Volume 49, Issue 12

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

Issue 12 Volume 49

December 5 2022

themedium.ca

EDITORIAL

SHE SAID

FLAG FOOTBALL

In the remaining days of the year, we look forward to reflecting upon what we can learn from the last 12 months, remembering and letting go of any lingering penitence as the clock strikes midnight and marks the start of a new chapter.

Often, when I watch most films, I find it difficult to sit still and remain engaged. But during the two hours and nine minutes that She Said was playing, I was unable to move, fidget, or pick up my phone.

No previous UTM flag football team has ever won a game in its history, and U of T Law has remained undefeated for years. Beating U of T Law was the biggest challenge of the season for UTM.

>> read more on page 05

>> read more on page 09

>> read more on page 12

NEWS

Students protest the continued employment of UTM professor found guilty of sexual harassment

O

Aidan Thompson and River Knott Copy Editors n November 30, 20, students protested U of T’s inaction aer an external in vestigation substantiated allegations of sexual harassment, racial microaggres sions, and supervisory misconduct against Robert Reisz, a professor of iB ology at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM). e investigation, which was a m de public y b eaV isr ty in a recent article, began in 20, aer rB yan Gee and Yara a H ridy, two former students of Reisz, submitted a 72-page document to U of T’s Department of Ecology & v E olutionary iB ology con cerning Reiszs’ misconduct towards them. c A cording toeaV irs ty , when the investigation concluded in a J nuary 20, U of T administration admitted that Reisz’ behaviour rb eached U of T’s policies on sexual harassment, adding that there would be corrective action, u b t due to privacy concerns, refused to detail what this a “ ction” resulted in. >

T E RO P S

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LEXEY BURNS/THE VARSITY

NEWS

NEWS

Ontario’s provincial healthcare system is failing its most vulnerable patients

U of T receives $35 million investment to study high-risk pathogens Zitong Chen Contributor

Cristina Pincente Contributor

A

s hospitals face overcrowding, long wait times, and staffing shortages, Ontario’s most vulnerable patients, such as people struggling with mental health and young children, suffer the consequences of the province’s failing healthcare system.

In October 2022, the Liberal Party released an Ontario Health document that outlines data for “executives and emergency department chiefs” on a year-by-year basis.

According to CTV News, the report shows that “approximately nine out of 10 Ontario residents seeking hospital treatment in an emergency room waited up to 33.4 hours for an inpatient bed in August 2022, which officials say is a 54 per cent increase compared to August 2021.” According to the report, ambulance offload times increased by “40.7 per cent” before even entering the hospital patients waited “up to 83 minutes.”

Finally, their time spent in the emergency department was “up to 11.7 hours (or a 15.8 per cent increase).” >> HEALTHCARE continues on page 04

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ecently, U of T’s Emerging & Pandemic Infections Consortium (EPIC)—a partnership of several GTA public health institutions—announced that the university received a $35 million investment from the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s (CFI) Biosciences Research Infrastructure Fund. The investment, approved on October 4, 2022, contributes to the renovation of the Toronto High Containment Facility (THCF)—a 20-year-old, containment level three research laboratory that allows researchers to study high-risk pathogens—which is in need of modernization.

To gain insight on the THCF, The Medium spoke with U of T Temerty Faculty of Medicine molecular genetics professor, Scott Gray-Owen, who is also the academic director of the THCF and EPIC. The THCF played a role in isolating the SARS-CoV-2 virus from the first Canadian patients during the Covid-19 outbreak. “This represented one of the first isolations of [SARS-CoV-2] in the world, and definitely the

first in Canada. […] It provided us with the seed stock or with the stalk of virus that we could use for research on developing vaccines and immunotherapies and disinfectant technologies,” states Professor Gray-Owen.

“Since [the THCF’s] inception, it’s mostly been focused on pathogens such as HIV and tuberculosis, but also has been involved in response to the first SARS outbreak in 2003, [the] West Nile Virus, and other pathogens that represent a great risk to humans,” explains Professor Gray-Owen, going over the THCF’s research initiatives.

He continues, “[The THCF] supports academic research, clinicians, scientific research by government agencies, and [industry] research on high-risk pathogens that we have to keep secure, both for the person working with [them] and for the public and the environment.”

Currently, the THCF is a containment level three facility, thus providing researchers with a laboratory to study high-risk pathogens in the GTA. However, for the THCF to operate safely and securely, strict procedures and regulations must be followed. “The regulatory requirements and the physical requirements of working in this facility are difficult,” says Professor Gray-Owen. >> EPIC continues on page 02

02

NEWS

Editor | Larry Lau news@themedium.ca

The Credit Valley Conservation highlights alarming climate data in the City of Mississauga Experts discuss the adverse effects of climate change and affirm the importance of collective actions and unity when implementing solutions and initiatives.

Angelina Jaya Siew Staff Writer

O

n November 22, 2022, as part of U of T’s Adam Sustainability Celebration, the Credit Valley Conservation (CVC), an organization focused on protecting and restoring the environment, presented a story map that highlighted what climate data tells us about ecosystem health in the Credit River Watershed.

Yvette Roy, Senior Specialist of the Landscape Science Division at the CVC, commenced the presentation of the story map by reporting that “average annual temperatures have increased by 1.8 degrees Celsius.” While these increases are consistent with warming trends identified in Canada, they are double the rate of global trends. The warming trend in the watershed started in the 1980s. Roy noted that all seasons have seen increased temperatures, but winter has warmed the quickest—the average minimum temperature has increased by 2.5 degrees Celsius.

Additionally, Roy highlighted the alarming rise in precipitation levels in the Credit River Watershed, declaring that “annual precipitation has increased by six per cent in Toronto Station and by 23 percent in Orangeville [an Ontario town northwest of Toronto].” Additionally, the story map reported that 13 per cent more precipitation during the winter season is falling as rain instead of snow.

Roy then explained the negative impacts of these climate trends on ecosystems. She put forth that the average daily maximum stream temperature has increased by 5 degrees and stream flows have increased by 67 per cent. These increasing temperatures are a concern for sensitive cold water fish in the Credit River Watershed, as these rises are expected to exceed

the lethal tolerance of certain species, such as the brook trout.

Roy also explains that lower amounts of snow accumulation, an ongoing issue, will become problematic—spring snow plays an integral role in fleshing out the nutrients from the streams and removing sediments.

Roy contended that while climate change has not caused an upsurge of invasive species, it can exacerbate such species’ effects on ecosystems. The lack of cold winters is beneficial to pests, which usually die when winter temperatures dip below negative 25 degrees Celsius.

To adapt natural ecosystems to climate change, the CVC is actively engaging in the restoration of plants, streams, and forests. The CVC has also offered assistance to neighbourhoods vulnerable to extreme heat through the Peel Climate Change Partnership.

During the panel discussion, Dianne Zimmerman, Environment Manager of the City of Mississauga, elaborated on the urgency to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the city to avoid the worst of global warming. She stated that “time is of the essence,” and discussed “how we budget for and pay for the absolute transformational requirements that we need from both the transportation perspective as well as buildings.”

Zimmerman believes that in the City of Mississauga, “there is a huge opportunity as residents to take action.” She postulated that residents of Mississauga possess a lot of decision-making power regarding their modes of transportation. Utilizing transit, cycling, walking, or purchasing an electric vehicle can make a difference. She encouraged households in the city to become more energy efficient and reduce dependence on natural gas.

Tenley Conway—a professor from the University of Toronto Mississauga’s Department of Geography, Geomatics and Environment—delved into the most sizable environmental opportu-

nities in urban Mississauga. More extensive research in climate change, with involvement from all academic disciplines, is paramount. She discussed nature-based solutions, which refer to the use of nature in helping society adapt and mitigate the effects of climate change.

Examples of nature-based solutions include trees, raingardens, and bio soils. Professor Conway revealed that these are “spatially disaggregated [solutions].” For example, trees need to be planted throughout the city, by both private and public landowners, to reap the benefits of their cooling effects and their ability to help manage stormwater.

In addition, Professor Conway emphasized that “there is a lot of research opportunity, and [we] need to try to understand how we switch from what is primarily a centralized system to be a decentralized or disaggregated [system],” referencing how nature-based solutions must be implemented.

Divya Arora—Community Engagement Organizer, Sustainable Communities at the David Suzuki Foundation—believed that the student population is increasingly prioritizing climate action, perhaps more so than other groups. She asserts, “It is a problem that we [young people] have not created but we have to solve.”

