Volume 49, Issue 14

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

Issue 14 Volume 49

January 16 2023

themedium.ca

RYAN PERSADIE

THE WHITE LOTUS

INTRAMURALS

Persadie’s interest in breaking down societal barriers built by colonialism was deemed too much for the Ontario private school system. So, Persadie pursued his studies with a desire to disrupt normalcy.

During the holiday break, a meme of a bawling Jennifer Coolidge shooting a pistol in a boat cabin filled my Twitter feed.

Though I’m usually one to resist the online hype for the latest fads and trends, the clip was too intriguing to be ignored.

New additions to the program include Open Table Tennis League, Open Water Sport League, and Women Multi-Sport League. Gender restrictions in the coed league require teams to meet a minimum while the open league welcomes all genders.

>> read more on page 08

>> read more on page 11

>> read more on page 12

NEWS

Canada’s new foreign-buyer ban: Will it really solve the country’s housing crisis?

Maryam Lela Contributor

B

eginning on January 1, 2023, the Canadian government enforced a two-year ban prohibiting certain foreign home buyers from buying houses throughout Canada. This ban, named the Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act, does not apply to Canadian citizens, permanent residents living in Canada, refugees, or diplomats. However, it does apply to international students and foreign workers, as well as foreign corporations and organizations. >> HOUSING CRISIS continues on page 03

KORMANS

OPINION

NEWS

“Divorce month” calls for a New Year, New Boo

Alarming report reveals antisemitism at U of T Larry Lau News Editor

Cristina Pincente Contributor

M

any like to start off the new year by setting resolutions and throwing around the phrase “new year, new me.” Some plan fitness goals and renew their annual gym membership, even though they mysteriously lose their gym fob come February. Some swear an oath to be punctual and organized, while others are a part of the pool of internet users causing words like “divorce” to trend on Google.

Some lawyers and sociologists explain why January has earned the nickname “‘divorce month.” Vicky Townsend, the co-founder and chief executive of the National Association of Divorce Professionals, claims, “divorce is seasonal.” Many married couples file for divorce in January because they decide in the months leading up and want one last holiday together as a family before starting their new year off with a fresh start.

Julie Brines, an associate professor, and Brian Serafini, a doctoral candidate, from the University of Washington did a study in 2016, presenting quantitative evidence of a seasonal pattern of divorce filings.

Their analysis of filings in Washington state between 2001 and 2015 showed that divorce rates peaked in March and August, the months following winter and summer holidays. >> DIVORCE MONTH continues on page 05

O

n December 5, 2022, Dr. Ayelet Kuper, the associate director of Faculty Affairs at U of T and former senior advisor on antisemitism at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine (TFOM), published a report in the Canadian Medical Educational Journal that detailed various antisemitic incidents and microaggressions at the TFOM. She reflected on the presence of antisemitism amongst the U of T faculty by outlining the antisemitic behaviour and events she had observed.

In the report, Dr. Kuper reflected on “microaggressions” she personally experienced at the TFOM. She noted that “lovely and reflexive” people had, presumably, unintentionally perpetrated antisemitic behaviour through stereotyping Jews as “pushy and demanding, […] having/wanting lots of money, […] only looking out for other Jews.”

Dr. Kuper also discussed a leaked letter that complained about a talk on antisemitism at the TFOM. She stated that the letter contained antisemitic views and had the signatures of “a small group of TFOM faculty members.” She also stated that the Report of the U of

T Anti-Semitism Working Group released in December of 2021—which aimed to address antisemitism and discrimination—did not ban “the mention, use, or advocacy for any definitions of antisemitism accepted by the Jewish community.”

On December 20, 2022, U of T President Meric Gertler wrote a letter to U of T’s Governing Council concerning antisemitism at the university. He contended that U of T has zero tolerance for antisemitism and explained some initiatives the university is taking to address the issue.

On December 21, 2022, he followed up with an Op-ed in the Globe and Mail addressing the incidents.

U of T is currently implementing the eight recommendations made in the Report of the U of T AntiSemitism Working Group that aim to improve inclusion of the Jewish community. Additionally, the Institutional Equity Office at U of T has now specified antisemitism in its mandate to safeguard equity, inclusion, and diversity in the university community.

Additionally, U of T has organized numerous events and meetings to address antisemitism and support the Jewish community at the university. A restorative gathering will be held virtually on January 23, 2023, focusing on Jewish participants’ healing from antisemitic behaviour. >> ANTISEMITISM continues on page 03

02

NEWS

Editor | Larry Lau news@themedium.ca

U of T launches new strategic plan to foster international student success U of T hosted a virtual panel discussing the International Strategic Plan 2022-2027, which outlines initiatives all three campuses are implementing to ensure inclusion of international students in the community’s success.

Angelina Jaya Siew Staff Writer

R

ecently, U of T published the International Strategic Plan 2022-2027, which proposes ways to improve programs and activities offered by the university to international students. The plan also goes over unique strategies towards internationalization and places emphasis on programs involving collaboration and partnerships, particularly with the global south.

On January 9, 2023, U of T hosted the second of four virtual panels that discussed the plan.

Professor Alexie Tcheuyap, the associate vice-president and vice-provost of international student experience at U of T, presented various initiatives to ensure that international students flourish at all three campuses. He discussed the significant financial support allocated to international students, reporting that, “In [2022-2023], we dedicated over $53 million towards international scholar awards.”

Professor Tcheuyap stipulated that the plan includes initiatives to improve global learning opportunities for international students, such as increasing the number of learning abroad scholarships. “We would like for 40 per cent of undergraduate students [to] be engaged in at least one learning abroad experience before they graduate by 2027,” he stated.

The plan also encourages international students’ involvement in paid work positions to support skills development, hoping to raise participation rates from 2.9 per cent in 2022 to 6 per cent in 2027. Professor Tcheuyap accounted for the low participation rates by explaining that few students are aware of such work opportunities. International entrepreneurship exchange programs are also included in the planned initiatives.

Continuing, David Coen, vice dean international at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University College London, emphasized the need for “pre-arrival support and early intervention,” for incoming international students, “from mental health and wellbeing to understanding how the university operates.” He discussed the importance of monitoring and mentoring students, such as through hosting webinars, to address international students’ concerns.

During the panel discussion, Thaisa Tylinksi Sant’Ana, a fourth-year biotechnology specialist student at the University of Toronto Mississauga, shared her personal experiences and pointers to succeeding as an international student. Sant’Ana defined international student success as, “striving for academic, personal and professional development while also being able to build a support system that will help you navigate life in a foreign country.”

She contended that the most challenging time for students is the transition into univer-

UOFT

sity, declaring that international students face challenges in navigating university life while simultaneously adapting to live in a “country that is not your home.”

“Being international is [not] simply defined by your immigration status and the tuition fees that you are paying,” stated Sant’Ana. She noted that some students who are new to Canada fall outside such criteria. As such, she put forth that U of T should “broaden the understanding of being international” and ensure that there is an integration of resources to support students from various places around the globe.

According to Professor Sandy Welsh, viceprovost of students at U of T, research has shown that international students and domestic students living on campus residence have a stronger sense of belonging at U of T, which contributes to their academic success. “Across our three campuses we are focused on building our on-campus residence capacity,” said Professor Welsh. This enables more students, including upper years, to enjoy the residence experience.

Professor Welsh further postulated that “international students face unique additional stressors to all of the other stressors related to mental health,” such as the lack of family support, financial burdens, fear of future, and fear of losing their visa or their status in their home country.

Katherine Beaumont, senior director of global learning at U of T, contended that “helping students understand the campus and student experience at U of T” is essential to fostering continued international student success, echoing the importance of integrating international student services.

Both the International Strategic Plan and the webinar highlight the initiatives that U of T is currently taking and will implement, culminating in a future that guarantees international students an inclusive environment where they are welcomed and provided with the tools to succeed.

Ontario Government appeals for reinstating Bill 124 In November 2022, a judge had ruled Bill 124—which caps wages increases for public sector workers—unconstitutional, a ruling that the Ontario government is now appealing.

Sukaina Rizvi Contributor

T

he Ontario government is currently appealing a court decision made on November 29, 2022, that abolished Bill 124.

The Protecting a Sustainable Public Sector for Future Generations Act capped wage increases for public sector workers at one per cent per year.

The purpose of the bill was to ensure that any wage increases for the public sector reflect the province’s fiscal situation. Hundreds of thousands of public sector workers were affected by this bill—in a time when inflation was growing. After Bill 124 was introduced in 2019, jobs in social assistance and health care increased by 40,800 (59.9 per cent) in two years. The total number of vacancies rose to 108,800, meaning one in seven job vacancies in Canada were in social assistance or health care.

