Vol 43 issue 16

New hires on way for ICCIT

Speak up about mental health

Merging four projects

Breaking the stereotype

Optimistic new captain

News, page 2

Opinion, page 4

Arts, page 5

Features, page 8

Sports, page 11

Effect of Trump’s victory on Canada A CBC opinion article stated that Canadian campuses are seeing a rise in hate-speech incidents

MENNA ELNAKA NEWS EDITOR WITH NOTES FROM DARA SLAMAH An opinion article by Steven Zhou for CBC on January 15 titled, “Canadian campuses see an alarming rise in right-wing populism,” stated that in the past few months, several Canadian campuses have experienced “outright racist messages” through posters, flyers, and other activities.

A few days before Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20, the burgeoning right-wing sentiment on university campuses stems from the rise of political figures such as Trump, according to the op-ed.

“This is a result of an emboldening populist wave following the election of Trump, an event that has also inspired several elected officials on the Canadian right to espouse a similarly populist message,” it stated. “The success of

ANUM SYED/THE MEDIUM

Slogans such as “make Canada great again” have surfaced at university campuses. president-elect Donald Trump has emboldened nativist elements of Canadian society just the same.”

Slogans such as “make Canada

great again,” and “Tired of an antiwhite propaganda?” were found at McGill University and McMaster University. Posters that read “Fu*k

Your Turban” were found at the University of Alberta, as well.

“Regardless of what the theoretical conception of Canada is—so-

cially and politically—whatever and whichever a prime minister wants to choose to say that Canada is a liberal democracy and that we have a multiple code-listing identity […], that has never, on the ground, done anything to sort-of medicate this kind of domestic threat, […] like a violence threat,” Zhou told The Medium in an interview when asked if the multicultural environment that Canada is known to have would be able to overcome such hate-speech incidents.

“Right now, we’re seeing [political discourse] around the world start to stipple to the right, and whether or not the Conservative Party will be capitalized in the next general election, it’s never made to be seen,” he continued. “But if that happens, then you’ll certainly see more holding of [right-wing] groups throughout Canada.”

Freedom continued on page 2

CUPE3902’s agreement set to expire U of T and CUPE3902 are expected to meet this September to discuss further agreements WARD SUROUR

With the agreement between U of T and CUPE3902 set to expire by December 2017, both parties are expected to return to the table this September to discuss further agreements.

“It’s usually a little earlier than when we would normally start to meet,” said Althea Blackburn-Evans, U of T’s director of media relations, in an interview with The Medium.

She added that meeting early would be a “good signal.”

“All the parties agreed: Let’s get together a little earlier and start to have these discussions,” she continued.

“The goal is to […] get to a place where all parties are satisfied […], and always have productive and constructive rounds of bargaining to reach collective agreements without labour disruption. We always want

MAHMOUD SAROUJI/THE MEDIUM

Bargaining between U of T and CUPE3902 carries the possibility of strike occurring. to work collaboratively with all of our union partners to get to that place.”

As previously reported by The Medium, in December 2015, CUPE3902 had filed a complaint against the

university, citing “unfair labour practice” regarding concerns of bursary distribution.

“Yes, we reached a settlement last year. We went into an arbitration process that ended in July of 2015, then there was an unfair labour practice complaint that tied it up again, but that was resolved in January 2016,” said the chair of CUPE3902, Ryan Culpepper, to The Medium in an interview on January 12.

U of T’s vice-president, human resources and equity, Angela Hildyard, had said in a U of T News article in May 2016, “Mediated resolution reached with CUPE,” that the agreement included an increase of $1 million in the Graduate Student Bursary Fund, and a contribution worth $1.045 million to the fund, as of last September. According to Hildyard, this applied to approximately 6,500 teaching assistants.

“We still alleged that they did [the “unfair labour practice],” Culpepper said.

Strike continued on page 3

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THE MEDIUM 01.23.2017

Expansion plans for ICCIT January 12th, 2017 .

Unwanted Person.

A student walked into another student’s unlocked residence apartment.

Campus Police would like to remind students they should always lock their doors when leaving.

January 14th, 2017.

A non-community member that had been prohibited from coming to campus was located. He was charged under the Trespass to Property Act and escorted off campus.

January 15th, 2017.

Medical Call.

A student was transported to hospital because of excessive alcohol consumption..

January 17th, 2017.

Theft under $5000.

A student reported the theft of his parking permit from his unlocked car in the CCT garage.

January 17th, 2017.

Medical Call.

A student who was in medical distress was transported to hospital.

January 17th, 2017.

Harassment.

A student complained of being harassed by another student over longstanding issues between the two of them. The student was cautioned.

ICCIT.CA/PHOTO

The ICCIT department plans on adding four new hires.

ALICIA BOATTO ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR

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.

UTMSU eliminates exam remark fee

The Institute of Communication, Culture, Information and Technology is looking to expand their department with the addition of four new hires.

In an interview with The Medium, professor Anthony Wensley, the director of ICCIT, stated that if successful in adding these hires, three would be assistant professors in the tenure stream, and one would be an assistant professor in the teaching stream.

“Any instructor will end up teaching a balance of courses. Some will be courses we already offer, and some courses will relate directly to their interest and their research,” said Wensley.

“But at this stage, because we have such a diversity of individuals applying for our jobs, it is very difficult to say.”

The institute will be undergoing an external review this year, in which the department gets reviewed by professors from outside institutions. The resulting report will help determine areas of focus for the department to develop and expand, according to Wensley.

“At the background, there are some

very general ideas we have about where we want to develop or add areas of research and areas of teaching to the institute,” he said.

Students had the opportunity to listen to a talk given by one of the potential candidates, Jeffrey Diamanti, last Friday, who talked about climate media. He is the 2016/2017 Media@ McGill postdoctoral fellow in “Media and the Environment,” and is also a co-editor of After Oil, Energy Cultures, Materialism and the Critique of Energy, and others. He is currently working on a book project called The Long Transition: Market Media and the Future of Energy.

In response to whether students are able to present feedback on the candidates, Wensley stated, “The extent to which we can directly involve students is a bit of a challenge, because students have got so much else that they have to do.

“But even if it is a challenge, we find ways of getting students to participate, because it is vitally important that we’re recruiting people who are outstanding teachers, as well as being outstanding researchers,” he added.

“Both things are fundamentally important to UTM, but it’s something we’ve always done in the institute.”

Wensley explained that there are different ways to get students to participate, as the institute carries out constant research.

“Because we do so many searches and because they are so concentrated, in the past, we have had some of our candidates come to existing classes.”

He added that this time, the institute will involve students.

“It’s not ideal, but by watching videos of the presentation and assessing videos, that feedback comes directly back to the search committee.”

After interviews with the candidates, the search committee will then submit a request to the Office of the Dean to hire the individual.

“A report is written requesting that we’d like to hire, and part of that report has to provide evidence about student feedback,” said Wensley.

Other new additions to the ICCIT department within the upcoming years include a variety of new courses, a larger emphasis on initiatives with organizations outside of the school, field trips, and engaging in international exchange.

Candidates selected for the new hires are expected to assume their role as early as July 1 this year.

OLIVIA ADAMCZYK/THE MEDIUM

UTMSU has lobbied the administration to eliminate the $35 fee.

MENNA ELNAKA NEWS EDITOR After almost five years of lobbying with the administration, UTMSU has announced on their Facebook page that they have successfully lobbied to eliminate the $35 exam remark fee.

In an email to The Medium, UTMSU president Nour Alideeb stated that over the past few months, the union has compared how other campuses offer the exam remark fee to students.

“We emphasized the importance of saving students money, because they already pay so much money in tuition,” said Alideeb.

According to Alideeb, in the past few years of negotiations, the administration has been “reluctant” to remove the fee. When asked what drove UTMSU’s incentive to work on this service, Alideeb stated that students have been coming to UTMSU

to bring up their concerns of how the remark fee is a “burden” to them.

“Students should have the right to see their exam and not have to pay for a remark, and thankfully, now they don’t have to,” Alideeb said.

Alideeb also clarified that the union does not have statistics of the number of students who paid to remark their exams, but she explained that there have been several students who wouldn’t ask to get their exams remarked “just because of that fee.”

“Thus far, students have responded very positively to this victory,” Alideeb said, adding that the UTMSU is holding campaigns that call for eliminating the fees, like the Campaigns and Advocacy Commission, which is scheduled to take place this week on January 24.

Alideeb stated that UTMSU’s next goal is to eliminate the exam viewing fee for $15.

UTM policies for hate-speech Freedom continued from cover Zhou links an example in his op-ed back to a U of T incident in September 2015, where “White students’ union posters” were taken down for appearing to “advertise a union for white students.”

