While world-renowned arts, science and math programs are synonymous with U of T, an often overlooked element of the university is its commitment to athletics. The Department of Recreation, Athletics & Wellness is dedicated to engaging, educating, and motivating students.
>> read more on page 13
UTM welcomes students back to campus with Orientation Week
Aaron Calpito
News Editor
TTikTok’s success arguably relies on oversharing with an audience that is eager to pry. Being in the spotlight on TikTok can be as haunting as it is rewarding. For example, the white boy of the month explores an internet-wide obsession with celebrity crushes by TikTok users.
>> read more on page 08
he first week of school at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) can be particularly daunting for undergraduates, whether they’re first-years just starting to find their way around campus or upperyears re-adjusting to the rhythms of academic life.
But thanks to Orientation Week, the return to classes also brings with it extra-curriculars and networking galore. From August 29 to September 5, UTM is hosting a plethora of events to help new and returning students alike settle into the new semester.
>> ORIENTATION WEEK continues on page 02
ARTS
Explore The Topics in Arts Through These Courses
Skyler Piskoroski
Contributer
The new school year is right around the corner and after a fun summer, switching your brain from summer to school mode can be worrisome. This is due to intimidating factors of back to school like course selection. Trying to register for the classes you need in time while also hoping they won’t put you to sleep before the first bathroom break. Thankfully, the Department of Visual Studies at UTM has a wide selection of fun offerings this year! There are too many to list in one article , so let’s examine an underappreciated category of course offerings within the department: the ‘Topics in ___’ courses.
These are courses within a specific field of study with the twist of not knowing the exact topic or genre until after you’ve signed up (though it may appear on the UTM timetable planner but not always). I took many topics courses throughout my cinema major, though Art History and Visual Culture offer them as well. They were always a fun gamble and some of my most enjoyable courses. The cinema topics courses encompass a variety of topics such as gender in film, classical Hollywood, the musical, and the war film.
>> ARTS THROUGH COURSES continues on page 10
The three Rs—reduce, reuse, recycle—have guided generations towards a brighter future. Hollywood, adhering to this classic mantra has produced a fourth and fifth: reboot and remake.
>> read more on page 11
FEATURES
My summer is a patchwork quilt
Sukaina Rizvi Contributer
My living room turned into a crochet workshop over the summer. Balls of yarn piled up on the couch, crochet hooks were scattered across the coffee table, and half-finished projects took up more space than I’d like to admit.
What started as a hobby quickly turned into hours of experimenting with tapestry crochet, stuffed animals, and keychains that I ended up selling in my small business.
But my summer wasn’t all yarn and hooks. How could I say no to visiting the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE)? Among all its activities, the Sky Ride was my favourite part. As I dangled on top of the ride, the whole midway stretched out beneath me. The scene of flashing lights, food stalls and the chaos of other rides stirred a special feeling in my heart.
And of course, I couldn’t miss the fair games. I was manifesting luck with the saying from The Hunger Games, “May the odds be ever in your favour.” Well, the odds weren’t in mine most of the
time. But winning or losing didn’t matter. The fun was in trying and laughing at how rigged those games were.
I left the CNE without a large stuffed animal, but with plenty of memories and way too much sugar from cotton candy.
>> SUMMER PATCHWORK continues on page 07
Photo credits: Aaron Capito
02 NEWS
UTMSU recognizes seven new student groups
Aaron Calpito News Editor
The newly official clubs centre around various interests, from wellness to academic development and more.
On August 15, the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) Students’ Union (UTMSU) announced on Instagram that they officially recognized seven new clubs.
This year’s newly recognized clubs include the UTM Social Justice Club (SJC); Health Occupations Students of America - UTM (HOSA); the Men’s Wellness Group (MWG); the UTM Pulse Run Club; Her Campus at UTM (HCUTM); the UTM Global Affairs Student Association (GASA); and the UTM Real Estate Club (UTMREC).
The clubs are some of the newest student groups to get exclusive access to support from the union, such as funding requests, custom merchandise orders through Spark Printing, and access to offices and conference rooms in the Student Centre.
Each of the clubs applied for official recognition over the summer, along with student groups who applied for re-recognition for the 20252026 academic year. Applicants had to meet certain requirements to be recognized, most notably a size of at least 25 students and a unique overall mission.
The new kids on the block
The returning SJC states their club “advocates for equity, justice, and change through education, fundraising, and events” on their sign-up form for general members. The club was last active in an official capacity during the 2022-2023 academic year.
UTM-HOSA, also back from a multi-year absence, is a student group dedicated to “bringing together like-minded life-sciences students with healthcare aspirations,” according to their Student Organization Portal (SOP) page.
As the local chapter of HOSA Canada, UTMHOSA will participate in national conferences and workshops in the coming fall and spring. They are also hiring associates and training co-
ordinators until September 12.
The MWG is a brand new club seeking to “challenge harmful masculinity norms, reduce stigma around vulnerability, and promote emotional intelligence and healthy lifestyle habits,” according to their introductory Instagram post. They aim to connect with “men and male-identifying students” to support their overall wellbeing.
UTM Pulse, which first formed over the summer, is a fitness club that promotes wellness through running, walking, and jogging. They plan to host events and training programs throughout the Fall/Winter semester for all students seeking to stay healthy through physical activity alongside peers, regardless of skill level.
Established earlier this year, HCUTM is the second University of Toronto chapter of Her Campus, an international online magazine “founded by and for college women.” HCUTM empowers students to share their post-secondary experiences and develop their professional portfolio through writing and events.
The new UTM branch of the tri-campus GASA seeks to “engage students in international diplomacy, global health, and development,” according to their sign-up form. A team of GASA members recruited earlier this year are set to
represent the university and Canada at the Global Model WHO 2025 summit in Switzerland from October 28 to 31.
Last but not least, UTMREC was founded over the summer to educate students about renting and investing in real estate, according to their SOP page. They recently hosted an event about off-campus housing on August 13.
As per UTMSU regulations, general membership in official student groups is open to all undergraduate students at UTM, although some clubs may impose membership fees.
The deadline to apply for official recognition for the Fall/Winter semester was August 31, 2025.
Photo Credits: Melody Zhou
UTM welcomes students back to campus with Orientation Week
(Contd. from Page 01)
Aaron Calpito News Editor
This year, the UTM Students’ Union (UTMSU) is running a series of themed challenges, games, outings, and live performances as part of its frosh program, titled “Legacy 25”.
The program is touted as “an opportunity to meet over 1450 incoming students,” helping first-years to transition into post-secondary life and familiarize themselves with campus alongside peers, as per the UTMSU Orientation web page.
Those who registered for frosh were randomly assigned to one of four houses, each corresponding with an elemental gift of the Anishinaabe: Shkode (fire); Nibi (water); Aki (earth); and Noodin (wind). Members of each house will supposedly work together and compete against other houses throughout Orientation.
Most of Legacy 25 will be held on campus, starting with the Unlock UTM Scavenger Hunt on August 29 and ending with the Paint & Glow Party at South Field on September 5. One Orientation Week event, the Legends of the City Scavenger Hunt, will take place in downtown Toronto on September 1.
The Boat Cruise in Toronto Harbour, a highlight of last year’s Quest 24, is scheduled to return for Legacy 25 on September 12.
Into the thick of it
Dozens of organizations at UTM, including Student Affairs & Services, academic departments, and clubs, are hosting their own events for the busiest week of the season as well. All told, the UTM Orientation 2025 web page promises more than 100 events between August 29 and September 5, inclusive.
