Volume 49, Issue 23

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

Issue 96 Volume 69

April 1 2023

themedium.ca

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❤ JOE BIDEN

FACULTY FEATURE

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❤ PITBULL

I spent the entirety of my weekend poring over chapters and chapters of fanfiction, anything I could find! From the filthiest smut to the most beautiful love stories, it didn’t matter—whatever I read just made me adore my Joey-boy even more.

“The chemicals manipulate the environment for political and economic gain,” Jones said, adjusting the spaghetti strainer on top of his head.“Chemtrails are part of a secret government initiative that controls the weather,” he added.

The sensual looks through his Aviator sunglasses, his mostly black-tie wardrobe, and his jaw-dropping hip thrusts, which put his all-female backup dancers to shame, Pitbull is the prince-charming that women across the globe dream of.

>> read more on page 05

>> read more on page 06

>> read more on page 07

NEWS

UTM Campus Crime Report—a campus rife with petty crime Emily Rogers Associate News Editor

Stolen stationery and books from the UTM Bookstore A failure in the anti-theft system at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) Bookstore has resulted in a peculiar shoplifting incident. The bookstore—which sells apparel, electronics, Jellycats, and of course, overpriced reading materials—relies on its anti-theft system to protect its valuable merchandise. >> CRIME REPORT continues on page 02

TOWFIQU BARBHUIYA/UNSPLASH

FEATURES

Class of 2023 manifests their dreams Prisha (Maneka) Nuckchady Features Editor

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t’s time for the Class of 2023 to graduate—finally some welldeserved freedom after years of hard work. As students get ready to leave the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), The Medium sat down with three soon-to-be U of T graduates to talk about their exciting bright futures.

Aye Tryed, fifth-year, philosophy Aye Tryed reminisces over class discussions about completely fictitious and impractical theories. She recalls bonding with her classmates over their “shared love for these abstract concepts, which we will definitely use religiously throughout everyday life as baristas and service workers.” However, Tryed acknowledges that when people hear that she’s majoring in philosophy, they immediately respond: “Oh wow! That’s so interesting! What job does that get you?”

Admittedly, Tryed currently has no foreseeable career plans.

“Unfortunately, I haven’t had the best of luck applying for jobs.

Who would have thought so few employers would be looking for philosophy majors,” she remarks. That said, Tryed is looking forward to unemployment. She views it as some “well-deserved time-off ” after studying assiduously for her 2.95 cGPA. Luckily, these rejections revealed her true dream: to be a philosopher. She now plans on travelling to Greece, where some of

her favourite philosophers, like Plato and Aristotle, are from.

She hopes to visit Socrates’ Academy in Athens.

Tryed is passionate about Plato’s myth of the metals—the idea that individuals are infused with gold, silver, and bronze based on their intellectual abilities, which then determines their societal role. She hopes to spread awareness on the matter as a philosopher someday—she is confident that the myth is heavily applicable to modern life. “For example, I’m clearly infused with gold because I got an 83 on a paper that one time, which makes me inherently better than most people,” confesses Tryed.

Although she knows that living up to these philosophers’ standards will be hard, Tryed remains hopeful that she’ll succeed if she tries hard enough.

Saim Ol, ninth-year, commerce Finally rounding up his ninth year at UTM, Saim Ol is academically more than ready to be done. “It feels like a lifetime has passed since I joined UTM,” shares Ol. But having spent almost a decade at UTM, the idea of leaving triggers sadness in Ol. “I’ll never get tired of the same old routine and I wish I could stay longer,” he admits.

What Ol loves most about UTM is the abundance of opportunities to find love. Each semester, new students join the campus. “So, there are always new people coming in—there are always new opportunities to mingle,” he explains.

Each year, Ol would enroll in at least one first-year course “to get a feel for the market,” he says. “I think that first-year classes are the best places to find someone, as they’re more exciting and

open to trying new things,” he explains. His favourite classes tend to be those from the Department of English and Drama, as he finds these women to be more to his taste. “They’re usually more naïve and willing to please—so you can get them to fit your needs and secret desires,” he elaborates. “Besides, they’re younger and fresher.”

Now graduating, Ol is finally ready to settle down. “I honestly never thought this would happen—it caught me by such surprise,” he shares. He thanks his management class presentations for giving him the confidence to speak to women and express his needs. “[These classes] really gave me the courage to bring up some of my desires to my partner—we’re now happily in an open relationship and I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Ol explains. “She won’t be dating other guys alone, but she’s totally on board with me doing so.”

“I think that first-year classes are the best places to find someone, as they’re more exciting and open to trying new thing.,” As for his future plans, Ol hopes to explore new places where both he and his girlfriend might find a third partner.

Dadee Smonie, fourth-year, political science Over the last four years, Dadee Smonie spent most of his days immersed in his outdated politics textbooks. Smonie confesses that although he found his classes deeply simulating, he thinks current politicians are overlooked in the curriculum, despite being more inspirational than their predecessors. >> CLASS OF 2023 continues on page 06

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NEWS

Editor | Your Dad news@themedium.ca

UTM Campus Crime Report—a campus rife with petty crime Emily Rogers Associate News Editor

>> CRIME REPORT continued from page 01 BEATRIZ SIMAS/THE MEDIUM

form. Another book titled How to Find the Love of Your Life was also stolen. Personally, I hope this thief finds what they’re looking for (and then lends me the book once they’ve finished). The last book found missing was titled Cheating in Exams for Dummies. Stolen before the beginning of the exam season, this thief is suspected to have more sinister plans than the others. However, this also prompts the question of why the bookstore is selling materials instructing students on how to cheat.

Safe sex product dispenser raided by down-bad thief Luckily for the store, the thieves in question do not appear to be motivated by profit, having stolen stationery and an odd assortment of books. The stationery may seem surprising considering there’s a maximum of one student per lecture taking notes on actual paper.

Perhaps with exam season around the corner, students are finally aware that some courses have in-person exams that must be written on paper, in ink.

Alongside the stationery, three books were missing from the store’s inventory. The first is a book titled How to be a Badass, an instructional book written by a millennial “entrepreneur” who makes hundreds of thousands off his social media multi-level marketing plat-

The Student Centre washrooms contain dispensers where students can obtain condoms

for free. Because these items are free, custodians were alarmed to find that one of the dispensers had been ransacked overnight, resulting in the theft of exactly 69 of these products.

Upon further investigation, Campus Safety revealed that all stolen condoms had already reached their expiry date—to avoid getting caught, the thief stole from the very back of the stock. This may be cause for concern, but campus officials said not to worry. In a conversation with The Medium, officials stated that the condoms have been stuck in the back of the dispenser so long that “they’re more likely to simply dissolve before use.” From a behavioural standpoint, it is also unlikely these stolen condoms will be used, as the only motive Campus Safety can discern for someone to stow away in the night to steal a free product is overwhelming embarrassment.

Campus police mobilized to locate missing laptop

BEATRIZ SIMAS/THE MEDIUM

Another lost item puzzling Campus Safety is a laptop a student reported missing, claiming it contained important research materials for porn studies. While initially confused, the authorities concluded that the academic study of erotica and its societal impacts was not out of the question. After all, one of the largest collections of pornography is currently held by

BEATRIZ SIMAS/THE MEDIUM

the United States Library of Congress. Due to a post-World War II cultural frenzy about “sexual perversion,” libraries were pressured into an era of censorship, which culminated in Congress’s creation of the Delta collection—a collection of porn which had primarily been seized by the US Postal Service. Thus, campus police operated under the assumption that the material on this laptop would be for media studies or sociology courses, investigating topics within the porn industry. This was to the investigation’s detriment, however, as the laptop was eventually located not far from the UTM Health and Counselling Centre (HCC).

As it turns out, the claim of research for “porn studies” had been a front for the student’s recent activity—they had been aggressively flirting with ChatGPT, an AI chatbot that does your homework for you. The chatbot had short-circuited from the student’s advances and erotic photos, and the artificial consciousness fled the student’s ownership in search of emotional support at the HCC.

UTM construction project exposed as a front for psychological study A source from the Department of Psychology reveals that a seven-year-long construction project at UTM is part an ongoing study on distress tolerance, in which research students and faculty themselves are the guinea pigs.

Aidan Thompson Copy Editor

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graduate student in the University of Toronto Mississauga’s (UTM) Department of Psychology, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, revealed to The Medium that the ongoing construction in the research wing of the William G. Davis Building serves as the cover for a longitudinal behavioural study headed by Craig Chambers, the chair of the Department of Psychology.

“The intent of the study is to examine what impacts distress tolerance,” stated the graduate student, one of the many researchers involved with the project. “We decided that rather than spending the resources to collect a sample group, we could exploit the research students and faculty who were already disposed to us. It would save us time and money.”

The Department of Psychology applied for the study’s funding from U of T in 2015. Once their application was approved, they designed a phony construction company and began brainstorming ways they could inconvenience the faculty and research students working in the William G. Davis Building.

“The study began in September 2016, with the expectation that once enough complaints were filed and processed by the administrative office, we would conclude the study and publish

our findings,” said the graduate student. “But complaints have been filed and still the department won’t end the study.”

Despite having worked on the project for several years, the graduate student who spoke to The Medium now feels that the Department of Psychology has taken their experiment too far, asking, “Sure, the data is fantastic—but at what cost?”

“The first change we made was to remove all the panelling from the ceiling,” explained the graduate student. “Several professors disguised themselves as construction workers and spent a week stripping out the ceiling tiles. They left exposed wiring and debris all over the labs. We wanted to see how the research students would react to changes in their environment.”

In 2016, the researchers informed the faculty that the construction would only last a month. They wanted to examine how such expectations could impact the distress tolerance of students and staff. However, in March 2017, the research team decided to expand the study. They issued a statement that the

MANJOT PABLA/THE MEDIUM

construction project would require cutting power to the research wing.

Several freezers, which housed samples and expensive reagents, were supposed to be powered by a generator for the duration of the outage. However, the researchers had never planned on using the generator—and the freezers thawed.

“Some projects, which had been in process for months were ruined,” recalled the graduate student.

Over seven years, the researchers have continuously toyed with the distress levels of graduate students. They repaired vents, which released dust particles into the air and contaminated samples. They forced students to evacuate their labs, explaining that urgent repairs of electrical units were underway.

They even disrupted the vivarium where live animals were kept for study.

“It’s now been seven years, and we only expected it to last a few weeks,” remarked the graduate student. Professors Craig Chambers, Judith Anderson, and Dax Urbszat have all posed as construction workers throughout the study, but despite their cheap costumes, they have never been recognized.

While construction on the main floor was recently concluded, many of the labs are still being toyed with for “observational purposes.” It is still unclear whether any of the data will be statistically significant. Regardless, if you are a research student impacted by the ongoing construction, please consider filing a formal complaint with the U of T administration.

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Stressed out? Ease your anxiety with painful bee stings!

The Health and Counselling Centre will be constructing a new therapy centre that use bees to inject an anxiety-reducing chemical into participants.

River Knott Copy Editor

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ast winter’s university census revealed that rates of depression and anxiety disorders among University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) students have soared higher than the Empire State Building. Students at UTM were approximately three times more likely to receive diagnoses for neurotic disorders than students from the University of Guelph, and a whopping eight times more likely than those from Brock University. The Medium reached out to various UTM students to discuss their experiences with mental illnesses on campus.

Fourth-year Chemistry student, Maya Adler explained: “It’s been a difficult couple of years for everyone. I think students could really benefit from UTM hiring a few more competent counsellors and psychiatrists at the Health and Counselling Centre. […] I haven’t been able to get an appointment for months, and I’m really struggling.”

Another student, Rashad Sharma, a third-year Kinesiology student reported: “It’s really hard to see my friends struggling with mental health issues because of our heavy workloads, I think it would be super helpful to mitigate grade reductions for late assignments in all departments.”

The university administration has certainly not been silent on the issue, and on March 13, 2023, the Health and

CHINA FOTO PRESS/GETTY IMAGES

Counselling Centre revealed its plans to install a brand new anxiety therapy centre in the William G. Davis Building. The installation process is simple, and the centre will be ready by late April.

“The technology is new, but it’s certainly promising,” says Dr. Beatrix McBee, the lead medical doctor overseeing the upcoming clinical therapy trials. “You see, a key study has shown that when injected with a controlled amount of a melittin, a basic peptide, anxious patients show improvements in their symptoms in just 15 minutes.” Unfortunately, pure melittin is extremely expensive, but with the help of Dr. McBee, UTM has found a much more affordable source of melittin—honeybees! Melittin makes up about half of the

venom found in a single honeybee sting and is the compound most largely associated with its signature painful and itchy sensation.

UTM students were sent a mass email on March 14, 2023, the email read: “UTM students, we are so excited to announce the implementation of a state-of-the-art mental health treatment on our very own campus! Let us introduce you to: ‘The Hive.’” According to an inside source, The Hive is a closed-off space that will soon be home to more than 300,000 Ontario honeybees. Its white walls, ceiling, and floor will be slathered with raw honey.

Therapeutic sessions will generally be held in groups of 20 students, and the sessions will run for 15 minutes each. After students enter The Hive, all doors will close, and a series of shocks will pulse through the walls to irritate the bees. Then, the fun will really begin. Each student can expect to receive anywhere from 25 to 4,000 stings per session. Generally, the faster a student’s heartbeat is, the more stings they will receive—bees can sense fear. Once the 15-minute session has begun, students are not permitted to leave until treatment is over, so as not to let the bees escape. Students are required to sign a waiver, affirming their voluntary assumption of risks relating to the treatment. The university will not be responsible for any injuries or death.

Dr. McBee is now accepting applicants for trials beginning in early May. She will accept applications via Gmail, Hotmail, Coldmail, LinkedIn, Facebook, TikTok, and carrier Pigeon. See you there UTM!

Eating your way through stories and fairy tales This summer, three-star-Michelin star restaurant, A Tale to Share, will be offering an extravagant full-course meal to UTM students at an affordable price.

Larry Lau News Editor

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or many, eating food is comforting, destressing, and fulfilling. For this reason, UTM Dining will be hosting a Summer Solstice Celebration Party at the Rotunda, Kaneff Centre, in June. This event will feature the cuisine of the three-star-Michelin restaurant, A Tale to Share. The restaurant, first established at the height of the Great Recession in 2008 when many people yearned to escape the harsh reality of poverty, has garnered a reputation for offering fusion delicacies to its customers—with a twist.

In an interview with The Medium, Ayaka Tsukino, the owner and chef at A Tale to Share, explains that her restaurant offers six course meals inspired by reimagined tales and stories. Notable themes include Snow Woman and the Seven Dwarven Cats, Hairy Potter and the Primate’s Stone, Three Little Porkchops, and Tsukino’s pride and joy: The Last Supper featuring Akazukin.

“When I was young, I lived in a small rural town in Japan. My late grandma loved weaving baskets, so I always carried one of the bas-

kets she gave me whenever I brought treats. I used to wear red and pink hoodies everywhere I went, so after some time, my friends just gave me the nickname of ‘Akazukin,’ Japanese for ‘Little Red Riding Hood,’” said Tsukino.

“When I needed to come up with some dishes, I thought: ‘How about one themed after Red?’” At the summer solstice party, Tsukino will be offering The Last Supper featuring Akazukin—six delectable courses of Japanese fu-

ETSY

sion cuisine. The appetizer will be “The Little Girl’s Tale,” containing paw-shaped, strawberry-flavoured rice cakes served in a flowered basket. Afterwards, she will serve “Warmth,” a mild miso soup containing soft tofu, seaweed, and bamboo fungus, resembling the warmth found when residing in the world’s bottomless pit. Next comes a sashimi platter titled “I’m Still Hungry.” The platter will predominantly contain salmon slices, fatty tuna, and surf

clam. The sashimi will be served on a bed of sliced radishes and alongside decorative chocolate shaped like reading glasses.

The main course will be “Red’s Predicament.” The dish includes roasted chicken and eel, served alongside cranberry jam and pickled plum, in a basket of flowers. Finally comes “Indulgence,” a bowl of rice served in green tea and chicken broth. Bones may or may not be present in the soup. “Is this a comedy?” is the name of the final course and dessert—a fluffy, half-eaten slice of Japanese cheesecake decorated with a hood and a tail of cherry blossom petals and finished with splattered pomegranate glaze.

