Vol 38 issue 19

21ST CENTURY

- PAGE 11 -

March 5, 2012

Volume 38, Issue 19 www.mediumutm.ca

Students divided

Slates hash our differences at the U of T Students’ Union All-Candidates Debate

STEFANIE MAROTTA NEWS EDITOR A divided crowd of students sparked heated arguments between the incumbent and opposition slates at the UTSU All-Candidates Debate last Wednesday night at Hart House. Attendees demanded answers to questions of financial accountability and high salaries, partisan political stances, and equity on campus.

UTM full-time undergraduate students are members of the UTSU, paying $60 each year to the organization, which is based at St. George. UTSU provides the health and dental plan for students at the Mississauga campus. The Scarborough Campus Students’ Union disbanded from UTSU (then the Student Administrative Council) in the past; they independently provide their students with a health and dental plan.

with questions about the diversity of candidates, the fairness of the elections procedures, Israeli Apartheid Week, and the recent provincial tuition grant.

Debate continued on page 2

Contract continued on page 3

EDWARD CAI/THE MEDIUM

parking, and advocating for more multi-faith prayer space.

Presidential Candidates The most heated portion of the four-hour debate was between the three presidential candidates,

SANA HAQ STAFF WRITER The University of Toronto and the University of Western Ontario signed an agreement on January 30 with the copyright licensing company Access Copyright to allow copyright materials in both print and digital format to be reproduced in exchange for a fee.

“We believe that this agreement is fair for all the parties— those who create the material as well as students who gain access to copyright materials through the university,” said U of T provost Cheryl Misak. She stated there is no concern of students’ use of copyright material infringing on copyright restrictions.

Janice Deakin, the provost of Western, stated that this deal will give the university a convenient way to share content digitally and in written form from a large collection of publications.

Students took the opportunity to question the UTSU candidates.

While UTSU candidates are rarely present at the Mississauga campus, Team Unity claims “victories” for UTM on their website, siting the promotion of diverse food services, lobbying for longer library hours and reduced

U of T signs new copyright agreement

UTM student for Governing Council Residence Council president hopes to be one of four students elected DOAA ROHILLA Residence Council president Nana Zhou is the only UTM student running for one of four undergraduate positions on the Governing Council, the highest decision-making body of the University of Toronto.

The council has 30 elected seats, eight of which are filled by students. This includes graduate students and both part-time and full-time undergraduate students. Out of these available positions, UTM is limited to one member on the council, if they’re lucky enough to be elected.

The role of student representation is very significant. The elected student acts as a liaison between the council and the student body, bringing up issues

and casting votes on behalf of the constituency.

“Having a UTM representative is vital to ensuring we have someone who will work for UTM students. We need someone always working to bring the ideas of UTM students to the administration and working to implement them,” said Aly Madhavji, the current UTM student representative on the Governing Council. “Without this, our ideas and things to benefit UTM students may not happen.”

There are 15 full-time undergraduate candidates running.

Most of them are from the St. George campus and two are from UTSC. Zhou is the only candidate from UTM. Zhou created a $15,000 annual bursary, open to domestic and international residence stu-

dents. She successfully negotiated the gradual phase-in of credit card and meal plan acceptance in campus vending machines, and worked to increase the diversity of food available in several buildings.

“We need someone always working to bring the ideas of UTM students to the administration and working to implement them.”

—Aly Madhavji Zhou also worked to increase the shuttle bus services to St. George and Sheridan for week-

ends and evenings.

“My platform for the Governing Council includes lobbying for the establishment of bridging programs of undergraduate students towards employment and graduate studies, as well as lobbying for more money and resources for academic societies and increasing bursary and scholarship funds open to domestic, out of province, and international students,” said Zhou. “Especially as a voluntary full-time student experiencing the same challenges and needs at the students on our campus, I will be able voice our student body’s concern and demands with full empathy and integrity.”

UTM’s Gary Crawford, an anthropological archaeologist, is running for a faculty position on the Governing Council.

TAs vote on new contract The university and union have come to a tentative agreement. TAs are now voting on the new contract.

Medium News, page 2

Delegated or relegated?

Is UTM on the sidelines when it comes to UTSU? Medium Opinions, page 4

Italian play draws crowd After two semesters of hard work, an Italian class performs Io non mi marito per procura. By choice.

Medium A&E, page 8

The new best medicine How does music affect your health?

Medium Features, page 12

Battle of the Eagles After the showdown, the UTM Blues basketball team advances to finals.

Medium Sports, page 14

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«NEWS THE MEDIUM 05.03.2012

UTSU candidates face off Debate continued from Cover Many students expressed concern about UTSU’s endorsement of Israeli Apartheid Week and asked candidates for a definitive answer as to which side they support in the divisive issue. Shaun Shepherd, the current VP External and the presidential candidate of Team Unity (the slate with two UTSU incumbents and one UTMSU incumbent), would not give a concrete answer, but promised to discuss the matter with students. Brent Schmidt, the presidential candidate of Students First, and Rohail Tanoli, an independent candidate, both stated that they would not participate in IAW and asserted that UTSU should not take sides on politically contentious topics.

The debate focussed on topics around the division between various student groups on campus. A student stated that the Students First slate does not reflect the diversity of U of T and asked why the team should be elected.

“When we formed a team, the first thing that we looked at wasn’t the race that someone came from,” Schmidt said. “I do not think that’s a good reason to exclude us from being a good slate to run with. I think that diversity is more than just the way I look. In terms of experience, we’re all quite different.”

Schmidt discussed the ways in which the elections procedures laid out by the student union exclude opposition slates from participating. Without adequate upfront

funding, non-incumbent slates have a difficult time buying promotional material like posters and banners, which instead primarily give the incumbent team exposure.

At the UTM campus, Team Unity was the only slate to put up posters.

Tanoli appealled to the crowd to “build bridges, not walls”.

“That’s the problem with slates in general: you have to pick a side.

Which is why I chose to go independent this year,” Tanoli said.

“There doesn’t have to be ‘them or us’; it should be all of us.”

TA strike support Earlier in the year, current UTSU president Danielle Sandhu endorsed the potential TA strike.

Some students criticized the endorsement, arguing that UTSU should act in the interests of their undergraduate members. Munib Sajjad, the VP University Affairs candidate of Team Unity and the current VP External of UTMSU, alleged that UTSU did not formally endorse the results of the TA strike vote. According to Shepherd, Sandhu endorsed the strike personally, not on behalf of UTSU. In a YouTube video of a press conference, Sandhu introduced herself as the president of student union and endorsed the strike vote, stating, “For all our members, we see the strike vote as incredibly encouraging.”

According to Carmen Reilly, VP University Affairs candidate of Students First, UTSU executives did endorse the potential strike. How-

ever, she does not think the student union should take a stance.

“When you have less than 10% voter turnout, I don’t think you can claim to represent the entire student body,” Reilly said. “It is not our role to get involved in politics, especially politics that are so divided or that possibly make people feel excluded or discriminated against, or like their views are not being represented by the people that they are paying so much money to.”

A campus bar Students First, the opposition slate, came under harsh criticism for their proposal to build a campus bar. Although the team did not release their platform before the debate, they campaigned on the idea that a bar would promote a sense of community at U of T. Attendees from one side of the room doubted the inclusivity of a bar, reminding candidates that students of certain religions do not consume alcohol.

According to Team Unity, a campus bar would be an expensive project and excludes many students.

“I think it is important to foster a sense of U of T spirit,” said Karthy Chin, the candidate for VP Equity of Students First. “It [the bar] can be used for students to eat and socialize. I’m going to explore avenues of how I can increase accessibility for all students regardless of any background.”

Noor Baig, the candidate for VP Equity of Team Unity, stressed

TAs go to the polls

the importance of inclusion and the necessity of more multi-faith prayer space.

Executive pay The VP Internal and Services candidates explained the steps they would take to improve budget transparency to help students understand the allocation of membership fees. This year, the group Stop the Salaries accused UTSU of grossly increasing wages and decreasing club funding.

Students First candidate Dylan Moore promised to publish monthly reports. He also proposed a review of expenditures, including wages, and promised to seek public feedback before making any reforms.

Corey Scott, a Team Unity candidate and the current VP Internal Services of UTSU, stated that he had posted the budget online this year and promised to continue to make himself available for students to ask questions and seek reassurance.

The candidates were asked to estimate how much they would pay the person elected to the position of VP Internal Services if it were their money to spend. Scott stated that he would trust the Board of Directors to set the appropriate wage and he feels that the current amount is appropriate to allow students to get what they need from the position. Moore stated that the position does require a great amount of responsibility and should cover living costs. He esti-

JUNAID IMRAN/THE MEDIUM

AFSHEEN ADAM HAJI CUPE 3902 members decided to extend polling dates until March 5 for ratification of the tentative agreement. Polls at UTM were opened briefly on Wednesday in the Davis Building from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will reopen this Monday and Tuesday during the same times.

If the agreement is ratified, it will solidify the contract between the university and teaching assistants, course instructors, and invigilators until April 2014. The new

settlement includes provisions laid out in the previous agreement with specific amendments based on the union members’ demands.

