Volume 49, Issue 1

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

themedium.ca

Issue 1 Volume 49 September 05 2022

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NEWS

Editor | Larry Lau news@themedium.ca

Back-to-school comes at a steep price for Canadians Shoppers are searching for solutions to help reduce costs amidst rising school supply prices and the overall cost of living.

Maryam Patel Contributor

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s of July 2022, Statistics Canada reported a 7.6 per cent rise in the Consumer Price Index over a 12-month period. This steep rise has placed pressure on many consumers as their budgets failed to account for the sudden rise in prices. Food prices have been increasing at a hastening pace. Comparing the prices during July 2021 to that of July 2022, an increase of 9.9 per cent was observed, slightly overtaking June’s 9.4 per cent.

While some expenses have remained the same, shoppers have reported a strain on their budget due to increasing prices of certain essential goods.

The effect of inflation is felt by many. Monica Belyea, a parent in the GTA, states in an interview with CBC that her weekly food budget “doesn’t take me to the end of the week anymore.” Belyea says that after spending more on necessities, “I just don’t have as much money to go around.”

The economy is struggling against the effects of Covid-19, labour shortages, and recession forecasts. An increasing number of university students are experiencing rising costs of living

and consequently, budget crunches. For many students, this means that their savings do not go as far as covering the combined costs of tuition, housing, food, and textbooks.

Hannah Sullivan Facknitz, a graduate student at the University of British Columbia, told CTV News that the effects of inflation are felt all over their small apartment. As a disabled student whose budget must include health expenses, Facknitz said, “I’m managing and surviving just by the skin of my teeth, despite getting a really, really good job that pays really well.” Facknitz’s experience is a harsh reality for many Canadian students who are scrambling to make ends meet.

Many international students invest in a Canadian education to pursue better opportunities. However, high inflation is challenging this decision.

International students who lack access to support systems face additional obstacles, such as a complicated and expensive process to apply for Permanent Residency in Canada, difficulty in securing employment opportunities, and higher tuition fees.

“What’s becoming more and more prevalent is necessities versus luxuries,” says senior investment advisor with BMO Private Wealth David Boyd in an interview with The Toronto Star. He recommends students to consider getting a job and to join loyalty programs, both of which could help reduce the financial stress of inflation.

The Stressed by the Bell survey conducted in 2022 uncovered that some Canadians are afraid of accumulating debt while completing their education. The survey interviewed 1,508 Canadians, finding that 30 per cent of parents and 38 per cent of postsecondary students are fearful that they will need to carry on debt to pay for the upcoming school year.

Some retailers are taking note of consumer budgets this year, adjusting as necessary to meet consumer expectations. Notably, Staples will be lowering prices on their 50 top-selling items, while Walmart Canada will be implementing price rollbacks on backto-school items “to help customers navigate this time of inflation.”

Apart from relying on deals from retailers, financial experts advise consumers to avoid duplicate purchases by reusing items whenever possible. They also suggest holding off on less urgent purchases until October, as stores will be clearing back-to-school inventories by then, likely resulting in discounts.

Other tips include comparing store prices to get the best deal, using coupon-code apps, and looking into community programs that provide free or discounted supplies. Canadian Savings Group is a website where deal-seeking experts share grocery coupons and specials. In the past two months, they have gained 6,000 followers, putting their Facebook follower count past 100,000.

Matthew Shay, president and Chief Executive Officer of the National Retail Federation, states in an interview with Global News, “[Consumers] are cutting back on discretionary spending, shopping sales and buying store or off-brand items to purchase what they need for the upcoming school year.”

Due to the effects of inflation, back-toschool products and essential goods have become more expensive. As of now, all there is for Canadian students and parents to do is to practice being smart consumers and to be patient that other companies will follow in supporting students and parents struggling with finances.

UTM’s step towards the future of pharmaceutical innovation The New Science Building will be home to the Centre for Medicinal Chemistry, which will use cutting-edge medical technology to create innovative solutions for diseases like cancer.

Pearla Hariri Contributor

SAMIRA KARIMOVA/THE MEDIUM

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he University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) continues to improve its contributions to the pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry industry through the construction of the New Science Building, which will be home to the Centre for Medicinal Chemistry (CMC). The CMC will provide great opportunities for graduate and undergraduate researchers to get hands-on pharmaceutical experience through the process of drug discovery.

At its core, the CMC is an interdisciplinary centre for the development of new and advanced therapeutics targeting cancer and other diseases. The centre welcomes researchers from the fields of chemistry, biology, psychology, and com-

puter science, introducing new perspectives to drug discovery. This unique approach will change the global landscape of pharmaceutical innovation. The goal of the CMC is to create compounds that are purpose-built to interrupt specific biochemical processes while avoiding harm to normal cellular functions.

The development of the CMC integrates a national network of leading health care institutions and researchers.

The New Science Building will become home to the largest research facility at UTM, spanning approximately 170,000 square feet with a variety of commodious lab spaces, including a spacious analytical chemistry laboratory. The targeted focus of developing cancer therapeutics from initial computational designs, and the definitive animal trials make the CMC unique in Canada.

“There is a demand for an innovative research centre that has a goal of driving lead therapeutic compound candidates to advanced pre-clinical trials, which is the last stage in the drug development process before human testing, and one that very few academic labs are equipped to reach and generally requires an outsource,” says Lubna Abu-Jazar, the laboratory technician and lab lead for the CMC. “At a larger scale, we will be able to produce at higher throughput, accelerating the drugs forward with the state-of-the-art facility, equipment, and instrumentation,” she explains.

The CMC promises to develop a larger library of lead

compounds, which will result in more therapeutic candidates that will advance to clinical trials to fight all forms of cancer, as well as other under-mapped diseases.

The Gunning Group, led by Dr. Patrick Gunning, chemistry professor at UTM, has played a prominent role in the creation of the CMC. The fundamental goal of the group is to develop better treatment and diagnostic options for the most under-explored human diseases. Gunning and his research team continue to design lead compounds that have the potential to be turned into cancer-fighting drugs.

In the past five years alone, the Gunning Group has moved four lead compounds to advanced pre-clinical trials. It is hoped that through these successes, researchers may devise methods to dramatically reduce the time and cost of developing lead compounds.

Students may join the CMC in becoming part of UTM’s cutting-edge innovation in cancer research by the summer of the 2023.

“The ultimate goal is to provide efficient and readily available anti-cancer therapeutics to patients,” says Abu-Jazar.

Prospectively, the CMC also aims to inspire entrepreneurship among chemists through the rise of spin-off pharmaceutical companies that specialize in the targeting of different proteins associated with diverse, and insufficiently investigated diseases, utilizing the New Science Building as its springboard to launch towards its grand goals.

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U of T implements vaccine mandate for residence students The university has announced that for the 2022-2023 academic year, all residence students will be required to have received two Health Canada approved vaccines and one booster.

Elizabeth Provost Editor-in-Chief

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n July 28, 2022, the University of Toronto posted a Covid-19 planning update stating that despite the province no longer requiring vaccine accreditation, students living on residence will be “required to have a primary series of a Covid-19 vaccine and at least one booster dose.” On all three campuses, the requirements must be met prior to moving into any residence and will remain in effect for the entire 2022-2023 academic year.

U of T has advised local public health units of the policy, who have responded positively, indicating that “having a high vaccination rate in communal-living settings benefits all those living there.” Although approved exemptions are an option, the vaccine remains a requirement for those on residence.

In addition, the update, posted by U of T Vice President & Provost, Cheryl Regehr, and Vice-President, People Strategy, Equity & Culture, Kelly Hannah-Moffat, reminded all students and staff to keep their vaccinations up-to-date in case of a short notice

reinstatement of vaccination policy due to changes in public health conditions. Furthermore, although the mask-mandate has been lifted, the use of masks is encouraged—especially in high-traffic environments where social distancing cannot be maintained.

The Medium interviewed three students who have just moved into the University of Toronto Mississauga’s on-campus residence.

Saurabh Nair, a first-year Computer Science student is content with the implementation of the mandate, noting that the vaccine requirement “not only increases your safety, but the safety of others as well,” thus deeming the policy a “good decision.”

As an international student, Nair has received a fourth Health Canada approved dose. But Nair is aware of other students coming from abroad who have yet to meet the vaccination requirement due to the lack of access to vaccines in their country.

International students who have received a non-Health Canada approved vaccine, regardless of the number of doses, will have to register with Toronto or Peel Public Health in order to meet the requisite—a service which is free for everyone in Ontario. However, the National Advisory Committee on Immuni-

zation notes that students receiving unapproved vaccines should keep in mind that an interval of “at least 28 days should be observed between receipt of the last vaccine and the administration of a Health Canada approved Covid-19 vaccine.” While provisions have been made by the university, numerous obstacles remain for international learners.

“With my science and biology background I know the benefits of [being vaccinated],” states a fourth-year biology specialist, who wishes to remain anonymous. However, when the student heard that U of T will be reinstating the regulation, they were surprised since it is no longer enforced by the provincial government. On March 14, 2022, the Ontario government lifted the last of the vaccine mandates—no longer requiring proof of vaccination in hospitals, long-term care homes, schools, and child-care settings. Although the student does not have a problem with the university-wide mandate, they do see how that might not be the case for others.

Universities across the province have not come to a unanimous policy regarding vaccination requirements. Western University announced on August 22, 2022—only two weeks before the start of classes—that they

will continue to require all students, faculty, and staff to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19, including one booster. They have also placed a masking mandate in classrooms and seminar rooms. By contrast, McMaster University no longer requires proof of vaccination nor masks worn in classrooms. Neighbouring institution, Toronto Metropolitan University, has suspended their vaccination and masking policy since May 1, 2022.

Second-year statistics and geographic information systems student, Yuling Wang, believes that “[U of T] should give students a choice whether they have a booster or not.”

Wang notes that her booster caused an adverse reaction and fevers. Hence, she thinks the solution would be to have the choice. In addition, Wang states that the vaccination requirements do not make her feel safer as she knows of fellow students who have received up to four doses of a Covid-19 vaccine and still caught the virus.

Students across the university feel differently about the policy, especially considering the lack of provincial regulations. Nonetheless, U of T believes that the policy in its high-traffic living spaces will benefit the community.

Elimination of tuition fees takes centre stage in UTMSU’s plans for the upcoming year President Maëlis Barre introduces the campaigns, events, and initiatives in an interview with The Medium.

Larry Lau News Editor

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s existing students return and new students arrive for the fall semester, the University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union (UTMSU) reveals numerous events and initiatives for the student body, many of which will incorporate in-person elements to introduce students to university life.

