Volume 35, Issue 1 (September 12, 2016)

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Illustration by Madelaine Fischer

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The Team EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Cassidy Bereskin Elizabeth Wolfenden DESIGN EDITORS

STAFF ADVISORS

Charlie Littler Daanish Sayani

Mr. Zohar Ms. Bulgutch

Illustration by Juling Hancock

ILLUSTRATORS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS Alice Liang Anastasia Zaritovskaya Angela Weng Christina Wen Daniel Muntaner Ernest Hung Hana Abdelmeguid Julia Yacoub Juling Hancock Lauren Kim Leia Kook-Chun Madelaine Fischer Ms. Wilson Olivia Song Parnian Hossein Pour Sabrina Leung Soraya Bakhshi Steven Kenny Tamlyn Kook-Chun

WRITERS Ajantha Nadesalingam Anastasia Zaritovskaya Caitlin Heffernan Campbell Bolland Genevieve Crispin-Frei Grace Pawliw-Fry Hana Sharifi Hodman Abukar Joshua Chong Julia Yacoub Lauren Kim Matthew Ferguson Mr. Small Ms. Wilson Olivia Willows Prinny Manahan Stavros Greer Thomas Bowen Victoria Quiroz

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What you missed International

Rio de Janeiro • photo by Soraya Bakhshi

The dark side of Rio Hana Sharifi

Trash and contaminants drifting ing across the country. How did through the waterways. Sanitathis come about? How did such tion problems. The widespread a promising and prosperous era outbreak of the Zika virus. Crimespiral downwards so quickly? The ridden streets. The greatest recesproblem seems to have arisen from sion in 100 years. This wasn’t the the two hugely controversial presicountry that hosted the Olympics, dents. Both former president, Luiz was it?

Inacio Lula da Silva, and president, Unfortunately, it was. Seven Dilma Rousseff, are under pubyears ago, Rio de Janeiro was lic scrutiny. The investigation— awarded the right to hold the 2016 known as Operation Car Wash or Summer Olympics, the first South “Operacao Lava Jato”—is looking American city to be given the into a massive corruption scandal honor. It was Brazil’s fifth attempt at getting the Games, so one can imagine the pride and joy that came with winning the bid. Soraya Bakhshi, a Grade 12 student at NT whose family lives in Brazil, said, “My mom told me a story about how growing up she felt fortunate enough to have a TV to watch the Olympic Games. People would peep their heads through her windows just to watch. She and her friends could only imagine Brazil hosting the Olympics someday, but they never thought it would actually happen. For many, it’s a Illustration by Angela Wang dream come true.” It was seen as an international sign of everything of Brazil’s state-run oil company, the country had achieved.

Petrobras.

At the time, Brazil was sparFor a city where a third of the kling–its economy had grown to budget comes from oil revenues, be the world’s sixth largest and this corruption scandal has been their middle class had grown to debilitating. Vital operations and equal the population of Califorservices, such as police officers, nia. Impressive progress had been firefighters, public hospitals, social made to reduce inequality, and services, and education, have exa vast oil discovery off the coast perienced budget cuts. The Games’ promised lasting prosperity. The budget was also cut down sigeconomy was expanding, and opnificantly. Many schools and state portunities were fruitful. universities haven’t been holding Since then, much has changed. classes for months since unpaid Brazil is now drowning in the teachers have walked off the job. deepest political and economic Fourteen percent of people in Rio crisis in decades, and a major epiare currently unemployed. demic of the Zika virus is spreadHow do the Olympics fit into all

of this? The problem is not in the Olympics itself, people speculate.

It’s in the corrupt politicians and IOC executives, and everything they steal and destroy with the Olympics as an excuse. Meanwhile, with the Olympics already completed, problems directly relating to the athletes have been controlled as much as possible.

Garbage-strewn rivers flowing into the Guanabara Bay had been fenced off to protect the Olympic

rowers and, especially open-water swimmers. The junk was collected daily and additional booms were being used to collect debris. As for the Zika virus, the government dispatched health professionals to control the mosquitoes and make sure that athletes were protected.

They also made sure that citizens had the means to screen themselves from the insects. Despite these precautions, some athletes seriously considered not attending. The athletes that went were sure to quarantine themselves within the Olympics, to prevent the risk of spreading the virus across the world.

Soraya adds, “All issues aside this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Many only dream of having such a big event in their country. However … all these issues are being emphasized to the world, making Brazil seem like a trash country.

The Olympics are not permanent.

Soon it will all be over, and the issues will be looked upon again.

This is a time for celebration, not for sadness. Brazilians like to make best of the situation … wealthy or not, the Olympics is an event that involves everyone.”

The good news for Rio is that nearly every previous Olympics has been preceded by poor preparation. Like other cities, Rio seems to be on the path to get things done. The chronically overdue construction of a new subway line got to completion just in time—it opened Monday August 8th, merely three days after the beginning of the Olympics. The velodrome, the venue that took the longest to build, was finished in time as well.

About 80% of tickets had been sold as of August 1st.

The Olympics were just the final straw in Brazil’s declining economic stability. But Brazil is not completely lost - they have the resources, motivation, and talent required to get back on track. Economic analysts forecast a faster recovery than expected, thanks to new limits on government expenditures. With the right steps, Brazil will soon return to being the flourishing country it was seven years ago.

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The state of Turkey Hodman Abukar

Illustration by Steven Kenny

This summer, the people of Turkey experienced bloodshed and horror in their streets and cities.

Men, women, and children feared for their lives during a coup in which members of the Turkish armed forces attempted a seizure of power from the government of Mr. Erdoğan. With 265 deaths, including 161 civilians, and 104 coup plotters, this tragic event not only shook the lives of the Turkish people, but changed Turkish politics for good. The lives of inno

cent civilians were threatened as they became tangled in Turkey’s complex web of politics. A 17-yearold Turkish student from the city of Ankara recounts the terrifying events that she experienced: “It was around 10 pm that night. We heard the noises. They announced on TV that it [was] indeed a coup. Then we heard the planes. It was as if they were coming our way, dropping something.

I don’t recall being that scared ever in my entire life. My mother held me

and we all just stopped breathing. It was terrifying. Then it happened.

The bomb hit somewhere around the neighborhood but we were safe. We eventually came back home, but the bombs didn’t stop.

And planes, they just kept coming.”

Prior to the coup, news of the Istanbul Airport attacks blew up social media. On June 28th, a violent attack on Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport killed 41 people—at least 13 of whom were foreign travellers—and injured 230 more.

Three attackers arrived in a taxi and began firing at the terminal entrance late that night. Police began to fire back, and the attackers committed suicide by means of self-explosion.

Turkish Prime Minister, Binali Yildirim, said that early signs pointed to the

so-called Islamic State.

However, no one has claimed responsibility for the attack. The then-recent bombings were said to have been linked to either IS or Kurdish separatists.

Just a few weeks later, on July 15th, a group within the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF), which organized under a council called the “Peace at Home Council”, attempted to seize control of several places in Ankara and Istanbul. The TAF did so by not only physically forcing themselves into control, but also by taking control of the media within Turkey and censoring websites. They eventually failed to do so after the rest of the Turkish Armed Forces had remained loyal to the state of Turkey. Many believe that the attempted coup stemmed from religious polarization between the TAF and the Turkish government.

The attempted coup brought about several domestic consequences for Turkey. During the coup, many government buildings, including the Turkish Parliament and the

Presidential Palace, were damaged. Following these events, 2,839 soldiers and 2,745 judges were detained or arrested. Fifteenthousand educational staff were suspended and 21,000 teachers’ licenses were revoked.

For many Turkish citizens, this has been a summer of bloodshed. In the eyes of the majority of Turkish people, the future of Turkish politics looks grim.

“I do not see Turkey in a good place in the future. I can only hope to trust the younger generation like myself, but I do not believe in the patriotism that results in innocent people dying. A real coup might someday succeed, but it is really hard for it to happen anytime soon”, exclaimed the student when asked what the future held for her country. If intentions of maintaining a balanced and stable society are to remain, an immense regrouping of the Turkish government, the armed forces, and the citizens of Turkey may be necessary.

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Black Lives Matter, a guide Campbell Bolland Where did BLM come from?

On February 26th, 2012, 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by neighbourhood watchman, George Zimmerman. Zimmerman claimed to have shot him out of self-defense. However, Martin did not display any aggressive behaviour. Critics suspected that racial stereotypes surrounding the colour of Martin’s skin may have motivated this violence, not Martin’s behaviour.

After Zimmerman was released from custody with no charges filed, Martin’s parents created a Change. org petition calling for Zimmerman to be placed under house-arrest. The document received more than a million signatures, and the case soon became a social media spectacle.

The widespread visibility of the case sparked the creation of the American organization, Black Lives Matter (BLM).

What is BLM? The BLM movement is a revival of the 60’s Black Liberation Movement. In response to the prevailing racism in America, BLM activists work to validate black lives, reject deeply entrenched stereotypes, and take a stand against the injustice black people continue to face. A Toronto student with ties to the movement states: “BLM is a response to the institutions that swore to treat black people equally...[and are] not holding up their end of the bargain.” Razan Mersal, a North Toronto student, “realized [BLM] is really important” after she “sat there and really listened to what [the BLM activists] had to say” during a protest in New York this summer.

What is BLM’s agenda?

Although the majority of its protests have been focused on police brutality, the movement has much larger goals. A black Toronto student feels that, “While it’s easy to sensationalize that this ‘second wave’ of black emancipatory politics has been inspired by the recent deaths of several unarmed

Hundreds of people attend a BLM protest on Oxford Street in London • photo by Shane Vincent for British Journal of Photography

black men, it’s so much greater than that...BLM is a long sought after soapbox for the historically most mistreated ethnic group in North America.” Some of the items on BLM’s agenda include revitalizing public education, dismantling the prison industrial complex, advocating for safe and affordable housing, and investigating police shootings of black people.

What’s the deal with BLM vs. ALM? Many people respond to the the BLM movement with the phrase, “All Lives Matter”. These three words are almost as controversial as the BLM movement itself, in that All Lives Matter undermines the acknowledgment of the value of black lives and the discrimination that black people have faced for centuries. The BLM movement works for the validity of black lives and specifically highlights the discrimination that black people face. According to BLM activists, the movement does not suggest that black lives matter more than white, hispanic or any other race’s lives. The movement urges that All Lives Matter demeans the importance of Black Lives Matter, and that within the statement “Black Lives Matter” is an implied “too”, signifying that “Black Lives Matter, too”. This statement is not one of discrimination, but one that encourages the validity of

black lives. Hana Sharifi, a represent nearly half of North Toronto student, un- all out-of-school suspenderstands how “other races sions”, as well as in the could see the BLM movejustice system, where white ment as a way [of lowering] children are 18 percent less the importance of other likely to be tried as adults races, but [really thinks compared to black chilthat BLM is] just trying to dren. level the playing field...as no race should be treated How does BLM relate to with [disrespect]”. A comwhite privilege? mon misconception is that “White Privilege” is deBLM supporters are black fined as the undeniable supremacists. However, privilege that white people BLM is in no way an “antibenefit from in society. white proposition” that It’s undeniable that white suggests black lives matpeople benefit more than ter more than white lives.