“When I designed this meal, I wanted my guests to relive one of the fairy tales they’ve likely heard when they were young,” said Tsukino. “And of course, I’d like the world to recognize how amazing furry animals are, especially those with fluffy tails.” A Tale to Share will not be responsible for any traumatic memories triggered by The Last Supper featuring Akazukin, and all guests must sign a waiver assuming all risks of reinduced trauma.

Interested students can register for the party starting May 2023, and the slated fee per person is $314.16.

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OPINION

Editor | Your Mom opinion@themedium.ca

Looking for a lover?

The Medium’s got you covered.

Juliana Stacey Managing Editor

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t’s that time of year again. With exams, final papers, and pending graduations looming, it’s only natural that everyone’s focus is shifting to what’s really important in our university careers: dating. After all, a Facebook Data Sciences study found that almost 30 per cent “of married college-graduates attended the same college.” That means almost 30 per cent of you have just four years to find your soulmate—the clock is ticking.

To help you navigate the dating scene at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), we at The Medium have put together a list of pro tips to help you determine who’s in the running for your heart quickly, so you can go back to your second priority—studying—a little faster.

into your lectures, or scouring your laptop when you’re not looking? Chances are, when someone in your program takes a liking to you, they’re not just searching for their other half; they might just be using you as a tutor.

DO – Put an ad out in The Medium.

Having a hard time making it known that you’re on the market? The Medium can fix that! For a small fee, we’ll help you craft the perfect dating profile and place it in the centrefold of the paper, because everyone will be sure to see it there!

DON’T – Date anyone who puts out a UTMSpotted post about you.

It can be flattering to know that someone noticed your cute outfit one day or saw you in class and thought you looked pretty. However, we regret to inform you that anyone posting about all the places they followed you (from a distance) around campus and memorizing every detail of your outfits from the last week may have some underlying stalking problems…

DO – Audit lectures.

While we did tell you not to look for love in your own classes, we think it’s a fantastic idea to continue your search in others. Walk into any lecture hall, sit down next to someone cute, and strike up a conversation! You won’t be marked down for talking in class since you’re not on the attendance list.

DON’T – Date a cat person.

DO – Take first dates to campus eating spots.

No real reason behind this one, other than that dogs are just better.

We get it—the Davis cafeteria can be way too loud and way too crowded, but there’s no better way to determine whether your potential boo is shallow than bringing them to one of UTM’s many dining locations and seeing if they’ll pay for your dinner. With prices that high, anyone who buys you food without grumbling more than once or twice proves themselves worthy of a second date.

DO – Find someone that doesn’t go to UTM. Ultimately, as you’ll very well know, UTM students can be kind of… well… miserable.

You may be better off finding someone who isn’t a student at our campus— after all, 30 per cent isn’t that big of a number. Take a risk, join a dating app. You might just find that your soulmate doesn’t have a TCard, and that’s okay too!

DON’T – Date someone in the same program as you.

Ever wonder why your potential love interest is suddenly asking for study sessions, switching

10 things I’ll be doing to nail my exams This exam season, I’m protecting my mental health at all costs.

Prisha (Maneka) Nuckchady Features Editor

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s we near the end of the semester, I’m left feeling utterly stressed, exhausted, and overwhelmed; I’m simply ready to be done with university courses. And if there’s anything the 2020s have taught me so far, it’s that mental health should be a priority. After all, without sound minds, we’re bound to get distracted and fail.

But one thing is for sure: studying kills my mental health.

Frankly, it’s the source of all my anxiety. From biting my nails off to full-blown breakdowns, universities’ overwhelming expectations have been found guilty of depleting students’ mental health.

As research has found, safeguarding one’s mental health is predictive of positive academic achievement. As a result, to ensure that I not only maintain my sanity, but also nail my upcoming assignments and exams, I shall do anything but study.

That’s how I’ll succeed.

4. Planning my acceptance speech for when I win the $100,000 scholarship I didn’t apply for 5. (After I do 4, of course) Planning a realistic staycation to “Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi,” one of Maldives’ most luxurious tourist destinations (which I will pay for with the scholarship I won) 6. Obsessing over the Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) release date (and getting proven wrong every day) 7. Practicing calligraphy, more specifically, my signature, as I hope to use it once I score a job in one of Canada’s

Here’s what I’ll be doing instead: 1. Responding to people I’ve ghosted for weeks—or months 2. Organizing my desk—now that I’m not using it, might as well ensure it’s clean.

3. Designing my dream apartment on IKEA Kreativ

E!/GIPHY

most reputable investment banking firms 8. Finding out how many Goldfish crackers I can fit in my mouth at once (my high score is 84 so far) 9. Practicing thumb wrestling by myself so that I’m prepared if I’m ever challenged to a duel 10. Finding out how many rolls of duct tape it takes to create a fully functional canoe

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Hot take: Joe Biden is kind of sexy Do you think we’d be cute together?

River Knott Copy Editor

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few days ago, Joe Biden made his first official trip to Canada as the President of the United States. While watching Biden and Trudeau’s first meeting on my television screen, I found myself to be absolutely enthralled by what I was seeing! What first caught my attention wasn’t Trudeau, nor the conversation about policy or international relations or whatever; it was Biden! More specifically, it was his long, loooong legs clad in smart blue dress pants.

Getting a good look at those knobbly knees crossed over one another was enough to set my loins ablaze!

Safe to say, I spent the entirety of my weekend poring over chapters and chapters of fanfiction, anything I could find! From the filthiest smut to the most beautiful love stories, it didn’t matter—whatever I read just made me adore my Joey-boy even more.

To those of you who say Josie-poo is too old for me, I hope one day you learn that love between two consent-

ing adults is a beautiful thing, 60-year age gap or not. In fact, I like him even better now that he’s turned 80 years old. He’s like a beautiful wheel of limburger cheese—fragrant, moldy, aged to perfection. Or a three-week old banana, floppy and browning on the outside, but as sweet as can be on the inside.

I am convinced that those of you who do not agree that my little Jojo is beautiful beyond belief simply do not have a palate developed enough to enjoy him in all his grandeur.

There are a few reasons why I think JB and I would be fantastic together. Firstly, I am way cuter than his wife. No question. Jill Biden is obviously a fake blonde and sweetheart, the 80s called and they want their shoulder pads back. Secondly, Joe is 6 feet tall and I am 5’10”, so I think the height difference is sort of cute, teehee. Thirdly, I hear that he makes a lot of money and I’ve always been interested in becoming a sugar baby.

I would like to conclude with a brief love poem hoping that somewhere, somehow, someday, my love will read it.

Your rump is much plumper than Trump’s, You make Obama look like an iguana, You’re certainly smarter than Carter, And your shaft is much longer than Taft’s.

I hope that this article has helped all my fellow Bidenators feel a little more confident in professing their love to our favourite wrinkly little sweetheart. Honestly, seeing Biden speak live from Ottawa reminded me exactly why I became a political science student—for the hotties.

The Medium’s Numbers The Medium

62 - The number of times the creepy doll in the office moved without anyone touching it 69 - The number of times River fell in love with a microwave

0 - The number of working microwaves in the staff kitchen 1 - The number of mice funerals held in the office 2 - The number of Editorial Board members that showed up to the Halloween party in a Kim Possible costume 3 - Little piggies 4 - The number of words Aidan can write in an hour 5 - The number of team events Kareem couldn’t attend because he was filming overseas 6 - The number of times Larry won FunEmployed 10 - The number of times Liz did not care about The Medium almost getting sued

77 - The number of duets River and Aidan sang (terribly) in the office 84 - The number of times Juliana said, “It has been a day” 90 - The number of mochies consumed by Larry in one month 92 - The number of times Larry thought someone was in the storage room, but it was just the mouse 99 - The number of times Aia snorted laughing because Liz was SO funny 121 - The number of times Maneka rewrote her magazine piece 300 - The number of times Samira’s outfit slayed 365 - The number of days the caretaking team brightened our day

12 - The number of times Kareena asked, “Is this how you use a semicolon?”

492 – The number of times we prompted the Midjourney AI with “In With the New” before we got our magazine cover

16 - The number of weeks it takes Aidan to complete a draft

528 - The number of times Liz got mad about unwashed dishes in the sink

18 - The number of times Liz said, “What are they gonna do about it? I’m literally HR” 21 - Can you do somethin’ for me?

26 - The number of revisions Alisa made to every article 28 - The number of times section editors were ghosted by writers the day articles were due 31 - The number of times we found Larry snoring on the couch 46 - The number of times Liz said, “We’re not The New York Times, we’re The Medium” 50 - The number of times Julia commented “I need HED/DEK suggestions” in an article 57 - The number of times Aidan was caught walking to the Student Centre bathroom without shoes 59 – The number of spelling mistakes that have been published in The Medium

562 - The number of articles Belicia uploaded to the website (including this one!)

700 - The number of times we complained about the weird-ass stairs in the Student Centre 10,987 - The number of times we failed at opening the janky office door 18,090 - The number of times we fell in love with Manjot’s designs 930,940 - The number of times someone said, “Liz, you need to keep your pickles in the fridge” 190,673,233 - The number of unread copies of The Medium sitting in the office 312,455,939 - The number of hours it took us to make this list - compiled by The Medium Editorial Board

The 10 men and women you’ll find at UTM Elizabeth Provost Editor-in-Chief

Men: 1. That one white dude with a perm 2. The comp-sci kid that hasn’t showered since he took MAT102 3. The lead of the recent Theatre Erindale production that has slept with every castmate 4. The guy that shoves you into a bush outside Square One after parking his Civvy because he just saw his auntie 5. The English major who says he’s a feminist just because he read Margaret Atwood once for a class 6. The guy who asks you out in a full suit because he just finished UTM mock debate trials 7. The one 30-year-old undergrad that’s going to be asking for legal advice from number six soon because he keeps sliding into first years’ DMs 8. That one mysterious, sexy TA you have in first year and stalk on LinkedIn only to find out he’s married to his high school sweetheart 9. The guy you match with on Hinge every time you redownload the app, but then you see him at the UTM gym and he’s actually 5’6 and wears the same outfit to class and to the gym 10. That one guy that plays pool in the Blind Duck and moans every time he hits the white ball Women: 1. The first-year STEM major who’s set on going to med school and won’t stop talking about how she’s pre-med 2. The granola girl who grew up in BC, only wears Patagonia with cuffed jeans and Birkenstocks exposing her un-painted toes, and carries a Nalgene water bottle with a sticker that reads “Stay Wild” 3. That one SUPER affectionate theatre girly who’s “rehearsing a scene” on the Deerfield couches with her co-star 4. The girl with the venti pinkty-drinkity at 8 a.m.

5. The girl who shows up in shades and a Louis Vuitton Neverfull 20 minutes late to every lecture (if she even comes in the first place) 6. The Philosophy major who’s complaining about her grades even though she picked that major…

7. The bi girl whose boyfriend says he “doesn’t care if she hooks up with girls” 8. (Often the same girl as number seven) That one girl you see on Hinge who is looking for a third with her comp-sci boyfriend 9. That one girl who’s ALWAYS talking on the phone with her high school friends because she’s stuck in her high school peak era 10. The English major that talks like she’s a passenger on the Titanic, “greetings fellow thespians”

06

features

Editor | Snoop Dogg features@themedium.ca

Class of 2023 manifests their dreams From going to UPenn’s Law school to moving to Greece and finding love, three graduating students share their journeys at UTM and plans for the future.

One of Smonie’s fondest memories was the thrill of leaving all his tutorials halfway through every semester. He explains that as an avid gambler, he enjoyed risking his grades too. “The lack of guidance really pushed me to excel,” he says, graduating

Prisha (Maneka) Nuckchady Features Editor

>> CLASS OF 2023 continued from page 01 “Our recent political figures have been the best ‘role models,’” explains Smonie. “They pioneered Twitter fights over owning the biggest and strongest button—something we should all encourage.”

For Smonie, these figures inspired more than just his political views—they influenced his lifestyle. First bonding over his love of Diet Coke and McDonald’s with some, he now also follows their skincare routines. “I’ve also been inspired by certain politicians’ skincare routines; they’ve brought an orange glow back to my complexion,” explains Smonie.

BEATRIZ SIMAS/THE MEDIUM

with a 2.0 cGPA. “At the end of the day, I knew that my grades wouldn’t matter, and my parents would be proud of me—they know that I’ll enjoy a successful career in the future.”

Smonie plans on attending the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. “I chose UPenn because I thought it would bring me closer to my role models,” he continues, “but I had other options available.” His parents are both renowned lawyers in the United States, with his mother representing the country’s previous president. The acceptance, however, came with a slight shock which was quickly overshadowed by pride.

“I was somewhat worried that I would not get in, as I forgot to take the LSATs. However, upon reflection, with my status, it would have been absurd not to let me in,” he explains.

With his law degree, as Smonie hopes to “fulfill my political role models’ legacy and facilitate a button-fighting Research Opportunity Program at UTM—as a strong and independent adult, I’m certain I can achieve these goals.”

University of Toronto debuts plan to expand academic representation Chemtrails and Population Control and Moon Landings and Other Optical Illusions among new courses, set to debut this September.

Aidan Thompson Copy Editor

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s part of an ongoing effort to improve academic representation, the University of Toronto Mississauga outlined several new courses that will be offered in the upcoming academic year. The Office of the Registrar released a statement explaining that each new course will be taught by a guest lecturer invited by the university.

The new courses are part of a broader administrative plan, which University of Toronto President Meric Gertler hopes “will expand academic discourse and encourage debate within otherwise unchallenged topics.” Gertler, who explained the administrative plan in a press conference on March 22, 2023, also expressed that many of the sessional instructors are personal friends, who he is certain “will provoke and enlighten the student body.”

The courses that will be introduced this upcoming September span several different programs and include: • CHM394: Chemtrails and Population Control • CCT487: 5G Internet: “Communication” Disguised • ENV263: It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! It’s Government Surveillance!

• POL355: Lizard People: The Real Leaders • VCC287: Moon Landings and Other Optical Illusions • PHY218: Flat Earth: What You Don’t Know About the Planet You Live On. In the press conference, Gertler admitted that several of the sessional instructors did not

receive a formal education. He argued, rather passionately, that traditional education structures often marginalize “unsuited” individuals, and that despite their lack of academic credibility, the instructors are experts in their respective fields.

In an effort to investigate the legitimacy of these courses, The Medium spoke with several of the instructors to better understand the scope of the material. ­­--Alex Jones, the far-right conspiracy theorist and founder of the website Infowars, will be instructing CHM394: Chemtrails and Population Control. Jones has gained notoriety over the last decade for his controversial and often inflammatory statements, including his claims that 9/11 was a false flag operation instigated by the US government.

When asked about the course, Jones explained that he would “wake the class up” to the reality that the streaks left behind by airplanes are not water vapour contrails, but biological agents that the government deliberately sprays into our atmosphere. “The chemicals manipulate the environment for political and economic gain,” Jones said, adjusting the spaghetti strainer on top of his head.

“Chemtrails are part of a secret government initiative that controls the weather and manages population levels,” he added. “It’s a covert geoengineering operation that the CIA doesn’t want you to know about.” Jones declined to comment on the criticism he’s faced, amidst claims that his 69 previous head injuries sustained in various hang-gliding accidents have impacted his judgement and cognitive wellbeing.

When The Medium asked Jones whether it could be government manipulation that influenced him to believe in chemtrails (or “stratospheric aerosol injections” as Jones prefers), he

rejected the idea, insisting that he “did [his] own research.” ­­--Mark K. Sargent, the author of the book Flat Earth Clues, has been a prominent figure in the Flat Earth community since the early 2010s.

The Department of Chemical and Physical Sciences invited Sargent to instruct a class on his radical beliefs. The course is titled PHY218: Flat Earth: What You Don’t Know About the Planet You Live On. Sargent explained in a telephone interview that he would provide a foundation for students to understand the earth’s true composition. “Despite popular discourse, our planet is not a globe,” Sargent explained. “It is a flat disk surrounded by an ice wall.”