Public sector unions believed the bill violated Section 2(d) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which assures freedom of association, thereby protecting groups from “powerful entities” and allowing for collective bargaining.

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union criticized the Ford administration in a press release on November 29, 2022, saying that Bill 124 was capping wages “at a time when inflation is at a forty-year high.”

The Association of Management, Administrative and Professional Crown Employees of Ontario, argued that many of the jobs affected by Bill 124 were predominantly employed with women, while other public service jobs, which are male-domi-

ONTARIO NURSES’ ASSOCIATION

nated, such as policing, were not included in the legislation.

According to a CBC article, Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) president, Patty Coates, showed her support for healthcare workers, stating that “Bill 124 has severely impacted workers’ living standards and worsened issues like the staffing crisis in our overburdened health-care system.”

A collection of Ontario public labour unions challenged Bill 124 in court and filed a lawsuit against the Ontario Government on September 13, 2022. On November 29, 2022, Justice Markus Koehnen ruled Bill 124 unconstitutional.

Government lawyers disagreed and stated that Bill 124 was not impacting the workers’ abilities to strike for changes in pay, and that various non-cash benefits could be traded against the wage suppression of the bill.

According to a report by the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario, if the government is defeated in court, it would cost Ontario almost $8.4 billion. OFL President Patty Coates stated in a CBC article that, “The Ford government should be focused on taking meaningful action to address the simultaneous costof-living and health care crises in this province. Instead, they are choosing to spend public dollars to fight workers in court.”

03

Alarming Canada’s new foreign-buyer report reveals ban: Will it really solve the antisemitism country’s housing crisis?

Critics question the effectiveness of banning foreigners from at U of T Dr. Ayelet Kuper reflects on antisemitic behaviour she experienced at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, stating that work must be done to address antisemitism.

Larry Lau News Editor

>> ANTISEMITISM continued from page 01 Additionally, the Anti-Racism and Cultural Diversity Office will be holding the “A Shape-Shifting Hatred: Understanding and Addressing Antisemitism” workshop virtually on March 14, 2023, led by Dr. Shari Goldberg. The workshop is open to all students, faculty, and staff who register for the event.

As the conclusion to her report, Dr. Kuper recommended education for those who need assistance broadening their knowledge of the Jewish community. She believes that the education for people who lack understanding of the Jewish community may prevent them from unintentionally developing intense antisemitic views. Lastly, she encouraged Jews to support each other and speak up.

purchasing homes in Canada, calling it “political theatre.”

Maryam Lela Contributor >> HOUSING CRISIS continued from page 01 Before purchasing a house, temporary residents, such as international students, are required to live in Canada for 244 days for five consecutive years, and are prohibited from purchasing properties over $500,000. As for foreign workers, they must work in Canada for at least three years before purchasing a property. Apart from these requirements, international students and workers can only purchase a maximum of one property at a time. However, only buildings with one to three dwelling units are counted under the ban. Homes in areas of low population are exempt, as are vacation homes.

Non-Canadians who disregard the ban may face a fine of no more than $10,000. This penalty may also apply to any Canadian realtor, lawyer, or resident who assists non-residents in purchasing Canadian homes. Additionally, the Superior Court of Justice has the right to sell any property that is purchased in a way that contradicts the ban.

The purpose of the ban is to try to make housing more affordable for Canadians, rather than have the real estate market be an “investment asset for foreigners,” said a spokesperson for the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland in a CBC interview. According to the spokesperson, “Houses should be homes for Canadians to live in.”

However, some criticize the ban’s ability to mitigate the housing crisis, arguing that non-Canadian buyers make up only a minority of the housing market in the country. In the same CBC article, a chief economist at the British Columbia

Real Estate Association, Brendon Ogmundson, put forth that the real cause of rising house prices is low supply and decreased interest rates, rather than foreign buyers.

Critics of Canada’s housing ban look at New Zealand for proof that banning foreigners is not an effective solution to the housing crisis. In 2018, New Zealand banned foreign buyers from purchasing homes in the country, resulting in a decrease in foreign buyers by around 2.5 percent. However, home prices continued to increase across the country, remaining above $1 million.

The Medium spoke with Alan Walks, associate professor of urban planning and geography at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), on his thoughts about the current housing ban. “I think the ban on foreign home buyers is a form of political theatre, and is not rooted in sound policy-making,” he states.

Walks believes that there is insufficient evidence to prove that the increase in housing prices in Canada is linked to foreign buying. He takes Vancouver—the city with the largest percentage of foreign buyers in Canada—as an example, stating that: “In around 2016, domestic buyers made up around 99 percent of all home buyers in Vancouver.” This leaves foreign buyers with the remaining one per cent.

Notably, the ban might have implications for UTM students. Walks states, “Some foreign students who otherwise would have purchased something to live in during their stay in Canada will now be forced to compete in the alreadysqueezed rental market.” He adds that this competition will increase rental prices in the Greater Toronto Area.

“If our federal government were serious about doing something about housing prices, they would end the Canada Mortgage Bonds program, and directly build affordable rental housing like they used to,” concludes Walks.

Peel Regional Police issue warning regarding the ongoing fraud pandemic The police warn Peel Region residents of scammers posing as pizza delivery drivers—a newly reported fraud that joined the wave of scams in wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Emily Rogers Associate News Editor

T

he Peel Regional Police is warning residents of scammers who are posing as food delivery drivers to steal banking information from point of sale transactions. The police are unable to confirm which delivery service is affected, but cautioned against any strangers claiming to be with a delivery service. Such scammers have been asking people to make a debit transaction, claiming not to accept cash payments. The transaction appears to be a typical debit transaction, but compromises the accounts of the card owner.

Such fraudulent behaviour is not a first for the region. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Center (CAFC) reported 83,697 cases of fraud in 2022 as of November 30, 2022. Canadians lost a total of $490 million to scammers in that same timeframe. This is a marked increase in comparison to 2021, where financial loss only totaled to $383 million.

In particular, online fraud is a growing issue. According to Chris Lynam, the director general of the National Cybercrime Co-ordination Unit, in 2021, over 70 per cent of fraud happened over the internet. These often occur as cases of phishing, where victims receive fraudulent emails that, when interacted with, can gather information about victims through downloaded viruses.

The pandemic led to a sharp increase in fraud, several directly related to the Covid-19 virus, since fraudulent criminals often exploit public confusion and panic. The Government of Canada reported scams by third parties posing as government programs, such as phishing emails posing as the ArriveCAN app—an app created during the pandemic for travelers to detail their entry into the country.

NATALIE NG/THE MEDIUM

Many scams also targeted the Canada Emergency Response Benefit and Canada Emergency Student Benefit. The government states they will never reach out to Canadian citizens and residents through email or text about these benefits and that both programs are no longer running.

Vaccines have also been a target for scams, with third parties selling unauthorized or phony Covid-19 vaccines online and at unauthorized locations. Only local public health authorities, working with the Canadian government and clinics, are approved to safely provide vaccines. These vaccine scams not only pose a threat to financial security, but also to public health.

The CAFC suggests several precautions for individuals against fraud. For areas of cybersecurity, it is important for users to be aware of fraudulent pop-up messages and phishing attacks. Pop-ups and emails often take the form of lottery winnings, video game advertisements, or pornographic websites. When faced with these messages, it is strongly advised to not click on anything or call any pro-

vided phone number, and to instead exit the tab or window.

Anti-virus software can also help protect against online scams, but it is best to have software updated by bringing devices to a local technician—giving others remote access to a device can also compromise one’s cyber-safety. In the same vein, it is important to refrain from sharing explicit photographs—fraudulent actors may approach social media users asking for such photos. Lastly, social accounts can be protected with strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, and chains of security questions.

For both in-person and online scams, the CAFC reaffirms the importance of saying “no.”

Scammers often give urgent, high-pressure messages, making victims feel obligated to act immediately. This tactic stops victims from taking the time to think about the information they are sharing. The CAFC recommends not to give out any personal information (including full name, address, date of birth, social insurance number, and credit card information) to unsolicited callers.

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

ASSOCIATES Emily Rogers, News Mihail Cubata, News Dalainey Gervais, Features Olga Fedossenko, Features Megan Freedman, Arts Maja Tingchaleun, Arts Melody Yang, Sports Radhia Rameez, Sports Beatriz Simas, Photos & Design Natalie Ng, Photos & Design Sabrina Mutuc, Photos & Design

04

OPINION

Editorial

Taking it slow From unrealistic productivity ideals to putting yourself first.