Those who mischaracterize the statement and wrongly suggest that in order for Black lives to matter the lives of different races must matter less, are incorrect.

The movement acknowledges that the United States’ court system, justice system, and job market treat white people as though their lives have comparatively more value. This is seen in the court system, where “black children make up 18 percent of America’s preschool Illustration by Alice Liang population, but

non-white people under the same social, political and economic structures.

This is extremely prevalent in the United States. Jazzy Chung, a North Toronto student, states: “The fact that people keep pushing “White Privilege” bothers me because I feel that more than just skin colour [affects] justice”. On the other hand, another North Toronto student believes that “White Privilege is definitely something that white [people] do not want to admit [exists in society]...However, this coming from a white girl with a white father that has been in prison twice, [she knows from experience] that trust shouldn’t always be put in someone because they are white”. The BLM movement recognizes white privilege in the United States and states that “none of [the movement] is about hatred for white life.

It is about acknowledging that the system already treats white lives as if they have more value, as if they are more worthy of protection, safety, education, and a good quality of life than black lives are. This must change.”

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Trump, Brexit, ISIS and youth Cassidy Bereskin The significant events of the summer—the rise of Trump, Brexit, and ISIS attacks—have captivated us all, sparking conversation within each coffee shop, social media site and corner of our lives. With divisive rhetoric, Trump ripped America apart at its seams.

Brexit flooded global markets with volatility, gripping the UK with political and economic uncertainty.

ISIS affiliates committed a spate of violent attacks, infiltrating Western life.

As a byproduct of today’s geopolitical chaos, an increasing number of youth are paying attention to international affairs.

According to a recent poll found in The Washington Post, Trump is polling at 9% among Americans under 30. While most students oppose Trump, the GOP nominee is not bereft of young supporters.

Leo Teng, a Grade 10 student in favor of the Trump movement, anticipates that, if elected, Trump would end illegal immigration and calm the high political tides. Ruven Samaraweera, another high school Trump advocate, projects that the GOP nominee would crackdown

on ISIS. Adrian, who prefers to keep his last name and school undisclosed, is another high school student with a myriad of reasons for investing in the Trump campaign. Most prominent among them, Adrian believes that Trump would “destroy ISIS by working alongside Russia and halt the uncontrolled flow of immigrants.”

Many of Trump’s young advocates have sought views that defy the establishment, mobilizing under a movement known as the alt-right. United by their support for the GOP nominee and rejection of open borders, the alt-right has been deemed racist, xenephobic, and Islamaphobic by its critics. The culmination of events such as Trump’s call for a temporary shutdown on Muslim immigration, attack on Judge Gonzalo Curiel for his Mexican ancestry, and criticism of Ghazala Khan’s silence at the Democratic National Convention, have sowed the seeds into the soil of this opinion.

Trump’s high school supporters also appear to be overwhelmingly rallying behind Brexit. According to Samaraweera, “The uncon-

Illustration by Steven Kenny

trolled flow of migrants is a dangerous activity that Merkel is forcing down the UK’s throat.” A North Toronto Brexit supporter claims that the UK divorce from the EU would “prevent the entrance of unvetted refugees.”

Moreover, Teng supports Brexit for the notion of “national sovereignty” and the broader constraints it would impose on immigration to Europe.

The students appear to look at Trump’s campaign through the lens of foreign policy and the UK’s divorce through the prism of immigration—both are intimately tied. The students seem to champion interests that lie in strengthening national security and thwarting terrorism.

Certainly a few youth are supporting the alt-right in response to the threat of ISIS, but aren’t against open borders in other circumstances. According to The Atlantic, “Trump supporters, recent polling has shown, are disproportionately fearful.” By espousing a fearful vision, Trump attracts Americans who are desperately seeking protection and security.

The boundaries between the rise of Trump, Brexit and ISIS-linked attacks may seem unbreakable. But the significant events of the summer are inextricably linked. They feed into the same narrative. ISIS tore apart Syria and Iraq, leading thousands of refugees to seek asylum in the West. As the influx arrived on Western soil where

ISIS spearheaded attacks, fears and frustration mounted, driving outsider right-wing politicians like Trump to soar in popularity. Trump and Brexit’s rise, in large part, has been fuelled by the sparks of insecurity that ISIS has ignited.

But another dynamic may be at play. According

The students appear to look at Trump’s campaign through the lens of foreign policy and the UK’s divorce through the prism of immigration— both are intimately tied. to Ava Nafte, a politicallyactive Grade 12 student at North Toronto, Trump is “not the typical political leader, but a very unrefined businessman that people can relate to.” A North Toronto Trump supporter who’s inspired by the GOP nominee’s “willingness to speak about sensitive issues” would agree. At least a few high school students are enamoured by Trump’s anti-establishment appeal and willingness to speak his mind.

According to Dan Schnur, director of the USC Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics, Trump has mounted “a strident criticism against the traditional politi-

cal process.” In a similar stroke, Nafte claims that “by saying things that politicians would usually edit out of their speeches”, Trump refuses to “deal with the system in a sensitive way” and upends it as a result.

But coming out as a Trump supporter, especially in a politically leftleaning environment, can take a toll on one’s reputation. The unidentified Trump and Brexit North Toronto supporter chose to remain anonymous in the story, fearing that “being branded as xenephobic, Islamaphobic and bigoted would affect [his] social life at school.”

Despite Trump’s xenephobic, Islamaphobic, racist, and sexist associations, sparks of insecurity, fear, and disenfranchisement continue to galvanize students behind him.

“There is quite a fair portion of students who support Trump but do not say so as it is socially disadvantageous,” says a Grade 10 Trump supporter.” “That being said,” he continues, “Students can look past these social disadvantages in order to stand up to the corruption of the establishment. Corruption as history shows can put a country into decline and all youth definitely want a prosperous country left for them.”

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What you missed Life

The ladies of Hamilton • photo by Joan Marcus of Playbill

The success of Hamilton Joshua Chong

After shattering records on Broadway, the producers of Hamilton The Musical are currently in talks with the Torontobased company, Mirvish Productions, to bring the show to Torontonian audiences. Toronto could join a long list of cities, including Chicago and London’s West End that will see the curtain rise on the highly acclaimed show. Mirvish Productions hopes to coproduce a sit-down Canadian production featuring an all Canadian cast. In recent years, the production company, helmed by David Mirvish, has been successful in producing sit down Broadway blockbusters in Toronto, such as Les Miserables, and more recently, Matilda the Musical.

Hamilton tells the life story of the character of the same name, Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of Treasury and one of the founding fathers of the United States. The unconventional musical has won praise ever since its debut at the Public Theatre Off-Broadway.

Director Thomas Kail has assembled an ethnically diverse cast who portray historically white characters while the show’s creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda, set the plot to a rap and hip-hop score. The show’s Broadway production,

which opened on August 6, 2015, picked up a record breaking 16 Tony nominations and went on to win 11 of them, including Best Musical. Miranda, who also stars in Hamilton, won Tonys for Best Score and Best Original Book for a Musical. These were his second and third Tony Awards respectively, after picking one up in 2009 for his original musical In the Heights.

Hamilton, which currently runs at the 1319-seat Richard Rogers theatre, has been sold out until January, 2017. Its success can be compared to the likes of Wicked or The Lion King, both of which are still playing to capacity on Broadway after more than a decade since their openings. The musical’s high demand has resulted in incredibly high ticket prices, which currently start at $248 USD per person and go up to over $1000 USD for premium seats. Unfortunately, this has resulted in a less than diverse audience, mainly comprised of white, upper middle class Americans. Nevertheless, barely a year into its run, Hamilton has attracted a cult-like following, largely comprised of youth. Fans such as grade 12 student Genevieve Crispin-Frei

have been drawn to Hamilton’s transcendence of the boundaries of theatre.

She particularly applauds the use of Hamilton’s diverse cast because it “helps promote that it’s 2016 and that social hierarchy based on race is frowned upon in this day and age.”

The show has been

According to Bereskin, “By broadening Broadway and incorporating central themes in U.S history, Hamilton definitely [appeals] to people like me.”

She also appreciated the fusion of different musical styles. After leaving the theatre, she felt that “Every song in the musical was inspiring, catchy, and never failed to replay in [her] head.”

Illustration by Although Hamilton was Steven Kenny successful on Broadway, it is unknown whether the show will be a success outside of the United States. International popularity for the musical has grown greatly since the release of the cast album. There is high demand for the show to play across the world, including in Europe and Asia.

Most international fans who have not seen the show have been attracted to the musical due to its popular soundtrack. Time credited with introducwill tell if the musical’s ing a new generation to plot surrounding Amerithe art of musical theatre, can history will land well since the majority of these in front of international young people are not audiences. Crispin-Frei regular theatre-goers and optimistically believes the would not otherwise catch touching story will resoa Broadway performance. nate with audiences across One of those young peo- the globe. “As America is ple is NT grade 12 student still the centre of global Cassidy Bereskin, who attention, ... international saw Hamilton in New York audiences will find it a City last July. Bereskin is fascinating way to learn more interested in Ameri- about the American Revocan history than theatre. lution,” she claims. “[The

Revolution was] a major turning point in history, [and Lin-Manuel presents it] in such a brilliant and engaging manner.”

It has been a recurring theme for American musicals to fare poorly outside of the U.S. In the past, the Broadway sensation Rent, which tells the story of a poor Bohemian community living with AIDS in New York City, failed to score the same praise with audiences in London. Rent, which played over 5000 performances on the Great White Way before closing in 2008, only lasted 18 months in London, England. Rent and Hamilton share many similarities.

Both shows are American musicals that broke barriers when they first opened on Broadway, both going on to become mega-hits.

Hamilton will not be leaving Broadway anytime soon, but the true test will come when the show opens in Toronto and London. Bereskin is optimistic about the upcoming international productions of the show. “Even though the plot is centralized on American history, many of the themes are universal,” she said, “the flow, beats and harmonies of the music can be appreciated across cultures.”

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The risk of being well-informed Matthew Ferguson With the never-ending splurge of horrific events occurring across the world, the simple task of checking the news can be extremely daunting.

Although being informed is highly valued in an increasingly globalized and interconnected society, the effects that excessive amounts of bad news may have upon us can be detrimental, especially in the context of mental health.