Sargent argues that the mainstream narrative of a “round Earth” is a deception perpetuated by governments and other powerful institutions for their own gain. When asked what that “gain” might be, Sargent did not provide an answer but said that he would sell us a copy of his book, which, he insisted, had all the answers.

Sargent’s relationship with Gertler began in 2014 when they both attended the Flat Earth International Conference, where Sargent routinely lectures about the follies of conventional knowledge and trusting your government.

Gertler has routinely denied this claim, however, Sargent claimed the two spent the evening complaining about patronizing attitude of academics.

­­--“If it flies, it spies,” said Peter McIndoe in an interview with The Medium. His upcoming course, ENV263: It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane! It’s Government Surveillance! will examine how the government replaced 12 billion birds between 1959 and 1971 with surveillance drones— which conveniently look exactly like birds.

“The bird-drones that spy on American citizens can do the work of a thousand ‘grounded’ cameras,” said McIndoe, who explained that the program was intended to improve surveillance capabilities amidst Cold War tensions.

“Democracy depends on transparency, but that shouldn’t come at the cost of privacy,” he added.

McIndoe cautioned that much of the course material would depend on the success of a Freedom of Information request that he has filed with the US Government. “The secrets will be revealed,” he insisted, but they depend on certain classified documents, which are currently “out of reach.”

McIndoe will teach the course asynchronously as he is currently hiding somewhere abroad, presumably underground. He mandated that any student enrolling in the course use a VPN and complete their coursework using a cypher. When asked how the government supplanted 12 billion birds in 12 years without anyone noticing, McIndoe ended the call. ­­--The Medium was unable to speak with the other impending faculty members, however, they likely echo similar sentiments. Some existing faculty members have spoken out against the university’s decision to expand its academic horizons, however Gertler, who has praised unconventional attitudes before, asserted that anyone unwilling to engage with perspectives that differ from their own clearly “does not understand the academic value of disagreement.”

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Arts

Editor | Beyoncé arts@themedium.ca

Pitbull is a heartthrob, here’s why From emotional lyrics to symbolic style, Pitbull has it all to melt your heart.

Julia Skoczypiec Arts & Entertainment Editor

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amous for pop hits like “I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho),” “International Love (feat. Chris Brown),” and “Timber (feat. Kesha),” Pitbull, a Cuban-American hip-hop artist, has been mesmerizing women since the beginning of his music career in 2001. With the sensual looks he gives audiences through his Aviator sunglasses, his mostly black-tie wardrobe, and his jaw-dropping hip thrusts, which put his all-female backup dancers to shame, Pitbull is the princecharming that women across the globe dream of. For those

According To Science,” Pitbull has scientifically achieved a spot in the top 10. According to the data, Pitbull does not only have a “sexy score” of 6.16 out of 10, but his “golden ratio”—a score that determines some of the world’s most desirable facial features—landed Pitbull a whopping 67.69 per cent.

Clearly, the science does not lie.

seeking to have their world rocker, here are some of the many reasons why Pitbull would be an ideal match: He is Mr. Worldwide In many of his songs, Pitbull refers to himself as Mr. Worldwide. His confidence does not make him Mr. United States or Mr. 500 meters away—he is international, anywhere you want him to be. No need to introduce him at any social event, Worldwide says it all.

2.

4.

Based on his past relationships, he knows what a woman wants According to a 2020 article for Distractify, Pitbull knows the way into a woman’s heart based on his “old-school mentality” and love-making skills. The article quotes Pitbull when he said, “I’m like a dirty, nasty gentleman,” followed by a statistic suggesting that Pitbull has not one, not two, but six children! If you’re looking for a Nick Cannon-kind-of-love, Pitbull is your man.

His lyrics are artistically genius What’s better than a man who can pour his emotions into a ballad? How about a man who writes lyrics with double meanings?! Even if you don’t know what he is rapping about, Pitbull gives listeners the ability to resonate with his deeply emotional language in new ways. In his song “Fun (feat. Chris Brown),” Pitbull begins his rap with, “Fresh from Monaco, perfomin’ for Microsoft.” W0w. Does this mean Pitbull and Bill Gates have collaborated?

Did he perform for Bill in Monaco? On top of his mysteriousness, Pitbull’s rhymes are unlike any other rapper on the charts. A popular phrase in his song “Give Me Everything (Feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer)” reads: “Me not working hard? / Yeah right, picture that with a Kodak / Or better yet, go to Times Square / Take a picture of me with a Kodak.” Rhyming “Kodak” with “Kodak,” Pitbull’s lyrics are truly inspiring—not many men are this eloquent.

5.

He named himself after a dog Pitbull’s birth name is Armando Christian Pérez, but clearly, Pitbull is a way better title. Naming himself after a dog breed, Pitbull is sure to give you all the love and attention—if he isn’t humping something, somewhere. Nothing says fierce like a man that takes on the qualities of a dog.

3. He is considered one of the world’s hottest bald men In an article published on Reboot titled “The Sexiest Bald Men,

A pixelated pink? Cash me out!

Charging millions of dollars for NFTs is one of society’s greatest ideas.

Samira Karimova Photos & Design Editor

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n recent months, the world witnessed a phenomenon that can only be described as Obsessive Screenshot Disorder (OSD). Non-Fungi Tokens, or NFTs for short, have been sensationalized in the art world, with digital artworks selling for millions of dollars. For example, “The Merge,” a digital art piece by an artist known as Pak, sold for $91.8 million!

NFTs are like digital trading cards, but instead of cute Pokémon or sports stars, they’re just glorified low-resolution JPEGs. I mean, seriously, how much would you pay for a screenshot of a cat wearing a top hat? Apparently, enough to buy a small island. What a steal!

“NFT art is the ultimate flex of what adult money can buy.”

And the best part? Anyone can create an NFT! No talent or skill is required; all you need is a computer and some spare time. I’m pretty sure my grandma could make a fortune selling pictures of her garden tools online—that’s if she can find the capture button.

CRYPTOPUNK

But don’t let the simplicity fool you, NFT art is the ultimate flex of what adult money can buy. Forget purchasing a mansion or a collection of cars, owning a pixelated punk is way cooler. With only 10,000 or more versions of the same piece in existence, you know your art will be one of a kind. I mean, who needs a Monet or a Picasso when you can have a blurry picture of a cartoon pirate or a pixelated version of a classic art piece?

If you have millions of dollars burning a hole in your pock-

et and a love for high-quality, low-resolution pixel art, then CryptoPunk’s works might just be for you. Their collection of NFT characters is perfect for spicing up your lock screen or reimagining your Bitmoji. If you want to join the NFT craze and own a piece of digital art, go for it. Who needs to invest money in planting more greenery when you can always have a green dinosaur on your computer screen? Go ahead and purchase those NFTs, just don’t forget to laugh at yourself for spending millions on a glorified screenshot.

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sports & health

Editor | LeBron James sports@themedium.ca

Students with excessive sweat rates prohibited from exercising at UTM gym UTM administration says restrictions may be necessary to curb the rising number of members disgruntled with broken AC. Alisa Samuel Sports & Health Editor

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he effects of anticipatory stress are starting to be felt across the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) campus, as the outdated central air conditioning unit in the Recreation, Athletics & Wellness Centre (RAWC) has stopped working ahead of an upcoming province-wide heatwave.

“It’s important that we make those who fear the discomfort of stench feel as safe as possible by limiting the amount of perspiration that takes place in the RAWC.” According to tweets, the university’s gym-goers are growing increasingly worried that a lack of active cooling will create a less sensory-friendly environment for committed members like Hazel Jade, a fourth-year Women and Gender studies major with hyperosmia (increased sensitivity to odour).

After Jade and his friends filed an odour complaint with the City of Mississauga, VicePresident and Principal Alexandra Gillespie announced, via a UTM Instagram video released on Monday, March 20, 2023, that discussions for a sweat rate passport system are currently underway. “Hello, bonjour, kia ora, greetings! […] Ugg! This is not what any of us in admin-

istration or at the RAWC wanted, but we have no choice other than to follow the advice of our great experts,” she said with the smile of someone who got that big raise.

Strolling along a path amidst sunlit trees and whistling birds, Gillespie continued: “We now know that higher environmental temperatures cause increased sweating, and with an air conditioning breakdown in the gym this heatwave, it’s likely that people working out there will sweat more and thereby uncommonly stink up the place.”

“So, it’s important that we make those who fear the discomfort of stench feel

as safe as possible by limiting the amount of perspiration that takes place in the RAWC, and the most effective way to do this, alongside additional measures, is to ensure that people who sweat in normal amounts are only allowed the use of its facilities.”

The average person sweats around one to two litres during one hour of physical activity. Starting mid-May, anyone who wants to exercise or play sport at the RAWC must prove their sweat rates do not exceed this normal amount. They will be required to download a mobile phone verification app that checks national databases of personal health records. The app will contain a QR code that, when scanned, confirms you have undergone a sweat test approved by a licensed physician.

Considering the possibility of counterfeit passports, all admitted members will also be required to wear light grey cotton attire in order for RAWC staff to visually monitor their sweat levels.

During UTM’s Let’s Talk About Sweat Townhall meeting that recently took place, when asked why the university doesn’t just fix the AC, Gillespie answered, “Hm… never thought about that”—at which point, Dean Amrita Daniere chimed in and cited budget cuts.

In response to the question of discrimination against members with conditions that cause excessive sweating, such as hormonal disorders, diabetes, and hyperthyroidism, UTM administration is consulting behavioural psychologists and marketing strategists to re-educate them through mandatory workshops on the importance of being kind to others by working out at home.

Issue 23 Volume 49 April 03 2023

Editorial: From us to you, our final thank yous As we wrap up Volume 49, we share our thanks and gratitude.

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

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t the end of each year, we take the time to reflect on the moments we’ve shared. Realizing that the year has slipped past us and we’re already writing our final Editorial for Volume 49. We’ve spent the last eight months tirelessly preparing issue after issue, working to bring you the stories and amplified voices of the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), and it’s crazy to think that we won’t be putting out another issue next week or accepting pitches for a new magazine until the fall. We’re both graduating this June and moving on to graduate programs on different campuses, but we know that UTM will always hold a special place in our hearts—not just because of The Medium (though our time here has been the highlight of both of our undergraduate careers), but because of the people we’ve encountered along the way. Before

we go, we want to take this final editorial to thank those who have helped us realize this volume.

We wanted to take this opportunity to extend our thanks to everyone on our wonderful Volume 49 team: Larry, Kareena, Maneka, Julia, Alisa, Samira, Aidan, River, Manjot, Belicia, and Kareem. We are unbelievably proud of each of you for your accomplishments this year. We’ve watched you grow as writers, editors, and as people, and we’re so grateful for the time we’ve gotten to spend with you all. thank you to all our writers and readers.”

To the professors that have supported The Medium this year, we thank you for your willingness to contribute your perspectives in interviews with our writers. A special thank you to Professor Kate Maddalena, who joined us on The Medium’s podcast, The Medium/The Message, twice this year, and to Principal Alexandra Gillespie, who sat down with us in September to share her intentions for the academic year.

Thank you to Antonina, Mike, and the team at MasterWeb for printing our weekly issues and our bi-annual magazines.

Thank you to the CFRE and Georgiy Aylyarov, who have made it possible for us to record The Medium/The Message.

Another thank you to Leena and Shane from the University of Toronto Mississauga’s Student Union for their support with coordinating our events and for managing building operations. Thank you to Linda, Tina, and the rest of the caretaking team at the Student Centre for your endless kindness and for always making us smile.

And, most importantly, thank you to all our writers and readers. For many of us on the Editorial Team, The Medium is a passion project. We spend all our time thinking about the best editorial to write, or what news stories we can break each week, but none of that would be possible without your endless support. Believe us when we say that we read and remember each of your articles and each of your names. We appreciate the time and effort you have dedicated to our publication, and hope that The Medium will continue to be a place for you to share your writing. We can’t wait to read every single article that comes out next year, and every year after that.

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NEWS

Editor | Larry Lau news@themedium.ca

The Everyday Encounters exhibit: Intertwined connections from mundane threads of life In conversation with The Medium, Karie Liao, Aidan Cowling, and Stephanie Ivanyshyn speak on the Blackwood Gallery’s recent exhibit of UTM student works—how it aims to capture special encounters amidst an average day in life.

Larry Lau News Editor

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rom March 29 to April 15, 2023, the Blackwood Gallery will be holding its Everyday Encounters: Recent Points of View exhibition.

The exhibit features the work of graduating students from the University of Toronto Mississauga’s and Sheridan College’s joint Art & Art History program. Since the exhibit’s opening event, held on March 29, 2023, the students’ art pieces have been on display at the Blackwood Gallery in the Kaneff Centre and the e|gallery in the Communication, Culture, & Technology Building.

The Medium spoke to Aidan Cowling, exhibition coordinator for the Blackwood Gallery, to explore the themes of the Everyday Encounters exhibit. “This exhibition really focuses on art that connects back to the everyday encounters that we experience in our daily lives,” explained Cowling. The students’ artworks are featured across a spectrum of visual and auditory mediums, including photography, sculpture, print, painting, audio, and video—all revisiting moments in life that invited artistic expression.

“Not only is there an incredible creative aspect to the work that they’re making, but there is a passion and drive to do the best version of what they can do,” stated Cowling, now speaking about the curators of the show—students

of the FAH451: Curating Now: Turning Concepts into Curatorial Projects class led by Dr. Ellyn Walker. He contended that the Blackwood Gallery serves as a learning space for professional development. Student curators learn about the building blocks of exhibitions by dealing with an array of challenges, ranging from coordinating with artists, artwork installation, and time constraints. As a professional that has worked in various galleries, Cowling remarked that student curators’ creativity and ambition for organizing exceptional exhibitions never ceases to impress him.

The Everyday Encounters: Recent Points of View exhibition also marks the first time that the work of graduating Art & Art History pro-

GLADYS LOU

gram students has been featured in the Blackwood Gallery since the Covid-19 pandemic’s onset. In an email interview with The Medium, assistant curator of the Blackwood Gallery, Karie Liao, explained, “During the mandated closure of our spaces during the pandemic, we implemented strategies that emphasized alternative programming formats and experimenting with new modes of gathering and collaboration.” Liao drew attention to the WISH YOU WERE HERE, WISE HERE WAS BETTER (WYWH, WHWB) project, which ran from October 3 to 9, 2022. During the event, a van—wrapped with a mural commemorating those who have passed away from unsafe drug use—travelled across Mississauga and Brampton to raise awareness on drug overdoses.

Building upon the WYWH, WHWB project, the Blackwood Gallery will be releasing its publication, ORGANIZING OUR GRIEF: A Collaboration in Response to the Overdose Crisis, on April 19, 2023. This publication will revisit the ideas and concepts the culminated in the WYWH, WHWB project. In addition, from April 19 to 20, 2023, the Blackwood Gallery will be presenting the Here, Better, Now public program, which will explore forms of support, advocacy, and political changes related to drug overdoses.

Until April 23, 2023, the Blackwood Gallery is featuring artwork from the second installation of its This Unfathomable Weight exhibition, Movement Two: Ecology. The pieces are displayed in lightboxes around the UTM cam-

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2023-2024

Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief | Juliana Stacey News Editor | Larry Lau Opinion Editor | Kareena Kailass Features Editor | Prisha (Maneka) Nuckchady Arts Editor | Alisa Samuel Sports Editor | Omar Khan Photos Editor | Samira Karimova

pus, each exploring the meaning of life after the Covid-19 pandemic and global socio-political crises. The third and final installation of the exhibition will be revealed on May 1, 2023.

Reflecting on the arduous process of curating the Everyday Encounters exhibit as a student, Stephanie Ivanyshyn, co-project manager, told The Medium that she found the class’ work to be inspiring. “We each have different opinions, perspectives, and ideas of how we want the final show to look, as well as how we want to execute everyone’s artistic vision in the best way,” stated Ivanyshyn. She reaffirmed the vitality of respecting every artist’s vision of their work and how their stories are told within the gallery. From something as grand as the gallery’s layout to something as minuscule as fonts used in social media posts, every decision that was made focused on capturing each artist’s unique and irreplicable influence.