According to Arora, broader change, such as policy reforms, can only commence when people act collectively. She explained that “climate change is a societal problem,” and highlighted the importance of raising awareness about these climate issues through social media. The actions of every individual are important and are part of the bigger picture in mitigating the effects of global warming.

Both the presentation and panel discussion ultimately emphasize that tackling the issue of climate change is a shared responsibility and requires a collective effort.

U of T receives $35 million investment to study high-risk pathogens The Toronto High Containment Facility has received $35 million towards its planned modernization initiative by renovating containment research laboratory.

Zitong Chen Contributor

>> EPIC continued from page 01 Additionally, regulatory requirements for containment facilities are different from what they were 20 years ago, and the aging THCF needs revamping to ensure compliance with current and future regulations.

Professor Gray-Owen contends that the benefits of modernizing the THCF include not only an increased capacity to work with high-containment pathogens, but the possibility for researchers to work on more types of pathogens—many of which the facility is not

able to work with right now. He also points out that “The new facility will be double the size of the current facility, but we’ll be able to increase the capacity much more than that.”

For instance, the new facility brings together different workspaces that are currently located far apart, making it easier for researchers to study a variety of pathogens.

Furthermore, the new facility will allow researchers to better understand emerging infectious threats before they arrive in Canada or start to spread. “It will allow us to look at pathogens that are problems endemically, or in small regions in the world, which we’re afraid might become bigger problems in the future,” says Professor Gray-Owen.

In a study published November 10, 2022, on the journal of Nature Microbiology, EPIC

member Samira Mubareka, clinician scientist at Sunnybrook Research Institute and associate professor at U of T’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine, was part of a team of researchers who revealed a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 in Canadian deer. Professor Gray-Owen states that there are reservoirs in animal populations that allow for pathogens to evolve and create new variants, which can spillover into humans.

He addresses the impact of Professor Mubareka’s research by highlighting the concept of One Health, which puts forth that human health

is intricately related to the environment and wildlife.

As such, Professor GrayOwen emphasizes that studying infectious diseases is difficult. “We’re studying two biological systems, we are studying humans or animals and virus or bacteria or fungi in their different biological systems; we are studying them on population levels—the populations of bacteria [and] viruses and populations of humans; and we are studying them from a molecular level or societal level.” Regardless, the modernized facility will allow researchers to work towards future pandemic prevention.

03

Students protest the continued employment of UTM professor found guilty of sexual harassment The UTMSU and PEARS Project call for the termination of UTM professor Robert Reisz’s employment, following the U of T administration’s alleged silence regarding the issue.

Aidan Thompson and River Knott Copy Editors >> PROTEST continued from page 01 The protest began in UTM’s student centre. The University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union (UTMSU) president, Maëlis Barre, led the crowd towards the William G. Davis building—the location of Reisz’s office. Barre spoke to the crowd about her disappointment in the university’s administrative response.

“The silence is extremely loud,” Barre said.

Micah Kalisch, director of the Prevention, Empowerment, Advocacy, Response, for Survivors Project (PEARS), a peer support program at U of T for survivors of sexual assault, also spoke, echoing Barre’s criticism of the U of T administration.

Following the speeches, members of the protest ascended three flights of stairs to Reisz’s office, where they attached posters to his door and stretched red tape across his entry. “Blame the system not the victim,” one poster read.

“We demand safety,” said another.

Reisz was not in his office during this time.

The Medium spoke with several students who attended the event.

“People like Robert Reisz are a detriment to science itself,” said Liam McFadden, a fourth-

year Linguistics major, and president of UTM’s Horror Club. “We have these brilliant young people who are dropping out of academia. [...] Because they feel like they can’t belong or they’re not safe.”

On July 22, 2022, Gee announced his decision to leave academia because of his mistreatment by Reisz and the institutional inaction that followed.

McFadden expressed that “Science is for everyone—it should be for everyone. But people like Robert Reisz keep it to themselves. [...]

Obviously you don’t belong in academia if you aren’t supporting your students,” he concluded.

Bronte Ibbotson and Carmen Meijer, two first-year humanities students at U of T’s St. George campus, also attended the protest. “As a first-year who experienced [this kind of thing]

LEXEY BURNS/THE VARSITY

in high school,” recalled Ibbotson, “[Starting] university, I was kind of disappointed that [things are] the same. [The people are] not being listened to.”

Meijer agreed, reflecting that “In a place where there are so many people, and so many power dynamics, […] I do not feel safe.”

In an interview with The Medium, Maëlis Barre said, “[Reisz] is someone who was accused of, and found guilty of, racial microaggressions, as well as sexual harassment and bullying of students. That’s not someone who should be in any position of power over students, and he needs to be terminated.”

The PEARS Project and the UTMSU call for the immediate termination of Reisz. In an open letter published on November 20, 2020, the PEARS Project urged U of T to issue a public statement condemning Reisz, and to hire an external investigative party to review the university’s policies on sexual harassment.

Over 1,750 students have signed the open letter since it was published alongside The Varsity’s article.

“I think the next step would be an acknowledgement that we are heard,” said Klark Janowski, a third-year Philosophy student and executive member at PEARS, in an interview with The Medium. “It’s not just that [U of T isn’t] complying with our demands. It’s that [they’re] not even acknowledging that we’ve made them in the first place”

Maëlis Barre shared that the UTMSU offers the Peer Support Program for students who may be victims of harassment, racism, or sexual assault. She explained that the volunteers are trained to support survivors of sexual assault, as well as students who may be dealing with other concerns.

Another resource available to students who have been victimized by sexual assault is the PEARS Project. The group describes themselves as “a grassroots, trauma-informed coalition that provides peer support and resources to survivors of sexual violence across U of T.” As of December 5, 2022, Reisz is slated to teach two biology courses next semester: BIO354: Vertebrate Form and Function and BIO356: Major Features of Vertebrate Evolution.

His lab, the Reisz Lab, continues to facilitate research projects for undergraduate and graduate students.

If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual violence or harassment: • Contact the PEARS Project at thepearsproject@gmail.com for support and resources.

• Contact Hope 24/7: Sexual Assault Centre of Peel at 1-800-810-0180.

• Get in touch with the Sexual Violence Prevention and Support Centre at U of T by email svpscentre@utoronto.ca or phone 416-978-2266.

: Humanitarian crisis intensifies in

war-torn Ukraine

Winter’s approach brings focus to Ukraine’s damaged energy infrastructures as a humanitarian crisis worsens in the Eastern European country.

Kiara Senanayake Contributor

T

he Russo-Ukrainian war has resulted in mass civilian casualties, displacements, and significant damage to the Ukrainian infrastructure. Between February 24—when Russian president Vladimir Putin declared “a special military operation” in Ukraine—and November 28, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR) recorded 17,023 civilian casualties, including 6,655 killed and 10,368 injured.

As the war reaches its ninth month, Ukrainian forces have retaken territory from Russian occupying forces following a successful counteroffensive launched in early September. On November 9, Russia announced a general retreat from Kherson. A blast in Przewodów, Poland, on November 16, raised global alarms of the war spilling to neighbouring states. However, the missile was ultimately revealed to be of Ukrainian origin.

Millions of Ukrainians have been forced to leave their homes as the conflict has steadily increased over the past few months. Refugee estimates range from between 6.54 million people according to the Displacement Tracking Matrix in October 2022, and 7.89 million according to the UNHCR in November 2022. Many countries in Europe have welcomed Ukrainian refugees fleeing their home countries, with

Germany and Poland receiving a majority of the refugees, amounting to over a million each by November 22, 2022.

According to the Kyiv School of Economics’ (KSE) report, released October 21, 2022: “As of September, 2022, the total amount of documented damage to residential and nonresidential real estate, other infrastructure amounted to more than [US]$127 billion (at replacement cost).” The KSE notes that the most significant damages were borne by housing properties, amounting to US$50.5 billion worth of damages.

Over 135,800 residential buildings were destroyed or damaged. Public infrastructure, such as bridges and roads, came in second place, with US$35.3 billion worth of damages.

As the winter approaches in Eastern Europe, the needs of the Ukrainian people have shifted significantly. Currently, the primary goal is to address the electricity blackouts in major cities. According to a BBC article, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that six million households are cut off from electricity and running water, located in areas like Odessa, Lviv, Vinnytsia, and Dnipro. This took place following missile strikes on the capital and surrounding areas. He further stated that “ordinary people continue to face scheduled power cuts.” NATO committed to “help fix critical energy infrastructure” that has been damaged by Russian shelling, as stated in another BBC article.