The UTMSU’s appointed members for the 2022-2023 academic year include President Maëlis Barre, Vice President Equity Reagan Roopnarine, Vice President External Alistair Kirk, Vice President Internal Wenhan (Berry) Lou, Vice President Campus Life Fatima Yakubi, and Vice President University Affairs Suraqa Noor.

The Medium sat down with President Maëlis Barre to discuss what students can expect for the year.

First year and returning students will be welcomed with Orientation Week and Welcome Back Week, respectively, both of which will be filled with events introducing students to the new academic year. Notably, the East Meets West concert featuring Smiley and Swae Lee will be held at Rebel on September 8 at 7 p.m.

For the rest of the fall semester, students can expect more programs such as Expression Against Depression Week, and Multicultural Week. A food fest and fashion show are slated to take place during Multicultural Week, giving students “different opportunities to showcase their cultures,” shares Barre. Halloweek will also be making its return with a spooky haunted house and carnival.

The Academic Advocacy, Consent is Mandatory, Education for All, and Fairness for International Students campaigns will be returning this year as well.

Recognizing the obstacles students face in securing affordable, safe, and livable housing options off-campus, the UTMSU will be introducing the new Housing Advocacy campaign. On August 23, the UTMSU held a Housing Town Hall, where students contribut-

ed their ideas on how the campaign should be organized. During the fall semester, students may voice their concerns for housing by attending housing committees.

This year, the UTMSU will push the Education for All and Fairness for International Students campaigns forward. Both campaigns aim to eliminate tuition fees for all students to make higher education more accessible. The Fairness for International Students campaign also focuses on ensuring international students are given opportunities to thrive in Ontario.

At various points in the fall semester, the UTMSU will be holding consultations to collect data and student opinions on tuition fees at U of T. The UTMSU will also be holding a forum for international students. Barre explains that such students are sometimes “left out of the conversation,” even though they pay “eight or nine times more tuition fees than their domestic counterparts.”

“We recognize that the university doesn’t always listen to the demands that students have unless we put pressure on them,” states Barre. To this end, the UTMSU will be organizing a lobby week in the winter semester. Students are welcomed to join the UTMSU in lobbying for action from the university administration and the provincial government. Some of the lobbying events will be held in-person.

Although UTM is returning to in-person learning, the pandemic is far from over. “We also recognize that our membership very much wants to come back to campus,” says Barre as she explains that the UTMSU will be closely monitoring the public health updates to stay on top of the Covid-19 pandemic, ready to pressure the university administration to take action in safeguarding student health.

In the previous academic year, UTM students called for greater transparency regarding all university affairs. Recognizing the importance of transparency, Barre encourages students to participate in UTMSU’s regular commission meetings, which provide excellent opportunities for students to check-in on UTMSU affairs. The UTMSU Annual General Meeting, which we be held on November 24, is also a phenomenal opportunity for students to

pitch in on what they expect from the university and the UTMSU. “There’s a fall by-election coming up in September, and we’ll have seats on our board,” explains Barre as she encourages students meeting the election requirements to run for these positions should they be interested in getting involved with the UTMSU and helping maintain transparency.

At all times, the UTMSU welcomes student feedback either through email or in-person conversations at the Student Centre.

“I’m really happy that we’re all coming back in person. The UTMSU will be a space for both super fun events to meet new students and meet new friends, but also a space to organize and build collective power,” says Barre, reminding students that the UTMSU will play an active role in connecting and entertaining the community, and this year around, both in-person and virtually.

SAMIRA KARIMOVA/THE MEDIUM

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UTM installs its first lactation pod for breastfeeding The Mamava-designed lactation pod on campus will protect breast feeders’ privacy while providing helpful amenities to improve breastfeeding experience.

Sukaina Rizvi Contributor

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n a 2010 study conducted by Dr. Patricia Kelly Spurles, 66 per cent of participants were opposed to breastfeeding in public spaces. Knowing this has made parents feel uncomfortable when feeding their infant in public. To address the lack of privacy for breastfeeding, the University of Toronto Mississauga’s (UTM) newly installed Mamava-designed lactation pod provides total concealment for its user, a step above the current breastfeeding options available.

Breast feeders often lack the privacy needed to provide their infant with essential nutrients. This leads to less breastfeeding, negatively affecting both the breast feeder and infant.

According to a report by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, women who breastfeed for more than 12 months have a lower risk of ovarian cancer in comparison to those who never breastfeed. Additionally, breastfed infants have a significantly lower risk of acute ear infection compared to their non-breastfed counterparts.

In an analysis conducted by Western Sydney University professors Athena Sheehan, Karleen Gribble, and Virginia Schmied, many social norms and limitations cause breastfeeding in public to be complicated and unsecure for women. This can lead to mothers forgoing breastfeeding in open spaces and bottle-feeding infants with milk formula instead,

which can be consequential. The use of formula often does not replicate the nutrients an infant gets from breastfeeding.

Hence, formula-fed infants are more susceptible to illnesses such as various respiratory diseases, diabetes, and asthma later in their childhood.

A study conducted by professors Cristina Borra, Maria Iacovou, and Almudena Sevilla in 2015 shows that breastfeeding can lead to a reduced risk of postpartum depression as long as the breast feeder has always intended to breastfeed their infant.

This is where the invention of lactation pods arose—from both the lack of privacy and social stigma revolving breast feeding, and from the researched benefits of breastfeeding.

The Mamava lactation pod was invented by co-founders Sascha Mayer and Christine Dodson, with its first pod installed in the Burlington International Airport in Vermont in NICOLE JUDD/THE MEDIUM

2013. The pods are sterile, clean, and offer complete privacy.

They are also wheelchair and stroller accessible and provide ergonomic comfort. Inside the pods there is a shelf, mirror, and outlet for breast pumps, as well as excellent lighting and devices that generate white noise for added privacy. In addition, all surfaces in the pod are food-grade, non-absorbent, and the pod is ventilated with 35 air exchanges per hour.

At UTM, the pod is located on the first floor of the Communications, Culture, and Technology Building, in front of the art gallery and Multimedia Studio Theatre and is available from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.

To access the pod, one must download the Mamava App on the App Store or Google Play. The user can utilize Bluetooth to unlock and lock the pod. The app will provide a list of pods nearby along with their vacancy or the approximate availability schedule. Users can also suggest locations where pods can be added. The pod’s lighting, airflow, and sound can be adjusted through the app. Various guides are available on the app such as breastfeeding tips, and notes of encouragement left from parents in each pod.

If parents are looking for other breast feeding and family spaces around campus, there are spaces located on the second floor lounge and in Room 224 of the Academic Annex.

There are additional spaces on the third floor of the CCT building, in the seating areas on the second and third floors of the Instructional Centre, and on the couches and chairs in the UTM Woman and Gender Equity Centre in the Maanjiwe nendamowinan building.

U of T ranks 22nd for the second consecutive year on the “2022 Academic Ranking of World Universities” Students share their opinions on U of T’s prestige and explore the impact of the institution’s ranking on their learning experience.

Razia Saleh Contributor

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he University of Toronto stands in 22nd place on ShanghaiRanking Consultancy’s 2022 Academic Ranking of World Universities, maintaining the same position as last year.

While ShanghaiRanking Consultancy compares more than 2500 public and private universities when compiling the ranking list, only the top 1,000 universities are published.

The ranking system includes four distinct qualifications categorized broadly into academics and research. As stated on the ShanghaiRanking website, the specific criteria include the “Quality of Education,” highlighted by the number of alumni winning Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals, the “Quality of Faculty,” exemplified by the number of staff winning the same awards along with the number of highly cited researchers, the “Research Output,” determined by the number of articles published in journals of Nature and Science as well as the number of articles indexed in Science Citation Index Expanded and Social Sciences Citation Index in the Web of Science platform, and the “Per Capita Performance,” revealed by the per capita academic performance of a university.

U of T differentiates itself from other universities through its diverse student body, having a total of 21,216 international undergraduate students enrolled in 2022. Subjects such as sociology, psychology, statistics, and finance all rank in the top 10 best subjects to study at U of T. As of 2022, U of T has a total of 22,120 students enrolled in graduate studies, largely due to the institution’s reputation as

a hub for academic research. U of T also provides higher education in a wide array of disciplines, offering more than 700 undergraduate programs and around 70 professional graduate programs for students to pursue, opening up a plethora of career options.

The Medium interviewed two students at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) who shared opinions on U of T’s prestige and the importance of university ranking.

Dana Al Refai, a third-year molecular biology specialist, explains what the prestige of U of T means to her as a student of the institution by saying “U of T matters to me. It gives me the motivation to study and excel at my courses as part of the best university in Canada. I think having a degree from the University of Toronto opens many opportunities regarding jobs and graduate schools.”

Al Refai believes that university prestige can spur students to put more effort into their studies. “I think this prestigious honor somehow puts pressure on me at school to work harder and get a high GPA. As I progress through my years, I think the professors place high expectations on students in terms of marks. I think the ranking pressure brings the best out of students and pushes them beyond their limits.”

When asked about how a U of T degree will help him secure a job, a fourth-year biotechnology specialist student, who wishes to

remain anonymous, says “When I graduate, it means that my degree will be recognized anywhere in the world. And that’s a good thing.”

However, the anonymous student believes that school ranking had little bearing on his decision to study at U of T. “What’s more important is the support the students get during their time in universities such as resources for finding jobs and internships, mental health resources, financial help, and many others,” he states.

“U of T has been consistently ranked in the 22nd spot and remained right around its place for a number of years in many of the major university ranking systems. So I doubt that students will feel pressured to do better. However, the ranking will probably pressure the faculty and administrators to do better,” says the anonymous student.

All in all, the anonymous student feels that U of T can improve by providing more support and resources for students. “At the end of the day, what’s the purpose of graduating from a high-ranking university if students can’t find a job after they graduate?” he concludes.

U of T continues to demonstrate excellence in both academics and research. With the highly skilled students and faculty, along with extensive networks, it is of no surprise that U of T is ranked as one of the top universities in Canada. With its stellar ranking, the university attracts many high achievers hoping to experience U of T’s highly sought-after learning environment.

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Forging our creative legacy This volume, we will push the boundaries of our creative potential.

Elizabeth Provost and Aia Jaber Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editor

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randma Moses, born September 7, 1860, was an American folk artist. Most of her life, she lived an agricultural lifestyle in rural Virginia, which in her late 70s became the subject of her landscape paintings. She spent her remaining 20 years at the foot of the easel, paintbrush in hand. She portrayed her farm life just as she chose to experience it, applying colourful paint to illustrate welcoming pastoral scenes until the age of 101.

