In the past few years, a number of celebrities have fallen from public grace for one reason or another. A downfall in public opinion is often due to tasteless remarks, unsavory political ideologies, or a misconduct of some sort. These issues don’t arise overnight.
>> read more on page 11
PEDAGOGY AS A SCIENCE PAINTING OUR FACES
In an interview with The Medium, Philosophy Professor Alex Koo at the University of Toronto (U of T) shares the pedagogical side of education. He dives deep into what sparked his interest in pedagogy, the science behind the field, and its impact on education.
>> read more on page 07
I still remember my first make-up kit. Playing dress-up, wearing plastic princess heels, smearing neon eye-shadow on my eyelids, and adding an unacceptable amount of shimmer on my cheekbones.
>> read more on page 05
The Louvre Heist Reopens an Old Question: Whose Treasures Were Those to Begin With?
Audrey Thilloy Contributor
A closer look at how a dramatic theft revealed the multinational, colonial histories embedded in France’s royal jewels
The Louvre, home to the Mona Lisa and centuries of cultural treasures, became the stage for a heist that seized global attention. On October 19th, 2025, thieves disguised as construction workers used a mechanical lift to reach the windows of the Galerie d’Appollon—home to the French crown jewels. Within minutes, eight priceless artifacts had vanished, dealing a blow to the museum’s prestige.
The irony? Those jewels were stolen twice.
>> POET
on page 12
SPORTS & HEALTH
Eagles First Steps Back Onto the Court
Chloe Cathcart Contributor
UTM men’s basketball starts the season 0-2, women’s team split opening matches
Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams kicked off their regular season game on homecourt. For the past two Sundays, the teams have been battling against the St. George teams, trying to find rhythm in the new season.
Men’s Team Faces Early Setbacks
With the majority of the UTM men’s team being new players, the homeopener on November 2nd was the first steps on the court as an Eagle for most.
St. George Blue started the game with a fast pace
that the UTM men were not expecting. By the end of first the Eagles were down 9-18 and had to regroup.
The second half of the game was a back and forth run. With key offensive efforts from Kent Lingat, a returning player, the game was a close battle right to the end. Unfortunately, the men were unable to close the final bit of the gap from St. George’s first steps on the court and St. Goerge left with a 79-75 win.
Finding themselves back on homecourt on November 9th, matching up against St. George Red, UTM was quickly put into another fast-paced contest. Getting open lanes and fast breaks, St. George was putting up quick offensive points.
>> CAN’T RICH RIGHT continues on page 11
Prekshaa Surana, Contributor
Photo Credits: @utmississauga
02 NEWS
Filipino students crown “Miss SustainaBelle” in sustainability-themed pageant
Aaron Calpito News Editor
UTM’s and McMaster’s Filipino student association collaborated to co-host a fashion show featuring outfits made from recycled materials.
On the evening of November 6, the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) Filipino Student Association (FSA) and the Filipino McMaster Student Association (FMSA) teamed up to host Binibining SustainaBelle, a pageant centred on eco-friendly fashion.
Starting at 6 p.m., more than 50 UTM and McMaster students crowded the Student Centre Meeting Room for the community event. The venue featured rows of chairs for audience members separated in the middle by a runway, cups of buko pandan on the side selling for $3.50 apiece, and a large Philippine flag taped to a door.
To start, the event hosts ran a “bring me” icebreaker game, calling on participants to be the first to retrieve a series of seemingly random items. The game ended after the hosts asked for “Steve Harvey’s moustache,” whereupon a swarm of guests chased and tackled a host dressed as the American TV star to retrieve his false facial hair.
The hosts followed up with a second icebreaker, a game of limbo. About a dozen participants competed until one guest managed to shimmy under the bar when it was just half a metre off the floor, causing everyone to shout in disbelief.
With the room sufficiently excited, the hosts calmed everyone down with a brief presentation about the history of pageantry in the Philippines. Presenters highlighted that the Philippines’ current culture of pageants originated from American colonial occupation following the Philippine Revolution of 1898, which drew a collective groan from the audience. Despite its origins in imperialism, the presenters noted that watching and participating in pageants have become beloved national pastimes as well as vehicles for feminism and gender expression.
After the history lesson, the hosts invited the audience to form three teams and delegate people to pick from an assortment of recycled materials and art supplies at the front of the room, which each team would use to make outfits for the upcoming model walk. Each delegate approached gingerly at first, then plundered the supplies in a frenzy as their teammates began yelling at them to fill their arms with egg cartons, ribbons, garbage bags, latex gloves, and the like.
The hosts then gave thirty minutes to each team to dress two of their members with their collected materials, and the venue turned positively raucous. Some participants locked in straight away, others panicked and cried hysterically, and all around students shouted over one another in English and Tagalog as everyone endeavoured to bring their artistic vision to life.