Unlike the UTMSU’s frosh week, campus-wide Orientation includes events for all undergraduate students as well as their families. To help attendees navigate the Orientation schedule, the web page gives the option to filter events by their date, target audience, topic, and expected energy level.
In one of the week’s largest initiatives, university-recognized student groups will be taking over the walkways of UTM for tabling during the Student Group Fair on September 4 and 5.
For students with varying levels of sociability, many organizations will host events with a more relaxed atmosphere, such as the Centre for Student Engagement and the Health & Counselling Centre’s Quiet Space event on August 31.
Orientation Week will end on September 5 with the “highenergy” Campus Carnival drop-in event for first-years, which promises “music, games, performances, and free food.”
A week to remember
The Medium interviewed students in the lead-up to Orientation Week.
Fourth-year paleontology student Noah Aguiar believes that Orientation Week is essential for getting to know UTM, “from learning about resources around the university, to learning the layout of the campus and how the courses work.”
He’s most excited about the chance to connect with other students in his program. “Currently, it’s a pretty small program, and being able to meet incoming paleo students and give them some pointers would be great!”
Arhama Jawwad, a fourth-year student studying digital enterprise management, thinks that Orientation Week helped her meet people in her program that she might not have connected with otherwise.
“I met a lot of people through those icebreakers who I then saw in all of my classes later,” she said, recalling a CSE event that grouped students from the same admission category. “If we ever need to work together for a group project or if I need to ask somebody a question, I know that I have somebody from my program that I can go to.”
Similarly, one fourth-year international student, who asked to remain anonymous, said that Residence MoveIn helped them to meet students in various programs of study. Overall, they’re looking forward to the atmosphere that Orientation Week brings. “It is supposed to be fun but informative, so take advantage of it as much as possible.”
On the other hand, the atmosphere of Orientation can be overwhelming for many students, especially with so many events to keep track of. “It can feel like a non-stop marathon,” said second-year social sciences student Mustafa Memon, reflecting on last year’s Orientation Week.
“My strategy is to treat it like a mix of sprinting and resting: dive in fully during the events I’m most excited about, then give myself permission to step back, breathe, and recharge when I need it,” he said. “That balance keeps the fun high and the stress low, so by the end of the week I still feel energized rather than drained.”
Students take on rental concerns in panel about offcampus housing
The UTM Real Estate Club collaborated with 19 organizations to educate students about renting in Mississauga and Toronto.
On August 13, the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) Real Estate Club (UTMREC) hosted a panel discussion featuring housing experts, club executives, and experienced renters to address students’ concerns about off-campus housing. The panel comes as many students are searching for housing in preparation for the 2025 Fall term.
UTMREC teamed up with 19 organizations to promote, organize, and facilitate the event,
which was held in room IB 200 of UTM’s Instructional Centre and streamed online via Zoom. About 70 students attended the event either in-person or virtually, making it one of the largest student-run events held on campus over the summer.
The panel was also the first major event hosted by UTMREC, which recently acquired official status from the UTM Students’ Union and the Centre for Student Engagement.
Students helping students
“Our club’s main aim is to talk about all different aspects of real estate,” UTMREC President Preet Kaur Narula explained in an interview with The Medium following the event.
In bringing together student groups across various disciplines and areas of interest, her club’s aim was to teach students about navigating the rental market, their rights and responsibilities as tenants, and managing their mental health throughout the rental process.
Leading up to August 13, each participating organization promoted the event by creating and sharing social media posts, many of which appealed to a specific club’s members. For instance, one Instagram post by the UTM Filipino Student Association gave an overview of the event in both English and Tagalog.
“I wanted this event to reach out to as many people as possible,” Narula said. “The topic of real estate, tenants’ rights, and rental processes is not club-specific.”
Of the 19 partner groups on the event’s roster, executives from 11 groups agreed to present as panellists.
Aaron Calpito News Editor
Photo Credits: Aaron Calpito
The UTM Mental Health Student Association (MHSA) started the panel discussion by going over common rental scams and ways student renters can protect themselves. They also acknowledged that renting can cause a great deal of mental stress, especially in the case of dishonest and malicious landlords.
To cope with these difficulties, the MHSA urged students to practice self-care and to promptly seek out counselling and support, such as from Downtown Legal Services, the Health & Counselling Centre, and the MHSA itself.
UTMREC continued by explaining that consulting a realtor is an effective way to verify whether a listing is legitimate and can accommodate your specific needs. They stressed the importance of beginning your rental search months before your desired move-in date, preparing identification and documentation in advance, carefully reviewing the terms of the lease, and keeping receipts of all financial transactions.
Next, the Pakistani Students’ Association at UTM walked attendees through the process of renting through platforms like Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace. They cautioned to look out for rental red flags, such as if the landlord prohibits in-person viewings, has inadequate lease verification, or insists on e-transfer deposits.
Additionally, AGAPĒ UTM warned that unlawful landlords may manipulate their tenants to accept unfair and illegal leases, such as by making emotional appeals and illegitimate listings.
HOUSE Canada recommended that students hoping to rent should get references, such as from professors, managers, or previous landlords, to help ensure their rental application is successful.
In a joint presentation, UTM Model United Nations and the UTM Armenian Students’ Association provided an overview of tenants’ rights under provincial law. They also explained that tenants can file complaints with Ontario’s Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB), the Rental Housing Enforcement Unit, or municipal by-law enforcement, depending on the grievance.
The UTM Moot Court Team elaborated on the function of the LTB, detailing the process of filing legal complaints with the tribunal. They recommended that, in the case of a potential rights violation, tenants should seek legal advice from organizations like Mississauga Community Legal Services or Pro Bono Students Canada.
Opinion
Assessing the economics of the Greater Toronto Area housing market, the UTM Undergraduate Economics Council and the UTM Law and Commerce Association explained trends in housing affordability and the effects of rent control on the market. In particular, they argued that relatively low wage increases, rising wealth inequality, and speculative investments are making renting more unaffordable for students.
The Law and Business Student Association from the St. George campus went over how rental options differ between Toronto and Mississauga, stating that Toronto features a great variety of housing types while renters in Mississauga are typically limited to low- or medium-density houses and mid-rises. Nevertheless, they noted that finding affordable off-campus housing remains difficult for students in both cities.
The event ended with testimonies from three upper-year students who each shared negative experiences of renting off-campus. Their troubles echoed many of the topics discussed throughout the panel, namely with regard to malicious landlords and tenants’ responsibilities. Overall, their message to students was to do extensive research and consult with professionals to stay informed at all stages of the rental process.
Starting from the bottom
Reflecting on the event, Narula imparted that it was a resounding success. “Initially, we were very scared because UTMREC started from ground zero,” she said. “We weren’t backed up by professors or councils. We didn’t have any resources.”
Alongside Co-Vice President Jaskaran Singh Narula, she founded UTMREC earlier this summer with the mission of educating students about tenancy, finding housing, and investing in real estate. She recognizes that the panel discussion was the first big step towards realizing that mission.
The UTMREC president said that although putting the event together was a difficult task, she’s now certain that her club can deliver similarly impactful events in the coming months. “I was extremely satisfied with how it turned out. Making mistakes did not discourage me; it just encouraged me to try even more.”
For their next major project, UTMREC is planning to host a conference featuring industry professionals in the fall term.