The Medium’s history dates back to 1968, when we published University of Toronto Mississauga’s, then Erindale College, first student campus paper—The Erindalian. Since then, many things have changed, from fashion styles and printing methods, to what we discuss within the newsprint of our weekly issues. But one thing has remained the same: our desire to try new things.

As a child, Grandma Moses painted landscapes by ingeniously extracting colours from lemon and grape juice, and using materials such as grass, flour paste, and sawdust found in her family’s farmhouse. Even later in life, as a wife, mother, and maid, she continued to be creative, embroidering pictures for friends and family, and quilting blankets for her children.

At 76, Grandma Moses developed arthritis, which strained her ability to continue embroidery. Her sister suggested painting to quench her thirst for the arts.

“Over the years, the complexity of our publishing week, and easily accessible excuses, have caused us to, at times, credit ourselves as only a printed media—leaving little space for creativity outside of the written word.”

Over the years, the complexity of our publishing week, and easily accessible excuses, have caused us to, at times, credit ourselves as only a printed media—leaving little space for creativity outside of the written word.

Today, The Medium is 54 years old. As we enter a new publishing year, we look within ourselves and to our creativity to leave a legacy as large as that of Grandma Moses.

DIUM

Managing Editor Aia Jaber managing@themedium.ca

Editor | Kareena Kailass opinion@themedium.ca

Editorial

/THE ME

Editor-in-Chief Elizabeth Provost editor@themedium.ca

OPINION

KARIMOV A

EDITORIAL BOARD

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SAMIRA

MASTHEAD

61 years after her death, Grandma Moses continues to live through her talent. We grow to wonder how much greater her impact would have been had she started earlier.

We wonder, what if we allow ourselves to unlock the most creative, unique, and innovative parts of ourselves? What would The Medium look like long after we leave?

Early this August, our twelvemembered Editorial team met in the comfort of our brightly lit office on the second floor of the Student Centre. We thought about how we could introduce ourselves to each other while sipping on hot chai and snacking on chocolate-covered almonds. We sat in a circle and painted coasters— each of us coming up with a unique design. Aidan, one of our Copy Editors, painted a fiery Bob Ross style landscape, with strangelyshaped birds adorning the sky. Julia, our Arts & Entertainment Editor, largely wrote her initials surrounded by a dainty floral pattern—making it clear that this coaster was reserved for her hot coffee cup during late-night editing sessions, and no one else with the initials “JS.” Grandma Moses demonstrates a journey of true, boundless creativity. In our attempts to follow her legacy, season 3 of The Medium/The Message, our podcast, has begun—with a new genuine and heartfelt twist to its episodes. Our videos explore student journalism, as well as the UTM community in all its drama and victories. The two Medium Magazines for the year investigate growth, pain, love, and the individual voice—with magazine launch parties to connect our voices to our community. In addition, we’re continuing columns like From Liz, With Love, while making room for new ones like Changing Leaves. And the Photos section is now accepting illustrations—welcoming your art, new and old, to the warm pages of our publication.

We’ve always known that looking to the future means remembering the past, and to leave a legacy means making the most of our time and resources. Time will continue moving— moments today becoming memories tomorrow. The Medium, in its magical way, affords us the opportunity to capture those moments and forge them into our history for decades to come.

Learning from Grandma Moses, we know that creativity will always live long after us, but we define our potential today.

We have a duty to ourselves to produce content for you, our readers, while also continuously being ambitious and limitless.

It is our responsibility to ensure that what is happening on campus or within the community is being reported, and to provide you with opportunities to share your own potential. We invite you to create with us, and to hold us accountable in our promises to you. Never feel shy to voice your opinions—we encourage it. The Medium is the living legacy of student journalism, and just as Grandma Moses once said, “Life is what we make it, always has been, always will be.”

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: Crying outside Goodlife Elizabeth Provost Editor-in-Chief

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hen I started writing From Liz, With Love in August of 2021, I was painfully in love. Now, I’m painfully single.

Okay, I’m being dramatic. I’m doing okay. It’s been one hell of a summer (I’ll tell you in a sec), but I’m here with a backpack full of new experiences, and the absolute urge to use this bi-weekly column as an excuse to give out my unwarranted opinion— one year later.

Back to my summer. This was the first summer in three years that I was single. (Yes, it was three different boys so I’m really really happy to have broken that streak or I would’ve had an intervention and titled myself “serial-summer-fling-er”.)

It was freeing to be single after my relationship sabbatical.

I spent my hot summer days working hard and preparing for grad school applications, and cooler summer nights reigning absolute chaos on the Toronto nightlife with my best friend, Paige. Of course, it wasn’t all easy though. I also spent many summer days thinking about the guy I’d been in love with last summer, wondering how different my life would have been if we were still together, and unfortunately, waiting for him to text me if he vacationed back in Canada. He didn’t text me.

And that’s when I truly started to heal.

Part of me being this self-proclaimed relationship guru (only I’ve ever called myself that so please take it lightly) is that I sometimes forget that it’s okay not to have it all figured out.

That it’s okay to feel hurt, to cry in your car before and after your Goodlife workout, to only start healing from a breakup five months later, and to draft messages to your ex—but never sending them (this is my advice this week).

So, this year, I’m embracing being bad at relationships.

Be it romantic, or platonic, there’s always so much to learn, and the best way to learn is from your experiences. I want to hear what you’re going through—partly because we all need to know we’re not alone, partly because I want to help, and partly because I’m nosy. So, babe, send me an email at editor@ themedium.ca or submit an anonymous message at www.themedium.ca/letters. I can’t wait to hear about your toxic ex or your roommate who insists on using Metallica as white noise while they sleep. I’ll be waiting.

10 things nobody told me about UTM A student’s guide to surviving life at UTM Madison Ireland Contributor

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s the new school year starts and students return to the University Toronto Mississauga (UTM), many find themselves feeling disoriented and overwhelmed. With UTM’s return to in-person classes and events, students may be unfamiliar with campus life. To help with this transition, here are 10 things that nobody told me about UTM that I wish I had known sooner.

1.

2.

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4.

5.

There are many interesting clubs and student groups on campus. From sports groups to academic societies to religious and cultural associations, there is no shortage of opportunities to meet people with similar interests and backgrounds.

The Office of the Registrar and individual departments offer seminars, information sessions, and academic advisory appointments. These services provide critical information about Programs of Study applications and degree requirements, in addition to helping students in planning future years of study and career paths. Services such as these are especially helpful for new students, or those considering switching programs, as they can help navigate these transitions, and answer any questions along the way.

DegreeExplorer is a helpful tool found on ACORN that helps in researching and planning future years of study. DegreeExplorer allows students to drag and drop courses into a degree plan to ensure that all program requirements and prerequisites are fulfilled, reassuring you that you’re on the right track for your graduation. It also makes course enrollment less stressful in the long run, as all of the necessary research and planning for future years of study is already completed.

Geese literally rule the campus. This may seem like an odd thing to mention but as a first-year student, I was shocked to see how many geese there are on campus. It’s not uncommon to see a flock of geese sitting in the middle of the road— holding up traffic. For the most part, UTM geese are friendly.

The Recreation, Athletics and Wellness Centre (RAWC) on campus is home to UTM’s fitness centre, drop-in sports, and fitness programs. In addition, they offer services including personal training and group fitness classes. The RAWC is open seven days

a week (with exceptions for holidays), which makes it very convenient to fit in a workout before, after, or between classes.

6. Several movies and television shows have been filmed on UTM’s campus. Film crews are a familiar sight on campus. Some examples include Amazon Prime’s The Boys, and Disney’s Zombies 2, Shazam, and Hannibal.

7. There are many quiet study spaces available on campus, offering students areas where they can be focused and productive. The library is a convenient place to study as there are computers, printing and copying services, books, study resources, quiet areas, and study rooms (available by booking) for student use.

8. The UTM Library is also home to many collections for students to borrow. Students have access to data and statistics sets, archived newspapers and government reports, books, maps, and articles, which are useful for coursework and assignments. The library also has a recreational book collection of both fiction and non-fiction. Additionally, the library is home to collections such as the Syd Bolton Collection of over 14,000 video games, making it one of the largest video game collections in North America.

9. UTM’s Robert Gillespie Academic Skills Centre offers a variety of services to help students identify and develop critical academic skills. They offer workshops, one-on-one sessions, online resources, and programs to help students improve skills such as technical writing and mathematics, all free of cost.

10. The University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union (UTMSU) has many services available for UTM students. Some examples of the UTMSU’s services include shuttle bus tickets, U-Passes, printing services, health and dental coverage, and events. Students can also look to the UTMSU for discounts and coupons for places such as Cineplex, Domino’s, and Canada’s Wonderland.

The UTMSU also advocates for student rights and needs such as affordable healthcare, tuition, and transit.

Of course, this isn’t an exhaustive list of all the Easter eggs around campus, but it is just enough to get you started on your journey at UTM. The best part of it all? Discovering your own hidden treasures around campus.

By: Reid Fournier

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Eating, Praying, Living: How and Where I Like to Eat on Campus Thai Express, Pizza Pizza, Tim Hortons—the options are never-ending me a depth lower into hell and I struggle to remain present, when the only solution is to eat and cry, to eat to cry. The spiciest Pad See Ew/Pad Thai, a fried banana, Hawaiian pizza, and a drink am writing this from the desk in my of my choice usually do the trick. It is SABRINA MUTUC/T HE bedroom. There is a can of strawberry lemME the spices in the Thai Express and the DIU onade Peace Tea beside a plate speckled with crumbs M fullness of the pizza; I flood my senses of bread and cake. This is my dinner after a five-hour shift work- with the sweet smells and meticulous flavors of ing retail—my rightful reward. This desk is a complicit witness to pineapple, soy sauce, chicken, and Chinese broccoli. I chips crackling and spilling, to hashbrowns from Oscar Peterson keep eating. I watch an episode of Glee. I keep crying, and then Hall (OPH) dipped in syrup and dripping on furnished wood, Pad I sleep. I wake up, and I am better. Maybe I shall try to get ahead See Ew from the Davis food court steaming out of Thai Express on that essay for my political science course. Maybe I shall open boxes, saliva dribbling, Tim Hortons Iced Capps neglected and TikTok and never close it. melting on winter mornings, teeth crunching, plastic forks splinThe Starbucks in the Communication, Culture, Technology tering from the force of starving hands, chicken tenders drowned (CCT) building gives me a feeling of power because of its proxin brown sauce, stir fry turning black from rot as assignments pile imity to the library. In my delusions and romanticization, I have and the brain drains into pages of readings and writings. come to regard strawberry Frappuccinos, iced chai lattes, and matI sit at my desk because I like to be alone. On campus, that is cha drinks as a kind of ale for the striving scholar—a salve for the where I sometimes prefer to be—locked away like a princess in a tortured brain. In between classes and study breaks I find myself faraway castle, decomposing like the Caesar salad in my trashcan raw and chipper with hunger as I line up for my daily ration of from a few nights ago. This desk is where I use food to process iced chai latte. I am not unlike the young men that flock to bars at complex emotions, and exercise aesthetic pleasure and prefer- night after bending steel in warehouses, lifting heavy boxes, and ence—it is where I appreciate the quality of food. huffing against their bodies’ protests. They have dreams to fulfill Many times, I spend my meal plan at the Davis food court. With and people that are counting on them. So do I. I deserve this, this Thai Express, Harvey’s, Mongolian Grill, Pizza Pizza, and Express sweet thing to soften the toil, to keep me distracted from how hard Salad, the Davis food court is spoiled sickly for its choices. Even being a student at this institution is just like those men deserve the with all these options, I hardly have a taste for anything other than warmth of rows of vodka at Happy Hour after a long day.