“No case of hate-speech at UTM has been brought to my attention,” UTM’s interim principal, Ulrich Krull stated in an email to The Medium.

Krull believes that “extreme rightwing” activities have existed throughout modern history.

“I do believe it is true that Trump has encouraged some ill-informed behaviours, and it would be hard to argue the point when seeing a Canadian sign that reads ‘Make Canada Great Again’—we know where this slogan originated,” Krull said. “However, the reality is that right-wing sen-

timent has been on the fringe of our Canadian society, just as the left-wing has, and the fringe always tend to explore the latitude of public opinion.

It is a cyclic phenomenon, where the fringe pushes, and the large majority eventually pushes back.”

In response to whether or not a hate-speech incident would be considered free speech, Krull stated that the issue of hate speech “arises that a judgement is required between freedom of speech and what is prescribed in law.”

“There are also policies and the code of conduct at the university,” he added. “These are not law, but define the expectations of the university community that have been agreed to through our governance system.”

According to Krull, if there is a situation that “might contravene policy or code,” the head of the unit where

the situation takes place would take responsibility for action. He added, “These matters are often confidential, so that due process can proceed and evidence can be assessed.”

Krull also explained that in a hypothetical case where the university needs to take action, although largely dependent on the situation, the university would follow the policy, which is to call the police.

However, Krull added, “this is always done with caution and respect” to ensure that the person involved in use of hate speech “has no mental issue in which they have no control over. We would much rather support such an individual to improve their health than persecute them through a policy.”

The opinion article has attracted nearly 20,000 shares, as of press time.

01.23.2017 THE MEDIUM NEWS

UTMSU’s three-day Cultural Fest

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»WHAT ONE THING WOULD YOU CHANGE AT UTM?

Hiba Al-Attar 3rd year, Bio for health sci

Tarek Al Shawwa 3rd year, Political science

Give professors an orientation on how to deal with students more humanely.

Have a more lively community.

Daniel Goodman 4th year, CCIT & PWC

Makayla Mills 4th year, Psych & CTEP

More food options.

Change student life here, as there’s not really much of a community.

AIMEN ALI/THE MEDIUM

Eighteen clubs participated in the UTMSU Cultural Fest this week.

KASSANDRA HANGDAAN NEWS EDITOR ASSISTANT Eighteen clubs actively participated in UTMSU’s Cultural Fest, held last week at the Student Centre, with different events being held throughout the three-day affair.

According to UTMSU’s VP campus life, Tyrell Subban, in an email to The Medium, the purpose of the Cultural Fest is to celebrate the diversity of cultures on campus and to create an “inclusive environment” that gives students the chance to “take pride in their cultural heritage.”

“This year, we used the name Cultural Fest to make the narrative clear that this is a festival and celebration of the diversity, cultures, and walks of different lives that people come from,” Subban said.

In response to how the Cultural Fest differed from its run the year prior, Subban said that UTMSU used feedback from previous events at last year’s Multicultural Week in order to improve.

“Clubs continued to have the freedom to decorate and personalize their booths. We gave students more incentive to visit all the groups who’ve participated by implementing a game with a grand prize, being a free tablet,” said Subban.

According to Subban, on the first event that took place on January 17, Culture Day, students were encouraged to wear cultural attire.

Students also got to interact with information sessions held at cultural booths. In particular, Subban stated that the Erindale Punjabi Association offered free dance lessons at their

booth. As well, a farmer’s market was also held alongside the events.

During the second event on the following day, Cultural Food Day, different cultural clubs offered free food in the Student Centre.

“This was the most packed that we’ve had the Student Centre this year, and students had a ton of food options,” Subban wrote, explaining that offering this free food was a result of a larger UTMSU investment on clubs.

The week wrapped up with a cultural show held at the Blind Duck Pub on Thursday, which featured an array of performances with the attendance of over 100 students.

Subban added that UTMSU provided free food and scarves embroidered with “I love UTM” this year to the students at the event.

Jordan Peterson returns to U of T Peterson back in class following controversial semester

WARD SUROUR WITH NOTES FROM MENNA ELNAKA NEWS EDITOR Following a long controversy over the last semester, U of T psychology professor Jordan Peterson returned to teaching earlier this January.

During a debate held last November, Peterson had stated that the Canadian government might “come after his clinical license” for his refusal to recognize genderless pronouns in his online lectures.

When asked if an agreement has been reached prior to his return, U of T’s director of media relations, Althea Blackburn-Evans, stated in an interview with The Medium, “He’s a professor, and like any professor, he’s entitled to his own views and to share those views.”

“At the same time, as with all faculty members, [Peterson] must create a learning environment in his classroom that’s free from discrimination,” she added. “That’s not specific with professor Peterson, it’s the

same for all faculty members.”

Blackburn-Evans further explained the importance of balancing freedom of speech and the responsibility that freedom entails. “The academic freedom is alive and well in the University of Toronto, as it would be in any university. Faculty members have the right to share their views and express them, and sometimes those views are controversial, but they have the responsibility to ensure they foster a learning environment free of discrimination.”

Cassandra Williams, UTSU’s VP university affairs told The Medium that it is “abhorrent” to have Peterson permitted back in the teaching stream “despite having repeatedly insisted that he will discriminate against and sexually harass his trans students, and despite having participated in the targeted harassment of a trans student.” Williams further explained that by “sexually harass,” she means that when “Peterson deliberately mis-genders students, he is committing gender-based ha-

rassment,” which she referred to as a “subcategory” for sexual harassment.

Williams criticized the university’s decision, saying that it is taking action “in contempt of trans students.”

“Administrators at the university have consistently ignored issues of discrimination and violence against trans persons at the university, including assaults, mistreatment by campus police, targeted harassment, and broader human rights issues,” said Williams.

The Medium was unable to reach Blackburn-Evans for further comment regarding Williams claims, as of press time.

As previously reported by The Medium, Peterson’s controversial statements had attracted wide national coverage from CBC, Toronto Star, National Post, and several others.

Peterson did not respond to The Medium’s requests for comment on his return, as of press time.

Possibility of another strike remains unknown Strike continued from cover “The charge was that they bargained and provided false information to the union, and we still maintain they did that, but we are no longer in dispute process. They paid us to make the dispute go away.”

When asked if another strike could happen after the agreement ends this year, Culpepper explained that every round of bargaining, any-

where in Ontario, carries a possibility of strike occurring. “You always hope [the round of bargaining] goes well, but there’s always a possibility it won’t,” he said.

Blackburn-Evans stated that she “can’t speculate” the possibility of another strike occurrence.

Discussions between the two parties are expected to take place next semester.

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01.23.2017

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Focusing on mental health With Bell Let’s Talk approaching, it’s important to speak up and listen I’m sure that plenty of us have seen the commercials for Bell Let’s Talk this year on TV. Various celebrities and families discuss their struggle with mental health or how they have grown to understand more about it through those in their life who may be battling a mental illness.

Bell Let’s Talk has done tons of work since their introduction in September 2010. For those who may be unaware of the initiative, Bell Let’s Talk aimed to create a new way of discussing mental illness and breaking the stigma that surrounds it. As stated on their website, “For every text, call, tweet, Instagram post, Facebook video view and Snapchat geofilter used on Bell Let’s Talk Day on January 25th, Bell will donate 5 cents more mental health initiatives across Canada.”

So far, the initiative has earned 597,360,644 total interactions.

It’s important to talk about mental health. U of T prides itself on being an accessible school that offers programs and sessions to those suffering from a mental illness. Yet, I’ve come across professors who question the legitimacy of mental health, thereby forcing a student into retreating for fear that others will misunderstand or point-blank judge them for something that they can’t control.

Scenarios like this are the exact thing Bell Let’s Talk aims to diminish. It’s something that everyone should be aiming to diminish. How can we discuss our mental health and end our personal stigmatizations of our illnesses if outside parties act like they couldn’t care less about something that they clearly don’t understand? Let alone if those parties are in an institution that claims to be accessible to students.

Which leads into the next giant obstacle to overcome. Sharing personal experiences takes bravery and patience. Though, there will always be someone who doesn’t get it. Someone who doesn’t care.

In all honesty, there will probably be many people who fit into these categories. Be that as it may, there

is a scarier breed of ignorance that plagues the public.

It takes all of three seconds to find multiple cases of online bullying. We can look at the famous Amanda Todd case for instance.

If you’re unfamiliar with the case, Todd was a 15-year-old Canadian girl who committed suicide in 2012 after being physically abused, bullied for her mental illness, and blackmailed into exposing her breasts via webcam. She posted a video to her YouTube channel revealing her struggles, which went viral after her death.

A 2014 World Health Organization report stated that over 800,000 people commit suicide every year.