The Medium

A

fter such a long holiday season, we’ve gotten accustomed to “laissez-faire” attitudes. For those of us fortunate enough, our schedules were wide open, allowing for not just relaxation, but also spontaneity and flexibility to make plans with close ones. While for others, the lack of routine felt overwhelming, as we couldn’t fathom what to do with our time. Unfortunately, for some of us, getting back into our university routines is proving to be just as hard.

This adjustment can feel overwhelming, forcing us into breakdowns during the first week as we finalize our course schedules. The belief that this routine should have been easy because of its familiarity makes it all worse.

But 2022 stressed the importance of one previously neglected practice: self-care. Instead of being tempted to rush to get settled in, we at The Medium encourage you to

As an international student, the holiday season is a time that can sting.

Ishaan Sethi Contributor

T

he holiday season is synonymous with love. You build closer and stronger bonds with your family during the festivities and share 14 blissful and (usually) stress-free days. You wake up to the smell of home-cooked food, perhaps freshly baked cookies or bread. You laze around in your home; you walk from the kitchen to the living room, your room to your parents’ room, and the dining table to the TV. The amount of free time you suddenly have is striking, normally used up to focus on your loved ones, yourself, and your family traditions.

I have not experienced this for the last two years, like most international students. We spend our holidays trying to build a home from scratch. We look for our foundation through our clos-

themedium.ca/contact @themediumUTM

@themediumUTM

@themediumUTM

@themessageUTM

@humansofUTM_

give yourself a break as you readjust to your class schedules— we all require a reboot, or rather, a couple of jabs to our innerrestart buttons.

The expectation that we should have everything figured out, working at maximum productivity from the get-go, embodies an unrealistic “one-size fits all” ideal—one that is arguably false and unsustainable. Overloading ourselves at the beginning of the semester could deplete valuable energy we might need in the future when our workloads get heavier.

Instead, embracing a slower pace allows us to focus our energy in into both things that require it and things that need it. Slow living forges the required space for us to do our best by allowing us to maintain steady and realistic routines while avoiding burnout.

So, this semester, The Medium supports you to reject unrealistic productivity standards. Learn from the past year and go slow: put yourself first.

Holidays spent in reminiscence

TO CONTRIBUTE & CONNECT: @themediumUTM

Editor | Kareena Kailass opinion@themedium.ca

NATALIE NG/THE MEDIUM

est friends in the semester. We find the familiarity of our homes in our locked dorms and houses during testing winters. The cement that is meant to uphold our home is reliant on our ability to feel comfort in a foreign land. By the end of it, there isn’t enough time to decorate our home with feelings of love, joy, and warmth; we have spent the 14 stress-free days on surviving the loneliness of the holiday season. Busy keeping ourselves strong and guarded, the holiday season passes international students in reminiscence of what it used to be.

While seeing everyone else with their families does not fuel hatred, it exhausts us. We are constantly reminded of what we don’t have. It stings to be reminded of our state of helplessness.

Every time I go to a grocery store and see a family pick out icing, sugar, eggs, and chocolate, I can’t help but hold back tears.

My mother and I have—or used to have—a tradition of baking cookies and cakes together. We would spend hours in the kitchen, peeking into the oven and cleaning up after my spills and messes.

I miss the taste tests my father would conduct, quizzing us as if he was a MasterChef judge. Looking back at memories leaves me in a pensive mood. It makes me appreciate the old days, knowing I can’t recreate them.

Mike Rowe said it best, “I’m looking forward to the future, and feeling grateful for the past.” Gratefulness or gratitude is something that I have learned in the holiday season.

Along with overwhelming feelings of frustration, sadness, and despair, gratitude was taught to me. I realized that my negative feelings came from a place of thankfulness for what I already had.

The only step is to look forward and admire the opportunity I have to build a home with the people around me. It sounds sad, but every international student is more or less in the same boat, just waiting to connect and build a safe space for all of us. We all can build a foundation, familiarity, and comfort while cherishing the past.

05

“Divorce month” calls for a New Year, New Boo January is known as “divorce month” amongst lawyers due to phenomenal surge in married couples filing for divorce after the holidays.

Cristina Pincente Contributor

>> DIVORCE MONTH continued from page 01 Although couples may contact their attorneys in January, it could take months for a filing to go through, which explains why the peak time is in March, just two months after “divorce month.” The holidays are a sacred time for families, says Brines, “when filing for divorce is considered inappropriate, even taboo.” This is one reason why couples postpone taking legal action for separation until after the holidays.

Many experts say that unhappy couples are consumed by the colourful light displays, festive activities, and multiple courses of divine cuisine, ultimately telling themselves there’s a chance everything will be okay. But what happens when people’s expectations for the holidays aren’t met?

Well, the clock strikes midnight on December 31st and reality sets in.

We interviewed several students on campus to investigate how this “break up” phenomenon affects younger relationships without marital commitment. Many will agree that when the new year begins, “cuffing season” is officially over, and it’s time to start “living your best life.” Maybe you are still young and don’t have to file for divorce, which makes this step less expensive for you, but by no means easier.

Third-year political science major Kayla Moore shares, “No one ever said it was easy to remove those initials and roman numerals from your Instagram bio. Deleting every post, tag, and comment with your ex-boo is even harder. In this day and

NATALIE NG/THE MEDIUM

age, once you do that, the whole world—or at least every Instagram feed-scrolling, BeReal-posting, and TikTok-watching person—will know when you have ended your relationship.

There’s no privacy when your part-time job is being a social media influencer awaiting that blue checkmark.”

Nathan Tross, a fourth-year English major, says he broke up with his girlfriend after bringing her home for Christmas.

“All was going well, she even offered to help my mom with the cooking, and to my surprise, she said she was a great cook.” He goes on to tell us that, long story short, “after waiting for what felt like hours for the honey-glazed ham roast in the oven, she opened the oven to find it’s cold. She insisted our oven must be broken. Upon inspection, I discovered she didn’t turn the

oven on at all… Her excuse was that she missed that episode of Martha Stewart. I should’ve known. The most extravagant thing she ever made for me was a pizza pocket. My mom was so pissed, I had to break up with her. If she can’t cook, she’s not wifey material.”

The University of Toronto Mississauga is here to help students struggling to keep their relationship alive during “break up month.” On top of the six covered sessions at Health and Counselling Centre, they will also offer three couples counselling sessions. All they require is proof you’re in a toxic relationship. According to his receptionist, these changes are still awaiting the signature approval of Meric Gertler, who was unavailable for comment due to “trouble in paradise.”

Santa, I want my money back December is the time to kiss your money goodbye.

Mari Khan Contributor

T

he holidays are a time to connect with your loved ones, be grateful that you survived fall semester, and shop until you get a message from your bank to inform you that your account is below the threshold amount.

December is the month for businesses to take advantage of our inner materialistic sides and encourage unnecessary spending that leads to overconsumption.

Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Christmas, Boxing Day and New Years are all periods for sales that fall in or around the month of December. These promotions are meant to encourage consumers to spend insane amounts of money on goods that they don’t need.

They’re meant to convince us we’re exercising our own brilliant saving skills, not practicing overconsumption.

You might see these sales as an opportunity to save, but I’m here to inform you it’s a strategy.

Businesses, especially brick-and-mortar stores, are looking to end the year strong and take advantage of Christmas shoppers. So, they put big flashy posters outside stores that advertise the sales they have to offer and wait for the masses.

This strategy is further developed by

physical stores that have been experiencing a decline in sales due to the rise of online shopping. So, December is an opportunity for physical stores to make up for losses they may have experienced during the rest of the year.

Except they will be more particular about what they put on sale and hope that customers will purchase regular priced items—pur-

chases justified by how much they saved on the sale items.

Maybe Scrooge wasn’t too far off when he said that Christmas is a holiday for businesses to financially gain.

“But hey! It was a good deal.”

Sure, I’m not going to criticize that statement because I love a good discount. And yes, I have been accused of being a little materialistic every so often. But we don’t need to lose our minds over shopping just because items are discounted.

Some might think that I’m just being a pessimist. These sales are an opportunity for consumers and their wallets to save some money! Especially with the inflation that has affected rent, gas, groceries, and the cost of living.

It’s a great time to snatch up those pricey items you’ve had your eyes on for a while. That much I agree with.