Thai Express and Pizza Pizza. They are as constant and reliable as Many times, I take this food with all its oils, calories, sugars, a mother. There are days when my body’s axis tilts into a grave and salts back to my room. Sometimes I meet with friends in these melancholia, when I want to give up, when nothing my professors spaces, and we commune over food and all couldn’t be better. We say soaks into the cotton in my brain, when every second brings are young and hungry and unstoppable as we eat.

Jonathan Divine Angubua Contributor

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Becoming a chameleon: thoughts of a graduating student Final year is nerve-wracking, and the pandemic has made our university experience unique.

Kuicmar Phot Contributor

I

f the experiences of a fourth-year University of Toronto student were condensed into a short story to be analyzed by a high school English literature class, the overarching theme would be adaptation. Every semester has been drastically different, throwing us into the waters of new endeavours just as we got the hang of the previous one. From adjusting to the academic rigour of university in first year, then to a pandemic, then to online school, and then returning to in-person learning, we have spent more time adapting to our ever-changing environment than enjoying an invaluable learning experience: undergrad. The pandemic may have led us to continually evolve with the mandates, it also acted as an avenue for us to re-evaluate our experiences and learn to cherish what we do have.

Most fourth-year U of T students have spent one academic year in-person since starting university, compared to two online academic years. I’ve done summer classes since firstyear, so I’ve spent three semesters in-person and six semesters online. I adapted well to online classes because I could spend less time commuting, and my home was a comfortable setting. While I recognize my situation was optimal compared to most of my peers’, integrating to in-person made me realize how much I’d missed out on while studying outside of the campus’ boundaries.

University is a significant catalyst in developing social skills and a sense of self. The pandemic made university an isolating experience, with social interactions being limited to Zoom meetings, class group chats becoming abandoned after finals, and connections being reserved to merely recognizing profile pictures. The added aspect of worrying for our loved ones and our own well-being made the

Changing Leaves: A brand new season Aia Jaber Managing Editor

C

hanging Leaves is a conversation between the reader and I. These short entries will serve two purposes: to allow me to express my thoughts and experiences, and to encourage you to feel all your feelings. Consider this a safe space for mutual growth, introspection, and understanding.

For the next year, bi-weekly, you and I will talk about matters of the heart and conflicts of the mind. We’ll talk about love and loss, discovering identity, and the moment I realized I was finally an adult because the food I made became partly edible. Throughout the year, we’ll discuss how moving to Canada has impacted how I approach the workplace and relationships, how to navigate the UTM social scene, and what it means to be a Muslim woman in a Western society. I will open up in hopes that it allows you to welcome the seasons changing—only through acceptance can we start to become our truest, happiest selves. Summer will end, and we will feel the effects of fall, winter, and spring together.

It can be scary to see the leaves fall and new ones grow, but we can do it together.

I invite you to imagine yourself sitting on the field in front of the Maanjiwe Nendamowinan (MN) building, witnessing the seasons come and go. Soon, the leaves will turn bright orange and red, and then they will crumble and fall, leaving room for new beautiful, green beginnings. Just like the changing of the leaves, and the addition of new greenery, our lives will blossom with each year.

I encourage you to email me at managing@themedium.ca to share your thoughts on life’s colours of growth, recovery, loss—or anything else that is close to your heart. Let’s welcome the season’s change together.

Feel free to shoot me a topic idea, or question you think is important for discussion—I will always answer.

past few years overwhelming. Selfdevelopment for some remained stagnant as time was spent in home environments.

Returning to in-person learning offered the opportunity to experience meaningful social interactions, form stable friendships, indulge in hobbies, and discover new interests. These were things I took for granted during my preCovid-19 semesters. Everything that I believed was mundane, such as joining a club, studying on campus, and making friends during office hours turned out to be little details that paint the canvas of our university experience.

I now understand that constantly adapting to our environment grants us an ability to live in the moment and find the beauty in our now bustling surroundings.

Knowing this will be my last year of undergrad is a bittersweet feeling. The thought of no longer needing an abysmal sleep schedule

to stay on top of homework and studying is euphoric. However, I will miss school clubs, studying with friends while making new friends, ranting about classes, going to school events, and most importantly, the geese. Despite how mentally taxing university has been, I have started to find myself. I’ve picked up new hobbies, met excellent professors, and gotten better at problem-solving through the years. I’ve spent the last three focused on academics in Zoom university, but this year will be spent valuing the little things.

We have become chameleons—constantly adapting to our surroundings to survive. In this state, we have learned that sometimes a little rain is needed to appreciate the sunshine.

In this case, our rain was more of a symbolic hurricane. Our hurricane taught us to embrace the warmth of the sun before the warmth dissipates. Undergrad is a one-of-a-kind experience, and it is time we embrace it!

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A survival guide: how to excel as a firstyear student at UTM "Beginning university is supposed to be one of the most exciting periods of your life!" or so they say...

Olga Fedossenko Contributor

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e often hear that university is supposed to be one of the most exciting periods of our lives.

But for many, beginning university evokes anxiety and fear. In light of this, here are some tips on how to get through your first year, from someone who has done it before.

Get a calendar Organizing work and leisure time helps you stay on top of hectic university life, especially as someone experiencing it for the first time. The transition from following a clear daily routine in high school to having free days in the middle of the week and sometimes, only one lecture a day can feel confusing at first. Whether you prefer an online app or a good old paper log, make a calendar to note all of your important deadlines and events. I prefer online calendars like Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook Calendar, and Apple Calendar, or apps like Notion and Obsidian with calendar templates to keep track of your assignments and social gatherings.

Book a meeting with your academic advisor

Find your "people"

A meeting with an academic advisor or career counsellor can clarify your potential future both at UTM, and after graduation. Many students begin their first year with no knowledge of the Program of Studies (POSt) system, and the complicated coordination of course enrolment. I know quite a few students who, just like me, struggled with questions like how many credits you need for a specialist versus a major or minor, or what each program type means. To avoid feeling unprepared, book a meeting with an advisor at the Office of the Registrat as early as possible to understand program selection. And don’t be afraid to drop a course or change your program. The sooner, the better.

Finding your support group will help you get through university. Friends who understand and relate to you can be helpful during difficult times like midterms and exams. If meeting new people comes to you naturally, making friends will be easy. But, if you are more of an introvert, like me, check out my next tip. And remember, choose your friends wisely. Stick with the people who push you to improve, both inside and outside the classroom.

Participate in activities organized

by UTM and your faculty University is as much about networking as it is about studying. Events and student societies not only bring good friends, but also useful connections. Talk to people you find engaging—including your professors.

Find out what they do and whether you can join their projects. With new acquaintances in lecture halls or at club meetings, you can simply exchange social media handles to contact them later. Attending UTM activities almost guarantees that you will talk to at least a few people, which is an easy way to make friends without having to approach anyone.

Take good care of your mental health Finally, never forget to take care of your mental health.

Use your calendar to schedule a day, or even a few hours each day for self-care. Take a relaxed hike along the UTM nature trail, have a hot bath, watch a feelgood movie, read a book, or take a trip to downtown Toronto. During my first year, I made the mistake of working non-stop and ended up both mentally and physically exhausted by final exam season. Don’t try to do it all at once, even if you think you can. A breath of fresh air or a simple meal will help recharge your energy before tuning into another hour of hard work.

Many UTM students experience moments of struggle during their first year. Be confident and remember that it is okay to have a hard time in a new environment. Take advantage of your network of new friends and professors, and try to make your study days as fun as you can.

Choose a note-taking system that works best for you You’ll notice that most University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) students prefer typing their notes on a laptop, but you may benefit more from writing them down by hand. If you feel like hand-writing your notes helps you memorize information more efficiently, do not hold yourself back from buying all kinds of colourful highlighters and gel pens. On the other hand, if your lectures demand quick notetaking, stick to apps like Notion, Evernote, Microsoft OneNote, Apple Notes, or any other alternative.

Make sure to pick the one that feels most effective and convenient to you.

VA/THE MEDIUM SAMIRA KARIMO

09

features

Editor | Prisha (Maneka) Nuckchady features@themedium.ca

Dr. Anna Ampaw on how her identity shaped her journey to success UTM Postdoctoral Fellow shares how faith and community empowered her through her graduate school experience.

Lina Hasan Contributor

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o your best and let God do the rest,” said Dr. Anna Ampaw. Her life motto perfectly encompasses her journey from a young, faithful Ghanian-Canadian girl to a woman working through her Postdoctoral Fellowship in medicinal chemistry at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM).

Born in Nova Scotia to Ransford Ampaw, an MBA graduate of Dalhousie University who immigrated from Ghana, and Eva Ampaw, a self-taught seamstress with her own

clothing line, Dr. Ampaw and her sister were instilled with strong Ghanian-Christian values that she has carried throughout her academic career.

Dr. Ampaw completed her master’s of chemistry at Dalhousie University, where she researched inhibiting β-phosphoglucomutase, a protein that converts glucose-1-phosphate to glucose-6-phosphate. Since this mechanism was understudied, her approach was to design inhibitors to trap the enzyme in its transition state and observe how it undergoes the mechanism.

She then received her PhD in chemistry at the University of Ottawa focusing her re-

search on carbohydrate-based cryoprotectants for blood’s cryopreservation—the preservation of biological constructs by bringing them to low temperatures. By synthesizing small molecule carbohydrates that prevent ice damage in blood, they could tackle the issue of cell death during cryopreservation, thus increasing the yield of viable blood cells after freezing.