The same report also stated that suicide is the second-leading cause of death among 15-19 year olds.

I don’t think that I need to sit here and write about how disgusting some people can be when it comes to personal information being shared. I believe that a decent amount of us understand that charging a keyboard and writing deplorable comments on someone’s status or an article about their story doesn’t take bravery.

However, these are the people who need to be educated. Even those with mental illnesses can stand to learn something new from those going through similar situations. Everyone benefits by discussing the importance of mental health. But, more than anything, it’s important to talk more about mental health in an attempt to end the stigma that surrounds it.

Unfortunately, many mental illnesses are still being swept under the rug or dismissed as something that everyone goes through once in a while. However, trembling before a presentation or having one bad day does not equate depression or anxiety. The way we can put an end to these generalizations is to openly discuss what it means to have a mental illness and why it differs from something that doesn’t require medication or a therapist.

There are people who genuinely want to help, but need to under-

stand what it means to have a mental illness.

As I said before, everyone can benefit from talking more about mental health. As a progressing society, it’s crucial to move forward in our acceptance of other’s struggles.

But it’s also crucial for those who are currently suffering from a mental illness to talk about them. Howie Mandel discussed in his Bell Let’s Talk TV spot about how he felt like he was the only one going through what he was going through. This really struck me when I watched it. This is a trademark symptom of those who suffer in silence. This is why we need to talk more about mental health. Why, even after a diagnosis, it’s important to keep talking about mental health. I would never want anyone in my life to feel like they couldn’t talk to me about something like this for fear that I would judge them or cast them aside. I think it’s safe to say that those reading this wouldn’t want that for their loved ones either.

That being said, it’s just as important to listen. There isn’t always the right advice or something worth saying when someone is suffering a panic attack. When someone can’t make it to school because they just need the day. When someone starts crying at the dinner table. Oftentimes, it means a lot when people just take the time to listen. I do believe it’s a good lesson for both parties to know that there’s nothing wrong them. There’s nothing wrong with the person who has a mental illness. There’s nothing wrong with the person who doesn’t know what to say when they see their friend going through something that they don’t understand. Oftentimes, there isn’t really anything to say. There’s no magic sentence to end a panic attack or to make someone feel better. (Especially those who think that “Cheer up!” is somehow good advice. Eureka! All problems have been solved!)

One of the ways to reach this realization, though, is to talk about mental health. To speak to friends and family who suffer from men-

tal illnesses and get their perspective on the situation. To hear them out. To let them know that even if you don’t understand something, they’re not going through life without you. Understanding mental health is just as much about listening as it is opening about it.

If any of you read my editorial the other week about Simon Sinek’s talk on millennials (or watched the interview yourself ), then you know that millennials have a tough enough time with self-esteem and making an immediate impact on the world. We shouldn’t tolerate any exacerbation of these issues by belittling those brave enough to come forward and discuss their mental illnesses. We should be embracing their stories, and even if we’re uncomfortable telling our own, we can relish in the fact that someone knows what we’re going through and that we don’t have to suffer alone.

This Bell Let’s Talk Day, make a point to read an article on mental health. Speak to someone about it. Watch a video on Facebook if someone is talking about their struggles or their triumphs. You’re not only doing them some good by accepting their stories without judgement, but you’re doing yourself some good in getting that much closer to understanding mental health.

A mental illness can be a terrifying thing to experience, but you don’t have to experience it alone.

YOURS, MARIA CRUZ

CORRECTION NOTICE The Jan. 16 article, “Local artists comment on global issues,” Javed’s video was not set in nor intended to be a comment on the Middle East. It was set in Mississauga.

The article “U of T ranked poorly for Jewish community,” Dovid Efune’s surname was misprinted as Fune.

01.23.2017

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Transforming movement into art Julien Previéux relies on unusual artistic mediums to express prevalent global issues ADELAIDE ATTARD ASSOCIATE A&E EDITOR

What do flagged pages in books, infrared eye-tracking, and hand gestures all have in common? Artist Julien Prévieux’s exhibition at Blackwood Gallery, The Elements of Influence (and a Ghost), combine the above subjects in a thought-provoking way.

When I entered the gallery, the first thing I saw was random images and snippets of text located on the main wall. Shelves of books stood on the left side. The words, images, and well-loved novels appeared to tell a story. Prévieux tells me, “These are the books of Bernie Madoff. He is a famous fraudster. In 2008, he was caught by the FBI because he swindled 65 billion dollars.” Prévieux named his collection of Madoff ’s books “Forget the Money.”

Prévieux explained how Madoff tricked investors into putting money in a fund that supposedly collected a lot of interest. When the investors tried to reclaim their money, Madoff had nothing to give them.

“I was looking for ways to visualize or understand what was going on during the time. When I saw the auction of Bernie Madoff ’s economic books, I said to myself, ‘There’s something really interesting here,’” said Prévieux.

“It was like looking at [Madoff ’s brain]. It showed me what [interested him]. When you look at [the books]

CHEN GONG/THE MEDIUM

Previéux showcases books and flagged pages belonging to fraudster Bernie Maddoff. more closely, the titles are, in a way, related to the scandal.” He points at the collection on the wall. Novels about mystery, fishing, and economics huddle together on the shelves.

I glanced at the images of flagged pages on the wall. I asked Prévieux about the tagged image of William Blake’s poem, “The Lamb.”

“I tried to make sense of [The Lamb],” Prévieux continues. “It’s strange that Madoff flagged the page.

It can tell us something.” Prévieux refers to the other images of text on the wall as mixed puzzle pieces.

Despite Prévieux’s desire to provide

more context to the pages, he wanted the viewer to undergo a process of speculation and discovery, similar to the way he first approached the documents.

An extension of Prévieux’s exhibition, “The Elements of Influence (Modulation),” resides in UTM’s e|gallery. This display features lines of black wool on stark white walls.

Prévieux worked with students, staff, faculty, researchers, campus police, and employees at UTM to create this piece. Prévieux recorded the eye movements of participants as they regarded the work on display at

Blackwood Gallery. Using infrared technology, he recorded the participants’ pupils. After sketching the eye movements, he used black wool to recreate the infrared patterns on the wall. This piece creates an added layer to Prévieux’s exhibition. Viewers can witness the main exhibition in the e|gallery through the materialized eye movements of participants.

“The Modulation is the ‘ghost’ part [of the exhibition]. I wanted to incorporate the university’s community into my work,” Prévieux says.

He also aired a filmed performance within his exhibition. In the far cor-

ner of the gallery, Prévieux projected the performance on the wall. “What Shall We Do Next?” includes three sequences that feature both men and women, clad in blue and black clothing. Prévieux shared Sequence #2 and #3 with the gallery.

“The first film is about attentive gestures, particularly the way we can visualize different things, specifically within the social context we live in,” Prévieux says. “The second one involves small gestures, like ‘pinch to zoom’, ‘slide to unlock’—the gestures we use everyday on our phones.”

“I wanted to create a sci-fi mood.

Since the film is about both new gestures and gestures from the 70s, I wanted costumes linked to [feelings of obsoleteness] and anxiety. I wanted the costumes to make the viewer wonder if it is in the past or future.”

Prévieux’s art focuses on feelings of distance, mystery, society, and technology. Through different artistic mediums, including displays, photographs, heat mapping, visual technology, and wool yarn, Prévieux attempts to express prevalent issues in the world today. According to the Blackwood Gallery’s micropublication on the exhibition, “Prévieux highlights each mechanism’s potential for play, creativity, productivity, and counterproductivity.”

The Elements of Influence (and a Ghost) will be displayed at Blackwood Gallery, UTM’s e|gallery and the Bernie Miller Lightbox until March 4.

UTM embraces its rich cultural diversity Cultural Show ends UTMSU’s Culture Fest with a vibrant display of student performances KIMBERLY DAY STAFF WRITER Last week, UTMSU hosted Cultural Fest, an extended event dedicated to UTM’s diversity. During the week, students were given the opportunity to display their cultures and experience the cultures of their peers.

On Thursday evening, the Cultural Show wrapped up the week in the Blind Duck Pub. The Cultural Show provided a variety of performances from cultures all around the world. The evening began with a magic show by the Erindale Punjabi Association Dancers. They performed several tricks, including guessing numbers in the audience’s heads and making money appear in a bag of lemons. While the magic was impressive, the performers wowed the audience with their fi-

DELANEY ROMBOUGH/THE MEDIUM

UTMSU’s Cultural Fest ended with the Cultural Show in the Blind Duck Pub. nal performance, which was a dance routine.

Next was a dance performance by Violet Wang. She showcased a tradi-

tional Chinese dance, demonstrating the grace and beauty of her culture.