However, once you start picking up other items because of the discount, promotion or just because, you’re losing yourself to the capitalist traps they have placed for your wallets.

Are you really saving money if you wouldn’t have considered buying it before that markdown?

Another issue that I briefly mentioned is the commercialization of holidays that are meant to hold special and significant cultural

meaning. Christmas has grown from its origins to become a commercial holiday as well.

So many people I know celebrate Christmas for the gift giving instead of the meaning.

Whether you believe in the true meaning of Christmas or not, brands don’t care. They are going to create campaigns that pressure you into buying from their selection.

High-end brands want you to buy from them specifically, painting an image that their products are the best gift for the people in your life. You wouldn’t want to get the wrong gift, would you?

Brands are telling you “No, you don’t. Get the wrong gift and there are going to be some consequences buddy. What excuses do you have to save yourself with the sales we’re giving you?”

Aside from our own downfalls, hyperconsumerism also leads to (surprise, surprise) more issues in the climate. In Canada “post-holiday waste volumes […] [increase] by around 25 per cent from the end of November to New Year’s Day.” That’s significant growth in a two-month period.

So, next holiday shopping period I am asking that you think about what you’re going to buy and only buy what you’ve been eyeing for a while. Take it as an opportunity to do some healthy retail therapy, but not lose your mind and grab everything with a red price tag on it.

You deserve to treat yourself and save your bank account.

06

: She shoots, she scores!

Elizabeth Provost Editor-in-Chief

Hi Liz, I have a question that addresses an unconventional move on a girl’s part. I have a friend and we have a lot of chemistry (he always keeps his eyes on me and says “hi” when we’re in groups), but I feel like our relationship has been stagnant. We don’t really talk much, but I would really love to get to know him more. As a girl, how do I ask a guy out? Or should I wait for him to ask me? Help!!!

Signed, Girl Who Wants To Shoot Her Shot Dear Girl Who Wants To Shoot Her Shot,

D

O IT! You should absolutely shoot your shot. Despite their (often faked) intimidating demeanours, men are shy. They’re also often blind, so taking matters into your own hands is a good choice. Men love it when you make the first move. It further inflates their already inflated egos.

However, don’t go into it with any expectations. There is always a chance that he doesn’t feel the same way as you (maybe he just has a lazy eye that’s always pointed in your direction), or maybe he has different intentions (you know the saying that men only want one thing) but starting a conversation means taking control of what is unknown.

I’m an advocate for having important conversations on boundaries, feelings, and intentions in person. I think looking into the other person’s eyes and hearing their tone will tell you a lot about how genuine they are and will also lead to the most honest answer. How they act could tell you that you might need to end things before they even start. However, some people see that as an ambush and prefer to have these conversations over text. No matter what you are most comfortable with, here are three things you should mention: 1.

2.

3.

I’ve felt some chemistry between us I like you and I would love to get to know you more on a date Do you feel the same way?

Preferably, you’d say this in a different way and not in listicle form, in case your boy-toy reads FLWL. Then, depending on the answer to the third point, you can either keep asking questions about his intentions or, if you’ve heard what you want to hear, play it cool and save it for the big date!

One last thing: don’t be scared of rejection. I’ve had my fair share of rejection as a woman who prefers to make my feelings towards someone clear to them as soon as they appear. Yes, it stings, but it also helps me value my time. Rejection is an opportunity to find the person you are most compatible with—or to gain confidence in who you are separate from others.

Can’t wait to hear how it goes!

With Love,

BEATRIZ SIMAS/THE MEDIUM

Legends and traditions of Lunar New Year With Lunar New Year around the corner, here are some traditions that can help you learn a little more about the 15-day long holiday.

Mariana Dominguez Rodriguez Contributor

A

s legend tells us, the monstrous Nian would come down from the highest mountains at the eve of each year and into the Chinese villages, only to terrorize the villagers and even feast on them for dinner. The frightened people came to adapt to Nian’s annual disruptive visits.

They learned that by creating loud noises, shining bright lights, and decorating with red all around, they could successfully keep the beast astray. Or so the tale goes.

This legend is one of many that have continued to explain the origins of the celebration of Lunar New Year, and the symbolization of the special traditions that come with the holiday. While the holiday also goes by the name of Chinese New Year, it is not limited to the Chinese community. It is widely celebrated across South Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Singapore, in addition to being recognized as a global holiday. Each community indulges in their own unique adaptations and rituals while maintaining a similar meaning behind the celebration, signifying the arrival of spring and the new year in accordance with the lunisolar calendar.

In preparation for the upcoming year, Lunar New Year celebrations can be seen as symbolizations of new doors filled with abundance, good luck, and prosperity opening, while doors from the past year close, and we say goodbye to any troubles they came with.

Like the Western New Year, Lunar New Year includes well-known traditions revolving around time with loved ones, gifts, and decorative gatherings, with some significant differences.

Starting off with a clean slate (literally), many Lunar New Year celebrants make it a custom ritual to clean their homes thoroughly before the real celebration can begin. This practice surrounds the belief that cleaning one’s home is an act of sweeping away any negative energy to create space for

the new, fresh energy of the new year. The tradition is also thought to rid one’s home of anything that may no longer be purposeful, really putting the “out with the old, in with the new” saying into play.

As many Western New Year celebrants practice, Lunar New Year also encourages the gathering of family, friends, and loved ones during the celebration. Being so important to the holiday, many celebrants put in as much effort as possible to travel home and spend time with their entire family, mainly for a celebratory reunion dinner.

With red being the star of the show during this time, Lunar New Year decorations and preparations nearly all include the color, not only in precaution for the legendary Nian, but also to signify good luck, prosperity, and positive energy. Most homes are decorated with banners, flowers, centerpieces, lanterns, and paper cuttings, the majority of which feature at least a hint of bright, auspicious red. Red is so symbolic to the event, that during the season, adults practice Ya Sui Qian, which entails filling red envelopes with cash and gifting them to children, and sometimes the elderly, as a symbol of good luck and peace for the new year.

The practice is meant to further signify the importance of red during this time, although some may say that what’s inside counts just as equally.

The Lantern Festival, a gathering of loved ones filled with music, decorations, performances, games and parades signifies the end of the Lunar New Year celebration. One of the most special parades is that of the lion and dragon, which symbolize the friendship between the two as they fight off the monstrous Nian and other evil spirits, bringing prosperity and harmony to the new year.

There are more traditions and special rituals surrounding the spectacle that is Lunar New Year, all practices that hold a dear place in the hearts and homes of families across the globe. Even if you are not a Lunar New Year celebrant, indulging in certain practices may turn into something more meaningful than you thought.

07

features

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

Death of wildlife and declining plant growth: How boreal forests suffer from climate change Bridget Murphy, a PhD candidate at U of T on the crucial negative effects of increasing temperatures on white spruce trees.

Olga Fedossenko Associate Features Editor

A

recent study predicts that by the end of the century, a 180 to 300 mile swath of boreal forest in southern Canada will disappear. Scientists anticipate that boreal forests in regions such as Russia, Alaska, Canada, and Scandinavia are going to face one of the biggest disruptions in their ecosystems because of climate warming. These sharp temperature shifts may lead to massive deforestation, extreme droughts, as well as the death of millions of people.

Since her undergrad, Bridget Murphy, a PhD student in the Cell and Systems Biology graduate stream at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), has focused her research on conifer trees (like pine, spruce, and cedar) in boreal forests and their response to global warming. Her interest in plant physiology was sparked at the University of Western Ontario, where she completed her bachelor’s degree.

“In my undergrad, I had a really inspiring female professor, Dr. Danielle Way, who loved plants, and her love of plants inspired me to also follow suit,” explains Murphy. After participating in climate change-related work in a lab at Western, she met Dr. Ingo Ensminger, current associate professor in UTM’s department of Biology, through the Canadian Society of Plant Biologists. She was involved in a project that examined the physiological, molecular, and genetic reactions of different white spruce (Picea glauca) families to future climate stressors such as droughts and heat waves.

White spruce is one of the evergreen conifers of boreal forests. The wood of white spruce is light, straight grained, and resilient.

That is why it is used for pulp, paper, and lumber. Evergreens also benefit the environment as they provide shelter for birds and other animals, protecting them from winter winds and predators. Finally, spruces help with carbon sequestration; that is, the trees in boreal forests absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere to produce sugars that stimulate plant growth.

