Vol 38 issue 3

page 6

September 19, 2011 Volume 38, Issue 3 www.mediumutm.ca

Part-time U-Pass controversy EPUS revived— part-time students still left out of U-Pass STEFANIE MAROTTA NEWS EDITOR Erindale Part-time Undergraduate Students, an organization that represents part-time students at UTM, has been revived after three years of inactivity. Under the leadership of president Cherri-Ann Valentine, who also serves as associate to the UTMSU VP Campus Life, EPUS plans to hold another referendum to achieve parttime students’ support for the U-Pass.

After being promised access to the U-Pass, part-time students suddenly found themselves ineligible in March earlier this year. The UTM Students’ Union emailed students with information regarding eligibility. In a brief note at the end of the email, part-time students were instructed to contact the newly reformed EPUS. EPUS disbanded in 2008 when the Student Administrative Council and the Erindale College Student Union merged to become UTMSU.

EDWARD CAI/THE MEDIUM

After being promised access to the U-Pass, part-time students found themselves ineligible.

At the same time, the two organizations attempted to merge with EPUS to be able to represent and collect a levy from part-time students. Following the merger, the Association of Part-time Undergraduate Students (APUS), the organization based at St. George that represents part-time students on all three campuses, took UTMSU to court. As per APUS’s policies, the UTMSU was not within its jurisdiction to hold such a refer-

endum. While the intent to merge EPUS with UTMSU was considered “in good faith”, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice ruled that the UTMSU had acted against the authority of APUS. UTMSU, whose membership only extends to full-time students that pay into the union through tuition, created the paid position of VP Part-time Affairs to provide representation for part-time students on campus. With

EPUS active again, the position of UTMSU’s VP Part-time Affairs is called into question. The executive position is paid from the membership fee taken out of all full-time students’ tuition.

“This is a discussion that we need to have with the Board of Directors,” said UTMSU president Gilbert Cassar. “The VP Part-time Affairs has been assisting EPUS. The UTMSU is doing this out of goodwill to help

EPUS get into shape to start collecting fees again and operate efficiently.”

While APUS expressed their pleasure about the revival of EPUS, they would not comment on whether they would support a second part-time U-Pass referendum after intervening in the first. APUS did not want to move forward with the U-Pass for part-time students last year, maintaining that many part-time students would not benefit from the service.

“EPUS, logically, should have been re-established with APUS,” said Jeff Peters, president of APUS. “Historically, APUS funded EPUS’s first-ever financial audit, paid staff, and even provided office hours. To date, APUS was never informed that EPUS was going to be re-established—neither about elections, funding, or even whether it is still guided by the same bylaws. APUS still receives calls from various administrative departments regarding outstanding matters, yet EPUS seems to be functioning completely independently of APUS but instead with UTMSU, a full-time student union.”

U-Pass continued on page 3

First Pub thirst at Blind Duck CLIFF LEE UTMSU kicked off the year with First Pub at the Blind Duck on Thursday night. Hordes of students gathered outside the Student Centre before the doors opened at 10 p.m., in anticipation of the night ahead.

“The feeling is exceptional to see the people come out to this event. It’s a great start to the year and I feel the spirit of the students coming to rock the night away.

I hope that this will continue throughout the year,” said Gilbert Cassar, president of UTMSU, as he interacted with the students in line. Gilbert and the other executives from the student union were actively involved in the event.

“It’s exciting,” said Shane Madhani, manager of the Blind Duck Pub. First Pub continued on page 3

Clubs Week takes over You heard the loud music. Read what else went down.

Medium News, page 2

Part-time representation Our take on the part-time U-Pass controversy.

Medium Opinion, page 4

Blackwood reopens UTM’s art gallery celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Art & Art History program.

Medium A&E, page 5

Accessibility on campus Taking a look at how UTM offers accessible alternatives.

Medium Features, page 8

UTM’s Blues

Some people have way too much fun at pub nights.

EDWARD CAI/THE MEDIUM

The close-knit relationship between two of UTM’s star athletes.

Medium Sports, page 10

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«09.19.2011

Student engagement at Clubs Week ADAM ERB While some students get back into early-morning routines, others fill the air with the clacking of chairs and the chatter of ideas during UTM’s Clubs Week.

Tables for UTM’s Music Club, Vietnamese Student Club, Style and Profile Club, and the Medical Club, among others, sat in rows outside the Student Centre.

Clubs Week is a tradition at UTM that comes once a semester to showcase various extracurricular clubs and societies for students with common interests to join.

Clubs Week typically runs the entire second week of each semester and covers pastimes and interests for almost every walk of life on campus. Themes include sports, hobbies, culture, academics, and faith-based groups.

Clubs Week is an effective way for new and international students to become involved with the UTM community, as it allows different people to get together for a common cause. Clubs often offer new members weekly gettogethers, field trips, food, or even small giveaways for joining.

Most clubs require a membership fee, which is partially determined by the size of its budget.

“You have to present the UTM Student Union (UTMSU) with a budget. The budget will cover the costs of running the club, the costs of running special events, and the cost of keeping things afloat,” said Michael Hanson, Chief Executive of the Video Game Club. “It’s very important to get the numbers as close to what you need as possible, since the student union has a limited

Symposium for campus leaders Larissa Ho

EDWARD CAI/THE MEDIUM

Don’t hide! Join a club on campus. budget for these sorts of things,” he added.

If a club doesn’t receive the necessary funding to “keep themselves afloat”, they must resort to more creative measures, such as raising the cost of membership, holding bake sales, or even spending money out of their own pocket.

“It can be a challenge to try to bridge the gap when funding isn’t available, but at the same time, it won’t be a problem if you’re able to get many people to sign up and pay their fee on time,” said Hanson.

In order for a group to be recognized as a club, the group must

first become recognized on campus and build a membership base before completing the initial paperwork. The executives of the club must prove that it is a niche that needs to be represented for the upcoming school year. The paperwork for Clubs Week is due at the end of summer break, and budgets usually solidify during the second week of the school year—but in some cases, even later.

Some students try to avoid Clubs Week. They feel like there isn’t a group that supports any of their interests, or they’re afraid of being turned down. According to the rules set out by UTMSU,

a student shall not be discriminated against, even if they don’t share the same values as the club in which they’re interested. Others, who are just settling into university for the first time, just don’t have the time or patience for the large crowds, loud music, and constantly being flagged down to join clubs.

UTMSU runs Clubs Week at the beginning of each academic semester, but students are welcome to join clubs and get involved at any time. For a full list of clubs and societies, visit utmsu.ca, or check out the club offices on the second floor of the Student Centre.

The first UTM Leadership Symposium, a “one-day hands-on introductory session for student leaders on campus”, took place last Saturday afternoon in the Instructional Centre.

The keynote address, entitled “Lessons on Leadership from My Cute Italian Mom”, was presented

by Tony Conte of Ryerson University. Conte, who worked for a number of years in student affairs at the University of Western Ontario, Carleton University, and McMaster University, regaled the student leader audience with a humorous retelling of his personal experience of going into first year at UWO, and how student leadership greatly affected his life in positive ways.

“Dare to make a difference,” Conte urged the audience. “Dare to change the world.”