The Somali Students Association and East African Student Associa-

tion performed one of my favourite pieces of the evening: a spoken word poem. Before beginning the poem, the audience was informed

that poetry is prominent in Somali culture. The piece focused on the issue of having immigrant parents and entering a predominantly English-speaking country, where many people disregard other languages spoken.

The Erindale Punjabi Association then entered the stage for an energetic dance routine with traditional bhangra instruments accompanying them.

Caribbean Connections performed a dance that showcased a mix of traditional Caribbean songs dance styles. The vibrant performance combined dancehall and soca.

The Cultural Show offered a diverse blend of traditional performances. The evening was a proud event that allowed the different cultures at UTM to shine.

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THE MEDIUM 01.23.2017

Horror meets harmony Hart House reinvents Stephen King’s cult classic, Carrie

AVLEEN GREWAL

SCOTT GORMAN/PHOTO

Carrie White is bullied ruthlessly by her high school peers until she learns to strike back.

HAILEY MASON A&E EDITOR What happens when you combine music with horror?

I asked myself this question when I first heard the title of Hart House’s latest production, Carrie: The Musical. Prior to the show, I wouldn’t think that Stephen King’s iconic novel, Carrie, invited any kind of musicality.

How does one unite gore and dancing? Nonetheless, I entered the play’s premiere last Friday with an open mind. Evil Dead did it, so why should Carrie be an exception?

Under Richard Ouzounian’s direction, Carrie: The Musical features original music and choreography. The songs consisted of several high-tempo tunes. But overall, the music was slow and soulful. The lyrics were often clichéd, as they covered trite subjects such as love and finding oneself. Let me remind you that Carrie falls into the horror genre.

Carrie takes us back to high school, where popular cliques rule the school and outcasts live on the fringe. Meangirl Chris Hargensen (Madison Sekulin) and her boyfriend Billy Nolan (Stephane Gaudet) torment Carrie White (Tiyana Scott). They lead their group of friends into a constant ring of bullying, mocking Carrie at every opportunity. At home, Carrie meets further abuse. Her mother, Margaret (Brittany Miranda), shelters Carrie and imposes religion upon her.

Carrie’s life appears bleak until her classmate, Sue Snell (Jacqueline Godbout), discovers a twinge of sympathy and attempts to earn Carrie’s forgiveness. But Chris and Billy have other plans. As the high school drama unfolds, Carrie discovers a hidden ability for telekinesis. Her powers emerge when she gets angry, resulting in doors slamming and light bulbs burning out. Carrie’s powers build as her tormentors persist.

The setting is sparse, but effective.

Three large walls frame the stage. The walls contain moving panels that rotate for scene changes. In the shower scene, for example, the panels turn

to reveal white-tiled walls. The walls also punctuate Carrie’s powers. When Carrie slams doors using her telekinesis, she flings her arms towards the open panels and they slam shut. Other than the multifunctioning walls, the stage contains platforms that elevate characters during songs and dramatic moments. They also act as seats for the characters during gatherings.

Carrie’s character is victimized in this production, more so than the original story. King depicts Carrie as a victim, but with an eerie and unsettling undertone. We feel sorry for Carrie, but not really. In contrast, Ouzounian portrays Carrie as a sad, abused girl. That ominous layer doesn’t exist in this production. Carrie: The Musical generally downplays the horror aspect of the story, largely owing to the style of music. Carrie’s powers barely make an appearance, except in the conclusion. Many important scenes of her violence are cut from this script, which can lead to a confusing ending if you’re unfamiliar with the story.

These changes can be attributed to Ouzounian’s intentions with the script. In the Director’s Note, he explains that he wanted to explore the issue of bullying and emphasize its importance throughout the production. While I respect Ouzounian’s message, I don’t believe Carrie is the right outlet. Yes, King sought inspiration from his own experiences with bullying, and there’s nothing wrong with drawing from that inspiration in an original production. However, it shouldn’t dominate the script. Ouzounian overtook the production with a completely new meaning. He detracted from the horror aspect in favour of teaching a lesson about bullying. As a result, he distorted the original story.

Music and direction aside, there were many strong features of this production. Scott carried the lead role. She sang with confidence and grace, transcending the quality of the music. Miranda also radiated power with her vocals. Her duets with Scott were the highlight of the production.

Miranda slipped into the character of Margaret with agility. She seamlessly transitioned between her character’s two personalities: loving mother and unhinged, biblical woman.

Perhaps my favourite moment in the show was Margaret’s song, “I Remember How Those Boys Could Dance.” The choreography in this piece contained passionate movements that complemented the song’s message. Margaret delves into this song after Carrie reveals her plans to attend prom. Margaret tries to warn Carrie about boys, recalling a scene where Carrie’s father tempted and sexually assaulted her. As Margaret sings, a couple enters the stage. The woman wears black lingerie and the man wears black briefs. They engage in an intimate dance. Miranda stands with a haunted expression as the couple moves around her.

In one moment, Miranda backs onto a platform and the woman stands in front of her, with her back to Miranda. As Miranda moves her arms to emphasize her lyrics, the woman performs the same action. The man appears behind Miranda and begins grazing her body with his hands. The three move in sync as Miranda continues to sing. Eventually, the couple leaves Miranda and digresses into their dance once again. The couple grows violent as Miranda’s lyrics increase in explicitness. Although the song reveals a dark and erotic moment, the choreography reflects the subject matter in a tasteful way. The movements are elegant and well-rehearsed. This piece contributes a new context to Margaret’s character. The audience witnesses her vulnerability, stemming from her sexual assault.

The cast of Carrie: The Musical comprised a talented group of individuals. However, their abilities were dwarfed by the mediocre music and unfavourable script. I’ll return to my earlier question: What happens when you combine music with horror? Regrettably, not much.

Carrie: The Musical runs until February 4 at Hart House Theatre.

In 1990, Richard Wagamese won the National Newspaper Award for Column Writing, the first Native Canadian to earn this award. Wagamese’s success continued to skyrocket after he published his novel Indian Horse in 2012. His novel captures the Indigenous identity and experience, owing to his personal history.

In Indian Horse, Wagamese tackles the issue of Indigenous abuse while challenging the stereotypes associated with Native Canadians in modern society. Meanwhile, Wagamese intricately interlaces other themes into his story that belong to Indigenous culture.

The story occurs in Canada in the 1960s and follows Saul Indian Horse, a young Ojibway boy. Saul’s voice emphasizes the importance of storytelling as “good medicine,” or an act of healing.

Saul is taken from his land and sent to a residential school in northern Ontario, where he ends up developing a passion and talent for hockey.

Saul sees rhythm in the game. We learn that he has inherited vision powers from his grandfather, Solomon. Hockey proceeds to take Saul on a journey he never imagined. He

FARIDA ABDELMEGUIED STAFF WRITER The Bugle is a political satire and comedy podcast hosted by Andy Zaltzman. It was co-founded by John Oliver and Zaltzman, though Oliver has since left the show. During each episode, Zaltzman entertains different co-hosts, including Nish Kumar, Hari Kondabolu, Anuvab Pal, and Wyatt Cenac, as they jab at current political situations.

In the first episode of 2017, “George W. Bush Nostalgia,” Zaltzman and Kumar co-host the show. They begin with a light, sarcastic tone as they predict what trends will become popular in 2017. They share interesting facts about the day, and jokingly reflect on the place of a political satirist in a “post-truth” world. Zaltzman and Kumar transition swiftly from one topic to the next, as they do in every episode, and had great chemistry, allowing them to create a fluid dialogue.

In one of the funnier moments, the hosts note that Trump has caused people to reminisce about Bush. People are concluding that

visits Toronto and becomes part of a national organization, a feat never once accomplished by a Native Canadian.

Saul’s journey reveals the ugly truth about Native Canadian living conditions. The harassment, violence, racial prejudice, and inequality in every phase of life becomes visible as Saul travels from one place to another.

People ignore him and abuse him.

Yet, he maintains his faith and courage. His will to live takes him on a separate journey of self-discovery.

Saul’s character development stood out the most to me. He progresses exponentially from his state of naivety and fear. Saul realizes the importance of telling stories and passing them down to the later generations, just like his grandmother used to do.

Indian Horse presents a complex meditation on Native Canadian culture. Through the lens of Saul, readers witness the struggles Natives must endure in contemporary society.

Saul’s character is strikingly realistic.

He fades in and out of success, addiction, and self-fulfillment. Nonetheless, he maintains the values of friends, family, and cultural tradition.

His story, although bleak, teaches us the importance of Indigenous culture, one that should not be ignored.

Bush wasn’t bad when compared to Trump. Evidently, Trump’s most extraordinary achievement so far has been to make people nostalgic for Bush.