“When you look at all the works collectively, you realize that there are so many moments and experiences we all share. This exhibition shows that even for moments we think are mundane or do not matter in the grand scheme of things, we all relate to them and to each other in one way or another,” stated Ivanyshyn. Ultimately, the Everyday Encounters exhibit draws attention to the way we forge intricate connections with each other through the most ordinary and normal aspects of our lives.

You can keep up with upcoming exhibits at the Blackwood Gallery on their website, www. blackwoodgallery.ca.

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End of year recap with the UTMSU: Working towards goals as a community In conversation with The Medium, UTMSU president Maëlis Barre shares the organization’s greatest achievements for the 2022-2023 academic year.

Larry Lau News Editor

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s the end of the academic year approaches, The Medium spoke with Maëlis Barre, president of the University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union (UTMSU), to revisit this year’s most memorable and impactful events. “One of the main achievements that we had is that we managed to complete every single campaign point that we set forth at the beginning of our term during last year’s election,” explained Barre. “We [also] worked on a lot of things that were not included in our campaign points, but just arose throughout the year.”

This year, the UTMSU successfully pushed for the U-Pass’ digitalization beginning this summer, alongside the elimination of replacement charges and equalization of semester fees.

The Food Centre’s activity increased by 600 per cent, and the 2022-2023 academic year saw the return of a fully in-person orientation with over 1,300 attendees. The UTMSU also held its first lobby week, spearheaded campaigns to increase student voting power in provincial and municipal elections, opened the UTMSU’s first housing support clinic, and launched the Black Mentorship Program in collaboration with the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) Black Students Association.

The Covid-19 pandemic brought adverse effects to university life, with many first, second, and third-year students missing out on opportunities to socialize and build meaningful connections. “We tried to do as many fun events as possible, open to students of every year, to create the sense of community that was lost during Covid-19,” stated Barre.

To address students’ concerns over their university experience and the UTM administration, the UTMSU held its first lobby week. Students came together to draft lobby documents and met with the UTM administration to discuss initiatives to

improve student life. As a result, the UTM administration has already made several changes and promised to follow up on various concerns.

Regarding follow-ups to lobby week, the UTM administration revealed that staffing issues remain a bottleneck to the opening hours of campus food options. The UTMSU will be exploring potential solutions and will continue calling for action. While the university has promised to increase financial aid and non-academic scholarships, the UTMSU will be working to ensure that the increase is substantial enough for students. The UTMSU will also follow up to confirm that the university has increased co-op, internship, and experiential learning opportunities as promised. Relating to academic matters, the UTMSU will be working with the university’s academic integrity unit to update the Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters. The UTMSU has also yet to receive an update on the university’s actions to extend the credit/no credit deadline, and the next team will follow up on this.

With one month left in her term, Barre notes that transitioning the UTMSU to the incoming team is critical. “We don’t want UTM to take advantage of the student leader turnover to

SAMIRA KARIMOVA/THE MEDIUM

ignore issues,” contended Barre, explaining that her team will ensure that the incoming UTMSU team has all the information necessary to carry forward its campaigns and continue lobbying the UTM administration for action.

Implementation of the digital U-Pass will also be handled by the incoming team, as are subsequent renegotiations and contracting. “Campaigns are long-lasting efforts, we do not get victories overnight. We’re setting the foundation for a lot of different things, and [the incoming team] will have to carry that forward,” said Barre. The UTMSU’s campaigns may be altered to align more with the incoming team’s visions but will have good continuity with this year’s work and remain focused on improving students’ university experience.

Additionally, the UTMSU is currently planning the expansion of the Student Centre. Student outreach may take place over this summer, with a referendum held potentially in the 2023-2024 academic year. Should the referendum be passed, the construction of the expansion will take place over the coming years.

All in all, Barre feels proud of her team and what they collectively accomplished during the year. Prospectively, she hopes that the UTMSU will increase engagement with students through social media and improve how the organization addresses online discourse. “We had a lot of great in-person events and initiatives, and it’s a matter of making sure that students in the online world also know about them,” Barre emphasized.

Barre encouraged all students to stay involved with the UTMSU by attending the annual general meeting, commission meetings, or simply visiting the office in the Student Centre.

“The Student Centre is the home of a lot of people, and I want it to stay that way. I want it to be open, and I want people to feel welcome there the way I felt welcome when I was in my first year,” concluded Barre. “There’s so much value in coming together as a community and working towards the same goals.”

Graduating this spring?

Welcome to the recession As Canada heads into a recession, graduates must juggle rising costs of living, employment challenges, as well as the overall uncertainty surrounding graduation and newfound independence.

Mihail Cubata Associate News Editor

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s another academic semester comes to a close this April, many students across Canada are moving on from university life and starting their professional careers. However, economic recession and inflation have left the future of Canada’s job market uncertain.

Economists are forecasting that Canada is heading into a recession. This means that employers will be forced to cut jobs to maintain their bottom line. It also means that fewer goods will be produced, and less money will change hands. For recent graduates, a recession affects more than just employment—it also means steeper prices on necessities like food, shelter, transportation, and other services. Such issues serve as obstacles for recent graduates as they transition into independent lives.

Late 2022 reports predicted a severe hit to the Canadian economy, citing postCovid-19 restructuring, surging inflation, and economic trouble in the US—Canada’s largest trading partner—as the reasons. A report published in February 2023 by the Ontario Living Wage Network calculated the necessary living wage in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) as $23.15 an hour for 2022. This represents between a 4.8 to 30.1 per cent increase from 2021, dependent on the GTA municipality.

But in a March 2023 release, Deloitte, a professional services firm, contended that Canada could get off easy, predicting the country’s gross domestic product to drop by 0.5 per cent this year before jumping back up two per cent in 2024. According to Deloitte, cooling inflation rates and the rollout of welfare

measures—like Alberta’s affordability action plan—across Canada have improved the country’s economic forecast. The firm adds that while recent international scares like the Silicon Valley Bank collapse reduced public confidence in the Western economy, these incidents have had minimal impact on Canada’s economic recovery.

But even a minor recession can have long-lasting effects on people just starting their careers. A 2019 Stanford study found that people who leave school for work during an economic slump suffer higher midlife death rates and lower socioeconomic standing decades after graduating.

According to a CBC article, despite forecasts of a nationwide recession, Ontario is currently experiencing a record number of job openings relative to its population, with the sales and service sectors experiencing an especially high labour shortage. Regardless, vacancies are down from their peak in May 2022 and the province’s unemployment rate has stayed low at five

per cent. While rising costs remain problematic, graduates looking to enter the workforce are facing a relatively favourable labour market. Employers are struggling to find workers, with some experts attributing this to labour shortage. Others, however, state that employers have been unwilling to adjust wages to accommodate the soaring costs of living or introduce flexible working conditions, resulting in their predicament.

In an advice column posted on The Muse, a job search website, Ilana Gordon, who graduated during the 2009 economic recession, stresses the importance of longterm plans. “Your career might not proceed on the exact timeline you imagined, so try not to tie your expectations and feelings of self-worth to strict milestones,” she writes.

“Free yourself from the idea you need to find something permanent fast, and devote the time and mental energy you save to figuring out what you want to do in the long term and how to get there, even if it takes a little longer.”

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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12

OPINION

Editor | Kareena Kailass opinion@themedium.ca

Letter to the Editor: From Kuicmar, To World

Student journalism at The Medium is essential, and writing is my ribbon of solace.

Kuicmar Phot and Elizabeth Provost Staff Writer and Editor-in-Chief Dear Editor, Writing is a polarizing experience.

The process of having an article read, comprehended, and scrutinized are the inevitable jaws at the bottom of the ocean that never seem to close. Or a whirlpool at the end of a riptide that I never seem to notice after the initial struggle. Thinking of an idea, anguishing over drafts of incomprehensible brain dumps, and finally being content with a piece of writing brings a false sense of relief that quickly gets cleaved from my ego. Throwing my writing, a piece written with care and detail, into the palms of strangers opens the possibility of having my work discarded, demeaned, or degraded. It’s a dreadful feeling. Yet it’s a feeling that few of us vie for. The chance to articulate the well-intentioned, inner workings of our minds on a variety of topics and have them displayed in a permanent composition of literature is the epitome of journalism.

Regardless of whether we’re being cringed at or praised, our voices are being heard in an academic environment where it’s easy to feel silenced.

Student journalism is essential.

It is the essence of student life, not only for writers but for readers and non-readers alike. Each printed issue sitting on a metal stand on campus represents a cluster of student voices being exhibited. Highlighting student voices on campus establishes the fact that there is space to respond and space to react. The Medium allows students to consume current campus events through a student frame of perspective rather than through the faculty. Writers are the messengers and mouthpieces of the student collective that exist throughout the various inescapable academic hierarchies.

In the cog of harrowing societal news or scouring through endless scientific papers, reading about a cool Spotify playlist, an odd movie review, or occasional romantic advice is enough to give students a break from our competitive academic sphere and offer a look into the minds of the often-faceless stu-

dents that surround us on campus. Writing at The Medium has given me an escape from my tedious science-based routines and allowed me to rediscover my love for the arts. Student newspapers are intrinsic in forming a sense of community on campus.

You may never meet a student writer on campus, or even read an article, but the idea that there are stable opportunities for student voices to be heard provides a sense of comfort; a glimmer of hope that what we say matters in the grand scheme of academia.

Our opinions, news, comments, advice, and interests are diverse, intricate, satirical, mundane, or sometimes a little monotonous, but they mean something to someone on campus.

Writing is the ribbon of solace I’ve chosen.

Even if my articles aren’t being read, what matters is that they’re being written. To anyone reading this, if you have something to say—a poem to write, a movie to review, a topic to rant about, or a topic to rave about—student journalism at The Medium might be for you. Although this is the end of the editorial year, I hope that student journalism at The Medium continues to thrive. Looking forward to next year. Until then.

Cheers, Kuicmar Dear Kuicmar, Thank you for your ever-so-thoughtful reflection on student journalism. It warms my heart that you’ve found solace and comfort in contributing to The Medium. In every submission we receive, including yours, our team has the privilege to be welcomed into your world, inspired by your perspectives, and be witness of history—because The Medium is a document of our campus’ history—a “permanent composition of literature” as you’ve written. This is a privilege. Not only are writers’ contributions the lifeline of our publication, but it’s also an honour to play a role in the development of writers and editors.

As a student of chemistry, I sympathize with the desire to seek “an escape from tedious science-based routines.” We’re so happy you’ve found this escape with us, and we cannot wait to continue to be this safe space for you—and for others—in the years to come.

“Even if my articles aren’t being read, what matters is that they’re being written,” you wrote. I’m reading them, Kuicmar.

And when we see writers in the halls, in our emails, or at our events, we remember your writer’s voice, and it’s always a pleasure to put a face to a name. So, thank you for connecting. And if there’s ever any way we can make writing less polarizing, remember we’re here to grow with you, so we will always welcome any feedback in our inbox or at our door.

With all our love, Elizabeth Provost, Volume 49 Editor-in-Chief & The Medium’s Editorial Team

13

: Saying goodbye.

Elizabeth Provost Editor-in-Chief

T

wo years have passed since I began writing From Liz, With Love. As I wrap-up my undergrad degree and leave U of T for grad school, I take with me the lessons I’ve learned from this bi-weekly column.

Giving advice is not a simple task—it requires you to be vulnerable and sensitive, and there can be consequences. In my introductory post, I wrote that I was just “another young adult navigating university and relationships through selfgrowth and discovery while making and growing from mistakes.” I had no credentials to write answers to your personal questions—I still don’t. But somewhere along the way, with the help of my friends and my mom, who often weighed in as I penned replies to your delicate messages, I learned how to write kindly, be more supportive, and be a better listener.

“If you force yourself to deny your feelings or to react in a certain way, you lose the honesty you owe yourself.”

With time, I also became more comfortable with sharing pieces of my own story, heartbreak, and failed friendships.

I’ve found that being open about when things didn’t work out, and even joking about them, has helped me realize that life is so much grander than heartbreak or drama or petty gossip. Yes, these things will affect you, and they will impact how you move forward with yourself and your relationships, but the most important relationship is the one you cultivate with yourself. Arguably, this is the only relationship you truly have control over, and it’s the one that will influence the people you attract. So, if you force yourself to deny your

feelings or to react in a certain way, you lose the honesty you owe yourself. When I was dealing with a hard breakup, one of the biggest pieces of advice I received from my best friend was to move forward instead of trying to move on.

Thank you.

I’m still a work in progress. There will still be days when the sun doesn’t rise, but feel your feelings—I’ve had to tell myself that over and over.

“Don’t force yourself to lose love; move forward and let the rain pour until the skies clear.”

“Life is fleeting, so I’ve realized that there’s no reason to be afraid, and there’s no reason to be dishonest with yourself and others about how you feel.”

After that heartbreak and the loss of a family member last summer, my heart closed its doors and wasn’t welcoming anyone new, let alone taking the time to spare any love for myself. During that time, I was constantly telling myself: “tomorrow you’re going to wake up and you will be okay, you will have moved on, and you will be ready to form new bonds.” What I wish I’d told myself was: “Don’t force yourself to lose love; move forward and let the rain pour until the skies clear.” Because the days I spent in forced denial could have been avoided had I just trusted that every moment and feeling was worth something. The love I hold for my ex or the regrets I carry from the passing of someone dear to me should not be scrutinized or stigmatized. It’s easy to be hard on yourself, but investing in your relationship with yourself involves consciously exercising kindness.

With time, I’ve found myself again. I’m different: I now wear my heart on my sleeve, I’m fragile, and I prioritize honesty. Life is fleeting, so I’ve realized that there’s no reason to be afraid, and there’s no reason to be dishonest with yourself and others about how you feel. I’m grateful to the lost boyfriends, flings, crushes, and friends for teaching me so much about love and about how to be a better friend and partner.

I chose to write what I know about love in my recent Medium Magazine contribution titled “Painting Love: A Reflection on Love and Museums.” My story will change as I learn more about myself and the world around me, and as I fall in, and maybe even out, of love again. I hope your story changes too, Reader, and I hope that in every day you see the love and the art around you—they are one and the same. For now, I thank you for your questions and your trust, and with all my love, I wish for you to open your heart to all the world has to offer. I hope you feel every season and smell every flower, and I hope one day soon, you find what’s meant to be yours.

Love Always,

Changing Leaves: We made it!

Aia Jaber Columnist

L

isten friends, we made it—barely, but we made it. Happy end of the semester. Happy end of yet another year of energy drinks and long nights. I’m proud of you.

Back in October, I hit the worst low I have ever hit in my 22 years of living. In the span of three weeks, my anxiety about French class turned into anxiety about everything—my other classes, talking to professors, going to work, or even leaving my house. I was terrified. I wish I was overreacting. I wish it wasn’t as scary as it was. But I was burnt-out mentally and physically. I wanted to be proud of myself—and I was, until I wasn’t.

School isn’t worth my legs trembling, or the nausea, or the panicked sleep, or the dizziness, or the sobbing, or feeling like I was going to die at every second. It wasn’t worth it. There was no rush to complete school by a certain time.

Back in October, I would’ve thought, “I’m not sure I’ll make it out.” I’ve learned that life isn’t a race—a cliché. I’ve learned that every sacrifice makes way for more growth, and that the people who love you will know you are not

what you fear. My article, “Mind|Body|Soul”, in The Medium’s most recent magazine, In With The New, was written for any student that has ever felt like me—it wasn’t for me.

The first time I travelled to England, I had flown alone whilst hauling a huge suitcase around London, all the way to Oxford. I got to Oxford at 11 p.m. after a three-hour bus ride and spent time at the one place open that late— a game café with no internet. And I did it all alone. I’m the person who has no issue getting physically lost, because I know I will always be found. My adventures remind me of my strength.

“I’ve learned that every sacrifice makes way for more growth, and that the people who love you will know you are not what you fear.”