Murphy’s research explores how changes in temperature affect particular coniferous trees’ ability to produce the sugars these conifer trees require for growth. When the temperatures rise to an extreme, spruces can no longer take up carbon as efficiently, leading to decreased production of sugars. During her PhD research, Murphy discovered that certain spruce families that grow faster than others are more sus-

ceptible to climatic stressors. This means they show less growth under increased warming, consequently pulling even less carbon from the atmosphere. If less carbon is taken out, more CO2 stays in the atmosphere, which drives further warming. However, Murphy notes that warming can also increase the breakdown of sugars through a process called respiration. This can add more carbon to the atmosphere If more CO2 is lost than what is being taken up for growth, hindering climate mitigation. In other words, although plants don’t add to pollution simply by

not growing, if respiration is greater than photosynthesis, the concentration of carbon in the atmosphere may increase.

Aside from preventing growth, global warming also causes severe droughts. High temperatures combined with little moisture in the atmosphere create forest fires and insect outbreaks. “This is one of the consequences we’re already seeing in the news—vast amounts of deforestation from California to British Columbia, and even to Australia,” notes Murphy.

Wildfires harm more than just the human population. In 2021, they accounted for more than a third of tree losses around the globe.

Boreal forests in Canada, Russia, and the United States that vanished in 2021 are expected to grow back over time. However, this does not offer much comfort to stall the effects of global warming: these forests will not recover soon enough to absorb as much CO2 from the atmosphere as needed.

Today, wildfires reach greater temperatures and spread faster compared to the massive fires in the 90s and 70s, not allowing for recovery between fires. Smoke and debris that are carried by high winds and harsh climates harm more people now than in the past. On June 30, 2021, wildfires took down the entire town of Lytton, British Columbia, killing two individuals and displacing over 30,000 others. In North America, the expected timeline of events of the forest fire season has changed.

In California, 10 to 15 years ago, fires might have lasted a few months from July or August through September or October. Now, the fires are extending into December and January.

She believes that one of the major steps anyone can take to prevent further warming and forest losses is to vote. “Small things like recycling, using reusable bags and reusable water bottles—that counts too,” explains Murphy, “But the government that you vote for is what pushes climate policy, protects the forest, and can drive and fund reforestation events and climate research.” For instance, she suggests implementing limitations on fossil fuel burning as a possible solution.

Apart from government regulations, reducing the use of fossil fuels can be achieved by turning off lights in the house and other electronic devices like computers, TVs, and video games, limiting the use of air conditioning and installing a programmable thermostat. Businesses, in their turn, could improve their energy efficiency by investing in renewable energy to help minimise harmful emissions into the atmosphere.

As a mother, Murphy is driven by the desire to secure a sustainable future for her son Jamie and others. “I am raising the next generation who’s going to be handling all of the consequences of the generations that came before me,” she says, “They’ll be dealing with warmer temperatures, heat waves, and greater stress.”

While climate anxiety is real for many, Murphy is convinced that whatever small piece we individually can do to address the climate crisis is worth it. With new innovations like carbon capture technology being developed and better climate policies, it is possible to battle air pollution and stimulate plant growth in forests.

08

Ryan Persadie on disrupting the conservative norms of music and queerness in Toronto Current PhD student Ryan Persadie reflects on his research and journey to becoming a drag queen.

Dalainey Gervais Associate Features Editor

D

uring his career as a private school social science teacher, Ryan Persadie, a current graduate student at U of T, faced criticism from students’ parents and administration: “I was too disruptive, and I wasn’t doing what I was supposed to do, which was ‘be quiet and follow the rules.’” Persadie’s interest in breaking down societal barriers built by colonialism was deemed too much for the Ontario private school system.

So, Persadie pursued his studies with a desire to disrupt normalcy. Now, backed by his interests in radical feminist politics, queerness, race, and ethnic studies, Persadie is a PhD candidate and an educator in the Women and Gender Studies and Sexual Diversity Studies departments at U of T.

“I was too disruptive, and I wasn’t doing what I was supposed to do, which was ‘be quiet and follow the rules.’”

L A SH MA

After graduating from Western University, Persadie enrolled in teachers’ college at U of T’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. “Western was a very conservative school in terms of their music program,” explains Persadie, “I didn’t get any training in any sort of non-classical, nonEuropean art music, and I left my undergrad wanting more.”

Persadie took courses on cultural music, gender and music, and labour and music during his masters in Ethnomusicology—courses that historical musicology, which focuses on the European and Western history of music, often doesn’t place much emphasis on.

Currently, his PhD explores how “queer fêtes,” a specific type of Caribbean party space, become important sites of pedagogy through which queer Indo-Caribbeans understand their diaspora, form community, and disrupt normative ideas of gender, citizenship, race, sexuality, and class. At the start of his doctoral studies, at St. George, his mentor Beverly Bain, who taught KH AN in the department, was searching for a teaching assistant. “That turned into a beautiful and generative mentorship experience,” explains Persadie. Through this position, he began to build relationships with students and faculty from the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM). “That’s how I got my foot in the door at UTM,” he shares.

With his background in education, Persadie was always interested in teaching. “I started proposing courses and applying to be a course instructor,” he explains. Now he has taught a range of courses at UTM, including WGS470: Politicizing Culture: Pop Feminism and Representation; WGS370: Gender, Sexuality, Identity; and WGS375: The Aesthetics of Sexuality. He also teaches WSTD03: Senior Seminar on Sex, Gender, and the Body at the U of T Scarborough campus.

“I focus my research on a community that I’m part of called the Indo-Caribbean community,” says Persadie. The IndoCaribbean community consists of descendants of people that were brought to the Caribbean following the abolition of the slave trade. In his research, he thinks “about the ways in which this arrival of Indo-Caribbean— and their connection to Afro-Caribbean struggle—is mediated through queer encounters.” Reflecting on how sound helps us critically understand queer diaspora, queer Caribbean diaspora, and Caribbeanness is central to his research.

Persadie’s Master’s degree is in Ethnomusicology, which is the anthropology of music and sounds, focuses on cultures of sound, voice, as well as dance, the body, and performance.

Currently, Persadie studies Soca music, a genre that comes from the Caribbean and is most associated with Carnival. “I particularly think about the ways Queer and Trans Caribbean folks interact in the diaspora,” explains Persadie.

He uses Toronto and New York City as his field sites.

In October 2015, Persadie tried drag for the first time. “I always joke and say, in Toronto, you’re either a Halloween Queen or you’re a Pride Queen because that’s when people start experimenting,” explains Persadie, “I’m a Halloween queen!”

While experimenting with drag culture, Persadie became more involved in community organizing in Toronto, which helped his drag persona, Tifa Wine, emerge. “I was being asked to speak or host events and people would say ‘why don’t you come in your drag?’,” recalls Persadie.

Tifa Wine is a comedian and storyteller with an “over the top” makeup style, “not meant to look like anything conventionally cisgender or normative,” explains Persadie. His first drag performance was at an official “Pride 2017 Brown Drag Show” which featured

artists who identified with brownness in some capacity.

“I was one of the only Indo-Caribbean drag artists we had in the city,” says Persadie, “I was kind of tokenized at the time, but I didn’t mind it because it was my entry point.”

From there, Persadie started getting bookings and making connections with people invested in radical political change and drag.

Performance has its own history in the art world. It allows for pushback against the neat, tidy definitions of classical art. “I’m in a lot of drag circles and drag is very much attached to things like burlesque,” explains Persadie, “I work more with burlesque artists because that’s the cultural makeup of Toronto.”

Persadie has been inspired by drag artists like Nina Flowers, Sandy Devastation, and Kimchi, who played around with androgynous, ambiguous formations of gender.

“I’m not interested in conventional makeup,” says Persadie, “I like the transformative capacity of makeup where we can alter our body shapes and extend them in weird ways.”

Coming from a conservative music background, Persadie was taught that music is rule-oriented—there’s a way to play your instrument, there’s a way to sound, there’s a way to sing, and you can’t break the rules. “There is no room to express that you disagree,” says Persadie. By contrast, feminist performance art pushes conservative norms, allowing for more creativity and self-expression. “[In] a lot of feminist performances, we aren’t starting from a rule book,” adds Persadie.

“I like the transformative capacity of makeup where we can alter our body shapes and extend them in weird ways.”

The beauty of drag is that there is no instruction manual: “When I started doing drag, I would watch YouTube videos or go to clubs and meet other artists trying to figure out how to do those things,” says Persadie. But performance has become deeply politicized. While drag seeks to break barriers, people try to apply rules like gender binaries and stereotypical feminist characteristics to police drag. Persadie, however, pushes through the sometimes harsh politicization by creating art with his body.