The most critical of issues for union members is the salary of teaching assistants. TAs demanded an increase of 1.75% effective May 2012 and a further 2% in May 2013. For undergraduate members, a wage increase of 1.75% effective May 2012 is sought. The union hopes to establish wage parity between undergraduate and graduate members, a goal they have pursued since 1976.

By the end this new collective agreement, the total financial funds in the control of the union will have increased from $727,000 to $1.477 million.

Wayne Dealy, the chair of CUPE 3902, stated that he and the other organizers will not comment on the details of the settlement until the rest of the members have a chance to vote on the agreement.

Full details of the agreement can be viewed on the union website. Whether union members will strike if the agreement is not ratified is still undetermined.

CFS membership Abigain Cudjoe, the VP external candidate of Team Unity, and Alexander Ripley, that of Students First, were questioned about the effectiveness of the Canadian Federation of Students, a lobby group to which U of T students collectively pay over $600,000. Cudjoe defended CFS, stating that the organization successfully advocates for students.

Ripley also supported the CFS. The Students First platform, released on Friday, proposes a referendum on continued membership.

The debate was broadcast live on UStream, and #UTSU2012 trended nationally on Twitter. The debate was available online but was abruptly removed on Saturday.

Students can vote throughout March 6, 7, and 8 at both the St. George and Mississauga campuses.

The campaign period for UTMSU begins next week.

Residence Council offers new bursary BAILEY GREEN

Members of CUPE 3902 vote on a new contract.

mated a salary of between $15,000 and $20,000. Both candidates expressed concerns for publicizing individual salaries. According to Scott, it is illegal for UTSU to publish salaries, in order to protect the safety of their employees.

“Our staff members are part of the union,” Scott said. “They are part of the student union as well, and they’re working for students and working for the issues that we want to work for. They should be defended for doing that work and they shouldn’t have to disclose their salaries.”

A new bursary for incoming residence students in Fall 2012 is in the final stages of implementation. The bursary, founded through collaboration between the Residence Council and UTM Student Housing and Residence Life, will be open to all our students applying for residence, including graduate students, undergraduates, local, out of province, and international students.

Many of the details are yet to be determined, including the exact selection criteria and how much the award will be.

“Students who have applied for residence by June 15, 2012 will be contacted over the summer to inform them of the bursaries, the deadline, and criteria for applying,” said Dale Mullings, the director of residence and student life. He also mentioned that this bursary is a direct result of the efforts of the student Residence Council members on the UTM Student Housing Advisory Committee.

“This kind of leadership that Nana [the current Residence

Council president] and her team has taken to create relationships with the Residence Department is unprecedented and is a huge leap in the right direction of what student leaders should all be working towards,” said Aly Madhavji, a Student Governing Council representative and former Residence Council president.

The bursary will be open to all our students applying for residence, including graduate students, undergraduates, local, out of province, and international students.

Zhou is also running for one of the full-time positions on the Governing Council and is the only candidate representing UTM. The last components of the bursary should be determined in March when the budget approval is finalized.

05.03.2012 THE MEDIUM NEWS

UTM Residence Council hosts 30 Hour Famine

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»So what does UTSU do?

Amina 1st year, psychology

Diana 4th year, psychology

“They’re the student union and they basically look out for students on campus.”

“They’re the University of Toronto Students’ Union and they fight for student rights.”

Noor 5th year, political Science

Sameer 3rd year, management

“They’re the student union and they hand out bus passes. That’s basically all that they do.”

“The student body downtown—and they stand up for student rights ”

JUNAID IMRAN/THE MEDIUM

Studenets got twice their daily required intake of Vitamin C after the fast ended.

STEFANIE MAROTTA NEWS EDITOR The UTM Residence Council hosted the 30 Hour Famine on Friday night at Oscar Peterson Hall. Students gathered to promote awareness about poverty and hunger.

Gina Lai, the VP Administration of UTMRC, and the organization’s Community Connections Committee facilitated the event at UTM. Thousands of students at

other schools also participated in the event, centrally run by World Vision.

Dale Mullings, the director of residence and student life, joined the group and participated in various games. Students slept over in Colman Commons, the dining hall in OPH. Deep Saini, the principal of UTM principal and the vice-president of U of T, visited the group on Saturday afternoon to share his own experience and discuss the

importance of food conservation.

The regional representative from World Vision also attended to share personal stories.

The money raised from the event will fund a 15-year rehabilitation project in the “Horn of Africa”, which is Eritrea, Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Somalia. The project will provide 200 families with the education and supplies to become sustainable and to share that knowledge with other members of their community.

QSS budgets delayed Due to lack of quorum, QSS passes budgets a month later than planned

Students to incur fees under Access Copyright contract Contract continued from Cover

Copyright an annual royalty of $27.50 per full-time student.

Dubois claimed that the negotiations the two universities made did not consult the CFS, even though the deal will directly affect students.

“All other postsecondary institutions must defend the right to fair and reasonable access to copyrighted works for educational purposes,” Dubois said.

The agreement will be in effect until December 2013 and will be renewed for a one-year term during which any party may cancel or renegotiate the deal.

The Quality Service to Students council held a meeting last Thursday to approve and pass student services budgets for 2012/2013.

The meeting covered proposed student services fees, all operating plans, and budget votes that had been delayed since February 3.

QSS rescheduled the latest meeting three times this year because UTMSU representatives were unavailable to attend. Without student union representatives, QSS could not meet quorum, the minimum number of people to vote on motions. QSS needs at least 11 members to be present, six of which must be students, in

order to pass motions.

The QSS meeting was postponed in part because of the recent Mississauga Academy of Medicine referendum, which resulted in MAM being represented by UTMSU. The referendum results were released in the first week of February, but the board meeting to officially confirm the results did not take place until February 17. Even after this, MAM will not officially be part of UTMSU until April 2012. In order for UTMSU to represent MAM at the QSS meeting, MAM representatives must first give input as to how they would like to be represented.

UTMSU negotiated with MAM at the Council of Student Services meeting on February 2 to discuss

representation. The QSS meeting, then rescheduled for March 1, became pressed for time to pass the student services budgets and operating plans.

QSS usually meets once per month and is responsible for making recommendations regarding the operation and funding of UTM student services and ensuring the quality of the services to UTM students is developed and maintained. QSS is made up of staff, including Mark Overton (the Dean of Student Affairs), Alison Burnett (the Health & Counselling Centre director), and student members, including Gilbert Gassar (the president of UTMSU) and Sunny Bahia (the president of the UTM Athletic Council).

Deakin also said that the insurance provision increases the university’s legal protection against copyright violation.

“The backdating of the agreement gives us peace of mind,” Deaken said.

Roxanne Dubois, the national chair of the Canadian Federation of Students, denounced the agreement and stated that both U of T and Western have violated the privacy rights of students.

“It is even more outrageous that students are being imposed with unfair and undemocratic fees in the process,” Dubois said.

The deal includes that Western and U of T will each pay Access

Student sues school because roommate has too much sex

President of a student union quits, is arrested for bank robbery

Elections finalized; Western hacker faces criminal charges

Vladmir Putin re-elected as Russian president

Santorum says he’ll beat Romney if Gingrich drops out

Lindsay Blankmeyer filed a criminal complaint against Stonehill College in Massachusettes, stating that her roommate would have sex with her boyfriend while Blankmeyer slept in the same room. Claiming the situation made her depressed and suicidal, she hopes to recover $150,000 and accuses administrators of ignoring her complaints.

Meghan Darcy Melnyk was charged with robbery, possession of a prohibited weapon, and committing an indictable offence while disguised.

She resigned from her position as president of the Mount Royal Students’ Association about a month ago. Witnesses allege that a woman entered the bank and passed a teller a note demanding money. Melnyk told the student newspaper she resigned because she was burnt out.

The student union elections at Western were forced into a re-vote when 23-year-old alumnus Keith Horwood hacked into the elections website. Horwood released a YouTube video apologizing to the candidates. Campus police turned the case over to the London police cyber crime unit. After the re-vote, Adam Fearnall was announced as the new president. He defeated runner-up John Silver by 1,000 votes.

Reports of carousel voting, in which busloads of voters are transported to cast ballots at multiple locations, threaten to undermine the legitimacy of the last Russian presidential elections. “These elections are not free [...] That’s why we’ll have protests tomorrow. We will not recognize the president as legitimate,” said Mikhail Kasyanov, Putin’s first prime minister before joining the opposition.

Rick Santorum suggested that Newt Gingrich should drop out of the presidential race to avoid splitting the “anti-Romney vote”.

“It’s always harder when you’ve got two conservatives running in the race, as we’ve seen in Washington and we’ve seen in other states,” Santorum said on Fox News. Gingrich had previously suggesteed that Santorum should drop out for the same reasons.