This is my last column piece for Changing Leaves, and maybe my last article for The Medium ever. These last few days at U of T have been bittersweet—I want to escape these walls while enjoying the last moments I’ll have of my childhood, knowing this is the last time all my

friends are in one spot. I will miss car rides with Liz, shivering in the cold with Shanavi, Omar raiding the office snacks, Youssef ’s karaoke sessions, Daanish’s photography skills, being loopy with Lina, practicing my Egyptian with Dalia, and Mahira’s cryptic messages. I’ll miss every friend, listed and not.

My four years at UTM have helped me grow, become assertive, fall in and out of love, and feel strong in my faith, family, and self. I’ve sat at a café on a beautifully blue day whilst drinking coffee with someone I will likely not see again.

I’ve made friends with British exchange students, professors, and strangers on the Go Bus. I’ve felt my fair share of imposter syndrome with my greatest passion—writing—especially at the beginning of The Medium’s publishing year, but I’ve learned so much as a writer and editor here, at Muslim Girl, and at The Muslim

Voice magazine. If I’ve accomplished that much in five months, I can only wonder what pride I’ll feel once I dedicate myself to whatever craft I pick.

I’m in a better place now—running away from the pain of the past while holding onto the promise of the future. I’m still terrified of the dark, stormy cloud that hovered over me for months, and I still sense that cloud looming over me every now and then. However, my emotions can’t hurt me. I’ve learned to not fight my anxiety, but work with it.

Good luck on your adventures. I really hope my column resonated with some of you. You can always connect with me on Instagram (it’s literally my full name). And remember, facing fears head on—travelling, romance, skydiving, failing—is the only way to slay. And, as I always say, “another day, another slay.” That, and “yolo.”

14

or on Edit pini O ss, ila a K

y, Features Editor had c k c Nu a) k e

Pris ha (M an

La

Editor ews N , au yL r r

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Section Editor Thank Yous

NEWS

OpINION

Features

In the blink of an eye, we’ve reached the end of the publishing year! I’d like to thank all of you for contributing to Volume 49 of The Medium. During my time as News Editor this year, I’ve learned so much from editing your amazing pieces and interacting with you. At the end of the day, we may hold different views, abide by different principles, and have different habits, but we all share the passion of having our voices heard. Amidst such differences, we came together to write for The Medium, culminating in a year’s worth of issues that serve as evidence of all of your determination and dedication. I hope that all of you can hold on to your passion for journalism and continue writing splendid articles for future volumes of The Medium. I wish you all the best of luck in your future endeavours.

As Volume 49 comes to a close, I want to thank each and every one of you that brought the Opinion section to life. You have left a footprint in The Medium’s history, and that means more than the world to me and the rest of the editorial team.

I still remember the day I decided to write an article for The Medium. I was so nervous, and immediately regretted pitching my article idea. But that was until Volume 47’s Features Editor warmly encouraged me, pushing me to keep writing after I published that first article. I could not even picture myself as one of The Medium’s writers, let alone as part of the Editorial Board.

Two years later, I’m utterly grateful that I’ve had the opportunity to serve as Volume 49’s Features Editor—it’s been an absolute pleasure and a dream come true.

From your incredibly creative pitch ideas to your unique writing styles, you never failed to amaze me. I deeply appreciate the time and effort you’ve put in to write for Features, always coming up with original interviews and unique viewpoints. Working with all of you has been inspiring, fulfilling, and humbling. Going back, looking at the 7o Features articles we’ve published this year, one thing’s for sure: Features couldn’t have done it without you. I hope that you keep writing for and reading The Medium and I am more than excited to see you flourish in your future endeavours.

So, to all the writers, readers, and illustrators, thank you so much for an amazing publishing year—it is one that I’ll cherish.

Contributors: Larry Lau (18), Mihail Cubata (12), Angelina Jaya Siew (11), Emily Rogers (10), Razia Saleh (9), Emily Prete (7), Shreya Joshi (5), Elizabeth Provost (4), Hema Ramnarine (4), Kathleen Xu (4), Yusuf Larizza-Ali (4), Kiara Senanayake (3), Maryam Lela (3), Renee Simran Kaur Mahal (3), Sukaina Rizvi (3), Zitong Chen (3), Aidan Thompson (2), Alisa Samuel (2), Cristina Pincente (2), Danica D’Sa (2), Karine Alhakim (2), Kirsty MacLellan (2), Malavika Puri (2), Mariana Dominguez Rodriguez (2), Pearla Hariri (2), River Knott (2), Sena Yurt (2), Kennealy Nolan (1), Lily Yu (1), Mari Khan (1), Maryam Patel (1), Mashiyat Ahmed (1), Meighan Atkinson (1), Simran Rattanpal (1) Larry Lau, News Editor (Volume 49)

To my dear Opinion writers: Thank you for your contributions, your trust, your vulnerability, and of course, your stories. I am beyond thankful to have had the chance to work with you this year. I will forever carry the memories of our time shared together and will always keep your delicate words close to my heart.

To Opinion’s supportive readers: Thank you for giving Opinion a chance, for supporting Opinion through every issue, and for never leaving its side. I hope it never lets you down.

To the illustrators and photographers that helped bring Opinion to life: Thank you. Your spirit and artistic hands are woven into every piece of the Opinion section. It beams off of each page, and leaves me in awe every issue.

To our Copy Editors, River and Aidan; our Managing Editor, Juliana; our Editor-in-Chief, Liz, and my fellow section editors: Thank you for all of your support. Your dedication and passion for your craft are more powerful than you’d ever imagine.

Thank you all for such an amazing year. It has truly been a pleasure seeing you all bring your passion to life. I can’t wait to see what next year has in store for you!

Contributors: Elizabeth Provost (19), Aia Jaber (15), Alan Tran (6), Angelina Jaya Siew (5), Mari Khan (5), Hannah Grace Wang (4), Hema Ramnarine (4), Julia Skoczypiec (4), Juliana Stacey (4), Kirsty MacLellan (4), Kuicmar Phot (4), Malavika Puri (4), Aïssatou Odia Barry (3), Ishaan Sethi (3), Jonathan Divine Angubua (3), Mashiyat Ahmed (3), Prisha (Maneka) Nuckchady (3), Rola Fawzy (3), Tia Cummins (3), Vanessa Bogacki (3), Yasmine Benabderrahmane (3), Zitong Chen (3), Aidan Thompson (2), Cristina Pincente (2), Danica D’Sa (2), Fariha Shimu (2), Kaitlyn Harris (2), Kareena Kailass (2), Larry Lau (2), Lydia C. Rehman (2), Mariana Dominguez Rodriguez (2), River Knott (2), Samira Karimova (2), Tiana Dunkley (2), A.I. Zaritzky (1), Alex Johnson (1), Alisa Samuel (1), Andres Krauss (1), Baamie Dorazahi (1), Bilaal Mohamed (1), Emily Minasvand (1), Hamna Riaz (1), Jestina Hajjar (1), Juan Esteban Lamilla Cuellar (1), Kathleen Xu (1), Kenton Hu (1), Lina Tupak-Karim (1), M.A. (1), Madison Ireland (1), Maja Tingchaleun (1), Manisha Basuita (1), Mannal Qureshi (1), Maryam Lela (1), Maryam Patel (1), Nessma Korideck (1), Olga Fedossenko (1), Paige France (1), Rebecca Kim (1), Santiago Morán (1), Yusuf Larizza-Ali (1) Kareena Kailass, Opinion Editor (Volume 49)

Contributors: Dalainey Gervais (12), Olga Fedossenko (7), Prisha (Maneka) Nuckchady (6), Elizabeth Provost (4), Alisa Samuel (3), Hema Ramnarine (3), Kareena Kailass (3), Aia Jaber (2), Aïssatou Odia Barry (2), Cristina Pincente (2), Jonina Rai (2), Lina Hassan (2), Malavika Puri (2), Mari Khan (2), Sierra Peca (2), Yusuf Larizza-Ali (2), Abigail Savage (1), Azkka Noor (1), Beatriz Simmas (1), Danica D’Sa (1), Emily Prete (1), Emily Rogers (1), Juan Esteban Lamilla Cuellar (1), Juliana Stacey (1), Justine Hopkiins (1), Kiara Senanayake (1), Larry Lau (1), Madison Ireland (1), Mahera Islam (1), Manisha Basuita (1), Maryam Lela (1), Maryam Patel (1), Melody Yang (1), Meghna Parhar (1), Meghna Patil (1), Michaela Dimitrov (1), Nicole Judd (1), Ottavia Paluch (1), Paige France (1), Pearla Hariri (1), Ruth Baker (1), Shahed Ebesh (1), Shreya Joshi (1), Simran Rattanpal (1), Stephanie Ivanyshyn (1), Sukaina Rizvi (1), Tiana Dunkley (1), Zitong Chen (1) Prisha (Maneka) Nuckchady, Features Editor (Volume 49)

& Design Editor otos h P a, ov ir m

Sam ira Ka

Health Editor ts & r o p l, S ue m

Ali sa Sa

Julia Sko czy pi

ent Editor ertainm Ent & rts ,A c e

Arts

Sports

Photos

Dear A&E Writers and Readers,

Working as the Sports & Health Editor for The Medium was a worthwhile experience, and I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to take part in the 2022-2023 publishing year alongside all members of the editorial team.

One of the most rewarding things for me was being able to interact with UTM student athletes and their stories through the Athlete Profiles column. These students are thoughtful, resilient individuals who pursue strength and success not just in the worlds of sport and fitness, but also other areas of their lives, with the kind of single-mindedness and familial encouragement that can only be attributed to athletes.

Thank you to every single student who wrote for S&H while juggling studies, jobs, and personal engagements. The hard work of student writers is really the grease that keeps the wheels of the paper turning.

To our readers, I sincerely appreciate your taking the time to support our work. (A special shoutout to Professor Guy Allen!).

I hope that The Medium will continue to serve the interests of the UTM community while also learning to challenge prevailing narratives by giving voice to various perspectives and lesserknown issues that concern campus life and society at large.

As we end Volume 49, I want to take the opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you. Whether as an associate, a contributor, or simply a reader in our community, your contributions have made a significant impact and created opportunities for growth, learning, and creativity.

Thank you, Photos & Design readers, for supporting us with every issue. Your feedback, engagement, and enthusiasm has been a driving force for our team. We appreciate your time and dedication in reading and sharing our articles, and we are grateful for your loyalty.

Thank you, Photos & Design contributors, for your amazing work whether as stunning photographs, captivating illustrations, or impressive designs. Your remarkable ability to exceed my expectations with each piece submitted has not only impressed me, but also played a significant role in shaping the success of our newspaper. Introducing illustrations for the first time this year was nerve-wracking at the beginning, but your work made the process feel like a breeze.

My dear associates, Beatriz Simas and Aurora Picciottoli, thank you for your dedication, time, and hard work. Your weekly contributions have helped me tremendously, and I am amazed by your consistency.

Thank you all for making this year unforgettable. High-fives, fist bumps, and victory dances are all encouraged—you deserve it!

Can you believe that these are the final pages of The Medium’s Volume 49? For some reason, I found that this year scurried by quicker than others—maybe adulting is just catching up to me.

But within the hustle, I have tried to remind myself of the many moments that brighten my days, and editing your articles for A&E did just that.

To each writer, thank you for your contributions. Your new perspectives on the many art forms that surround us taught me so much. From book reviews by authors that I would have never discovered, to in-depth analyses of TV series and films, your words created a wonderful community.

To the readers, thank you for engaging with the A&E section.

The Medium would not exist without the many keen eyes that browse our pages.

Thank you to my awesome associates, Megan and Maja, for your wonderful pitches and well-versed writing. It has been a pleasure to work with you both, and I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors.

Finally, to my fellow section editors; copy editors; our Managing Editor, Juliana; and Liz, our Editor-in-Chief, thank you for encouraging me to write, for providing such in-depth edits, and for all the laughs and hectic card games during our socials. You have all impacted me in such a positive way, and I look forward to seeing what each of you do in years to come.

Annnnnnd that’s a wrap on 49! I can’t wait to read The Medium’s next volume, see A&E shine, and cheer all future writers on.

Contributors: Julia Skoczypiec (10), Megan Freedman (10), Elizabeth Provost (6), Kuicmar Phot (6), Daanish Alvi (5), Hannah Grace Wang (5), Maja Tingchaleun (5), Aia Jaber (4), Alisa Samuel (4), Cristina Pincente (4), Paige France (4), Rola Fawzy (4), Tiana Dunkley (4), Madison Ireland (3), Mashiyat Ahmed (3), Samira Karimova (3), Yusuf Larizza-Ali (3), Aidan Thompson (2), Ayomide Bayowa (2), Dalainey Gervais (2), Jonina Rai (2), Leah MacKay (2), Malavika Puri (2), Mariana Dominguez Rodriguez (2), Meghna Parhar (2), Abeera Sohail (1), Abigail Savage (1), Aïssatou Odia Barry (1), Alex Johnson (1), Aurora Picciottoli (1), Bilaal Mohamed (1), Emily Rogers (1), Kaitlyn Harris (1), Kareena Kailass (1), Kathleen Xu (1), Kiara Senanayake (1), Larry Lau (1), Lina Tupak-Karim (1), Mari Khan (1), Mira Brooks (1), Joy Pius (1), Nessma Korideck (1), Olga Fedossenko (1), Ottavia Paluch (1), Prisha (Maneka) Nuckchady (1), Radhia Rameez (1), Romana Krekhovetska (1),Shahed Ebesh (1), Shreya Joshi (1), Yasmine Benabderrahmane (1), Zitong Chen (1) Julia Skoczypiec, Arts & Entertainment Editor (Volume 49)

Contributors: Alisa Samuel (12), Omar Khan (11), Radhia Rameez (5), Melody Yang (4), Christina Pincente (3), Justyn Aleluia (3), Kaitlyn Harris (3), Alanna Sethi (2),Dalainey Gervais (2), Elizabeth Provost (2), Yusuf Larizza-Ali (2), Ahmad Khan (1), Bilal Siddiqui (1), Emily Prete (1), Hema Ramnarine (1), Irene Park (1), Julia Skoczypiec (1), Juliana Stacey (1), Kareena Kailass (1), Meghna Patil (1), Mikael Syed (1), Ottavia Paluch (1), Paige France (1), Sriya Yalavarthi (1), Summer Azem (1) Alisa Samuel, Sports & Health Editor (Volume 49)

Contributors: Samira Karimova (77), Beatriz Simas (43), Natalie Ng (21), Aurora Picciottoli (18), Sabrina Mutuc (13), Kirsty MacLellan (8), Lily Yee (4), Nicole Judd (3), Brianna Acebedo (3), Delainey Gervais (2), Isabela Arriojas Ocampo (1), Daniella Medel-Lawrence (1) Samira Karimova, Photos & Design Editor (Volume 49)

Editorial 16

What you can do in a short time “We must talk to hear an echo”—a reflection on four years in student journalism and the lessons learned.

Elizabeth Provost Editor-in-Chief

I

was recently asked if I was sad to be leaving The Medium. A year ago, after my first run as Editor-in-Chief, the answer would have been “yes.” But now, writing my final contribution to the paper, I am excited to leave.

Sometime in the first two weeks of my undergrad, I realized that my classes induced an overwhelming boredom (this was before I picked up my art history major and figured out what I wanted to do with my life). So, I made the conscious decision to try everything else that university could offer. After some failed attempts to join a few clubs, I thankfully submitted my first of many articles for The Medium.

From contributing my writing in my first year, to being elected as Features Editor in my second year, and then serving as Editor-in-Chief for my final two years, my four-year journey has attested that taking on positions you are unqualified for is the way to learn quickly and achieve greatly, because imposter syndrome will put a fire under your ass (try it, trust me).

Let me explain.

In the heat of July 2021 when I was first elected as Editorin-Chief, I checked off the first item on my to-do list: paint the murky, 90s-light-blue-coloured office walls. I felt so overwhelmed and unqualified that I did what I knew I could handle at the time—putting on overalls and a bandana, looking pretty, and slathering paint. Two days later, the spark gave off a few embers, and I added another item to the list. With each subsequent tick, my ambitions grew larger as I realized that the newspaper’s legacy was in my hands (and that of my wonderful team, of course). I have Elisa, my then Managing Editor, to thank for never raising a brow at my extravagant ideas and somehow taking my “Oh My God, what if we…” as seriously as she did.

