Vol 43 issue 13

Racism at St. Michaels

A lesson in being kind

The art of stress release

Race in politics still present

Keeping an eye on the disk

News, page 2

Opinion, page 4

Arts, page 5

Features, page 8

Sports, page 11

Transphobia allegations against VUSAC Victoria University Students Administrative Council accused of “forcibly” removing finance chair

ALICIA BOATTO ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR U of T’s Victoria University Students’ Administrative Council faced allegations of transphobia, following a Facebook post on Saturday by Cassandra Williams, UTSU’s VP university affairs, addressing the removal of VUSAC’s finance chair.

Tagging VUSAC’s Facebook page, Williams wrote to the council for being “the most transphobic” students’ union at the university.

“VUSAC felt that, when a nonbinary member of their council was hospitalized for a week for suicidality, the appropriate response was to take action aimed at forcibly removing this person from council,” wrote Williams.

VUSAC released a statement on their Facebook page a few hours after Williams’ post, addressing the removal of its finance chair.

“We deeply regret making [the finance chair] feel singled out, unsafe, and unwell—even though it was not our intention, we take full responsi-

ACADEMIC.RU/PHOTO

VUSAC denied the accusation of removing their finance chair based on their gender identity. bility for the impact of the events on the finance chair’s health leading up to their resignation,” read the statement.

However, VUSAC denied the accusation that the finance chair was forcibly removed from office because of their hospitalization or gender

identity.

Williams also accused the council of contributing to the discrimination trans students face at U of T.

“In the face of visible and increased violence on campus targeting our trans community, VUSAC decided that it would rather be complicit in this, instead of actively combating it,” she wrote. “VUSAC are not allies to the trans community, and I urge all of my peers to join me in challenging VUSAC’s deliberate acts of marginalization.”

The council further denied that any action was made due to the sexual orientation or state of health of the finance chair.

“We acknowledge that transphobia is rampant on the U of T and Victoria campuses, especially within the governing institutions at this university and its affiliated colleges; though to reiterate, VUSAC’s difficulties with the finance chair did not arise from their gender, mental illnesses, or hospitalization.”

VUSAC added that it does not stand nor promote an unsafe environment for the members of the council and the greater Victoria College.

VUSAC continued on page 3

New dispatch system for campus police The new system guarantees an immediate response by directing calls to responding officers at UTM FARHAT AMINI STAFF WRITER UTM’s campus police have implemented a new central dispatch system that guarantees an immediate response by routing the calls through the St. George campus police office and directing them to a responding officer at UTM. According to UTM’s police manager, Robert Messacar, in an interview with The Medium, incoming emergency calls are answered by highly-trained dispatchers with a background in the three U of T campuses and police calls. These dispatchers then inform the campus police about the situation, and if they cannot reach an officer, they call a local emergency unit.

Messacar informed The Medium that the previous system directed calls to either the campus police of-

JOSHAN RAMNAUTH/THE MEDIUM

UTM campus police aims to improve the customer services by using a new dispatch system. fice or to constable cell phones on weekends, which left the possibility of no one answering.

In a UTM News article on November 23, “UTM Campus Police

Services on new dispatch system, expanded safety programs,” Messacar stated that “this [previous] system was problematic, because we don’t have universal cell cover-

age everywhere on campus.”

In reference to the new dispatch system, Messacar stated that the U of T campuses in Scarborough and downtown Toronto have had this

system for several years.

“We have just partnered up with them because we believe it will greatly improve our customer service,” Messcar said, noting that UTM took longer because it was waiting for a technological system upgrade to occur.

The campus police have also expanded two of their other programs.

Instead of student employees working for the WalkSafer program and providing company to anyone who needs it at UTM, the police have hired official building patrollers.

Messacar stated that having student employees in the program was not feasible, since with the expansion of the program, the campus police would have had to pay both the students and the building patrollers.

Dispatch continued on page 2

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«NEWS

THE MEDIUM 12.05.2016

Islamophobia at U of T party

November 24th, 2016, 3:20 PM Motor Vehicle Accident Campus Police received reports of a vehicle that spun out and crossed over a concrete median at the Collegeway entrance..

November 25th, 2016, 5:30 PM Trespass to Property Act Campus police responded to a male using someone else’s T-card to gain access to the gym. Both males trespassed.

November 28th, 2016, 7:00 PM Theft A student had plugged her phone into a nearby outlet in the cafeteria of the instructional building. When the student checked on her phone 20

minutes later, the phone was gone.

November 29th, 2016, 9:00 AM Suspicious Vehicle A UTM staff member reported to Campus Police that a BMW in lot 8 sped through the parking lot and through the pedestrian crossing.

November 29th, 2016, 5:15 PM Theft Campus Police received a report of a theft of $1,000 CDN from one of the student clubs cashbox.

EXITBOOTED.WORDPRESS.COM/PHOTO

November 30th, 2016, 3:50 PM Theft Campus Police received a report of a theft of a jacket containing car keys from a classroom.

These reports are those that have been released to The Medium and do not necessarily constitute an exhaustive list.

Students can contact the UTM Campus Police at 905 828 5200, Peel Regional Police at 905 453 3311, or Crime Stoppers at 1 800 222 8477.

UTM VP discusses international students

JEANLOUIS REBELLO/THE MEDIUM

61 to 66 percent of international students at UTM are from China.

KASSANDRA HANGDAAN ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR UTM’s reliance on international students as a source of revenue may be “problematic,” according to UTM’s vice-principal academic and dean Amrita Daniere in an email to The Medium.

In a Campus Affairs Committee meeting held on November 21, Daniere had stated that 61 to 66 percent of international students come from China.

“We value [Chinese students] and want to offer them the best education possible,” stated Daniere to The Medium. “[However], relying too much on students from one country could mean that if that country gets better universities that cost less than Canadian ones and are comparable in quality, we will lose these students and be left vulnerable to funding

pressures created by loss of revenues due to not having international students to replace them.”

Daniere also added that with the Chinese universities getting stronger, it could be a matter of time before less Chinese students seek coming to UTM, in which case declined revenues will result.

Another issue that Daniere explained was how the global economic trends change. Should the international students abstain from attending UTM due to an economic downturn in their country, UTM would be prone to losing crucial revenue.

Apart from broadening UTM’s source of revenue, Daniere noted that attracting international students from a variety of countries will broaden the diversity of the campus and will increase the “intellectual climate” of UTM. Currently, 20 percent of all students at UTM are international students.

St. Michael’s College Student Union’s executive resigned for affiliation with Islamophobic videos.

MENNA ELNAKA NEWS EDITOR U of T’s St. Michael’s College Student Union’s vice-president Kevin Vando agreed to resign from the union following an Islamophobic video that he shared online.

On December 2, Toronto-based poet Zeinab Aidid shared two snapchat videos of a party at St. Michael’s College on her Facebook page. Partygoers attending were shown openly mocking Muslims.

With a snapchat geo-filter reading, “SMCSU Presents” on both videos, one of them showed a person reading Islam for Dummies and the other showed someone dancing to “Islamophobic” remixes to songs, according to Aidid.

“The racism and Islamophobia at the University of Toronto is so real […],” wrote Aidid. “These videos were recorded and shared by St. Michael’s College Student Union VicePresident Kevin Vando. I’m not sure if I’m missing the punchline or if my brain isn’t wired to understand racist jokes, but this is messed up.”

Aidid criticized SMCSU for being built “on the backs of people of colour,” yet “[continuing] to marginalize its most vulnerable students.”

“The fact that a party like this can happen on campus under the name of U of T and St. Michael’s College is unacceptable,” she added.

Aidid’s post reached over 1,300

likes, and was shared approximately 800 times, sparking debate on the situation.

The Muslim Students’ Association at U of T released a statement on Facebook on December 4, condemning the videos.

“While the context for the videos is unclear, the MSA would like to condemn in the strongest terms the behaviour of the campus student leaders who were at this party,” wrote MSA. MSA also highlighted the role of student-elect leaders to serve all students that are part of their constituency, including Muslims. According to their statement, what happened in the videos will result in many Muslim students feeling “uncomfortable and alienated” by the people who should instead be representing them.

MSA added that they have spoken with the SMCSU’s administration, to which the union assured them that the “matter will not be taken lightly.”