Why my fifth year at UTM isn’t a failure, but a part of the journey. Starting my fifth year at University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) feels nice, but a little bitter
sweet. I should have wrapped up last spring, but here I am, still plugging away. At first it felt like a personal failure, but over time, I realized it isn’t shameful:it is realistic. Taking longer than the designed 4 years has forced me to slow down, re-evaluate my priorities, and approach university with more patience and greater perspective.
Only about 44 percent of Canadian students finish in four years, while nearly 75 percent graduate within six. The average time to finish is around 4.3 years, which is just slightly longer than the ideal, but far from rare. Even more, Mya Colwell reported that only 40 percent of students actually manage the four-year mark, and that’s before the pandemic, financial stress, or mental health challenges that have recently entered the picture.
One of my friends, who is also a fifth-year student in a science program, shared, “I thought I was behind, but hearing how normal it is to take extra time made me feel better.” At the University of British Columbia (UBC), many students take between 4.5 and 6.5 years to finish, due to co-ops, reduced course loads, or just needing more time to breathe.
I began at UTM in Fall 2021, already in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, with classes half set online, and the other half taught in awkward formats. The social isolation, rushed lab sections, and lack of on-campus connections slowed everything down. I wasn’t alone as many students felt robbed of the stereotypical university experience.
Breanna Reid-Clarke, a politics student at Ryerson University, explained that studying from home over two years “was basically taken from [her]… so it’s frustrating,” and she didn’t feel hopeful about fully recovering the traditional university experience. Add this to my Biology major and pre-med
MASTHEAD
EDITORIAL BOARD
Editor-in-Chief
Aya Yafaoui editor@themedium.ca
Managing Editor
Samuel Kamalendran managing@themedium.ca
News
Aaron Calpito news@themedium.ca
Opinion
Yasmine Benabderrahmane opinion@themedium.ca
Features
Gisele Tang features@themedium.ca
A&E
Yusuf Larizza-Ali arts@themedium.ca
Sports
Joseph Falzata sports@themedium.ca
Photo
Melody Zhou photos@themedium.ca
Design
Sehajleen Wander design@themedium.ca
Podcast
Jia Bawa
Social Media
Jannine Uy
Outreach
Mashiyat Ahmed
Copy
May Alsaigh may@themedium.ca
Anaam Khan anaam@themedium.ca
track, where course availability is tight, the delay has a ripple effect. Counselling and academic advising helped, but it often gets crowded nearing a semester’s end. I often felt stuck trying to pin down a plan when the courses themselves wouldn’t cooperate.
There’s also the stigma. Walking around campus as a fifth-year student can feel like everyone expects you to be “behind” or struggling. Some friends joke about being a “super-senior,” and while it’s mostly light-hearted, it makes students feel pressured to conform to the four-year plan. Yet these assumptions ignore the reality of the current student life, where financial pressures, mental health, part-time work, and program hurdles not only turn the extra semesters as a common trajectory, but sometimes essential. In reality, taking more time has given me space to grow, meet new people, and learn lessons outside of coursework that I wouldn’t trade.
Still, a fifth year hasn’t felt like lost time. Instead, it felt intentional. I got to deepen my club and work-study involvement, volunteer, work parttime, and actually absorb what I was learning. My work-study job in particular gave me confidence, professional skills, and a sense of purpose that shaped how I see myself after graduation. UTM has become more than a university to me; as it feels like a community and family. The people I’ve met in classrooms, labs, clubs, and even on campus walks have made this place feel like home. From latenight study sessions in the library to impromptu coffee breaks with friends at Second Cup, these small moments have shaped my experience. Even while juggling tight courses, lab schedules, and the constant pressure of pre-med pre-requisites, I felt supported by peers and staff alike.
The pressure to finish on time hurts more than it helps. Rigid timelines ignore the realities of students who work, have health needs,
While universities used to promise mobility, they now ensure resilience.
For centuries, a university degree, like one from the University of Toronto, has been a prestigious safety
commute, or face family obligations. UTM’s course offerings and advising structure can bottleneck progress. Mental health isn’t optional and rushing through four to five courses a semester can be a quick route to burnout. Sometimes, slowing down isn’t a weakness at all, but a survival strategy that allows you to thrive in the long run.
University and the culture that surrounds it should shift the narrative. A fifth year isn’t a failure, but often a strength. Schools could highlight flexibility, promote more summer offerings, or provide clearer pathways for students who need extra terms.
As for me, I start my fifth-year with pride, not guilt. UTM is my community filled with many memorable experiences. It’s not what I expected, but maybe that’s exactly why it matters. This year is about finishing strong and appreciating the journey, even if it took a little longer than planned.
net that symbolizes financial security and an assured future. But recently, youth unemployment rates have risen and university graduates are struggling to find their footing in the real world.
The Job Market: a Coffee Filter
The current job market functions like a coffee filter: millions of graduates pour their degrees, resumes, and extra-curriculars into the pot, but only a select few make it through as well-brewed—strong and worthy to qualify for the refined taste of the current job market.
The facts simply prove that. In July 2025, Canada shed 40,800 jobs, with youth unemployment (15-24 yearolds) rates surging to 14.6 per cent, the highest in years. In the US, the gap between the unemployment rate of college graduates and non-degree holders of the same age group was a mere 1 per cent in 2025. Even students with postgraduate degrees aren’t immune. Long term employment for them has also been impacted by the challenge of rising artificial intelligence (AI).
Although the impact of AI can be theoretical, backed by trends in the rising unemployment rates of graduates and the popularity of technological advances during recessions, it is an early sign of what the future may hold for students. Even when companies do not physically replace humans with AI, their investment in the technology continues to deter them from offering opportunities to recent graduates. The uncertainty of the value of university degrees continues to loom over students and it questions whether the future of academics will be present in the plans of the upcoming generation.
So, yes, a university degree might get you into the pot, but don’t be surprised if you end up- discarded between the grounds.
Illustrated by Sehajleen Wander
Photo Credits: Lacy Park
Guarantees: a Safety Blanket and Mental Health Support
Aside from the fancy blue logo stamped on our diplomas and beyond the sleepless nights, what do our students actually gain? Well, the University of Toronto does provide something tangible: it offers beautifully designed home decor at the campus bookstores for a source of comfort amidst the stress of job searching.
In fact, for just $39.99 (and an additional few grands of tuition costs), you can invest in a poly-cotton safety blanket. It might just serve you with the greatest sense of security, especially after an eight hour shift at your unpaid internship.
But, if a job isn’t guaranteed, then what is? Well, the University of Toronto has an excellent mental health program that supports its students–from mindfulness workshops, to counselling appointments, and even therapy dog sessions. This has all been carefully packaged into an emotional baggage that you can haul to your next job interview and even feature in your post-graduate essay applications. Perhaps a well-written tale of woe may just be the recipe to securing a master’s degree.
The irony is that while universities used to promise mobility, they now ensure resilience. Our degrees may not entirely remove life obstacles, like securing a stable job, but they will offer you the emotional support and endurance to live through it all. It is something you can rely on–a safety blanket, one may say.
The Post-Graduate Clarity
Jokes aside, a degree, regardless of its prestige, is valuable. Especially amidst the rise of anti-intellectualism. A UofT degree does provide its students with a quality education, a space for intellectual and skills growth, and studying at one of the best schools in the world does come with a sense of reliability. The branding of our academic institutes gives you an edge. It may not guarantee employment, but it filters you into the right pot. The rest simply depends on privilege.