While graduate school was not easy, Dr. Ampaw attributes many life-changing lessons to her time there. She refers to herself as a “slow learner,” emphasizing that her results came from the work and effort that she put into her studies. Although it took her longer to understand concepts, she recognized that it was okay and took the time she needed to visualize them, eventually retaining them.

Originally a shy student who didn’t like public speaking, Dr. Ampaw was forced to attend conferences and present her research. This instilled her with confidence, sharpening her communication skills and opening many doors in her career. Though undecided on her end goal, she is excited to explore the countless opportunities that graduate school has afforded her.

Her focus on science as a humanitarian aid is exemplified with her current Postdoctoral Fellowship in Medicinal Chemistry at UTM. “One thing that I really liked about Patrick Gunning’s lab, is his integration of academia with industry,” she explains.

With many bright minds in academia, there is an apparent disconnect between the new lab discoveries and getting them onto the market. Dr. Ampaw appreciates that Dr. Gunning tries to facilitate and speed up that process via start-ups as well as through the new Center for Medicinal Chemistry building at UTM scheduled to open in the summer of 2023. “I like the fact that with the Gunning Lab, we take our knowledge and apply it to health by making molecules to inhibit different proteins that cause cancers.,” adds Dr. Ampaw.

“Dr. Ampaw’s appreciation of practical science stems from her strong Christian faith and trust in knowing she is where she belongs.”

PXHOOD/PXHOOD STUDIO

Dr. Ampaw’s appreciation of practical science stems from her strong Christian faith and trust in knowing she is where she belongs. This helped her navigate through her experiences as a Black woman in graduate school.

While she initially hoped to work in den-

tistry, pursuing her PhD led her to discover her true passion for medicinal chemistry. After hearing the daily struggles of her friends who entered dentistry studies, Dr. Ampaw felt even more grateful for this shift in her career, realizing that dentistry was not for her.

Throughout her studies, Dr. Ampaw has been affiliated with several organizations, such as, the Canadian Blood Services and the Canadian Black Science Network—an organization launched in 2021 by U of T professors to provide a platform of support for Black students in the sciences. She also attends STEMNoire’s yearly conference that invites Black women in STEM to present their research and speak on professional development.

“Throughout her master’s and the majority of her doctorate, Dr. Ampaw was the only Black woman, which was often a source of struggle.”

Participation in these communities was vital for Dr. Ampaw—as a Black woman in the sciences, she felt the absence of representation in her own academic career. Throughout her master’s and the majority of her doctorate, Dr. Ampaw was the only Black woman, which was often a source of struggle. Being the only one in her family to complete a master’s or PhD in Science, and not having other Black female peers to relate to her adversities, and the lack of resources and mentorship generated a feeling of loneliness. In her second and third year, she made an active effort to seek out a community with like-minded individuals with a similar background, mostly via social media. Through this effort, she connected with several Black women in STEM. In 2020, Dr. Ampaw used her own experiences to create her own non-profit organization called Empowering Female Minds (EFeMS). With an abundance of initiatives in North America for graduate students in STEM that are minorities, she wanted to extend that same fortune to those in Africa by building a community amongst African women in STEM. EFeMS helps African scientists financially through scholarships and aims to host yearly conferences for students to present their research, most of which are focused on solving problems within their communities.

Through hard work, perseverance, and strong faith, Dr. Ampaw hopes to continue her research and find new ways to empower minority communities around the world.

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A back-to-normal summer Students share their exciting summer adventures.

Cottage kind-of-summer

Summer’s dream

The summer of normalcy

Paige France Contributor

Kareena Kailass Opinion Editor

Nicole Judd Contributor

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A

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he two of them topple out of my car, stretching after a two-hour drive filled with soul-sucking, tone-deaf singing coming from the back seat. Opening the abandoned cottage’s crusted-over door unleashes memories from long ago.

Mice find refuge as lights are turned on and beds are topped with enough luggage to clothe an army. The dusty wooden floors would become disturbed by socked feet scuffling along as dance parties would send neighbours into lunacy.

This summer was like no other. It was a “wondering which one of your friends could pretend to be sober the best if someone walked into the secrecy of the cabin” kind-ofsummer. A “charcoal facemasks, erotica reading, rom-com watching, pancake-with-nutmeg making” kind-of-summer.

A “double-shot twisted tea out of frosted glasses equipped with reusable straws because the turtles are winning in 2022” kind-of-summer. A “skinny-dipping in a not-so-private lake that you were skating atop merely six months prior” kind-of-summer. A “sleeping around the half-toppled mega Jenga tower because someone had too many twisted teas” kind-of-summer.

But most importantly, it was a “friends are reunited and running jokes come full circle under candlelit séances” kind-of-summer.

It was a cottage kind-of-summer.

fter spending most of my university experience online, this summer was my first real opportunity to taste inperson learning. For the last few years, sitting in a classroom with my classmates felt like a distant dream. This summer, that dream finally came to fruition. My long-dreaded first set of in-person exams did not take away from the excitement for in-person, masked classes. Though meeting new people still felt foreign, interacting with classmates was so much more rewarding than I remembered it being. It felt exhilarating.

My dream-like summer continued into Caribana festivities in Toronto—celebrations that we were all estranged from for years at the hands of Covid-19. The music, the colours, the festivities—it all felt amazing. Gathering with friends and family and immersing ourselves in our cultural displays felt like that despite stagnant lockdowns we hadn’t missed a thing.

My summer? Dream-worthy.

Are you happy to be in Paris?

Jonina Rai Contributor

“D

on’t get your passport stolen. Don’t get your passport stolen.” I repeat this mantra in my head as I walk through the Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, rolling my small carry-on behind me. Observing other tourists lined up by the baggage claim, it seems I’m not the only one who has packed my most extravagant outfits for this trip.

With most Covid-19 restrictions lifted across Europe, you bet I was catching the first flight out of the GTA. Naturally, Paris was my top choice. What isn’t there to love about the City of Lights? Fresh baguettes, pastries, and crêpes. Live French accordion melodies. The historical architecture. I’m embarrassed to admit that I spent most of my first day overwhelmed with what to see and eat.

Within the second day of my Paris voyage, I become a certified metro rider.

By the third day, while walking along La Seine, I convince myself that I need to move and live in the French capital. My French immersion speaking skills have not failed me, and I could definitely live off of croissants for the rest of my life.

On the fourth day, my passport paranoia was justified after I witnessed my first pick-pocketer. It happened just outside the Eiffel Tower, and I didn’t even realize it until a man started screaming and rummaging through his backpack.

As I walked away, I silently prayed for the poor monsieur who lost his wallet.

But oui, I was very happy to be in Paris!

P.S. I didn’t get my passport stolen.

he very first thing I did when school finished in April was… More school. Exhausting, I know, but necessary for my mental health and wellbeing. I was not about to take six courses in the fall and winter semesters of my final year of undergrad.

It was exciting to finally have classes where I could see my peers’ faces when we talked. Courses, reverted to their original designs, which meant I could work with a partner on our excavation project instead of being forced to do it alone.

However, my favourite part of my summer was being able to spend quality time with my friends and family. I had spent so much time alone that I did not realize how much I appreciated social interactions. After two long years, I could finally go out to restaurants and movies with friends, and I even got to see family members that I had not seen since the pandemic started.

This summer was one where life returned to normal after a long time spent in isolation and uncertainty. Normalcy never felt better.

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Aishwarya Nair’s journey to becoming UTM’s 2022 valedictorian Nair reflects on her undergraduate experience and the honour she feels representing her graduating class.

Dalainey Gervais Contributor

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n May 2022, while working at the Residence Services Desk at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), Aishwarya Nair received a formal email letting her know that she had been nominated as UTM’s valedictorian. Attached to the email was a letter from Dr. Alexandra Gillespie congratulating her on her accomplishment. After completing a neuroscience specialist with a double minor in biology and philosophy, Nair finished her time at UTM by representing the graduating class of 2022.

Having grown up in Niger, South Africa, and India, Nair moved to Canada in 2018 to pursue her undergraduate degree at UTM. “I have always been passionate about neurosciences,” says Nair. Her closely related high school courses only confirmed her passion for the subject.

Moving to a different country was a drastic and scary life change, but Nair reminiscences on a fond memory of her arrival in the country—thanks to the community at UTM. “I was welcomed into the UTM community with open arms, and things panned out pretty well,” she shares.

Selecting a valedictorian is a confidential process that allows hard-working students to shine through their achievements. Students are unable to apply for a valedictorian nomination. Rather, a specialized team identifies UTM students whose community involvement, extracurricular activities, and academic achievements make them stand out from the student body.

For Nair, the mystery of UTM’s holistic nomination process added magic to being named valedictorian. “It makes it that much more honest and real,” says Nair, “students aren’t able to crack the code or try to do things just to get the award.”

This allows students to push themselves and get involved in activities that they are truly passionate about, rather than joining clubs and academic groups that they think may look good on an application.

Nair holds many UTM memories close to heart.

Although Nair confesses to sometimes feeling homesick while living in Oscar Peterson Hall, Nair created close friendships with those living on her floor. Eating, studying, and hanging out with them in the common area became a ritual that Nair looked forward to.

“Especially being an international student, living in residence and making these friends was a crucial part in me feeling part of the student community.”

“Especially being an international student, living in residence and making these friends was a crucial part in me feeling part of the student community,” she explains Nair encourages students to join campus activities and events. She first got involved on campus by working as a

Residence Services Assistant for two years. “I was positively overwhelmed by all the support there to welcome me and other students, which eventually led me to work with UTM residence and wanting to be an integral part of their process.”

Nair notes that finding extracurricular and volunteer opportunities on campus was not as difficult as she first thought.

While nobody would directly approach her to join their initiative, the halls of many UTM buildings were lined with posters and advertisements for opportunities. Nair explains

that this is how she got involved in Research Opportunity Programs (ROPs). While walking through the Davis building, a poster advertising ROPs caught her eye. Unaware of what ROPs were, Nair delved into researching the program and its application processes.

“U of T is so full of opportunities to get involved that the biggest mistake is to not say yes to one,” “U of T is so full of opportunities to get involved that the biggest mistake is to not say yes to one,” shares Nair.

Participating in such programs helps build students’ confidence, and Nair is a testament to that. Being the only undergraduate student in the room was daunting, but Nair is grateful that she was able to experience this during her ROP. “In your first and second year of university, you feel like a little fish in a big pond, and at the time I had no idea what the expectation[s] were,” says Nair, “but the experience was a great way for me to gain confidence in knowing that I could survive in a scientific space.”