In a Facebook statement on December 4, shortly after MSA’s statement, SMCSU wrote that the video footage was taken at a private offcampus function.

According to SMCSU, Vando apologized and “expressed his regrets” for participating and recording the videos. The union also denied affiliation with the content of the video and expressed that they oppose what happened.

“We condemn in the strongest words the discriminatory content

expressed in these videos,” read the statement. “Our Council does not support this kind of behaviour and we sincerely apologize for the hurt that this has caused everyone, especially those within the Muslim Community.”

SMCSU also addressed the filter present on both videos, clarifying that it was a “common moniker” used at many of their events, but the union denied having a Snapchat geo-filter and that their official handle was not the one used on the videos.

“This specific geo-filter was not created by a member of our council, and our identity was inappropriately used without our knowledge or consent,” the statement read.

SMCSU encouraged anyone who wants to discuss their concerns, to visit them in the office. It also stated that they are going to ensure that their union is properly equipped to “adequately respond to concerns”.

“Above all, we want to ensure our students feel safe and welcome on campus,” the statement added. “We encourage the students of St. Michael’s College and students of the broader U of T community to always practice tolerance, attentively listen to their peers, and work towards establishing a loving and inclusive learning environment on campus.”

A mandatory comprehensive equity training will also be enforced to all SMCSU’s council members, according to their Facebook statement.

WalkSafer program expanded Dispatch continued from cover “We instituted [WalkSafer] to make people feel as safe as possible.

So even though the campus is a very safe place, we encourage people to give us a call,” said Messacar.

He also explained that there is a “reluctance” by many students to use this service, as they think they would “bother” the officers.

The WalkSafer program will now have a police officer that can escort students anywhere on campus, 24

hours a day for 365 days.

A Work Alone program was also implemented two months ago. It provides staff and students the chance to use a radio that can directly connect with the campus police in case of emergencies.

Messacar also referred to the 2015 annual report, which showed that “incident types” of crimes have gone down, dropping by 66 and totaling 151, compared to the 217 reported incidents in 2014.

As previously reported by The Me-

dium, Messacar had attributed this decrease to the hiring of more staff, including two new special constables and six new building patrollers, who serve as security guards.

“UTM is a very safe campus,” said Messacar. “Out of the 15,000 something students we have, including visitors who come and go, a number of 151 is nothing.”

According to Messacar, most of the incident crimes that happen on campus fall under the category of “theft under $5,000.”

12.05.2016 THE MEDIUM NEWS

Complaints about finance chair VUSAC continued from cover The statement also cited issues regarding the finance chair throughout their tenure in office, including complaints over the last semester to the VUSAC’s vice-president internal, Golda Greenspoon, and the chair, Saambavi Mano, about personal and professional matters about the finance chair’s conduct.

“These [complaints] include allegations of ableist jokes, both inside and outside of the VUSAC office, speaking about self-harm and suicide in ways that are both inappropriate and triggering for those in the VUSAC office who may be dealing with the same things, and neglecting finance duties while in the office,” read the statement.

According to VUSAC’s state-

ment, there were several attempts to contact their finance chair by email, but none were reciprocated nor addressed. VUSAC further added that a failure to communicate hampered the council operations, resulting in the removal of

“The role of the finance chair is demanding, and we regret that we could not intervene properly [...],” stated VUSAC. the finance chair.

VUSAC also wrote that the finance chair’s position could not be covered by other council members.

“If there was a way to prioritize

their health and Council’s financial responsibilities to the Victoria College Union simultaneously, we’re sorry we missed it […],” the statement continued. “The role of the finance chair is demanding, and we regret that we could not intervene properly before things took a turn for the worse.”

Both statements by Williams and VUSAC did not mention the name of the finance chair.

The Medium attempted to ask Williams for comment, but she stated that the person implicated in the situation was not comfortable commenting at the time.

Williams did not respond either to The Medium’s request for comment on VUSAC’s statement, as of press time.

Syrian refugees meet tutors Refugees get introduced to UTM faculty and departments

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»WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR WINTER BREAK?

Zaena Harrison 3rd year, English

Oliver Amirmansour 2nd year, Life sciences

Will empty my closet and donate some clothes.

Keeping warm and staying inside.

Oscar Adamczyk 1st year, Commerce

Brianna Santo 1st year, Geography

Snowboarding, if it ever snows.

Going to Montreal.

Destressors during exam season

NOUR SHELL/PHOTO

UTM and UTM Helping Hands held a meet-and-greet event with Syrian refugees last Friday.

MENNA ELNAKA NEWS EDITOR Almost 20 Syrian refugees that arrived to Canada almost a year ago came to UTM last Friday for a meet-and-greet event at the Faculty Club with UTM Helping Hands executives, the chair of UTM’s Department of Language Studies, and the program coordinator of the education studies program.

For a course spanning the length of eight weeks, the newcomers will have classes once a week for two hours, with content focusing on conversation, formal instruction on English, and information about Canadian culture. Skype-tutoring services are offered in addition to the classes if someone requires more assistance.

According to Emmanuel Nikiema, the chair of the Department of Language Studies, the ideal goal is to register 30 to 50 Syrian refugees in the language program, after testing the first term.

Also present at the event were the

founders of the Syrian Canadian Foundation, which was launched shortly after the refugees arrived to Canada.

In an interview with The Medium, Bayan Khatib, the co-founder of the SCF, stated that since the Canadian government wasn’t able to fit all the newcomers to the services it offered, the SCF decided to carry out these services themselves for those who are waitlisted and for the seniors who can’t move from their houses.

They were also the ones who helped UTM and UTM Helping Hands connect with the Syrian families.

According to Khatib, the age range of the newcomers registered at UTM is between 18 to over 40 years old.

“I’m not only delighted to do that as the chair of the program, but also as a member of the community, to see that the university will become with such a project [the tutoring services project for the refugees]— a place where not only students but also outside members of our community can join,” said Nikiema. “The university will be a place for not

only academic knowledge, but also a reach out to the community and a cultural place for dialogue.”

As previously reported by The Medium, UTM Helping Hands has helped get volunteers from UTM, which reached almost 160 volunteer applications for the tutoring services.

Liz Coulson, the program coordinator of the education studies program at UTM, told The Medium that many of the volunteers are doing an education minor, which would help in their tutoring.

“It’s a really strong commitment, getting engaged in our communities and helping others. And these are the best situations where we can be together as a community like this,” said Coulson.

The event featured live music.

Guests also gathered around in a circle where they all chose questions and answered, informing each other about themselves.

Upon the completion of the program, the newcomers will receive a certificate for finishing the program at U of T.

AIMEE PADILLO/THE MEDIUM

Students destressed by making soap from natural ingredients.

MENNA ELNAKA NEWS EDITOR UTMSU, in collaboration with UTM Peer-to-Peer club, held a destressing event last Thursday, in which students got to make soap from natural ingredients.

Students blended ingredients such as coconut oil, Shea butter, vitamin E, and scents like lavender in cups, heated them, then left them to cool in the shape of soaps. In an email to The Medium, Vanessa Demello, UTMSU’s VP university affairs and academics, stated that it was the first time that UTMSU held that type of destressing event.

“We decided that making organic soap would be a good idea, because it has all natural ingredients, which are healthy for your body,” wrote Demello. “It’s important that students take

the time to take care of their bodies, hygiene, and their mental health, especially during this hectic time of the year.”

In addition to the soap, while drinking hot chocolate and tea, students got to talk about mental health and share the pressures they face in their attempt to get a 4.0.

UTMSU has other destressing plans scheduled during the exam season, including a “get artsy” event, a video game event, self-care kit making, TV and Popcorn Time, and others. UTMSU will also offer additional study space in the Presentation Room, the Meeting Room, and the Red Room at the Student Centre.

Peer-to-Peer plans to hold destress sessions twice a week for two hours next semester as well. Demello stated that there will be different destressing events over the next semester.

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12.05.2016

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Ego shouldn’t deter kindness Time and time again I’m faced with this challenge of dealing with people who make you feel like you’re worthless. It’s almost become natural for people to treat you as if you aren’t human. We play this game of who’s right and wrong, who’s on the far left and far right, who’s better or worse, and who’s good or bad. We sit here and do all this, yet we forget what it means to just be a good person to one another.

