tailgate where there was a DJ, food and free T-Shirts. Walking down Gould Street, students were seen decked out in blue and gold gear, with many painting their faces with the school’s colours.

The women’s hockey team went toe-to-toe with the reigning U Sports champions, the Concordia Stingers. TMU dropped the contest 3-2, but rookie Britni Yammine shined, scoring a goal in the contest and goaltender Jayden Lawson made 33 saves.

took place on Sept. 19 at the King’s Forest Golf Club in Hamilton, Ont. for the McMaster Invitational, where they placed 10th.

Third-year business management student Matthew McRae shot the best for the Bold, coming away with a score of 74, good for two over par.

The Bold also participated in the Brock Invitational on Sept. 25, at SawMill Golf Club in Fenwick, Ont. The team’s season only gets busier as they head into October. With meets taking place on the first, second and third of the month, the team will look to make the best of the opportunity before heading into the OUA championship in Ottawa from Oct. 14 to 16.

ing tournament on Sept. 22, besting the Queen’s University Gaels 9-5. The men’s squad also beat the Gaels 8-3 in the OUA Championship back in last March.

However, the Bold dropped their next two matchups and needed an 8-5 win over the University of Alberta on Sept. 23 for a shot at a playoff spot. The Bold lost their final match of the tournament 6-9 against the Regina Cougars and finished fifth at the event.

Baseball’s postseason push The TMU baseball team had a strong end to the semester’s first month, accumulating a 4-5 record, winning their last three games of the month.

The streak included wins over McMaster University and York University. In the midst of the streak, fourthyear pitcher Matt Tohana secured the baseball team’s first perfect game in program history in a 6-0 win over York. Tohana pitched seven hitless innings and struck out ten batters while only throwing 78 pitches during the history-making performance.

The Bold jumped out to a fourgame win streak in October, including a pair of victories over a very strong University of Toronto program.

Heated nationals rematch The Bold men’s hockey team’s preseason campaign came to a close this past weekend when it faced off against a familiar foe. After defeatA win is a win ing the University of New BrunsThe TMU women’s softball team’s wick Reds at last year’s national record isn’t where they’d like it to championship tournament, the rebe, but the team has a lot to build match of an improbable upset took on just under halfway through their season. Having played six games last month, the team was awarded two victories over Carleton University due to forfeitre. However, they have had success with their bats early on.

The team put up nine runs against the University of Windsor in their second game of the season and 13 against York in an extra-inning showdown which saw them lose 1413 on Sept. 23. The team plays four games per weekend throughout September and October. They saw four games get postponed, two of which became the Carleton forfeit wins and the hope is that the other two games are rescheduled later in the season.

Perez surges in September Third-year women’s soccer midfielder Ivymae Perez is off to a scorching start this season and scored five goals in four matches last month.

Perez joined TMU during the pandemic after spending the 2019 campaign at the University of South Florida, a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division One school. While Perez only played 171 minutes of action in 2021, she’s already shown one month in why she once played at the highest level of collegiate sports.

The third-year’s big boot came in clutch in the squad’s 4-0 win over Trent University on Sept. 18, where Men’s soccer finishes square Men’s Rugby not rucking around she potted two goals.

Everyone on campus this week will TMU’s men’s Rugby team made be talking about the men’s soccer headlines in the U Sports sphere Curling for bid on world stage when they knocked off the York The winter edition of the FederaUniversity Lions 81-0 on Sept. 4. No tion Du International Sport (FISU) you didn’t read that wrong, that re- World University Games rolls ally was the margin of victory. around every two years, pitting The university’s rugby team is a top collegiate athletes from across competitive club and doesn’t cur- the world against each other. But rently have Ontario University Ath- this year’s 31st Winter Universiade letics (OUA) status. However, they needed a different qualifying format earned victories last month over the to find a Canadian representative, as University of Toronto Varsity Blues U Sports didn’t have a curling chamand Waterloo Warriors. pionship last season.

So, as the reigning 2022 OUA Golf gets goin’ silver medalists, TMU’s men’s curlThe TMU golf team had a busy Sep- ing squad was invited to the nation’s tember, competing in two invita- capital for a shot to qualify for the tional events. The first of the meets Games. The Bold opened the qualify-

place at the Mattamy Athletic Centre (MAC) on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.

Both games were heated affairs, with the Reds picking up two wins.

The first game ended with a score of 1-0, with the second ending 3-1 in favour of the Reds. The second contest also saw a total of 68 minutes in penalties handed out to both teams as they battled tooth and nail in every skirmish for the puck.

Head coach Johnny Duco told The Eye the two programs are rivals, even though they play in different provinces.