The student leaders were then split into several groups for breakout sessions. Students and faculty from the Health and Counselling Centre, the AccessAbility Resource Centre, the Department of Physical Education, the Athletics and Recreation, Career Centre, Student Housing and Residence Life, and the International Centre introduced students to their respective resource centres, enabling student leaders to become more aware of the resources offered at UTM and how to better serve their fellow students as student leaders on campus.

Students and faculty regrouped to listen to a brief speech from Deep Saini, UTM’s principal, before departing for the Blind Duck Pub, where they enjoyed a barbecue dinner.

WRITE FOR

NEWS! Campus politics, clubs, pub nights, and more!

 email: news@mediumutm.ca

09.19.2011 THE MEDIUM NEWS

Students fundraise for east Africa LARISSA HO Last week UTMSU held events to fundraise for the East Africa Drought, which UNICEF has deemed “the most severe humanitarian emergency in the world”.

In Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti, and Uganda, about 10 million people, including children, have been severely affected by the drought and refugee crisis.

On Monday, a fundraiser dinner and event night was held in the Blind Duck Pub for $10 per ticket. Other fundraising activities included a breakfast held in the Student Centre, a bake sale, a lemonade stand, and a screening of Thor.

“It’s important that we do whatever we can to help out with this cause. It’s unfortunate and upsetting that the international community hasn’t taken a stronger stance on the issue. Millions of people could potentially die as a result of this drought, and yet this story rarely, if ever, makes the front page of the news,” says Ruba El-Kadri, VP Equity of UTMSU. “I hope that students at our university will learn about

what’s going on in east Africa and will help out in whatever way they can, even if it’s just a small donation.”

Somalia has been affected the worst by the drought, which has forced thousands of people to flee to Ethiopia and Kenya.

“Volunteering with UTMSU and UTM Muslim Students’ Association has helped us raise awareness among students on the dire situation in that area.

The current crisis in East Africa is affecting 10 million people in more than three countries,” said Saleha Faruque, a UTM MSA volunteer. “We, the students and staff, feel inclined to utilize the opportunities at UTM’s community on campus to raise funds, and help provide relief however possible.

We’ve had a positive donor turnout and look forward to continue collecting funds beginning this September.”

UTMSU also hosted a fundraising dinner and “spoken

word night” on September 12 from 6 to 9 p.m. Over 150 students attended and over $1,000 was raised for the cause.

Somalia has been affected the worst by the drought, which has forced thousands of people to flee to Ethiopia and Kenya. Malnutrition rates in Somalia are the highest in the world, and the relentless conflict and drought have left millions in need of emergency humanitarian aid. There are stories of parents forced to decide which child to leave behind so that they could make sure the fittest would be able to make it to the refugee camp.

Children who do survive the journey to refugee camps often arrive with emotional trauma from violence, rape, and hunger.

“We’re hoping to host as many events as possible before September 16 because the Canadian government will be matching donations dollar for dollar up until that date,” continues El-Kadri. “So far, students have collected more than $4,000 for this cause at UTM, and I really appreciate all of the support that the students have given to this cause.”

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»Did you join a club?

Hashim Physiology

Tarun Environmental Science

“I joined EcSpert because it looks good on a résumé.

And I get to save cute girls.”

“I joined Music Club. I want to play guitar in a band at the talent show.”

Saadia Digital Enterprise

Rachel Management/French

“I didn’t join a club, but I considered creating one.

I’m too busy, though.”

“I’m an exec at the Chinese Christian Fellowship. We support one another.”

Part-time students cut out of U-Pass School year kicks off Currently, EPUS is not collecting fees on behalf of part-time students.

The issue over the part-time U-Pass stems from a series of negotiations gone awry. APUS notified UTMSU after the U-Pass referendum in the fall of 2010 that they would pursue legal action.

Since part-time students do not pay membership fees to the UTMSU, but instead to APUS, the student union can only advocate for full-time students. The UTSMU was accused of unrightfully attempting to provide a service for students that legally fall under the membership of APUS. In March, the UTMSU announced that part-time students would not be included in the summer U-Pass.

Both the UTM administration

and Mississauga Transit pulled out of negotiations. After continuous attempts by the UTMSU executives, Mississauga Transit came back to the table; however, they insisted that the cost of the U-Pass would have to be increased. UTMSU agreed to raise the price to $140—$55 more than what students had agreed upon through the referendum. Without enough time to hold another referendum, the UTMSU proposed a motion to subsidize the U-Pass out of the contingency budget, funds reserved for emergencies, for full-time students. The total cost of the subsidy was $121,000.

Former president Vickita Bhatt claimed that the funds used from the contingency budget would be replaced by executive salary cutbacks and unused money from the union’s ministries. Presently, UTMSU will only state that they

have implemented a multi-year plan to replenish the funds. Due to complications with APUS, UTMSU was not able to negotiate a U-Pass contract with Mississauga Transit and the UTM administration specifically on behalf of part-time students.

“Interestingly, APUS was told students overwhelmingly support the U-Pass, including part-time students,” said Peters. “The reality is that not all part-time students are in favour of the U-Pass, and this needs to be acknowledged and respected. Why should those who do not require a U-Pass and those who cannot afford a U-Pass be forced to subsidize it?”

To get involved or to inquire, students can contact EPUS or attend a Ministry of Part-time Affairs meeting at the UTMSU office in the Student Centre every week on Wednesday afternoons.

Gordon Ramsey’s dwarf porn double eaten by badgers

Obama announces tax hike on rich: “Buffett Rule”

Percy Foster, a dwarf adult pornographic actor known for his resemblance to television and food star Gordon Ramsey, was found dead and partially eaten by badgers in Wales. The actor, who was 35, stated in a recent interview that he was excited about his growing career as Mr. Ramsey’s double.

His body was found ahead of a planned badger-gassing program by the Ministry of Agriculture.

Source: dailytelegraph.com.au

UPass continued from Cover

with First Pub First Pub continued from Cover “It’s the same as ever y event: tickets sell out within 24 hours, and if the capacity of the pub was increased to 1,000 from the current capacity of 500, I wouldn’t be surprised if tickets would still be in high demand.”

According to Madhani, DJs at the event were from ICS Nation and they have been employed at UTM’s pub events for years. ICS Nation DJs perform at many events in downtown Toronto.

“It’s my first year, and I thought I’d check out the night life at UTM. I also hope this is an opportunity for me to meet more friends on cam-

pus,” said Emiri Kawano, a first-year commerce student.

“It’s exciting to see not only students [from] on campus but also students [from] off campus come out to attend the events. And with this being the First Pub, I look forward to seeing new faces come out to have a great night,” said Madhani about the participants at pub events.

In the past years, the Blind Duck Pub has held various events, including Techno Night, Caribbean Night, Sexual Awareness Pub, Halloween Pub, First Pub, and Last Pub. Tickets are already on sale for the next pub night, hosted by the UTM Athletics Council on Thursday, September 22.

Yemen forces fire on protestors, kill 12

Employees accidentally eat year-old weed brownies

Mississauga student found dead, another in critical condition

President Barack Obama is expected to seek a new base tax rate for the wealthy to ensure that millionaires pay at least at the same percentage as middle income taxpayers. The measure will be called the “Buffett Rule”, named after the billionaire investor Warren Buffett, who recently argued in favour of tax increases for the wealthy.