Source: NY Daily News

Source: CBC

Source: London Free Press/The Gazette

Source: The Toronto Star

Source: Washington Examiner

LORI-LEE EMSHEY ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR

For more, visit www.mediumutm.ca

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05.03.2012

MEDIUM OPINION Editor-in-Chief » Michael Di Leo

Which is closer: Israel or UTM? We’re nearing the end of another academic year, and with that comes the insurmountable joy of student elections. I’m not picking on anyone in particular here—all student groups have them—but, of course, in this case we are all subject to the intense campaigning and rhetoric that comes along with the union elections. Our local union, UTMSU, can’t quite start campaigning yet, but until then we have some great UTSU action to enjoy. Case in point: last week’s All-Candidates Debate, where I saw more than speaking points.

First, I would like to point out something that is rarely made clear to full-time students at UTM: UTSU is your union as well. That’s right, you have two. And you give them both your hard-earned money. So you should care about who gets elected. And those who care vote. So do that.

On the flipside, I got the sense from watching the video of the debate that many St. George students, even candidates, couldn’t care less about UTM issues. Whenever the topic came up, I noticed that people generally seemed less interested,

unless it in some way related to what was happening at St. George.

Naturally, many of Munib Sajjad’s (UTMSU’s current VP External and now a member of the incumbent Team Unity) points had to do with UTM—food diversity and such—and I saw a clear shift in the audience’s reaction when he spoke about these topics. People just didn’t seem to care as much. I swear, when I zoomed in on the screen, I could see little, pixellated eye-rolls.

I can’t be the first person to notice some negativity towards UTM from St. George students in general.

That just seems to be the culture.

Try as we might to create our own identity out here in the woods of Mississauga, there remains a nagging feeling that St. George is the “real” U of T while UTM is merely a (rather pejoratively) “satellite” campus. In my experience, I have found that many St. George students do nothing to suppress that attitude.

What upset me most about this was that at the debate, there was instead plenty of debate on the rather controversial Israeli Apartheid Week—an event that, in my opinion, shouldn’t even be addressed by

our student union. Issues of equity aside, I don’t think student unions should take such a divisive, political stance on any kind of geopolitical issue.

In any case, that’s certainly not what our unions are meant to do, especially when they could have been discussing campus issues.

Like, say, those of UTM.

YOURS, MICHAEL DI LEO

Green Dot is amazing EPUS is back Dear Editor, The Medium recently covered a story regarding the Green Dot Campaign that the University of Toronto has initiated (February 13 2012, “Green dot on campus”). If the readers don’t remember, this campaign aims to build a campus free of violence and to diminish the fear associated with it. Simply put, it is a bystander training program that is meant to give individuals the knowledge to stand up together, as a community, against a perpetrator and prevent an act of violence from occurring.

When I mention violence, I’m referring to everyday incidents such as stalking, a hit-and-run in a parking lot, hitting, uses of force, threat, intimidation, or harassment of an individual—all forms of power-based personal violence that can be committed by our friends or strangers, but hopefully not by ourselves. Often we are wit-

nesses to these acts but we don’t do anything to prevent them from happening. Possible reasons why we might not do something when we witness an act of violence is fear for our own safety, fear of creating a scene, or fear of embarrassing ourselves. These are all legitimate reasons that are obstacles to our actions. The Green Dot Program does not tell you what to do, it just prescribes that you do something; silence and inaction is what allows acts of violence to be committed.

The program teaches that you can directly approach a perpetrator, cause a distraction, or speak with others to take action against violence.

During Reading Week, I had the opportunity to attend a Green Dot Campaign training session. During this one-day training event, I learned the knowledge that has empowered me to stand up to perpetrators. Listening to the many stories that were shared by fellow

students and staff in attendance has emphasized the prevalence of power-based violence and given me the courage to prevent it when given the opportunity to do so. It was an amazing experience!

I’m sure that among a possible upcoming TA strike, mid-terms, and the politics of UTMSU, we, as students, might overlook the importance of preventing violence and our power to do so. But violence on campus does exist, and whether you have experienced it personally or your friends have, the Green Dot Program can empower anyone with the knowledge to step up and stop violence from occurring. I encourage all students, staff, and faculty to attend a Green Dot training session.

The important aspect is that everyone becomes involved to create a better UTM community.

Sincerely, Ioana Gheorghiu

CORRECTION NOTICE - In an article entitled “Election policies amended at UTSC”, printed in the February 13, 2012 issue, a quote from Aly Kassam was mistakenly attributed to Gilbert Cassar.

- In an article entitled “A megalithic proposal” from the same issue, it was incorrectly reported that the size of the Instructional Centre is around 130,000 square feet when in actuality it is closer to 60,000 square feet, thus making the Student Centre proposal more than twice its size.

So what is all the hype about right now at UTM? The U-Pass, that’s what! Since the revival of the Association of Erindale Parttime Undergraduate Students at UTM in the summer of 2011, the elected executives and its members has been arduously working to meet the needs of and provide the services essential to part-time students at the UTM campus. One of the major issues affecting part-time students at the campus is the inaccessibility of the U-Pass that allows students of UTM to use the Mississauga bus routes free of charge.

As of fall 2011, EPUS has conducted several discussions with the City of Mississauga and Mississauga Transit with regards to permitting this service, given to full-time students due to an agreement with UTMSU, to parttime students as well. Finally, in winter of 2012, EPUS was successful in attaining an agreement with the Mississauga Transit for the first summer U-Pass trial for part-time students at UTM, under assigned conditions. Furthermore, EPUS will be holding

a referendum from March 6 to 8 whereby part-time students of the UTM campus will be able to vote in favor of or against the U-Pass for the summer 2012 session. EPUS is also collaborating with the City of Mississauga and Mississauga Transit to obtain the eight-month U-Pass for parttime students as well.

The referendum will be conducted at polling stations in the North Building, the Davis Building, and the CCT Building between 12 p.m. and 7 p.m. All you part-time students who want the U-Pass, in order to save hundreds of dollars which can be put towards better use (such as your tuition), come out and vote YES to the summer 2012 U-Pass!

Without your participation and votes, this splendid opportunity will not come to fruition.

EPUS has opened the playing field with favourable positions; now it is your turn to make that home run!

Cherri-Ann Valentine President, EPUS

GOVERNING COUNCILELECTIONS: ELECTIONS: 20122012 GOVERNING COUNCIL Student Candidates Statements Student Candidates Statements Please visit http://www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/elections.htm

Please visit http://www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/elections.htm Voting Period: Monday, February 27, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. to Friday, March 9, 2012 at 5:00 p.m.

Voting February 27, 2012 at a.m. to Friday, at 5:00 p.m.

Online voting will take Period: place onMonday, ROSI (www.rosi.utoronto.ca), and9:00 paper ballots will be March mailed 9, to 2012 post-graduate medical trainees.

Online voting will take place on ROSI (www.rosi.utoronto.ca), and paper ballots will be mailed to post-graduate medical trainees.

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Learnconsideration! more at I have to students for their If elected school. Vote Jessica changes, onlygraduate one relentless voice of make me proud (a world-class education and made 8 ofwhich 50 seats at Governing Council, increase collaboration between strong, experienced representative charleswalkerludwig.webs.com I will make sure that you become informed of such deciRiehm, the candidate for oversee your sucexperience.

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University of Toronto Governing Riehm, the candidate for diversity), things which upset me Governing Council! community. scenarios As a Scarboroughly in problem-solving to find solutions to best ate school. Vote Jessica votegregcalvin.com Council very well. Over my benefit the community. As a Scarborough-native, I feel your success. http://jessicariehmforuoftgovernmy opinions reflect the campus community’s concerns ingcouncil.webs.com/ while emphasizing my passion for UTSC’s ascension in recognition and academic standards. I am already Parmveer Singh heavily invested towards the growth and prosperity of My name is Parmveer Singh, and I am a second the University of Toronto, and I look forward to being a year student majoring in Human Biology and proponent of such change now and in the years to come. Biological Anthropology. I believe I can repre-

Laurel Chester I will be a strong advocate of student issues on a council that, at present, is stacked against us. With an emphasis on increased communication with student groups on campus, I hope to represent a broad base of student views. As students, we deserve a much

first two years of university, I mature student and entrepreneur, Graduate Students, ZiJian Yang with nearly a decade of industry have been extremely involved in Constituency I (Humanities Dear fellow students, Graduate Students, extracurricular activities around experience, James is well and Social Sciences)Constituency I of us, the on UofT governing council full-time is prepared to represent campus.To Thismost includes serving (Humanities and Social Sciences) at the invisible organization that seems very outUniversity of the Innisan College Student Society, undergraduates Michael Donnelly of Toronto function on the that Governing Michael Donnelly committees of the Faculty ofitArts touch.

However, is a significant Michael Donnelly is a PhD & Science, and several other Council. Vote for James Bateman Michael Donnelly is a PhD student in English affects our experience here at the university on student in English Literature, and his experience to works onand councils/committees.

With the Literature, the shared almost every level: fromand the trust academics to how theworks sharedon language of language of representI will you be onable the tohighest experience have gained, I know human rights andlaw law since 1945. ourI money is spent.

If elected, human rightsininliterature literature and governing board at UofT. More I can dobetter a great job getting thedealings He has involved in student governance and sincebeen 1945.