The international response to the humanitarian crisis has been overwhelmingly positive. Key to addressing the refugee crisis is the Temporary Protection status for Ukrainian refugees by the European Union, ensuring accessible medical

care, employment, education, shelter, and banking services.

According to the UNHCR, as of November 29, 2022, 4.78 million Ukrainians have registered with the Temporary Protection regime in Europe. In the UK, the Homes for Ukraine scheme has aimed to provide emergency shelter for over 100,000 Ukrainian refugees that have arrived since the conflict’s outbreak.

Militarily speaking, western states, particularly the US, have demonstrated their dedication to aiding the Ukrainian forces by pledging financial aid. According to the Centre for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS), the US has provided US$68 billion in aid in three packages. A new aid request of US$37.7 billion was submitted to Congress on November 15, 2022, potentially raising the total to US$105.5 billion. The CSIS reports that US aid covers four categories: “military aid, humanitarian assistance, economic support to the Ukrainian government, and US government operations and domestic costs related to Ukraine.”

The Government of Canada has committed $320 million in humanitarian aid to United Nations agencies, the Red Cross, and non-governmental organisations to provide emergency health services, essential services like shelter and food, and overall support to displaced populations in Ukraine.

With the dawn of winter, the Russo-Ukrainian war further threatens the livelihood of many Ukrainians. Back in June, President Zelenskyy addressed the U of T community, stating that “We are fighting for our future, our freedom,” a statement that still holds true to this day.

04

Technology giants fire employees in tidal waves While Musk alleges the causal factors for layoffs as an oncoming recession and slowing consumerism in the aging tech sector, experts provide alternate perspectives on the waves of employment termination.

Emily Rogers Associate News Editor

F

or the past month, the media has been buzzing about Elon Musk’s US$44 billion buyout of the social media platform Twitter.

Known for his eccentric business practices, Musk’s acquisition has spurred vast changes for the platform. While Musk stated his goal of creating a better hub for free speech, he has also captured the public’s attention by re-instituting controversial figures such as Donald Trump, Kanye West, and Jordan Peterson.

Most recently, Musk fired around 50 per cent of Twitter’s workforce in one night, spurring substantial backlash from fired employees, subsequent resignations from the unhappily employed, and confusion from Twitter’s user base, who witnessed the mass layoff in real time. The layoffs are meant to cut costs, thus combatting the steep drop in revenue that Twitter has experienced since Musk’s acquisition—which he explains away with the fear of recession and bankruptcy.

In a conversation with The Medium, Dr. Anil Verma, a professor at U of T’s Rotman School of Management, sheds light on other factors at play in Twitter’s deteriorating revenue. He states that Musk is facing conse-

quences of “the same problem that Twitter’s previous owners faced:” the dilemma between free speech and content moderation. The high degree of freedom provided by instantaneous global communication networks also enables “a freedom for hate speech, even as serious as death threats.” This poses an ethical issue that social media platforms, alongside advertisers and users, are aware of. When Musk began his mission to increase Twitter’s capacity for free speech, he dismantled much of old Twitter’s content moderation meant to protect users. Users and advertisers have thus been scared off the site, leading to the declined revenue.

However, the layoff may be self-defeating, creating litigation costs for the company. Several former Twitter employees have banded to file a class-action lawsuit. Musk gave employees an ultimatum: leave Twitter with three months of pay, or prepare to work long, strenuous hours for the company. Plaintiffs claim that this action violates the US federal Worker Readjustment and Retraining Notification Act, which requires employers to give 60 days notice of termination.

Dr. Verma points out that this claim also raises other labour concerns regarding Twit-

ter. Asking employees to go “hardcore” like this, alongside reports that Musk had notified his employees of potential 80-hour work weeks, could also mean violations of federal work hour laws and regulations on ethical treatment of employees.

While Musk’s recent actions have appeared questionable to most of the business world and the general public, some retain faith in his Twitter venture.

Mass firings, raising fears of bankruptcy, and urging workers to go “hardcore” are all strategies Musk implemented for SpaceX and Tesla: the businesses he has made his name with.

However, Dr. Verma questions the validity such comparisons. He asserts, “These are different types of businesses with different challenges. The only thing in common between them is Mr. Musk.” Verma further explains that Musk’s prior ventures handled cutting-edge, pioneering technology. Twitter, on the other hand, is one of the oldest social media sites. As a free platform used by millions, these drastic changes prompted distrust in the three groups Dr. Verma cites as most important for Twitter’s success: investors, advertisers, and, vitally, users.

Tech companies Amazon and Meta also

began mass layoffs recently, leading many to fear that these terminations are becoming a trend in advance of an oncoming recession.

Although not unfounded, this glosses over challenges unique to each business. Amazon, as a “digital marketplace,” does face falls in revenue due to “a slowing consumer market,” says Dr. Verma. However, “they are also one of the largest employers and over-hired over the pandemic,” further incentivizing the layoffs.

Meta, on the other hand, is a project “halfway done.” As the Facebook paradigm is past its prime, CEO Mark Zuckerberg is now attempting to restructure the company into the new Metaverse. Such restructuring requires cutting-costs in any business, but as Meta and Amazon have both followed the traditional layoff strategies (such as utilizing severance packages), Zuckerberg and Amazon CEO Andy Jassy have faced substantially less backlash.

Additionally, Dr. Verma brings up tech companies Apple and Microsoft, which have also halted hiring or laid off employees but have not experienced falls in revenue. As participants in a capitalist marketplace, tech companies experience the typical rises and falls of the business cycle. “Making money isn’t as cheap in the technology sector anymore,” explains Dr. Verma, contending that the sector is no longer a pioneering market.

Ontario’s provincial healthcare system is failing its most vulnerable patients Due to over-the-counter drug shortages, along with increasing RSV and flu cases, Ontario’s ICUs are operating at over capacity, leading to poor patient care.

Cristina Pincente Contributor

>> HEALTHCARE continued from page 01 The duration for admitted patients was “up to 44.1 hours (representing a 48.2 per cent increase).”

Member of Provincial Parliament and emergency surgeon, Dr. Adil Shamji, stated in an interview with CTV News that longer wait times can negatively impact the healthcare standards in these facilities, as there is more room for error among staff due to additional stress.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s “Plan to Stay Open” commits to “add thousands of healthcare workers and free up 2,500 hospital beds.” This plan includes legislation permitting senior patients to

ALBERTO GIULIANI

be transferred out of hospitals to “a facility not of their choosing” while waiting for long-term care home placement.

In an interview with Toronto Life, Dr. Jason Fischer, head of emergency medicine at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), goes over the problems faced by pediatric hospitals amid a rise in respiratory syncytial virus cases concurrent with the influenza epidemic. “Compared with 2019 we’re seeing about 25 per cent more patients for the same time frame,” leading to tripled wait times, some of 12 hours. Factors affecting the crisis, such as the shortage of nurses, make working conditions more intense for frontline healthcare workers. Besides staffing problems, there is also a shortage of liquid Tylenol and ibuprofen for children. As such, “parents can’t effectively manage their children’s fevers at home,” says Fischer.

On November 17, 2022, CTV News reported that a two-yearold patient with respiratory syncytial virus was nearly sent to a hospital in Buffalo, US, due to the pediatric Intensive Care Unit (ICU) bed shortage. A month ago, his mother, Keri Graham, took her son Tyler to Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital because he struggled to breathe, and his case escalated. Doctors were left with minimal solutions, as the only available bed they could find was at a hospital in Buffalo.

Eventually, an ICU bed opened up “150 km away at the Children’s Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre,” where Tyler was hooked up to a ventilator for the next two weeks.

Ontario health minister Sylvia Jones said the “province has recently increased paediatric ICU capacity by 30 per cent.” However, SickKids reported that on November 11, 2022, the hospital’s ICU was operating at more than 127 per cent of its capacity.

However, not every parent is lucky enough to call their story a close call. On November 19, 2022, a CTV News article reported on the tragic story of Ezra Amos, a 22-year-old queer individual living between Toronto and Hamilton. On March 31, 2022, after 8 p.m., witnesses at Bathurst and Bloor “reported hearing a crash, followed by glass raining down from a construction site above. Then, a body hit the sidewalk.”