One characteristic of The Bugle that stands out is the show’s witty and sarcastic sense of humour. The humour is acquired, so it might not be enjoyable for everyone. Kumar is a lively co-host who reminds me of Oliver’s energy.

The topics for the most recent episode, “Bashfulness and Shame,” include Brexit, British diplomats, and of course, Trump. Zaltzman and Pal, the co-host for this episode, present facts, but with added humor, commentary, and exaggeration. At one point, Zaltzman and Pal joke about how soon enough, once children are born, we’ll hook them up to a charger and Wi-Fi. Wit and humour are necessary in times of political turmoil and uncertainty, especially because political commentary plays an important role in challenging assumptions and power. If you find Trevor Noah, John Oliver, or Stephen Colbert entertaining, The Bugle will likely spark your interest.

01.23.2017 THE MEDIUM ARTS» 7

Peeling labels and shattering illusions Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf explores philosophical and existential questions about reality

REEM TAHA

The Trinity College Dramatic Society premiered Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? last Thursday. Written by Edward Albee in 1962, the play is an absurd, dark comedy that consists of three acts. The production explores the way human beings rely on illusions to cope with tragedy. Director Lauren Ishak writes, “[The play is] wonderfully entertaining, devastating, and hilarious all at once.”

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is about shattering illusions and stripping the comfort—or perhaps burden—of deception from humanity.

This is evident in an exchange between characters George (Matthew Fonte) and Martha (Joanna Decc): “Truth or illusion, George; you don’t know the difference,” Martha says, to which George responds, “No, but we must carry on as though we did.”

The play examines this thin line between reality and illusion. It poses philosophical and existential questions pertaining to the nature of identity and relationships, as well as notions of meaning, time passage, and purpose. How can we ever be certain of reality? How can we find meaning in the midst of absurdity? And how do we fill emotional voids within us?

On the surface, the play seems to be about a couple, Martha and George, whose marriage is falling apart.

Meanwhile, more profound feelings arise between the pair. The play exemplifies awkward social gatherings.

Martha, George, and their guests, Nick (Aaron Hale) and Honey (Eiléanór O’Halloran), rely on alcohol

NEVE KLASSEN/PHOTO

The Trinity College Dramatic Society negotiates reality and illusion in its latest production. to cope. The two couples are always drunk and continuously attempt to humiliate and attack each other, both verbally and physically.

When Nick accuses everyone of being crazy, Martha responds, “‘tis the refuge we take when the unreality of the world weighs too heavy on our tiny heads.’” Martha acknowledges a need for escape and refuge, which also seems to be the nature of her relationship with George. It’s difficult to tell whether their relationship is functional or dysfunctional. On the one hand, it is obviously dysfunctional— hence, the alcohol and abuse. However, their “dysfunctionality” seems to

be in sync; they live in a world of their own making, governed by their own rules. They rely on each other to bring out the best (or worst) in one another.

Ultimately, they live in agreement.

As a dark comedy, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is dominated by humour. The cast brilliantly conveyed both the darkness and humour of the play. The performance left the audience stunned at times, and laughing at others. The play is hilarious, until we realize that it’s not. It moves from Act 1, “Fun and Games,” to Act 3, “The Exorcism,” illustrating the unfolding of dark truths. The play becomes claustrophobic at times, mak-

ing the audience feel stuck; we almost want to reach out to the characters and beg them to stop, or to nervously sneak out of the room.

The setting of the play was a cozy living room, with a bookshelf in one corner, a typewriter, a CD player, and a liquor stand. The cozy set, however, contrasts the reality of the hostile environment. Perhaps this juxtaposition is a reflection of the most prominent theme of the play: illusion versus reality.

The play’s title is like the punch line of an intellectual joke that the audience never heard. The characters repeatedly sing, “Who’s afraid

of Virginia Woolf,” mostly at times when they want to diffuse anger or avoid some element of reality. It’s fitting that the joke is never given to the audience, as it resembles the notion that life is entirely unknowable and ridiculous.

Virginia Woolf is known for both her challenging writing style and her ability to write with raw emotion to depict the painful tragedy of mundane life. When the characters sing, “Who’s afraid of Virginia Woolf,” they sing in the melody of the Disney tune, “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?”

Woolf ’s name replaces “the big bad wolf.” Woolf is an appropriate replacement because she fits with the play’s academic environment (Nick and George are both professors).

In an important scene, Honey peels the labels off brandy bottles. George remarks, “We all peel labels […] when you get through the skin, all three layers […] when you get down to the bone, you haven’t got all the way, yet.

There’s something inside the bone… the marrow.” This scene encompasses the play’s meaning. Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is about peeling labels; it’s about getting to the marrow of life and stripping away comfort.

In the final scene, the most poignant scene in the play, when George sings, “Who’s afraid of Virginia Woolf,” Martha says quietly, “I am George… I am.” Perhaps we are all afraid of the bare truth, and the reality that strips our souls in the midst of tragedy.

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? ran until January 21 at the George Ignatieff Theatre.

The xx come back with raw musicality After five years, The xx return with a new album presenting topics of hurt, love, and loss

ADELAIDE ATTARD ASSOCIATE A&E EDITOR

On January 13, The xx broke their five-year silence with the release of their third album, I See You. You might already be familiar with the record’s two singles: “On Hold,” which adheres to the band’s mix of minimalist instrumentation and indie-pop more than their other single, “Say Something Loving,” which is more experimental than their usual work.

The voices of Romy Madley Croft and Sim have hardly changed since their first two albums, The xx and Coexist. In these albums, the duo made a name for themselves with their unique music style. The two front vocalists’ voices meld together in a way that brings both female and male perspectives. I See You is no exception to the duality.

Similar to their other albums, Madley Croft and Sim sing in ac-

cord with one another. Their voices are similarly non-flashy and raw. Madley Croft and Sim’s feelings, however, juxtapose due to different thoughts on hurt, love and loss.

The voices of Romy Madley Croft and Sim have hardly changed since their first two albums, The xx and Coexist.

I See You features 10 songs, each one different from the next.

“Dangerous” opens with trumpets, which new for The xx. The new brass sound in “Dangerous” is reminiscent of their single “You’ve Got the Love,” which featured Florence and the Machine.

“Brave for You” sounds empty, as Madley Croft sings with mini-

mal instrumentation. Madley Croft’s voice sounds more stripped than ever in what sounds like The xx’s most honest album yet.

“Say Something Loving” begins with a spinoff from the late 1970s band Alessi Brothers that slips away and transitions into a soft, steady guitar line.

The album shifts from heavy, realistic issues of image, loss, and conflict with the single “On Hold.”

This song is less bare and minimalistic than the others. “On Hold,” when compared to “Performance,” is upbeat and catchy. Although this song is still about a rocky romantic relationship, the electronic chorus elevates the mood of the piece.

“Test Me,” starts off with a simple piano melody. The production of this track is exposed and simple, as it features a few simple piano chords. It quietly wraps the album up—not with a bang, but with a whimper.

THEXX.INFO/PHOTO

Chemistry between Madley Croft and Sim hasn’t changed.

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01.23.2017

The Ph.D. grind: beyond the lab bench Sasha Weiditch is the PhDemonenal Phdemale behind the many grad events at UTM FARAH QAISER FEATURES EDITOR Perhaps the word “scientist” conjures up an image of an individual, huddled in a lab coat, spending hours in a small lab space, hidden from the rest of society. You consider Dexter, from Dexter’s Laboratory, to be your ideal scientist, as he mixes chemicals and builds inventions—while fixing everything his older sister Dee Dee breaks.

If that’s what a scientist is to you, then you may need to update your mental vision. Sasha Weiditch, a fourth-year Ph.D. student, fits none of those expectations, as she sits across me in her bright pink lab coat, and discusses both her research and the many commitments that she holds beyond the lab bench.

“I’ve always loved science,” says Weiditch. “In high school, I loved Grade 12 biology and chemistry, and that drove me to do chemistry in university. I came here to UTM—I wanted to stay close to home.”

Weiditch was pursuing a Bachelor’s of Science—specifically a biology major, and a minor in both

OLIVIA ADAMCZYK/THE MEDIUM

Weiditch is a more than a Ph.D. student—she is also the UTMAGS co-president and a mentor. chemistry and English.

“By third or fourth year, you find yourself thinking: where is this going to go post-graduation? I was always keen on getting more research experience, and seeing what I could

do with a science degree. That’s when I stumbled upon professor Kanelis.”

Professor Voula Kanelis, an associate professor within the department of chemistry, was teaching a third-year biochemistry course,

which Weiditch was enrolled in.

“I thought it was so interesting in learning about proteins—how they fold, how they work, what they do— and I kind of bugged her for the first semester. I went to her office hours. I

tried to see when she was available, because I really wanted to see what it was like to be a scientist: to be a female in science,” says Weiditch.