Yemeni government forces opened fire on thousands of anti-government protesters, killing at least 12 and wounding dozens. Forces used anti-aircraft guns and automatic weapons, witnesses said. The attack was the deadliest in months and comes as the tension between the regime of Ali Abdullah Saleh and the opposition has been escalating.

A woman in Victoria, BC brought a tray of brownies to work that her son had baked a year prior and stored in the freezer. Three employees were taken to hospital after noticing symptoms of light-headedness, numbness, and disorientation. Investigating officers discovered that the brownies had been baked with marijuana. The son was charged with possession and will complete community service hours.

On Friday morning, a 16-year-old boy from Mississauga Secondary School jumped off a bridge onto Highway 401. Soon after, the body of a 17-year-old girl was found at a nearby park. The boy is still in critical condition. Students from the high school say that the pair were inseparable. Police are still investigating the incident; it’s possible that it was a murder-suicide.

Source: Associated Press

Source: Associated Press

Source: The Vancouver Sun

Source: Mississauga News

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09.12.2011

MEDIUM OPINION Editor-in-Chief » Michael Di Leo

The part-time confusion This week I was made aware of the history behind EPUS and its complex role in representing nearly 1,000 part-time undergraduate students at UTM. It was a difficult process, to say the least. Stefanie Marotta, our News Editor, was only recently able to get the information she needed to dissect the story, after nearly three weeks of research.

Going through her work, I noticed something: there is a tremendous amount of misinformation on the EPUS and its relationship to students, UTMSU, and APUS. Much of the misinformation, I suspect, stems from general confusion on the subject. There is no document that explicitly states

who represents part-time UTM students in specific circumstances, like UPass distribution. The only constant (for the last four years, at least) has been APUS. We know that part-timers have paid an incidental fee to APUS, and that APUS has advocated for part-time students on a tri-campus level.

EPUS, when they were active, represented students on a local level—similar to how all full-time UTM students pay membership to both UTMSU and UTSU, the downtown student union. Currently, EPUS is trying to reorganize and has not collected any fees this year from part-time students. It seems to me, then, that while EPUS

may be promoting the interests of part-time undergraduates, the legal responsibility falls on APUS. As Ms. Marotta explained in her article, this isn’t a big deal—APUS “expressed their pleasure at the revival of EPUS”.

However, as the UPass fiasco has shown, there have been issues when the UTMSU has tried to step in for part-timers. Regardless of whether their actions were for the benefit of part-time students (personally, I think they were), we have seen that the method by which UTMSU has provided such representation has been detrimental. I would argue that the $121,000 subsidy the UTMSU shelled out for the U-Pass this

past year is largely a result of not properly consulting APUS prior to holding the UPass referendum last November. That $121,000 came from the pockets of full-time students.

Similarly, I don’t think UTMSU has done anything to dispel the impression that they are the ones who represent part-time undergraduates. The fact that they have a VP Part-time Affairs whose salary is paid by full-time students seems a little off to me, and only adds to the general confusion.

Whether or not the UTMSU’s involvement in promoting parttime students is to the benefit of the part-time community, more clarity

is required to move forward. I assume this is why the UTMSU is so keen on reviving EPUS and working towards the part-time UPass that way. That said, the issues with APUS have not changed. Jeff Peters, the president of APUS, stated to us that he was unaware that EPUS had been revived at all, which begs the question: Is this another unilateral move on the part of the UTMSU, and if so, will it devolve once again into the threat of legal action over the representation of part-time students at UTM? YOURS, MICHAEL DI LEO

Getting involved with UTMSU Dear fellow students, The UTM Students’ Union would like to thank you for your valuable contribution to an energetic and progressive campus. We have started this year together, but it does not end there. In the words of Henry Ford, “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” In this week’s address I highlight some important ways to ensure effective leadership here at UTM, and in the province.

The UTMSU Board of Directors is the highest decisionmaking body at UTMSU. The directors connect with fellow UTM students and ensure that the students dictate the work of the Students’ Union. Moreover, they are active in the major campaigns of UTMSU (e.g., “Education is a Right!”). You may run to represent first-year students at UTM (Division 1); full-time students at UTM, locally and centrally (Division 3); or part-

time students at UTM (Division 4). Dare to make a difference— pick up your nomination package starting this Tuesday (September 20) at 9 a.m. from room 115 in the Student Centre. The nomination period will end on Friday (September 23) at 5 p.m.

You also have the responsibility to elect the student leaders that will represent you best on the highest decision-making body at UTM: the Erindale College Council. ECC is the body that decides the cost of nonacademic, non-mandatory fees, such as parking and food services—things that affect you directly! Please read the blurbs of the candidates on the ECC website, and vote on Friday, September 23, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at stations in the North Building Cafeteria, the Meeting Place, and the Hazel McCallion Academic Learning Centre.

We must be vocal in the provincial elections. It is no coincidence that Ontario has the highest tuition fees in Canada, the

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michael Di Leo editor@mediumutm.ca NEWS EDITOR Stefanie Marotta news@mediumutm.ca A&E EDITOR Nives Hajdin arts@mediumutm.ca MEDIUM II PUBLICATIONS 3359 Mississauga Road, Room 200, Student Centre, Mississauga, ON, L5L 1C6 Phone: 905.828.5260

ASSOCIATE A&E EDITOR Colleen Munro FEATURES EDITOR Amir Ahmed features@mediumutm.ca

largest classes, and the lowest per-student funding. It is a matter of priorities. As students, we must vote for education on October 6. Since Andrew Horwath, the Ontario NDP Leader, visited our Student Centre and heard your concerns, the NDP has committed to a four-year tuition freeze and a cut to the provincial portion of loans. Continue to speak out for accessible education to other candidates! UTMSU promotes the importance of voting, and has organized advance polling at UTM on September 28 and 29, as well as regular voting booths at UTM. Get involved with this campaign for accessible education by emailing vpexternal@utmsu.ca.

United, we can and will make a difference this year. Please stop by your student union office to get involved.

COREY BELFORD/THE MEDIUM

In student solidarity, Gilbert Cassar President, U.T.M.S.U.

SPORTS EDITOR Christopher Callahan sports@mediumutm.ca ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR Isaac PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Edward Cai photos@mediumutm.ca DESIGN EDITOR Rebecca Arboly COPY EDITOR Luke Sawczak copy@mediumutm.ca WEBMASTER Gary Li

editor@mediumutm.ca

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DISCLAIMER Opinions expressed in the pages of The Medium are exclusively of the author and do not neces sarily reflect those of The Medium. Additionally, the opinions expressed in advertisements appearing in The Medium are those of advertisers and not of The Medium.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters to the editor will be edited for spelling, grammar, style and coherence. Letters will not exceed 700 words in print. Letters that incite hatred, violence or letters that are racist, homophobic, sexist or libelous will not be published. Anonymous letters will not be published.