He has been involved facilitate all the behind the scene, voice of undergraduate students, information can be found online in student governance and with with Amnesty’s writing program; he currently so that you can spend your on things that at time http://individual.utoronto.ca/ from all disciplines, heard.

Amnesty’s writing program; he sits on the Graduate Education Council (GEC), matter to you. Sincerely,jamesbateman/ ZiJian Yang http://facebook.com/ sitsthree on the Graduate and currently is one of student members on the events/242499909171142/ Education Council (GEC), and Graduate Academic Appeals Board (GAAB).

Nana Zhou Andrew Girgis one of three student members He is would welcome the opportunity of sitting Engage in making a difference at our university!

Put YOUR concerns back on the ZiJian Yang on the Graduate Academic on Governing Council to further expand his table!

Have your Votestudents, Nana for Governing Council.

As ainterests fellowvoiced Dear fellow Appeals Board (GAAB). He make decisions influence of Graduate StudTo most of us, theto represent UofT to the student, I hope ourpeople voicethat to improve would beyond welcomethe theSchool opportunity governing council is an invisible on your behalf on matters relating ies, and in doing so, be an insistent academics and student life at UofT. I will strive of sitting on Governing Council advocate for to tuition, academic standards organization thatstudent seems costs very and polices that enrich thehisuniversity to lower enhance student ser- and to further expand influence community at policies.

I want the eachbrand of you, the out of vices. touch. Let However, it isfora you large. me work to promote beyond the School of Graduate biggest stakeholders at UofT, to Studies, and in doing so, be an significant function that affects of our education, highlight our challenges and our experience here at the have your interests valued and to insistent advocate for polices that Greg Hughes increase opportunities takecareer controldevelopment of your education. enrich the university community university on almost every level: for As a prospective member of the University of grad school options. Together, we can YOU, im- the I want to represent from theand academics to how our at large.Governing Council, I will work hard Toronto’s prove experience Please feel free faculties, to students of professional money is spent.our If elected, I willat UofT. to represent the interests of students and proat nana.zhou@utoronto.ca yourjoin respective be able contact to better me facilitate all the and the future of and Greg Hughes perspective. My experiences on Facebook “Vote Nana Zhou Govprofessions!

I for know what vide it Asa measured dealingsme behind the scene, soatthat a prospective member of as athe graduate student in the Faculty of Informameans to face an increasingly you can erning spend your time on Thank things you!

Council”.

University of Toronto’s a Governing and in theCouncil, professional that matter to you. Sincerely, competitive workforce. Havingtion http://facebook.com/groups/331428270210899/ I will world work will present cutting-edge, superior education ZiJian Yang students with a fresh voice to represent them at hard to represent the interests of is crucial in advancing your Full-Time Undergraduate Students, Council.

I hope I can count on your support durstudents and provide a measured professions. A vote for me is a perspective.

Nana Zhou ing the election period.

Constituency II (Professional Faculties) My experiences Engage in making a difference vote for your future. as a graduate student in the at our university! Vote Nana for

Faculty of Information and in the James Bateman Governing Council.

As a fellow Dipen Thakrar worldforwill present UndergraduTwoprofessional seats reserved Part-Time is aour3rdI year Sci-chosen ask Engineering to be your student, James I hope Bateman to represent fresh ate students Studentswith and aone seatvoice for atoGraduate Stustudent within the Faculty of Applied representative to the SciUniversity voice ence to improve academics them at Council.

I hope and Life Scidentrepresent for Constituency II (Physical encelife andatEngineering. mature Governing student and of aToronto Council. and student UofT. I will As I can count on III yourand support ence, Divisions IV) during have been filled by nearly a decade of industrymedical Now a post-graduate strive toentrepreneur, lower student with costs and the election period. acclamation. resident in Anesthesia, enhanceexperience, student services.

James isLetwell prepared to representI bring years of experience as me work for you to promote with full-time undergraduates at themeUniversity of Tothe brand of our education, a student, teacher, administrator Two seats reserved for Part-Time ronto on the Governing Council.

Vote for James and researcher. is supported Undergraduate Students and one highlightBateman our challenges and trust and his experience to This represent Questions about the Governing Council electio increase opportunities for career by a track record of effective seat for Graduate Student for you on the highest governing board at UofT. process maya be directed to the Chief Returni advocacy and development and grad school leadership, Constituency II (Physical and More information can be found online at http:// Officer, Mr. Anwar Kazimi (416-978-8427; anwa options. Together, we can improve collaboration and my dedication Life Science, Divisions III the and IV) individual.utoronto.ca/jamesbateman/ kazimi@utoronto.ca), or Deputy Returni bettering the student our experience at UofT. Please to have been filled by acclamation.

Officer, Ms Mae-Yu Tan (416-978-8794; maey feel free to contact me at nana. experience. Having previously tan@utoronto.ca).

Andrew Girgis worked on many student-centered zhou@utoronto.ca and join me on Questions about the Put YOUR concerns on the table!universities Have groups at other – Governing Council elections Facebook at “Vote Nana Zhou forback your interests voiced the people that makeSenator process may be directed to as a University Governing Council”.

Thank you! toincluding Vice-President – I offer the Chief Returning Officer, http://facebook.com/ decisions on your behalfand onclass matters relating to bothand expertise andI want perspective Mr. Anwar Kazimi (416groups/331428270210899/ tuition, academic standards policies. promoting the success and 978-8427; anwar.kazimi@ each of you, the biggestinstakeholders at UofT, development of our university. utoronto.ca), or the Deputy Full-Time to haveUndergraduate your interests valued and to take control contact me withthe questions Returning Officer, Ms MaeStudents, Constituency II Please of your education. I want to represent YOU, or comments at any time: dipen. Yu Tan (416-978-8794; (Professional studentsFaculties) of professional thakrar@utoronto.ca faculties, and the future maeyu.tan@utoronto.ca). of your respective professions! I know what it

James Bateman means to face an increasingly competitive workJames Bateman is a a3rd year force. Having cutting-edge, superior education Engineering Science student your professions. A vote is crucial in advancing within the Faculty of Applied is a vote forAsyour Science for andmeEngineering. a future.

Dipen Thakrar I ask to be your chosen representative to the University of Toronto Governing Council. Now a post-graduate medical resident in Anesthesia, I bring with me years of experience as a student, teacher, administrator and researcher. This is

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« 05.03.2012

MEDIUM A&E Editor » Nives Hajdin

The politics of participation in art ARISTOTLE ELIOPOULOS ASSOCIATE A&E EDITOR Last Wednesday, the Department of Visual Studies hosted a lecture open to the UTM student community. Students gathered in the CCT Building to hear professor and published author Alexander García Düttman discuss the nature of participation in art.

At the beginning of the presentation, students were encouraged to move to the bottom rows, making sure that a discussion could be engaged during the two-hour presentation. Düttman cautioned students that when it comes to art and participation in art, his approach to the topic can be unusual, even “oblique”.

Within the first half of the lecture, Düttman stated that in order to participate with an art piece, there needs to be a sense of “otherness” that the viewer sees in the piece, or else there is nothing to comment on or participate in.

Düttman added that this otherness, or difference, can come from dreams, in which there can be a transition that artists may have between the new ideas they envision and knowledge that can be applied to their own artwork. Düttman then played an experimental art video, which he called a “political pamphlet”. The short French film, created to protest the closure of an important clinic in the centre of Paris, had a picture of its creator on the screen while rustling foliage and flies moved beneath the image.

Throughout the two minutes, the voice of the film’s creator could be heard quoting lines from Genevan philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s essay “On the Origin of Inequality”.

After the viewing of the visual component, Düttman elaborated on the quotes, stating that the artist appropriated Rousseau’s words in hopes of creating an “impulse” in his audience to stand up and make a difference about

the injustice happening in Paris at that moment. Düttman concluded by referring back to his idea of dreaming and knowing, and how the knowledge that an artist dreams up can only be seen as participation once there is some form of action taken, whether it be in the art itself or in the people that are inspired or moved by the art.

With a quirky blurb about German poet Friedrich Hölderlin, Düttman ended his lecture. As students began to leave and pack their things, murmurs of confusion filled the lecture hall. A lecture that had been billed as a straightforward approach to a topic had turned out to be rather philosophical, touching on political and revolutionary milestones, and the discussion about dreams seemed to transcend the concrete theories visual art students might be used to hearing.

As a student not in the visual studies program, the complicated discussion was a little clearer to me. However, rath-

one year to a great career

EDWARD CAI/THE MEDIUM

Düttman offers his unique approach to participation in the arts. er than making me dismiss the lecture as cryptic and indecipherable, Düttman’s presentation gave me an idea of the inconclusiveness that can exist within the art world.

Like science, art is open to theory, interpretation, and questioning, and although hearing Düttman speak about something as abstract as participation

was frustrating, the inconclusive nature of the discussion was also fascinating.

When hearing the faint uncertainty that occasionally entered Düttman’s tone, I realized that even after years of research into the topic, defining participation in art is not only a difficult task, but the answer is difficult to communicate in a short two-hour lecture.