But to some, our university sells a curated identity wrapped in emotional turmoil. And while that may sound hyperbolic, it is also a reality for many graduates. In a 2020 report conducted by the Department of Medical Biophysics at the University of Toronto, more than a third of participants declared they were diagnosed with a mental health issue as a student. Graduates are left with counseling receipts, wellness credits, and a fabricated validation of academics.
Maybe that is the trade-off today. Our diplomas may not be a ticket to security, but it surely is an expensive hope for the future (and you can always grab a $39.99 blanket to support you through it).
EDITORIAL: Welcome to Volume 52!
Aya Yafaoui Editor-in-Chief Samuel Kamalendran Managing Editor
Welcome back to another year UTM! If you are new to the University of Toronto Mississauga campus, welcome welcome! Allow us to introduce ourselves: We are The Medium, UTM’s student newspaper established in 1974. Our mission is to be a voice for UTM students and our community.
We strive to be a platform for students to talk about what matters to them; whether that be opinions on the world, the latest art exhibit in town, the recent soccer game on campus, a new student initiative, or news about incoming University policy. There aren’t any experience requirements either, we’re here to help with writing, editing and publishing. You don’t just have to write for us though! We also welcome illustrators, photographers, and volunteers for our Board of Directors.
The Medium this year is focused on going back to our roots. For Volume 52, we want to take the lessons the last five decades have taught us and use them to listen and uplift our UTM community. That means we’re committed to on the ground journalism so that students can be informed about what goes on within the dark brick halls of Davis to the beautiful nature trails around campus and beyond.
To do that, we’ll need your help! If you are interested in contributing to The Medium, please reach out to us via
email at editor@themedium.ca. You can also message us on Instagram or visit us at our office, located on the second floor of the Student Centre.
Last year, we re-introduced ads in the paper, free of charge for student groups who want to advertise their events and initiatives. This year we’re continuing that tradition and making an effort to connect with our fellow student groups so that we can be that place for students to learn more about campus.
Moreover, this year, we’re putting The Medium in places where students and the community can easily find us by revamping our social media and outreach initiatives. This plan includes the resurrection of our Instagram page for students to learn about the newspaper and the masthead and stay up-to-date on our publications and cool events at the press of a button.
We will also heavily invest in in-person events by holding various socials and office hours, starting with our inaugural zine-making event in our office during Orientation weekend.
Finally, to us, at the heart of what it means to return to our roots is an undeniable obsession with all things UTM. This school year, we want to make this campus— each and every one of you—the focal point of every pub-
lication by covering the subjects that are most relevant to UTM students—from News articles providing key updates from the UTMSU, to Features exploring fascinating events and programs by UTM’s student services, to thought-provoking opinions regarding the human condition, at home and abroad.
At our core lies our keen awareness of the privilege and responsibility we have to be the voice of UTM’s population. As mentioned earlier, this is only possible in collaboration with and through you. Whether it is by reaching out to our editors about pitch ideas, writing articles, designing illustrations, or just coming out to the office to discuss anything from journalism to campus and world affairs, every one of our readers has the chance to become an integral part of our collective paper. It is through such cooperation that we can properly fulfill our obligation to inform, educate, and protect the interests of the student body at our beloved campus.
So, whether you’re a voracious reader of our work or if this is your first time picking up our paper or scrolling through our website, we invite you wholeheartedly to lock in this academic season, prepare for your own thrilling university adventures, and join us on the stressful but electrifying journey that is The Medium: Volume 52.
Education has always been a privilege
Mashiyat Ahmed Outreach Coordinator
As the world goes back to school, it’s time for us to reflect on the worth of our degrees amidst Isreal’s genocide in Gaza
In late 2024, I was on video call with a Palestinian woman named Leena Almadhoun, a local organizer, student, and co-founder of a food sovereignty initiative in Gaza called Thamra. As a writer, I planned to ask her about how she and her team in North Gaza managed to transform poisonous soil and the aftermath of bombs into urban gardening sanctuaries for local Gazans. But the conversation soon derailed into the emotional grief and psychological pain of losing lived spaces—schools, universities, and
community centers—that held memories, experiences, and futures in them.
Before Israel’s genocide, Almadhoun was studying psychological sciences at the Islamic University of Gaza, a prominent academic institution renowned for being the birthplace of many Palestinian scholars and thinkers. But under Israel’s genocide and Gaza’s subsequent conditions, what once were bustling classrooms and lecture halls for Palestine’s youth, are now bomb shelters and makeshift medical centers.
I can bombard you with statistics about the extent of damage or about how hundreds
of thousands have not received formal schooling in over two years. But instead, I’ll leave you with a thought from Almadhoun: “despite our living in siege, we are resistant people, but are not given the opportunity to live. We have a future, dreams and ambitions, like my dream to finish university.”
As campus life starts back up again at U of T, we have a responsibility to use our education—our knowledge, our voices of truth and compassion, and our coordinated action—to bring a semblance of on-going justice to students around the world who are not allowed to be students. How are we, as students of the imperial core, positioned to take on the enormity of colonial institutes that is enabled through the dehumanization of others? Like most answers, it starts in our own classrooms.
Education as a colonial strategy
In the last couple of months, Israel’s genocide on Gaza has weaponized colonial tactics of forced starvation and intensified brutality to render the Palestinian people weak and defenceless. And while bombed universities, malnutrition, the annihilation of families at aid distribution centers, and the imperial core’s complicity in all of it has left us paralyzed with grief and anger, it’s also not a new phenomena.
Education is a colonial strategy in two main ways—and each feeds into the other. Firstly, what is taught and not taught in classrooms is a direct expression of prevailing attitudes and discourses at the time, which are shaped by ideologies and systems that have historically held the most power. As a colonial project, education seeks to supplant indigenous knowledge with knowledge created for and by the white world. It seeks to narrow the diversity of thought that resists established hierarchies and instead create a servile workforce.
ing western nations not only consolidate power through physical destruction, but by robbing Palestinians of the necessary tools for sovereignty-building, nation-building, movement-building, and identityhood. When you don’t have the safety of classrooms, how can you be expected to learn about your country’s history? When children living through occupation and genocide are forced to be on survival mode, how are they supposed to take ownership over a future that seems so fragile, so extinguishable?
It starts in the classroom
Since the genocide’s inception, world-renouned educa-
about how our systems fail to serve us. Elitists are outnumbered by the majority who want a better world. We know the enemy and its many faces. Now is not the time to be fooled.
Education is not just about sitting in classrooms, handing in assignments, or getting a piece of paper at the end of your degree. Education, fundamentally, is a dynamic process of learning and unlearning about the complex world we live in so that we can become better thinkers and citizens. The unforgiving job markets of today and hustle culture, as well as broader techno-cultural shifts, have deluded us into valuing education only as it serves our economic destinies as individuals: getting a wellpaying job, buying things, and creating safe, stable lives for us all.
These are ideas laid down in The Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Brazilian educator Paulo Freire. In it, Freire touches on education as a “practice of freedom;” how the privilege of education is precisely that it allows the active participation and creation of society. This connects with the other—more true—purpose of education, which is to have access to a future where one is autonomous and liberated. For Palestinian students in Gaza—and all oppressed people around the world—education is simply a right to a future. This is the other method of colonial education strategy: by severing a peoples’ right to a future, you stop liberation before it even starts.