We’re still not used to the national champs losing The TMU women’s basketball team had something happen to them for the first time in a very long time—they lost. Coming off an undefeated national championship season, it was a strange sight at the MAC when the team dropped its first pre-season game 72-67 to the University of Regina on Sept. 30.

After losing a number of key players from last year, the Bold are experiencing growing pains as they attempt to put together another national championship run.

The team’s pre-season slate will help them build for the regular season, as they still have six games left before the real thing tips off at home on Nov. 5.

MATTHEW LIN/THE EYEOPENER

ANDREW YANG/THE EYEOPENER

BIZ & TECH

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Students are excited and hopeful for what the metaverse may bring

By Christina Flores-Chan and Matthew Davison Long before the metaverse became a common term, Michael Bergmann, an assistant professor at Toronto Metropolitan University’s (TMU) School of Performance and director of research at the Technological Research in Performance Lab, had been incorporating it into not only his own storytelling, but also in his teaching.

Throughout the university’s time online during the pandemic, Bergmann said he took the opportunity to explore other mediums of performance besides the program’s usual in-person theatrical shows.

He began using virtual reality (VR), a computer-generated experience that immerses users into a simulated environment with a headset, as a virtual stage for his students.

“Taking aspects of scenic design, lighting design and sound design, we’re basically creating that environment originally in VR, then we’re having the actors come into it,” Bergmann said.

For certain projects, actors would perform live using their own headsets and the audience would join in through VR. “The fun aspect of it is you can do things in VR and in the metaverse that you can’t do in real life. So all of a sudden, we can jump between floors, you know?” said Bergmann.

“The actors can change the entire scene and now we’re in a completely different environment. It takes a lot of the magical aspects of theatre and performance and gives us another tool to really make that immersive.”

To some students, the term metaverse may be a foreign concept—a word associated with the neon green coding language from The Matrix or reminiscent of a dystopian future where society exists only online. For others, the word might just have as much significance as the newest name of the technology company Meta, formerly known as Facebook. And as it happens, none of those guesses would be very far off.

“You can do things in VR and in the metaverse that you can’t do in real life” The “metaverse,” according to Forbes, is an umbrella term for the virtual, online worlds that are accessible through three-dimensional, immersive technologies such as artificial intelligence, VR and augmented reality. Different applications of the metaverse work to simulate and enhance the physical reality in which society currently exists.

For instance, while Bergmann’s virtual stage helped students to

VANESSA KAUK/THE EYEOPENER

maximize their education in the physical world throughout online learning, other spaces aim to simply provide users with a digital alternative to the analog one.

These digital spaces are made possible through blockchain technology, which is defined by the International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) as a decentralized database that collects, records and tracks all digital assets and transactions, like the trading of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), that exist across a network.

“If we’re not engaging with the metaverse at this point, then we’re behind” Through the trading of NFTs, virtual real estate and cryptocurrency, metaverse users can spend and earn capital in the digital space.

Brands like Gucci and Nike have already released fashion designs made specifically for digital avatars, while the National Football League partnered with Ticketmaster earlier this year to offer NFT tickets in celebration of the 2022 Super Bowl.

And these spaces are projected to keep growing. A September report

by GlobalData valued the metaverse market size at $22.79 billion USD (or $31.1 billion CAD) in 2021 and it is estimated to balloon to $996.42 billion by 2030.

According to another article in Forbes, the metaverse’s eventual goal is to create “an individualized experience for the user,” allowing participants to travel and experience destinations around the world through VR and a headset or communicate

with other users in ways that mimic real-life interaction.

For Bergmann, one of the only setbacks of using advanced technology for performance, was the challenge of making VR headsets accessible to members of the audience.

He thinks, however, that in a few years time, metaverse technology will become more common.

“It’s still kind of a niche market because of the hardware requirements. As soon as the hardware becomes ubiquitous, that’s going to open the floodgates for people creating for this space and for the people engaging with that,” Bergmann said.

He said so far, his students have been excited about the possibilities of performance in the metaverse, especially within education. “If we’re not engaging with the metaverse at this point, then we’re behind.”

Fourth-year marketing management student Sabrina Padilla has noticed her Ted Rogers School of Management (TRSM) classmates taking an interest in the metaverse as well. “[The metaverse] is a big area of interest for student innovators, especially within the business, finance and tech realms,” Padilla said. “Although I can’t guarantee that it will be successful, it has a lot of potential for growth.”

“Right now, it feels like a spruced-up Poptropica or Club Penguin” Padilla recalls analyzing furniture brand Ikea’s AI interactive design experience, IKEA Kreativ, in class. The program allows users to visualize what specific prod-

ucts would look like in their own homes by using their phone’s back camera to place furniture virtually in a space.