The last five months of Amos’ life were unfortunately characterized with troubling stories: frequent interactions with police, lack of a steady home, and even reportedly a miscarriage days before their death.

On March 30, 2022, one day prior to Amos’ death, TTC security footage supposedly showed Amos on the subway tracks in an attempt to take their own life. When police arrived at the scene, they allegedly became aggressive, and Amos was arrested and transported to Toronto Western’s emergency department, then to a psychiatric unit after being restrained and sedated. Despite repeatedly expressing a desire to end their life during a psychiatrist’s evaluation, Amos was discharged 12 hours later after they claimed an obligation to attend a court date—they were not due in court until months later.

The discharge documents showed no plans for their crisis and no follow-up. No phone calls were made to any close loved ones.

Amos’ mother, Brandy Schlemko, says, “they could have saved [Amos’] life with one phone call—to me, a friend, to somebody.”

Many are dissatisfied with the government’s proposed plans to address issues faced by the healthcare sector. However, for some, the damage is irreversible, and their only hope is to spread awareness of these patients’ stories.

MASTHEAD EDITORIAL BOARD Editor-in-Chief Elizabeth Provost editor@themedium.ca Managing Editor Juliana Stacey managing@themedium.ca News Larry Lau news@themedium.ca Opinion Kareena Kailass opinion@themedium.ca Features Prisha (Maneka) Nuckchady features@themedium.ca A&E Julia Skoczypiec arts@themedium.ca Sports Alisa Samuel sports@themedium.ca Photo Samira Karimova photos@themedium.ca Design Manjot Pabla design@themedium.ca Copy Aidan Thompson aidan@themedium.ca River Knott river@themedium.ca Social Belicia Chevolleau social@themedium.ca Podcast Kareem Al-Sawalmeh message@themedium.ca

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05

OPINION

Editor | Kareena Kailass opinion@themedium.ca

Editorial

A year of highs, lows, and going with the flow As we adapt to change, we strive to do the best we can.

Elizabeth Provost and Juliana Stacey Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editor

I

n our final editorial of the year, you’ll notice a change in our roles. Or maybe you have never heard of us, and this is your first time reading an Editorial!

Hi, we’re Liz and Juliana, The Medium’s Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editor for the remainder of the publication’s 49th volume.

The Medium had a tumultuous start to its publishing year.

We proudly continued publishing beautiful stories and curating gorgeous weekly issues (and even one magazine). However, as our editorial team returned to working on campus, we’ve felt the post-pandemic weight of returning to in-person learning and have desperately tried to find some normalcy in a not-sonormal world. We’re not scared to admit “failure” because we’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) that through upset and change, there is growth. This fall semester, in the weight of this unprecedented experience, we just didn’t find our groove. Instead, we spent these last four months tiptoeing and leaping over adversities with great care.

Now that we’ve begun to find our footing, we’re excited to venture into this next year with fresh ideas, perspectives, and hopes. We’re looking forward to collaborating with more of University of Toronto Mississauga’s students and alumni to publish inspiring stories about our campus and com-

munity. We’re thrilled to bring you another magazine—one that looks towards the future and doesn’t dwell on the past.

Leading The Medium has taught us that there is no time to worry about what once was; change is constant, and if we don’t adapt quickly, we’ll get left behind. In the remaining days of the year, we look forward to reflecting upon what we can learn from the last 12 months, remembering and letting go of any lingering penitence as the clock strikes midnight and marks the start of a new chapter.

Our time at The Medium has also taught us that we can’t move forward without readers like you. For the next semester, we want to know what you want to see from us. We have plans to pick up on projects that we’ve lost track of, like our Talking Heads series, our writing and art competition (for which submissions are open until December 14, 2022), and perhaps create a video or two featuring students like you. With a strong focus on themed issues in Volume 49, you have our Black History Month, Women’s Day, and Valentine’s Day issues to look forward to. If you have a story for us you can always reach us at editor@themedium.ca and managing@themedium.ca, or pitch online, even anonymously, at www.themedium.ca/pitch. We want to hear from you.

Finally, thank you to all the writers, photographers, and illustrators who have contributed to the paper this semester. We are so grateful to share this space with you. And to our readers, The Medium would like to wish you Happy Holidays. We hope that the winter break provides you with respite and reflection in preparation for the year to come. Let 2023 bring us closer to each other, and let us accept change and trust that it will lead us to where we belong.

Yes, I have a small business and no, it’s not all glamour Being a small business owner does not mean you’re a millionaire.

Hannah Grace Wang Staff Writer

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y name is Hannah. I’m a third-year student at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) and a small business owner.

I own The Aesthetics Studio, an online shop where I sell stickers and stationery products featuring my designs. I’ve been running my small business for over two years now, and it’s a great part-time job. But it’s just that though—a part-time job.

Being a small business owner while trying to find the worklife balance as a full-time university student isn’t all glamour and money. It’s a lot of work without clear direction. You don’t have a supervisor telling you what you do or how to fix something if you screw up a task. You’re on your own. Of course, this means you get all the freedom to make decisions, but this comes with ramifications people don’t realize.

When I wanted to use my business as a client for a group project in CCT356: Online Advertising and Marketing, my professor asked me, “It seems like your business is doing quite well, […] why do you think The Aesthetics Studio should be your group’s client?” Too often, when people see my

business’ follower count, they immediately think I’m doing well.

They assume I must be getting hundreds of sales. My business does make a steady income, but it’s not enough to make a living. It’s just some extra pocket money, and sometimes I wish others knew that.

I’m not trying to dissuade anyone from starting a business. I love being a small business owner and I love making stationery. It’s great for those that want to try out being business owners. There’s so much to learn from entrepreneurship and there are fantastic programs out there like ICUBE at UTM, which offers resources on how you can get started with your business.

I just want people to realize that there are many types of small businesses—from seasonal artists who only participate in a few vendor events a year, to people with a dozen employees who have their own storefronts. You can think of “small business” as an umbrella term that incorporates a wide range of businesses.

No two small businesses are alike, and we shouldn’t be forming assumptions about them either.

I recently attended UTM’s Digital Enterprise Management’s Small Business Market event on November 24, 2022. It was the first time I tabled at a vendor event. It was a great event but there was so much I didn’t prepare for and so much I could’ve done differently. That’s the thing with being a small business owner though: there are always new things to learn.

BEATRIZ SIMAS/THE MEDIUM

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year ago, I got my first paid job—special projects coordinator at the University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union (UTMSU). Honestly, I enjoyed my position for the better part of the year—revelling in the new faces and names that came my way.

Before working at the UTMSU, I did volunteer work and an unpaid internship, never hearing back from any jobs I had applied for. So, when I finally became employed, it felt like my definitive entry into adulthood.

The leaves were changing once again, and I was aging alongside the trees. I felt overwhelmingly mature.

I remember the night I applied to the vice-president internal associate position. It was a day or two before the deadline, and I faced an emotional loss in the days leading up to it. I knew I needed to find purpose and use this growing emptiness as a motive to fill it with my own endeavours and accomplishments. I applied but didn’t expect to hear back.

I was interviewed for the job shortly after and was offered an alternative position. Although I didn’t get the job I was initially hoping for, I found good friendships in my new role—I found the group of people I hang out with now. The job forced me to engage with new people and—weirdly enough—spend time in the William G. Davis building on the University of Toronto Mississauga campus. I also learned something new about myself: I hate tabling and will never do it another day in my life (under any circumstance will you ever catch me going up to random people to advertise events).

Much has changed since this phase of my life, including me becoming Managing Editor at The Medium. I’m grateful for working with the UTMSU because doing so helped create the experience needed to secure new adventures. It helped me understand that any work can be good work, and that everything that happens is meant to prepare you for the next phase of your life. Every job, every hardship, every heartbreak, happens for a reason—cliché, I know. I’m curious to see what this phase of my life will prepare me for. Most importantly though, I’m hoping second semester is easier than this one. Of course, you’ll be the first to know of my emotional stability from January to April.

M

SI

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Zitong Chen Contributor

I

t was not that I didn’t want to—it was just that I couldn’t. I lost the capacity to get things done. While people strived to achieve the best in their lives, I lied on my bed staring at the ceiling until dusk approached and the first drop of sunlight lit up my room once again.

Feeling unable to concentrate and move forward constantly haunted me over the last two years of online school.