Her persistence paid off. Weiditch went on to complete a fourth-year thesis research project with Kanelis.

“I enjoyed working there. I thought the research was very interesting, and it was something I could see myself doing, so I went on to a Master’s. I think that a Master’s is a nice start in case you’re not sure that research is for you, because it is a different lifestyle and a huge time commitment.”

Upon graduation in 2013, Weiditch initially continued her education as a Master’s student (under the supervision of Kanelis), but then faced another set of crossroads as her Master’s drew to an end.

“My academic journey wasn’t done yet. There was more I wanted to learn, there was more experience that I wanted to gain, different jobs that I wanted to get that I thought a Ph.D. would be required for, so I transferred to a Ph.D.” Ph.D. continued on page 9

A different take on today’s political climate Last Saturday, Ramadan delivered a lecture titled “Creating Thriving Societies in Troubling Times”

HAIDER SYED There is no denying that we live in troubling times. Whether it was with the recent surprise victory of Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton, Britain unexpectedly exiting the Eurozone last spring, police officers killing unarmed black civilians, continued heightened hostilities in the Middle East, or the day-to-day concerns we have over our own lives and future, uncertainty and crisis seem commonplace. Wherever we look around us, on TV screens, online, or in our regular lives, one gets this sense of anguish. We see fear, we see uncertainty.

This was the basis of Tariq Ramadan’s lecture, titled “Creating Thriving Societies in Troubling Times,” which he delivered on the UTM campus this past weekend, as part of his ongoing tour of Canada. This lecture was hosted by Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East and UTMSU. According to Ramadan, we as a society, because of the nature of the time in history that we exist in, are currently facing a political, cultural,

HUFFPOSTMAGHREB.COM/PHOTO

Last weekend, Tariq Ramadan delivered a lecture at UTM, as a part of his ongoing tour of Canada. philosophical, and spiritual crisis.

A renowned philosopher, writer, and professor of theology and contemporary Islamic studies at Oxford university, Ramadan has written on issues of Islam and Muslims in the West for over two decades. He has

long been a highly-respected figure in global Islamic scholarship and modern Islamic thought, having in the past been ranked among the 100 most influential thinkers in the world. One not to mince his words, Ramadan in the past has severed ties

with well-known organizations in his own community because of political differences, and has been banned from the United States and Egypt (among other countries) because of his positions on certain issues, such as support for Palestine and speaking

up against regional dictatorships. He has spoken at the Oxford Union, the Cambridge Union, and made regular mainstream media appearances. In the past, Ramadan has debated with the likes of Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, and Nicholas Sarkozy.

In this lecture, he was no different. Quick to the point, yet eloquent with his rhetoric for the most part, Ramadan was fiery and passionate as he insisted on our need to address head-on the crises that we all face as individuals, as families, as communities, and as nations.

As he outlined early in the lecture, this wasn’t a talk directed just at the Muslim community or any specific community for that matter, but us as a society. Whether one lives in the West, in Asia, the Middle East, or Africa, the problems we are facing are increasingly one and the same, and therefore they do not require only certain segments of society to become active. It requires us all to come to the front, to speak up, and confront as a unified body the crises at hand.

Tariq continued on page 10

01.23.2017 THE MEDIUM FEATURES» 9

The news: is it real or is it fake?

Last Monday, the library hosted a seminar to help attendees assess the validity of sources SHAYNA JAN

Living in the age of smartphones certainly has its perks, as handheld devices enable users to access information from all around the world, all the time. Users can see that printed newspapers and television broadcasts, although once the dominant source for information, appear to be declining in popularity. Instead, online news stories are gaining traction, as they can be shared among the sea of cat videos, memes, and BuzzFeed quizzes that make up Facebook newsfeeds. The problem with the articles found on Facebook, and other social media sites, is that they aren’t always accurate. So how does one distinguish between real and fake news?

Last Monday, in an interactive seminar titled “Fake News,” Meaghan Valant, the assessment and liaison librarian at UTM, and Pam King, the digital initiatives and scholarly communications coordinator, provided students with an abundance of tools that can be used to tackle this dilemma.

“Fake news” has become a growing concern, as fictitious stories have been known to influence politics and sway voters. The results of

SARAH YASSINE/THE MEDIUM

“Fake news” has become a growing concern today—especially given their influence on politics. the American election, for example, were likely affected by these news stories, such as one article that suggested the Pope endorsed Donald Trump. Although this may seem ridiculous to some, over 960,000 social media users had shared the article, and many may have believed in its validity. This concept,

although gaining increased attention as of late, is certainly not a new phenomenon, as journalists have been dealing with “fake news” for years.

Although knowing the different types of “fake news” can be helpful, the real difficulty comes when trying to distinguish fact from fiction.

Sometimes, establishing the credibility of a source can be challenging, which is why the library has provided students with a simple test that can be used to facilitate their evaluation.

The “CRAAP Test” allows students to assess the Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and

Purpose of any given source. Establishing the currency of a source is very important, as certain newspapers have been known to republish old articles and disguise them as contemporary news. This becomes important when questioning the relevance of a source, as publication dates can be used to determine whether the information is suitable for your needs. Oftentimes, relevance can also be established by looking toward the authority of the source, as confirming the author’s credibility and qualifications can act as a good predictor of the legitimacy of the information.

However, even the largest news outlets make mistakes, and so you must also consider the accuracy of the information and the purpose of its publication, taking note of any political undertones or ulterior motives behind its release.

To learn more about how to evaluate sources, or get a second opinion on the validity of a source, the library offers in-person support at the reference desk. Additionally, the library offers online support through their website, as well as additional information about factchecking resources and the CRAAP test.

Weiditch is heavily involved in science outreach Ph.D. continued from page 8 Weiditch is enrolled in the cell and systems biology graduate department, but is in the unique position where her supervisor is within the chemistry department. She was recently awarded the Kenneth C. Fisher Fellowship, which is an award intended for a graduate student within the cell and systems biology department who maintains a high standard of academic and research achievement, along with outstanding extracurricular contributions to the university.

Today, Weiditch’s research focuses on phage proteins—specifically the protein gp74 produced by the bacteriophage HK97.

“Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria,” explains Weiditch.

“They’re actually quite a novel therapeutic. Antibiotic-resistance is growing, so the idea is that now these bacteria have evolved to become resistant to antibiotics. What’s the next step? What can we develop? […] It’s really coming into news and publications again that phage therapy could be promising.”

It could be “nature’s very own” invention, which now has the potential to work on bacteria who have evolved to avoid susceptibility to antibiotics.

Specifically, Weiditch is using NMR spectroscopy to understand the molecular mechanisms by which gp74 regulates bacteriophage replication.

“We always study a thesis project that is very niche. We spend five years studying something that is very specific. That can be very effective or

OLIVIA ADAMCZYK/THE MEDIUM

Weiditch is currently conducting research within professor Voula Kanelis’ laboratory. not very effective. But what you do gain is a broad set of skills,” says Weiditch. For example, while Weiditch is primarily a Ph.D. student, she is also a Teaching Assistant, a co-president of the UTM Association of Graduate Students, and even a mentor for a high school student through Girls E-Mentorship.

“This can be transferrable to many types of jobs. So, although I’m still looking for where I’ll fit in—and I think that’s one of the issues for graduate students—what type of jobs are out there? What do I do with my Ph.D., besides becoming a professor or a principal investigator?”

“Know yourself. It’s something that you have to understand, and then

from there, you’ll be able to fit whatever job works for you,” she adds.

This is something that UTMAGS is actively working on. Last semester, in collaboration with UTM’s Career centre, UTMAGS recently delivered a Career Management Mini Series, featuring four short workshops (including Where Are the Jobs? and Marketing Yourself), aimed to help graduate students develop a sense of career management.

Before being elected to the UTMAGS co-president, Weiditch was the UTMAGS vice-president in the 2015/2016 academic year.

“We’ve actually been fortunate to have our say in a few matters that are going to be reflected in the com-

ing years. Some of them involve the U-Pass, some of them involve the shuttle bus, some of them involve just the general graduate experience,” says Weiditch.

Other recent changes include the new graduate lounge (found within the Davis building), a 3-MinuteThesis Competition, and a Graduate Research Colloquia.

Along with Weiditch’s many commitments, a key one is science outreach—especially to women in STEM fields.

“Science outreach is important to me because there is a lot of noise about what is true, what is fact, what is fiction, and also, what it means to be a scientist—what a scientist looks

like. Those sorts of things are important to me because it does not fall into one category,” says Weiditch. “A scientist could be anything.”