“When you get the app, you can see the products and visualize it as if it was right in front of you. It creates a more dynamic environment for people,” Padilla said.

Once developed, digitally-focused companies hope the metaverse will become a resource for shopping for both digital and physical products, plus being used for services like education and doctor’s appointments, according to Reader’s Digest.

“You can see the products and visualize it” At the moment though, the virtual space is mostly used for gaming, an activity in which students participate at their leisure. Ben Chandler, a fourth-year sport media student and the captain of TMU’s National Hockey League esports team, believes that gaming in the metaverse still has room for improvement.

“There are definitely some cool parts, but as far as the practicality of competitive gaming goes, being in VR [and] being in the metaverse doesn’t add much to the experience” Chandler said.

A poll conducted by Globant, a tech company that helps businesses move into the digital sphere, found that 52 per cent of gamers in the United States believe that the metaverse will change the landscape of the industry and 41 per cent believe that it will have a positive impact.

Chandler added that because it’s still so new, most gaming in the

metaverse is similar to existing in a virtual meeting room, like Zoom, rather than the immersive experience that video games provide.

“You never know how integral it could be [to] the way we live 15 years from now” “Right now, it feels like a sprucedup Poptropica or Club Penguin.”

One of the main ways gaming is changing is through the continued development of NFTs. According to digital business consulting firm EY, items within games that are purchased or earned, such as weapons or skins, are turning into NFTs. This allows gamers to acquire, create, develop and sell virtual properties.

Chandler said that while he would not invest in NFTs at present, he believes this aspect of the virtual world could explode as gaming within the metaverse continues to grow.

Padilla shared the same opinion as her fellow student on the potential of the metaverse, in all its industries and purposes.

She compared the ever-growing digital sphere to the internet in the 90s:, a new technology that had not yet been explored but would soon be transformational to human life and interaction around the world.

“The one constant about our world is that it’s changing,” she said. “And people should be open to learning more about the metaverse,” Padilla said.

“You never know how integral it could be [to] the way we live 15 years from now.”

FUNSIES

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Which of these is your annual go-to seasonal obsession?

By Bashair Ali

one’s search results look like after typing ‘fall activities in Toronto.’

A big reason why farms become so popular during this time is for social media. It has become a trend to post an aesthetically pleasing photo of a pumpkin patch or a corn maze. Before doing the same, ask yourself, “Do I really have a passion for apple picking?” In some cases, yes, but for the majority of the people reading this—we all know the answer.

Happy pumpkin spice season! Or otherwise known as autumn.

When the leaves start to change, so do the people. One semblance of a chilly breeze and suddenly it’s time to drop $7 on a latte or bust out the puffer jackets. The Eyeopener formulated a rundown of some popular autumn rituals students may be likely to partake in when the sun starts setting at 6 p.m. Do you relate to these five annual festive traditions?

Revamp your bedroom After a sudden dip below 20C, it is now the perfect time to pull out chunky knit blankets and redesign your room. Brown, red and orange are making a steady comeback and soon everyone’s room will look like Winners’ fall section threw up all over it. Who doesn’t love a bedroom makeover? It’ll make the time spent inside it a cozy and comforting experience and also give you a false sense of power. As autumn is also back-to-school season, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to take a break from studying by redecorating your en-

PEYTON KEELER-COX/THE EYEOPENER

tire living space.

the desired “fall look.” All that is left is a pair of Chelsea boots and an On Wednesdays we wear flannels overly sized infinity scarf to really Flannel shirts are probably one of bring the look together. the most on brand Canadian statement pieces for fall. Flannels in the Becoming a bookworm springtime? Questionable. It just When you type in fall trends on doesn’t feel right if they are worn Pinterest, I guarantee you the maoutside of the fall season. The flan- jority of results will contain some nel’s plaid fabric has a variety of co- variation of a hot beverage, a canlours, a reflection of the changing dle and a book. When and how tree leaves—no one can doubt what does everyone suddenly become a season it is. It is essential to create bookworm during the fall? What

makes reading a novel with wind blowing in your face an aesthetic experience? It’s nearly impossible not to see a copy of classics like the Twilight series or The Perks Of Being in everyone’s hands, which I’m guessing are indicators that scream we’re in autumn.

Acquiring a taste for fruit Pingle’s Farm Market, Sweet Ridge Farms or Pine Farms Orchard are just a few examples of what some-

Pumpkin spice-ing everything Does mentioning pumpkin spice make us basic? Potentially, but how could we leave out such a sacred tradition? Honestly though, who decided pumpkin spice would be fall’s chosen flavor, scent and aroma?

Let’s not forget the biggest contributor to this, the infamous and notoriously basic Starbucks. It’s been 19 years since forcing their signature pumpkin spice lattes down our throats. Whether you like the taste of pumpkin spice or not, get used to seeing food brands combine this flavour with all your beloved products. Even pumpkin spice goldfish crackers are a thing.