In fact, at one point in my conversation with Almadhoun, she says that her only wish is to return to university. The right to education is closely linked to the right to return for displaced people. And all of this is tied to the right to life. As a part of its colonial endeavours, Israel and support-
tion activist Malala Yousafzai—a person we all looked up to—has stayed dangerously silent on Palestinian lives, and only after repeated backlash, has she resorted to regurgitating whitewashed talking points at the expense of true solidarity. For someone who has built her entire brand and public identity around supporting education and women’s rights, Yousafzai’s silence on the state of education and the indiscriminate targeting of journalists, teachers, and other vulnerable populations in Gaza speaks volumes. Why are activists like Yousafzai working so hard to cater to all feelings, to a one-size-fits-all activism? I am eerily aware that her quietness—and that of countless others—has something to do with dollarism, a term coined by Malcom X referring to the “purchase of influence.”
But Yousafzai is only one person in a much larger charade of hypocrisy and enablement. We saw how earlier this year, the Trump administration began their fascistic crackdown on public education by attacking and defunding major universities like Havard and Columbia. Humanities programs, DEI protections, and the right to freedom of speech and activism on campuses are all being threatened in an effort to stifle critical discussions and actions. But herein lies the paradox of education in this new age of global awareness: we are more aware than ever
Features
I’d love that as much as the next person, and I am not trying to moralize this by saying it’s wrong to want those things. What I am saying is that if education is a human right the way we say it is, we, as more privileged students, have a responsibility to use our rights to further the rights of others, especially those silenced and stripped by our complicity. Not as a pitied obligation, fashioned as an act of charitable activism, but because it is a right of life. Because on the other side of this lies the difference between collective liberation and oppression.
Harvard and Columbia. Humanities programs, DEI protections, and the right to freedom of speech and activism on campuses are all being threatened in an effort to stifle critical discussions and actions. But herein lies the paradox of education in this new age of global awareness: we are more aware than ever about how our systems fail to serve us. Elitists are outnumbered by the majority who want a better world. We know the enemy and its many faces. Now is not the time to be fooled.
Education is not just about sitting in classrooms, handing in assignments, or getting a piece of paper at the end of your degree. Education, fundamentally, is a dynamic process of learning and unlearning about the complex world we live in so that we can become better thinkers and citizens. The unforgiving job markets of today and hustle culture, as well as broader techno-cultural shifts, have deluded us into valuing education only as it serves our economic destinies as individuals: getting a well-paying job, buying things, and creating safe, stable lives for us all.
I’d love that as much as the next person, and I am not trying to moralize this by saying it’s wrong to want those things. What I am saying is that if education is a human right the way we say it is, we, as more privileged students, have a responsibility to use our rights to further the rights of others, especially those silenced and stripped by our complicity. Not as a pitied obligation, fashioned as an act of charitable activism, but because it is a right of life. Because on the other side of this lies the difference between collective liberation and oppression.
Editor | Gisele Tang features@themedium.ca
Finding your voice in university
Zainab Khalil, April RoyContributer
In a world overflowing with ideas, voices, and choices, how do we stay true to ourselves while remaining open to new possibilities?
Academics
By Zainab Khalil
Something about fall reminds me of the beginning of a new academic year at university. As the weather shifts, possibilities linger in the air. The changes that happen in
fall are like the uncertainties in one’s academic journey.
Surrounded by new people, unfamiliar systems and heightened expectations, freshman year can feel overwhelming. It’s like being put in a forest where everyone else but you has directions. Incredible, passionate and smart people are all around, and it seems like everyone else knows what they are doing. But what you don’t always see, is that most students are also trying to find their own path.
In my very first semester at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), getting bad grades made me feel like I wasn’t cut out for my program or for university. Instead of seeing them as feedback, I started seeing every low mark as proof that I wasn’t good enough.
Illustrated by Sehajleen Wander
At times, a bad grade could echo louder than any praise. And I would reshape my self-perception based on my grades.
One of the biggest lessons I learned was to treat both positive and negative feedback as a mirror instead of a label. Grades are just a momentary reflection of where you are in terms of knowledge—it does not define who you are. Creating and achieving goals, like finishing a reading or completing practice questions, is a great way to break the cycle of self-doubt.
Another habit that can help is reflecting after each test, class, or assignment. For example, ask yourself questions like: What did I do well? What are a couple of things I can improve on when studying next time, and how can I implement these changes?
Just like fall, university is all about changes. And your self-perception might go through big shifts. Mistakes are unavoidable, but these experiences can also bring us tremendous growth. The key lies in staying confident in your potential, while being open to growth and new perspectives.
One way to keep an open mind is not to be afraid to reach out for help. Talk to others, reach out to classmates, upper year students, professors and academic advisors. You will find that they are often more than happy to help—and a simple conversation might open you up to new insights.
Academic confidence is all about believing in yourself, keeping an open mind to learn and taking action to improve.
Change is a part of the fall season. It is a part of a cycle. As you enter your own fall season, give yourself permission not to have it all figured out. And soon enough, you will find that these confusing experi-
ences have taught you more than you could ever expect.
Friendship
By April Roy
As I enter my second year, I feel both excited and nervous for what lies ahead. Officially becoming a double major of CCIT and PWC under the Institute of Communication, Culture, Information & Technology (ICCIT) has filled me with anticipation.
What drew me to this program is the space it provides to bring forth my creativity, while also having the opportunity to explore new interests and the multiple pathways that the program offers.
by Sara Li
Aside from that, being in this program and UTM’s community has allowed me to interact with a wide variety of people. My friendship journey started with me making friends within my program, which has provided comfort. Knowing that I have a shared class with a friend made lectures feel less daunting.
On the other hand, making friends outside the ICCIT community has helped me explore opportunities I wouldn’t have discovered otherwise.
For example, during last year’s orientation week, I attended an Undergraduate Research Students’ Association (URSA) event with a friend in the sciences discipline. Though the event didn’t have ICCIT research opportunities, it sparked my interest in research projects.
My summer is a patchwork quilt
Sukaina Rizvi Contributer
From that, I learned that friends are not only for companionship, but they can also be our inspiration and motivation. Extending our friendship circle to connect with students from other fields can strengthen our identity at university.
In my first year, the pressure of getting into my desired program led me to constantly compare my work with others in my discipline. But being surrounded by people from different fields helped me break that habit, broadened my perspective, and boosted my confidence.
Through my first year, I’ve learned that the key to making the most out of our university experience is to be open to meeting new people and always stay curious and confident. No matter what year or program you’re in, there is always something new to learn and more people to connect with.
Summer magic can be experienced in both the exciting events and the simplest routines
My living room turned into a crochet workshop over the summer. Balls of yarn piled up on the couch, crochet hooks were scattered across the coffee table, and half-finished projects took up more space than I’d like to admit.
Illustrated by Sara Li
What started as a hobby quickly turned into hours of experimenting with tapestry crochet, stuffed animals, and keychains that I ended up selling in my small business.
But my summer wasn’t all yarn and hooks. How could I say no to visiting the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE)? Among all its activities, the Sky Ride was my favourite part. As I dangled on top of the ride, the whole midway stretched out beneath me. The scene of flashing lights, food stalls and the chaos of other rides stirred a special feeling in my heart.
And of course, I couldn’t miss the fair games. I was manifesting luck with the
saying from The Hunger Games, “May the odds be ever in your favour.” Well, the odds weren’t in mine most of the time. But winning or losing didn’t matter. The fun was in trying and laughing at how rigged those games were. I left the CNE without a large stuffed animal, but with plenty of memories and way too much sugar from cotton candy.