Before I go on, this is in no way a piece referencing any specific events that have occurred recently. This is just something that has been on my mind for quite some time that I wanted to pass on to readers.

It’s tough sometimes. People get on our nerves and we start to hurt each other when this does happen. But we all allow ourselves to let our anger and distaste for one another cloud the fact that we’re all humans. While we may be different in our personalities, we are all humans.

A lot of the time we let power and money determine who we are and what we stand for. We wake up every day, we plan for the upcoming years of our life. We accumulate as much money as possible, invest in a lot of unnecessary things, and fight each other based on the colour of our skin. We hate each other for the most minimal things, and we choose to fight instead of choosing to love. At the end of the day, we argue with each other but fail

to remember that we don’t carry these material things with us when we die.

As morbid as that may be, and as much as we refuse to talk about it, it’s the truth.

What baffles me the most is that we go out every day, sometimes with the intention of being nothing but the worst to people.

But many of us never wake up and tell ourselves that maybe, just maybe, we should be good to each other. Why is that?

Well, being good doesn’t get me good grades. Being a good person won’t get me into graduate school. Being a good person won’t let me start a business, be rich, and the list goes on.

And it’s true. Being good to one another brings you none of these things. But what it does bring you is peace of mind. If we constantly spend our lives being angry at everyone and everything, we waste our time putting effort into nothing. All we’re doing is getting ourselves worked up so that we can fulfill our own egos to tell the world, “Hey, I’m right.” This is what becomes problematic. Our egos get in the way of everything. We wrap ourselves in this mentality that the only thing that matters in the world is what people think of you, and how you can use your ego to further yourself in this world, even if it means putting those who care for you behind you and making them feel worthless.

I’m not writing this to tell you that the world needs to be this utopia of perfection. What I am trying to say is that sometimes it doesn’t hurt to wake up and tell ourselves that maybe we can be good to one another. We need to separate ourselves from this goal of uplifting our egos by putting others down.

Sure, it can be argued that being a good person won’t change the world, and maybe it won’t. But being a good person to one another can change one person’s world. If you tell someone who’s been depressed, who’s literally felt like their life has hit rock bottom, that they matter and reinforce that thought into them, you just might make their world that much better.

At the end of the day, we are all people with wants and needs, and sometimes we let ourselves slip and forget what it means to just be a good person. And that’s okay, but we must remind ourselves that getting angry, and yelling, and choosing to fight rather than choosing to help one another will get us nowhere. I don’t deny that it is almost natural for us to want to dislike one another, but I also don’t deny that we can all be good to each other.

You never know until you try. It’s weird, at the end of a Futurama episode, there was this line that a character said: “When you do things right, people won’t be sure you’ve done anything at all.” And it’s true that we all

focus on the negative and that’s what stands out more to us in this world.

That’s what makes juicy headlines and allows us to judge another person.

And that’s what I think is wrong with us. We judge people for their skin, their actions, their clothing, their personality, and so on, yet we never judge the person based on what good they’ve done.

The point I’m trying to make here is that we as a community need to look at each other in our simplest form: human. We need to be good to each other as often as we can and respect one another. We need to stop judging each other based on who has the most power and money, and learn to understand that we are all different. Our differences shouldn’t divide us, but they should teach us to accept one another and be there for one another. Because at the end of the day, we need to learn to use our hearts to help those in need.

So, the next time you wake up, tell someone you love them, tell them how much you appreciate them, even something as simple as helping them with whatever they need help with. In a society that tells us otherwise, teach yourselves to be good to one another, and to love and care for the people around you.

Mahmoud Sarouji Managing Editor

Don’t blame journalists for their job Last week, I read a tweet by UTM Students for Life, saying that I stand with them because I wrote a couple of articles about their campaigns on campus.

In case you didn’t know, over the past few weeks, UTMSFL was distributing pamphlets with photos of dead embryos, in an attempt to argue for their prolife stance. And believe or not, when I found out about these pamphlets, I didn’t even pause to think about my views on UTMSFL’s message.

So when I saw the tweet, it took me a few seconds to actually process it. After over three years in this field, I still can’t seem to understand why people tend to assume things about the journalists’ views through neutral articles.

How do you know? And what gives you the right to assume something— and publically write—about someone you only know from their neutral articles?

I don’t mind assumptions if you talk to me about them before making it public. I don’t mind assumptions if you ask me directly what you think first. That would be an easier way for you to solve your itching curiosity.

All I wanted was to report what happened, because that was my job as a news journalist. My job requires me to write a story for students while giving them space to decide on their

own. That’s the reason behind neutral articles. If I wanted to write anything personal, I would go and write a blog post or an op-ed. But I didn’t—not in the news section.

In addition to the claim about my stance, there was another assumption that I am being oppressed by The Medium’s editor-in-chief, who wrote a couple of op-eds against the pro-life group. I mean, I appreciate your concern about my safety, but assuming that I’m being oppressed for the articles I wrote? Really?

Not only was that offensive to my boss, whom I really respect, but also very offensive to me on a professional and personal level. I decide on the topics, assign the roles to writers, and fact-check the content. I ask for advice whenever needed from the rest of the editing team. But the section is my responsibility. No one interferes in it unless they ask my advice or want to clarify something.

I’m a “rebel enthusiast” type of person. Everyone around me knows that. It doesn’t scare me to write something critical, as long as I believe it has a message and is important. And above all, I write neutrally. I do that all the time, not just in The Medium, but also on wider political issues on social media and sometimes, on my

blog on The Huffington Post. So don’t make assumptions about my boss forcing me to cover things I don’t want, or oppressing me for writing things she doesn’t support. This isn’t how it works at all with me, with her, with the news section, or with The Medium as a whole.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not just UTMFSL that I’m addressing here. I still haven’t and still won’t reveal my stance on the pro-life versus pro-choice controversy. I believe in the importance of keeping it to myself. But I’m also directing this op-ed to others who assume we report solely to make them look bad in front of students.

I started working as news editor at The Medium this year, and realized that this job is about reporting anything that people deserve to know.

From the amount of things you actually report, you eventually stop thinking about your personal stance when you’re writing so that you end up with a neutral article.

One of the other controversies I witnessed this year was the hiring of UTMSU’s executive director.

Many people on campus were asking about how Munib Sajjad was hired, and I knew that this was something they deserved to know. If I wanted to write a sided article showing that I was

against the process of Sajjad’s hire, I could have very easily made things up.

But I didn’t.

If you actually read the article, you would find that nothing personal was stated. I left space for people to decide.

So why did people have to assume that I was accusing the union of something? Merely because I asked Sajjad and the executives about his hiring in the first place?

If anyone thinks, as a result of my articles, that I’m doing this because I want to fish for mistakes, I doubt that makes me the one at fault. If anyone thinks I’m the evil figure for wanting to know the truth, then again, I doubt that makes me the one at fault.

Reporting isn’t the problem. It’s your hatred towards what the journalists report on that’s the problem.

Journalists learn to separate their views from their articles. So unless there’s a sentence that explicitly gives away any personal views in an article, don’t make assumptions about what I stand for. I don’t cover what I stand for nor what I oppose. I cover what needs to be covered. That’s what journalism is about.

Menna Elnaka News Editor

12.05.2016

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Feeling stressed yet? Try painting Peer 2 Peer offers students a space to paint, socialize, and enjoy free food as a destressor ZAHRA SINA Last Wednesday, Peer 2 Peer hosted its first ever Paint Night Destressor in the Student Centre’s Presentation Room. The event provided an opportunity for students to unwind from final assignments and exams, socialize, and essentially paint your stress away.

Initially, I was a bit skeptical at the idea of “painting my stress away.” I had heard that painting can be a cathartic activity, but I was doubtful that it could alleviate my stress as a molecular biology student at UTM. But as it turns out, I was wrong.

The environment was inviting.

Music and refreshments greeted students upon entry. Participants were provided with the basic tools they needed: a canvas, several brushes, a cup of water, a paper plate, and acrylic paints. Most people who attended seemed to have a passion for painting, which was evident in their work.