Quiz: What campus food spot should you become obsessed with?

VANESSA KAUK/THE EYEOPENER

By Fredrick Reyes

Would you rather…?

A. Have every single traffic light you approach be green.

B. Go back to kindergarten with everything you know now.

C. Be forced to live the same day repeatedly for a full year.

D. Spend a night in a real haunted house (we’re talking the Conjuring level).

E. Have everyone else be able to read your thoughts.

Cereal is disgusting, I prefer oats. How many hours of sleep is ideal for you?

What is your choice of tooth- A. One hour. paste flavour?

B. Three to five hours.

A. Chocolate.

C. Six to eight hours.

B. Strawberry.

D. Hours?? 20-minute power naps C. Mint. are enough.

D. Cherry.

E. I’m a university student, sleep is E. Cotton candy. nonexistent for me.

E.

When you’re feeling peckish in between classes at Toronto Metropolitan University, deciding where to eat can be a hassle due to the abundance of options. But don’t worry, this quiz will tell you which food spot should become your new obsession! That way, you can always go to the same place and never worry about what to get.

Let’s get serious for a moment, M&Ms or Smarties?

What type of meal do you fancy? F. M&Ms all the wayyy!

A. Breakfast! It’s the most impor- G. If you’re smart, you would pick tant meal of the day of course.

Smarties!

B. Lunch, yep.

H. I prefer Rockets.

C. Dinner. It’s just the most deli- I. If you were actually smart, cious time of day. you’d pick Reese’s Pieces.

D. All of the above and constant J. Both are equally gross. snacking.

E. Wait, you have time to eat?

There is only ONE correct way to pronounce caramel. What is it?

Which cereal method is correct? A. CAH-RAH-MEL. A. Milk first, then cereal!!!

B. CURR-MEL. B. Cereal, then milk…

C. COO-RAH-MEL. C. Only cereal.

D. CAR-MEL. D. Just milk.

E. CAH-RAM-EL.

You have a million dollars and one week to spend it, what would you do?

A. Shopping spree, but only if it’s to Dollarama.

B. Luxury trip to Southeast Asia.

C. Buy a Dairy Queen franchise.

D. Move to a private island.

E. Create a steadier income and invest in Bitcoin.

Do you tend to complete work during meals?

A. Yes! The grind never stops.

B. Sometimes…

C. I prefer to indulge in my meals.

D. No <3.

Mostly Cs: Gyubee Japanese Grill If Cs can get you degrees, then it can Which vegetable do you reso- also get you a fantastic spot to eat! nate with the most?

Gyubee is a great place to go as it ofA. A potato #SoVersatile. fers you the experience of cooking B. People say I’m amusing, hence- your own food and has a wide selecforth a mushroom. tion of seafood, meat and vegetables.

C. Eggplant ;) Did I mention it’s an all-you-can-eatD. RAD-ish obviously. place? Although, I highly recomE. I’ve been told I’m a nice person, mend that you eat here around dinso I guess a sweet potato. ner time as you’ll have more options available from their menu!

Here are your results.

Mostly Ds: La Génie Bakery & Mostly As: Oakham Café Espresso The Oakham Café is a gem on cam- Visit La Génie if you want to enpus. It is the place to be if you want to joy exquisite modern French pasgrab something to-go before sprint- tries without taking a direct flight ing out to catch the bus or when you to Paris! A minor downside is that need to study for an exam. They you may have to stand while eating offer quick service, friendly servers as there aren’t many seats available, and an overall great atmosphere for but you are welcome to bring your students. Most of the food here is own chair—not really! When you inexpensive and delicious, but their visit, I strongly recommend trying fries and burgers are what the kids their best-selling strawberry tart! call fire or “where it’s at!”

Mostly Es: Salad King Mostly Bs: Kelly’s Landing You appear to have a taste for adDo you enjoy eating on the patio venture! Salad King is the spot if and watching a game while eating? you want to experience Thai and If so, stop by Kelly’s Landing! They Southeast Asian cuisine while imaghave a large selection of delicacies ining you’re sitting at the beach unon the menu, such as paper-thin der palm trees. It’s also an excellent crust pizza and a peanut crumble place to test your spice tolerance, as chocolate mousse that’ll have you Thai food is notoriously spicy or in licking your fingers. The staff are other words, HAWTTT. If you’re very attentive and friendly and if in the mood for something sweet, their food doesn’t unalive you with their mango sticky rice has a sweet how delicious it is, surely the loud- flavour with notes of the tropics ness of their music will! from the creamy coconut milk!

E.

wOrK? Where’s my order??

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