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09.19.2011

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MEDIUM A&E Editor » Nives Hajdin

Blackwood curates anniversary show The Blackwood Gallery honours the 40th anniversary of the Art & Art History program with alumni exhibition, Viva Voce AMANDA PIGNOTTI

UTM is home to the Art & Art History program, jointly with Sheridan College, which employs a unique and stimulating approach to the study of art and design by emphasizing studio practice as well as theoretical knowledge. Founded in 1971 with only four students under its banner, this year marks the 40th anniversary of this diverse, accomplished, and successful program.

To commemorate the occasion, curator Shannon Anderson devised a collaborative curatorial approach for Viva Voce by selecting artwork, designs, and films created by a diverse group of UTM graduates. The exhibition at the Blackwood Gallery features contemporary art in all media, generated by a selection of Art & Art History alumni: Dorian FitzGerald, Alison S.M. Kobayashi, Richie Mehta & Stuart A. McIntyre, Johnson Ngo, Denyse Thomasos, Carolyn Tripp, Jessica Vallentin, Rhonda Weppler & Trevor Mahovsky, Andrew Wright, and Robert Zingone.

Edward Cai/The Medium

Rhonda Weppler and Trevor Mahovsky’s “Stacks (Blocks)”. Be extra careful as you walk around.

The artists were selected by recommendations from past and present faculty members. In keeping with the 40th anniversary theme, exactly 40 faculty members were contacted for recommendations.

The curatorial and exhibition method for Viva Voce focusses on the relationship between a profes-

sor and their student. Not only does this exhibition exemplify the importance and complexities of a student-teacher relationship, it also illuminates the transformation of a student into a coworker.

Viva Voce is Latin for “by word of mouth” (literally “with living voice”), a powerful and appropri-

ate title. Within each piece of artwork is a message or conceptual idea that has become “voiced” by its existence. This title also illustrates the many voices that have contributed to the development of this exhibition, including those of students, alumni, and faculty members.

Walking through the doors of the Blackwood Gallery, hordes of people gathered around crisp white walls, whispering, laughing, and chatting for the exhibition’s opening reception last Wednesday night. Hung on the entrance wall of the gallery and first to be seen is Denyse Thomasos’ piece “Stealth”.

Encompassing an assortment of architectural forms, the piece borders on the abstract, employing bright primary colours. One must walk around this wall in order to reach the other works of art in the gallery. Each work is drastically different, drawing the viewer in time and time again.

Each work of art is constructed differently, and conceptually each one represents the unique voice of its artist. Collectively, the works of art represent relationships with teachers and the transition from student to graduate. Viva Voce gives students a fantastic opportunity to explore former students’ work, while also giving the alumni an opportunity to further showcase their pieces. Students should check out this unique exhibition and join UTM in saluting the exciting 40-year milestone.

HBO primetime signs off ANDREA AMBROGI

Sunday night on HBO is, for some, the greatest weeknight on TV. Starting with True Blood at 9 p.m., following with Curb Your Enthusiasm at 10, and diving into Entourage at 10:30, it’s a triple threat of quality television.

Last Sunday night, however, two of these three heavy-hitting HBO original series came to their dreaded season finales, while Entourage was benched for good after eight seasons.

First in line was True Blood. This season has been filled with witches, vampires, shape-shifters, were-

wolves, werepanthers, and everything in between. It was, to say the least, a very cluttered season, and the finale was no less jumbled. There were sniffles, a few giggles, and a handful of moments where breathing felt physically impossible. Not to give too much away, but several cans of worms—old and new—were opened. One thing that’s for certain is that next season will be spectacular. This season has been too crowded and quite lacklustre at times, so we can only hope that writer Alan Ballwill will up his game and trim the fat for next year.

Next was the always hilarious Curb Your Enthusiasm. There are few men funnier than Larry David,

and even fewer that can get away with saying half the things he says.

This episode was a testament to the power of a well-executed joke. He sashayed along the fine line between hilarious and controversial, but managed to stay en-pointe the entire episode, while getting laughs from the least likely pockets of humour.

The social assassin delivered tons of laugh-out-loud moments, one awkward stare-off with Michael J. Fox, and a very cultured pig-parker argument with a man in Paris, of all places! While it feels like this season of Curb has only just started, it’s over for another year. One can only hope that next season will be just as funny.

The final finale, in this case also

the series finale, was Entourage, which felt rushed and not as good as it could have been. There was so much potential for greatness in each character’s storyline, but it seems like the episode’s main function was to tie up loose ends and provide the happiest ending possible. It accomplished its mission, but it also left a sliver of room for a movie should the rumours among cast members come into fruition regarding a film. We’ll keep an eye out for any news.

The trinity of HBO’s Sunday night lineup did not disappoint. Now that each show has ended, loyal HBO fans might be able to get to sleep a little earlier and wake up Monday morning a little more rested. Un-

blogspot.com

Not a fan of the stop-and-chat. less, that is, you want to relive each moment through the magic of ondemand TV!

6 THE MEDIUM A&E » 09.19.2011

09.19.2011 THE MEDIUM A&E

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MATCH THE TIFF CELEB WITH THEIR MENTAL ILLNESS ILLNESS: Compulsive liar SOURCE: “I love being at home and cooking and baking.”

Nives Hajdin/The Medium

Take This Waltz If nothing else, Take This Waltz makes you proud to be Canadian. With images of familiar downtown Toronto locations—and no shortage of streetcars in the background—Sarah Polley’s tale of forbidden love, regret, and heartbreak grabbed its audience by the heartstrings at the film’s world premiere last weekend.

Named after a famous Leonard Cohen song, the film constructs a playful yet painful look at the life of Margot (Michelle Williams), a married woman who has gradually lost that initial spark she felt with her husband of five years, Lou (Seth Rogen)—a feeling which is soon reignited by another man, Daniel (Luke Kirby). After bumping into Daniel on a trip back to Toronto, she returns home, only to find that he lives across the street from her.

(Polley’s good friend, the late Jack Layton, graciously offered up his quaint home for the shoot.) Margot cannot push him from her mind, yet she can’t imagine hurting Lou either. She becomes wracked with guilt every time she meets up with Daniel, but losing either man doesn’t seem possible, until she must finally make that life-altering decision—one that inevitably leads to more than one irreparable relationship. Polley’s ensemble cast of Williams, Rogen, Kirby, and the incomparable Sarah Silverman is a tour de force, each bringing something entirely unique to the plot while collectively delivering a seamless performance. While Williams missed the world premiere, her performance won’t soon be forgotten, whether you can relate to her

in the

NEWS

character or hate her for her questionable decisions.

Used to exploring ridiculous situations in hilarious films, the Vancouverborn Rogen explores a much more dramatic role in Take This Waltz, yet he never loses the hilarity that audiences have come to love and expect from one of the leading men of the Apatow school of comedy. He proves that he is just as capable of delivering a heartfelt performance as he is playing potheads and idiotic police officers. Then there is Luke Kirby, not quite so famous on the big screen (he is professionally trained as a stage actor), but who nevertheless manages to snatch the lead male role from Rogen through his captivating seduction of Margot. The chemistry between Kirby and Williams is palpable, and while their secret relationship is not one the audience should be rooting for (think about poor darling Seth, after all), you can’t help but feel some excitement when they find themselves alone together. Like Rogen, Silverman is another source of comic relief in an otherwise bittersweet story, and also shows her capabilities as a dramatic actress, as her character struggles to be there for her family while battling with alcoholism.