That stressful period, combined with an extra stressful exam season, were the “killer package” for me. I remember opening up the review material before an exam, and then an hour later, still staring at the first page. The overwhelming stress made it almost impossible for me to concentrate at all. Soon enough, I started having difficulties with basic daily tasks, like cooking, or showering. These were the first indications of my nervous breakdowns— I just couldn’t go about my day like I used to.

It is horrifying to look back on how the stress tore me apart and prevented me from functioning. But this year, I began healing and picking up where I left off before I was unable to keep up. As I restored my health and learned more about myself and my habits, I noticed some signs within myself before the severe breakdown.

One of the key signs that often led me down the path of a breakdown was procrastination. Once I started neglecting my responsibilities until the last minute—or until it was too late—I only fell deeper into the endless hole of procrastination. I found myself unconsciously procrastinating during stressful times. In these instances, I would avoid doing things that stressed me out, simply because they brought me negative feelings. For instance, I constantly checked my phone while studying, even though it was

UM

Aia Jaber Columnist

Procrastination doesn’t have to be your be-all and end-all. You can THE M S/ E A fight it.

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My first paid job

Procrastination is more than just a bad habit BEATR

Changing Leaves:

not necessary or urgent for me to reply to my messages.

I toxically drowned in moments of escaping the work, but when all the deadlines approached, I panicked and broke down.

Not only did I then have to carry the guilt of not getting my work done, but my pending responsibilities and deadlines only accumulated.

The cycle kept repeating itself, and I experienced a sense of helplessness that led me to believe nothing could change my situation—a phenomenon known as learned helplessness.

This self-diagnosis was when I knew I needed to find ways to manage my issue and get back on track.

I knew I had to learn more about stress and implement solutions that would work for me before I could get back to being productive.

There are a couple of tips I found very useful—they were the ones that helped me break out of my slump of procrastination.

First, I found it extremely helpful to divide my work into separate, smaller tasks. By doing this, the amount of pressure each assignment carried was significantly reduced, and I found it much easier to be motivated. Since each task was smaller, I often finished them through to the end, and from each finished task, came a burst of motivation.

The other tip—the one that is often harder for most of us to enforce—was understanding that I shouldn’t push myself too hard. It’s normal to feel exhausted from being overloaded with coursework, or from pulling an all-nighter. In times like these, it’s okay to accept that you cannot be productive and should prioritize yourself over school.

For me, procrastination was more than just a habit—it was a warning sign for my nervous breakdowns. Procrastination should not be dismissed too lightly for this reason. It could lead to a serious situation that could be prevented if we understand why we are procrastinating, and how we can consciously cope with our stress in ways that work for us.

Hunting to be legalized in UTM’s community forest A petition to legalize the hunting of UTM’s deer population has now collected over 22,000 signatures.

Aidan Thompson Copy Editor

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petition organized by the Recreational Hunters of the Peel Region (RHPR) calls for Doug Ford and the provincial government to rezone the University of Toronto Mississauga’s (UTM) community forest to facilitate hunting. U of T President Meric Gertler’s signature was listed on the petition. While his office claimed he was unavailable for comment, The Medium staff found him at his hunting lodge in Caledon, Ontario.

“Frankly, the deer populations on campus are overwhelming,” stated Gertler. “There have been a number of students who have contracted ticks from the deer and if we could monetize their eradication, it could be incredibly lucrative.” Gertler declined to answer how it could turn a profit, but The Medium did notice a document on his desk titled “Cutting Costs at Coleman Commons.”

Gertler, who has spoken on numerous occasions about the health benefits of carnivore diets and steroid injections, was eating an unsalted, well-done, wagyu steak while watching TikToks of the Liver King when The Medium contacted him.

“Do you know the health benefits of eating liver?” Gertler asked, with a particular intensity. “It revitalizes your primal instincts—makes

you hungry for the hunt.” Gertler growled in response to the rest of The Medium’s questions.

The petition, which began collecting signatures this fall, suggests students return to virtual lectures during hunting season to avoid potential “accidents.”

In recent weeks, the growing UTM deer population called for proper representation in institutional decisions and warned of their willingness to unionize. A Twitter user suggested that this concern might be the reason for the petition, tweeting “Here comes another ‘genocide’ to silence to political opposition. #DareToDeer.”

While the outcomes of the RHPR petition have yet to be determined, campus safety advised students to wear orange apparel until the end of the hunting season. Constable John Marcelious shared that “this will help to reduce the risk of any premature hunters’ misidentifying you.”

Constable Marcelious additionally warned that hunting on campus is still currently illegal, and any students found stalking, snaring, or shooting deer will be arrested and appropriately prosecuted.

In a public statement, UTM deer spokesman John Deere, called for the Ford administration to carefully consider their decision. “An attack against any wildlife will be treated as a threat to our security, and our response will carry appropriate severity.”

If you see Meric Gertler acting suspiciously towards the UTM deer, please contact campus police immediately.

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features

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

ICUBE/UTM

How UTM’s Ideation Lab provides funding, mentorship, and educational resources to business aspirants Kayla Sousa, ICUBE Programs Lead, discusses the mission behind the ideation lab and social barriers to entrepreneurship.

Alisa Samuel Sports & Health Editor

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n 2015, U of T’s first and only social impact accelerator—a program that helps develop start-ups—opened its doors at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM). ICUBE is currently operated by a small staff who aim to provide space and education to people with business ideas.

Former freelance psychometrist, Kayla Sousa, is the programs lead of ICUBE at UTM’s Institute for Management & Innovation. “While there’s nothing wrong with choosing to work in the gig economy, as I did,” Sousa says, “a place like ICUBE could’ve helped me grow things to another level.” The gig economy refers to a labour market comprised mainly of temporary, contractual, and freelance positions.

Drawing from her experience as an independent worker navigating service gaps, Sousa has worked to set up ICUBE’s latest multi-disciplinary entrepreneurship program: the Ideation Lab. The Ideation Lab is designed for those who wish to establish start-ups and create positive social change in the world with their products or services. “When we talk about startups,” Sousa explains, “we’re looking at people who are often working solo as entrepreneurs or have a very small team, with no prototype. They’re building a business from the ground up, beginning from scratch essentially.”

The program supports cohorts every semester, including the summer. It welcomes UTM students (both domestic and international), alumni, and Peel Region residents of all ages.

Enrollees gain access to monetary grants, mentorship from

business coaches and investors, social connections through the ICUBE community, and resources that are both internal and external to U of T. As an example, a session with a lawyer would teach enrollees about corporate structures, so they might be able to incorporate their businesses later.

In combination with such in-person offerings, enrollees can also complete self-directed learning modules. These asynchronous and virtual modules cover “a range of topics, including social impact, business sales, finance, digital marketing, market research, design, thinking, and fundraising,” shares Sousa.

“I remember there was a woman with a baby, a member who joined in on a call,” Sousa recalls. “She was fussing with the baby, she felt guilty because the baby was crying, and she was struggling to keep up with the workshops—that really stuck with me.” Sousa realized the need for a choose-yourown-adventure-style program to satisfy the different lifestyles of program members.

The Ideation Lab’s predecessor—a similar program hosted collaboratively—was much more traditionally structured. Attendance at every weekly workshop was mandatory.

Though there are still certain requirements enrollees must fulfill, members of the Ideation Lab now mostly complete workshops and modules of their own choosing, according to their entrepreneurial needs, skill levels, and schedules.

“I pitched to my own bosses at ICUBE the idea of restructuring the program to minimize barriers for people who are already facing [them], because I don’t want to take away an opportunity from a mother,” Sousa says. “As a woman in this space, it’s really important to me that we care a lot about supporting entrepreneurs from underrepresented backgrounds.”

In creating truly flexible and inclusive programming, Sousa

pulls from her counselling background to understand the unrepresented. She then helps them, using suitable strategies, make meaningful connections in the world of business: “The one thing that’s personally rewarding for me to see is ensuring the Ideation Lab members have access to competitions […] where they have an audience of people who are listening to their ideas,” shares Sousa.

At the end of each semester, members of the Ideation Lab can competitively pitch their start-up ideas to a panel of three judges for a chance to win cash prizes and additional professional support.

Alongside investors, the panel consists of past winners who are also former ICUBE members. On December 15, 2022, co-founder of UNfabricated and member of ICUBE’s Venture Forward program, Prabaarja Bedi will be joining to judge for the fall cohort. Anyone interested in attending the pitch competition is encouraged to register for the Ideation Lab event.

Looking forward, the Ideation Lab is currently accepting applications for its winter 2023 cohort. The deadline to apply is January 10, 2023.