Professor by day, rockstar by night The psychology department’s annual PAUSE Variety Night raised over $600 for ErinoakKids

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Professor Dax Urbszat is always a hit with students.

EDWARD CAI PHOTO EDITOR On Thursday, March 1, around 275 people gathered at the Blind Duck Pub and enjoyed the 14th annual PAUSE Variety Night, organized by the Psychology Association of Undergraduate Students at Erindale in support of the ErinoakKids Foundation. Students, professors, and supporters of the psychology department at UTM enjoyed live performances, baked goods, and raffle prizes throughout the evening.

Some of the highlights included Dr. Dax Urbszat’s cover of Green Day’s single “Time of Your Life” (which prompted a sing-along from the audience that resonated throughout the Student Centre), Natalie Yurkewich’s enchanting original guitar and vocal piece “A Day to Love”, and Dr. Jeff Graham’s

lively band The Shift, featuring Allan Sura, Steve Grudzuik, Dave Robertson, and Gary Hoag.

Items up for auction included assorted CDs, gift baskets, and the big ticket item, an air hockey table.

The PAUSE Variety Night raised $600 for ErinoakKids Foundation, a children’s treatment centre that provides care and support for over 10,000 children and youths each year with physical and developmental disabilities. The money raised will be used towards therapy and summer camps, which help expose youths to a variety of ways for creative expression.

One performer, psychology specialist Caspian Sawczak, was also a volunteer at ErinoakKids. “I’m glad that Variety Night supports a firstclass organization like ErinoakKids,” he said. “It’s a privilege to be involved there—both challenging and rewarding.”

05.03.2012 THE MEDIUM A&E

»

7

Night of the knockout performances Hart House Theatre closes out the season with its best production, Tennessee Williams’ Night of the Iguana NIVES HAJDIN A&E EDITOR Fans of Tennessee Williams probably did their little happy dance on seeing Hart House Theatre’s announcement of its 2011/2012 season, with not one but two productions honouring the timeless American playwright. And if you’re not a fan, well, there’s always next year. The first Williams offering for the year was David Ferry’s The Gentleman Caller, an original Hart House tribute to the troubled life of the man responsible for classics as A Streetcar Named Desire, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and The Glass Menagerie. There is an intrinsic link between the two plays, as Ferry returned to the Hart House stage to round out the current season with Williams’ Night of the Iguana, except this time he took on the lead role and left the direction to Jeremy Hutton. The six or so fans of the Canadian sitcom Dan for Mayor may recognize Ferry as the character of Fern, but he is also a Gemini-nominated, DORA award-winning stage actor who proves to be a true pleasure to watch in his latest role as Reverend Larry Shannon.

If you aren’t familiar with the premise, don’t despair; neither was I. I found myself frantically leafing through the programme for a brief synopsis as the lights began to dim.

Even though it’s not immediately apparent what’s happening in the play, it is one that takes you on a journey with the characters while never leaving the vicinity of a tiki villa, fully furnished with palm trees, hammocks, and wicker furniture. It is a play that is not as much about plot as it is about character development and interactions, but the result is anything but stagnant.

Larry Shannon, the Texan reverendcum-tour guide, finds himself back at a cheap Mexican hotel, the Costa Verde, on his latest adventure, with a bus full of irritated women breathing down his neck (and not in a good way). Worn out by the heat and the shrill voice of accompanying teacher Judith Fellowes (Lada Darewych), he is greeted by his old friend, the freespirited hotel manager Maxine Faulk (Allegra Fulton). She tries to get Shannon to let loose, following his statutory rape charge against a minor by the name of Charlotte Goodall (Kathryn Alexandre), being locked out of his church following his atheist sermons, and being labelled a “defrocked minister” by many, including the critical, unforgiving Miss Fellowes. Following the death of Maxine’s husband, she hopes that Shannon might consider managing the hotel with her, but is soon threatened by the arrival of an old man (Peter Higginson) and his alluring granddaughter, Hannah Jelkes (Kelly Bolt). Maxine does all in her power to prevent Hannah and her nonno from taking up quarters in her hotel, while Shannon instantly becomes smitten by her and takes her fate into his hands, even though he’s not quite sure how to come to terms with his own. Shannon is also forced to fight off a persistent Charlotte, who claims she still loves him, and he is further persecuted

by Miss Fellowes, Charlotte’s caretaker on the trip, for his indecent encounter

DANIEL DIMARCO/PHOTO

Larry Shannon (David Ferry) living in the lap of luxury. Except not really—the hotel is pretty gross. with the girl.

While all of the characters seem relatively happy on the surface—be it Hannah’s enriching travels with her aging grandfather, Maxine’s carefree and indulgent lifestyle, or Shannon’s ability to charm the ladies wherever he goes—they all harbour deeper feelings of discontent and loneliness that become apparent as the play unfolds.

While Night of the Iguana is quite humorous at times and is indebted to the great charisma of the cast—including a minor subplot involving overexcited German tourists whom Shannon dismisses as Nazis—there is always a lingering sense of despair: it is quite obvious that none of the characters will ever be able to find a true and lasting source of happiness in their lives. This is a play about people at the end of their rope, much like the iguanas being strangled to death by the Mexican hotel workers out on the cliff.

The metaphor is used over and over again throughout the play, and is just one of the many clever textual tropes Williams uses as a playwright.

Ferry truly shines as the down-andout protagonist, and even though Shannon’s flaws run rampant throughout the play, one cannot help but admire him, just as Hannah Jelkes admits she respects him despite everything he has committed in the past. Ferry showcases both flashiness and despondence with such ease as he effortlessly makes the audience feel his suffering while still endearing himself to them with his charm. His delivery often comes across as completely improvised, not in the sense of being unprepared, but in that his performance is so natural it hardly seems like acting at all.

Fulton, who also has an impressive list of television, film, and theatre credits, plays an equally complex character, but one with whom it is difficult to sympathize. At times, there are awkward silences following Fulton’s delivery, perhaps waiting for a laugh that never comes, but this is ultimately due to her character’s somewhat cold and bitter persona. Fulton expertly conveys Max-

ine’s desperation while simultaneously trying to keep her pride intact, and in the end she is finally able to win the audience over to some degree.

Bolt’s performance as the very prim and proper yet surprisingly quickwitted Hannah was a crowd favourite.

Her deadpan delivery and convincing vulnerability, set in the context of the onstage relationship between Bolt and Higginson, is truly heartwarming.

Darewych’s comedic turn as the tightass teacher at the mercy of a man who won’t forfeit the bus key is also one of the play’s more prominent sources of

entertainment, as is the ridiculous, lustful affair propelled by the naïve Charlotte, convincingly portrayed by Theatre Erindale alumna Kathryn Alexandre. While there are a number of standout performances, each member of the ensemble cast adds his or her own carefully nuanced contribution to the storyline, so that even such minor characters as the slightly alcoholic tour manager (Tim Walker) resonate with the audience long after they have left the stage.

In a production that is so reliant on dialogue and character development,

it is crucial for all of the actors and actresses to do their part, and the cast of Night of the Iguana truly exceeds all expectations. It feels as if the audience is being transported to the grimy Mexican hotel and listening in on conversations between real people, rather than watching actors perform on a stage.

Larry Shannon is caught in a struggle between what he deems the “realistic” and “fantastic” levels of life, but on the Hart House stage, it’s clear that the two can easily coexist.

Night of the Iguana runs at Hart House Theatre until March 10.

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This week at Spiegel Marketplace:

TASTE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN

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8

«ARTS THE MEDIUM

05.03.2012

A lot of love, laughter, and linguistics The Italian Department returns with its annual play. This year it’s Io non mi marito per procura LARISSA HO FEATURES EDITOR Io non mi marito per procura, UTM’s 25th anniversary Maschere Duemondi’s show, is a comedy in Italiese—“mangia-cake Italian”—whose title translates to “He is not my husband by choice.” Set in the 1960s in both Toronto and Sicily, the show delivers a whopping amount of clever lines that delighted audiences both young and old at performances in the last week of February and early March.

Io non mi marito per procura, written by Lina Riccobene, opened on February 23 in the CCT Building under the direction of professor Teresa Lobalsamo. It centres on the themes of family, love and marriage. The show stars UTM student Luigi Giangrande in the role of Charlie Mangiapani, a twenty-nine-year-old who still lives with his parents, who are trying to marry him off as soon as possible.

With a phone call to Sicily, Charlie’s dreams of marrying a nice Canadian “gherla” are snatched away as an arranged marriage is made between Charlie and a Sicilian girl named Mariuzza, played by Katherine Zuraw. What ensues is a hilarious rendition of the play as the two families meet in the old country to work out the details of the marriage.

Giangrande, who is not part of the Italian theatre course but who was nonetheless invited to participate, delivers a wonderfully frustrated Charlie, tired of living in an intrusive household in which he is constantly being nagged to marry. Charlie’s parents, played with fantastic hilarity by Matthew Lima and Jenna Spagnuolo, are a great contrast to Mariuzza’s parents, Bilasi and Vita, played by Stew Arevalo and Carla Romeo.