While in drag, Persadie refers to himself as an “aunty”: “They’re fierce, especially in the Caribbean context,” explains Persadie, while reflecting on the culturally matriarchal nature of the “aunty” figure. He shares that although aunties don’t always think of themselves as intellectual individuals, they teach others tremendously, embodying feminist pedagogues.

While he faces pushback in crafting spaces for marginalized groups through his research, Persadie leaves one tip for students in the same position: “Carve out your own politics and practices.” He encourages us to find the people who are invested in our ideas and indulge ourselves as learners.

“Knowledge is not supposed to be static or quiet or neat and tidy, it’s supposed to be messy and hard and complicated and always shifting,” he concludes.

09

Arts

Editor | Julia Skoczypiec arts@themedium.ca

BEATRIZ SIMAS/THE MEDIUM

Innovative artists that may still be talked about in 20 plus years Looking at three artists with fan bases and music that have made billboard and cultural impacts.

Kathleen Xu Contributor

N

owadays, the term “icon’ is thrown around as a joke, a sarcastic taunt, and even as an over-enthusiastic compliment. Due to heightened connectivity through social media, artists’ fanbases are arguably more intense and involved than ever. But 10 years from now, many of the “iconic” performers and musicians we see on our daily feeds will fade into obscurity—only a select few will continue to build their legacy.

The viral factor on social platforms is commonly used to measure success and influence, but timeless artists are remembered for more than numbers. Legendary artists are often celebrated for their musical talents, but their ability to innovate and their cultural contributions beyond music make huge impacts on their careers. For instance, Queen is remembered for their diverse discography, as well as Freddie Mercury’s high-energy performances and flashy style. Aretha Franklin’s powerful,

soul-bearing music has influenced the sounds of countless other musicians, but her stance as an artist also created anthems of strength during the Civil Rights movement.

In my opinion, certain current artists have the potential to stand the test of time. Here are three musicians whose influence and discographies have stood out to me.

Kendrick Lamar From casual music listeners to dedicated music bloggers, many think of Lamar when evaluating the best rappers, songwriters, or discographies of our time. His groundbreaking career has led him to win fourteen Grammy Awards, and he became the first rapper to receive a Pulitzer Prize for his album DAMN. Like many influential artists, Lamar blends the craft of music with social activism, creating innovative ways to stay conscious of current political and cultural issues. His lyrics range from simple memories about hanging out with a friend to complex stories that uncover racial and wealth inequality. Lamar is also praised for his unique rapping styles that fluctuate throughout his albums—from spitfire rapping to laid-back crooning. While his funky songs are great to casually listen to, pay close attention to the narrator in each song and you’ll see a vivid tale unfold.

Charli XCX While she might be a popstar, Charli XCX has a unique stance in the pop music industry. Her music is con-

stantly evolving and incorporating different genres—including hyperpop, Eurodance, and synthpop. The British singer and songwriter has contributed to many hits, featuring on songs like “Fancy” by Iggy Azalea and “I Love It” by Icona Pop. While these songs gained popularity in the early to mid-2010’s, Charli’s recent work shows her eagerness to experiment with her music. Working with distinctive producers such as SOPHIE or 100 Gecs, Charli mixes over-autotuned catchy hooks with crunchy, robotic sounds to elevate familiar pop sounds and subjects. Her music takes odd, niche turns in ways that adapt to larger audiences. Although she is categorized as a pop singer, Charli’s loyal fanbase understand and cherish her the most. Unlike many artists, Charli’s unreleased music is highly sought after and prone to leaks. Soundcloud, YouTube, and other random corners of the internet hold albums worth of her yet to be dropped music. Her third album, which was never officially released, gained streams and downloads because of a mostly fan-led leak.

Additionally, Charli’s music provides a safe space for 2SLGBTQI+ fans. Through collaborations with many 2SLGBTQI+ artists, Charli has embraced fans within the community just as they have embraced her.

Gorillaz The idea of a virtual band may seem ordinary these days, but just 20 years ago, a mysterious new band by the name of Gorillaz entered the mainstream and redefined storytelling through art and music.

Although this band has been around longer than the other two artists on this list, they consistently reinvent their sound and maintain their relevance in the music world. At risk of making OG fans feel old, I would argue that they are already considered a timeless band.

Created by musician Damon Albarn and comic book artist Jamie Hewlett, the band consists of four fictional cartoon characters.

Jumping from dance to alternative rock to hip hop, the virtual band’s discography is catchy and kitschy. Hewlett’s bold and scratchy illustrations bring life to wacky characters and iconic music videos. Updating their characters’ 2D renditions to 3D, the band keeps their look modern and tech savvy. In addition, the collaborations featured on Gorillaz’ albums are always exciting. From world-renowned artists like Stevie Nicks or Elton John, to modern artists like Bad Bunny or Tame Impala, the Gorillaz universe grows with each project. Their music doesn’t replicate a specific time period. Instead, their groovy beats and peculiar visuals are nostalgic and futuristic at the same time.

10

Kaleidoscope—A heist series that will surprise you Understanding the advantages and disadvantages that come with watching a series with a customized episode order.

Mari Khan Contributor

K

aleidoscope (2023) is an eight-part Netflix series about a team that is planning a heist, breaking into one of the most secure vaults to steal bonds that are worth up to $7 billion. The series is reminiscent of Ocean’s Eleven (2001) and—for Bollywood watchers—Happy New Year (2014). What sets this series apart is not its plot, but the fact that you can watch its episodes in almost whatever order you want.

Supposedly, the order that you watch the series in will change your interpretation of the story line. When I first heard of this concept, I was excited but also curious about how effective this approach would be.

Each of the episodes is titled after a colour. In chronological order, they are “Violet,”

“Green,” “Yellow,” “Orange,” “Blue,” “White,” “Red,” and “Pink.” A brief introductory episode titled “Black” also falls into the mix. This order, however, is not listed on Netflix. The show is not meant to be watched as a “linear” story—Netflix customizes a different order for each account holder.

I watched the series in the following episode order: first, fourth, sixth, seventh, fifth, second, third, and eighth. The only “rule” when watching is that you must watch the episode titled “White” last. I learned this from a TikTok. I thought a lot about why the show’s creators would name each episode after a colour.

My theory is that each colour relates to light and enlightenment. When you watch the episode “Black,” you are quite literally in the dark—having little to no clue of what the series will be about. Scientifically, all colours on the colour spectrum create white light. Since

SABRINA MUTUC/THE MEDIUM

viewers are supposed to watch the episode “White” last, when we do, we begin to accumulate answers and receive all the information that make the other episodes fit—kind of like a puzzle. We become enlightened as to what the show is truly about.

As I mentioned, watching the series reminded me of Ocean’s Eleven. The way each team member is introduced, how they break into the vault, and their hunt for revenge is similar to the film—making the show quite predictable. As such, I think this series works because it is essentially a deconstructed action film.

Based on my viewing experience, there were moments when I felt detached from the show. New characters kept randomly popping up, and I didn’t know enough about each character to feel any empathy for them.

I found that jumping between “24 years be-

fore the heist” and “six months after the heist” made the show slightly confusing. However, as I watched more, everything felt like it was coming together, and I grew more interested.

Now, the biggest question that critics have been asking: will the order you watch the episodes in change your perspective of the story? In my opinion, not really. If you and your friend watch the series in different orders, you will still have all the same information and the same conclusion—the only aspect that changes is which information you receive first.

Overall, the Kaleidoscope series is an interesting concept and was executed well. While it is chaotic and confusing, by the end of it, you will understand the story. If you enjoy action films and are looking for something to binge, I recommend the series—it truly takes you on a unique journey.

How Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery represents billionaires like Elon Musk Examining concepts of wealth, intellectual property, and social negligence through Johnson’s latest detective flick. sent to Cassandra “Andi” Brand (Janelle Monáe), the ousted co-founder of Alpha. Finally, Benoit Blanc joins the gang after he receives another suspiciously sent invitation.