“We encourage people to apply because it’s a great opportunity to take advantage of if they’re admitted,” says Sousa. She explains that not all applications are approved by saying, “The only reason we can’t accept everyone is because there are limited resources, and we want to make sure that everyone has a coach.” Once the deadline closes, all applicants will hear back from the Ideation Lab team by the end of January.

For more information on the program, you can join ICUBE for a virtual information session on December 7, 2022, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., or email Kayla Sousa with your queries before you apply at kayla.sousa@utoronto.ca.

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Valley of the Birdtail: How racism changed the experiences of two communities separated by a valley In their new book, a U of T law graduate and an associate professor in the Faculty of Law highlight the inequalities affecting children in schools on reserves. [couldn’t] actually care less about what’s going on on the reserve. The average funding for a reserve kid is about $6,800. The funding for a kid in Broadview, which is about 10 minutes away, is $11,000.”

While increased funding may seem like a logical solution, Professor Sanderson believes “it’s never going to cut it,” because the inequalities go further than just the educational system.

Olga Fedossenko Associate Features Editor

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n Canada, over 110,000 school-aged children live on reserves. According to a report published in 2018, only 44 per cent of First Nations who lived on reserves between the ages of 18 and 24 had completed high school. In contrast, the same metric applied to only 88 per cent of other Canadians.

“The First Nations schools are looked after by someone in Ottawa, who [couldn’t] actually care less about what’s going on on the reserve.”

“Indigenous students all across Canada were 40 to 50 per cent underfunded per student, compared to students in provincial public schools.”

After learning about the inequalities that affect schools on reserves while pursuing his Juris Doctor at U of T, Andrew Stobo Sniderman, a lawyer and a Rhodes Scholar from Montreal, started researching the disparities that led to these systemic deficiencies. “I found out that Indigenous students all across Canada were 40 to 50 per cent underfunded per student, compared to students in provincial public schools. As a law student, I couldn’t understand how that was legal,” recalled Stobo Sniderman. He reached out to Associate Professor Douglas Sanderson (Amo Binashii) to collaborate on a book titled Valley of the Birdtail: An Indian Reserve, a White Town, and the Road to Reconciliation. Released in August 2022, the book is about two communities separated by a valley: Waywayseecappo, a reserve in Manitoba, and a neighbouring town called Rossburn.

“It’s about how this inequality developed between these two communities over the last 150 years across many domains.”

During a presentation as part of The Jackman Series at U of T’s Faculty of Law on November 22, 2022, the authors recounted the process of putting the book together, meeting with residents on reserves, and hearing their stories. “It is more ambitious than just a story about the education inequality,” explained Stobo Sniderman. “It’s about how this inequality developed between these two communities over the last 150 years across many domains.”

The book follows multiple generations of two families. In Rossburn, a town once settled

by Ukrainian immigrants who fled poverty, family income is near the national average

GOODREADS

and most adults have completed a university degree.

Just across a valley, in Waywayseecappo, families live below the line of poverty.

Residential schools started opening in Canada as early as the 1880s. Indigenous children were taken from their parents and brought to schools so that nuns and priests could transform them into their definition of proper, exemplary individuals. Later, in the 1950s and 1960s, the “integration” era happened when the federal government decided to send students from reserves to provincial public schools to assimilate Indigenous Peoples into the dominant society’s norms.

Finally, in 1971, the Manitoba Indian Brotherhood released a manifesto

that demanded an end to integrated education because it had no relevance to Indigenous culture and lifestyle. Put under pressure, the government agreed to give the First Nations communities control over their school education. This led to the current schooling systems where reserve and local schools remain separate, and reserve schools are funded by the federal government, and not the provincial government.

In his interview with CBC, Evan Taypotat, Chief of the Kahkewistahaw First Nation, stated that “The First Nations schools are looked after by someone in Ottawa, who

“There’s a couple of documents that we printed out in the book that I had trouble believing. I had to see them for myself to believe they even exist,” continued Stobo Sniderman.

One of the documents the authors found details permission requests from a federal agent to a father that allows him to leave a reserve to go visit his son at a residential school. Another document is a permit from a government agency for someone living on reserve to sell a load of barley to someone from outside of the reserve. Documents like these had to be issued because of the restricting laws passed in the 19th and 20th centuries. For instance, when the residential school system was operational, parents were often denied any contact with their children in the schools. In the late 19th century, The Indian Act banned traditional Indigenous functions including the potlatch, ghost dance, and sun dance, with police arresting Indigenous Peoples for performing ceremonies that were part of their culture. And in 1927, another law was passed forbidding Indigenous Peoples from hiring any legal representatives or seeking legal counsel. These are only a few of the restrictions communities on reserves faced throughout the years. Even though these laws are not presently in effect, Indigenous Peoples still lack independence and equal treatment.

Both Stobo Sniderman and Professor Sanderson believe that the way to resolve many of these injustices is to provide Indigenous Peoples with governing authority over their land. Communities that live on reserves need to make decisions about funding for schools and healthcare for themselves. “We know that if Indigenous governments were empowered to raise and spend money, their child welfare system would be well-functioning,” maintained Stobo Sniderman. The authors hope to change the way readers think about Indigenous education and understand the role of law in finding solutions.

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Arts

Editor | Julia Skoczypiec arts@themedium.ca

She Said—empowering victims of ex-film superpower Harvey Weinstein An eye-opening film that reveals the truths and tragedies of women in journalism and beyond.

Aia Jaber Columnist

TW: This article contains references to sexual assault and rape Spoiler warning: This article touches on the storyline of She Said

S

eated in the movie theatre on release day and surrounded by women close in age, I felt empowered and appalled by the true story that unravelled before my eyes. Often, when I watch most films, I find it difficult to sit still and remain engaged. But during the two hours and nine minutes that She Said was playing, I was unable to move, fidget, or pick up my phone. The theatre was silent—aside from some echoing popcorn crunches and the booming voices of the characters on screen.

In an investigation pursued by women, for women, journalists Megan Twohey (Carey Mulligan), and Jodi Kantor (Zoe Kazan) uncovered multiple sexual assault allegations against film producer Harvey Weinstein. If you’ve followed the series of allegations made against him in recent years, you’d understand the long journey it took to defeat a man of his profound power and finally put him in jail.

“I felt like I was in the room with the survivors, holding them as they recounted their intense stories.”

The film propelled me into The New York Times office—with journalists rushing into meetings, picking up calls from survivors, and aimlessly hoping that one will have the legal and emotional ability to speak on her experience regarding the heinous abuser.

Kantor and Twohey were an unparalleled investigative duo.

They supported women, stood up to Weinstein’s consistent threats, and rewrote the narrative that permits bullies to silence women.

My heart felt torn watching the brutal and vivid experiences of the victims. In a cliché sense, I was at the edge of my seat, wincing through every scene. I felt like I was in the room with the survivors, holding them as they recounted their intense stories. When each journalist asked why these women did not speak out, they professed their fears, stating that “Weinstein has eyes everywhere.”

Their careers were threatened, non-disclosure agreements were signed, and these women were forced to continue with their lives while Weinstein went on to abuse so many more women. They weren’t allowed to tell their partners, families, or friends. In a painful comment made by one of the victims, “Weinstein built the silence”—an act far too common in sexual assault cases.

“Their careers were threatened, nondisclosure agreements were signed, and these women were forced to continue with their lives while Weinstein went on to abuse so many more women.”

Throughout the film, I learned the magnitude of Weinstein’s power when stars such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Ashley Judd, and Rose McGowan appeared on screen. After they shared parts of their stories—both in the film and in real life—and detailed experiences they had while working with him, they faced consequences.

The actresses made cameos throughout the film in different ways, risking the little security they had left.

IMDb.com

Assistants that Weinstein assaulted, some as young as 23, were isolated from their dreams in the film industry. Their careers and reputations were destroyed, and with them, their autonomy.

“She Said is most importantly a movie about women’s resilience—consistently showing the strength of each victim after they faced unimaginable atrocities.”

She Said is most importantly a movie about women’s resilience—consistently showing the strength of each victim after they faced unimaginable atrocities. By taking away the publicity and power of the abuser, these stories focused on the survivors. Through perseverance, braveness, and care from the reporters and the victims, the plot became

empowering. My words fall short, and as a writer, that can be problematic, but the film said everything I felt, thought, and needed to know about what it means to be a woman and a journalist. As recounted in the original New York Times article—also referenced in a piece by Vox—82 women have been victim to Weinstein’s attacks—a number that is rising as women find strength in sharing their stories.