Many painters started with a base of calm shades. Some painted a dark, starry night with purple and blue tones, using a sponge to blur the

YASMEEN ALKOKA/THE MEDIUM

Students gather in the Student Centre to “paint their stress away” during Peer 2 Peer’s Paint Night. edges of the paint. Others painted a sunset with interspersing orange, yellow, and red tones. Some ditched the background completely and started with faces. In some paintings, I observed trees of spruce, birch and maple, mountains, and houses being painted with darker tones. If anyone

was hesitant at first, like myself, that feeling quickly dissipated. Participants seemed to be very confident with their work. Some had a picture they brought with them as inspiration, while others, like myself, freestyled their work.

For some students, the event al-

lowed them to rediscover their talents and interest in the craft. Sameeha Alim, a fourth-year biology major, commented, “I really got a chance to paint after a long time because I was busy with school work.” Vida Sosa, a fourth-year psychology major, said, “I enjoyed the event. It was very fun

and I am thankful for the people that came.”

In addition to Peer 2 Peer, the event was co-hosted by P.A.U.S.E., MEDLIFE UTM, and UTM Art Club. Peer 2 Peer is a student support group at UTM. They strive to offer assistance for student concerns, create positive spaces on campus, and raise awareness towards mental health.

Allison Gomes, president of both MEDLIFE and Peer 2 Peer, helped organize the event and commented, “We wanted to have a unique event on campus for people to come and hang out, and this is it.”

The event relates to each of the hosting clubs’ mantras. Paint Night Destressor focused on mental health in the way it allowed students to relax and take their minds off stress. Mental health is a common seam that runs through all the organizations.

Overall, the evening had a great turnout. The proceeds from ticket sales went towards paint supplies and food for the participants, with any leftover funds donated to MEDLIFE’s project of building a school in Tanzania.

A poetic “antidote” to the week’s end Professor Brent Wood’s poetry circle offers aspiring poets a safe space to share their work ADELAIDE ATTARD ASSOCIATE A&E EDITOR I sit on the counter in room 312 of Erindale Hall. On Thursday nights, the room fills with poets from different backgrounds. We lounge on the countertops, lean against the windows, and listen to each other’s poems as the sun goes down. Soon, the only light comes from an old table lamp. Brent Wood, an English professor at UTM who specializes in poetry, holds a poetry circle every Thursday night. Wood opens the floor to students who share a mutual love for the art.

I’ve been attending poetry club since I was in my second year. Now, I’m in my fourth year. Same goes for Nancie Jona, a fourth-year English and sociology student. “Poetry circle has broadened my emotional capacity, because for me, unlocking my emotions is hard. I don’t think people realize how important poetry is. It can invoke so much emotion in you through just a few words,” Jona says.

“Poetry circle is a safe space,” she continues. “You’re thrown into a place where you can tap into what you need to tap into. Whether it be

ADELAIDE ATTARD/THE MEDIUM

“Thursday Nights” is a collection of poems created by the 2015/2016 poetry circle. happiness or joy or love or anger or whatever it is. At a place like UTM, where you don’t have a lot of safe places, poetry circle is a good one to have.”

Valentina Pastorello, a secondyear English student, is a recent addition to the circle. “I feel like I’m part of a family, and I look forward to Thursday nights every single week.”

Wood creates a welcoming environment for budding poets to express themselves without boundaries. No matter how taboo the topics may seem, there is never judgment in the room. This lack of judgment has made it easy for the poets to support each other. In a lot of cases, one person will read a painful poem and then next Thursday when we meet, a

fellow poet has written a reply.

Poetry circle not only has a positive effect on the students, but also on Wood. Sitting cross-legged on the counter with his blue acoustic guitar in his lap, he says, “Sometimes people bring out painful poems. And somehow, people bringing out all of their pain makes me feel much more optimistic about the future, because

I’m so pleased to see everybody supporting each other.”

“Poetry circle is the antidote to my teaching week, where everything’s critical and you’re being evaluated.

But this is the exact opposite,” Wood continues. “We can all continue to function in our school week because we have an antidote to that stress.

We all come out with stuff about ourselves and we’re not being evaluated—we’re being supported, and that’s a good vibe.”

Poetry is not the only art form welcomed in the poetry circle. Wood always has his guitar with him. And there are always a few talented singers in the room to accompany him on a whim. At the last poetry circle of the year, we bid farewell to 2016 with Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.”

Thursday night is never adjourned unless Cohen’s words have made an appearance.

The 2015/2016 poetry circle crafted a collection of poems in a makeshift book. Each person submitted three of their best poems. We called the collection “Thursday Nights” and dedicated it to Wood, “who’s always given us the space to express ourselves.”

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Bringing Caribbean culture to the GTA Parang is a form of Trinidadian folk music that is gaining popularity in and around Toronto BEV TANG-KONG A bit of festive dance at an art exhibit is perfect for the season. Imagemaker Art Prints in Port Credit recently showcased an art exhibit of paintings and photographs called Parang. The title of the exhibit comes from a type of folk music that originated out of Trinidad. Parang featured work from Bev Tang-Kong, Ian Grant, and Kenrick Ayow.

Bev Tang-Kong, artist, arts educator, and graduate of UTM’s art and art history program, uses her art to inform. Together with fellow artists from the Caribbean, the goal of this exhibit was to have a visual conversation that highlighted Parang, which first migrated to Toronto in 1969 by the Toronto branch of La Petite Musicale, a Caribbean musical institution founded by Olivia Walke.

Images within the Parang exhibit included musical instruments, church architecture, singing vocalists, and individuals celebrating.

Parang’s presence in Toronto has grown over the years. It is now an ac-

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Imagemaker Art Prints showcased Parang until November 30, an exhibit dedicated to the musical form.

tive component in Toronto’s Caribbean community. Each year, Parranderos, music merrymakers in Trinidad, perform Parang songs to audiences

who are eager to shuffle their feet and keep the memory of their Spanish Creole folk culture alive.

The word Creole refers to an emi-

grant resettling into a dominant society. In this case, Spanish, Amerindian, and African migrants from Venezuela settled into Trinidad in the early years

of its colonization, bringing with them their culture and merrymaking.

The Parranderos travel from house to house as they share their music, something like caroling. The practice also exists to a smaller degree in other Caribbean islands.

Parang is more active at Christmas.

Some traditional songs celebrate the birth of Christ and are fused with contemporary styles in true Trinidadian fashion of music, food, and dance. A Parang group consists of vocalists and musicians who play instruments such as ukulele, guitar, congas, maracas, violin, box bass, tock tock, and of late, the steelpan.

As The Medium readers read this article, Parang music events are happening across Toronto. Bev TangKong hopes to exhibit another show in the future, referencing Parang with more colour and form that relates to the music.

Parang was on display at Imagemaker Art Prints until November 30.

Disclaimer: Bev Tang-Kong was an artist in the Parang exhibition at Imagemaker Art Prints.

Spoken from the lips of experience Intergeneracial explores Black identity and the consequences of racism in “From your Lips” HAILEY MASON A&E EDITOR Intergeneracial defines themselves as a “Black youth oral history theatre project.” Fiona Raye Clarke founded the collective in 2015. Last Thursday, Intergeneracial performed “From their Lips” in Hart House’s Debates Room. Directed by Amanda Nicholls, the performance involved stage readings by Dena Henry, Gabrielle Caresquero, Katasha Andrea James, Isiah Lea, Bianca Morgan, and Jaymie Sampa. The script was composed entirely of monologues by Black elders.

The stories engaged with the meaning of Blackness, including issues of stereotypes, police brutality, and other various forms of racism.

Before I go any further, I’d like to reveal that I feel underqualified writing about the subjects raised in this performance. As a white woman, I will never understand the Black experience and won’t pretend that I do.

But during this performance, I was offered a glimpse into the effects of anti-Black racism, and how it’s still a prevalent issue, even in our progressive society today.

“From their Lips” illustrated this burden through a dramatic adaptation of the elders’ stories. Reading from their scripts, the performers assumed the roles of the elders as they read their powerful stories. Each tale depicted a different experience of Black identity.

One story focused on a young man’s dream to become a hockey player. During a climactic moment in one of his games, he scores a goal and

WENDELL MACAPAGAL/THE MEDIUM

Intergeneracial performed stories from Black elders at Hart House last Thursday evening. feels confident and proud. At least he does until someone calls him the nword, causing him to give up on his dream.

Another story depicted a Black trans woman, who entered a gallery to submit her artwork. The curator looked at the artwork, then at the woman, and asked if she knew the real artist.