Meanwhile, an unexpected highlight of this summer was a day trip in downtown Toronto. I spent the day wandering through Kensington Market with a friend and hopped through many vintage shops and food stalls. We stopped at a taco spot tucked in the corner of the street, and it turned out to be the best taco I’ve ever had in my life. Though the day was not filled with loud, extravagant activities, it was great to be a tourist in my own city.
The rest of the season was more mellow. I spent some time hanging out with friends and having hours-long conversations. Other times it was just me, an iced latte, and my yarn. These quiet days ended up being just as memorable as the bigger outings.
There is something peaceful in not having the day planned and letting time move slowly.
Another routine I had grown to love is my summer late-night walks. I started the habit with the intention to hit my step count and burn a couple more calories. But most of them ended with me grabbing ice cream. Well, at least it increased my happiness level.
Upon reflection, this summer felt like a patchwork quilt. These patches of memories aren’t carefully coordinated, but they came together as a perfect quilt. From a crochet-filled living room to the Sky Ride and the world’s best tacos— this summer taught me that joy can be found in both the exciting and the ordinary.
Illustrated
Are we consuming social media, or is it consuming us?
Juhi Kosamia
Contributer Deja
Gordon Contributer
A discussion on the issues that surface on social media—and the importance of confronting them.
The culture of judgment on social media
By Juhi Kosamia
TikTok’s success arguably relies on oversharing with an audience that is eager to pry. Being in the spotlight on TikTok can be as haunting as it is rewarding. For example, the white boy of the month explores an internet-wide obsession with celebrity crushes by TikTok users. Meanwhile, the couch guy received hate from users who made assumptions about a man cheating on his girlfriend.
The controversy of the couch guy started when a college student posted a video of surprising her long-distance boyfriend in his apartment. In the clip, the boyfriend—nicknamed “couch guy”—is sitting on the couch with three other women when his girlfriend walks in. Many users accused him of not showing enough excitement and instead provoked a muted and awkward interaction as he slowly got up to hug his girlfriend.
Such a reaction was subjected to a massive wave of criticism. The couch guy was labelled as a cheater. His reaction was repeatedly parodied, as people continued to demand that the couple break up.
On the other hand, the girlfriend was painted as a victim of an unhealthy relationship. Where many claimed her boyfriend had no interest in her and secretly hated her.
As we can imagine, being on the receiving end of the video is not a pleasant experience. And the public’s reaction was probably not what the girlfriend expected.
This controversy shows the problem in assuming a person’s character and relationship from a single recorded moment. As it takes away the private persona that we all have behind the internet.
For example, the couch guy didn’t know he was being recorded and that millions online were expecting a certain reaction from him. But he had to face the overwhelming amount of criticism just from a couple of seconds of his body language, and how it meant he didn’t love his girlfriend.
In an age saturated with media and information, it is important to recognize that online videos rarely capture the full essence of a person. Reducing individuals to labels based on brief snippets of their lives is neither accurate nor fair.
Overexposure to content has desensitized people. Many would leave inconsiderate comments and cross boundaries just to be entertained. To change this situation, we should confront and discuss the boundaries of online behaviours.
You need to breathe, and reboot
By Deja Gordon
It’s 12 a.m. and you’re tired, but you don’t want to sleep yet. You’re scrolling in search of the next thing that grabs your attention—does this scene sound familiar?
Social media played a significant role in my summer. It took up more of my summer than I’d like to admit. But it undeniably provided me with
entertainment.
For example, Instagram directed me to the Netflix show Forever. And thanks to its advertisement on my mom’s device, it also led my whole family to GloblJam, a basketball event that takes place in Toronto and is held in August.
I’ve also found various restaurants and recipes to try on social media. In fact, the other day, my mom asked me to pick up some pistachio spread because she wanted to make the viral Dubai chocolate.
As we can see, social media can be inspiring. However, its downside can be very consuming. For one, it is not uncommon to succumb to the habit of doomscrolling on social media, especially before bed. And before you know it, a few hours have gone by. When this becomes a habit, it can be very time-consuming and mentally draining.
Aside from that, the lines between social media and real life can be blurry at times, which can affect our self-perception and values if we’re not being mindful. It is crucial to remember that not everything on social media is real. Because there is so much information on social media, both real and fake, it is our responsibility as users to apply critical thinking and filter the information that we see.
It’s not uncommon to encounter nasty corners on social platforms. For instance, I’ve found myself enjoying certain content, only to find the content creator was ripped to shreds by the comments.
These instances unveil the boldness that comes with anonymity on social media. The benefit of being able to hide one’s identity has emboldened people to say disrespectful things on social media without hesitation. If these conversations were held in person, many would likely never say such disrespectful things.
In this way, social media can hinder people from developing the tact necessary for human interaction.
That said, don’t let the downside of social media stop you from reaping its benefits. Whether you’re using it for entertainment or educational purposes, with sufficient awareness, social media can be a healthy, informative platform.
As we get ready for another school year, remember to take breaks from social media. Set your phone aside, meet up in person with friends, and touch grass, if you will. Tonight, when the clock strikes 12 a.m., turn off your phone and go to bed. You’re not missing out on anything. All the social media content will still be there.
A personal reflection on how the use of AI can lead to a lack of critical thinking.
As a computer science major, I am guilty of partaking in an increasingly popular programming practice: vibe coding. Vibe coding is when you work with an AI assistant to code a program. More often than not, you ask the AI assistant to just code the program for you. Then you fix the assistant’s mistakes and complete the program.
In the past two years, ChatGPT has been an amazing assistant for me. It helped me to complete computer science projects at record speed and enabled me to successfully engage with software that I had never seen before.
Illustrated by Melody Zhou
Arts
Meanwhile, I have this question in the back of my mind: Is using ChatGPT cheating? Yes, I’m using new software and producing results. But am I really the one behind the results? And am I learning anything from these experiences?
Intellectual obesity
Nataliya Kosmyna, a researcher from the MIT Media Lab, and her team conducted a study this year on how ChatGPT impacted critical thinking. In the study, the team divided 54 subjects into three groups and asked each group to write some essays based on SAT prompts for 20 minutes. The first group was allowed to use ChatGPT while writing their essays, the second group was allowed to use Google while writing their essays, and the final group was not allowed any resources at all. During the writing of the essays, each student was hooked up with an EEG (electroencephalogram) to record their brain activity.
The study showed that the group that used ChatGPT had the lowest brain engagement with the essays, while the other groups had high brain activity in areas associated with creativity and memory. Furthermore, the research team noticed that towards the end of the experiment, ChatGPT users would often just copy/paste the AI’s model answer without making any effort to change or personalize it.
In a talk at TEDxPeacePublicSchoolKottakkal, educator-entrepreneur Mohammed Ajmal, says that the failure of the ChatGPT students stems from what he calls “intellectual obesity.” For us to develop necessary skills like problem solving and critical thinking, we need to actually solve problems and think critically.
When we ask a large language model to write an essay or solve a problem for us, Ajmal explains that we are
“outsourcing the whole thinking process to an AI system.”
Ajmal’s statement hits me right where it hurts. I have coded in hackathons where the goal is to create a product as quickly as possible. In those situations, I used ChatGPT to make a website, and it utilized tools that I had no idea how to use.
Looking back on it, I have no idea how I did what I did. I don’t think I can make the website again without AI. I don’t think I can program without AI. I, too, suffer from intellectual obesity.