Numerous studies have found that an influx of bad news has a strong correlation with our mental health. Factors such as societal expectations, the way news is presented, and human behaviour can cause us to be constantly exposed to the negative repercussions of bad news.

Bad news has been shown to worsen or prolong preexisting mental health conditions. Although bad news won’t directly cause a specific condition, it continues to be a cause of increased sad and anxiety-ridden thoughts and feelings, which isn’t particularly good for one’s mental health (Singal). An NT student who suffers from an anxiety disorder says she feels the news “can serve as a fuel for [her] anxiety despite [it] being objectively harmless.” Yet, she wouldn’t distance herself from the news because she “[doesn’t] want [her anxiety] dictating what [she]

does…[she would] rather find [other] ways of coping with it.”

Of all the factors that contribute to our inability to give up bad news, the most problematic factor is our innate attraction to it. In a study conducted by researchers at McGill

“One of the biggest dilemmas lies in the way our society makes us feel compelled to be constantly connected and informed.” university, participants were asked to select and read news articles on an online website under the presumption that the study was on eye tracking. Rather than choosing stories with either neutral or positive tones, negative stories were habitually selected for reading in comparison to other ones (Stafford). The conclusions made in this study further substantiated a negativity bias, a term used to describe our immense desire for bad news (Marano).

Considering our bias towards negativity, the manner in which the news is presented to us is quite sensible. The average

ratio of bad news stories of people become emoto good news stories is tionally invested in, may 17:1 (Psychology Today). pose a serious threat.

These numbers reveal how Liam Gerry, a Grade 11 easy it is for the skewed student, believes that the ratio of news coverage to effect the news on his attract us and negatively mental state isn’t incenaffect our perceptions of tive enough to be uninthe world and our minds. formed. Gerry “wouldn’t One of the biggest ditake a break from the news lemmas lies in the way our because of how it [affects society makes us feel com- him] mentally” given that pelled to be constantly he “[enjoys] and takes connected and informed. pride in being informed.”

This hyperconnected In contrast, Leia Kookculture is especially preva- Chun, who claims to follent amongst youth. A low the news rarely, berecent study conducted by lieves that it is acceptable the British Psychological to distance yourself from Society found that, among the news. Kook-Chun says, adolescents, “overall and “one of the reasons [she night-time specific social doesn’t] follow the news media use [and] emotional regularly is because much investment in social media of it is negative and re[are] related to ... higher petitive [what she believes anxiety and depression is] an unhealthy combinalevels” (British Psychotion.” She adds that “menlogical Society).

Another study by the University of Bradford has shown that participants who watched violent news on social media were prone to symptoms analogous to those who suffer from PTSD (Science Daily).

As Facebook is the largest news disseminator in the world (Thielman), having violent video clips on a webIllustration by Leia Kook-Chun site that billions

tal health is...vital” and that being informed and having good mental health at the same time could only be accomplished “if the news displayed fewer negative events and more positive [ones].”

In recent months, there has been a surge of increasingly negative stories highlighting terror, ignorance, and misfortune.

These stories are being presented to us every day, altering our outlook on life and contributing to an increase in mental health diagnoses. Whether it’s creating equilibrium between positive and negative news stories or reducing the amount of bad news we read, it may be time to revitalize the way we view, present, and interpret the news.

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Pokemania Lauren Kim

“Gotta catch em all!” A phrase that everyone is familiar with has achieved a new meaning after the release of Pokémon Go. The app, developed by Niantic, allows players to interact with real world locations, walk around cities, battle against trainers, and literally catch em all.

A dream come true for Pokémon fanatics, the app makes catching Pokémon and journeying like Ash a reality. The scale and speed of the game’s growth is inconceivable to many. The app has become an inescapable phenomenon that has dominated social media and invaded our lives.

When it was initially released on July 6th of 2016, the citizens of United States, Australia, and New Zealand were able to access the app. However, shortly afterwards, a domino effect occurred. With the release of the game, the worldwide domination of Pokemon Go grew until Canadians were finally able to play on July 17th.

The app has broken the age barrier, attracting children, teens, and grown adults who used to watch Pokemon and are reliving their nostalgic childhood dreams of catching Pokemon in the real-world.

Grade 11 NT student, Amanda Lee, was a “die-

Illustration by Hana Abdelmeguid

hard pokemon fan in elementary school.”

The app’s influence has yielded an array of positive implications, including the catching of criminals, the mitigation of the obesity epidemic, and the increase of business for shops and restaurants near Pokéstops.

However, as any new technology would, Pokémon go has also yielded significant consequencIllustration by Madelaine Fischer es. Pokémon Go players are becoming public terminals of Toronto Isstreets of Toronto, somedisturbances, impeding lands in hopes of catching times donning Pokémon on private property and Go inspired gear, repwalking into dangerous ar- Pokémon.

It has also made playping their chosen team eas. The app has also been ing Pokémon a socially between Mystic, Instinct, the source of widespread acceptable pursuit for and Valour. injuries. According people of all walks of life.

There is a pleasant surto The Toronto Star, It has armed strangers prise waiting for NT playHamilton doctors are with a common ground for ers.

This will come in the now treating emerform of three Pokéstops gency room patients conversation. Instances wherein strangers nod and and a gym, one pokéstop with injuries that make Pokémon Go small located at St.Monica’s have resulted from talk have become comChurch, another at the sigcarelessness while playing the game. In monplace. PokémonGoTo- nature statue, and the last ronto, a subreddit for play- one right at NT’s entrance. one instance, a man ers, provides gamers with In addition to these conplaying the game another way to meet other venient Pokéstops, there jumped from a movplayers and make allies are countless posted along ing TTC Go train, in the conquest of catchYonge Street, which will sustaining serious ing em all.

This forum is allow students to play the injuries. Pokémon utilized by players to share game at lunch. NT student Go has even caused tips, tricks, and funny anand Pokémon Go enthuthe death of Jerson ecdotes about their Pokésiast, Alexander Fortsas, Lopez De Leon, an mon catching experiences admits that “The occa18 year old living in Toronto. NT student sional Poke-stop or gym in Guatemala city, Alex Fortsas loves how the battle during school will who was fatally shot game “forces [players] to be a welcome distraction while playing. go outside, explore [their] from studying and other The streets of surroundings and meet school related pressures.”

Toronto have been fellow players.”

If you haven’t downloaded flooded by PokéAdults have their eyes the game, then start your mon, Pokéstops and glued to their characters Pokémon Go journey now. gyms, resulting in on their phone screens Pikachu and rest of the hundreds of players as they walk through the gang are waiting for you. waiting at the ferry

PokeStops near NT

Photos by Lauren Kim

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Leafs season preview Thomas Bowen Heading into a very exciting season, the Toronto Maple Leafs are in the middle of a long-term rebuild. This team will be younger, faster, and hopefully better. Last season, the Leafs finished as the worst team in the league.

As a result, a lot of good things spurred and young players now have a chance at the NHL. Specifically, the Leafs were able to draft top prospect, Auston Matthews, and have no chance of finishing any worse than last season.

In the final months of last year’s season, the Leafs called up first-time NHL players and broke records. From the bunch the team called up, there were lots of impressive performances. The most impressive emerged from William Nylander, Zach Hyman, Nikita Soshnikov, Brendan Leipsic, and Connor Car-

rick. These players’ performances likely earned each of them a very good shot at making the team this year.

In addition, the Leafs decided to acquire a very talented young goaltender, Frederik Andersen. In a trade with Anaheim right before the draft, Frederik Andersen was acquired.

The Leafs fell in the love with the young goalie’s size, competitiveness, and athleticism. The acquisition of Andersen filled the gaping hole for a starting goaltender and also brought light to the Leafs’s goaltending situation.

Over the past decade, the Leafs’s goaltending department has been a gongshow. Fortunately, things are finally looking up. The Leafs’s current goaltenders are Frederik Andersen and Jhonas Enroth. Both of which are new to the team,

and the future of the Andersen-Enroth duo is looking bright.

There have, however, been doubts surrounding both Andersen and Enroth’s abilities, especially with regards to whether they can change the Leafs ugly history with California goalies.

Fortunately, the duo’s impressive statistics make them prime candidates for changing that history.

Last season, in 43 starts, Frederik Andersen posted

Illustration by Olivia Song an impressive .918 Sv% and a 2.33 GAA. In a limited 13 starts, Jhonas Enroth was good for a .922 Sv% and 2.17 GAA. The Leafs should be happy with their goaltending situation going into next season as both goalies are well above the league average .915 Sv% and 2.51 GAA. The Leafs also acquired Nikita Zaitsev, a young offensivelyminded defensemen known for his speed and exceptional positioning. Zaitsev spent the past seven years in the KHL and was on the radar of multiple teams before signing with the Leafs this year.

He will likely help fill out the Leafs’s already young D-core.

In addition to acquiring Zaitsev, Enroth, Andersen, the Leafs have brought back ex-Leaf, Roman Polak. A serviceable third pairing guy, Polak has given the Leafs more flexibility. The Leafs did not spend all summer stacking defense, as Lou Lamoriello, Brendan Shanahan,

and Mike Babcock made it clear that young players do not get spots on the Leafs—they earn them.

The Leafs’s management has communicated this in many different ways.

In Mitch Marner’s situation, Leaf’s management outright said that Marner should get stronger. In response, Marner vowed to bulk up and train hard.

Another way that the management has made their point was through signings. The Leafs recently signed forward Matt Martin (who led the league in his last season), resigned young center, Peter Holland, and put Brandon Prust on a professional tryout. These signings are very important for the development of young players, ensuring them of their responsibilities to fight for a spot on the team and be professionals. With the start of the season quickly approaching, there are quite a lot of decisions to be made and questions to be answered. These questions can only be answered when the puck drops.

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NT Abroad

We are not limited to Yonge and Eglinton

SUMMER 2016 EDITION Ajantha Nadesalingam • McMinnville, Tennessee “I worked as a yoga instructor at the Isha Institute of Inner Sciences.”

Julia Yacoub • London, Ontario Oneida Nation of the Thames “Driving onto this First Nations Reserve was like entering another country without crossing the border.”

Ms. Bulgutch • Toronto, Ontario “CN Tower Edge Walk offered a neat perspective of the city. The guide was fun and had a nice mix of information and activities. Everything felt very safe and stable. People who are already experienced with thrill seeking activities and heights won’t find this a challenge or particularly adrenaline inducing, but still enjoyable and fun.”

Ms. Blackmore and baby • Toronto, Ontario “My little girl and I have had so much fun around the city this summer!

We’ve spent a lot of time outdoors at playgrounds, swimming pools, and, f her favourite place: the zoo!”

Mr. Zohar • Inkerman, New Brunswick “The scenery is beautiful, but fishing, it seems to me, is a rehearsal for being dead.

(Don’t worry: I brought my book to the pier.)”