Given recent sexual harassment allegations surrounding a University of Toronto Mississauga professor, we must understand that it is not surprising to see those with authority abuse their power. It is disappointing, painful, and harmful to know that there are people within our community who have fallen victim to sexual assault, but it is even more agonizing to know that institutions and industries choose to protect abusers, despite knowing their danger to the community. Systems protecting criminals hide behind piles of money and self-benefit. Weinstein is facing 23 years in prison. This is not enough for the 82 lives he’s irreversibly affected.

“It is disappointing, painful, and harmful to know that there are people within our community who have fallen victim to sexual assault, but it is even more agonizing to know that institutions and industries choose to protect abusers, despite knowing their danger to the community.”

Being a writer, I felt empowered by the investigative journalistic process unfolding on screen. Twohey and Kantor made a daring partnership and brought justice to the survivors. I found great admiration in their characters as journalists. Despite the consistent threats and abuse they faced before, during, and after the article was published, the journalists chased the truth. Their duty as professionals overrode their own fears. Although I’m not sure I have the same strength as them, She Said left me encouraged.

I pray that all abusers are held accountable for their actions and feel immense guilt, pain, and retribution for their heinous, disgusting crimes. May they lose their positions and face the consequences of their actions. I hope that all victims receive the justice they deserve— that their voices are heard, not silenced. Abusers build the silence, but we will work to demolish it.

once upon a time

Sea Moss Bites

Home

Yasmine Benabderrahmane, Contributor

Kuicmar Phot, Staff Writer

Hannah Grace Wang, Staff Writer

curled against the blaze of a dull fire, streaks of light, shadows dance against her skin. gathered hands for a heat to inspire, and yet the cold and warmth here act akin.

Toes crash through the moss of midnight wilds until wept in grains of sand Hollow eyes stare into the blooming night like sun-seekers in a perpetual chasm But the sun hides in trepidation, and dread swaddles my thoughts The tide whispers my name, and I tumble into its arms I dance into the sea adorning a rotten heart and rotten teeth Clothes waltz with corals, and fish serenade limbs like canopies Streams flow like molasses, conquering canyons of oxygen The lighthouse beacon quivers through the eyelids of the tide My fingers waver toward the algae as my body sways down into the reefs And I melt into sea foam like sinking ships in the cavity of a storm My heartbeat grows silent like November’s foliage of anemones Cradled in stones, I slumber at the bottom of the ocean, Collector of sorrows, Where solace greets nadir, And sea moss bites

Why are we here, mommy?

What is going on?

night, she prayed for a chest with hinges, a body with doors full of coal to blaze. evening, she prayed for a hand that pinches, that awakes her from the truth of her days. she craved the kiss of the sun on her lids, craved the stubborn smell of salt in her hair. instead, she was met with the frost of wind, with the cold that bit her cheeks and nose bare. so, she curled by fire and closed her eyes, wished of a past of poetry and rhyme, of her mother snug and stars in the skies, wildly wishing for a once upon a time.

I miss home.

I miss the crackling of the heater. The space to run free.

Why are we here, mommy?

Where is home?

This place smells funny. This place doesn’t feel the same.

This place is foreign.

I miss home.

A depiction of real-life family affairs in Theatre Erindale’s Tartuffe Fourth year TDS students took audiences on a journey that truly displayed difficult emotions.

Yusuf Larizza-Ali Staff Writer

E

rindale Studio Theatre has always been a great place to experience drama up close.

In their most recent show, Tartuffe, fourth year Theatre and Drama Studies (TDS) students used the power of live performance to showcase thematic messages, dialogue styles, and special effects.

Originally a French play written by Molière, Tartuffe has been translated into various English versions. As a mixture between comedy and drama, the play deals with some intense themes regarding familial relationships and betrayal. The titular character, played by Hannah Mitchell, created a dynamic production.

As Tartuffe is portrayed as a guest and religious fraud, he plots to manipulate his host for his own desires.

Directed by Paolo Santalucia, the play starts off suddenly, catching the audience’s attention straight away. The dialogue style, written entirely in rhyme, also becomes apparent early on—with characters who speak in catchy phrases such as “I could see my family die and not even blink an eye.” An early scene consists of a debate between Mariane (Chelsea Mathieu) and her father Orgon (Anthony Palermo) regarding her marriage prospects.

Orgon wants Tartuffe to be her groom, even though Mariane has true feelings that lie with Valère (Stevie Hook)—another suitor. Later, Orgon debates with Mariane’s maid Dorine

(Brynne Bonne) about the potential union between Mariane and Tartuffe.

“As a mixture between comedy and drama, the play deals with some intense themes regarding familial relationships and betrayal.”

After Orgon exits the scene, Mariane and Dorine discuss their heartfelt feelings. Mariane states that she cannot stand up to her fa-

THEATRE ERINDALE

ther because she is “timid.” For such language, she is mocked. These dialogues communicate messages that connect to self-identity, however, through hypocritical figures like Valère, the concepts of identity become lost. With further interventions by characters like Orgon’s mother Madame Pernelle (Maïa Greco), his brother-in-law Cléante (Devin McEachern), Orgon’s second wife Elmire (Jewell Bowry), and his son Damis (Jimmy Omino), the plot stirs notions of reason, love, manipulation, and deceit.

The lighting and music in the play were used to the story’s advantage. Throughout

scene transitions, main lights turned off, smaller ones illuminated parts of the stage, and new music played. To create suspense and foreshadow some of the unbelievable events that unfolded, the show featured a snippet from the iconic musical number “In The Hall Of The Mountain King,” composed

by Edvard Grieg. As the show’s plot was fast paced—always bringing calamities to the characters—the effects helped to match and enhance this tone.

The acting in Tartuffe was phenomenal.

One casting choice that stood out to me was Madame Pernelle. Greco portrayed her character with perfect pacing, and I really got the sense that she was irritated with her family and close to her breaking point throughout the show’s entirety. Her dialogue delivery, facial expressions, and overall body language ultimately built up to her final meltdown—a dynamic and unforgettable exit scene.

Another great character was Tartuffe.

Mitchell’s acting received a booming applause from the audience. While Tartuffe was meant to be antagonistic, Mitchell’s performance added layers of comedy to the play.

Overall, I would recommend plays like Tartuffe to anyone who is looking for an enticing experience at the University of Toronto Mississauga campus. The show presented socially impactful themes while keeping its tone upbeat. Be sure to keep up with more of Theatre Erindale’s upcoming season on their Instagram @theatreerindale. Tickets for shows can be found at tickets.sheridancollege.ca.

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How Lana Del Rey uses music to show character development When done right, using a discography as an artistic outlet can be quite spectacular.

Abeera Sohail Contributor

I

n 2012, with the releases of songs like “Video Games” and “Blue Jeans,” Lana Del Rey was met with a lot of controversy. She sang about drugs, sadness, and her utter devotion to a male partner. With her deep, sultry voice and an image reminiscent of 1950s golden-age America, her songs were a stark opposite to the pop hits of the time. Many people criticized her music for being anti-feminist due to the content matter.

Nevertheless, Del Rey persisted. Over the course of her career, she has released eight well-received albums—all a reflection of her persona.

Born To Die (2012) featured Del Rey’s most accomplished hit, “Summertime Sadness.” The album was polarizing to the public—its style of music stuck out as being extremely different, creating a “cultural reset” for listeners at the time. Artistically, the songs on Born To Die seem to reflect the mindset of a young girl who is vulnerable, naïve, and has a boyfriend much older than her. This description is reflective of Del Rey at the time of the album’s release. People speculated that she was only famous because of her dad’s money, or that she slept around to get her album out. Despite the gossip, Born To Die spent 300 weeks on the Billboard 200 chart.

Soon after, Del Rey released Paradise (2012)—a collection of eight songs with a more summery vibe. The album included a cover of Tony Bennett’s “Blue Velvet,” a song originally released in 1951. While Paradise did not experience the same commercial success as Born to Die, it can be seen as a new development for her persona. Paradise comes off as more laid-back, lacking the same upbeat, bubbly flow of her earlier releases. Throughout the collection of songs, Del Rey seems to share a prominent message: she’s not going to change her style because of the public opinion.