The cause of intellectual obesity
However, I have never experienced the same existential crisis with writing. While I utilize AI in my writing process, I always felt that it empowered my writing rather than overtaking it. AI has helped me brainstorm ideas and find synonyms, but I never felt the need to let AI write any portion of my pieces for me.
When contemplating my conflicting experiences with AI, a study from Microsoft this year captured my situation perfectly. The results of the study indicate that the more confident a user is in an AI agent, the less critical thinking they use when working with it. Similarly, the more self-confident the user, the more critical thinking they use when engaging with AI.
When I write, I am more confident in myself, and I can use AI as a tool to help and support me. But when I code, I am less confident in my ability to make a product. Therefore, I rely on an AI agent to get an easy result.
This has led me to take a step away from vibe coding until I can build my confidence in coding on my own before turning to AI for assistance again. Maybe then, I’ll finally overcome my intellectual obesity.
Editor | Yusuf Larizza-Ali arts@themedium.ca
When Hollywood Gets The Reboot Right
Juhi Kosamia Contributer
Alook into how some recent Hollywood Blockbusters show the do’s and don’ts of retelling a classic story.
The three Rs—reduce, reuse, recycle—have guided generations towards a brighter future. Hollywood, adhering to this classic mantra has produced a fourth and fifth: reboot and remake. This summer’s newest entries include Superman, Lilo & Stitch, and How to Train Your Dragon.
Movies connect with people through imagination, heart, and ensuring their stories resonate with the audience. However live-action reboots of beloved childhood stories are well-received, and Lilo & Stitch (2025) is a prime example of why. The 2002 film was a bold risk for Disney, embracing a new animation style and setting its fantastical story within the very real culture of Hawaii. At its core, the film was about support, family—given and chosen— summed up by the word “Ohana.” The 2025 reboot, feels like a betrayal of that spirit.
In the pursuit of “realism,” Disney abandons the intent of the original and delivers a story that leaves audiences unsatisfied at best and furious at worst. The remake lin-
gers on Nani’s financial struggles in caring for Lilo and Stitch, resulting in her leaving her family behind to pursue a degree on the mainland. This shift reframes the narrative around prioritizing individual ambition instead of community and for fans of the original, it’s a bitter pill to swallow. This narrative change alienates audiences that cherished the original’s focus on togetherness and leaves children with a message without the original’s warmth.
Contrastingly, Superman (2025) embraces the challenge of a reboot and triumphs because it retains what audiences have loved about the character since his inception. James Gunn’s film has heart, thoughtful real world allusions, and the silliness necessary for a story about a man flying in red trunks. Superman has always resonated with general audiences because he is both extraordinary and deeply ordinary. His powers set him apart, but his values including kindness, humility, and compassion make him relatable. Audiences love him because he makes selfless goodness feel achievable.
Superman (2025) highlights this balance in its storytelling as Gunn peppers the film with moments of humanity
such as: Superman pausing to save a squirrel mid-battle, holding up a collapsing building until a civilian escapes, and deliberately steering a monster into an empty park to minimize casualties. These details reinforce the idea that every life matters. In a time audiences are feeling fatigued of superhero films, Gunn’s Superman resonates for feeling both fresh and familiar. It reminds audiences that heroism does not come from brute strength but from moral conviction. Viewers leave theatres brimming with optimism, carrying with them the sense that choosing hope and kindness is not only possible but necessary.
How to Train Your Dragon (2025) offers another lesson in how to reboot: change nothing. The live-action version mirrors the animated original almost frame for frame, with dialogue, scenes, and even its pacing left intact. While it raises questions about the redundancy of a remake, it hits the mark. The strength of the original film was in its story’s timelessness. At its core, How to Train Your Dragon is about empathy, the courage to challenge traditions, and friendship. By resisting the temptation to modernize the story with grittier realism or unnecessary subplots, the reboot allows these themes to shine once
more. The result is an experience that feels familiar yet powerful, evoking the same joy and wonder that captivated audiences the first time around. In staying faithful to the heart of the story, the reboot demonstrates that a reimagining does not need reinvention.
How Music Unites Societies Around The World
Emma Catarino Contributer
As summer comes to an end, so are the requisite summer concerts. With the new est Rogers Stadium being recently built, we reflect on the impact music has on the community.
Ayear ago, when my boyfriend told me that he’d bought us both Coldplay tickets, I had to pick my jaw up off of the floor. “I want to go for the experience!” he said after I called him crazy, surely no “experience” was worth almost $1000, I thought to myself. I was wrong, the second I stepped out of Downsview station, the Coldplay atmosphere was electric.
Thousands of people of all ages, races, and religions were charging into Rogers Stadium wearing their yellow outfits or band tees. Chris Martin and the rest of the band gave a stellar show. Not only did they play their brilliant music, but they also were engaging with their fan interactions.
He personalized the show by talking about how lovely Toronto is, instilling a sense of pride in the audience. A segment of the show even had Chris Martin highlighting specific audience members and improvising short verses about them! It was genuinely my favourite experience all summer.
Music has been used as a means of bringing people together for centuries and historically, it has been used for many special occasions, from the happiest weddings and balls, to the saddest funerals. Music is also used as a pastime or a comfort, like when a worker hums to himself during a shift, or a mother sings to her baby.Songs like these have been passed down over generations, maintaining significant traditional or sentimental meanings for themselves.
Older artists, like Queen or Michael Jackson, really highlight how music can bring people together across both space and time. Billie Jean and Bohemian Rhapsody remain incredibly popular songs, despite being released over 40 years ago. These songs have had such a lasting impact, that in 2017, a crowd in London spontaneously broke out into a Bohemi-
Another recent blockbuster remake Wicked (2024) Broadway to screen adaptation. It evoked similar feelings of togetherness through the friendship of Elphaba and Glinda. The 2024 film succeeded where others fail by focusing on the qualities that resonated most with audiences in the stage musical: heart, friendship, and challenging injustice. Fans of the original Broadway production loved Wicked for its balance of dazzling spectacle and emotional weight of its story. The film manages to showcase a story of how society creates villains and the bond between two women from opposite worlds.
an Rhapsody sing-along as the song was played over speakers, without Queen even being present or performing.
One modern artist who’s done incredible work bringing together people from all backgrounds is Taylor Swift. In her career spanning nearly two decades, she’s released over a dozen albums and gained millions of fans worldwide.
Her music themes of love, heartbreak, selfidentity, feminism, etc, have resonated with adults and youth alike, creating a community where people and especially women feel seen and supported.
One key instance of the artist bringing her fans together is the Taylor Swift friendship bracelet swap trend. During the months of her international Eras Tour, Taylor Swift encouraged fans to create friendship bracelets, which they could swap with fellow fans at her shows. The bracelets often included the names of Taylor Swift albums, or cute messages like “ILY” or “UR PRETTY”.
One reason why music is so good at uniting people is its versatility. There are hundreds of thousands of music genres spanning different cultures and time periods, and they constantly evolve. Everyone all over the world can find music that fits their taste, or lyrics that they relate to.
However if they can’t, then music is so adaptable that anyone can create it with their mouths, sophisticated instruments, or even by banging two metal pots together to a rhythm.