Alyssa Joynt • Ecuador “This summer, I fulfilled a dream and traveled to Ecuador on a mission trip with Me to We. It was an amazing experience that I wouldn’t trade for the world!”

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Anastasia Zaritovskaya • Moscow, Russia “Downtown Moscow right before a storm.”

Stefane Deeks • Nepal “I was in an area of the Himalayas called Mustang.”

Ms. Wilson • Thailand “View from the train near Kanchanaburi.”

Daanish Sayani • England “Walking down the cobbled streets around Edinburgh Castle.”

Ms. Wilson • Vietnam “Kayaking in a cove in Bai Tu Long Bay.”

Mr. Gardner • Barcelona, Spain “My kids and I in front of the school house in the Sagrada Familia, designed by Antoni Gaudi.”

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NT Abroad

We are not limited to Yonge and Eglinton

Experiences

A pro-Erdoğan supporter holds a Turkish national flag during a rally at Taksim square in Istanbul. • photo by Ozan Kose for The Guardian

Peace, order and good government A story from inside the coup that shook a nation

Mr. Small

“Security is mortals’ chiefest enemy.”

— Shakespeare, Macbeth I arrived in Istanbul, Turkey, at 10 pm local time on Friday, July 15th. As I walked through the airport, I saw people pointing their cellphones at the flight-status monitors like students who are too lazy to handwrite blackboard notes (a pet peeve of mine, not least because studies have shown handwriting makes people remember better.) Far from lacking the memory to remember their flight gates, I later realized, these people were taking pictures showing hundreds of flights were cancelled or delayed.

I remained oblivious to this disruption until a man near me asked an attendant at one of the airport lounges, “Why aren’t they letting people in or out of the airport?”

The attendant shrugged, and the man ran back into the lounge. A few minutes later, he returned.

“They’ve removed the president!”

“You mean, it’s a coup?”

For some reason, I found this amusing. Inside the lounge, I saw a bank of televisions on one wall.

A crowd stood in front of them. Though I could understand only the screen tuned to CNN, the headlines all likely read same thing: Coup in Turkey. It was then I had what I now think of as the stupidest

thought in my life: “Cool!”

My second thought was less ridiculous, though equally egocentric: “I hope this doesn’t delay my flight.” I filled a plate from the lounge’s buffet (this also now seems ridiculous) and sat down. CNN was reporting that the military had seized power and ordered people to stay inside their homes. Social media had briefly been shut down, but judging from the number of people around me texting and talking, it

me crouched, curled up, lying on the floor, trying to make themselves as small as possible. We were all silent, listening for some indication of what was happening while the shouts and screams continued.

It was then I had a very different thought: “Is this the end?” I imagined terrorists entering the lounge and shooting people one by one. I imagined militants lobbing grenades at people sheltering behind

a whole bowl of roasted vegetable stew soaking into the carpet. I tried to finish my dessert, but my mouth was parched. It felt as if I’d stuffed it with a dozen soda crackers. When I did manage swallow the mouthful, it scraped down my esophagus like bricks in a clothes drier. I went to the washroom several times.I sent messages to my friends and family: “Safe in Istanbul Airport.

Everything’s fine, except for the delays. Love you.”

Illustration by Juling Hancock

wasn’t anymore.

As I was beginning dessert, a mass of people— shouting, screaming, running, knocking things over, trying to get out of the way of something—stampeded into the lounge. I thought I heard someone cry, “Bomb!” We all dove for cover. I ended up in the fetal position behind a pillar, people around

pillars like mine. I imagined myself carted out in a body bag. I imagined everyone I knew and loved getting the news. Gradually, the screaming and shouting subsided. People began getting up and peering out from behind their hiding places.

There were smashed plates on the marble floor, chairs overturned,

As I finished, another stampede of screaming people ran into the lounge.

Again I dove for cover, but this time other people said, “Stop it, stop it!

You’re frightening everyone. It’s okay. Get up. It’s okay.” It may have been okay this time, but the only way out of the lounge was the way people kept stampeding in. I decided to

find somewhere with more exits. The lounge had wifi and an English-language television, things I could not be certain I’d find elsewhere, but the desire for security won out over the need for information.

As I passed the entrance to the airport, I heard chanting. It came from thousands of people pushing against the X-ray machines and metal detectors. Then, the personnel manning the gates parted, and the crowd surged in, still chanting, waving Turkish flags, punching their fists into the air. Some carried bats. I stood off to one side and watched them stream past me.

They occupied the supposedly secure part of the airport for an hour. They did not loot, and except for the fact that they consisted of thousands of angry men waving their fists and shouting defiance, they were not violent. After a time, my nervousness subsided and I even felt something like hope that people like these might take back the country. This hope was tempered by the thought that since the security personnel weren’t checking anyone, a few bad actors might smuggle in weapons.

Then, just as the crowd had marched in, it marched out. I resumed my search for a safer place. I found a waiting room where several gates

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opened onto the tarmac. I figured if something happened, I could either run outside or deeper into the airport.

There was a cafe in the waiting room, but its television was playing the news in Turkish, so I asked a man next to me what it was saying.

“President Erdoğan is coming here,” he said.

“He asked his supporters to occupy the streets and airports to let the coup plotters know they won’t succeed.”

“Are you Turkish?”

“Only in Turkey would the military fire on the people it’s meant to protect. You know the coup members have shot and killed unarmed protesters? Erdoğan is the right man for President. In times like these, our country needs someone strong.”

Given Erdoğan had himself, pre-coup, shut down media outlets, and stifled his opposition, I wasn’t so certain. At that moment, however, I was cheering for him. I wanted him to bring back the pre-coup norm so I could get safely out of Istanbul Airport.

Suddenly, an explosion rocked the waiting room.

My body shook, and the floor-to-ceiling glass looking out onto the tarmac wobbled and boomed, as when a violent gust of wind blasts a window in a lightning storm. I heard heavy machine-gun fire, and another explosion.

We dove for the floor. I had no idea who was doing what, or where they would come from, or who they would aim for, or even who they were. The supposedly safe place I had found now seemed the least safe place possible, with a wall of windows that would shred flesh if the next explosion were closer, and doors that led not out, but in for the attackers.

When the gunfire and explosions stopped, I ran out of the waiting room and found a corner where two solid walls met. I could hear the rumble of fighter jets and the thump-thump of helicopters overhead.

There was more gunfire, and more people ran for cover into the corner.

Children were screaming and hiding their faces in their parents’ laps, adults were crying. On one side of me, a man was mumbling a prayer, and on the other

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side, a woman was screaming into her cell phone: “Stop telling me to calm down! Stop telling me to calm down! You’re not here!”

I crouched, ready to run again. When my legs grew tired, I sat down, back against the wall and gulped some water. I don’t know how long I waited there, but eventually people

families and playing in the sea. Things resembled Toronto’s own brief appearances as a disaster-zone in the international news, during the SARS epidemic in 2003 and the G20 protests in 2010. The media had showed on loop people in surgical masks on the subway, and the same burning car over and over, while I continued to ride the TTC, go to work, and Illustration by Madelaine Fischer

ing in Ankara.”

As he said this, soldiers appeared in the television studio and forced the anchors to leave their desk. It seemed the coup might not be mostly over yet. Fortunately, nothing more happened at the airport. Dawn broke, and Erdoğan and his allies began to appear on television more often.

From then, I experienced only the typical disarray

grew calmer. Exhausted kids slept with their heads on their parents’ laps. A couple of teenagers goofed about on the moving sidewalk, going nowhere.

I got up and went down to the cafe. The Turkish man I’d spoke to was there, the news still playing.

“What’s happened?” I asked.

“Erdoğan has given a speech to his supporters here. He says the coup plotters should surrender because they’ve lost.”

“Any news on what caused the explosions and gunfire?”

I would learn later that some of the shooting was due to a helicopter firing on the passageway that led between the domestic and international terminals.

A British family had been trapped there and had sheltered behind a desk.

A friend of mine, whom I’d supposed to meet in Istanbul, saw the bullet holes when he arrived the next day. His flight had been diverted midair to Izmir, Turkey’s third-largest city, a few hundred kilometers south of Istanbul. There, he had stayed, courtesy of Turkish Airlines, in a fourstar seaside resort. Life was normal in Izmir—the markets were open, people were walking with their

of a bureaucracy when it encounters something unexpected. About 30 hours after landing, I got on a flight. When it left the ground, my seatmate and I

play Ultimate Frisbee.

My friend had eaten at a buffet with twelve kinds of olives and slept in a kingsized bed. When things became quiet, people in Istanbul Airport lay on the floor with flattened cardboard boxes as mattresses.

It is a reminder that countries are diverse places.

While one building or square or street or neighbourhood or city can be burning, people elsewhere can be eating in cafes and watching with bemusement the television reports supposedly about them.

“Is the coup over?”

“I think mostly yes, though there’s still some fight-

toasted our departure with an in-flight can of Efes. For me, at least, the drama was over.

For Turkey, it continues.

In the days since, Erdoğan has detained or fired over eighty-thousand teachers, doctors, journalists, university professors, military staff, and other citizens, mostly without evidence.

Purges like these aren’t good for a country, but, as Shakespeare’s Macbeth reminds us, they are an all-too-human response to imagined danger. As much as I dislike Erdoğan, and thought him, even prior to the coup’s aftermath, increasingly Putin-esque, I can’t forget that in those first seven or eight hours at the airport, I, too, was cheering for him. Because a repressive order feels safer—at least if you’re not in the neighbourhood being violently repressed—than a violent precariousness.

We all want peace, order, and good government. It’s just that people disagree about the meaning of the last one, so some get more of the first two than others.

One thing is certain. I’ll never again think of it as cool to be part of history as it appears on CNN.

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The other side of patriotism

Anastasia Zaritovskaya It was a hot day in July in the suburbs of Moscow, Russia. I was standing in front of my friend’s grandfather and talking to him about the weather, as it always happens with people.

The conversation quickly shifted to my immigration experience, again, as it always does. We talked about the subject while waiting for my friend, dying from the heat and the torture of small talk. So I was unprepared when he asked me if my family had Canadian citizenship. I gave him the truthful answer: we are working on it. The look on his face changed to disapproval in a fraction of a second. “Why do you need another citizenship?

Russia will always be your home, no matter where you move. You know, people over there are too different from us; you’ll never make it. You’re too young to understand this, but you’ll always be better off in your home country.”

While I was standing there quietly, a fake smile glued to my face, I remembered that I was in a country full of people like this, and that the best thing to do was to keep my head down and nod. So that’s exactly what I did.