Interestingly, Weiditch runs an Instagram account, titled PhDenomenal PhDemale, which she has defined to be “a very remarkable, extraordinary woman or girl who pursues a Ph.D. in science and is not afraid to be exactly who she wants to be.” This account was started in November 2016, and currently has over 400 followers.

“There are so many awesome women in science who are phenomenal—who are unique, different, diverse and smart. I really wanted to showcase that,” says Weiditch. “That maybe it’s not something you see every day, but that these are phenomenal women. Not just scientists, but female. And that’s where the title came from.”

Weiditch hopes that through her PhDenomenal PhDemale platform, she can promote girls to join science—and to keep women interested in science.

As for current female undergraduates in STEM, Weiditch says, “If you have a passion for science—if you’re interested in science but don’t know where it could take you, look at what’s out there, and believe in yourself.

Don’t think you can’t do something because you don’t look like a scientist, or you don’t think that you look like a scientist, but always have faith in yourself. If you believe in yourself, if you’re doing the best that you can in your courses, if you have passion for science, pursue it. Science needs more women.”

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THE MEDIUM 01.23.2017

WISE ignites passion at annual conference WISE’s conference hosted over 250 delegates, two competitions, and multiple workshops

OLIVIA ADAMCZYK/THE MEDIUM

Last weekend, the Women In Science and Engineering’s U of T chapter held their fifth Annual National Conference at the Toronto Region Board of Trade.

FARAH QAISER FEATURES EDITOR Last weekend, Women in Science and Engineering held their fifth Annual National Conference at the Toronto Region Board of Trade. This two-day event offered attending delegates various opportunities for personal and professional growth, by offering various workshops, a Career Fair, a Consulting Case competition, and a Three-Minute-Thesis (3MT®) Competition.

According to Belinda Zhang, the WISE U of T Chapter’s president, and Syeda Quratulain Anjum, the WISE U of T Chapter’s conference chair, the national conference was attended by over 250 delegates, from approximately 15 different schools.

While the conference is open to undergraduates and graduate students all over Canada, nine different Ontario-based universities offered subsidies (ranging from 50 percent subsidies to entire coverage) to attending delegates from their respective universities. UTM’s Department of Chemical and Physical Sciences offered four students 100 percent subsidies for registration fees.

The conference kicked off early on Saturday morning, featuring an opening ceremony with the dean of U of T’s Faculty of Engineering, Dr. Cristina Amon, and a keynote from

Dr. Eve Tsai, who is an assistant professor at University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Medicine and a neurosurgeon associate scientist at Ottawa Hospital’s Research Institute.

In the opening ceremony, Amon commented that she was fortunate to have a strong support system during her childhood—including her family, and a primary school teacher who encouraged her to “tinker” around with objects and take them apart.

Amon was fascinated with her family’s radio, and one day, while her family was out, she took apart the radio and exposed the internal circuit.

“To my disappointment, there were not little people sitting and talking within the radio,” said Amon.

“Instead, there were resistors, capacitators. So I guess this was my first research failure. It was not a good day in my lab for my parents either.”

This prompted Amon to continue tinkering—and enter the field of engineering—and today, she is not only the dean for U of T’s Faculty of Engineering, but has also been recognized as one of Canada’s Most Influential Women.

Tsai opened her keynote by mentioning how honored she was to be a keynote speaker—especially given the fact that she was “actually a product of a similar event.” Tsai, a high school student at that point, attended the Women in Scholarship, Engi-

neering, Science & Technology program, offered through the University of Alberta, where she had the chance to work in an organic chemistry laboratory, which was the beginning of her interest in research.

Tsai’s keynote focused on overcoming obstacles (such as picking which arguments to fight), letting mentoring and networking come naturally (instead of aggressively seeking it out, and learning from both the good and bad mentors), and that there are multiple avenues possible for further education and training. She also emphasized how terminology excludes women today.

For example, while a Google search for “scientist” will cause both females and males to appear in the results, typing in the term “principal investigator” (i.e. the individual who actually owns and runs a laboratory) will only reveal male individuals.

Similarly, when typing in the words “engineer” or a “brain surgeon,” the results are overwhelmingly slanted towards males.

Following the keynote, the 3MT® Competition took place. This competition was open to both undergraduate and graduate students, where participants had to explain their research within a three-minute time slot to a non-specialist audience, using only one slide. Students spoke about various research fields, such

as the stigma that patients suffering from dementia face (and thus the need for therapeutic art), the need for patient engagement, and investigating protein-protein interactions. The competition was judged by a diverse panel, including representatives from Schneider-Electric and NSERC. Participants had the chance to be awarded first place, a best communication award, an NSERC-funded conference travel grant to attend the 2017 Gender Summit in Montreal, and an interview to Schneider Electric’s rotational internship program.

Saturday’s events also featured a Women Creating Impact session, where there was a research panel, featuring Dr. Imogen Coe (the dean of the Faculty of Science at Ryerson University), Usha Srinivasan (the vice president of learning and insights at the MaRS Discovery District) and Jessie MacAlpine (an undergraduate researcher, who is currently developing a bioherbicide and antimalarial drug at U of T’s McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health). The panel focused on aspects such as their entry into their respective research fields, the obstacles they faced, and offered advice to any aspiring researchers.

The Women Creating Impact session also featured a separate “technology” panel, with speakers such as Heather Payne (the founder of HackerYou and Ladies Learning Code),

Pearl Chen (the head of developer relations at the Connected Lab), Julie Lévesque (CPPIB Enterprise Systems’ managing director) and Linda Nakanishi (HackerYou’s lead design instructor and Nascent Digital’s design director).

The day concluded with a fireside chat with other professionals, and followed by a wine and cheese networking session.

On Sunday, the day’s activities kicked off with the beginning of the Case Consulting Competition. This competition, sponsored by Deloitte, involved approximately 25 teams of four delegates, who worked together to provide a solution to a provided case. The case provided was that teams had to propose how the client could improve customer satisfaction using Chatbot (a chat robot which can stimulate human conversation through Artificial Intelligence) for real-time customer service. A panel of judges assessed the teams on their presentation skills, the depth of their market research, and novel ideas.

Other events on Sunday included a keynote speech from Catherine Karakatsanis, who is the chief operating officer of Morrison Hershfield Group Inc., a career fair, and various workshops, such as the Fundamentals of Storytelling, Breaking the Glass Ceiling and Insights from a Campus Recruiter.

Ramadan’s talk wasn’t directed at a specific community Tariq continued from page 8 Stressing the need to look beyond lines of division—whether those are racial, religious, or national—Ramadan asserted the need for us to see the intersectionality of the issues we as different communities and individuals face. For example, cops killing innocent black civilians in the U.S. is not an issue they alone should confront. We all need to take heed of, understand, acknowledge our duty to show solidarity with those who are oppressed, regardless of our differences, and take a stand.

Ramadan called for our need to recognize the same structures that

oppress us in different ways, on different lines, and in different places through similar means—whether that is the mass incarceration of black people south of the border, the silent occupation occurring in Palestine, or the decimation of Indigenous peoples and their way of life for a country like Canada to even exist through processes of settler colonialism over hundreds of years. He explained that there is a lack of unity even within communities who claim to be united; the bond of brotherhood and sisterhood is weak, and we need to see ourselves as a human family rather than self-designated labels of this and that.

The time is for dialogue and building

bridges, in the hopes of mobilizing together, rather than settling on our differences.

Ramadan explained that the living within a consumerist culture and having a profit-driven mindset allows social media to “colonize” us.

These issues are creating obstacles in our ability to confront more pressing matters, such as holding elected officials accountable, mobilizing against the rise of far-right political movements and rhetoric, or more importantly, addressing the ongoing destruction of the planet. It is us who must take that stand; to know where taxes are going, whether better schools are being built for our

children—or are more prisons being built instead, whether a better economic infrastructure is being built, or if wars are being funded overseas. It is time to question these corporations that lobby our governments, and do what we can to make a difference.

Ramadan emphasized the need for answers. This colonization which is taking place within us is the most integral part of this confrontation that we must address in order to create a more just world.

A form of liberating ourselves can occur through spiritual and intellectual means—through reading, learning, and teaching. At the same time, we need to be positive, directed, and

compassionate in dealing with certain aspects of our brave new world; even when confronted by issues such as the recent rise in hostilities towards peoples of colour, immigrants, marginalized, and racialized peoples in general.

At the core of Ramadan’s talk was the need to be bold that stresses the urgency of these times. Ramadan concluded his talk with stating the need to go back to our roots, to the essence of our purpose as individuals within a given society, to the principles and values upon which we base our existence. No one individual can do everything, but everyone can do something.

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O captain! my captain! leads way Christina Rico leads UTM women’s varsity soccer team with positivity and strong focus VANESSA CESARIO

Christina Rico, a fifth-year double major in sociology and linguistics, currently serves as the newly-appointed captain of the UTM varsity women’s soccer team.