The following story portrayed a mother’s grief when she learns that her son was shot and she must identify the body. She explains her rage at the caller’s insensitive choice of words—“The body?” she screams.

“Call him by his name!”

Most stories didn’t end with a peaceful conclusion. How could they

when racism still exists?

The performers moved through the space with choreographed motions, yet their actions felt natural. During some moments, they sat in chairs or on the floor. Other times, they stood or paced. Lea struck the African bongo during several pieces, allowing the beat of the drum to punctuate his words. He also digressed into a rhythm on several occasions.

One movement stood out to me after Lea finished reading a story. When he stopped, he cupped his hands in the air to mimic the gesture of holding a large sphere. Caresquero entered onto the stage floor. Lea pretended to pass the weight into Caresquero’s hands as he walked off. Caresquero held the

figurative weight for a moment, and then began reading a new story.

Some pieces were read separately, while others were read in conjunction with each other, like a dialogue.

Nonetheless, the pieces meshed together into a unified statement about Black identity. The performers often faced each other as they spoke.

Other times, they addressed opposite sides of the audience with their backs turned to each other.

The performance concluded with a song. The cast clustered together in a group of chairs. Sampa rose from the group and retrieved a ukulele from Clarke, who was sitting in the front row of the audience. Lea played his drum while Sampa strummed. In a

beautiful, resonant voice, Sampa began to sing about freedom. Soon after, the other performers accompanied her. The group rose from their chairs and filed out of the room, still singing and playing music.

After the production, the cast welcomed the audience to engage in discussion. A supporting member of the production read questions prepared in advance by the Hart House Committee. The questions sought commentary on issues of sexuality and queerness, rage, the Black artistic community, and religion in the performance. After the Hart House Committee questions concluded, the floor opened to questions from the audience.

A general theme expressed by the group was a feeling of disconnect between the white and Black communities, which is perpetuated by the media and negative stereotypes. Each member spoke eloquently about their connection with the performance.

One of the most crucial messages they discussed was the importance of listening to elders, regardless of your race. Older generations hold wisdom and stories that oftentimes, they wish to share with younger generations.

“From their Lips” allowed this older generation to share their history.

The evening offered an inspiring depiction of the Black community, including all forms of identity and experience. While I may not have a personal connection with these stories, Intergeneracial offered me an opportunity to understand and witness these experiences, if only just for a moment.

12.05.2016 THE MEDIUM ARTS» 7

Experience the city this season KEENA AL-WAHAIDI

Before taking the course “Austen and Her Contemporaries” at UTM, Mansfield Park by Jane Austen was not a book I had ever heard awe-inspiring reviews over. Sense and Sensibility, which has countless film adaptations, was bound to be on my list of noteworthy English classics. Pride and Prejudice? Probably second-best to Sense and Sensibility. But Mansfield Park? I struggled to fully push myself into its less-than-satisfactory plotline, especially compared to the Austen plotlines it was competing with. The old English estates that decked the pages of Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion could excite any fan of British literature.

Mansfield Park’s lack of allure might be owing to the fact that it’s often considered Austen’s “problem” novel. The heroine, Fanny Price, is portrayed differently than the headstrong female characters so typical of Austen’s novels. These heroines allow readers to anticipate Austen’s novels for both their contexts and the powerful characters that embellish them.

The story follows Fanny’s life after her parents send her to live with her wealthy uncle and aunt, Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram, at their estate,

Mansfield Park. It’s true that Fanny is not the “belle of the ball” at Mansfield. This is true especially when the Crawfords, distant friends of Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram, sparkle with their charisma and banter whenever they walk into a room. Fans of Fanny, like myself, feel compelled to dislike characters on Fanny’s behalf, only because she will never garner the courage to admit how she secretly feels. Her indifference drives many readers to step in and take ownership of these misplaced feelings.

It’s evident that Fanny is Jane Austen’s least loveable heroine. She makes her way through a world that is foreign to her, a world where she is inferior to the dashing, charismatic characters that push her into a corner. The idea of space as a literary concept is manifested through her superiors and the ways they leave her little room to express her anxiety.

Compared to the well-loved Elizabeth Bennet of Pride and Prejudice and Anne Elliot of Persuasion, Fanny is ordinary. She is not described as pretty, and she is reminded of her homeliness by many characters throughout the novel. But perhaps her ordinariness is what ignites the spark in her character. Ordinary people, in this sense of literary realism, deserve a chance at attention as well.

Have you got any nerve?

FARAH QAISER FEATURES EDITOR Nerve is a 2016 movie, based on a 2012 YA thriller by the author Jeanne Ryan. The movie follows high school senior Vee (Emma Roberts) as she plays Nerve with Ian (Dave Franco).

The first scene reveals Vee as an aspiring photographer who is smothered by her mother Nancy (Juliette Lewis). This is largely because Nancy is still grieving the death of Vee’s brother. After Vee’s friend Sydney (Emily Meade) humiliates her in front of her crush, J.P. (Brian Marc), Vee signs up for Nerve on impulse, to prove that she can take risks and isn’t another ordinary girl.

Nerve is an online reality game where individuals can sign up to be either a player (where they can complete dares to earn money, “bail” on assigned dares, or fail and lose all of their previously earned money), or pay to watch as “watchers.” Dares are generally assigned based on the player’s personality. The aim of the game is to become one of Nerve’s topwatched players and to complete the dare in the final round to win.

While Vee was first assigned simple dares (such as kissing a stranger, try-

ing on a Couture dress, and getting a tattoo), the game slowly takes on a sinister tone. As the movie progresses, watchers suggest riskier dares, such as asking Ian to hang off a crane, one-handed, for five seconds.

Through her best friend Tommy (Miles Heizer), Vee learns that Ian has played Nerve before, and is now a prisoner of the game. Prisoners are forced to play Nerve again as the game has confiscated their identities and drained their bank accounts.

Feeling threatened, Vee heads to the police to snitch on the game, as she believes that the game is too dangerous to continue. However, one of Nerve’s few rules is that a player must not report the game to any member of the law enforcement. Vee’s snitching results in her becoming a prisoner of the game too, and her only option is to win the game, or play again until she does.

Nerve is a fast-paced movie, which helps cover up a number of flaws.

However, the movie is a good critique of social media—especially how the desire to be “viral” can result in the formation of addictive subcultures that individuals want to please, no matter the cost or danger.

Outdoor Skating

New Year’s Eve party

The ice rink is now open at Mississauga’s Celebration Square.

Between 10:00 a.m. and 10:30 p.m.

They offer rentals: $10 for adults, and $5 for kids. Make sure you check their website beforehand to read their polices and holiday hours.

If you’re downtown, you can also enjoy outdoor skating at Nathan Phillips Square or the Harbourfront Centre (which is one of the most scenic spots to skate, in my opinion).

Both locations offer skate rentals, with the same prices as Celebration Square.

If you’re looking for a way to spend New Year’s Eve, look no further than Celebration Square. The central Mississauga location is hosting a New Year’s Eve party in celebration of Canada’s 150th anniversary.

The night will host several exciting events ranging from DJs as well as a live performance from special guest Coleman Hell.

Guests are welcome to skate, grab some food, and watch the fireworks show at midnight.

Toronto Christmas Market

The Edge Holiday Rock Series

Photography workshop

The Toronto Christmas Market is one of the most popular locations in Toronto during the holidays. Located in the Distillery District, the Market features local vendors, live music, walking tours, and other family-friendly activities.

The Market runs until December 22. If you have time during the week, I’d recommend going then, because admission is free and the crowds are significantly smaller.

Are you a fan of Tokyo Police Club? If the answer to that question is a hearty yes, then you’re in luck because you can see them live at The Mod Club for three nights in a row as part of The Edge’s Holiday Rock Series.

The Third Annual Toronto Etsy Street Team Christmas Marketplace If you’re like me and completely obsessed with handmade crafts, the Etsy Street Team Christmas marketplace is for you.

It’s the perfect spot to do some last-minute Christmas shopping and meet local artists.

The Market is on December 17 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Church of Saint Stephens-in-the-Field in the Kensington Market neighbourhood.

The first 50 guests will receive a “swag bag” with treats and special offers for the vendors.

The band will be performing from December 8 through to the 10th. If that isn’t good enough news, the tickets will only cost you $15. Make haste!