Praise must be given to Lima for getting the most laughs out of the audience in his dual roles as Charlie’s father and the girl’s grandmother.

Perhaps the funniest part of the show is the lively banter between Lima and Romeo’s characters, the mother of Mariuzza and her mother-in-law, who are constantly at each other’s throats.

The acting, accent, and linguistics play are what make this great show such a hit. The actors’ emotive hand gestures, facial expressions, and change in pitch and tone are masterfully done during the performance.

Most notably, the set design, costumes, and music have a hand in tying knot in the audience’s heart.

The show endeavours to make the audience laugh, and pulls it off by its sheer entertainment fantastically. Io non mi marito per procura is a must-see!

EDWARD CAI/THE MEDIUM

Charlie (Luigi Giangrande) ees-ah tryeeng to find-ah naice gherlafrend! Lascia la chien!

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« 05.03.2012

MEDIUM FEATURES Editor » Larissa Ho

Culture on the map UTM students are working on an innovative Mississauga project which will showcase culture on a map Anna Konareva Have you ever wondered where you can find a bookstore, photography studio, or theatre in Mississauga? Or perhaps attend an event, visit a historic site, or meet at a place of religious assembly? Or are you an independent artist and would like others to know where to find you?

This is the question Mississauga residents, tourists, youth, artists, and culture stakeholders find themselves asking. How can we find out how many arts and culture industries, organizations, facilities, and events Mississauga hosts? Why does this question pose a challenge and why does Mississauga need a fo-

Anna Konareva/photo

Mississauga meets the challenge of discovering the arts and culture hosted in the city through a new innovative project. Here’s a taste of what the new map will look like. cussed and innovative project to meet this challenge?

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Well, Mississauga is the sixthlargest Canadian city, and one that is culturally diverse; more than half of its residents are born outside of Canada. Heritage Mississauga documents that the city used to be a congregation of villages with unique histories.

These villages are now the communities of Clarkson, Cooksville, Dixie, Erindale, Malton, Meadowvale, Port Credit, and Streetsville.

“In Mississauga, it becomes especially important to take culture seriously in order to increase community participation, expression, and integration,” John Ariyo, the project manager of the Mississauga Cultural Resource Map, explains in an interview. “Culture is an area to make an effort. Culture needs to be planned.”

On June 10, 2009, Mississauga City Council approved its first Culture Master Plan for the city.

One of the 44 recommendations of the Culture Master Plan was a dedicated cultural mapping project. Over two years, the mapping project developed into an online database that defines, displays, and catalogues Mississauga’s identity and history through its cultural activity, assets, resources, and heritage information: the Mississauga Cultural Resource Map. Last term, the City of Mississauga Culture Division requested student input and a group of UTM Communication, Culture, and Information Technology students volunteered to aid in the project. The students proposed research and recommendations on concept and visual guidelines. In the process, the CCIT group underwent experiential project management and

teamwork related training.

“A higher level of thinking comes out of such collaboration and giving back to the community,” says Joseph Ferenbok, a CCIT lecturer and last term’s campus project facilitator. “The university has to give back to the society through innovation, experimentation, novel research, and social capital.”

This term, the CCIT students are continuing with the project via an additional partnership with OCADU students. A CCIT internship course is the medium of the current collaboration.

The UTM and OCADU students are to further aid in the final stage of the project before it is released to the public: the icon development stage. The team will be producing a library of icons that will enable users of the map to easily navigate through categories like performing arts companies and visual art schools.

Developing icons isn’t an easy task. It requires thinking about accessibility and how colours and symbols communicate messages. The real challenge is predicting how the diverse Mississauga community will perceive certain metaphors.

“One thing I’ve known for a long time is that students are very smart people,” John Ariyo reflects. “Students understand the project; they are excited about it and they are ready to help us move forward.”

The current CCIT internship is one of a kind with its unique set of goals and experiences.

“We are constantly looking for ways to involve students with real-life projects and experiences,” says Tracey Bowen, a CCIT lecturer and internship coordi-

nator. “And this is the first time we’ve taken a group of students into a project that has implications outside of a classroom project.”

Ferenbok and Bowen believe that students can benefit from such on-campus industry-based experiences, learning theory and combining it with practice and experience. Internship involvement can allow students to network, see real-world projects develop, and prepare for work after graduation.

“As a graduating student, this internship is a real prep for the real world, because I can apply what I learned during my career at UTM into my own city’s project,” comments Niwaz Kaur Mann, a digital enterprise management specialist. “And I can proudly say that I am contributing to something significant while still in school.”

The internship is important to the students working on the project, and it’s just as important to the project manager.

“We need to connect with the leaders of tomorrow,” Ariyo adds. “We see the future of our city in the youth, and we feel that this internship is an opportunity for them to gain access into how the municipal government works and to help them participate in the city-building process.”

The public launch of the Cultural Resource Map project is set for May 1 under the “Mississauga Culture on the Map” portal.

The portal will use Google Map applications, including street view and directions, but with its own icons and considerations that are unique to Mississauga’s identity. One such feature is a direct connection to Mississauga Transit.

The portal will be a “one stop shop” directory with comprehensive details about each company, studio, school, tour, and artist. Users will be able to browse through organized categories and sub-categories of resources in order to easier navigate their search queries.

Currently, there are a number of other cities developing similar projects, including Brampton, Oakville, and Hamilton.

“In the long term, as many municipalities around us continue to develop similar projects, we hope we can all leverage our collective assets,” John Ariyo concludes.

» 11

05.03.2012 THE MEDIUM FEATURES

Where are all the books?

A library near you is destroying rather than giving away its old books. Here’s a look at why.

Larissa Ho features editor Have you ever wondered where all the books in your local library that disappear to make way for new books go?

Well, if you’re one of those who think that destroying a book—yes, any book, for any reason—is absolutely, inherently, even morally wrong… read on. You will certainly be shocked at what you learn, but then again, you may find a new cause to believe in.

You may have heard the rumours from the recent book-pulping scandals that have hit universities in Australia and elsewhere: libraries are throwing out books rather than donating or selling them.

Could it be true? Are books being destroyed? Why is it happening?

It seems that rather than selling or donating books—and not just any books, but good books in good condition—libraries everywhere are opting to throw them out because it is simply much cheaper than giving them away.

New books come out by the millions each year—indeed, each week. So what are libraries and bookstores supposed to do with the old books that don’t circulate at all, that collect dust on bookshelves, taking up space that new, perhaps more popular, books need?

According to Betsy Simpson, the president of the ALA’s Association for Library

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Is destroying books really the solution to space concerns and other issues in our libraries?

Collections and Technical Services, there is a huge space concern. Library users require that libraries provide space to interact and contemplate. The issue is: why should libraries fill up that space with more shelves to hold new books when old books are taking up all the space that is needed for people to sit down and actually read the books that are available?

Worse, even if they did use that space, eventually more new books would come in and the problem would still exist. The solution they’ve found seems to be: Why not just get rid of the old books?

Libraries don’t want to spend their

money farming out books that need to be de-catalogued, de-stamped, and debugged in order to be taken out of the system; that is economically unfeasible, they say.

Another basic reason for the so-called “book-burning era” is that books are simply out of fashion now. University students nowadays prefer to do their research online. Last March, the University of North South Wales came under massive criticism for “weeding out” centuries-old journal collections, newspapers, and books because they needed to clear space to create lounges for students to

n o i t c e l E G N I R P S 2012

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study.

Peter Slezak, an associate professor in the school of history and philosophy at the university, says this is part of a new university policy that is turning the library into “a kind of Starbucks”.

Recently, when Borders went out of business, they rapidly decreased the prices of their books by intervals until they were going for next to nothing—and yet by the end some books still remained unsold. Could it be that some books are just unneeded, unwanted, and, therefore, unsalvageable?

Perhaps this is part of a bigger issue:

are books going out of business? Books are out, e-books are in, and libraries are going digital. With Amazon announcing the Kindle Fire, an android-based touchscreen device, last September, there was speculation about whether anyone even needs to go down to the public library to look for a movie or a book when everything is just a click away, along with easy access to thousands of cheap or free applications. The possibility of a completely digital library is not so bizarre, it seems.

So what do you think? Are libraries meant to archive old and precious literature, or are they more like video stores, in which anything that has not been taken out for more than five years is culled, discarded, deemed unsalvageable? Should print copies of journals be discarded when online archival access to the same journals is available to students and academics?

Many people think that a library is not meant to be some sort of museum of old books, but a place where students and academics can subscribe to the most up-todate journals and literature for research.

But as David Miller, a professor at the University of North South Wales, said: “There’s something profoundly wrong and symbolically wrong about a university destroying books. Universities are in the business of passing on knowledge— and books, no matter how the use of books is shrinking, still remain a very important symbol of knowledge.”