Three weeks later, it was a much colder day, although that would be attributed to the mass of air conditioners in Domodedovo Airport in Moscow, where my mother and I

People dancing by the Moscow River • Photo by Anastasia Zaritovskaya

were passing customs to return to Canada. After waiting in line for what seemed like forever, we were standing in front of a seemingly sweet and rather talkative immigration officer. She asked us where we lived, how long ago we moved, where we spent the most time, and what we thought of Russia, all the while looking at us suspiciously. The booth of the officer next to ours saw three people pass through and the questions from ours still didn’t stop.

I was asked to give details about my mother’s birth date, family, the school I went to and more so the officer would know that I wasn’t being kidnapped by

a dangerous deviant from the homeland. My mother smiled and chatted nonchalantly with the woman, giving vaguely patriotic answers and brushing the suggestion that we abandoned our country with the promise that we wanted to return someday. After a long conversation, we were waved through. As I was walking, my mother leaned down and whispered in my ear: “It’s all a game. You have to be careful with your answers.” And we kept walking.

The dictionary defines patriotism as the love or attachment one feels towards their country. What the dictionary doesn’t tell you is that there is another

side to patriotism—and a very dark one. This is the side that causes people to lose their minds when screaming in rallies about not letting immigrants into their country, or claiming that people who emigrated to other nations betrayed their home country. It is caused by deliberate misinformation of the public by means of government propaganda.

Psychologist Steven Lewandowski’s report on misinformation and its effects draws the conclusion that people are increasingly likely to believe false information: “Weighing the plausibility and the source of a message is cognitively more difficult than simply accepting that the message is true”. This means that people who are only exposed to one source of information have no choice but to believe it.

In Russia, freedom of speech is not much more than a dream, seeing as the past decade has witnessed many critical Russian news outlets being shut down or being made to glorify the government. It’s more than the press; opposing the government is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening task in Russia.

One such incident occurred on the 27th of February in 2015, when a Russian politician that opposed the views of the government was killed by an anonymous citizen.

Boris Nemtsov was walk-

ing home from work on a public bridge when he became the victim of a mysterious drive-by shooting. I walked on this bridge this past summer, and saw a little memorial dedicated to him. A handwritten sign, some flowers and a candle.

Just like that, a human life, obliterated.

The man who killed Nemtsov wasn’t working for the government.

The propaganda that the Russian government has sneaked into the news paid off. This is exactly what has been happening in the country that I’m supposed to feel patriotic towards. I’ve witnessed the influence of propaganda firsthand. Just recently, my grandmother told me that she doesn’t watch television anymore because she stopped trusting it many years ago after it began spewing lies. Her smile didn’t fade as she said, “the government does whatever they need to do, and it’s not any of our business, is it?”.

I moved from Russia to Canada five years ago, when I was eleven years old. At the time, I didn’t understand anything about politics or the charged situation regarding the status of expatriates.

For an immigrant in Russia, small talk can be dangerous. I’ve learned to be aware of every word I say to people because every once in awhile, I get a reminder of what could happen to me if someone decided that I didn’t love my home country enough.

The truth is that it’s painful to love something and watch it deteriorate right in front of you, taking down people you care about with it. Every year, when I visit Russia, I get a reminder of everything I love about it—the history, the culture, the people.

But I am also reminded that there are many people who put the country above everything else, including their own life. I will never feel this way. I see hope for my generation—the people who have carved out their own world through the Internet. Hopefully with time, the situation can change.

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Another country inside our own

Julia Yacoub

This summer, I was fortunate enough to be part of a short-term missions trip to Oneida Nation of the Thames, near London, Ontario. We ran a camp for seventy children in Standing Stone School, one of the schools on the Reserve. Driving onto this First Nations Reserve was like entering another country without crossing the border. There were fields after fields lined with vegetation and houses that looked well built on the outside, but were most likely falling apart on the inside. A community centre, smoke shop, fire department, and school all spread out onto the few roads that marked the Iroquois land.

With just over 2,000 residents, this community is packed with stories, struggles, and strife. Sadly, our conception of the average Canadian may have been forged over time and carefully tailored to what we see today, but tucked in a corner is what our history is all about.

Volunteering on the reserve, I witnessed the contrast between those

I associate with everyday and those on the Oneida Reserve. One of the younger youths on our team described the kids on

“There is so much more to Oneida than its dreadful past.”

the reserve as “different.”

If I asked any child on the reserve how many relatives he or she had, most, if not all, would point to several people in the room.

Our camp was run the last week of July, when parents finally got paid and had a chance to go grocery shopping. The days leading up to this week are tough because both the fridge and the children’s stomachs are empty. One child described grocery shopping as some sort of long-awaited vacation.

Another girl was attached to a bookmark craft with buttons and markers.

Her face lit up when she

was able to use 3D craft schools. ing bundle of joy. When supplies for the first time, One child’s older siblings put in challenging situunlike her usual pen and are not pursuing educaations, when faced with paper. Such small objects tion because there are no physical conflict, or given can make a huge differhigh schools on the rea sibling to care for, the ence in the lives of these serve. The teens that wish children’s desires to imchildren. to continue their educaprove from their parents’ Remember that lesson tion have to travel over lives, move on from their we all had in grade nine half an hour to get to the past, and create a path geography about residennearest high school, which for themselves, shined tial schools? Many people is located in London. But through. There is so much think residential schools the geographical distance more to Oneida than its shouldn’t be part of the is not what stops them. A dreadful past. curriculum as they no longer exist and impact anyone. But that is far from true. At The Oneida Nation reserve, the lasting effects of centuries of oppression and abuse could be seen on the children’s faces, heard in the parents’ voices, and felt in the community’s hugs.

A sign reading “Hello Everyone“ in the Oneida language According to Shirley, welcomes students • Photo by Julia Yacoub a teacher at the Standing Stone School, it takes giant cultural gap and lack At camp, the Oneida’ around seven generations of acceptance are what children experienced unfor there to be positive really prevent youth from conditional love and care. recovery from residential having anything more There was acceptance and schools. Dysfunctional than an elementary educa- team building. On the last family dynamics, improper tion. For this reason, many day of camp, leaders and parenting, loss of lanof the children and teens campers were brought to guage, lack of awareness of Oneida lack self-confitears—hopeful and happy of cultural identity, teach- dence and self-esteem. tears—knowing that this ings, values and traditions, Although it wasn’t alcamp has sparked a little and addictions are all ways easy to notice, every light in their hearts for a real and pressing issues, child on the reserve was a better future. all residues of residential respectful, kind, and lov-

Lollaland

Olivia Willows This summer, I had the opportunity to attend two out of four days of the Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago. For those of you that are unfamiliar, picture Coachella in the downtown core of a major American city with fewer celebrities roaming around (although Malia Obama did make an appearance).

Having attended the festival in previous years, I thought I knew what to expect this time around.

I’m not quite sure if the festival has really grown in the past three years or if my memories as a 14-year-old at Lollapalooza with her parents are not entirely accurate, but I definitely forgot how hardcore the festival can be. Not hardcore in the wild crowd, trashing modpit sense, but more in the

lots of walking, standing, and dancing with 100, 000 other people in 35 plus degrees weather sense.

You will leave each day of the festival feeling more exhausted than you have ever been in your entire

of acts. To celebrate the festival’s 25th anniversary, Lollapalooza spanned four days—one more than the typical three. The lineup included a wide range of acts, with headliners such as Radiohead, Red

Of course, in the rare instances that you are not catching an act, there are plenty of other options for entertainment. The food choices are pretty incredible, with literally hundreds of different

Illustration by Madelaine Fischer life, but you will also leave with the feeling that you just experienced something amazing.

This year’s lineup featured a top-notch roster

Hot Chili Peppers, Lana Del Rey, J Cole, Future and Major Lazer. Some personal highlights for me were Foals, Miike Snow, HAIM, and LCD Soundsystem.

food vendors from which to choose in Lolla’s chow town. Since the festival takes place in Grant Park, which is situated in the downtown core of the city,

simply walking around the grounds can provide enough entertainment for a solid 30 minutes. As you make your way from the north side of the park to the south, you get to look at Chicago’s incredible skyline from a number of different angles.

As trite as it may sound, there’s just something special about music festivals. Having attended quite a few in my 17 years, I can attest to the fact that they are addictive.

You catch the festival bug.

There’s no better feeling than singing the words of your favourite song with thousands of other people who are there for the exact same reason. I can safely say that Lollapalooza 2016 goes down as one of the best music festivals I have ever experienced.

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Wilson’s wanderings Ms. Wilson

Walking in England • Photo courtesy of Ms. Wilson

What can you do with a year of leave? Travel was a big part of my answer!

Here are three of the highlights: Train Travel in Thailand I love trains, so it was an easy decision to spend part of my time in Thailand exploring the countryside by rail. My first journey was to the town of Kanchanaburi, known as the

location of the bridge over the river Kwai (WWII).

The train rides to and from Kanchanaburi were my favourite of the entire year: 3rd class cars, windows wide open, frequent stops for livestock on the rails, and some of the most spectacular scenery you could imagine.

A few days later, I found myself on another train

adventure. This time it was an epic 11 hour journey from Chiang Mai to Bangkok. I had been in the north primarily to visit an elephant rescue centre.

It was really special to see how people are working to help animals and to cap off my visit to this country with a train ride that allowed me to enjoy a glimpse of life in rural Thailand.

Walking in Western Europe What better way is there to discover the landscape of a place than to set off exploring by foot? I had the chance to slow down the pace and have some adventures on several long distance walking routes in Spain and England. Beyond being reminded of the joy of finding a route marker when you haven’t seen one in a really, really long time, what stands out are the landscapes, the animals, and the people.

being out exploring by foot and seeking the hidden gems you only come across when you slow things down.

Walking in Spain brought me to Finisterre with its pretty coastline and rich history. Dartmoor, England, presented rugged, remote beauty, sheep, and wild ponies. The Cumbria Way was the last of the big walks I did this year, and featured a trek to the top of a waterfall and the down the longest uninhabited valley in England’s Lake District.

Spending a few days on a boat gave me the opportunity to go a bit off the beaten path and experience a landscape of breathtaking rock formations that rise up from the sea. From visiting a floating village, to finding the perfect cove for a kayaking break, to soaking in a night sky teeming with stars, this journey by boat reminded me to stop and appreciate the spectacular beauty of our planet.

One of the best parts of exploring this way was meeting walkers all sharing the camaraderie of

Bai Tu Long Bay by Boat It was December 1st and the temperature back home in Toronto was hovering above zero. I had just jumped off a boat for a pre-breakfast swim in the waters of Bai Tu Long Bay, Vietnam. The opportunity to swim in the ocean at this time of year was just too good to pass up!

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What to expect Community

A soccer game being played on the NT field • Photo by Daniel Muntaner

You can just sit with us Victoria Quiroz

As creatures of social By now, we know who to nature, it’s normal that avoid eye contact with and we hang out with groups who to completely ignore. of people, expected even.