Illustrated by Melody Zhou
nected strongly to the way the movie addressed issues like bullying, prejudice, and corrupt leadership. These themes were grounded in the relationship between Elphaba and Glinda and the film never allows the spectacle of Oz to overshadow their connection. Even in its most fantastical moments, pink bubbles, green skin, and soaring musical numbers, the narrative emphasizes solidarity and loyalty. Despite some of its CGI and backlit shots being clunky, Wicked (2024) succeeds in delivering fantastical escapism infused with enough sincerity that even musical skeptics left the theatre with a newfound appreciation.
Audiences con-
Remakes and reboots are a trend Hollywood won’t shake because nostalgia guarantees a box office profit. But the conversations around the execution of these movies differ greatly. A strong remake reinforces the core message of the original, expanding and enriching it with new scenes that highlight what made it special in the first place. When filmmakers respect the source material, as Superman (2025), Wicked (2024), and How to Train Your Dragon (2025) demonstrate, they revive a classic story and remind audiences why they loved it in the first place. A complete rejection of the original, like in Lilo & Stitch (2025), results in a hollow imitation that alienates fans and undermines the legacy it sought to capitalize on. Ultimately, audiences will always welcome revisiting familiar worlds but Hollywood must let the core of the original story shine in order to maintain support.
Explore The Topics in Arts Through These Courses
(Contd. from Page 01)
Skyler Pikoroski Contributer
Another benefit topics courses provide is the opportunity to find new sources and concepts to use in your other classes. Individual fields of study tend to have overlap, especially since the topics courses can be slightly broader and thus more applicable to a variety of genres. Learning about gender in film during a topics course was extremely beneficial, as gender is typically present across all genres of film, thereby allowing the concepts learned in this topics class to be used in another cinema class.
I also found specific readings assigned for the class could be used as sources for essays written in other classes, such as the aforementioned classical Hollywood, war film topics courses, or others such as Avant-Garde Film or Canadian Auteurs, making essay writing and finding sources significantly easier.
All of the Visual Studies topics courses being offered for the 20252026 academic year can be found here. Happy back to school and best of luck to all new and returning UTM students!
Work by Melody Zhou
12 sports & health
Using UTM’s athletic facilities for more than working out
Kirsty Carnan Contributer
Some advice from a fourth year student on how to use UTM’s facilities to your advantage.
If you’re a first year student trying to meet new people and looking to take a much needed break from setting up your new dorm room or those never ending preclass readings, I may have some suggestions for you.
Starting university can be scary for many reasons. Whether it is about maintaining good grades, making new friends, or feeling like you picked the right school, the only way to keep your sanity is through balance. You may find that school can become overwhelming and you need a place to blow off some steam or just have some fun. In these cases, UTM’s gym, the RAWC, and our tri-campus sports league have options for everyone to do just that.
If you like swimming or yoga, there are guided classes. If you enjoy weightlifting, the RAWC has two gyms for you to train in (and hopefully hit those PRs soon). If you want to participate in a more competitive setting, our tri-campus league is now hosting tryouts for a variety of sports, such as basketball, cricket and flag football (full schedule on UTM’s website). And if you’re looking for something more casual, the RAWC also posts a weekly schedule of drop-in sessions for sports such as soccer, volleyball, dance, and so on.
Needless to say, UTM offers a lot of ways for students to meet each other besides academic settings. In my first year, I picked up sports I had never played before. It became tradition for my dorm neighbors and I to play pickleball every week. It turned out to be a great way to bond outside of our classes. Even better, one of the nice things about the RAWC is that they understand students’ busy schedules. Each activity always has multiple time slots, making it easy to balance school and social activities.Part way through each semester, intramural sign-ups open. I joined a soccer team and a volleyball team my first year. Partaking in intramurals made me feel more comfortable in the new and daunting place that university is, and more familiar with the campus I was now walking through everyday.
I know hesitation can arise when you’re in a new environment and you may hold back when doing things alone. However, places like the RAWC are where many students before you have formed long-lasting friendships. Attending the RAWC’s programs and trying out for tri-campus sports gave me the chance to branch out and make friends with people outside my major, with people in the years above me, and travel to other University of Toronto campuses.
In my second year, I made the women’s tri-campus soccer team. After attending a few practices, I was reminded of my high school teammates—a group of supportive girls, bonding over sports, and looking to have the most fun we could. The season had its ups and downs and an ankle injury kept me on the sidelines for most of it, but even so, I always felt like I was part of the team. We went on to win the tri-campus championship that season. I remember it came down to penalty kicks in the final game. Standing in the center of the field waiting for selected players to take their shot, I could hear the boys tri-campus soccer team cheering us on. It became obvious that tri-campus is much more like a community of athletes than a single team.
Beyond the opportunities the RAWC and tri-campus offers students, they also create a friendly and exciting atmosphere. Over the three years I have been at UTM, intramurals never fail to be just as exciting or competitive as tri-campus’ “Game Day Sunday,” have continued to be an enjoyable way to support my friends.
There are many things and people you will remember from university. Choosing to spend your time in a team sport or doing something active at the RAWC will not be a let down. As for myself, I don’t remember some of the teachings of first and second year, though I’ll never forget how my friend, Leo, and I have been on four different soccer intramural teams pining after that championship T-shirt for three years. We finally got those T-shirts last fall.
Get Ready to Register: New Sports Programs Coming to the RAWC
Sonia Carreiro Contributer
UTM’s Department of Recreation, Athletics & Wellness is excited to announce even more opportunities for students to get involved on campus.
While world-renowned arts, science and math programs are synonymous with U of T, an often overlooked element of the university is its commitment to athletics.
The Department of Recreation, Athletics & Wellness (DRAW) is dedicated to engaging, educating, and motivating students to lead active, healthy lifestyles.
Our mission is to foster communities of belonging through inclusive, accessible, and safe programs and services.
Most of these programs can be found at the Recreation, Athletics & Wellness Centre (RAWC) – the ultimate hub for staying active, healthy, and connected on campus. With a state-of-the-art swimming pool, a wide range of fitness equipment, and versatile sports facilities, the RAWC is designed to support both physical and mental wellness in addition to community building at University of Toronto Mississauga.
For the 2025–2026 school year, the RAWC is leveling up with exciting new ways to stay active and have fun! Try out our brand-new Pilates reformer machines and explore the revamped Strength & Conditioning Centre. Jump into drop-in sports, Learn to Play sessions, or intramural leagues and tournaments, or make a splash with swim classes led by our aquatic team or hang out on a paddle board with friends in the UTM Pool. If the outdoors is more your vibe, join the UTM Moves crew for wellness walks, outdoor adventures, and more opportunities to move your way to wellness. Looking to show your school spirit? You can represent the UTM Eagles in the Tri-Campus Sport League or cheer on
your peers as they hit the court or fields this 20252026 year. Grab some friends, catch a game, and show your Eagle pride!
DRAW is committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our diverse community. Our goal is to provide a space where everyone feels safe, supported, and empowered to move, play, and build community on campus. Through programs such as our new Drop-in Wheelchair Basketball, fitness classes like Rainbow Rhythm & Soul Sweet, 2SLGBTQS+ solidarity swim and special events including Bhangra for Wellness and Elevate UTM, we celebrate diversity, encourage participation, and nurture a strong sense of belonging for all.
Whether you want to break a sweat, learn a new skill, or simply recharge between classes, there’s something here for everyone. Signing up for our programs is more than just exercise — it’s a chance to boost your energy, meet new people, and keep balance in your semester. With so much under one roof, the RAWC makes it easy to stay active, healthy, and connected — all while having fun.
Check out https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/athletics/ to see the full schedule of UTM sports offerings.