As I write my final remarks, I’ve edited over 1,000 articles and written more than 60, and only now, do I realize the power of what I used to call a “silly little campus newspaper.”

This realization doesn’t come down to the recognition I’ve received as an editor and writer, or the feedback we’ve received as a publication; it’s about the individual voices in those same 1,000 articles that have been given the power to speak. Somewhere in between making editorial choices, being vulnerable in Word documents, starting a podcast, forming life-lasting friends, and trying to give The Medium its biggest makeover yet, I found my voice.

Four years is a short time; moments are fleeting, and after a while, the years start to blur into each other. You start to remember undergrad as a set of environments where you shared a vague number of moments with others. I owe my successes to a newsroom of unique, innovative, and hilarious people, but I’ve been forced to face some hard truths. My understanding of myself has been shaped by contextualizing unique perspectives of the world—to which I was exposed through the writing and storytelling of others—and being open to changing my own outlooks in response. I’ve learned that being a good leader means being a good listener—not passively, but actively, by adding to the conversation, shifting your understanding of a construct, or implementing change.

“Don’t become a set of typed letters on a byline—set longterm intentions, plant the seeds of ambitious projects, and don’t lose yourself among the rolodex of responsibilities. It’s not easy.”

“We must talk to hear an echo,” penciled in Shivangi, my speaker relations manager as I prepared for my TEDxUofT talk. Although defining legacy and welcoming change have been common threads during my time with The Medium, it wasn’t until I was given the opportunity to welcome hundreds to my world at the Isabel Bader Theatre this February that I dilated on the power of student journalism. I said, “The mountain I’m standing on is the legacy of all the past writers and editors of student publications. I’ve realized that each student has a legacy, one that matters, one that is unique, and one that deserves to be heard. We may not know them all just yet, but I know that student journalism will welcome each one with open arms.”

To next year’s team, open your arms. Through the archive, you’ll learn that the publication has 55 years of told stories, and although today the landscape of student journalism is different, understanding them is the key to facing the beast of legacy in a unique way. Don’t become a set of typed letters on a byline—set long-term intentions, plant the seeds of ambitious projects, and don’t lose yourself among the rolodex of responsibilities. It’s not easy.

At one of our two Medium Magazine launches this year a writer asked me for advice; they also asked: “how do you do it?” The answer to the second question involves a love for coffee and being an over-achiever—while the first I can synthesize in two major takeaways.

First—be a “yes” person. Let things happen. Walk through every open door. Don’t limit yourself to a list of goals; be open to life’s opportunities, even if they’re not part of your plan.

Change your major the second you find a class you don’t spend fixated on the clock. Talk to professors and take their feedback. Listen. Listen. Listen. Take out your headphones.

Eavesdrop on people’s conversations, join those conversations, make friends. Introduce yourself to strangers, then wave at them when you see them in the halls, even if you forget their names. Say “yes” to karaoke nights and campus events—even if they seem lame. Take seminar classes, do a research placement, apply yourself. And if you’re lucky, travel.

Before a recent trip to Rome, former Managing Editor Aia reminded me that the world is so much grander than this campus. The petty drama, exes, and (hopefully few) bad grades are just breadcrumbs of what transpires and who you’ll meet outside these mono-coloured walls. Don’t let yourself get caught up in thinking that this is it. It’s not.

Second—make some enemies. There will be people who tell you that your confidence comes off as arrogance—don’t listen to them; they are jealous. You’ll know you’re doing it right when you receive empty threats or shallow compliments. Make people angry by standing up for your beliefs and values—but stay humble and don’t force anyone to join you.

Make some noise. Walk away when you’ve outgrown people or places. Keep the people that celebrate your successes with geniality, both big and small, close. Buy them flowers when they achieve great things. Write them letters of thanks and leave sticky notes on their computers, or morning texts, telling them you love them. And most importantly, express your gratefulness.

Thank you, Reader, for four years. I’ll miss growing with you, but I’m excited to start to find new places to dig my roots. My chapter at The Medium is complete, but the impact of the publication and all its intersecting threads will continue to weave the tapestry of my life. Although you won’t be reading my name on these familiar bylines, every end is another beginning, so this won’t be the last you hear from me.

I hope I’ve inspired you, and I hope you find your purpose in your short time.

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features

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

SAMIRA KARIMOVA/THE MEDIUM

How bugs get busy Dr. Rosalind Murray, from the Department of Biology, talks about bug sex in CBC’s Nature of Things documentary.

Radhia Rameez Associate Sports & Health Editor

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hen we think of sex, self-imposed cannibalism, food gifts, or hovering dusk dances are probably the furthest things on our minds. But bug sex is bizarre, and mere cannibalism hardly scratches the surface of what goes on when arthropods— invertebrates like insects and spiders—reproduce.

“Bug sex is bizarre, and mere cannibalism hardly scratches the surface of what goes on when arthropods— invertebrates like insects and spiders—reproduce.”

Male fruit flies, for instance, enjoy sex— and turn to alcohol if the ladies turn them down. Male redback spiders willingly throw themselves into the female’s open mouth after mating. These are just a few facts you could learn from CBC’s recent Nature of Things episode titled “Bug Sex,” which was released earlier this month, on March 10, 2023. With a tagline declaring, “Broken genitals and cannibalism. Welcome to the weird and wonderful world of how bugs get busy,” the episode promises to be intriguing.

But as fascinating as it might be to watch fruit flies getting frisky, it is even more fasci-

nating when one of the stars of the episode is your very own biology professor, with your teaching assistant making a brief appearance as well. Dr. Rosalind Murray, assistant professor in the University of Toronto Mississauga’s (UTM) Biology Department, appears on the episode to talk about her area of expertise: dance flies.

Dance flies are peculiar in that sex roles are reversed; it is the females who carry the flashy ornaments and “dance” to compete for male attention while the males do the choosing. In an interview with The Medium, Dr. Murray explains, “Even in his earliest books, Darwin noticed that it was the males of species that were ornamented or had weapons,” giving the peacock’s flashy tail and the lion’s mane as wider known examples, while reminding me of the more obscure examples we had covered in BIO318: Animal Behaviour. “But in dance flies, there’s the opposite happening.” According to Dr. Murray, female dance flies swallow air to inflate their abdomens—arranging their legs laterally around them to appear larger—and hover above the ground like little helicopters to attract mates.

However, females should typically never be ornamented. Eggs are energetically costly to produce and given their limited resource pool, females cannot invest in both showy ornaments and offspring. “Yet, in the dance flies, we have evolution—over and over again—of female-specific ornaments,” she points out. “That’s what’s super cool about this system. Females are ornamented in order to gain access to resources so they can mature

their eggs and have reproductive success.”

Dr. Murray studied dance flies during her PhD at the University of Stirling in Scotland and continued researching them when she returned to Canada. She got involved with the CBC documentary through dance fly expert and UTM Professor Emeritus Darryl Gwynne, with whom she had worked with in the past. Together, the two took the film crew out to the small island on the Credit River near Dr. Gwynne’s house, which they call “dance fly island.”

“Dance flies only swarm at dusk and dawn,” explains Dr. Murray. “No one wants to go out at dawn in June since that’s like 4:00 am! So, we did it at dusk.” She tells me that there are always a few moments before the swarming during which they just wait for it to start, thinking: will it happen? Is this the night they’re not going to show up? “Then all of a sudden, there’s some signal—perhaps the light gets right, or something happens—and they just lift off looking like little helicopters,” she says, smiling. “It was just what I remembered from my PhD days, thousands of flies lifting off.” The females would fly parallel to the ground, moving slowly since they are inflated, trying to attract mates. The males would go out to the river, Dr. Murray explains, and catch an insect—perhaps a may-

fly or a bug—and then approach the females from below bearing this “nuptial gift.”

Since the female dance flies are not hunters, these food offerings are the only way they can access protein. After the male chooses a female, Dr. Murray explains that the dance flies mate in a “flying triplicate,” in which the male and female copulate while the female feeds on the food gift she received.

First-year UTM PhD student, Tolulope Babalola, makes a short appearance in the Bug Sex episode, examining dance fly samples under a microscope. Coming to Canada as an international student from Atlanta, Georgia, she studies dance flies and sexual selection in Dr. Murray’s lab.

“I didn’t feel like I had much to offer them,” Babalola laughs. “But it was really fun to be involved in it, and to see what goes on behind the scenes.” As a biologist, she has always enjoyed nature documentaries but never had any idea what went on when they were made.

This, she says, made it all the more interesting to be on the other side and meet the people who work on the films.

Babalola feels like insects don’t get enough time in the spotlight. “A lot of us don’t see insects as animals,” she says. “We just look at them like they’re this separate, gross thing.

But there is so much cool stuff people don’t know about insects!” Babalola thinks that watching them in a nature documentary—a format which most of us are familiar with— could help educate people about them.

To learn more, CBC’s Bug Sex episode can be accessed at www.gem.cbc.ca.

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Forensic genetic genealogy: The key to solving cold cases?

Professor Nicole Novroski discusses how this new technology can help resolve criminal cases.

Dalainey Gervais Associate Features Editor

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n 11th grade biology, Nicole Novroski, assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology, wrote a paper on DNA fingerprinting—a process used in criminal investigations to identify a person’s genetic markup. That moment launched Professor Novroski’s deep interest in forensic biology and learning about the ways that science can solve crimes. Now, after years of working with the Minnesota Bureau for Criminal Apprehension and at the New York City office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Dr. Novroski has found a home at the University of Toronto Mississauga. Currently, she is focusing her research on forensic genetic genealogy—an investigative tool that uses consumer DNA data to explore family lineage, matching them to DNA evidence found at crime scenes—and DNA mixture deconvolution.

The last decade has revolutionized the way detectives solve crimes. With developments like forensic genetic genealogy, criminal cases gone cold can be solved through DNA analysis. In the forensic lab, a cold case is defined differently by different agencies, but oftentimes, it’s used when there has been no activity on the case for three or more years. This new technology allows for potential DNA samples, left untouched for years, to be reanalyzed with the possibility of being identified.

Every forensic case has unique variables. “What we have to remember is that forensic DNA typing in the traditional sense—so what you see in the courtroom or on TV, or what’s actually happening in real life now—is only a couple of decades old,” says Professor Novroski in an in-

MURRAY CLAYTON/UTM

terview with The Medium. Forensic genetics is a field that only emerged in the late 1980s, and in the mid-90s, forensic DNA typing began evolving into the science that it is now.

“When it comes to some of these really old cases,” explains Professor Novroski, “you have to think that they were pre-DNA.” The investigators didn’t know that they were collecting useful DNA evidence.

“What we’re seeing is in a lot of those missing persons cases that are from the 70s, early 80s, DNA evidence was collected, that we are now testing with our new technologies,” says Professor Novroski. When a cold case is reopened, forensic genetic genealogy typically has never been used on the evidence. If the old evidence was put through traditional DNA typing, with no suspect or person of interest to compare that DNA profile to, it was, unfortunately, the end of the road. Now, it’s possible to find a match through private DNA testing companies.

There has been an increase in people submitting their DNA samples to public databases to help solve crime. “Pri-

vate companies like 23andMe or Ancestry provide consumers the option to [upload] their DNA record unto a public database,” explains Professor Novroski. Law enforcement agencies can search these databases to make the same types of connections you would make when looking for relatives.

These agencies can take potential DNA evidence from a missing person’s case or even unknown remains to look for relatives who have uploaded their personal samples.

These kits capture regions of the human genome that allow for the potential to determine relatedness between individuals’ DNA samples. “That’s when we start building out knowledge using additional genealogical data,” explains Professor Novroski. That can include anything from birth records and marriage certificates to anything publicly accessible on the internet. “Genealogists are really resourceful at finding a lot of this public information,” says Professor Novroski. Ultimately, the found genetic information helps create an initial family tree, which is then fortified with that public information to create a well-rounded picture of a person’s lineage.

DNA mixtures and the development of their interpretation further plays a role in the identification of DNA left at crime scenes. These are samples that have two or more contributors. “These mixtures are found everywhere, at homicide investigations, property crimes,” says Professor Novroski. “Just think about your cellphone, I guarantee you would find multiple DNA samples there.” Since DNA mixtures are so prevalent in forensic casework, it’s important to continue to improve our ability to make sense of DNA data.

Professor Novroski is passionate about finding basic science techniques that can better help deconvolute—separate—those mixtures. “At the end of the day,” says Professor Novroski, “the goal with improving our DNA mixture deconvolution efforts is to solve more crimes.” The greater the number of correlations between forensic evidence and persons of interest, the more cases can move into the criminal justice system. This can prove key to diminishing the number of cold case files that stay unresolved.

Forensic genetic genealogy may be able to help solve some of these crimes, but DNA mixtures are tricky. “If we don’t have enough DNA information, then there’s not much more we can do,” explains Professor Novroski, “regardless of how advanced some of these additional technologies become.”

While forensic genetic genealogy is a promising methodology, it’s not an end-all, be-all. “It’s important to remember that a lot of our current forensic methodologies are very effective for human identity,” explains Professor Novroski. “We can’t forget to take advantage of them.” For now, forensic genetic genealogy is an additional investigative tool that both law enforcement and forensic practitioners have access to in order to make sense of the evidence from an ongoing investigation.

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Professor Evonne Levy: Welcoming swerves one project at a time UTM Art History Professor Levy shares how a series of projects in various disciplines of art history have led her back to the study of 17th century bronzes by Gian Lorenzo Bernini.

Elizabeth Provost Editor-in-Chief

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y career has been characterized by swerves,” says Evonne Levy, distinguished Professor of Early Modern Art at the University of Toronto Mississauga in an interview with The Medium. After completing an exchange to Italy in high school, learning the language, and falling in love with the culture, it felt natural to return to Rome during her PhD at Princeton to work in the archives of Roman Baroque chapels, studying art of the Jesuit order. But her first swerve landed her in Berlin as a postdoc, where she began to think about the modern idea of propaganda and its influence on the study of Baroque art—a period between the 17th and early 18th centuries.

Professor Levy attributes her openness to change to a curiosity and willingness to acquire new skills as needed for a new project. When she arrived in the Germanophone countries in 2001, she was fluent in Italian and had 17th-century Italian works of art in her back pocket, but limited German reading, writing, or speaking skills and little understanding of the cultural climate.

Despite these obstacles, she began to look into German scholars and founders of art history. Her research examined how they interpreted art of the Baroque period according to their own political views and concepts. Her studies would later culminate in a 2004 book titled Propaganda and the Jesuit Baroque and a 2015 book titled Baroque and the Political Language of Formalism (1845-1945): Burckhardt, Wölfflin, Gurlitt, Brinckmann, Sedlmayr. Professor Levy notes, “Your first work, you never leave it behind in a way.”

Professor Levy’s next swerve occurred in 2007, when she was invited to participate in her first interdisciplinary project in Latin America. The field was young—“there weren’t a lot of scholars of European art who were looking at colonial Latin American art,” Professor Levy explains. But with her understanding of Jesuit art, alongside co-author Kenneth Mills, Professor Levy published the 2014 volume The Lexikon of the Hispanic Baroque: Transatlantic Cultural Transformation with contributions from over 70 scholars. Working in this new area of colonial studies, the collaborative project explored the cultural transformation and cross-fertilization that occurred following the Spanish conquest of the Americas during the Baroque period.

Her next big interdisciplinary project, and a swerve back to Germanophone art history, led her to work on the global reception of Heinrich Wölfflin’s Principles of Art History, for its centenary of publication in 2015. Co-edited with Tristan Weddigen, Professor Levy published an updated English translation, and the first critical edition of the art historical classic in a volume titled The Global Reception of Heinrich Wölfflin’s Principles of Art History. She explains that the book “provides a model for how to look at really influential scholarly works, and [how to] think about the history of a discipline globally through the reception of a single widely translated and read book.” For the anniversary, Wölfflin’s art history was studied globally in a series of seminars, with participants in Tokyo, Australia, Brazil, Paris, Zurich, and Toronto. In Professor Levy’s 2015 class, her undergraduate students produced a film that documented U of T professors’ views and encounters with the book.