In 2014, Del Rey released Ultraviolence (my personal favourite). As a total change from her 2012 albums, Ultravio-

lence is pure rock. Its songs are flooded with electric guitar and manufactured melancholy—an album packed with raw emotion. Del Rey sings about violence in intimate relationships, cocaine, and the way that she feels pretty when she cries. Track two, “Ultraviolence,” features lyrics like “he hit me and it felt like a kiss.” Such soul-crushing content in mainstream music is rare. As such, Ultraviolence may as well be her magnum opus.

Honeymoon (2015) came as the musical love child of Born to Die and Ultraviolence.

This cinematic album poses similarities to silent films, with songs that serve hope with a touch of drama. Honeymoon seems to reflect on Del Rey’s personal life. She merges her 2011 and 2014 self and unifies these eras, musically and personally.

In 2017, Del Rey delivered another album, Lust for Life, titled after the track of the same

name that features The Weeknd. The album displays a pivotal turning point in Del Rey’s music. According to Apple Music, this album is “quintessentially her: gloomy, glamorous, and smitten with California.” Unsure but bold, Lust for Life paved the way for one of her best releases yet.

Critically acclaimed and Grammy nominated, Norman Fucking Rockwell! (2019) includes piano ballads, soft pop, and a tone of pure hope and light. The tracks on this album totally deviate from Del Rey’s previous work, and the lyrical developments act as reflections of Del Rey’s growth. As a once immature girl who was reliant on a man three times her age, Del Rey finally finds peace in this collection. She realizes that she does not need a man.

Del Rey released two albums in 2021—Chemtrails Over the Country Club and Blue Banisters. Both are reflections of a better time—with a light mood that characterizes each record.

By changing her gloomy black-andwhite tone that we saw in Ultraviolence, Del Rey seems to have come to terms with her life, career, and her musical range.

Through her many styles and sounds, Del Rey has greatly showcased her talents as a songwriter and singer. By turning her life story into art, she places a poetic twist on pop music. From the sharp openings to mellow endings, Del Rey puts all of her emotions on display—making her musical journey like no other.

The M ’s Playlist – A Danceable December with Kareena Kareena Kailass Opinion Editor

T

o me, December is a lot more than just another month of the year. December welcomes the new year with open arms, it signals the holiday season for many, and it invites great reflection. From Spotify Wrapped to YouTube Rewind and Apple Music Replay, we all, in one way or another, look forward to media collections that help us look back on our entire year.

With this playlist, I do just that—reflect. Taking you back to some of my favourite hits from 1965 to 1999, I hope you immerse yourself in the throwback vibes that this playlist has to offer.

Beyond just reflection—these songs symbolize eternity. The Temptations’ My Girl is nearing six decades old and still invokes so many emotions that relate to listeners today. Mariah Carey’s, Whitney Houston’s, and Chaka Khan’s hits span almost three decades of listening, and still, these tracks are in many of our regular rotations. The Jackson 5—otherwise known as “The Jacksons”—continue to hold their legacy and have a special place in many of our hearts.

With this eternity comes longevity, emotion, meaning, and impact. So, I welcome you to a glimpse of some my favourite impactful hits. These are the songs I always come back to, year after year.

Remember, you—like these hits, artists, and bands—are entering a new year too. A new year for you to build your legacy. With each action and footstep, you too, leave meaning and impact in not only your life, but in the lives of others’ as well.

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sports & health

Editor | Alisa Samuel sports@themedium.ca

All hands on deck The biggest challenge for the Leafs is to keep up their current level of play for more success in the postseason.

Omar Khan Columnist

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ow does an underperforming, injury-laden hockey team persevere and make themselves a top five team in the league? They collectively work together to improve their defense and consequently win games.

The Leafs defence is perhaps the most injured in the entire league. They are currently suffering from the absence of Morgan Rielly, not only one of the best defencemen for the team but also one of the best in the league; Jake Muzzin, another one of their best defencemen; T.J. Brodie, a penalty killer and transition player; and Jordie Benn, a pleasantly surprising contributor to the Leafs’ emerging success before his injury.

When faced with a roster as depleted as this, most NHL teams would fold, but General Manager Kyle Dubas has built this organization on the strength of depth at each position, especially at defence. Players such as Victor Mete and rookie Mac Hollowell have jumped into the lineup to fill vacant roles.

Just as impressive are players who were already in the lineup. They raised their games to new levels and helped the team become one of the best in the league. Most notably, Justin Holl, who most Leafs fans had given up hope on after his many mistakes on the ice proved costly for the team, is the player Leafs fans fell in love with two years ago. Mark Giordano, the oldest player in the league at 39, has also turned back the clock, playing important minutes for the Leafs and contributing both offensively and defensively.

Lastly, the two young Swedish defencemen Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljegren are growing into the high caliber, well-rounded players that the Leafs organization wants them to be. Sandin, specifically, has played at a level previously unexpected due to his absence in training camp and lack of production to start the season.

Wins have not come in the same waves they have last season—until now. The Leafs recently came back from a long, five game road trip where, surprisingly,

they went undefeated.

All Star and defending MVP award winner Auston Matthews has not hit the stride he had last season when he scored 60 goals. The Leafs star is currently on pace for 37. Thankfully, though, the star centre is finally starting to heat up, scoring in back-to-back games, earning the confidence and motivation he had in his record-breaking season a year ago.

Teammates John Tavares and William Nylander are also in the midst of career years. However, Mitch Marner has stood out from the rest. Marner, with a 17-game point streak, has become a forechecking machine, taking on any player that stands in his way.

Moving forward, the team’s stamina and willingness to win will be tested. The Leafs have beat some of the best teams in the league but have also fallen to some of the worst. This inconsistency is something the team will have to rid itself of if it wants to succeed in the postseason.

Winners on and off the field “As men, diverse men, we have privilege, and therefore an opportunity to make a difference,” says head coach of the University of Toronto Mississauga men’s flag football team.

Omar Khan Columnist

F

or the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) men’s flag football team, performance goes beyond the field. Head coach Armaan Hayer—a third year criminology, law, and society student—measures the success of his team not only by their ability to play the sport they love, but also according to the ways in which they serve their community.

“From day one, they aimed to play their hearts out, set a good example as leaders, and make a difference in their community.”

In the pursuit of giving back to communities that need it the most, the flag football team participated in a donation drive hosted

by Sociology Professor Jerry Flores on November 11, 2022. The team donated essential items, like diapers, baby food, socks, general hygiene products, and children’s toys to the Native Women’s Resource Centre of Toronto.

In reflecting on the donation drive, the players acknowledged that they play on Indigenous land. They therefore strive to help the communities to whom the land belongs to.

With this mentality at heart, the team had its first game against U of T Law on October 23, 2022. No previous UTM flag football team

has ever won a game in its history, and U of T Law has remained undefeated for years. Beating U of T Law was the biggest challenge of the season for UTM. Falling by a large margin, the UTM flag football team lost, but learned that while this game was a setback for them, they could regroup, improve their play, and carry that momentum to the semifinals.

With confidence, the UTM flag football team faced U of T Engineering (Skule). Both teams were scheduled to first face each other in the regular season but could not due to

DAANISH ALVI/THE MEDIUM

poor weather conditions. The rematch took place on November 27, 2022. The UTM team waited patiently for a competitive athletic test such as this one to prove that they belong on the field and are a team to be reckoned with— and they did. UTM won 28-6, earning a spot in the finals where U of T Law, the defending champions, would be waiting for them.

UTM flag football, a team that—until this season—had never won a single game, took on U of T Law, a team that has never lost. Though U of T Law won the 2022 championship as well, UTM played their best against them.

UTM has not only earned the respect of U of T Law, but of the entire league.

While they may not have come first, the fact that UTM finished in second place is a huge accomplishment. Completing that seemingly impossible task, along with their charitable work off the field, makes the members of the UTM flag football team true winners at the end of the day.

From day one, they aimed to play their hearts out, set a good example as leaders, and make a difference in their community.

“Recognizing such privileges brings us humility, allows us to widen our understanding of the world.”

“We are all from a diverse set of backgrounds, yet we are privileged enough that we can study at the greatest institution this nation offers, along with other privileges such as being cis-gender, heterosexual men,” Hayer says.

“Recognizing such privileges brings us humility, allows us to widen our understanding of the world, as many players mentioned when they were shocked at how expensive menstrual and baby food products are.”

Hayer wants the UTM men’s flag football team to be more than macho football players or hegemonic men. He wants them to rid themselves of toxic masculinity and recognize their privilege for the greater good of marginalized communities.