On December 11, photograher Joe Balderston is giving a free workshop at Downsview Park that will teach you how to take professional-looking photos with your iPhone.

The worskhop runs from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

During his workshop, he’ll teach you to get the most out of your iPhone camera. He recommends that you RSVP in advance. Not a bad idea if you’re looking to improve your instagram skills this holiday season. And it’s free, so why not?

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Does race still matter in CA politics?

Political science professor Erin Tolley discusses the media coverage of race in Canadian politics HALEY WEST

Last Monday, Dr. Erin Tolley, an assistant professor and the associate chair in UTM’s political science department, hosted the Race Still Matters in Canadian Politics event, which focused on the media coverage of race in Canada.

Tolley was interested in this topic because Canadian political scientists don’t talk about race very often.

Perceptions of race and racial diversity influence people’s experiences of politics, while racialized assumptions within structures in the field of journalism influence how journalists do their job. Research shows that there is a distinct, qualitative difference between the coverage of racialized candidates and the media coverage of white candidates.

“This really suggests that race still matters in Canada, and that our democratic playing field isn’t necessarily level,” says Tolley.

“Media coverage is often racialized,” she continues. “Perceptions of race and racial diversity really influence people’s experiences of politics and how media reports politics.”

For her book Framed: Media and

OLIVIA ADAMCZYK/THE MEDIUM

Tolley researched 980 media stories of candidates who ran in the 2008 election. the Coverage of Race in Canadian Politics, Tolley researched 980 media stories of candidates who ran in the 2008 election. She examined how the candidates were quoted, whether there were photos of the candidates included in media coverage, how the stories and photos were framed, and whether the coverage was positive or negative. She also analyzed the coverage of all minority members

of Parliament in Canada from 1992 to 2012 within three major newspapers, and tried to understand racial mediation. Racial mediation is when a candidate’s race influences how the media will portray them.

When it comes to women, the media tends to focus on appearance. With race, it is generally only newsworthy if it relates to someone who is not white. If an individual

featured in the media is white, their race is not mentioned, but if individuals featured are from racial minorities, then their race is almost always mentioned.

The media also makes judgements about what is important.

“Media are going to sift through reality and present a version of it, and that’s good, that’s what they’re supposed to do.”

Tolley argues that “Even though there have been some successes with diversity within politics and there is a higher number of minorities in Parliament than ever before, this doesn’t mean the racial differences have been washed away.”

Within media coverage, white politicians are portrayed as being able to succeed on their own. Non-white candidates are viewed as successful because of or in spite of their race, with no regard to their experience or qualifications. The difference in how actions of minorities and whites are viewed can be seen in media coverage surrounding Muslim MPs who abstained from the vote on sanctions against Israel. There were 43 Liberal MPs who skipped the vote; however, the media focused on the eight who were Muslim, suggesting that their decision to abstain was related to their religion. One article suggests that conservative members who missed the vote must have done so for logistical reasons, but doesn’t express that reason as a possibility for the eight Muslim MPs who missed the vote.

Racism continued on page 9

What can you find in a Good Food Box? FoodShare Toronto delivers healthy food through their Good Food Box initiative to local communities JESSICA CABRAL ASSOCIATE FEATURES EDITOR

In February of 1994, FoodShare Toronto, a non-profit organization dedicated to delivering healthy food and food education to schools and communities, packed their first 40 boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables for their new initiative, the Good Food Box program.

Last year, the organization delivered 30, 826 Good Food Boxes to 109 drop-off locations across Toronto.

This year, UTM will join that list.

According to Maleeha Baig, UTMSU’s VP equity, UTM will begin taking orders for the Good Food Box program beginning in January.

In this year’s AGM, UTMSU listed three new initiatives which planned to increase students’ access to fresh, wholesome food within their 2016 annual report, one of which is through the Good Food Box program.

“It helps serve the UTM community by providing students, faculty, and staff with affordable, healthy, and locally-grown food options. The

MARYAM RADWAN/THE MEDIUM

The Good Food Box program was first implemented in February of 1994.

UTMSU felt that this new service would complement our Food Centre,” Baig says.

According to the UTMSU’s 2016 annual report, students will be able to purchase Good Food Boxes from the info booth, and deliveries will occur bi-weekly to the student centre.

Moorthi Senaratne, the Good Food Box program manager, explains that the initiative provides customers with a box of fresh produce, featuring both locally-grown products and some international favourites, like bananas. Each box contains a combination of 10 to 14 items, depending on the season.

“It is an initiative to create access to fresh produce for people. People don’t get to choose what goes inside the box; FoodShare just sorts it out for them. If people like cabbage, you may get cabbage sometimes. This way it kind of pushes you to try something you wouldn’t normally use,” Seneratne says.

Currently, FoodShare’s Good Food Box program works to serve four universities in the GTA. Boxes can be ordered and delivered to the University of Toronto, St. George and Scarborough locations, York University, and Ryerson University’s early childhood development centre.

Seneratne explains that the organization offers many box choices for customers, including organic options. Boxes range from $13 to $34, depending on the size of the box and its contents.

Both the Good Food Box and Organic Box are available in large and small sizes.

“We have another box called the Wellness Box, and it’s very popular with students, because it has three or four items that are already cut up. It ranges from nine to 13 items of fruits and vegetables. For example, there may be a bag of cut celery, a bag of cut carrots, cut cantaloupe, sometimes cut pineapple or cut squash,” Seneratne says. “And if you are just a fruit person, we have a fruit box for $13.”

Box continued on page 9

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Polanyi recipient Wright speaks out Wright, an assistant professor at UTM’s English and drama department, was recently honoured JESSICA CABRAL ASSOCIATE FEATURES EDITOR

In early November, Dr. Daniel Wright, an assistant professor in the English and drama department at UTM, was awarded the Polyani Prize for his research in Victorian political creativity within Victorian novels and poems.

This prize was created in honour of U of T’s John Charles Polyani, the recipient of the 1986 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. The Council of Ontario Universities awards this honour to researchers currently in the early stages of their career.

“The thing which is especially nice about this particular award is that it recognizes humanities scholars, so scholars of literature, alongside researchers in physics, economics, and medicine,” Wright explains. “These are fields that literary scholars don’t often get to be recognized alongside.

So I think it’s a really great award for just acknowledging the importance of research in literature to the life of this province.”

Wright describes himself as an academic. He began his undergraduate journey as a philosophy major at McGill University. Partway through his degree, he slowly shifted his focus towards English, and began studying both disciplines. He then continued on to receive his M.A. in English at the University of Toronto and his Ph.D. at Columbia University in New York City.

“I mostly do research on novels,

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Wright’s research focuses on Victorian political creativity within Victorian novels and poems. the Victorian novel, and I think what drew me to that field was the sense that novels create alternate fictional worlds that at the same time help us to see our own world in clearer ways,” he says. “So the Victorian novel is often aimed at presenting the real world as it really is. But in doing so, it also creates alternate universes that we can explore and interpret and interact with. This always feels very powerful to me as a way of interacting with the world through literary representations of it.”

His research studies what he calls

the “Victorian political creativity,” and investigates how Victorian writers of political novels and poems understood the role that literature plays in pursuing political change.

“Those writers often worry that writing a novel or a poem may not be the most effectual way to get political change to happen, so they often thought quite consciously about how to imagine the kind of effect the literature would have. Part of my argument is that they do so by thinking about creativity as one way that the individual sort of connects to the

bigger social world.”

Wright’s interest in this research topic began as a graduate student, during a class on the Victorian industrial novel. The course studied 19th century novels grouped together for their similar topics: industrialization, the rise of factory towns in England, and the problems of labour and poverty.

“So it was actually in that course that I started thinking about those really big and straightforward questions, like why would one write a novel in order to make a political ar-

gument? And of course, many people have tried to answer that question, but I think not always in the ways that I wanted them to answer it. So I thought that I’d give it a shot,” he says.

Since the fall semester of 2013, Wright has been teaching English at UTM, with a focus on topics such as Victorian novels and poetry. Among other courses, this semester he’s teaching ENG323, Jane Austen and Her Contemporaries.

Students hoping to pursue English during their post-secondary careers often receive criticism from family and friends who encourage them to pursue a more science-based field.