Students face daily challenges, but the graduating class of 2022 faced one unique to graduates of recent years. For Nair, the obstacles that were most impactful were those beyond her control, especially the pandemic. She points out that navigating work, school, and life responsibilities through the effects of Covid-19 was her biggest test—one that she could not have prepared for.

“The moment I gave my speech, with everyone listening to what I had to say, was scary, but also extremely fulfilling.

My role there was not to solely celebrate my own successes, but those of our graduating class as a whole,” says Nair.

After graduating, students often struggle with what to do next. “You aren’t alone,” reassures Nair, “just like many, I don’t have a clear answer for you in terms of what’s next, but I am pursuing medicine, which is a long-term mission.” As an international student, there are many things to consider before beginning medical school. “There are financial aspects, there are also eligibility concerns because many schools don’t accept international students,” explains Nair. Currently, Nair is gaining work experience in healthcare.

She also wrote her MCAT—all steps toward achieving a future in medicine.

“It was not about me—it was about the student community and that’s an honour I will always hold on to.”

Nair’s inspiring journey is one of passion, hard work, and active involvement. Humbled by the honor of representing her graduating class, one thing is for sure: being the class of 2022’s valedictorian is something Nair will cherish for the rest of her life. “It was not about me—it was about the student community and that’s an honour I will always hold on to.”

NICK IWANYSHYN

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Max’s Big Ride returns for its eighth annual ride Andrew Sedmihradsky shares his initiatives to raise awareness and end Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Prisha (Maneka) Nuckchady Features Editor

KERRI SEDMIHRADSKY

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early 10 years ago, Andrew Sedmihradsky, the global mobility coordinator for University of Toronto Mississauga’s (UTM) International Education Centre, and his family received devastating news. Max, their then two-year-old son, had been diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy—one of the most severe forms of muscular dystrophy, a disease they had never heard of before.

Against advice, Sedmihradsky impulsively researched the name of the diagnosed disease. “I was just a wreck for the next few days, hoping he didn’t have it,” shares Sedmihradsky in an interview with The Medium.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a rare, incurable condition affecting one in 3500 to 5000 boys across the globe. It is much rarer in girls. DMD causes gradual, but severe muscle weakness. This decline in muscle function typically starts at the limbs and results in frequent falls, until fatally affecting the heart and lung muscles. Although usually hereditary, in a few rare cases, such as Max’s, DMD is caused by a genetic mutation affecting dystrophin, the protein essential for proper muscle function and muscle protection.

“After being told that there was no known cure for Max, Sedmihradsky and his family became determined to raise awareness and funds for DMD research, hopeful to find a treatment.”

After being told that there was no known cure for Max, Sedmihradsky and his family became determined to raise awareness and funds for DMD research, hopeful to find a treatment. In 2015, after moving to Canada from Australia, Max’s family decided to set up Max’s Big Ride, a non-profit organization set to accomplish three goals: awareness, advocacy, and fundraising. Refusing to be bystanders to Max’s diagnosis and grim prognosis, the Sedmihradsky family chose to make a difference, both in their son’s life and in the lives of other children diagnosed with DMD.

“Max’s Big Ride [and] knowing that I am not passively watching as DMD takes my son, has been my way of coping.”

“Max’s Big Ride [and] knowing that I am not passively watching as DMD takes my son, has been my way of coping,” shares Sedmihradsky.

Every year over the week leading up to Canada Day, for Max’s Big Ride, Sedmihradsky and Max bike 600 km from Hamilton to Ottawa. They chose Parliament Hill as their final destination for its symbolic representation; it is where important health policies are devised—where a difference can be made. They also chose to ride a bike because Max loved cycling when he was younger.

This year, due to the global pandemic, Max’s Big Ride was held at the Sedmihradsky home from June 27 to July 1. Although he loves in-person rides, “Riding at home can sometimes feel more convenient, especially in the summer!” confesses Sedmihradsky.

Regardless, he shares that Max is always excited about their initiatives. “He told me that he felt like a little celebrity,” he adds.

Following the event, they held ‘Max’s Big Day’ on July 3, 2022, at Grain & Grit, a brewing company they have part-

nered with for about three years now. This year, Max’s Big Day consisted of a series of fun activities, including raffles, games, bake sales, a silent auction, and a BBQ. Grain & Grit collaborates with Sedmihradsky to brew beer flavoured to Max’s preferences. Past beer flavours included peach vanilla milkshake, and Max’s Big Sour—a Sour Patch Kids flavoured brew. This year, a limited-edition sour raspberry and orange flavoured beer was served—a twist on Max’s Big Sour. “I remember that they had around 300 pounds of fuzzy peach candies. Max loved it as he was allowed to eat as much as he liked that day,” shares Sedmihradsky.

This year, Max’s Big Ride raised around $30,000. So far, the non-profit has raised a total of $300,000. All funds go toward the Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Research Fund at the University of Toronto. Part of these funds will go towards the Gunning Lab at UTM, which specializes in medicinal drug research and innovation. Additionally, starting this year, a portion of the fundraised amount will go going to the PRiME Lab at U of T, a newly formed partnership.

U of T’s fellowship program ‘Max’s Big Fellowship’ was founded in 2017. This initiative funded a PhD student to conduct research on DMD in the Gunning Lab. Sedmihradsky’s family has since formed friendships with members of the lab, including Rebecca Allan—the 2021 Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Research Fund recipient—a fourth year PhD student in the Gunning Lab. This year, they hope to continue with the fellowship program at the Gunning Lab, while also collaborating with the PRiME Lab to further expedite research. Fellowships, including the Clinical Catalyst Fellowship, will be available at PRiME Lab. Since starting research on DMD, the Gunning Lab has found promising results. The team has been working on developing inhibitors for HDAC2—a DNA-changing enzyme identified in cancer patients—to treat DMD. Soon they will start testing on mouse subjects. In March 2022, Professor Patrick Gunning was awarded the Connaught Innovation Award for his research on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Additionally, as part of the yearly event, the Sedmihradsky family organizes ‘Max’s Big Ride Family Challenge’, inviting families across the globe to support the cause by chal-

lenging themselves to ride as much as they can from June 1 to July 1 and by fundraising. The ‘BIG500’ challenge also invites the public to ride the 500 km ride from their homes.

Sedmihradsky shares that he has been able to make meaningful connections through these initiatives.

When Max was first diagnosed, Sedmihradsky and his family were surrounded by supportive hospital staff. “However, we sometimes felt very alone since we weren’t in touch with any other families,” shares Sedmihradsky. Luckily, since building Max’s Big Ride, the Sedmihradsky family has been able to connect with other families facing similar diagnoses.

“When we first started, there was no research on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy at UTM. So, this is a way of expanding our network; getting more people to know about DMD and conducting research,” explains Sedmihradsky.

As a way of raising awareness, they plan on organizing the third annual ‘IDEAthon’ this year with the Centre for Student Engagement. It is a challenge that invites students from all academic disciplines to work in teams to find creative ways of improving the quality of life of people living with DMD. Today, Max is 11 years old. He needs his wheelchair most of the time. Despite Ontario’s aim to be fully accessible by 2025, there remains a need for disability-friendly restaurants, buildings, and malls. The lack of active effort has created some challenges for Max, but the warm friends the Sedmihradsky family has made along their journey, have been accommodating. At school, while his peers are in gym class, Max uses the pool with his physical therapist. “The pool is awesome for him; he can float and move around in ways he can’t on grounds,” he shares.

Sedmihradsky hopes that more people learn about DMD through events like Max’s Big Ride. He hopes that DMD— like other well-known diseases—receives the attention and research it deserves.

“I hope people see that I am just an average person and that I wasn’t going to let this go without a fight—and neither should they,” explains Sedmihradsky. He plans to keep fighting and building on his activism. “We won’t ever stop trying,” he concludes.

13

Arts

Editor | Julia Skoczypiec arts@themedium.ca

Theatre Erindale’s 2022-2023 season hits the stage An in-depth look at the exciting new season of production at Theatre Erindale.

Dalainey Gervais Contributor

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heatre Erindale, an integral community at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), is preparing for a new season of production by the theatre and drama studies program.

Students, spectators, and performers are excited to see campus reignite with creativity.

The last few seasons of Theatre Erindale have unfortunately been disrupted by the pandemic. Some productions never made it to the stage despite the hard work that student casts and crews put into them. However, this year, students are anxious to host their first full and in-person production season since 2020.

Through the theatre and drama studies specialist program, students in first and second-year focus on the backstage and technical components of two productions per year. Third-year students are involved more integrally through performances in a classical show and one written by the cast. Finally, fourthyear students work with off-campus professionals to learn about directing, staging, and acting—each student gets the

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chance to play one featured role for an entire season of plays.

Fourth-year students are the foundation of Theatre Erindale, using the theatre as a platform to complete their degrees.

This year, an exciting production season is expected.

Four shows have been announced for the main stage. Sarah DeLappe’s The Wolves—a piece about a group of high school girls on a soccer team—begins the season. A finalist for the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, The Wolves’ themes of teen angst and conflict mirror the energy that arrives on campus every fall with new first-year students. The Wolves will be on stage from October 27 to November 5, 2022.

Next on the schedule is Le Tartuffe by Molière, on stage from November 24 to December 3, 2022. First produced in 1664 in French, Le Tartuffe presents a comedic story of a sneaky rascal who alters his identity and enters the household of a wealthy man. Translated in English as “The Imposter,” Le Tartuffe is a tale of hypocrisy and morality that highlights the themes of a neoclassical comedy.

Representing true classics, Alcestis by Euripides will be gracing the stage from February 16 to March 4, 2022, showcasing a tragedy from Ancient Greece. While on his death bed, King Admetus is told that he can live if he finds someone to sacrifice in his place. Queen Alcestis dies to save him, leaving spectators to revel in the true tragedy of the sacrifice of love.

Closing off the main stage production season is Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ Everybody, staging from March 23 to April 1, 2022. Based on the 1510 play The Somonyng of Everyman by Petrus Dorlandus, Everybody highlights the concept that “any story about death is likely focused on life.”

The upcoming main stage schedule holds a variety of themes and genres that will captivate UTM students and faculty. More information on student directors and actors are yet to come, but one thing is for sure: the Theatre Erindale stage will be packed with talent.

Lady Gaga turns Toronto’s Rogers Centre into a cultural temple for sad souls A critical look at Gaga’s ‘Chromatica Ball’ performance that left audiences speechless.