Upon arriving in Greece, each party member appears wearing a face mask that represents their personality. Blanc’s cloth n 2019, Rian Johnson’s Knives Out was a total hit. The film mask matches his fashionable travel clothes. Lionel wears a centered around the death and will of Christopher Plummer KN95 mask, symbolizing his scientific values. Claire, the poli(Harlan Thrombey)—an elderly mystery writer. Featuring a tician, wears a beige ill-fitting cloth mask, while Birdie’s mask star-studded cast, Johnson introduced the world to Detective is a nod to Lana Del Rey’s infamous mesh mask. Duke and Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig)—a soft and charming southern Andi arrive maskless. gentleman reminiscent of Hercule Poirot from the 1989 mysViewers finally meet Miles Bron on the shores of the island. tery series Agatha Christie’s Poirot. Taking inspiration from Barefoot and playing “Blackbird” by The Beatles on Paul McChristie’s writing, Johnson chose to create a franchise out of Cartney’s guitar, we can determine that Bron views objects as Benoit Blanc—rather than continue the Knives Out story after purchasable clout. Throughout the film’s entirety, Bron and his the crime had been solved in the first film. Johnson’s Glass Onfriends are caricatures of the elite. While his character aims to ion: A Knives Out Mystery received a limited theatrical run in represent all the world’s tech billionaires, Bron bears a striking the fall of 2022 and was released on Netflix resemblance to one specific billionaire: Elon Musk. on December 23, 2022.

Glass Onion’s release in a Musk-run Twitter world makes it Glass Onion is set with a May 2020 difficult to ignore the parallels between Bron and Musk. Simipandemic-style backdrop. The film belar to Musk’s online “trolling” tendencies, Bron gins with four unlikely friends: Lionel refers to his group of friends as “The Disrup(Leslie Odom Jr.) the scientist, Claire tors” because they are on the fringe and are (Kathryn Hahn) the Connecticut State negligent towards social norms. Birdie and Governor running for Senate, Duke Duke are the most obvious “disruptors”— (Dave Bautista) the men’s rights online based on their controversial comments. streamer, and Birdie (Kate Hudson) the Duke is an Andrew Tate-type streamer unfiltered and controversial fashion icon. who was given a platform by Bron, Each member of the ensemble while Birdie destroyed her receives a puzzle box that reputation after approving contains an invitation to the use of sweatshops and a murder mystery party, using ethnic slurs on her hosted by billionaire tech social media—which giant Miles Bron (Edshe considered to be ward Norton)—CEO of speaking the truth. In “Alpha Industries”—on a response to Birda private Greek island. ie, Blanc makes A fifth invitation box is DALAINEY GERVAIS/THE MEDIUM a powerful comMegan Freedman Associate Arts & Entertainment Editor

I

ment, saying “It’s a dangerous thing to mistake speaking without thought for speaking the truth.”

Aside from Bron’s persona, his tech company, Alpha, holds many similarities to Musk’s investments. Alpha’s quest for disruption echoes Musk’s quest to undo censorship on Twitter.

When Musk purchased Twitter for the ridiculous price of $44 billion, he tweeted “Comedy is now legal on Twitter.” He also allowed many banned, controversial figures back on the platform—such as Kanye West, who immediately used his profile to spread antisemitic messages of hate. West was removed from Twitter quickly after his hateful comments went viral. Like Musk, Bron gives those with hateful rhetoric a platform.

In the film, Bron has very few original ideas. It is revealed that the puzzle box he sent out as invitations were designed

by Bron’s “puzzle guy,” who apprenticed under American magician Ricky Jay. Moreover, his murder mystery was written

by American author Gillian Flynn. As the plot progressed, I learned that Bron leverages his wealth and privilege to get others to create, build, and do his biddings.

Similarly, Musk has co-founded a few companies—such as his tech business Zip2 and an online banking service known as X.com. He is also often credited for PayPal—based on Musk’s success with PayPal’s parent-company, Confinity Inc. The main conflict in Glass Onion is between Andi and “The Disruptors.” As Andi is ousted from Alpha, she subsequently files a lawsuit against Miles Bron regarding intellectual property. The film’s lawsuit is reminiscent of a 2009 Tesla lawsuit regarding the founding of Tesla. Co-founder and former CEO Martin Eberhard, who was ousted from Tesla in 2007, sued Musk for attempting to take credit for Tesla.

Glass Onion presents Bron as a “genius” who cannot even write his own murder mystery. He puts his friends’ reputations on the line to protect his own. Like Musk, Bron is a simple, privileged billionaire who poses as complex but hides in plain sight. Rian Johnson’s film is an onion with many layers, but you really do not need to peel them back very far to see what is clearly at the centre.

11

The Menu—a revelation on celebrity chefs The film’s chilling plot twists reveal shocking similarities to modern food entertainment.

Emily Rogers Associate News Editor

T

he Menu (2022) opens with a scene at a port, where our protagonist Margot (Anya-Taylor Joy) smokes a cigarette beneath a pillar. Her date, Tyler (Nicholas Hoult), promptly tells her to stop, as it will “ruin her palate.” After some bickering, she puts out her smoke and the two proceed to observe a cast of archetypically-rich characters board their boat. The group includes an irrelevant movie star (John Leguizamo) and his personal assistant (Aimee Carrero), a stuffy food critic (Janet McTeer) and her lapdog editor (Paul Adelstein), a wealthy married couple (Judith Light) (Reed Birney), and a squad of haughty finance up-and-comers. The ship takes them all to a remote island, where they’ve paid thousands for a multicourse, gourmet meal.

Ralph Fiennes portrays the world-famous Julian Slowik, a celebrity chef with a hardcore philosophy comparable to figureheads such as Gordon Ramsay, Jamie Oliver, and Bobby Flay.

Slowik and his devoted head server, Elsa (Hong Chau), host a meal on the island. The night begins as expected, but quickly takes a sinister turn with a jarring death. It becomes clear that Slowik’s plan during the dinner involves killing everyone. In cult-leader fashion, Slowik testifies his depravity over the fine dining industry, echoing explicit Marxist sentiments about the nature of kitchen work. He expresses his disgust towards “commodity fetishization”—a term Marx used to describe the phenomenon of consumers valuing products without considering the work used to produce them—in the fine dining industry.

IMDb.com

The commentary on customer service in the film will ring true for any current or former restaurant employees. Even in today’s society, restaurant employees face some of the most strenuous working conditions. Kitchen staff are often expected to work through injuries, and most employees are expected to work on their feet, without a break, for shifts over ten hours long. Such concepts are reflected throughout the film’s plot, as the kitchen staff and servers all live together in a cramped hut, dedicating all their time and energy to the restaurant.

As the dinner grows more tense, Slowik scrutinizes his wealthy diners for the state of the industry, but also turns blame on himself. Each dish served in the film is symbolic and serves as a message for the diners and for viewers. A meal that stood out to me was titled “The Man’s Folly”—a representa-

tion of the “sexual advances” that Slowik had made towards a female chef in his kitchen.

The restaurant industry is a male dominated business. While many think the opposite—as cooking is often stereotyped as a female profession—the toxic, hyper-male environments in kitchens have driven many females in the food industry to be subject to sexual harassment.

The dynamic of fine dining portrayed in the film may be unfamiliar to some viewers. However, this same audience can easily relate to the conflicts within The Menu, as all of these issues are magnified through the presence of food entertainment. In a scene in The Menu, a guest is invited back to Slowik’s kitchen to cook under intense scrutiny and a timer. The intense countdown made me think of shows like Chopped, where cooks scramble to plate their food for a panel of judgmental chefs.

The movement of cooking shows from homely instructional daytime shows to strenuous competitions monitored by macho celebrity chefs reflects the different, seemingly contradictory images of cooking in North American culture.

According to Slowik’s several monologues, The Menu is a film about the corruption of fine dining and cooking culture— although his character is partially to blame. He seeks to solve media-driven issues with a cult mass-murder-suicide, but in doing so only further reveals the entrenched power structures within modern kitchen cultures. His position only provides him with authoritarian power. In spite of his constant spiels on Marxist ideals of worker equality, Slowik only uses this rhetoric to further entrench his restaurant’s power structure. Ultimately, the only victory in the film is held by Margot, who walks out alive with a cheeseburger and fries to-go, reminding the audience of food’s true purpose: it is meant to be eaten.

The White Lotus is more than a series about the rich A recap of the themes and main plot points from the first two seasons of the series.

Tiana Dunkley Contributor

D

uring the holiday break, a meme of a bawling Jennifer Coolidge shooting a pistol in a boat cabin filled my Twitter feed.

Though I’m usually one to resist the online hype for the latest fads and trends, the clip was too intriguing to be ignored. The scene encapsulated the perfect mix of comedy and drama that I knew I needed in my life. So, as the exam season ended, I delved deep into the world of The White Lotus (2021), the HBO anthology series created by Mike White.

I binged the entirety of seasons one and two during the winter break. Initially released as a seven-episode limited series, The White Lotus returned for a second season on November 16, 2022. The show takes place on a resort known as “The White Lotus” and follows the lives of several wealthy guests.