A particularly fantastic feature of Polley’s direction is the vibrancy of colours in her scenes, which effectively heightens the intensity of the affair between Margot and Daniel. Polley’s charming script along with the collective effort of the cast could garner this film much attention when awards season rolls around. MMMMM—Nives Hajdin

Madonna shuns volunteers Following the press conference for W.E., Madonna’s directorial debut, it was reported that volunteers were asked to turn their backs as she exited the room. TIFF later issued an official apology to volunteers and expressed their “disappointment” at this treatment of volunteers.

Madonna’s publicist denied the incident, claiming that the star would never ask such a thing and that at the previous night at the film’s premiere she had in fact thanked volunteers for all of their hard work. TIFF is conducting an investigation to determine who hired the

Nives Hajdin/The Medium

SEAN WILLIAM SCOTT

Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s hitREcord performance at the TIFF Bell Lightbox.

50/50 Think back to 2009’s Funny People, directed

by Judd Apatow and starring Adam Sandler.

Here was a movie that promised an extraordinarily refreshing take on illness: through humour. Unfortunately, the script itself was more concerned in exploring other (less interesting) avenues, leaving its initial premise in the dust.

50/50 succeeds where similar movies have fallen short. Cancer is a depressing topic, farreaching and often very relatable. Hollywood films on the subject are generally quite similar. They take on cancer as their subject, with the person behind the disease often little more than an avatar. Very few focus on the human element of the disease, and even fewer find the authentic optimism and humour that naturally flow from adversity. With this in mind, 50/50 is a huge success.

The film tells the story of an otherwise healthy 20-something man named Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who is diagnosed with cancer. The script tracks the impact of his diagnosis on his family and friends, while also following Adam as he attempts to come to terms with a new, often scary, way of life. It approaches the concept of a lifethreatening illness in a fundamentally different way from the typical overly sentimental films you might be used to. It’s not a

“private security firm” that ordered volunteers to face the wall. So far no one has come forward.

Franco buys fan art James Franco acted in a much more fan-friendly way during the festival, after the fan art of a young girl (founder of James Franco Forever on Tumblr) caught his eye at the TIFF Bell Lightbox during a discussion of his own art with Gus van Sant. Franco expressed his interest in purchasing the fan art, which included a yarn portrait, a 127 Hoursthemed painting, and a collage of newspaper clippings.

story of imminent loss, unavoidable grief, and inconsolable sadness. Sure, the doom and gloom lie on the edges of 50/50, but the focus here is very much on the human journey of a man fighting to overcome adversity, coming closer to self-actualization in the process.

We don’t wonder if Adam is going to make it past the film’s final moments. That’s not what the film is about. Writer Will Reiser (who based 50/50 on his own experiences) understands that we as an audience are aware of the devastating physical effects of a lifethreatening illness. Instead we stay focussed on the characters. It’s a film about coping, and we see this dynamic presented through several relationships. From friend to friend, mother to son, patient to therapist, we’re left with a fully rounded picture of Adam’s character, having explored him from so many perspectives. It’s incredibly funny and rarely overtly sad, and when there is a particularly emotional moment, it feels well-earned. It’s an impressive piece of filmmaking, but the real success lies in the acting. Joseph GordonLevitt, Seth Rogen, and Anna Kendrick give rich performances that are authentic and comedic in equal measure. It’s a good thing, too, because 50/50 is a film about relationships and personal growth; it just so happens that for Adam, cancer is the catalyst.

MMMMM—Jeff Legge

Mausam pulled from festival lineup Mausam, an Indian film that had garnered a lot of buzz, was removed from TIFF’s programming schedule just days before its scheduled world premiere. Fans were disappointed to learn that all screenings of Shahid Kapoor’s film, as well as the press conference, had been cancelled following the film’s failure to pass regulatory approval. All tickets were refunded. madonnarama.com/PHOTO

Madonna: too self-important?

Nives Hajdin/The Medium

The Descendants George Clooney in Hawaii. Does this not sound like the best concept ever? Fortunately, The Descendants is no gimmick. Directed

by Alexander Payne (Sideways), the film is clever, witty, and downright hilarious, but also deeply emotional and tragic as we learn in the opening moments of the film. In an interior monologue, Matt King (Clooney) relays the information that his wife (Christa Hastie) is in a coma after a serious boating accident, and while their marriage has been rocky for a long time, he is still terribly afraid of losing her. This has more to do with the fact that he has no clue when it comes to his two daughters, Alex (Shailene Woodley) and Scottie (Amara Miller). (He aptly names himself the “backup parent”.) Thus he is finally forced to take a more active role in their lives. At the same time, Matt is the trustee of a large expanse of Hawaiian land left to his family by his ancestors and is in the middle of a large negotiation—one that

will change the beautiful landscape for the worse if he decides to sell the property, as the rest of his family is urging him to do. But all of this is put on hold when he learns that his wife has been cheating on him, and so he embarks on a journey across the islands in a hilarious attempt to track down his wife’s lover.

Clooney delivers a truly brilliant performance as a man struggling to balance it all, and there is no question that he deserves an Oscar nomination for Best Actor (maybe even the win). Newcomers Shailene Woodley, Amara Miller, and Nick Krause infuse a refreshing youthfulness to the plot, and the film’s success could not have come without the playful interaction between them. Payne’s decision to include an entirely Hawaiian soundtrack adds to the wonderfully laid-back feel of the movie, and beckons you to go out and buy some cabana wear, sip a piña colada, and ride off into the Hawaiian sunset.

MMMMM—Nives Hajdin

Moneyball Moneyball’s fundamental element is that of an underdog story in baseball. Fortunately, other than belonging to a pretty familiar family of films, it’s neither formulaic nor typical. For the most part, sports films focus on the microlevel. That is to say, they take the players, the smallest unit of the overall game, as the primary subject of the story. You don’t need to be into sports to recognize how inspiring it can be to see the underdog pitcher rise to the top; it’s a powerful thing to watch on

the screen. But the zero-to-hero story loses its impact each time it’s redone; Moneyball is refreshing in this respect. It abandons the micro for the macro, the big picture. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at baseball that focusses on the politics behind creating a team, coaching it, and making it more than just the sum of its parts.

The story revolves around playerturned-general manager Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) as he takes the reins of the Oakland Athletics. He quickly discovers that unlike the bigger, more prestigious baseball teams, Oakland

ILLNESS: You figure it out SOURCE: “When I got a lap dance, because I was 17, they had to put a massive pillow between me and the girl when she was grinding me. It was weird, yet pleasurable.”

Megan Fox

ILLNESS: Hallucinations SOURCE: “[When speaking about what to do in different Canadian cities] In Winnipeg, it's meeting Winnipeg chicks."

George Clooney

Emile Hirsch

ILLNESS: Actually surprisingly on the ball SOURCE: “When you think about it, we actors are kind of prostitutes. We get paid to feign attraction and love. Other people are paying to watch us kissing someone, touching someone, doing things people in a normal monogamous relationship would never do with anyone who's not their partner. It's really kind of gross.