Alisa Samuel Sports & Health Editor

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fter a two-year delay due to pandemic restrictions, Lady Gaga is finally on the road to showcase her latest solo studio album, Chromatica (2020), across Europe, North America, and Asia.

After the 2016 release of her soft rock, stripped-down, and rather uncharacteristic preceding album Joanne, Chromatica is a welcome return to her Top 40 electropop roots, gaudy costumes, theatrical music videos, and scintillating performances.

Now, the ‘Chromatica Ball’ concert.

On August 6, 2022, Gaga performed at the Rogers Centre in Toronto for a full house. With quick-tempo, synth-heavy dance songs like “Alice” and “Enigma” that transported you back to a 90s New York nightclub, Gaga worked a crowd that was as eclectic as her career. From double-dating grandparents, glittery-eyed college students, middle-aged moms, and 10-year-olds with “BABBLE ON” logoed on their backs, the ‘Chromatica Ball’ included all—that’s to say, the event organizers would have done well to age-restrict the concert. Gaga’s sometimes profane mid-concert speeches, coupled with menfolk parading about the venue in thongs

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and cowboy boots, wasn’t exactly suitable material for society’s most vulnerable.

The setlist, of course, included well-loved oldies. Opening with “Bad Romance,” Gaga led fans into the song’s famous “ra-ra-ah-ahah” chant, readying them for other early-hits like “Just Dance” and “Telephone,” and ultimately conjuring up memories of seemingly simpler times.

Mid-way through the show Gaga sang “Born This Way.” Would any Gaga concert be complete without the “this-is-who-thef**k-I-am anthem” and a little homily-style pep talk to introduce it?

“Whether you’re sure or not sure about who you are, you can always just tell somebody, ‘I was born this way,’” she advised, sitting at an alien-like piano on a small empty stage in the centre of the stadium.

In a slowed down, instrumental rendition of the electropop song, Gaga played

the piano wearing red lipstick, slicked-back platinum blonde hair, and a reflective gold pantsuit. The lyrics that she soulfully belted stretched across the stadium to penetrate the hearts of those on the margins of society. Gay men in attendance, for instance, watched and listened with reverence while patting tears down into their blush.

You can’t help but think, huh, Gaga’s really got some nerve.

If we lived in a grey, war-torn near-future dystopia with little hope and faith, the ‘Chromatica Ball’ would be one place to take refuge in for some morale-boosting fun. The show’s brutalist-inspired catwalks across stages that spit up fast-dissipating clouds of fire, giant screens that played short abstract videos of Gaga as a cyborg with orchestral musical interludes, and visually pleasing choreography performed by Gaga and her untirable backup dancers, added to the

spectacle. Most importantly, the five-foot two-inch queen offered an all-encompassing message: songs and dances bring us together in the midst of disorder.

Gaga has been championing the interests of the different and has been bullied since the beginnings of her musical career.

At the ‘Chromatica Ball,’ after two years of incredibly hard knocks from the pandemic, Gaga’s influence and her call for more selfconfidence in the troubling social identities of our choosing was on full display.

As if being a supremely talented singer, songwriter, and actress weren’t enough, Gaga has garnered mass attention and even a cult-like following by telling people in search of strength and direction to look no further than their weak and lost selves.

Whether or not you buy into Gaga’s virtue, the ‘Chromatic Ball’ clarified something we can all agree on and have long since known: Gaga is a true show woman. Her outrageous stage production designs and well-realized performances elicit “wows” and “woahs” from anyone who beholds them. Her big and natural voice that rips and roars through screams and cheers goes unmatched in today’s world of whisper pop and autotune. Her ability to turn a stadium into a party-room is a testament to the energy and passion she has for entertainment.

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The chilling messages in Nope

Harry’s newest album offers groovy bops with heartfelt and inspiring themes.

Meghna Parhar Contributor

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ollowing his 2019 Grammy-award winning sophomore album Fine Line, and his 2017 self-titled debut album, Harry Styles’ highly anticipated third studio album, Harry’s House, was released on May 20, 2022.

Where his previous albums teetered between folk, pop and retro-rock, Harry’s House waxes dreamy funk with slick, sticky synths. The project boasts bubbly jams that celebrate the physical and emotional pleasures of new romances, delicious eats, and late-night heart-to-hearts, while simultaneously touching on the soft and sentimental strums of troubled families, toxic relationships, and lost lovers.

From one bassline to the next, Harry’s House is an expertly curated mixture of vintage aesthetics. Styles’ vocal delivery feels like dusted powdered sugar through his pop-star style and English whimsy. The album unfolds in a loose and unhurried way, marrying varied tempos with contrasting genres but never relaxing its natural groove.

With instrumental cameos from John Mayer, Pino Palladino, Dev Hynes and Ben Harper, Styles worked alongside long-time collaborators and family friends Kid Harpoon (Jessie Ware, Shawn Mendes, Florence & The Machine) and Tyler Johnson (Sam Smith, Cam) to write and produce the album.

Opening the album is the upbeat “Music for a Sushi Restaurant” with its scene-stealing horns taking centre stage. Styles’ Prince-like scatting and plethora of food references add a goofy edge to the infectiously kitschy tune. The mellow bounce of “Late Night Talking” follows suit, carrying an early-80s romanticism with Styles’ tender promises to “follow you to any place/ If it’s Hollywood or Bishopsgate.”

Sweet, sappy, and sentimental tunes like “Grapejuice,” “Daylight,” “Little Freak,” and “Love of My Life” hold influence from Sir Paul McCartney as well as the Beatles. “Grapejuice” begins with Styles’ voice hidden beneath a vocal processor, almost as if to reference speaking to a lover through a speaker. The chorus, however, brings his voice to the forefront. Following closely behind, “Daylight” is a bright and relatable mixture of pining and psychedelic weightlessness. “Little Freak,” despite its frisky title, croons the reminiscence of a past, but never forgotten love.

The finger-plucked cello of “Matilda” adds to the raw emotion of the ballad, where Styles’ gut-wrenching lyrics explore the pain of growing up in a neglectful family. The first chorus affirms that leaving home and growing up comes with letting go of past relationships.

The leading single “As It Was,” released in April 2022, is introduced by Styles’ goddaughter through an adorably angry voice memo to represent the slow loss of young relationships. With a hint of influence from A-ha!’s “Take on Me,” the tune is effortlessly joyful. It’s a breath of fresh air after the soft lull of “Grapejuice,” carrying a catchy chorus and the effect of chiming bells that make you want to bop your head.

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The Mayer-groove and Justin Timberlake feel of “Cinema” are evident between the funk bounce of the strings and the salacious lyrics. On the other hand, “Daydreaming,” also hornled with Mayer on strings, borrows its show-stopping sparkle from the Brothers Johnson. The song recreates the vocal bridge of their 1978 hit “Ain’t We Funkin’ Now.” It is near impossible not to get up and dance along or mimic Styles’ confident vocals leading in and out of the bridge.

“Keep Driving” is an experience of its own. It feels like looking through someone’s personal camera roll and catching glimpses of a different side of their life. Each verse passes by like scenery on a road trip. Similarly, “Satellite” comes together with an abundance of visual text; the intergalactic instrumentation carries its own gravitational pull. As Styles leads into the second half of the song, he builds momentum and almost bolts out of control like a spaceship losing its way.

Closing out the album, “Boyfriends” is a beautiful ballad.

One of the more impressive tracks of the project, it features only Ben Harper on the acoustic guitar and Styles’ stacked vocals and harmonies. The song’s lyrics outline a toxic relationship. Crooning, “You love a fool who knows just how to get under your skin/You still open the door.” Styles tackles an unfortunate experience that plagues people all around the world. He questions why someone he loves is constantly mistreated by their partner, and why they continue to go back to them despite knowing it’s not what they deserve.

Harry’s House leaves us with a taste of Styles’ world with more openness, intimacy, and vulnerability than before. His singing is as conversational as his lyrics, promoting romance as a hopeful, fragile dialogue between himself and his fans. Harry’s House preaches that home is whatever, wherever, and whomever you make it with, and you’ll always be invited into his.

Kuicmar Phot Contributor

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ope (2022) is Jordan Peele’s most controversial project. It’s characters and plot have sparked divisive conversations amid audiences. The film follows OJ (Daniel Kaluuya) and Emerald (Keke Palmer), two sibling wranglers of the Heywood Hollywood Horses family business. Along with their tech employee Angel (Brandon Perea) and Jupe (Steven Yeun), a former child actor, the group discovers an uncanny, chilling message in the skies above a lonely gulch of inland California.

I had a lot to digest after watching the film. Its scenes are emotional, metaphorical, and harrowing. Peele establishes the film as a critique of the human need to tame nonhuman beings and turn them into spectacles for fortune and entertainment. From the horses to “the thing” in the sky, the characters spend the movie trying to tame natural predators—before things backfire to the highest degree. >> NOPE continues on page 15

IMDb.com

It’s Harry Style’s house and we’re all just living in it

Jordan Peele’s recent summer horror flick will stay with you long after the lights go out.

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IMDb.com

Lyfeboat Prototype—Blackwood Gallery’s thought-provoking exhibit A conversation with Ellyn Walker, the gallery’s acting director and curator, on the complex components of Sean Procyk’s art.

Aïssatou Odia Barry Contributor

S >> NOPE continued from page 14 The overarching theme of Nope critiques the human desire to document tragedies to the point where we simply cannot look away.

We’ve become so desensitized to horror that our first instinct is to film it and obtain the “impossible shot” for profit, fame, and pure curiosity. In Nope, the needs to tame and exploit become tragic downfalls. The characters realize that there is no way to conquer territorial predators without them fighting back.

The main group of characters in the film is complex, dynamic, and their personalities clash despite their ventures towards the same goal. Jupe views animals as things to be conquered, OJ understands animals better than humans, while Emerald is a stir between the two—she has Jupe’s social skills and charm with OJ’s empathy. Angel acts as a parallel to the audience—he’s curious and just wants to be included. The actors portray their roles exquisitely. There are no awkward or cringeworthy moments in their line deliveries, and their presence on screen feels like they are physically in the room.

The computer-generated imagery (CGI) is the most spectacular part of the film. The in-sky, daunting images are designed and displayed with seamless and horrifying beauty.

The “thing’s” unique shapes and forms are unlike other sci-fi figures in Peele’s past films.

The film’s cinematography is unparalleled. Jordan Peele’s use of varying camera angles allows audiences to focus and pay attention to singular objects in pristine detail.