However, Wright believes that English and other humanities are at the core of what it means to get a university education.

“They help us to become critical thinkers, better citizens of the world, clearer writers, and communicators.

There are all kinds of things that come along with an English degree that are important and useful,” says Wright.

“They’re useful for all of those practical purposes of getting a job.

Businesses love to hire English graduates because they’re good writers, good thinkers and communicators, but also for all of those other reasons, the more intangible reasons that we think we’re supposed to get a university education for, which is to just become a better citizen of the world. I think that leaving out the humanities can miss the point in that sense.”

Tolley: “Well, we’re less racist than others” Racism continued from page 8 Positive viability includes the view that the candidate is likely to win, framing them as the frontrunner.

Tolley found that overall, candidates received approximately the same amount of viability coverage, regardless of race. The discrepancy in media coverage was revealed when examining how the non-incumbent candidates, those who had never won an election before, were portrayed.

Within non-incumbent candidates, white candidates tended to receive positive coverage, but racial minorities had to earn positive cov-

erage.

“Racial minority candidates have to prove themselves with an electoral win,” says Tolley. “Once they’ve proven themselves, they tend to receive equal amounts of coverage by the media.” The idea that racial minority candidates must prove themselves where white candidates don’t is a demonstration of racial mediation, and the role race still plays in Canadian politics.

Tolley also examined whether or not candidates who are equally viable are being portrayed in the same way. She compares the objective level of viability—whether they won the election—to portrayals of

candidates within the media. She compared the least viable racial minority candidates and the least viable white candidates. Tolley found

“In this light, Canada looks better, but our standard should not be, ‘Well, we’re less racist than others.’”

—Dr. Erin Tolley that white candidates were shown to receive twice the level of positive coverage in relation to racial minor-

ity candidates.

Tolley read a guidebook for reporters on how to report on different topics in a way that avoids bias.

The chapter discussing the process behind reporting on gender is called “Sexism”—however, the section on how to report on topics relating to race is not called “Racism,” but “Race and Ethnicity.” This demonstrates that “Journalists are not forgetting about race, but are not thinking critically about how race influences their news judgements and reporting.”

Tolley concludes that news judgement is applied differently when the subject of the story is a racial minor-

ity, and it is important to question the effect that has. The media has a large role in providing information for citizens, and it affects the inclusiveness of political institutions.

“It’s important to talk about the way race enters into news stories and to not shut discussion down by saying we’re colour blind.”

“Many Canadians look to the South, where there are discussions about preventing Muslims from immigrating and about building walls,” says Tolley. “In this light, Canada looks better, but our standard should not be, ‘Well, we’re less racist than others.’”

Good Food Box not yet implemented at UTM Box continued from page 8 Seneratne says that depending on the order, per week the organization delivers 10 to 40 boxes, with some months reaching 50 or more boxes provided.

Students in the GTA can order Good Food Boxes through their student union, residence housing, or

through FoodShare Toronto, which will provide them with a pickup location in their area.

Esther Osei, a second-year double major in chemistry and art history at UTM, believes that the Good Food Box program would be a good initiative to implement on campus, but says the cost may be a problem.

“As you are currently aware, UTM

hosts Farmers’ Markets and has been trying to improve its food quality.

To have this readily available fresh and organic food being served at the campus, I believe students would love it. However, the only obstacle would be the price. Students already have to pay $5 and up for salad bars, so although this implementation would be highly beneficial to the status

that UTM holds as environmentallyfriendly, I don’t think it would make much of a difference for the students,” she explains.

Through the Good Food Box program, FoodShare Toronto hopes to create models so other institutions like universities can begin their own programs. Seneratne says they want to create similar models in cities

across Ontario, and ultimately across Canada.

“We hope to create more access to fresh produce and support local farmers. Also, we hope to create a change, a habit, with people’s diets.

When you give people more access to fruits and vegetables they want to increase their consumption of fruits and vegetables.”

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THE MEDIUM 12.05.2016

It’s time to be bold with The Agency On Monday, November 21, 2016, The Agency held its first Social Innovation Conference at U of T FARAH QAISER FEATURES EDITOR Two weeks ago, The Agency (selfdescribed as a hub for social innovation) held its first annual Social Innovation Conference at U of T, at both the St. George and UTM campuses. While the downtown campus hosted over 10 breakout sessions and various activities, here at UTM, the IMI department held a Social Innovation workshop at the I-CUBE HQ within the Kaneff Centre to celebrate the event.

The Agency consists of founder Cindy Ross Pedersen, a former tech entrepreneur and previous president of the University of Toronto Alumni Association, executive director Keita Demming, an OISE Ph.D. graduate, and project manager Igor Samardzic, who is currently transitioning into U of T graduate studies.

In an interview with The Medium, Demming explained that “the idea behind The Agency is that if you look around the University of Toronto, it’s very difficult to know where to go if you’re interested in […] social entrepreneurship. We wanted to create, just like a travel agency, somewhere where people can choose their own journey around social innovation and social entrepreneurship. There’s a lot happening at the University of Toronto already, but nobody is pull-

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Almost 275 students registered for the conference, and approximately 219 students attended. ing it together.”

Demming and a friend applied for funding to spread the idea of social innovation through a conference to be held in the summer.

“That’s how we met Cindy. So we decided to do that conference because we thought part of the conference would be about educating people about the potential for social innovation,” Demming says. “Eventually what Cindy decided was that she needed to super-size what we were doing, because what we were doing was a on a small scale, and would have been on a student level.

She was able to bring us into a wider conversation across the University of Toronto.”

The conference that Demming is referring to was an exclusive event held by The Agency on June 27, 2016.

It was limited to a select total of 60 individuals, who were students, faculty, and staff at U of T. According to The Agency’s website, discussion revolved around aspects such as enriching the student experience (i.e. helping students see themselves as “capable agents of change”) and fostering a culture of innovation at U of T. This event was meant to be a “pre-

cursor” to last week’s conference. It was also how Demming became a part of the core team at The Agency.

“Cindy and I worked really well together,” says Demming.

“She asked if The Agency was something that I wanted to be a part of. For somebody who’s just finished their Ph.D. at the University of Toronto, what better way or next job is there than to make social innovation a real endeavour at the University of Toronto?”

The Agency then used their findings from their summer conference to plan a second conference, held last

Monday, titled “It’s Time to be Bold/ Social Innovation @ U of T.” According to Demming, almost 275 students had registered for the conference, where a total of approximately 219 students attending the event.

The workshops held at Hart House included topics such as “city level social innovation,” “health equity,” “careers in social innovation,” and “funding social entrepreneurship.”

Event sponsors included UTM, U of T’s School of Graduate Studies department, and U of T’s Institute for Global Health Equity and Innovation.

Demming believes that there is a lot of potential for social innovation.

“We wanted students to walk away with a connection […] [and] a better sense of what social innovation is. […] I think a lot of [them] walked away with that because we chose people who were very articulate,” says Demming.

The Agency is not done yet—they are planning to hold more events.

“We are hoping to do a speaker series in the winter […]. A lot of people have been connecting with us to do interesting events related to social entrepreneurship [and] social innovation, so we will definitely be doing other events. A lot of this is focused on students—how do we support students [in their future endeavours].”

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Nguyen has her ‘eye on the prize’ UTM’s Ultimate Frisbee team lost in the Semi-Finals, but had a blast and made good friendships ERIC HEWITSON SPORTS EDITOR

Vivian Chu Nguyen is a first-year CCIT student from Vancouver, British Columbia. Nguyen was an impactful player for UTM’s 2016 Ultimate Frisbee team. From a young girl who never excelled at athletics to getting offered to try out for the British Columbia Field Hockey team and being offered a field hockey position on the UBC team, Nguyen is the epitome of someone who genuinely loves sports and finds the greatest meaning in them.

Ultimate Frisbee gives her an outlet to experience the joy of athletics here at UTM. “Ultimate Frisbee is basically football, basketball, and soccer all mashed up. The objective is to simply get the disc into the end zone, but once you catch the disc you can’t take any steps with it,” says Nguyen, who’s been playing Ultimate Frisbee since she was in high school. Nguyen is the handler, or cutter, meaning she leads the team in throws or helps make cuts to move the disc up the field. She doesn’t maintain a leadership role on the team because everyone works so well together.