ILLNESS: I hate George Clooney SOURCE: “I hate George Clooney”- Amir Blake Lively Blake Lively has a limited budget. He doesn’t have the funds to trade for the best, nor can he really take his pick from the bright up-and-comers. Stuck between a rock and a hard place, Billy is now faced with the prospect of delivering success from a team that lacks the required skill—without the money required to fix it. Enter Peter Brand (Jonah Hill), a young assistant general manager with a risky plan.

He presents Billy with a gamble: defy tradition and attempt to build a great team at a low cost, while risking alienation from the rest of the league.

Like most of his roles, Brad Pitt

refuses to rest on his laurels. This actor is of a class so recognizable that it becomes difficult for him to disappear into any character.

Fortunately, he gives a powerful and relatable performance, which is imperative for actors like him. By design, it’s not transcendental, but it’s more than enough to help the audience suspend their disbelief.

Don’t worry; Moneyball features the required baseball action—but it’s seen from the perspective of the strategist. The rest of the film is in a similar vein: it’s not emotionally detached, but it’s primarily

concerned with the business and politics behind baseball. It’s not a short film, but its fast pace and a hefty amount of hard-hitting dialogue help it out.

The film features strong direction

by Bennet Miller and beautiful cinematography by Wally Pfister. While it may just be an underdog story in disguise, Moneyball brings a welcome dose of freshness to the genre by giving us a compelling look into a side of sports that’s rarely, if ever, seen in cinema.

MMMM—Jeff Legge

8

« 09.19.2011

MEDIUM FEATURES Editor » Amir Ahmed

Meeting accessibility needs at UTM Larissa Ho In a speech at Brock University in May 2010, Rabia Kedhr, a U of T graduate and accessibility advocate, called accessibility in universities a “moral obligation”.

“We have to accept that people with disabilities and people without disabilities are, in fact, the same,” she said. “We have to start from that common ground of belonging.”

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, an international human rights movement from the United Nations intended to protect the basic rights and dignities of those with disabilities, defines accessibility as the degree to which something is available to as many people as possible. It’s often used to describe the right of access to all services that people with disabilities and special needs have.

Disabilities may be physical, cognitive, mental, emotional, developmental, sensory, or any combination of these. A person may be deemed disabled if they do not meet a social norm or standard.

As such, people with disabilities have “special accessibility needs”, though their disability may be in-

medsoc.org

visible or not obvious. Someone may have a mental health disability, such as depression or an anxiety disorder, or a chronic disorder, such as diabetes or epilepsy.

In the 1960s, the disabilities rights movement began, largely propelled by the civil rights and women’s rights movements, and brought together people of different disabilities to work toward a common end. It advocated for full and equal access for people with disabilities whom society had pre-

viously stigmatized. Just as advocates called then for the removal of barriers to equal access, such as the lack of seeing and hearing alternative communication, deinstitutionalization (the inclusion of people with disabilities regardless of their diagnosis), and wheelchair-accessible buildings, there are still advocates today, such as Kedhr, who are fighting for universities to become more accessible to students with disability issues.

The Council of Ontario Univer-

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sities lists accessibility as a key issue on its website, where they note: “Ontario universities are strongly committed to accessibility and are focussed on continuing to advance this goal. Over the last few decades, our campuses have put in place important measures to identify, prevent, and remove barriers for persons with disabilities. Universities are strongly committed to achieving the objectives of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).”

So what exactly are universities doing to accommodate for students with disabilities? At UTM, students with accessibility needs who have medical documentation of their disability have access to the AccessAbility Resource Centre, a student service which is separate from the St. George and Scarborough campuses’ disability offices.

Funded through a grant from the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, the AccessAbility Resource Centre “provides services and academic accommodations to students who have a documented learning, physical, sensory, mental health disability, or medical condition”. Their mission statement is “to ensure that all students with disabilities can freely and actively participate in all facets of university life; to provide and coordinate services and programs that enable students with disabilities to maximize their educational potential and to increase awareness of inclusive values among all members of the university community”.

The organization has an online system called the “AccessAbility Information Management System”.

Access continued on page 9

E-reading lacks intimacy

Ontario Medical School Application Service

September 15, 2011: Last day to create an account for the online application October 3, 2011: Application deadline OMSAS www.ouac.on.ca/omsas/

Ontario Medical School Application Service

September 15, 2011: Last day to create an account for the online application October 3, 2011: Application deadline

OLSAS

www.ouac.on.ca/olsas/

Ontario Law School Application Service

TEAS

November 1, 2011: Application deadline for first-year English programs OLSAS www.ouac.on.ca/olsas/ February 1, 2011: Application deadline for first-year French programs May 1, 2012: Application for upper-yearService programs Ontario Law deadline School Application November 1, 2011: Application deadline for first-year English programs February 1, 2011: Application deadline for first-year French programs May 1, 2012: Application deadline for upper-year programs

www.ouac.on.ca/teas/

Teacher Education Application Service December Application deadline for English programs TEAS 1, 2011:www.ouac.on.ca/teas/ March 1, 2012: Application deadline for French programs Teacher Education Application Service

reviewsebookreaders.com

This Kindle has no soul.

CARINE ABOUSEIF

Whether it’s an effort to be more “green” or to save students the cost of textbooks, more and more professors www.ouac.on.ca/orpas/ seem to be assigning readings in the Ontario Rehabilitation Sciences Programs Application Service form of PDF files or online articles in(Audiology, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy/Physiotherapy, Speech-Language Pathology) ORPAS www.ouac.on.ca/orpas/ stead of physical textbooks. There are January 6, 2012: Application deadline lots of benefits to this fairly new educaOntario Rehabilitation Sciences Programs Application Service (Audiology, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy/Physiotherapy, Speech-Language Pathology) tional tool. For one thing, it allows proJanuary 6, 2012: Application deadline fessors to assign a variety of different 170 Research Lane Guelph ON N1G 5E2 sources from different texts, authors, www.ouac.on.ca and time periods. And it saves you a 170 Research Lane good chunk of money.

Guelph ON N1G 5E2 www.ouac.on.ca But is this what students prefer?

When the professor of a class I had ear-

December 1, 2011: Application deadline for English programs March 1, 2012: Application deadline for French programs

ORPAS

ly last week asked the students to vote on whether she should put together a course reader for students to buy, less than 10 of the 50 voted yes. All other students seemed to prefer reading the files from their computer screens.

Some of the students who voted no to the course reader muttered that they didn’t want to have to pay for the physical copy of the files. A fairly low price (about $15) for a course reader, however, might indicate that those who voted no did so because of a preference of medium, not of price.

Reading continued on page 9

»

09.19.2011 THE MEDIUM FEATURES

Universities obliged to provide access Access continued from page 8 Students with disabilities who register with the Resource Centre can confirm quizzes, tests, or exams taken with the Centre in order to accommodate their particular needs, which may include writing it in a room separate from the rest of the class and/or being given extra time. The system also allows students to request, download, and manage peers’ notes for a particular course.

Students with learning disabilities who are entering their first year at UTM and who have registered with the Centre may attend the Summer Transition Program in August to help them successfully transition to university life. This is done through a series of workshops designed to help students develop skills such as note-taking, self-advocacy,

test-taking, and using assistive technology.