St. raduates at ime underg rtant services such -t ll fu l al ts TTC represen .T.S.U. provides impo d discounted s. U udents’ Union The U of T St Mississauga campuse aries, clubs funding an ts to the central U of George and Dental Plans, book burs also represents studen’ rights, and connects as Health & . Your Students’ Union advocates for studentscampaigns and social vernment, k on common goals, Metropasses or ation and go T administr ross all campuses to w students ac g. programmin

h t 8 h c r a M & h t 7 March 6th, March

Mississauga Campus Polling Stations: UTM North (1) UTM CCIT (1) UTM Davis (1) Instructional Centre (1)

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St. George Campus Polling Stations: Sidney Smith Hall (2) Bahen Centre for Information Technology (2) Athletics Centre (1) Leslie L. Dan Pharmacy Building (1) Gerstein Science Information Centre (1) Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work (1) Isabel Bader Theatre (1) Edward Johnson Building (1) Gerald Larkin Building (1) Alumni Hall (1)

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All locations are open from 09:00 to 18:00*

*Isabel Bader Theatre open from 09:00 to 16:00

For more information visit www.utsu.ca or email cro@utsu.ca

Please note that, at the time of this publication, “University of Toronto Students’ Union” and/or “U.T.S.U.” refers to the Students’ Administrative Council of the University of Toronto, Inc. (SAC)

12 THE MEDIUM «FEATURES 05.03.2012

Psychology of fiction The Science Corner Music really can heal the soul Saamiyah Ali-Mohammed

There are many reasons to read a novel. You might read to escape a calendar full of essay deadlines, to keep up with the most hypedup literature, or just to pretend that you have a less monotonous life. But are those the only reasons? Is reading about Hogwarts and talking portraits really purposeless? This is a possibility, since the writer invents the plot and events of a story. On the other hand, could reading about ballroom etiquette in Pride and Prejudice serve a better purpose?

In his article in Scientific American, Keith Oatley suggests that, yes, fiction serves a greater purpose than entertainment.

Keith Oatley proposes that reading a novel is comparable to simulation in dreams. In an evolutionary context, it has been suggested that dreams help to prepare the dreamer for real-life circumstances. Some of the most commonly reported dreams, for example, involve being chased or falling through space. In effect, novels might also help you to react appropriately in the real world.

Scientific studies have investigated the possibility of simulation in reading. In a fictional work, an author evokes emotion

and reveals character intentions to his readers. While reading fiction, you experience these emotions and intentions as your own. Brain imaging techniques indicate that when a fictional character experiences emotional distress, the anterior cingulate cortex and other brain regions are activated in the reader, the same ones that are activated in the actual experience. Similarly, when a fictional character performs an action, brain regions associated with performing the action are activated.

How exactly does this simulation affect the person? Psychologists found that readers of fiction were better at determining emotions when presented with pictures of eyes than nonreaders of fiction were. Readers of fiction also understood social interaction better than the average person who did not read fiction when evaluating video clips.

So your classroom bookworm is not necessarily socially inept.

That bookworm could even have superior social skills compared to a person who does not read fiction. Maybe your well-worn copy of Pride and Prejudice is about more than ballroom etiquette—maybe it helps you grasp the complexities of human relationships.

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U of T is planning to create a new centre dedicated to the medicinal effects of music

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Leonard Cohen sang of an ancient Biblical story in which music was used to heal the sick.

Emily Acheson associate features editor “I’ve heard there was a secret chord that David played and it pleased the Lord— but you don’t really care for music, do you?”

Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” recalls one of the most ancient stories of music being used to heal the sick. It is an intentional reference to the Biblical story of David easing King Saul’s disturbed mind by playing music for him on the harp.

In many cultures in ancient times, mental illness was not fully understood.

Although there was a basic understanding of madness, many more complicated cases of mental illness were seen as possession by evil spirits. If prayer, exorcism, torture, or imprisonment didn’t help, the mentally ill were often cast out of society and made pariahs, or even put to death.

The medicine of Native American culture had other ways of healing the mentally ill. They used music.

The University of Toronto is taking this idea to a new and innovative level.

Plans are currently underway to create a Music and Health Research Collaboratory at the St. George campus’s Faculty of Music. The new centre would use interdisciplinary methods to focus

on music’s healing powers for diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and fibromyalgia. Other research targets music’s rehabilitative powers in stroke patients.

Currently, similar music centres exist in Cleveland and New York. However, the proposed centre at U of T would stand out for its heavier focus on the medicinal function.

Canada is already facing economic strain as the baby boomer population enters the age of retirement. Worse, the large number of people entering this age have an increased risk of dementia, among other health problems. With costs rising for medication, hospital stays, and palliative care, scientists and therapists hope to take a cheaper approach that uses music.

Music therapy formally began during the two World Wars, when wounded and mentally injured soldiers took comfort in music and dance. By 1950, the National Association for Music Therapy had been born through the collaboration of psychiatrists and music therapists working with war veterans. In 1998, NAMT evolved into what is now called the American Music Therapy Association.

Music creates deep, powerful associations between brain functions. More general music therapy gained increased attention after its success with Gabrielle

Giffords, a US politician who was shot in the head last January after an assassination attempt. Music therapists had her sing simple songs, like “Yankee Doodle”, which revived certain parts of her brain associated with word retrieval. As other pathways were opened up by musical memory, she was soon able to move her right arm.

Last November, U of T’s dean of music Dr. Don McLean and associate dean Lee Bartel held information sessions about the proposed plan. The sessions attracted over 200 researchers conducting related research, including using music to decrease Parkinson’s symptoms, induce sleep, alleviate fibromyalgia pain, regain movement after strokes, and increase seniors’ well-being.

Currently, many of these scientists use MRI machines to track the rewiring of neurons taking place when patients, say, sing a familiar song. Research has already found that the human brain processes music in both hemispheres, in areas where language, emotions, motor skills, and memory reside. By activating these neurons through music, scientists and therapists hope to stimulate damaged areas in a less invasive way.

And as University of Western neuroscientist Jessica Grahn noted, with these musical therapies, unlike drugs, “There is essentially no downside.”

Which cartoon is best for your kid?

Saamiyah Ali-Mohammed Researchers from the University of Virginia demonstrated in a startling study that watching fast-paced TV shows, like SpongeBob SquarePants, can weaken a host of abilities, such as attention span, self-control, and problem-solving among children.

These functions and others are all lumped under the umbrella term “executive function”.

In the study, four-year-olds who watched the fast-paced entertainment cartoon SpongeBob SquarePants for nine minutes were compared to children who watched a slow-paced educational cartoon and to children who drew a picture. Immediately afterwards, the

children’s executive functioning was measured by their ability to perform several tasks. Researchers discovered that viewers of the fastpaced entertainment cartoon were less able to do the things that nonviewers were able to do, like curb the desire to eat a tasty snack when instructed not to, or pay attention to and follow an instruction given by an adult.

One possible explanation given by the researchers is that, similarly to how a computer’s processor works, a fast-paced show takes up more of the brain’s capacity, leaving less room for other processes.

It’s not just SpongeBob parents need to be wary of. Similar shows could have similar effects. What

aspects of SpongeBob prompt such tendencies? It could be the overwhelming amount of fiction, the fast pace, or this particular cartoon’s unpredictable nature.

Better executive function has been associated with higher grades at school, and although no severe or long-lasting consequences are documented in this study, it is possible that longer exposure to shows like SpongeBob could have more serious side effects. The side effects on children older or younger than four years are also unknown.

While researchers follow up on these questions, you need to blow the dust off those BBC documentaries. Your child’s cognitive capabilities may depend on it.

» 13

05.03.2012 THE MEDIUM FEATURES

The force behind the U-Pass Aubrey Iwaniw worked behind the scenes to bring the Mississauga Transit U-Pass to UTM Jai Sangha Few people know Aubrey Iwaniw as the person who brought the Mississauga Transit U-Pass to UTM. Even fewer know that she’s the Department of Geography’s environmental project coordinator and the driving force behind many student and campus environmental projects. “In total I work directly with about 90 students over the academic year,” she says. “I enjoy it.”

Iwaniw came to UTM from her rural community in Woodstock, Ontario as an undergraduate forensic science student in 1999. “I used to watch a lot of Quincy, a forensic crime show, and thought it was really cool. I volunteered with the paramedics while I was in high school because I wanted to be behind the scenes and see things that were hidden in everyday life,” she says. Iwaniw soon switched to and finished her bachelor’s in environmental management after taking the first-year environment course. “I didn’t know environment could be a career. I had thought it was just about nature hikes and recycling!”

Today, Iwaniw picks project ideas for “ENV232: Environmental Sustainability Practicum”, a required second-year course she coordinates with geography professor Monika Havelka. The course splits 28 undergraduate students into seven groups that work on community and campus-based projects. “Last year

edward cai/the medium

Aubrey Iwaniw, the environmental projects coordinator, in her office in the Davis Building. was one of our major projects: to improve the water fountain infrastructure on campus. The project’s aim was to couple the recent push to go water bottle-free with support to stay water bottle-free. The students in the course presented a report about student opinions of things wrong with the infrastructure to the administration which directly resulted in increasing the hydration stations,” she says. “It was a perfect storm

of pressure in that area and the students were really proud to see it come to life.”