Her journey to field hockey came at an unfortunate time in her athletic career. She injured herself prior to the British Columbia field hockey team tryout and couldn’t make it out, eventually leading to her not making the team. But when she

OLIVIA ADAMCZYK/THE MEDIUM

Vivian Chu Nguyen enjoyed her time with UTM’s Ultimate Frisbee team this year. recovered, she discovered that the Ultimate Frisbee team at her high school had begun tryouts, and she decided to give the unfamiliar sport a shot. “I’m pretty fast, but I’m not the big plays kind of player. I like to help out my teammates whenever I can, even if it’s small things, like making a small distance pass or cutting in so my teammates can strike for a long pass,” says Nguyen.

“The main things I got out of participating in this year’s season is meeting all the cool people on the team who helped mentor me and

get me comfortable at UTM, since I’m a first year who came from out of the province,” Nguyen continues.

The friendly and formidable group of student athletes faced tough competition this year, competing against the Skule engineering group that had several Varsity downtown campus players and other St. George teams with talented individuals. With the season over and no championship banner to show—losing in the semi-finals— Nguyen isn’t upset, she’s happy to have played alongside a group of

people she can now call her friends.

“I learned that Ultimate Frisbee requires a lot of teamwork. There’s no one who can carry the team because of the nature of the sport—connecting with your teammates is a large factor in being a successful team.”

Nguyen believes that one of her greatest character traits is her ambition. She’s been known to do something even though she was told not to, as she’s had to acquire strong confidence. Growing up in a household where sports was seen as a distraction, Nguyen went against her

parents’ wishes and the opinions of others to pursue her strong interest in sports teams. “I did a lot of things that I was told I wasn’t ‘good enough’ for or that I couldn’t do. My parents are fond of the phrase ‘eye on the prize,’ and always tell me that I always have my ‘eye on the prize’ because I’ll do anything to achieve a goal or to get something that I want.”

She was never a naturally gifted athlete. She was the student who was picked last in gym class and someone who had seemed to give up on herself. Getting bad grades and feeling inferior was a bad time in her life, but thanks to her participation in the grade eight field hockey team, she gained a passion for sports and a fire inside which set her on the path to success. “I got my grades up, because if I didn’t, I wouldn’t be able to play for the UBC field hockey team. With a lot of hard work and practice, I was offered to sign with the team.” However, she believed that UTM was a better suit for her academic needs and was thrilled at the opportunity to come and get a degree from U of T. “Moral of the story: working hard and striving for something can overcome anything,” says Nguyen.

Feeling as though she has come a long way already, Nguyen wants go to law school once she’s completed her undergraduate degree. Knowing how she handles adversity, my bet is that she’ll make it.

Eagles defeat the Coaches accept new offer UTM athletics hires basketball coaches for their OCAA teams UTSC Maroons ERIC HEWITSON SPORTS EDITOR

UTM thanks their bench players for stepping up and creating the spark, outscoring their opponents 22-8.

The offensive found their scoring flow in the third quarter. The Eagles ran through their strategic plays effectively and held their ground on defense, again scoring more points than UTSC. UTSC proved to be their toughest competitors thus far, even though they lost to Woodsworth a few weeks ago by 13 points. The final minutes of the game was an allout Eagles offensive attack. Their push in the final minutes is what ultimately helped them win by the close seven-point difference.

UTM Men’s Division 1 basketball team came out on top, beating the UTSC Maroons 67-60 on Monday, November 28 in the UTM main court. The win extends their regular season winning streak to five games, and gives them an overall record of 7-1.

The Eagles started off the game slow, with sloppy plays and turnovers on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. UTSC came out strong and led after the first quarter. The second quarter was a lot better for the Eagles, as they picked up their play with a great defensive effort, ultimately shutting down the opposing team. B-ball continued on page 12

ERIC HEWITSON SPORTS EDITOR

UTM was granted membership status by the OCAA this past Tuesday at the annual meeting of the athletic directors. UTM is now off probation since beginning their ride within the OCAA last September, and are now eligible for Varsity expansion next year to men’s and women’s basketball.

With UTM now playing at an even more competitive level in basketball, they are marketing their brand as a formidable Eagles team. Last year, UTM’s men’s soccer team made a huge immediate impact within the OCAA, making it deep into the playoffs in only their inaugural season and setting the landscape for a prosperous athletic future.

“Our men’s varsity basketball coaches are hitting high school tournaments, and the women’s coaches were at the AAA OFSAA high school finals this past weekend, scouting for athletes for next year,” says athletics program coordinator, Jack Krist.

“The athletic directors also approved a new playoff structure for basketball that will see eight teams from the East and eight from the West advance to a crossover in the first round, with the eight winners advancing to the provincial championships.”

This news comes at a time when the official press releases were announced for who will be coaching the men’s and women’s basketball teams next year. Salee Johnson-Edwards will be at the helm for the women’s squad in 2017-2018, while Nkosi Adams will lead and mentor the men’s

teams.

Johnson-Edwards has been the head coach of the women’s development league basketball team since 2013. Her team did tremendously well last season, going 6-5 in the regular season and making it to the championship game. This year, the women are undefeated, and look to avenge their finals loss and become the formidable team to beat. Johnson-Edwards comes from a wealth of previous experience—she was the assistant coach with the Fordham University women’s basketball team in New York, and before that worked as an assistant coach for another American NCAA school, Monmouth University, where she helped coach the team to a 23-10 record.

OCAA continued on page 12

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THE MEDIUM 12.05.2016

Greg Roberts leads his team

Greatness on its way to the UTM campus

DELANEY ROMBOUGH/THE MEDIUM

The men look to dominate when they return in January.

B-ball continued from page 11 Greg Roberts has been the Eagles MVP so far this season, scoring points left, right and centre. In the three most competitive games of the season, he’s played some of his best basketball; against Woodsworth, he scored 28, against SMC-A, he scored 33, and in his most recent game against UTSC, he scored 25.

“Personally, I think I’ve been playing decently well so far. I worked hard this off-season to keep improving on my game, and it’s starting to pay off.

Hopefully, I continue to improve as the year goes on and I build some momentum going forward into the OCAA next year,” says Roberts.

The mindset of all the players this

season is “championship or bust.”

They have the talent to win it all and the motivation to stay poised and compete with the recent news of being accepted into the OCAA next year. “I feel that we have a good team with the potential to win another championship again this year,” Roberts says.

“Right now, we still have a lot of work to do to get to that level, but I like the progression that I’ve seen throughout the first half of the season.

“If we continue to work hard and progress, we’ll definitely be competing for a championship come March,” he adds.

The men return to action on Sunday, January 8 when they play Sheridan for a Varsity exhibition game.

Tip-off is at 6 p.m.

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Nkosi Adams and Salee Johnson-Edwards are the head coaches of 2017-2018 OCAA basketball.

OCAA continued from page 12 As an athlete, Johnson-Edwards was a four-year member of the University of New Hampshire varsity basketball team, graduating in 2007 with a degree in journalism. According to the official press release, she said, “I am so pleased to usher in a new era at UTM with the inaugural season for this women’s basketball program.

I became a part of this family a few years back with the development team, and it became a huge part of my life.

“This is going to be a special place for any student athlete to play, not only because UTM is a world-class education degree institution, but they will get to be part of writing the

history books and changing the culture of the women’s basketball program,” she adds.

UTM athletic director, Ken Duncliffe, is excited to have a coach with as much experience and success as Johnson-Edwards be part of the UTM community and pave the way for more exciting times. “Coach Salee has been a great asset to our current women’s basketball team, and will be a great leader and role model for our athletes and new recruits as they make the jump to the OCAA varsity level,” says Duncliffe.

According to a press release issued by Jack Krist, Nkosi Adams is thrilled with his position in the UTM community, and already has plans for a successful future. “My

goal is to build a program that our players, students, faculty, alumni, and community members can all be proud of,” says Adams. “UTM has always had a great reputation in operating intramurals, and I have no doubt the varsity program will achieve the same successes. I feel that my diverse experiences in basketball will assist UTM in launching a successful program as we enter into the OCAA.” Adams has been a head coach at Pickering High School since 2005.

The school has won six consecutive LOSSA Championships. Adams played competitive basketball at Centennial College before beginning his coaching duties with the youth.