While it is apparent that university students are being accommodated, it does not mean they are being generally included, says Kedhr, who is legally blind. This aspect is what she believes universities have a moral obligation to change.

With the staggering number of students who are accessing universities’ disability and equity centres, it seems that universities have no choice but to change.

With the staggering number of students who are accessing

universities’ disability and equity centres, it seems that universities have no choice but to make the effort to change. However, shouldn’t it be obligatory for a university to change its policies and accommodation for disabilities if there is a single student who requires it?

It seems obvious that universities must change in order to make students with disabilities included, but how? While there has been much advocacy on the issue of using certain language (such as “disability”) which otherwise allows stigmatization of people with disabilities from society, there hasn’t been much progress on how to make them feel included. There is always the issue of feeling like they don’t belong to the socially normal majority, which may lead to further issues, such as depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders.

10

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Material is durable

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Vanity is a sin that distracts us from our mortality

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Seriously, we’re all going to be food for worms one day and to pretend that a pant made of weaved cotton is any more proper or appropriate than a pant made of textile cotton is arrogance on a grand scale.

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Not only are you holding back our civilization but you’re also probably the same people that made everyone else miserable in high school.

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9

Comfortable

Reading on a screen Marketing apps in a mobile world Reading continued from page 8 This is a personal gripe of mine.

Staring at a PDF of Louis Althusser’s Ideology and Ideological State Apparatuses makes me want to do just about anything else—like stare at Facebook instead. The way we read online or on a computer screen is very different from the way we read text on paper. Studies have shown that we tend to skim rather than read full texts from a screen, with a much shorter attention span.

Of course, having large titles, pictures, and captions, but small paragraphs, makes it easier for readers to get the main points of a piece of writing and then bounce to the next one. Reading becomes more efficient in terms of finding a particular idea, but it often loses depth.

We, the people of the so-called “Net Generation”, have been said to be at risk of becoming “pancake people”, knowing very little about so much but not thoroughly understanding most topics.

Because we spend so much time reading off of screens, the kind of browsing we do on a screen has also altered how we read physical pages.

Ever noticed how when you actually do read from a physical text, you can’t help checking your phone every 10 minutes? The ability to hit Ctrl+F and scroll through dozens of pages at once to find what we want has made us impatient with tan-

gible texts—especially if they’re as hefty as Althusser.

More research needs to be done to fully understand the differences between the cognitive processes involved in print and online reading but other research also suggests that online reading may be much less beneficial. A 2008 article in Scientific American explains how hyperlinks, images and other features of the web prevent readers from completing a mental image based on the content of a piece of writing. The article also cites the necessity of “physical manipulation” of the computer while one reads as a reason for decreased efficiency. The need to scroll up and down a page is disruptive to the reading process.

Some software now makes it easier to highlight and add notes to those troublesome PDFs, but since our brains treat screen and print reading so differently, we need to take separate study approaches when reading from the different media types.

Perhaps most importantly, there’s still a certain intimacy that comes with reading a book made of paper and ink. So this weekend I’m going to print out a copy of my readings for the week and snuggle into one of those library armchairs with a highlighter in hand, partly because I don’t want to be categorized as a breakfast food, but also partly because I miss that intimacy.

GORDON FREEMAN

Mobile applications are one of the most public ways for programmers to get recognized and are changing the ways we interact with each other and our technology. I firmly believe that my Android phone is the predecessor to the Omni-tools of Mass Effect, and for this reason I find apps amazing.

I spoke with Holly Smith, one of the four members of the Electric Courage app team, about the app and about getting recognized in today’s market.

Smith and three other recent graduates are members of The Next 36, an entrepreneurship program that brings students from different universities together to work on projects. She and her colleagues decided to work on mobile applications for their project, and have been developing Electric Courage since December.

Electric Courage is a mobile application that helps you to meet and flirt with others in the same location. “Say you’re at a bar and you see someone you’re interested in,” Smith says. “Maybe you can’t introduce yourself at the time, so you can throw out a flirt on that location’s ‘flirt wall’ that is directed at that person.” Think Missed Connections, but with an actual chance at connection.

The app uses the FourSquare database for establishing an area’s

flirt wall, but more locations may be added in the future. A heatmap feature finds the most popular flirting areas on a given night.

“We were trying to decide what the app would be, thinking of problems that an app could solve,” Smith said. One of the group members then told a story of a business conference he attended where a woman had caught his eye. He was unable to make a move in a business environment, but had Electric Courage been around, he could have thrown out a flirt.

Smith suggests that solving a problem is one of the most effective ways for getting an app recog-

nized. Another method is differentiating: making sure that your app does something no one else does.

Aside from the technical differences, Smith also hopes to make an impact with marketing.

Electric Courage is sponsored by Malibu Black, an Australian alcohol brand distributed by Corby in Canada. Piggybacking on beverage sponsorships, Smith hopes to make inroads with various campus communities to garner appeal for Electric Courage.

Electric Courage is looking for campus ambassadors for the app, and is planning on holding events at UTM in November.

buzz.blogger.com

10

ÂŤ 09.19.2011

MEDIUM SPORTS Editor Âť Chris Callahan

Blue brothers: Asare and Prempeh Isaac Owusu Associate Sports Editor There are a few reliable resources an athlete can depend on: their teammates, their friends, and their family.

Whether it be on the gridiron, in the classroom, or at home in Rexdale, Varsity Blues football stars Kevin Asare, a linebacker, and Michael Prempeh, a wide receiver, share a relationship that shows us all what it means to be a teammate, a friend, and a brother.

The two met each other in 2000.

Their friendship was initially captivated by commonality as adolescent Ghanaian-Canadians who lived in the same apartment building: 2777 Kipling Avenue in Rexdale, Toronto. As middle school classmates at St. Angela’s Catholic School they came of age and learned of life’s difficulties and lessons—together.

Prempeh’s companionship was instrumental for Asare, who was still coming to terms with the death of his mother a year prior, an ordeal that left behind a son, daughter, and husband. “I think she would be proud, because I come from a tough situation. Playing football and coming from a single-parent household, it’s kind of tough, because most people go home and they have their food there and everything, but I’m going home and I have to make my own food or I will go to bed hungry. But then, sometimes, having Mike—being able to go to his house was helpful.�

Kevin, now 23 years old, reciprocated the feeling of brotherhood for Michael, 22, who was the youngest of five siblings where the closest in age was 10 years older. “Having Kevin around, it’s easier for me to relate to him. We do all the same stuff and we’re always together.

Having him around is having another brother,� Prempeh explained.

The two have been football teammates since 2003, playing for the North York Grizzlies house league team, the Etobicoke Eagles rep

VarsityBlues.ca/Photo

Asare wasn’t intimidated by the attention that came with Saturday’s big game. team, and the Father Henry Carr high school team. Asare and Prempeh came to UTM in 2007. Kevin spent the 2006 season alone as a member of the York Lions football team, while Michael enjoyed his last year as a high school senior at Sir. Edmond Campion Secondary in Brampton.