Iwaniw also coordinates and provides ongoing support to the students of the Green Team, a group of 20 to 30 Work-Study students who work on institutional waste reduction, alternative transportation, and litter campaigns on campus. “It is different now. When I was an undergraduate student, my club worked really hard to bring envi-

ronmental awareness to students. It was tough, though. That was a time before the movie An Inconvenient Truth, and these things were not popular,” she says.

In 2004, Iwaniw started the U-Pass conversations with Mississauga Transit to introduce a cheap alternative to driving to campus. At the time, only 10 to 20% of students took the bus. Research had shown more people turn to public transit if it was cheaply available.

“The administration and the student union sat around the table with transit authorities for almost three years, and we got our first U-Pass in 2007,” she says. “It is monumental what has come about. This year, almost 90% of students stood in line to pick up their pass, and the buses go full. The transit authorities have been so fantastic in reacting to our needs every fiscal year to give us more buses and more routes.”

Off-campus, Iwaniw is part of the Toronto longboarding community and a competitive downhill mountain biker.

“This summer I broke my left humerus and nicked my nerve when I did a bike jump incorrectly. It was debilitating. My priorities shifted,” she says. “I was good at my job but maybe wasn’t so good at being kind to myself. Before the accident, I used to be emotionally depleted coming back from work. But now I have work and then something to look forward to afterwards.”

This year, Iwaniw finished her work towards a master’s degree in planning.

She wants to get accredited with the Ontario Professional Planners Institute.

“Once that happens, I don’t know what to do. I didn’t have a plan for all these things that have happened in the last seven years. But I’m not scared that I don’t have a plan—I’ve been okay so far without one,” she smiles. “I just try to stay true to my morals, to what I think is right, and let that guide me.”

14

»05.03.2012

MEDIUM SPORTS Interim Editor » Anna Bediones

Battle of the Eagles: Blue vs. White UTM Blue advances to semis after an 82–72 win over UTM White ANNA BEDIONES INTERIM SPORTS EDITOR Throughout the season we cheer for both Div. 1 basketball teams. This time, it was one or the other that would advance to the Division 1 semifinals: UTM Blue versus UTM White.

The two teams met earlier in the season, and this time White looked to avenge the 20-point beating they took from Blue.

Fans lined the bleachers. The Eagle mascot paraded around the gym. No one knew who to cheer for. Members from both teams jokingly exchanged trash talk.

Jack Krist, the program coordinator at the Department of Physical Education, watched from the officials’ table. “This

should’ve been the finals,” he said, shaking his head.

The teams met at centre court for the tipoff and wasted no time in scoring, with each nailing back-and-forth buckets. UTM Blue put the pressure on White’s defence early, forcing them to play outside.

Good ball movement by UTM White led to open looks and fast breaks, including Julian Nieva’s dime passes under the basket on two consecutive possessions. Manpreet Gill’s offensive game exploded in the second half, in which he scored 19 of his 30 points. Alongside him, Zak Khan made big shots for a total of 18 points.

UTM Blue maximized on their size advantage, hitting Fedja Kuljanin for some pow-

er baskets in the post to finish with 17. Meanwhile, point guard and team captain Andre Woodroffe delivered as usual, achieving 30 points for the game.

The win was within reach for both teams, but UTM Blue held the lead and kept it until the final buzzer sounded.

Conflicted cheers filled the RAWC throughout the game, and again when it was over.

After the game, Faiz Ahmed of UTM Blue commented: “We already beat them in the regular season, so we just had to go out and play our game to get a similar result.”

On Tuesday, March 6 at 7:30 p.m., PHE will host UTM Blue at St. George for the semifinal game.

ZOHA KAZMI/DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION

UTM Blue’s Jonathan Harvey extends the lead with free throws in the final minutes while teammates look on.

Exercise as medication?

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Research symposium held at the University of Toronto discusses the medical effects of exercise on health MICHELLE DUKLAS ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR On December 1, U of T students and members of the larger community gathered at Isabel Bader Theatre for a symposium entitled “Physical Activity: The Best Medicine?”.

The emcee of the event, Michelle Brownrigg, is the director of physical activity and equity at the Faculty of Physical Education and Health. Brownrigg began the symposium by citing that two thirds of all deaths are the result of noncommunicable diseases.

Canada’s guideline for physical activity recommends that adults should accumulate 150 minutes of physical activity each week, in sessions of at least 10 minutes. Only 15% of adults currently meet those guidelines. Brownrigg went on to say that while most people say that they don’t have enough time to exercise, the reality is that most people spend two to three hours every day doing leisure activities.

Professor Jack Goodman, a cardiac researcher, told the audience to imagine if we could put exercise into a pill. There are so many benefits to exercise, including decreased risk of heart disease and increased

heart function, that the appeal is obvious. Like medication, exercise also comes with risks and side effects, such as an increased risk of heart attacks and possible dehydration. He added that exercise is addictive, but jokingly remarked that this “side effect” isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

After comparing exercise to medication, they mentioned that study after study has shown that increased exercise decreases the risk of coronary heart disease. Not only that, but amazingly, vigorous exercise decreases all causes of death by 20–60%.

Goodman spent some time discussing the risks of exercise in terms of hidden heart defects. When exercising, a person’s risk of a heart attack increases by 50–60%. But what scientists have discovered is that over time, and with more regular exercise, the risk of a heart attack decreases.

Goodman then gave suggestions for what kinds of exercise could fit the recommended 150 minutes per week. He suggested walking briskly for 15 to 17 kilometres every week, or participating in four days of aerobic classes that make you sweat and breathe hard.

He ended his brief address

with a humorous yet thoughtprovoking rhetorical question: “What fits your schedule better: exercising one hour a day, or being dead 24 hours a day?”

Professor Guy Faulkner, who researches the psychological benefits of exercise, then asked, “Is sweat the best anti-discussed the question?”

He discussed the poor state of mental health in the Canadian population, and how problems can be curbed through greater physical fitness. The Canadian government released figures in 2002 from the Ministry of Health saying that one in five Canadians suffer from mental illness. Worse, that number is increasing over time. It also puts a huge drain on the healthcare system; in 1993, $7.3 billion was spent on mental health. That number has increased since then.

Faulkner highlighted that we can impact the way we think and feel by increasing physical activity. He cited numerous studies that have proven that exercise leads to reduced depression, and conversely, those who exercise less have a greater risk of developing depression.

While exercise cannot fully replace medication, the positive effects of taking medication and exercising are comparable.

» 15

05.03.2012 THE MEDIUM SPORTS

The canfitpro program creates jobs on campus UTM hosts canfitpro courses for students to get certified as personal trainers or instructors INGRID MELDRUM One of the numerous opportunities UTM students have at the gym is to become a personal trainer or fitness class instructor. Through the canfitpro program, which is offered at various times throughout the year, any student or community member has the chance to learn the basics of personal training and fitness class instructing.

What is canfitpro? It’s a nationally recognized introductory program for new personal trainers and fitness instructors. The fitness class instructor course certifies new teachers for traditional group fitness classes that are usually loud, energetic, and choreographed. This includes classes

Offseason training Why keeping in shape in the off-season is just as important JASON CROSS The university sports season may be seasonal, but the progress of a team is ongoing.

Many intramural teams wait eight to nine months before they get a crack at the next season, and with so much downtime, it takes leadership and hard work to stay focussed. At heart, it remains a team effort. It begins in the off-season. An out-of-work player is guaranteed to be in the gym working on his craft.

UTM’s own Michael Prempeh, a veteran stamp on the Varsity Blues football squad, is no stranger to the off-season workout. “I look at the offseason as the hardest part of the athletic year,” he says. “If you work hard during the offseason, the regular season will come natural.” And indeed, this is the kind of dedication needed from the whole team to ensure success.

Even players who may not get a lot of playing time are integral to a team’s positive direction.

“Bench players are important, especially during practice,” Prempeh preaches. “It’s important for them to work hard so that they give starters a good look during practice.”

Prempeh is adamant that it is not about how much playing time you get but how you carry yourself when you aren’t getting any. “Confidence. You gotta have it in yourself and to put into your teammates,” he says.

Most importantly, he adds, “You gotta lead by example.”

such as “Step and Sculpt”, “Body Blast”, and “Strength and Stretch”, all of which are currently offered on campus.

The personal training course includes instruction in fitness theory, workout components, basic training principles, business skills, and other essentials to becoming a personal trainer. Darren Turner, a UTM graduate and personal trainer at the RAWC, said, “[The course is] a gateway certification into the fitness industry. It gives you knowledge to put an average individual safely through a basic fitness program.”

And canfitpro also helps to create more opportunities for students to get hired on campus, as it is a requirement for every trainer on staff

DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION/PHOTO

at the RAWC to be thus certified.

The personal training classes are offered throughout the year at the RAWC, and are taught by Andrew Bellerby, the fitness program coordi-

nator. The course is 25 hours in total, divided over three days. The theoretical and practical exams are held separately from the course, but can both be completed at the RAWC.

The next course will be offered from March 30 to April 1 and from April 27 to 29. The next fitness instructor course will run from May 4 to 6.

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