The most haunting shot in the film shows “the thing” raining blood on the farmhouse while screams echo through the night sky. It is chilling but so deeply mesmerizing. The cinematography, along with the eerie and loud soundtrack, evokes feelings of suspense and unshakeable fear. Jordan Peele has mastered horror in a way that hasn’t been seen in years.

While the film’s themes, characters, and cinematography are brilliant, the plot feels slightly confusing and overly daunting. Many audiences do not seem to understand the film, causing quite adverse reactions. Though the plot may not be clear, it prompts audiences to critically evaluate their own behaviours and mindsets. Peele’s artistry leaves spectators thinking about the film long after leaving the theatre—a genius move.

Jordan Peele’s films are original, authentic, and thought-provoking. As one famous review said, “This movie does for cloud spotting what jaws did for swimming,” and that is true cultural impact. If you’re looking for something to watch in theatres, I suggest Nope.

ince 2019, the Blackwood Gallery has been collaborating with artist Sean Procyk on the development of Lyfeboat Prototype— an art installation that consists of a pentagonal floating sculpture on a platform near the Lakefront Promenade Marina shoreline in Port Credit, Mississauga. Ambitious yet minimal, Lyfeboat Prototype is an invitation to question our relationships to and with nature and land.

While questions can be never-ending given the sculpture’s mysteriousness, it is important to consider them, for they can lead to marvelous conversations.

As the Blackwood Gallery’s acting director and curator, Ellyn Walker has been directly involved in Lyfeboat Prototype’s development which, in her own words, “pivoted and shifted over time.” Like every powerful artistic project, the process was an ever-changing journey that prioritized flexibility and change over static planning.

One word to define the installment’s development process is “collaboration.” During an interview, Walker explained to me that the Lyfeboat Prototype is not just a typical partnership between an artist and a gallery, but rather a project that involved many parties. “During the winter term, engagement and collaboration took place with engineering, arts, and biology students as well as staff, faculty, and Indigenous communities,” said Walker.

Through participating in Lyfeboat Prototype, the Blackwood Gallery stayed true to its collaborative spirit—the gallery’s most defining trait. Possibilities existed for anyone to engage in the research and production phase of Lyfeboat Prototype, creating a communitybuilding environment that drove the project’s successes. For Walker, the development of this generative floating platform was meant to “serve many communities, not just one community, considering how social justice is at the heart of what we do as an art gallery and research center.”

The end goal of the exhibit is to foster a relationship between humans and our intersecting ecosystems. Interestingly, the Lyfeboat Prototype holds a Crimson Fire oak tree in its center as a way of ex-

VUK DRAGOJEVIC

perimenting with living ecologies. Can a plant survive outside of its natural habitat? Is the sculpture a mere artistic statement, or can it be used for something other than art? Here, the idea of survival allows us to question the installment’s functionality. At its core, a lifeboat is meant to rescue us, but Lyfeboat Prototype approaches the issue of functionality in a thought-provoking manner. “The Prototype, by carrying an oak tree, honors living things, which, come to think of it, is the actual meaning of a boat,” explained Walker.

Given the exhibit’s site at the Lakefront Promenade Marina shoreline, it is no surprise that community outreach is one of the artwork’s central components. With his background in architecture, social practices, and playground design, Procyk approached the installation in a careful and considerate manner—one that would result in diverse pedagogical experiences for sightseers. Behind Lyfeboat Prototype is a commitment to in-depth research about different subjects, my favorite being the research done on the Black Locust plant, a species whose nationality and origin remain highly debated.

The research conducted by Procyk and the Blackwood Gallery also took into account Canada’s dark history of colonialism. When I asked Ellyn Walker if the racial and colonial connotations were intentional, she explained that the Lyfeboat Prototype is “an impactful prompt that leads to greater conversations about race, belonging, and land.” As a Black person, I felt the need to continue this conversation about race. I wanted to understand the intricacies of the sculpture’s stillness: does it allude to settling and consequently, to colonialism?

According to Walker, this stillness is just an illusion. “The water breaks the stillness, but our responsibility is there all the time. Stillness is a colonial idea, and actually, we are never still.”

The Lyfeboat Prototype touches upon topics that encourage us to examine our interactions with the ecosystem that we live in—a practice that Indigenous communities have been doing for millennia. For far too long, we have overlooked the importance of waterbodies and natural species, forgetting that caring for them is our responsibility.

However, thanks to Procyk’s perceptiveness and Blackwood Gallery’s unrelenting support, Lyfeboat Prototype gives us the opportunity to redeem nature and ultimately, to redeem ourselves.

Lyfeboat Prototype is available to view for free on Lakefront Promenade Marina until September 25, 2022.

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sports & health

Editor | Alisa Samuel sports@themedium.ca

The benefits of personal training with the RAWC Fitness consultant Hiro Zhou explains why students should consider individualized exercise programs.

Radhia Rameez Contributor

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or nearly two years since the first Covid-19 lockdown, the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) Recreation, Athletics, and Wellness Center (RAWC) was mostly silent.

Now, the gym is in full swing, as it has been for most of the summer since pandemic restrictions were lifted. Amidst buzzing treadmills and the clanks of fitness machines, Hiro Zhou, one of the RAWC’s program assistants, says that it feels great to be back.

“The gym has always been a place to recharge and relieve stress,” Zhou says. “From a mental health perspective, this is the one thing that really lacked for me during the pandemic.”

The complete reopening of the gym has seen the revival of several services, including the RAWC’s Fitness Consult and 3x30 Personal Training program. The program offers UTM students one fitness consultation with a trainer, followed by three half hour personal training sessions at no additional cost. Each student has one free consult every semester.

“They can come in and spend half an hour with one of our fitness specialists, just to go over their goals, the things they want to achieve, and the barriers they’ve faced,” Zhou says. The fitness specialist then books them a session with a trainer who suits their needs the most, tak-

ing into consideration timing and any personal preferences the student might have.

After this assessment, the fitness specialist takes them through a sample workout, explaining to them proper techniques, and the kinds of movements they should be doing. “Of course, if the client is a little more experienced, and they have specific things that they want to work on, the trainer can also do that for them,” explains Zhou. “It’s very flexible.”

But why is it important for students to make use of this program? Zhou believes that students are at a point in their lives when they are most malleable. “Right now, you’re like a sponge, absorbing new things, learning new things,” he says. “It’s the greatest time to build a good habit, to improve, and to have a more active lifestyle.”

Building good habits becomes harder when you’re out of school and dealing with work, relationships, and other time-consuming responsibilities.

Zhou also points out that being a student is cognitively taxing, and that regular exercise can help from both a physiological and mental standpoint. Physiologically, working out increases blood flow to the brain, bringing it the nutrients and oxygen it needs to function properly. Mentally, working out helps reduce stress by stimulating the production of endorphins (chemicals in the central nervous system that induce feelings of happiness), and gives students a quiet space to take refuge in.

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Personal training sessions can also be therapeutic. “It’s almost like having a mentor,” says Zhou. “Within this time, you have this person who is solely focused on you, giving you a hundred percent of their attention, and their main goal is to help improve your life.” Laughing, he adds, “It’s almost like having a session with a mental health professional.”

It’s also worthwhile to note that personal training is quite expensive at most fitness clubs.

This resource, however, is available at reasonable rates to students who wish to continue with one-on-one training beyond the three complimentary sessions in a state-of-the-art athletic facility. The RAWC has a swimming pool, an indoor running track, an abundance of

equipment, and a high performance strengthening and conditioning center.

When asked what message he would like to give students, Zhou said it would be to not be afraid, and to make the most of the opportunity they have: “Try to get into these good habits when you’re young. And it can be a lot of fun! There’s a lot of help, we have a new team of trainers ready to help people, and all they want to do is help other people build their bodies.”

Zhou also points out that first time gym users might find the “scary looking” people in the gym intimidating. But, as it turns out, they’re really friendly. “Some of the really good friends I’ve made through my own undergraduate degree were in the gym,” he concludes.

Farewell to school spirit The absence of varsity sports will inhibit community-building at UTM. Kareena Kailass Opinion Editor

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n the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, ball hockey was hugely popular at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM). Students would attend ball hockey games, and soon enough, players developed devoted fan-followings of spiritual proportions. A community was founded on a shared love for sport, holding students together with the tie of school spirit.

Even when the school’s ball hockey days came to an end, UTM exuded school spirit, that is, until recently.

During the last two years, all sporting activities were cancelled at UTM due to pandemic restrictions. Emerging from this measure came the decision to permanently cancel all six Ontario Colleges Athletics Association (OCAA) varsity sports teams at UTM, including basketball and soccer teams.

The university’s once palpable sense of school spirit evidently declined with great speed as backlash from student-athletes manifested in the Bring Back UTM Varsity Campaign. Organizers of the

campaign claim (via Instagram) that department heads are not “fighting for a successful varsity program.”

After months of unsuccessful petitioning, former Eagles varsity athletes ceased their efforts to bring back varsity sports to UTM with a statement released in March of this year via Instagram: “The Recreation Department is shifting all their resources to intramurals and tricampus although they physically and financially can sustain intramurals, tricampus, and varsity sports programs […] It is unclear if UTM will ever bring back OCAA sports. Therefore, the Bring Back [UTM] Varsity Campaign has officially ended.”

What does this mean?

UTM will no longer host or participate in competitive inter-collegiate games, homecoming games, halftime shows and events, and UTM student athletes will not have access to any OCAA opportunities that would potentially propel them in their sports career.

When The Medium spoke to UTM student athletes last year in regard to the cancellation of UTM varsity teams, many said they were less motivated when it came to their studies. Their mental health dwindled as they felt that their numerous years of training to play at the varsity level had been wasted.

Not only does the cancellation affect student ath-

letes, but also the entire campus. There is no longer a varsity Eagles team for UTM students to cheer for.

The Recreation, Athletics, and Wellness Center continues to offer sports lessons and informal drop-in sports for interested students. They can join intramurals, where student-crafted teams compete against other UTM teams, or tri-campus sports, where UTM student-athletes compete against athletes from the University of Toronto Scarborough and the University of Toronto St. George.

But these alternatives do not rile up long-term athletic development or school spirit. They still give students an opportunity to work in teams and stay active on campus, but without the enjoyment of a wider community.

A survey by the National Federation of State High School Associations found that high school students with higher school spirit were shown to perform better academically, engage more in social and civic matters, and were generally happier than their less-spirited counterparts. Despite the differences between high school and university learning, the weight of these findings still holds: school spirit levels affect students.

With the loss of UTM varsity sports and the end of a very hopeful battle for its re-emergence this fall semester, UTM students are left without a major tool for not only community-building, but also, as it turns out, personal and professional growth.