The fates of our social Think back to your first statuses have spoken, and day of Kindergarten; after we’ve succumbed to them. a tearful goodbye from Most North Toronto your mom, a greeting students define the term, from the tall Mr. Roberts “clique”, as an exclusive and a riveting nap, you group of friends who genare faced with a decision erally only associate with that essentially becomes each other. Every North omnipresent during your Toronto student surveyed entire social career. Who met the question, “Do will you be friends with? you think cliques exist at Little did you know that North Toronto?” with a this question would follow resolute, “Yes, definitely.” you in the years to come Further prompting found and represent the essence that 85% of students of social groupings and conceded that they could exclusivity. picture the most popuIt’s the first day of grade lar clique in their grade.

7; you’ve been lumped Looking at these numbers, into a dreary classroom the majority would agree with 27 other twelve year that some form of a social olds. A similar question hierarchy exists at North rears its spotted, prepuToronto. What remains bescent head: Who will unclear is why no one has you sit with at lunch? At this age, most people understand where they fall on a social scale and have a tendency to seek out people who categorize similarly.

Several awkward sex talks with your parents and a couple odd encounters with the opposite sex and you’re in the eighth grade. By now the status quo has been set.

The cliques have been formed. We all know who we sit with at lunch, who we can acknowledge in the halls via head nod.

Infographic by Ernest Hung

bothered to do anything about it.

Here’s the problem: by having exclusive social groupings, we isolate ourselves from others. By sticking to the exact same airtight friend group for four years, we prevent ourselves from learning about people from different walks of life.

According to several North Toronto students, their cliques are comprised of like-minded people with whom they can relate to. We consciously choose to associate with people who agree with our views and unconsciously limit ourselves to thinking in biased ways. By voluntarily partaking in these exclusive you-justcan’t-sit-with-us groupings, we become closed off to making new friends, to

learning more about the world, and to encountering values that are at odds with our own.

People generally feel the urge to fit in with the masses. Students find their own niche in high school, at work, and in

“We consciously choose to associate with people who agree with our views and unconsciously limit ourselves to thinking in biased ways” real life. But what about those who don’t? What about those who we deem

uncool? They are dubbed friendless loners who prefer to be left alone. It’s this kind of apathy that fuels their predisposition to getting picked on later in life.

We could have befriended the kid who sat alone at lunch—but we decided not to. This behavior doesn’t vanish with age and maturity. The opposite occurs.

Exclusive social groupings solidify, and bullying prevails in the workforce and society at large.

When asked if exclusive cliques were present among the employees of a shoe store in Yorkdale mall, Tyrell, a third-year U of T Anthropology student, said “definitely, it’s human nature to categorize ourselves over one another by means of exclusion.”

If we are really an accepting and open-minded generation, we should have overcome exclusive cliques and social standings long ago. Let’s stop limiting ourselves for the shallow promise of exclusivity that no one will care about years down the road. Instead, let’s aim to be socially inclusive to the extent that years down the line, we still want to reminisce about high school.

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Meet your president: Minjae Kim Interview by Elizabeth Wolfenden

What are you most excited for?

I’m excited for everything really. More nervous. Being president means your head is on the chopping block because you’re always under careful criticism in the public eye.

Have you done shows before? That charged-nervous-scared-happy-ecstatic feeling you get onstage right before the curtains open and you’re revealed to the audience? That’s kind of where I’m at. Full of nerves. But I have a feeling we’re going to be ok, because we have an absolutely brilliant council.

Like AMAZING council AWESOME PERFECT [Insert more positive synonymous adjectives here]

Photo by Daanish Sayani

Why did you decide to run for president?

I ran for president for a variety of reasons. I served as treasurer, which is a job that is not necessarily as “active.” Every other member of the council has either his or her own council to run or event to organize.

The president oversees everything and runs assemblies, the secretary runs club fair, the VP’s run charity week. But the treasurer doesn’t have his or her own event. Instead, he or she manages funds and gets involved in everything from behind the scenes. So, after one year of being treasurer, I managed to get a handle on how Student Council works at NT. Naturally, I wanted to apply this knowledge to greater use in the position of president. And therefore, I decided to run. As of now, I think things are going pretty smoothly.

Is being class president something you always wanted to do?

Even as a child, I liked to try to lead things and change things. Often this got me in trouble — teachers never like it when anyone tries to ‘rebel’ against them. But as I entered middle school, I followed in my brother’s footsteps and joined Student Council and successfully ran for various positions there as well. In grade nine, I moved to New Brunswick and went to a boarding school. And in the following year, I arrived at NTCI. I had never been part of TDSB public school system, so I was nervous. In the back of my head, I always wanted to do something in the school — to get involved. I joined whatever clubs people asked me to join and I tried out for teams. My grade 10 life was dominated by extracurriculars. However, at the end of grade 10, the opportunity to run for a Student Council position arose. The possibility of actually joining the council was such a strange and novel concept because I hadn’t really thought about it. So to answer your question, is being class president something I’ve always wanted to do? Not always. But it’s something that was probably nagging at me without my knowledge.

Did you think you would win the election? If not why?

I wasn’t sure I would win. In fact, I was pretty scared. I’m still pretty nervous like I was back then. But you know what they say, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” So I decided to run. Even if I had failed, at least I would’ve tried my best. So I wasn’t really confident but self-efficacy I guess.

“If not why?” Well that also has a couple of reasons. First of all, everyone knows how much work senior year is. The workload of being president was definitely why I was questioning whether I should run. Second, Eleni was a formidable opponent, a very capable one at that. She’s been on student council for a longer time and she’s very organized and hardworking. Naturally, I didn’t want to go up against her, but I also didn’t want to roll over and give up because of that.

Right up to when the winners were announced, I thought Eleni would win.

Is there anything you’re not excited for?

Absolutely nothing. Here’s an interesting analogy: You know how you get excited for a party? You plan it a month before and you think of all the fun you’re going to have with your friends.

But you also, perhaps subconsciously, know that, at the party, someone’s going to throw up and make a mess.

But it’s not a party if there’s no crying and vomiting as it’s all part of the party experience. Student Council is kind of like that.

There’s a lot of “boring” paperwork, planning, and logistics that takes place — but you’re excited about the entire thing, rather than just a few choice events. Student Council wouldn’t be fun without the vomit.

What do you want to accomplish in your role as president?

Stability. Let me elaborate: I’d say NT’s doing pretty well as it is. There are no huge problems that have come to my attention (yet) that need to be addressed. So the first thing I want to successfully accomplish is stability — try not to mess up what is already working and continue doing that. But of course, having said that, after achieving stability, I would like to make a couple of changes. One big thing that came up during the campaigns was Student Council transparency. But I don’t think that’s the problem. If we uploaded a video recording of all of our meetings and behind the scenes, I don’t think anyone would care.

I think the problem is that students don’t really know what Student Council does as it doesn’t connect very much with the student body.

So, during my term, I want to facilitate a way to have an easy, simple method to connect between the student body and the council.

Do you have any other goals for this year?

I want to learn juggling tricks! My 3 are pretty sketchy — I’m only good with evenly weighted balls. I don’t think I have to learn more than 3, but I should learn pattern. It’s just a fun thing to do to kill time but I’m not any good. Also, speaking of goals: I have to memorize Hamilton.

I’ve been doing so by osmosis because I don’t have time to actively memorize it. I need to get a lyric book: FedEx guy: Are you sure you want to print 50 pages of lyrics?

Me: positive What do you hope to do after high school?

Pursue acting or something in that field. I started acting in grade 6.

I had no clue what I wanted to do as a child. I always thought I was going to grow up and be a scientist, engineer, doctor, or lawyer. But in grade six, I was pressured by my friends to join the Middle School Musical. So I auditioned and somehow I landed a lead role. And from then on, I’ve been doing one or two shows every year, mostly in school.

Acting as a career is a tough choice, but I look forward to it in dreaded anticipation.

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What to expect Clubs, Councils and Teams Just a few of the extracurriculars NT has to offer

NT’s new “Explore” mural designed by Caitie Robinson • photo by Elizabeth Wolfenden

As North Toronto’s Athletic Association (NTAA) Presidents in the 2016-2017 school year, we, Jake and Jordie, are very excited to bring new ideas and events to the athletic program. We would like to take this time to tell you about some of the awesome new ideas we plan to be putting into action in the upcoming months. Although the event is still in the planning stage, we have been working to make a Friday Night Lights event this fall. Another initiative we are excited to bring to NT this year is the creation of additional junior sports teams to get more Grade 9 and 10 players on the field. If you feel that your team should be split into junior and senior teams, come and talk to one of us about your idea. Good news: the girl’s gym uniform has changed. The bright red shorts have been replaced with slightly shorter grey shorts paired with a red top. In terms of the Athletic Council itself, we are excited to implement open meetings where anyone can come and share their ideas, give input or feedback, or simply listen in and become aware of NTAA events. These meetings will most likely be once a month (we will update you what day and where as soon as it’s decided). In order to encourage everyone to share their ideas, we are adding a NTAA idea box. This is where you will be able to express your ideas, get involved, and further contribute to the council and NTAA-run events. We are excited to organize and implement many other events and activities such as arm wrestling competitions, smoothie breakfasts, yoga lunches, inadvertent Valentine’s Day themed pancake breakfasts, and bake sales during sport games. The NTAA is looking forwards to a great spirit-filled year. Don’t hesitate to contact Jake and/or Jordie in person or via Facebook if you have any ideas or questions. We would love to hear from you.

- Jordie Wilkinson and Jake Ballantyne

The North Toronto Environmental Team (NEAT)’s goal is to reduce environmental apathy and increase sustainability within the NT community. NEAT’s work is centralized to a small executive team. The team is the group primarily responsible for the organization of Earth Week. The North Toronto Environmental Action Team also has some neat plans for the 2016-2017 school year. Next year, NEAT hopes to institute an Environmental Ambassador Program. All students, regardless of their knowledge on environmental issues, will be welcome to become an Environmental Ambassador. Ambassadors will attend sessions to learn about environmental issues, both local and global. The sessions will be engaging, with group activities and discussions. At the beginning of the program, students will learn about environmental facilities at NT and in the rest of the city. Then, they will learn about global environmental issues such as loss of biodiversity and the politics of environmentalism. Finally, they will be taught how to engage in environmentally conscious behaviours. If environmental engagement seems appealing, there are a number of opportunities for you. I encourage you to apply to become a member of the NEAT 2016-2017 Executive Council. You can also apply to become an Environmental Ambassador. Further information is available on the NEAT Facebook page.

- Ajantha Nadesalingam

Illustration by Steven Kenny

Illustration by Leia Kook-Chun

Art Council serves to bring visual arts to the North Toronto community by organizing art-related events (spring into art, best in grade art competition etc.) and brightening the grey halls of our building with murals.