Asare, after one season at York, transferred to UTM to join the Varsity Blues. The Blues and other OUA teams were actively recruiting Prempeh. Consequently, it was Kevin’s transfer that served as the selling point for him to join the program. “He called me every day,� said Prempeh. “I was the second John Smith [the former Varsity Blues’ recruiter],� Kevin quipped.

Together they worked on a vision to be difference-makers, and to ensure they would not become products of their environment.

Jokingly described by Prempeh as “two black boys from the ghetto�, the pair challenged themselves by committing to joining a very turbulent football situation, brought in

by Steve Howlett, then head coach, whose Blues had been winless since 2001.

The two persevered through a difficult first year on campus, ad-

justing to life as students in Mississauga and on the field.

Asare pointed out, “ ’Sauga’s a different city, man. It has more of a middle-class environment, more wealthy people. Now, where we come from, we know what the ghetto is. Coming to UTM, we both can laugh at the same things because we’re not used to it.�

Their first year at UTM was unique and very difficult. Together, they got their first taste of a winless season. The pair were humbled, receiving playing time only sparingly and with only subordinate roles in the team’s initial setup.

Refusing to be deterred by the adversity they faced together in year one, Michael and Kevin battled to become starters. Their work afforded them the chance to be on the field for the team’s first win in almost seven years on September 1, 2008, when they defeated Waterloo 18-17. It’s evident that their vision to be difference-makers has come to fruition; the Blues have not seen a winless season since.

It’s been five years since Asare and Prempeh’s arrival to UTM. Together they have seen many changes in their roster and coaching staff.

Saturday’s 21-12 defeat of the Guelph Gryphons, the Varsity

Blues’ first nationally televised game on The Score’s University Rush series, was important for the team, which now boasts a 2-1 record.

For Prempeh, the outcome was a

“statement win�, he said. “It’s a big step, for not just us, but the whole team. It gives a chance for the nation to see we’re not the same team we have been for the last ten years, and we’re on the come-up.�

Asare puts winning Saturday’s game with his best friend in perspective: “It’s amazing. We’ve been through it all, through thick and thin. It’s like a marriage, pretty much; we’ve been through the worst, and now it’s time to go through the best, together.�

When he puts life into perspective, Kevin, whose mother never met Michael, has an idea of how she would see their bond. “She would be proud. I think she would be really appreciative of Mike if she met him, because he’s been there and he has supported me so much. She would probably see how I’ve grown up, how we’ve grown up, and see that he’s been an influential part of my life. We’re brothers.�

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09.19.2011 THE MEDIUM SPORTS

11

A crash course on athletics at UTM Varsity Blues win big U of T football edges out Guelph on national stage

Michelle Duklas Associate Sports Editor All UTM students have a membership at the Recreation, Athletic and Wellness Centre (RAWC).

That’s what Jack Krist, Program Coordinator at the RAWC, wants us all to know. If you have a TCard, you can access the RAWC for free.

Built five years ago, the RAWC offers golf cages, squash courts, aerobics rooms, multiple gymnasiums, a running track, tennis courts, and a pool—and virtually everything else you’d want to see in a gym.

Free fitness classes are available to all students. These fitness classes range from spinning to yoga and require no sign-up—just drop in for a class whenever you have time.

If you’d like to play on a team, consider joining a Campus Rec intramural league. There are two tiers: one for beginners and one for more skilled athletes. The leagues are especially keen on attracting more women; currently, the team recruiting the most players is the women’s ice hockey team.

If you’re interested in Campus Rec intramurals, you have two choices. You can make your own team, or you can go to the Campus Rec office and sign up to the free agent list for a particular sport, which is made available to all intramural team captains for that sport.

Meetings for Campus Rec teams will take place on Tuesday, September 20. There are also still tryouts

CHRIS CALLAHAN SPORTS EDITOR

EDWARD CAI/THE MEDIUM

Looking to do something sporty? This is the place to go. left for the U of T intramural teams.

These teams consists of the best players from all three campuses.

If you’re interested, check out the RAWC website for tryout dates.

“If you find there aren’t any Campus Rec intramural teams for a sport that you really want to play, talk to the programs department,” said Jack Krist. “Our facility caters to what UTM students want. If they want to play a particular sport, all they need to start a Campus Rec league is four teams.”

If you want to play against other schools but didn’t make it to a U of T varsity team, consider joining an extramural team. The extramural teams play against colleges in tournaments. These types of teams don’t require as many players as intramurals—just one team.

For those students who can’t afford a weekly commitment, there is another option: casual recreation is free to all. There are scheduled games for a variety of sports including badminton, soccer, and cricket.

There are also women-only sports hours, offered in Gym C. Any time the gym isn’t scheduled for games or practices, students can use the facility for their own leisure activities. Staff are available to help you set up nets if you ask. The gym is large enough to accommodate multiple activities at the same time.

The pool, which boasts a retractable floor in the shallow end, offers many different activities: recreational swim, fun swim, womenonly swim, and aerobic swim.

Instructional lessons in various sports are also offered for a charge at the RAWC. To attend lessons, you have to register on the RAWC website and pay the required fees.

Instructional classes include swimming lessons and golf classes.

If you don’t know where anything is in the RAWC, never fear!

The RAWC offers fitness centre orientations for free. You can sign up for the 30-minute orientations on the RAWC website: www.utm.utoronto.ca/athletics.

The Varsity Blues played their first nationally televised game since 2006 on Saturday, and U of T fans across the country were treated to a 21-12 win over the Guelph Gryphons.

The students who took advantage of the free admission that TCards provide formed one of the better crowds that Varsity Stadium has seen in recent years. The game was sloppy at times, but competitive throughout—and it came down to the wire.

The passing game struggled to achieve rhythm in the first quarter due to an impressive performance by a Gryphon pass defence that was relentless both in coverage and with its pass rush. Quarterback Andrew Gillis felt the pocket collapsing early on, but used his mobility to avoid sacks.

As the game progressed, Gillis became more composed. His 49yard bomb down the sideline in the second quarter caught by Michael Prempeh (a fifth-year history major who studies at UTM) changed the course of the game.

The laser from Gillis was thrown from midfield, and when Prempeh caught it, many felt he had instantly put 6 points on the board. Prempeh explained, “I thought I scored—but apparently I was a yard short.”

Mississauga’s presence wasn’t hard to find on Saturday. Lineback Kevin Asare had 6 tackles, playing a major role in a Varsity Blues defence that swarmed to the ball, causing 5 sacks and forcing 2 turnovers while holding Guelph’s passing attack to just 107 net passing yards.

The Varsity Blues offence sputtered after it took a 14-7 lead in the second quarter. The Blues put together a few decent drives, but were unable to put any points on the board.

Fortunately, the defence was smothering for four quarters and QB Andrew Gillis came through in the clutch with a QB draw for a 26yard touchdown with 47 seconds left in the game. It was this run that solidified the Blues’ big win, as the Gryphons’ offence was no match for a 9-point margin with less than a minute left in the game.

Head coach Greg Gary (a familiar name to those who have followed the Mississauga Warriors in recent years) was very pleased with his team’s performance and understood the importance of winning a game that was televised across the country.

Gary commented, “We’re just trying to re-establish the program on the national stage. I think Guelph’s a good football team, and we competed against them, so that’s a good sign for our program.”