She began her soccer career at the age of nine, initially being enrolled in dance classes by her parents. But, Rico’s love of soccer soon took over.

She began her competitive soccer career at age 11, where she played for the North Mississauga Soccer Club for four years before switching to the Mississauga Falcons Soccer Club, where her father served as the team manager. She played at the premiere level, and said that when coming to UTM, the competition was definitely more intense, because she wasn’t used to playing with girls who were up to four years older than her.

However, now, almost 13 years later, her devotion to the sport has led her to become the leader on the UTM women’s team.

“To mentally prepare other people, you have to mentally prepare

OLIVIA ADAMCZYK/THE MEDIUM

Rico, captain of the UTM varsity women’s soccer team, sees many benefits to her sport. yourself first,” Rico says of motivating her teammates before a game.

She adds that getting into the right mindset first is crucial, because energy and positivity carries over to oth-

er people. She also finds that readying her soccer bag the night before a game helps her gather her thoughts and focus on the game ahead.

Rico also commends the current

head coach Damian Yearwood for striking a great balance between seriousness and fun. She explains that he succeeds at making practices an enjoyable and non-intimidating en-

vironment, while still working on improving as a whole unit. Rico also believes that Sonia Rocha, the new assistant coach to Yearwood, was a great addition to the team.

As Rico approaches her fifth and final year of study, she speaks very highly of the new varsity soccer program that was put into effect last year. She explains how the program is still developing, and has improved over the past year, though it still has quite a ways to go.

Rico also adds how much soccer has taught her over the years. She believes that soccer teaches someone how to work with and understand people, how to be a leader and support others, and how the sport can lead to friendships.

Regarding team dynamic and overall play, Rico says that the environment is a positive one. She adds that there are 18 girls who are together almost six days a week, which naturally leads to some disagreements—but what makes a good team is how you bounce back from those moments.

Mindfulness can improve performance Danielle Bruel enlightens students on the positive effects meditation has on the body and mind

AMANDA BORTHWICK That moment in your workout, when you’re completely out of breath, can feel your heart pounding out of your chest, and your muscles about to give in, do you begin to doubt yourself and if you’re capable of finishing?

In these stressful and physicallydemanding situations, your mind generally gives up before your body does. I mean, how often is it that before you finish a few laps around the track your legs suddenly give out, while your thoughts are very much optimistic about completing the run?

Danielle Bruel, a visiting graduate student from Utrecht, agrees that when our minds wander into abstract levels of thinking during physically-strenuous situations, it becomes more of a limiting factor that hinders the maximum potential our bodies are capable of delivering.

Much evidence suggests that mindfulness training can improve athletic performance, an idea that Bruel intends to further explore in the study she is expecting to conduct on 80 U of T student participants in the up-

OLIVIA ADAMCZYK/THE MEDIUM

Athletes may find that using an app like Wildflowers Mindfulness can improve their results. coming month.

According to Bruel, “Mindfulness is about being aware of your thoughts in the present moment, and not reacting to it or being judgmental towards yourself.” She finds that through mindfulness, you are able to

get more in touch with your bodily signals, something called “interoceptive awareness.” This consciousness causes your attention to become more focused on the technique and performance of the task at hand, rather than on feelings of self-doubt

and anxiety.

“By something called cognitive reappraisal, we might see that athletes get less distressed when they feel their heart rate increase and become short of breath by instead thinking ‘My body is working hard because I

am giving it my all, this is just normal’.”

Her research is not only focused on how this mindful awareness can improve athletic performance, but she aims to tap into the effective mechanisms that actually cause this to happen through several practices done with the help of smartphone apps for the duration of the threeweek study.

During the pre-assessment, participants will be asked to complete a bike test, which progressively gets more difficult. The test ends when students cannot maintain a pace of sixty to seventy rotations per minute.

Then through several tests, including brain diagnostics, heartrate checks, and of course, mindful assessment questionnaires, things like stress tolerance, mental toughness, personality features, and emotional reactivity are measured and then compared to these exact same measures conducted during the post-assessment, which marks the conclusion of the 21-day study.

Bruel continued on page 12

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Experimenting Strength in numbers with meditation UTM signs female coaches for women’s OCAA basketball Bruel continued from page 11 During the experiment, participants will be divided into two groups, where they are expected to devote a minimum of 10 minutes a day to either Wildflowers, a mindfulness app, or the 2048 app puzzle game,

Mindfulness is something you have to put time into, but it promotes the ability to deliver performance in demanding situations. which trains for logical reasoning.

Intragroup comparison will also take place to test the effectiveness of each app in achieving mindfulness.

By measuring changes in brain activity and heartrate, Bruel wants

to see if there is a change in performance, for example, a longer power output on the bike test. In addition to power output, she also wants to look into the experience of the athlete during performance, and see if that decreases distress after learning mindfulness skills.

“Based on the literature, we would expect that emotional reactivity will be lower, and that shifts in brain activity (alpha waves) will increase, meaning it will be more inactive in the worrying areas of the brain, and more towards a focused calm mind.”

Either way, mindfulness training through apps such as Wildflowers would be valuable for athletes looking to improve their training results. “Mindfulness is really something you have to put time into, but it promotes the ability to deliver performance in highly demanding situations.”

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Head coach Johnson-Edwards will be joined by assistant coaches Burns and Bartley.

ERIC HEWITSON SPORTS EDITOR UTM has one of the best female basketball coaching staffs in Canada, with all three coaches having unique playing experiences in the NCAA, OUA, and OCAA. Alongside head coach Salee Johnson-Edwards will be a fine cast of assistant coaches when the inaugural 2017-2018 season of women’s varsity basketball hits the OCAA and the RAWC. Before taking the assistant coaching position, assistant coach Hali Burns was a head coach in the Ontario Basketball Association with the Brampton Warriors from 2010 to 2013 and the 2015-2016 season, where she earned Rookie of the Year honours for Ontario Basketball in 2010. She finished second in Ontario with the Brampton Warriors in the 2012-2013 season.

In addition to her coaching, Burns has an extensive playing background.

In 2004-2005, Hali obtained a scholarship to NCAA Division 2 school Ashland University, where her team finished first in the GLIAC South.

Burns was a 2009 graduate of Sheridan College, where she earned her diploma in Applied Health and Community Studies. While at Sheridan, she was a member of the women’s varsity basketball team that captured three Ontario Championships in the OCAA, as well as a National Silver Medal in the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association.

Coach Burns is excited to be part

of this new journey. Having been a player on a team that was nearly entering the OCAA, she is well aware of the type of players that UTM should be recruiting to quickly build the UTM Eagles program into a perennial contender.

“Coach Shannon was a two-sport varsity athlete for York University, competing in track and basketball.

She brings a unique skill set to the team, and is a real fitness specialist.

Fitness is her passion, and this will keep our players in the best of shape,” says UTM program director, Jack Krist.

Additionally, coach Shannon Bartley begins her first year as an assistant coach for the UTM women’s varsity basketball team for the 2017-2018 season. Coach Bartley is no stranger to the Eagles coaching staff, as she has served as an assistant coach under coach Johnson-Edwards since the 2015-2016 season in the University of Toronto Development League.

Bartley is a full-time elementary school teacher, and has been working in the Toronto District School Board for the past 11 years. She has garnered numerous conference and city championships throughout her illustrious coaching career in various sports, including basketball, football, ultimate frisbee, and track and field, in both boys’ and girls’ competitions.

Bartley comes to UTM as a former elite-level athlete competing in the CIS for York University. During her playing career, Bartley was an impressive two-sport varsity athlete.

When she wasn’t busy as a shooting guard for the varsity women’s basketball team, Bartley was a pentathlon competitor for the York varsity track and field team.

Bartley adds to her long list of physical fitness expertise holding several certifications, including the CPT/CFC—Certified Personal Trainer and Fitness Consultant, NCCP Weightlifting Coach Certification, and the Bootcamp University/Posture and Performance Certification.

Krist believes that with Bartley’s fitness certification background, the women can go into their first season as one of the most physically-fit teams in the league.

A 2005 graduate of York University with a B.A. honours specialist in Kinesiology, Bartley is the co-founder and co-owner of She Roars Fitness.

Coach Bartley will look to bring her passion for fitness and basketball to this young program, preparing the UTM athletes for a long and often physically-demanding season of OCAA varsity basketball.

“Players are going to love playing for these coaches. All three truly care for their athletes on and off the court, and embrace the sense of family when it comes to their coaching styles,” says Krist. “This supportive, caring atmosphere led by three wonderful female role models should make UTM an easy choice for basketball athletes looking to get a U of T education.”