- Grace Pawliw-Fry

Illustration by Alice Liang

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The Gay Straight Alliance welcomes anyone who would like to be involved with LGBTQ+ news, discussions, and events within the NT community. There are many events and activities to look forward to from the club this year, including Spirit Day (Oct 20th), Valentine’s Day (Feb 14th), Pink Day (April 13th), and the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (May 17th). Building on success from past years, the GSA is planning to continue to raise awareness and acceptance throughout the school for the LGBTQ+ community. Anyone interested in joining the club is welcome to look for us at Club Fair, where we will be found together and with our signature rainbow flag.

- Sara and Mithra Azad Illustration by Tamlyn Kook-Chun

Graffiti, The Voice of NT, is North Toronto’s student-led newspaper. The paper is typically published four times a year and is circulated to students, staff, parents, and members of the NT community. Being involved with Graffiti is a rewarding experience.

Contributing to the paper will give you the opportunity to gain journalistic experience, voice the issues you care about, improve your writing skills, and see your name in print. Joining does not need to be an intimidating experience. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to apply in September to contribute to the paper. Anyone in any grade can write for Graffiti. In addition, we will be keeping a writer sign-up form up available throughout the year on Graffiti’s Facebook and Twitter pages. Another common misconception is that only confident writers can write for Graffiti. That is also not true. The 2016-17 Graffiti Editorial Board will be composed of section editors, copy editors, and staff advisors who will enthusiastically help you along the editing path. Do you want to learn more about how you can get involved with Graffiti during the 2016-17 school year? Check out Graffiti’s social media pages and come out to an informational meeting on Monday, September 13th at lunch in the vocals room. We can’t wait to see you there.

- Elizabeth Wolfenden and Cassidy Bereskin

TEDxYouth@NTCI was founded with a simple purpose: to share and facilitate the growth of ideas among NT students. A goal that, despite the youth of the club’s presence, has been achieved. TEDxYouth@NTCI operates throughout the year, sharing thought-provoking talks while working towards hosting its very own conference right here at NT. The club had its first conference in April of 2016 and featured a variety of student speakers and performers. With topics ranging from the power of social media, to LGBTQ+ issues and the scientific mystery that is synesthesia, TEDxYouth@NTCI is an event that has something for everyone. Students can attend, be part of weekly discussions and viewing talks, and/or join the executive team.

Illustration by Hana Abdelmeguid In any capacity, students have the opportunity to share their passions for knowledge with the world. Auditions for speakers will be held later in the year. Do you have an idea worth sharing? Share it with us on Thursdays at lunch.

- Charlie Littler This year, Music Council wants to bring our music community together by giving not only music students, but all NT students, greater opportunities to make music and collaborate with each other outside of the classroom. The majority of students only play music in class, in rehearsals, or in sectionals.

As such, we hope to implement more musical events, open mics, workshops, and music clubs and make music at NT even more fun. At North Toronto, we are incredibly privileged to have the chance to learn and play music. Unfortunately, there are many individuals who don’t have this opportunity. Next year, we hope to organize at least one occasion to go and play at a shelter and/or a senior home. By doing this, we will reach out to our community and bring people together through the power of music. I am thrilled to be working collaboratively with an incredible Music Council. We will be putting together an exciting schedule of musical events for everyone. This year is going to be awesome, so keep updated on our Facebook page (NT Music Students) and watch out for more news and events to come.

- Yael Morris

Illustration by Hana Abdelmeguid

Another school year, another great chance to join more clubs. The Salt and Light Club welcomes everyone from all different faiths and backgrounds. Members meet up every Wednesday at lunch to socialize and talk about relevant issues in an inclusive environment. Guest speakers such as Gary Weeks, a gold record level artist and NT alumni, attend and guide the group with inspiring lessons. In previous years, Salt and Light has carried out many successful initiatives. From hot chocolate mornings to annual Christmas and Easter parties, Salt and Light events have always been favourites among NT staff and students.

For example, every year, on one cold December morning, a couple of Illustration by Christina Wen club members welcome NT staff and students with fresh hot chocolate in the foyer. Teachers and fellow classmates are delighted to be greeted with toasty chocolate beverages. This year, Salt and Light will be collaborating with with the Yonge Street Mission to support low-income urban communities. In addition, the club will begin holding weekly prayer meetings. Throughout the years, many NT teachers, including Mr. Taylor, have led the group during weekly club meetings. These teachers continue to share their deep knowledge, insightful lessons, and vast experiences. Make sure to check out the Salt and Light club. If any of these initiatives interest you or your friends, join us every Wednesday at lunch and become part of a greater cause!

- Prinny Manahan

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For many students, entering the first year of high school may seem daunting, triggering feelings of awkwardness and nervousness. As a result of the sheer size of the school and sheer number of classes, you may not see or talk to many of your middle school friends. Nevertheless, whether you like it or not, by necessity or by choice, you will meet and befriend new people. Trying to approach new people may be uncomfortable, particularly in Grade 9. Believe me, I, and many other people, have experienced this conundrum. But it did not take long for opportunities to make friends to arise. If you have an interest in something outside of the classroom, carpe diem (seize the day). I did! At Club Fair, I was drawn to the NT Robotics Club, which opened the door to engaging in technological Photos courtesy of Manny Suntres creativity and building long-lasting friendships. Yes, I know what you’re probably thinking: ‘Manny, you are just promoting your own club.’ Partially true. But allow me to share some of the benefits and opportunities that NT’s Robotics Club has to offer. So, read on… In Robotics, the goal is to design, build, and program robots that compete against those of other schools. Throughout the competition process, you will meet like-minded peers—they love robotics, maths and/or sciences just as much as you do. It’s worth noting, however, that you do not have to be passionate about math or science to join and participate in the club’s activities. The Robotics Club appeals to different people with varied interests. Some students join to learn new things, such as programming or building robots; other students join in the thrill of competition. Whatever your interest or motivation, the members of Robotics will welcome you with a smile and sense of belonging. The Robotics Club will give you the opportunity to socialize with others, develop useful skills, and improve in STEM subjects. Robotics will nurture your critical thinking skills, teach you how to effectively problem-solve and arm you with the experience of working efficiently with others. Furthermore, Robotics will offer you the opportunity to engage in hands-on work, learn programming, participate in intense competitions, and enjoy yourself in a friendly environment. If you are interested in joining Robotics or learning more about our club and what it has to offer, come see us at our Club Fair booth.

- Manny Suntres Business was most definitely boomin’ last year here at NT! Last year was not only a fantastic year for North Toronto’s business department, but for the commencement of the NT Business Club. With her enthusiasm and passion for business, Ms. Konforte started the Business Club. With over 25 regular members, and eight executives, the Business Club made its mark.

From the stock market challenge, to monthly trivia, to presentations on successful business people, the club encouraged students to explore the fascinating world of business. At the first-ever business banquet at the end of the year, over 70 staff and students were in attendance. The banquet was a great success and place to finish the club’s first year, as well as the Illustration by Christina Wen perfect place to for the next President (CEO) to take charge. If you are interested in the business world or wish to continue to study business for post-secondary, I strongly recommend joining the NT Business Club! DON’T WAIT—TIME I$ MONEY! - Caitlin Chichora Contrary to what you might think, debate is an exciting competition. It is an experience. It gives you the opportunity meet people from across the region, across Canada, and across the world, and to travel to all kinds of exciting places. It gives you a pathway to express yourself, deconstruct fascinating issues, and improve your public speaking skills. This year, the NT Debate Team is slated to participate in a series of university-run competitions (U of T, McGill, Queens etc.) and will be hosting its own 2nd annual NT-wide tournament. Any student in any grade can apply to be part of the NT Debate Team. The team will be meeting tentatively every Monday at lunch and Thursday after school in room 217 to prepare and practice for these events. At weekly meetings, team members will be engaging in exciting debates, seminars, workshops, and lessons on structure and rhetoric. For more information about the NT Debate Team application and deadline, feel free to check out the booth at Club Fair and contact Carolyn Zhang (via Facebook) and/or Ms. Wolfe and Ms. Doucet if you have any questions.

- Cassidy Bereskin Shalom! Hi there. This is the Jewish Council (yes, that’s right, we have a council) reaching out to let you know every Wednesday there is FREE PIZZA at Jewish Culture Club! FYI, you don’t have to be Jewish to join. As your Jewish Council heads, we can assure you that we will make this fresh new council a success. This year, we have made it our goal to keep the club as organized and fun as possible, planning more activities, events, and possibly a field trip. Sneak peek: Jewish Culture Club’s first Treasure Hunt, Secret Moses and many more events to come. We hope you all swing on by for a visit, whether it’s your first or 50th time and enjoy some free KOSHER pizza on us. It’s never a dull time with your NT Jewish Council. Please share your ideas with us as well. Follow us on Twitter or Instagram for more upcoming updates: @ntjewclub and we’ll follow back (don’t try to unfollow us, we have the app).

P.S. Did you know that speed dating was invented by a Rabbi in 1999? ­ - Emily Rosen and Helen Mai

Visual by Charlie Littler

Photo by Zoe Katz

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NT’s popular fall teams Stavros Greer

Illustration by Sabrina Leung

The start of school also means the start of a very important part of NT life—SPORTS! Whether you play AAA hockey or have never played anything outside of Phys Ed, sports teams are a great way to meet new people and enjoy your NT experience. Whether you like to play in the spotlight

or run in the background, NT has a sport for you.

Here’s a look at some of the teams that NT will offer this fall.

Basketball (female): Do you yell “Kobe!” or “Nurse!” when throwing a crumpled up paper into a recycling bin? If so, basketball is your sport.

NT’s girls basketball team is competitive, and with the recent success of the Raptors, basketball is now more popular than ever.

Field hockey (female): Field hockey at NT has a long and proud record at NT. The number of teams is dependent on the num-

ber of interested players, so anyone from experienced players to beginners, can play. If you are keen on playing a sport during your time at NT but aren’t sure which one to choose, field hockey is a great game to try.

Cross Country (co-ed): Is it your dream to run a marathon? If your answer is no, that’s okay.

The furthest distance in cross-country that you’ll ever have to run is only 7 km! If you love to run, join the cross country team. And even if you don’t enjoy running, cross country gives you an opportunity to meet new people.

Volleyball (male): Coming out of an Olympics where it was one of the hottest tickets, volleyball is an incredibly competitive and fun sport. The only indoor sport for males this fall, if you want the spotlight

of being on a major NT team—but don’t like the outdoors—this could be your big break. If you enjoy hitting huge spikes, you should give volleyball a try.

Football (male): There is a junior and a senior team. The sport requires players to show a high level of commitment and stresses the importance of being a part of a team.

Soccer (male): Want to show off your footy skills to the school? Anyone can tryout. In addition, with a lot of afternoon games, on occasion, you will get a chance to show off your skills in front of the whole school.