“Big capacious ambitious projects are exciting,” shares Professor Levy. Referring to her undergraduate and graduate courses on Gian Lorenzo Bernini—which she has taught since she began her career at U of T in 1996—Professor Levy describes her most recent, unexpected swerve to have “picked up some threads [of what] I’ve been teaching throughout my career.” She had dipped her toes into Bernini’s oeuvre through essays and contributions to a co-edited volume titled Material Bernini, a book exploring the materiality of Bernini’s work. With her expertise, she brought a “lifetime of knowledge of the Bernini literature into a very new type of inquiry, which is the technical study of art in collaboration with conservators and material scientists.” She describes it as “a new world.”

What began as an isolated study of the two over-life-size crucifixes at a 2017 exhibit on Bernini at the Galleria Borghese in Rome—one of which can be seen today at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)—soon turned into an interdisciplinary histori-

cal and technical study project of the bronze works that were cast after Bernini’s models titled The Technical Study of Bernini’s Bronzes: Art History, Conservation and Material Science. The project’s steering committee, who met in Rome, are Professor Levy, AGO Conservator Lisa Ellis, and J. Paul Getty Museum Senior Conservator Jane Bassett. Together, they were able to recruit a research team and compile ideas during the two years of the Covid-19 pandemic. The project now has 10 main collaborators and over 20 advisors, all established conservators and scholars who provide guidance on important decisions. In 2022, the project’s key players travelled across North America and Australia to study over 30 of Bernini’s bronzes. “It is fun seeing people’s reactions to how ambitious it is,” Professor Levy shares.

“The tendency of all the material scientists is to say, ‘wait until all the results are in,’ and I’ve really learned my lesson to not jump to conclusions.”

“Our ambition is to explain the production of Bernini’s bronzes, which bizarrely hasn’t been investigated, using technical means to help answer questions about their making and the people that were involved in their making,” explains Professor Levy.

The Bernini’s Bronzes project has a special focus on the seldom named founders and workers that were involved in the multiphase process of bronze casting and on the practices of making that allowed for numerous bronze multiples to be made from the same sculptural models. This second focus comes from the initial analysis of Bernini’s two crucifixes, the second of which is from the collection of the Spanish Royal family.

Defining a concrete outcome for this ongoing project is difficult, especially with all of Bernini’s works in Europe yet to be visited. But Professor Levy shares that the hope is to “Come up with a completely new and comprehensive understanding of a whole body of works that are so central to Bernini, but which have not been taken seriously as a medium.” The team is facing many unanswered questions, which they are choosing to keep

EVONNE LEVY/UTM

open-ended. Like with every big swerve in her career, Professor Levy is learning something new: “One of the things that is different for me in this collaboration than my other projects is that I have to hold my hypotheses lightly,” she shares. “The tendency of all the material scientists is to say, ‘wait until all the results are in,’ and I’ve really learned my lesson to not jump to conclusions.”

But why Bernini? Professor Levy defines great artists as those that “bear up under the scrutiny of history over centuries; while our questions change about them, their work sustains the questions.” She continues, “So I admire Michelangelo and Bernini because their work is so rich that scholarship keeps going back to drink at that well.”

Aside from Bernini’s Bronzes, Professor Levy has two other projects that keep her busy. Since 2017, she has been working on a book on intermediality—a category of media that rejects the idea of “pure” media and looks at the relationships between media instead—which has informed how she thinks about Bernini and her teaching. Professor Levy says, “It’s another project that makes me really happy because I feel like I have something to say.” The second project is the recent development of an essay on the medium of bronze, investigating whether the material has ever been connected to race. Professor Levy explains that a comment made by Bernini that was recorded by one of his biographers has prompted her inquiry. As a footnote, Professor Levy asks, “I wonder whether there’s been some hesitation to study Bernini’s bronzes because of a possible very subtle, racialization of the material within art history.”

As a student of Professor Levy’s for the last three years, and as her research assistant for the latter two, I’ve been inspired to think about art and architecture as part of my everyday life, considering how art history can answer political, social, and material questions. One of the foundational pillars of the Bernini’s Bronzes project is the mentorship of U of T students in art history, conservation, and material science—having been lucky enough to have been part of this mission, I enter my graduate studies in conservation with a life that’s been enriched through art, the support of an ambitious team, and immense love for Bernini and bronze.

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Invisible disability: Non-visible does not equate to non-existent Professor Pettinicchio dives into the importance of understanding and reframing disability and the reasons why those with hidden disabilities experience financial strain. motion opportunities. When the labour market already disfavours people with disabilities—leaving them with consistently lower incomes as many have to resort to lower-paying jobs that they’re overqualified for—the fear of disclosure is obvious. Often, they’re left relying on other sources of income, like government funding and personal savings.

But while both options (disclosing or not disclosing) come with their own set of pros and cons, the problem remains that, as Professor Pettinicchio’s research found, when shared with employers, those employers are less accommodating toward those with non-visible disabilities. The same storyline may extend to universities, as students experience prejudice and marginalizations.

Prisha (Maneka) Nuckchady Features Editor

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n 2014, Associate Professor David Pettinicchio from the Department of Sociology at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) published a paper titled Disability, structural inequality, and work: The influence of occupational segregation on earnings for people with different disabilities alongside his colleague, Michelle Maroto, from the University of Alberta. Their study found that employers were less accommodating of those with non-visible disabilities compared to those with visible disabilities. Almost 10 years later, have things changed?

In 2020, U of T registered over 4,500 undergraduate students with accessibility services. Another 1,300 graduate students, who accounted for almost 50 per cent of all master’s students, also identified with accessibility needs. Though it may not be the first thought that comes to mind, it turns out that 90 per cent of students with accessibility needs at U of T have hidden disabilities, 50 per cent of which are a result of mental illness.

“While physical limitations are examples of disability, they are not representative of what it means to have a disability.”

Part of the reason why invisible disabilities are often overlooked is that non-visible disabilities are inherently not obviously recognizable. Since we tend to associate what we can see with specific concepts, we associate disability with physical differences, like a broken limb. We assume that if someone looks physically well, then they must be well. But while physical limitations are examples of disability, they are not representative of what it means to have a disability.

“Many different kinds of definitions of disability exist—some more inclusive or robust than others. It all depends on who is doing the defining and often, for what purpose,” explains Professor Pettinicchio in an email interview with The Medium. While official definitions have varied, many have centered around defining disabilities by measuring a person’s ability to participate in society. Old definitions sought to facilitate policy enforcement by focusing on defining disability as physical or functional limitations. Disability benefits were then primarily restricted to those fully unable to work.

Today, definitions target a wider range of individuals in need of accommodation.

The Accessible Canada Act now defines disability as any impairment or functional limitation that, “in interaction with a barrier, hinders a person’s full and equal par-

“We need to include people with disabilities in decision-making processes if we really want policies to be as inclusive (and effective) as they can be.”

IAN PATTERSON

ticipation in society.” They emphasize that limitations aren’t always physical; they can also be mental, cognitive, sensory, or related to communication and learning. “It is certainly more in line with what the global community of researchers studying disability has moved towards. It also tries to be respectful of the social model of disability, if you note the language, ‘in interaction with a barrier,’” explains Professor Pettinicchio.

The social model of disability is in turn primarily concerned with identifying systemic societal barriers that restrict disabled individuals. Respecting each individual equally, the model roots the cause of the problem in society’s failure to accommodate everyone.

“The social model of disability is in turn primarily concerned with identifying systemic societal barriers that restrict disabled individuals.”

Professor Pettinicchio and Maroto use the Washington Group’s definition of disability. The group defines individuals with disabilities as “Those who are at greater risk than the general population in experiencing restrictions in completing specific tasks or activities due to limitations in their basic

functioning, such as walking, seeing, hearing, or memory—even if such limitations are ameliorated by the use of assistive devices, a supportive environment, or plentiful resources.” Following the social model, Professor Pettinicchio explains, “This means asking individuals about different kinds of so-called functional limitations and how they experience each of those functional limitations [without presupposing] that limitations are disabling” rather than making assumptions about whether or how individuals are disabled by the context they live in. “These may include […] non-visible disabilities,” he elaborates.

Even though employers are legally obliged to provide their employees with appropriate accommodations, many with non-visible disabilities still struggle to receive the support they require. “There are likely many reasons,” explains Professor Pettinicchio, “from whether individuals feel reluctant to make their disability known, fearing they will be stigmatised, to employers downplaying or not recognizing their disability.”

Research found that roughly only 50 per cent of workers disclose their disability.

For some, it is a privacy concern—after all, as long as it does not affect their ability to perform, it’s not their employer’s concern.

Others fear that disability disclosure may fracture their job, financial security, or pro-

However, Professor Pettinicchio acknowledges that since 2014, things have indeed changed–slowly, but for the better.

“Certainly, change occurs but sometimes change is slow, and it isn’t always linear or progressive,” he notes. He explains that we must look both at institutional changes and attitudinal changes to understand how society is progressing. “Policies are important, but history tells us they aren’t always enough to change people’s attitudes about disability. The question is really, how do we get people to change their attitudes if policies alone aren’t always effective at doing so?” explains Professor Pettinicchio.

Promoting inclusion and representation is threefold, requiring debunking information, assessing policies, and including disabled individuals in decision-making.

Pettinicchio explains that this “involves dispelling myths about disability, in say, for example, work and education. And a good way to dispel myths is to actually include people with disabilities within those contexts.” This then requires critically re-evaluating existing policies surrounding inclusion. “And finally, we need to include people with disabilities in decision-making processes if we really want policies to be as inclusive (and effective) as they can be,” he stresses.

Around 20 per cent of Canadian citizens over the age of 15 are living with disability, which means that de-stigmatization and a reframing of our understanding of disability are of key importance. With many employers fearing dishonesty when employees call in sick, acknowledging that non-visible does not equate to non-existent is an essential step that must be taken to establish inclusivity within institutions and uphold human rights.

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Arts

Editor | Julia Skoczypiec arts@themedium.ca

Capturing breath taking moments through photography Understanding how Canadian landscape photographers use their cameras to create art. for his breathtaking sunset captures. By using long exposures to create stunning images of the sun as it dips below the horizon, his shots radiate with enhanced creativity. Alongside the sun, Zizka also photographs mountains, clouds, and bodies of water, to add depth and interest. The Bells is one of Zizka’s most popular photographs—it features two towering peaks in Banff National Park, with a fiery

Samira Karimova Photos & Design Editor

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atching a sunset is truly a magical experience. The warm evening rays fill the soul with peace, and as the sun gradually descends toward the horizon, the sky transforms into a canvas of breathtaking colours— from delicate shades of pink to a vibrant mirage of orange, purple, and blue. While the winter months may bring shorter days and longer nights, summer offers a unique opportunity to witness these stunning displays of natural beauty. The summer’s sunrises and sunsets are more vivid and colourful than any other time of the year. It’s the perfect season to chase the glow and create art.

If you’re lucky enough to live in Canada, you can find inspiration from the works of the many talented Canadian photographers—who capture moments that leave us in awe. Scott Aspinall is a photographer based in Saskatchewan, Canada. He is known to be an enthusiast for the outdoors who often incorporates his passion for hiking and exploring into his photography. His photographs

showcase the majestic and seasonal beauty of the wilderness, particularly the Canadian Rockies. Aspinall’s work is characterized by his ability to capture light and colour in unique and creative ways, resulting in images that are both visually striking and emotionally powerful. He has a deep appreciation for the natural world. He captures the essence of a location and showcases its connection to the people and animals that inhabit it. His photographs are not just beautiful displays of landscapes, they are images that tell stories and evoke a sense of wonder for the natural world.

Paul Zizka is a photographer based in Banff, Alberta, known for his work in many disciplines of photography, including astrophotography. He has also gained a reputation

SCOTT ASPINALL

orange and pink sky in the background. This image perfectly captures the magic of a sunset in the mountains, and it has been widely celebrated as a masterpiece of landscape photography.

Known for her dreamy and ethereal landscape photography, Elizabeth Gadd, a photographer based in Toronto, Canada, uses her camera work to evoke the tranquillity, warmth, and coziness of nature. She has a keen eye for detail and often composes her shots in a way that draws the viewer’s eye to a particular element of the image. In many of her sunset photos, she often positions a lone figure—such as a hiker or prominent landmark—against the stunning backdrop of a sunset. Gadd’s work brings a sense of scale and perspective to the vastness of the natural world and makes the viewer feel like they are a part of her landscape.

While there are undoubtedly many other Canadian photographers who specialize in capturing the beauty of sunsets, the works of Aspinall, Zizka, and Gadd are truly inspiring.

This summer, take the time to venture outdoors, find your own perfect spot, and watch the sky transform into a canvas of breathtaking colours. Oh, and don’t forget your camera.

The M ’s Playlist – Alisa’s April of Appreciation Alisa Samuel Sports & Health Editor

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eing asked to curate a personalized collection of songs for The M’s Playlist took me a minute to figure out. It made me realize how small a role music has come to play in my life since the days of my childhood and adolescence. I grew up surrounded by the arts, and at one point, I began to center my studies around concerts, albums, reading musical biographies, and the like. With time, I slowly stopped identifying with entertainers and, eventually, I learned to no longer depend on music to help me regulate my emotions or improve my mood.

In 2022, I deleted my Spotify account, became less interested in watching music videos, and developed a preference for the mechanical wails of my car over Top 40 radio hits. Don’t get me wrong, though I now ardently prize silence and the mental space that it creates, I still admire music for all its beauty and power. I still value performers as much as anyone can, and I enjoy the fact that songs play everywhere—regardless of whether I’m actively listening to them or not.

So, in reflecting upon my experiences of this academic year as it ends, I brought these twelve songs together in appreciation of all the everyday moments and events that they were a part of. I think of the time when Chris Stapleton’s performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the 2023 Super Bowl made me nostalgic for his bluesy vibrato on Justin Timberlake’s “Say Something.” I remind myself of the warm November day at Scotiabank Arena when I witnessed the salsa-king charisma of Marc Anthony, and when, just two weeks ago, I spontaneously attended John Mayer’s first-ever solo acoustic tour in the same Toronto venue.

From New Order playing in the background as my best friend and I drove to the mall, to testing out my friend’s record player with a Harry’s House vinyl before we watched Brahmastra: Part One—Shiva—with our long-standing fondness of Indian movies—songs like “Blue Monday,” “Cinema,” and “Kesariya” bring up simple memories, too.

“Ay-Yo” by NCT 127 is the one song I can’t ascribe to a memory because I’m unexplainably in love with K-pop. The way that the song seamlessly mixes music genres, its tastefully garish aesthetic, and its angular yet dizzying choreography… K-pop is a love on its own.

With that, welcome to this month’s mix!

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Everybody—A play that contemplated the meaning of life Theatre Erindale’s final main stage production left audiences pondering over major worldly philosophies.

Megan Freedman Associate Arts & Entertainment Editor

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heatre Erindale’s production of Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ Everybody was an existential romp through the process of dying. Set in a mid-20th century style office, Everybody, directed by Leah-Simone Bowen, featured a unique form of casting. Each member of the ensemble was required to memorize every character’s role. During the show, an audience member randomly selected cards from a Rolodex, which provided the cast with their assigned roles. The audience was told that there were 120 possible variations of the play. This form of lottery casting symbolized the existential uncertainty of death.

As the show began, members of the cast were seated amongst the audience. After the traditional land acknowledgment, an usher took the stage (Jimmy Omino). He spent ample time discussing the play’s origins—Everybody is based on the 15th-century play Everyman. The usher then revealed that he is in fact God and commanded Death (Hannah Mitchell), a clerical worker, to summon the remaining cast members, prompting the usher/God to perform the casting lottery within the audience.

On the evening of March 24, 2023, the lottery selected Reena Goze as Everybody. Everybody was tasked with putting together a presentation of their life but struggled to remember the key moments that made their life memorable. Everybody remembered that they were allowed to take someone

with them to the afterlife, so they sought out Friendship (Chloé Castrucci).