Season two takes places in Sicily, Italy with a whole new cast—apart from Coolidge, who plays Tanya McQuoid-Hunt, a wealthy, recently-wedded woman. Mirroring the first season, the audience is presented with a mysterious death, as a body is discovered on the resort’s beach. It’s later revealed that more bodies are discovered on a boat nearby, immediately increasing the stakes of the second season.

On the surface, season two presents itself as the same general murder story with new

faces and locations. However, the interactions between the characters reveal that there is much more to explore. Early in the season, it is apparent that the story is taking an interesting spin. In addition to the new main characters that arrive on the island, we are introduced to local sex worker Lucia (Simona Tabasco)—who uses the hotel’s guests as a source of clientele—and her friend Mia (Beatrice Grannò), an aspiring singer. As conflicts arise and motivations clash, these characters—among others—add an em-

powering and comical tone to the plot. Despite an impending death, the show is much more than a murder mystery.

The White Lotus’s first season introduces viewers to some of the main themes of the series: privilege, unconscious bias, and the effects of materialism—among others. Set in Hawaii, the characters directly interact with their environment, acknowledging the island’s colonial history in the latter half of episodes. While the second season continues to explore such themes, it also focuses

heavily on the sexual intimacy between the characters. Every sexual encounter—or each perception of one—leaves viewers questioning each character’s true intentions. As the vacationers grapple with betrayal and deceit, the story unveils critical symbols while foreshadowing what might come next.

In short, The White Lotus is a case study on power. Hierarchies of class, race, and gender are all mixed and mashed until someone ends up dead. However, to characterize the series as one that only investigates the lives of the rich completely misses the mirror it holds up to our society. While most who watch shows like The White Lotus probably do not enjoy the same amount of wealth that the characters do, we all understand the same power structures that these characters use to their advantage.

Undeniably, the attention that The White Lotus has garnered over the last two years is well deserved. At the 80th Annual Golden Globe Awards, the series won “Best Limited Series, Anthology Series or Television Motion Picture” and “Best Supporting Actress - Television Limited Series/Motion Picture” was given to Coolidge for her performance. As Tanya’s two-season arc comes to a close, Coolidge’s acceptance speech was an iconic send off to an iconic character.

While there is no official information on cast or location, it has been confirmed that The White Lotus has been renewed for a third season. I’m excited for what the next season has in store.

12

sports & health

Editor | Alisa Samuel sports@themedium.ca

At first glance: Gluten tolerance and its misleading presentation Many people who ingest the powdery protein mixture get sick by doing so and don’t even know it.

Alisa Samuel Sports & Health Editor

G

luten is a low-carb combination of protein substance from wheat, rye, and barley. It’s commonly an ingredient in flour that bakers rely on to make their dough stick together and rise when it’s baking.

Foods that contain gluten include pasta, beer, salad dressings, and, of course, baked goods. Even close-to-the-mouth topical products like lipstick and toothpaste contain gluten that can, as the Celiac Disease Foundation suggests, “unintentionally be ingested.” Some people struggle to digest gluten and experience in turn headaches, diarrhea, constipation, stomach aches, and joint pain.

Mental and emotional ramifications include all-encompassing fatigue, brain fog, and apathy—symptoms that society sometimes treats as exclusive to depression, especially if you’re a university student. What we eat or don’t eat influences the prevention and management of infirmities, and also triggers illness and subsequent psychological stress.

Gluten intolerance overlaps between three medical disorders. One, known as celiac disease, is largely accepted as an autoimmune disorder caused by a genetic predisposition to permanent gluten sensitivity. When individuals with celiac

disease ingest gluten, their immune systems mistakenly destroy villi in the small intestine.

Villi are small structures that coat and expand the small intestine’s membrane and help the body regularly absorb nutrients. In other words, those with celiac disease are at greater risk of malnutrition. Alongside mood changes, manifestations of undernourishment, and disruptions in digestion, celiac disease may lead to more serve outcomes like infertility and anaemia.

The second disorder is wheat allergy. According to the Government of Canada, wheat is a food allergen that causes gastrointestinal discomfort like celiac disease, but also presents its own unique characteristics—skin issues and impediments to breathing are signs of a serious allergic reaction.

Last of all, non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) shares a similar symptom profile to celiac disease with the difference between them being: 1) NCGS sufferers recover faster when

they stop eating gluten-containing foods, 2) NCGS doesn’t cause intestinal damage like celiac disease, and 3) both conditions are diagnosed differently.

Celiac disease is detected in two steps. First, doctors will order blood tests. If the results are positive for celiac disease antibodies, an endoscopy may follow to check for damaged villi. An endoscopy is a nonsurgical procedure wherein a flexible tube affixed with a light and camera examines a person’s digestive tract. If celiac disease and wheat allergy aren’t diagnosed, doctors will ask their patients to eat gluten-free foods over a period of time to assess for NCGS. In a recent Harvard Health blog post, contributing editor Dr. Eva Selhub advises her readers on nutritional psychiatry: “Start paying attention to how eating different foods makes you feel.” Rather than attributing depressive thoughts and feelings to a neurochemical imbalance that needs to be drugged, the first question we might ask is, could this perhaps be a problematic diet masquerading as depression?

SABRINA MUTUC/THE MEDIUM

Registration for the University of Toronto Mississauga’s Intramurals ends soon Joining a team within the 2023 Intramural League gives campus students space to bust stress and get active with a sport of their choice and at no additional cost.

Alisa Samuel Sports & Health Editor

A

ccording to the Department of Recreation, Athletics & Wellness Centre (RAWC) at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), “the UTM Intramurals program aims to provide diverse and accessible recreational sports opportunities for the UTM campus that […] positively impact the post-secondary experience, […] allow all students to fully participate, and make new friends while staying physically active and having fun.”

Out of the nine sports listed on the 2023 winter sports calendar, the three most popular sport leagues are Coed Volleyball League, Open Basketball League, and both Indoor Soccer leagues. New additions to the program include Open Table Tennis League, Open Water Sport League, and Women Multi-Sport League. Gender restrictions in the coed league require teams to meet a minimum while the open league welcomes all genders.

Registered students can participate in sports and activities they have or haven’t done before. “[They] will also be able to gain experience with time management and communication as they work with their peers to

ensure they attend and play their games each week,” says Sonia Carreiro, sports supervisor within the RAWC. “To summarize my current role, I oversee and lead a team that plans the operations and logistics of all sport programs within the department,” Carreiro says. “What I find most rewarding about my role is that I am able to work with a team to put on events and activities for students to get involved and try for the first time, […] [and] see students enjoying something they have never tried before or even those who enjoy playing the sport they are most passionate about.”

Students who are unable to make the weekly commitment to Intramurals can register to attend one-day special events where they have the chance to participate in unique activities like the upcoming Free Agent Round-Up, Women in Sport, and Accessible Sport Day

UTM ATHLETICS

event. In some cases, they may also win prizes.

Team captains, on the other hand, “have a bit more responsibility as they will be the main contact for their team and ensure that players are up to date with rules and updates the UTM Intramurals Administration staff will share it with the team captains to pass along to their team.” Team captains are eligible for CCR recognition if they’re in good standing at the end of the season/semester.

In numerous leagues and events, students have the chance to win a UTM Intramurals Championship t-shirt. In addition, each year students can enter into the UTM Intramurals T-shirt Design contest. In a contest that will be detailed on the Intramurals website in the coming weeks, “students have the option to submit their designs for the champion t-shirt that will be used in the upcoming year,” Carreiro explains. “From there, our staff will se-

lect the top 3 designs that meet the criteria to be voted on by the students within our UTM community.” Students then vote for their favorite design.

Jobs are also available for students who might be interested in, say, working as a UTM Intramural Referee or Game Manager to officiate sports, check in participants, and offer operational support.

“We also have a position called Sport Program Assistant,” shares Carreiro. “This is a work study position, where students will have the opportunity to assist the sport program coordinator with the logistics of the league such as leading staff, updating scores, tracking eligibility and more duties to support this program.” Positions are usually posted before the start of the semester.

On a final note from Carreiro: “I encourage everyone to try something new as we have many unique opportunities for students to get active not only in traditional sports like basketball and volleyball but also sports you may have never seen before or had the chance to participate in growing up like dodgeball, spikeball, or badminton.”

For league details, visit IMLeague or the UTM Intramural website at www.uoft.me/utmintramurals. Registration to enter a team in any of the sport leagues ends on Wednesday, January 18, 2023.