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@NTCI_Graffiti

@ntcigraffiti

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Humour Warming up to NT

Photo by Ajantha Nadesalingam

NT declassifed school survival guide Genevieve Crispin-Frei So we meet again, NT. After two glorious months of sandy beaches and vibrant sunsets, the grey-painted cinderblocks of these halls seem like a nasty omen for the days to come. Yet here we are again: goodbye R ‘n R, hello stress. Fortunately, over the course of three years in this squaredoughnut school, I have learned a few tricks to help navigate through the whirlwind of NT life. Wise as ever, I have decided to share these with you. So grab your red pens, grey notebook, and horned helmets, because you’re in for one heck of a #justNTkids lesson.

Tip number one: try to stay positive—as cheesy as it sounds. Don’t regret that your homeform is on the fourth floor. Instead, think “Wow oh wow eight flights of stairs? My legs will be so toned by the end of the year.” Instead of complaining that you haven’t slept in four weeks and that there is more caffeine in your body than water, model this mindset: “Pfft who needs sleep?

I feel so alive.” When someone tells you,“Your eyeshadow matches your

purple dress so well”, reply, “Jokes are on you because I’m not wearing makeup—dark circles are the new trend.” You know what they say: beauty is sleep deprivation. Optimism, even tenuis optimism, goes a long way at NT.

“You know what they say: beauty is sleep deprivation.”

Tip number two is about how to deal with our school’s infestation… of toilet paper elves. No, not a single loveable Dobby among these fiends: they only care for our precious toilet paper rolls. And yes, these pests are a hundred percent real—there is no other explanation as to how the full rolls installed by our caretakers disappear by lunch every day. To minimize the inevitable daily horror of opening every last stall in

disappointment, discern number four: be spirited. which floor’s washroom You will soon realize, dear seems to attract the fewNorseniner, that if you est toilet paper elves. Do angstily detach yourself not, and I mean DO NOT, from glorious Red and base your go-to restroom Grey, then you might as off of your friends’ judgewell detach yourself from ments. As odd as it seems, the school. Nobody likes this infestation caters to a dispirited party pooper. individuals. I am particuFrom now on, everything larly drawn to the third you do is in the proud floor. One of my friends is name of NT. If you don’t partial to the fourth; anyet know the school song, other swears by the second learn it pronto. It will be floor; another treks down the theme song for everyto the first. Beware of the thing you do for at least devious toilet paper elves. the next four years. Your You have been warned. newest life goal should Tip number three: actual- be to learn the opening ly do your homework (or at least try… Or at very least, have the intention to try). Trust me. If you don’t, you’ll regret it. My middle school teachers swore that I would go on to become a mathematician. Now, I’m not even sure what a parabola is (some type of pasta maybe?).

Finally (this one is for you, Illustration by Sabrina Leung niners), tip

riff on the trumpet. You should already be planning what to wear for Red and Grey day. And of course, when asked “Who are we?”, you should now automatically respond with the trendy words: “North Toronto, holy gee.”

There you go: a few tips and tricks of how to stay sane in the grey walls.

When the stress creeps in, just remember that we are all in this together. Solidarity, my friend. Solidarity is the secret to surviving NT. Good luck, dear Norseman.

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The do’s and don’ts of making friends Caitlin Heffernan and Grace Pawliw-Fry

ter get to know one another lest we risk uncomfortable silence and eye contact avoidance for the next 10 months.”

Making friends is hard.

So in an attempt to help everyone out, we have compiled a list of Dos and Don’ts that have helped us in our journeys from scared, awkward, friendless niners to scared, awkward, slightly-less-alone twelvers. Whether you’re in the same situation as we were in grade nine or

DON’T go up to someone playing a game Illustration by Steven Kenny on their phone and are just looking to expand ask “Can your circle, follow these I watch?”. You’d think I tips and you’ll be #squadshouldn’t have to say this, goals in no time. but I tried it, so you might too.

DO show the person sitting beside you strange DO be polite. Show your and interesting things in appreciation by ending the textbook. “Look at every conversation with this weird fish” is a better “Thank you for your time conversation starter than and consideration. I look “Well I guess we’d betforward to our next meet-

ing.”

with you?”

DON’T shake hands on being friends. You are not receiving your high school diploma, although it may feel like you put in the same amount of effort.

If you’re in Grade 9, DON’T go out of your way to befriend Grade 12s. The Perks of Being a Wallflower makes it sound cool, what with the parties and kissing hot older girls and what not. However, at best you’ll be sad when they graduate and what’s worse is they’ll patronize you, you lil niner you!

DO take advantage of icebreaker activities. I know it’s tiring to play 2 Truths 1 Lie three periods in a row, but maybe you’d actually find someone with similar interests if you said something other than “I have a dog, I have a sister, I went to my cottage this summer.”

DON’T smell their hair.

DO pray that your teacher notices you sitting alone pathetically and tells you to move beside someone.

It’s basically like when you were little and you had your mom go up to kids at the playground and ask “is it okay if Timmy plays

DO blink.

DO be yourself. It doesn’t matter what other people think. That being said, try not to establish a reputation as “That kid who doesn’t blink.”

DO become friendly with the teachers. They might end up being your only friends.

Phases of procrastination Lauren Kim

Teenagers are notorious for procrastinating; almost every high school student has been a victim to his or her own slothful ways.

These phases of procrastination are relatable to any student who has ever received an assignment.

Day of receiving the assignment: Teacher: “I’m giving you all a month to finish, so no excuses. This assignment shouldn’t take more than a week, but I’m going to make sure there is plenty of time so no one can whine.”

You: “I’ll make sure to get a head start on this. This time, I’m going to ace it and not wait until the last minute. I will not repeat past mistakes.” Little did you know that this assignment would be like every other and despite your belief that your iron will won’t waver, you will slowly realize that this will of yours becomes silly putty when it comes to school.

3 weeks before due date:

You: “3 weeks? That feels like an eternity.” You don’t start, after all, you still have 21 days which is more than enough. You promise yourself to start next week, still giving yourself a week more than what the teacher said is needed.

2 weeks before due date: You: “I’ve read the rubric, so that counts as starting it.” This new series on Netflix came out that you’ve been waiting for. In addition, the teacher did say that you only need a week to finish the assignment.

finish for Thursday.” The other assignments and homework you’ve put on hold have been piling up, but you’re living in denial of your procrastination and making excuses.

3 days before due date: You: “This is the worst.

I can’t get this done in three days...all nighters, here I come.” This is when you finally realise that your situation is dire and google how to give yourself a concussion.

2 days before due date:

You: “I fell asleep last night and barely got anything done. Damn my eyes for closing on me like that. It’s due in 48 hours and I’m only finished half of what would normally take a week.” This assignment that you originally wanted to finish with an ‘A’ has now become something that you just want to finish.

1 day before due date: You: “Mom, can I call in sick tomorrow? I have a cold. *couch, cough*”

1 week before due date: You: “I can’t start on it now...I have two tests tomorrow and math homework to finish. I’ll start tomorrow.” The situation feels very familiar and it seems as though you are regressing into your old habits.

5 days before due date: You: “Everyone else is just starting so it’s okay as long as I start today and

Illustration by Hana Abdelmeguid

1 day after due date: You: “All I have to do is give the office this signed note, print out 10 sheets of paper from the library for my assignment and then hand this in to the teacher with my note.” All you’re asking for at this point is a passing grade and you end up being late rather than poised and on time like what you told yourself a month ago. You curse your procrastinating nature and tell yourself that next time will be different, just like you did the time before.

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Fall tunes for the stressed NT hipster Charlie Littler

As the fall term descends upon NT, so does the stress of assignments and deadlines. Provided are a collection of albums, all with the capacity to calm even the most anxious of students. So sit back, sip your overpriced flavoured latte, don your scarves, and channel your inner hipster to the tune of some albums that, I promise you, are anything but mainstream.

The Lighthouse and The Whaler • The Lighthouse and The Whaler This band is a remarkable mix of ingenious lyrics and phenomenal instrumentals. Thier first of three albums, self titled, combines a folk style with more traditional instruments, namely the violin. Using the most basic of instruments like the triangle and tambourine, this album provides a beautiful and thoughtful soundtrack to

Comic by Steven Kenny

any mood.

Favourite Tracks: White Days, Into the Dark, Always for you Every Kingdom • Ben Howard Ben Howard’s debut album features a pleasant combination of unique vocals and thought-provoking lyrics. Many of the tracks will leave you feeling nostalgic for the summer.

There is also a fair share of track ideal for angsty, thoughtful subway rides staring out the window.

Every Kingdom is a beautiful collection of tracks, each feeling like they have a unique story to tell.

Favourite Tracks: The Wolves, Everything, Gracious The Riptide • Beirut The Riptide, unlike many other works by Beirut, has a distinctly urban feel. This can likely be attributed to its focus on

brass instruments, giving the tracks an aspect of grandeur that makes this album perfect music to destress and explore Toronto to.

Favourite Tracks: East Harlem, Santa Fe, Vagabond Open Season • The High Highs The High Highs first album provides excellent study music for those that aren’t a fan of complicated tracks or purely instrumental music. Their songs manage to be simple, while remaining elegant and calming, making it easy for you to concentrate. Open Season has a strong dream pop and ethereal sound, which fits in room for beautiful songwriting.

Favourite Tracks: Open Season, Bridge, Pines East of Avenue • East of Avenue This debut mini album from the Toronto based

band “East of Avenue” is upbeat and light. Their music is uplifting, while retaining a degree of complexity that cannot be manufactured. While the vocals are simple, the songwriting and instrumentals makes it perfect music for sunny fall afternoons, lifting your spirits on post-study marathons.

Favourite Tracks: Paper Planes, Young Love, Army of One Love is Louder • Craig Cardiff Ideal for those looking for an escape from the typical love ballad style of songwriting, Craig Cardiff illuminates the themes of family, community, and social change.

There is no lacking in the lyrics, which are heavily rooted

in a folk style, and expertly written. “Love is louder” is a family friendly album, but manages to reach all audiences with a variety of themes and messages.

Perfect for combating the stress of the fall semester.

Favourite Tracks: Love is Louder, Lenny Bruce Lee, Recovering

Illustration by Juling Hancock

Graffiti

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September 12, 2016

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Fun Stuff Making procrastination easy North Toronto Holy Gee I W P H E R I T A G E K Q T W

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Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Fri Aug 26 03:32:32 2016 GMT. Enjoy!

F R E N C H C L U B U W S R O PLAYHARD REDANDGREY RETREATS TIMS VOCALS WELCOME WORKHARD ZOHAR

Puzzle 1 (Very hard, difficulty rating 0.79)

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V O C A L S S D A R G S T W D

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