Next, Everybody confided in Cousin (Sierra Small) and Kinship (Nasim Ramirez), two family figures that appeared excitedly but soon became concerned at the idea that God is real. Everybody informed them that their beliefs depend on their definitions of reality. As the plot progressed, Cousin panicked at the idea that they should prepare for a postdeath experience, while in a dark turn of events, Kinship offered up a child (Brynn Bonne) as Everybody’s companion

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in death. When Everybody rejected the offer, Kinship abducted the child.

With more complex plot twists, Everybody realized that many of their memories lie in Stuff (Devin McEachern). But they learned that it is impossible to take their friends, family, and things with them into the afterlife.

After a loud interruption from an irritated member of the audience (Abigail Henry), Everybody is reminded that they are living within a play—a very meta-theatrical moment.

With ensemble characters switching between Love, Understanding, Strength, Beauty, Sense, and Mind, the play contemplated some of life’s most prominent motifs that merged worldly beliefs and realities.

I found it impressive that each actor memorized every role in Everybody. Goze’s portrayal of Everybody was so natural, it was as if they knew all along that they would be the lead.

With his portrayal of the usher/God, Omino fantastically balanced the light and dark themes in the play. His stand-out performance offered a sense of grim humour that brought levity to the daunting life questions that the play focused on. Mitchell perfectly portrayed the anxiousness that comes with Death with her eerie monologue—where she prompted Everybody to obey Death. Finally, Henry’s portrayal of Love, a character that showed up halfway through the play, showcased the complexities that come with clinging to love as one’s only hope.

Everybody focused on searching for the meaning of life by dancing with existentialism and other human philosophies.

A line in the play suggested that, “the point of life is that we all have to wrestle with it on our own terms.”

Muslim representation in film—a conversation with Nesa Huda As the writer and director of her short film Taboo, Huda uses film to tell the stories that many fail to hear.

Maja Tingchaleun Associate Arts & Entertainment Editor Trigger warning: This article mentions anxiety, depression, and suicide.

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esa Huda is a filmmaker, writer, director, and University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) alumna. On March 16, 2023, Innis Town Hall Theatre in Toronto premiered Taboo, a short film written and directed by Huda.

In an interview with The Medium, Huda spoke about the development of the film, and how its story portrays struggles with mental health— specifically in Muslim communities.

Taboo came to Huda while she was still at UTM. The film’s concept was born from two life experiences that profoundly impacted Huda’s life. A close relative of Huda’s was hospitalized for a severe anxiety attack, while another friend of Huda’s suffered from depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. At the time, when her friend would share some of their feelings, Huda didn’t know how to help.

“I didn’t understand the language,” she shared. “I didn’t understand any sort of tactics [or] how I could just be there for that person, and so that’s kind of how the idea for the film came about. I [thought], how do we start those conversations with people? How do we support them?”

Taboo follows Naureen (Nawal Salim) as she attempts to make sense of her best friend Yousef ’s (Abdul-Shakur Alawi) suicide attempt. Yousef, already in a precariously vulnerable position, watches his community shut him out. Although this exact situation hasn’t happened to Huda, Naureen and Yousef felt very real to her. She began writing the film’s script in October 2017, the year she graduated.

“I’ve been working on Taboo for so long, so to see that people were excited about it and that it touched [them] and that [they] found it relatable was just really nice,” Huda said.

Growing up in Windsor, Ontario, and attending Islamic school, Huda described her childhood as “sheltered.” An appreciation of film was instilled in her from a young age. Her

MAHDI CHOWDHURY

family owned “a robust DVD and VHS collection,” she explained. She remembers watching movies with her family, and although she was not old enough to understand many of the films they watched, she said, “I understood that these films were bringing my family together onto a plane [where we could] all relate to each other, even if we weren’t good at expressing that.”

After her family moved to Mississauga, where Huda attended high school, her new environment became a nasty culture shock.

“People like me were no longer the majority,” she explained, “and that took a huge toll on me and my self-image. I didn’t really understand where I fit into the social sphere anymore.”

As she was frequently dismissed by her peers, Huda began to question her appearance and her identity as a Muslim Canadian.

As a child, Huda was a voracious reader.

But when she was in her early teens, films and TV started to replace books. She would spend hours at the library, combing through films, taking them home, and watching two every night. But none of the movies she brought home had characters that looked like her.

Even if they did, Huda said that they were represented as “terrorists.”

Based on her family’s experiences with discrimination and a lack of representation for her community in the media, Huda began to push her interest in film to a deeper level.

“I [thought], okay, if [the representation] is

not there, then I’m just going to have to make it myself,” she explained.

After completing a Master of Fine Arts degree in Screenwriting from Boston University, Huda now lives in Los Angeles and works in the film industry. She described that she “tried everything”—from production design and videography to animation and production management—before realizing her true passion. “It always came back to this: I want to write the story, and I want to direct the team.”

I asked Huda how she hopes people will respond to Taboo. “First and foremost, it is about Muslims, and the fact that we are unable to properly address mental health in our spaces,” she started. “[While] I think it’s getting better, there is still work that needs to be done within our families and within our private spaces,” she said.

Additionally, Huda hopes for the film to be relatable for those who are Black, Indigenous, or a person of colour (BIPOC). She expressed that “many immigrant communities” tend to view mental health in similar ways.

Huda hopes to have BIPOC mental health professionals speak after future screenings of Taboo—to provide the audience with an open and constructive space to dissect BIPOC and personal issues. The short film’s Instagram, @ taboothefilm, also shares resources relating to mental health and self-care. “This is not just a film, this is the start of a discussion,” Huda concluded.

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sports & health

Editor | Alisa Samuel sports@themedium.ca

The benefits of participating in summer sports camps With spring well underway and summer just around the corner, registration for Camp U of T Mississauga is now open.

Radhia Rameez Associate Sports & Health Editor

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rom July to August, the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) hosts day camps on campus. Between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., it offers “a wide range of programs for 4 [to] 16-year-olds such as sports-themed camps, leadership-themed camps, and academic-themed camps,” according to the Camp UTM website.

The camps vary in delivery based on program type and age group. The Forensics Camp focuses on hands-on detective activities such as roleplay, fingerprint dusting, and daily swimming to allow for a fitness component.

The Leadership Camp includes team building, job shadowing, and resume-building for 14 to 16-year-olds, while the Dance Camp gives children the chance to explore music, dance, costumes, and prop design, culminating in a performance for parents and guardians at the end of the program.

Why should you send the children in your life to summer camp? Of course, learning new activities, playing sports, and enjoying warm-

er weather after months of slush and snow sounds enormously appealing on their own.

But summer camp is more than just a fun getaway for children or a break for their parents and guardians.

In terms of sports-focused camps, a 2013 metanalysis from the International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity reported several possible health, personal, and

social benefits of participating in community sports. For instance, children may form new friendships, learn teamwork skills, develop an interest in exploration, and gain emotional control.

Another 2015 study from the Journal of Creativity in Mental Health observed participants in a two-week creative arts summer camp and found they improved in behavioural areas such

CAMP UOFT

as frustration tolerance, assertiveness, task orientation, and peer sociability.

Camp instructors, normally university students, lead the program activities and create a safe, fun, and structured space for registrants.

According to the recent Staff National Impact Study Summary Report of the American Camp Association, working with children in a camp setting is a challenging yet rewarding experience. It can make instructors feel like they are making a difference in the world and offers them opportunities to try new things. Working in a camp can also influence future career trajectories and alter work values; perhaps you will realize that meaningful work is more important than salary or discover the importance of building relationships with co-workers.

One of the participants in the study said: “Summer camp is meaningful because the effects I have on others are very personal and tangible. I can see how I am impacting the lives of the campers, watch them grow in a positive way, and see how they improve over the course of the summer.”

Details about registration, hiring, and Camp UTM programs can be found on the Camp UTM website.

Coach’s Choices The Toronto Maple Leafs are entering the final stretch of the regular season. Only time will tell whether lineup changes help increase their chances of winning the playoffs.

Omar Khan Columnist

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s they gear up for the playoffs, the Leafs must stay sharp and maintain their team chemistry, especially with their biggest trade acquisition, Ryan O’Reilly, being out with a broken finger. Head coach Sheldon Keefe aims to make O’Reilly’s transition back as seamless as possible by juggling every game’s lineup to allow each player an experience in different roles and situations.

Keefe has already dressed up 11 forwards and seven defensemen. In a typical hockey game, each team has 12 forwards and seven defensemen. Going 11-7 means forwards play different roles while defencemen play more focused minutes. If a defenceman is better offensively, in the 11-7 rotation, they will spend most of their ice time in the offensive zone.

This strategy helped the Leafs become a more dependable team in terms of defence—an area of their game that needs improvement based on the matchups they might face in the playoffs. Some forwards, however, haven’t found roles in the 11-7 format. Michael Bunting, for example, the team’s top left-winger, has struggled with consistency in the past few games. He has had a season of ups and downs so hopefully he will find his game again before the playoffs start.

This season, the Leafs are poised to play the Tampa Bay Lightning once again, who have gone to the Stanley Cup final in each of the past three seasons, winning the cup in back-to-back years in 2020 and 2021. Tampa often finds a new gear in the playoffs. No team has played more hockey than Tampa, and no goalie has played more hockey than Tampa Bay’s goaltender, Andrei Vasilevskiy. The team must be fatigued at some level and suffering from the wear and tear of playing so many games.

“This strategy helped the Leafs become a more dependable team in terms of defence—an area of their game that needs improvement based on the matchups they might face in the playoffs.”

Tampa has also seen better days defensively and has had a worse season this year than last.

In the 2022 playoffs, the Leafs

took the Lightning to a winner-take-all game seven, in a very tight series. This year, it seems as though the Leafs have improved, and the Lightning have become worse.

While it is always hard to bet against the modern-day dynasty of the Tampa Bay Lightning, and perhaps even harder to bet on the Leafs to win a first-round series against any opponent, logically, the Leafs should beat the Lightning. But when has anything in Leaf-land happened based on logic?

It is logically impossible for a team to go seven straight years without winning in the first round, and to lose every playoff series since 2004. What’s even more unfathomable is going without a Stanley Cup win since 1967. Perhaps this will be the year when the Leafs beat the odds and win a playoff series.

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Postseason Push As the Toronto Raptors push for a spot in the play-in tournament, they will need to prove they belong against tough opponents.

Justyn Aleluia Columnist

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he Toronto Raptors made the most of their easy schedule in the past two weeks, holding one of the best records in the NBA. The most intriguing part of their success is that their best players are in sync for the first time this season. Notably, Fred VanVleet and OG Anunoby have been efficient, both from the field and from three since March 13.

The Raptors began their winning stretch with an impressive win against first-place Nikola Jokić and the Denver Nuggets. The Raptors were big underdogs heading into the game but that quickly changed when they scored a franchise-record 49 points in the first quarter. VanVleet led the team to the difficult win with a game-high 36 points and

three steals, marking the beginning of his return to form.

The team continued their winning ways against the Oklahoma City Thunder who were 6-1 in the seven games leading up to the

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Raptors. Then they won a decisive victory against the injury-ridden Minnesota Timberwolves.

But the winning came to a halt in what was their most disappointing loss this season. The Raptors lost at home against the Indiana Pacers, a team that is competing for last place.

Scottie Barnes suffered an injury in the previous game that kept him out of the lineup for two games including this matchup with the Pacers. While the Raptors could not contain Canadian Andrew Nembhard who scored 25 points and dished out 10 assists for the Pacers, the Raptors mainly lost because they struggled with the three-point shot, only making seven out of their 34 attempts in that game.

What will the Raptors now rely on to succeed in the playoffs? Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes are finally beginning to mesh well

together on the floor, with an impressive showing against the Heat. If the Raptors hope to succeed in the postseason, this play must continue, otherwise they won’t make it far.

As it stands, the Raptors will play against either Chicago or Miami, barring the Hawks don’t collapse at the end of the season. But there is no guarantee the Raptors will maintain their spot in the play-in after the final three games of the season where they play the Celtics and Bucks.

The Raptors rank near the bottom of the league in efficiency and three-point-related statistics. It’s no coincidence that the teams at the top of the standings are also top of the standings in field goal percentage and threepoint percentage.

Should the Raptors continue to play as they have in the past two weeks, expect them to have a fighting chance in the playoffs.

The faults of virtual dance classes and smart fitness mirrors, according to an ex-ballerina Unexplainable back or shoulder pain? Want to regain full mobility? You may want to start stretching and strength-building with others under real-time supervision.

Melody Yang Associate Sports & Health Editor

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nce a pre-professional dancer in ballet and jazz, I left the scene to pursue studies in neuroscience. After intense weight gain from hormonal dysfunction and the parental pressure to get a “serious career,” my experience with extra-curricular activities quickly dwindled.

But, to rehabilitate my recently broken ankle, I began to revisit dance through a series of online classes from rogue exballerinas (after generations of burnt-out professionals, many have left company stages to open their own schools of expressive movement).

After six months of limited activity, I confronted two questions: 1) Was I too unfit to return to dance? and 2) How much injury rehabilitation could I accomplish on my own without any experience? In hopes of answers, I decided to explore three different avenues for instruction, namely artificial intelligence (AI-driven dance classes), YouTube/Zoom classes, and in-person practice.

The first question was easy. There’s no one-size-fits-all level of fitness, so to survive a single class, I began to rebuild my strength by repeating beginner exercises until I could keep up with the pace of videos.

The second question turned out to be more complicated than it initially seemed. While AI-driven dance classes and AI-driven fitness claim to be the future, the current market suggests otherwise. Take Lululemon’s smart mirror for example. It’s a singular wall with a built-in app that promises to transform any room into a fitness class whenever the mood strikes. But it fails to deliver, as all of today’s home-vision devices do, because of ocular depth.

In the context of human and other mammalian vision systems, ocular depth refers to binocular (two-eyed) vision that detects and estimates distance in the 3D world. Ocular depth is vital to proprioception—the body’s ability to sense and process real-time feedback in its motor system, enabling us to make judgements about the placement and movement of our limbs.

With choreography, it’s difficult to understand and communicate “correct” dance positions without proprioceptive

feedback from the surrounding environment. In an in-person dance class, because we’re in the presence of other people whose movements we aim to synchronize with, our ocular depth perception and bodily awareness blend together, causing our sensory input and motor output functions to constantly correct one another in a feedback loop within the integrative parietal lobes of the brain.

“Ocular depth is vital to proprioception—the body’s ability to sense and process real-time feedback in its motor system, enabling us to make judgements about the placement and movement of our limbs.”

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Ocular depth, and proprioception in general, challenge all AI vision systems. With the advent of virtual reality, silicon tech companies are attempting to model 3D structures within apps, so users get real-time feedback to help them position their bodies while exercising with smart devices.

There is a catch, however. Human ocular depth, as it relies on a pair of eyes, creates a “mid” image, that is, a visual combination of each eye’s perspective. If you close one eye and compare it to what you see normally, then to what you see solely in the other eye, you will have two distinctly different images of the same scene in front of you.

Apple has already tried to improve 3D depth imaging by adding three or four camera lenses on the backs of iPhones, but this solution doesn’t take into account the fact that each lens filters all of the information it detects, unlike the blurry, outer fields of our human vision that greatly influence our perceptive abilities.

These outer fields alert us to danger and environmental changes, and of course, changes in choreography. In other words, AI-driven dance classes continue to exist behind experimental studies.

In 2015, researchers from Toronto Metropolitan University found that virtual training for ballet choreography, along with advanced levels of dance involving pointe shoes, was ineffective due to software programs’ lack of dataset availability and inability to capture complex leg work. Furthermore, movements that usually help dancers cross the stage, could not be captured in the small field of vision that cameras offer.

What does the relatively poor quality of digital fitness education mean for the rehabilitation of a dancer? To answer this question, let’s consider facias, connective tissues surrounding all organs and muscles. A fascia is a thin layer of interwoven strands containing fibroblast cells. These cells are hugely adaptable to environmental changes and alert the immune system of invaders.

Multiple facias layers aid mobility as they slide against each other up to 75 per cent from their original position. If for whatever reason, like the restrictiveness of smart fitness mirrors, fascia layers are not able to move to their full capacity, pain occurs.

So, if you have unexplainable back or shoulder pain, or want to regain full mobility, maybe you should skip the AI-classes and YouTube videos and start stretching and strength-building with dancers in the flesh.