Six elaborate outfits materialized at an astonishing rate, with participants carving angel wings out of cardboard, folding construction paper into crowns, fashioning flowing skirts out of excess copies of The Medium and The Varsity, and holding everything together by wrapping the models in packaging tape. All throughout, some participants broke off to help themselves to the buko pandan and continuously took turns re-affixing the Philippine flag, which adamantly refused to remain taped to the door.
As the timer ran out, nerves seemed to cool as the teams calmly and collectively made final touches to their outfits and presentation schemes.
With all the outfits complete, audience members took their seats to watch runway performances from the three teams: Stepkapatids, Isquaters, and Jeepney. The models each took turns walking up and down the runway in pairs, striking poses in front of the flag and a panel of judges, all while being lit up by camera flashes from a squad of club photographers along the way. Each team explained the inspirations behind their outfits, which ranged from Victoria’s Secret models, to the poor, to the Philippines itself.
The groups then competed in a trivia contest and a talent show, which featured breakdancing and a capella renditions of the Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way” and Daniel Caesar’s “Best Part.”
The hosts capped off the activities with a voting period for attendees to determine which team would win the pageant and the “Binibining SustainaBelle” title. In the end, Stepkapatids took home the first-place crown and sash.
Following the event, The Medium interviewed FSA
the evening’s proceedings.
The club executives explained that they centred the pageant on sustainability to promote environmental awareness and Filipino culture in an engaging and accessible way. “Normally when you come to a pageant, people come with pre-made outfits,” explained Duff, a third-year studying social work at McMaster University. “So we thought if we brought things that people normally throw away, people could use that to turn it into something that’s new, fresh, and fun for everybody to enjoy.”
“A huge part of Filipino culture is centred on pageantry,” added Bueno, a third-year management and economics student at UTM. “It’s like a whole sport for us to just watch Miss Universe, so it was really nice to have the same vibes tonight.”
Speaking on the inter-university partnership, Bueno said, “we’ve been collabing since 2022, so it’s really an annual event around November to December. We’re really glad to have this tradition of getting together every year, meeting new faces, and working together for years to come.”
Duff concluded, “we try to create a microcosm of Filipino culture in our events to try to communicate it and spread it as much as possible.”
Seeing how popular Binibining SustainaBelle turned out to be, the executives expressed their interest in hosting it again next year.
Photo Credits: Melody Zhou
Photo Credits: Melody Zhou
Vice President Events Marie Bueno and FMSA External Director Sum Duff to gain insights into
Photo Credits: Aaron Calpito
Students, staff, faculty, and alumni gather across U of T to honour the fallen for Remembrance Day
Prekshaa Surana Contributor
UTM’s ceremony took place in front of the William G. Davis Building and featured wreath-laying, a moment of silence, and heartfelt messages of peace and remembrance.
On the morning of November 11, a gathering of students, faculty, staff, and alumni of the University of Toronto (U of T) Mississauga (UTM) stood in quiet reflection in front of the William G. Davis Building. The annual Remembrance Day Ceremony brought together members of the community to pay tribute to alumni, staff and faculty who served, and in many cases lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars, among other conflicts.
Alexandra Gillespie, vice president of U of T and principal of UTM, oversaw the occasion. She began the ceremony with a land acknowledgement before the national anthem commenced. In her address, Gillespie described the illustrious life of Claude Bissell, a World War II veteran, English professor, and president of University of Toronto — a role through which he oversaw the opening of both the Mississauga and Scarborough campuses of U of T.
Next, Gillespie, United Steelworkers Local 1998 representative Richard Waters, and President of UTM’s Association of Graduate Students, Faisal Halabeya, placed tributes at the base of the flagpole. The Canadian flag was taken down at 11 a.m., after which participants partook in a two-minute silent contemplation. The Last Post blared
as the event came to an end, marking the end of the moment of silence, as the Canadian flag was raised to halfmast.
The day’s significance at UTM stems from its capacity to transform a national moment of commemoration into a campus-specific act of community. The ceremony last year, which was also performed at 10:45 a.m., emphasized that war is both a part of history and an ongoing fact of our world today.
A Remembrance Day Ceremony also took place at the St. George campus on November 11 at the historic Soldiers’ Tower, according to U of T’s alumni website. A 51-bell carillon recital began at 10:10 a.m., followed by the formal ceremony at 10:30 a.m. The program also featured wreath-laying, words of remembrance, and a moment of silence at 11 a.m. and concluded with the Last Post. A gun salute at Queen’s Park followed, along with a reception at Hart House’s Great Hall and public access to the Memorial Room.
This ceremony, which links current students to a century-long history of memory, is still one of U of T’s oldest traditions. With bell chimes ringing throughout campus, wreaths placed beneath engraved names, and the participants’ silent solidarity, the ceremony combines introspection, history, and togetherness. The university maintains recollection as a common dialogue about peace and continuity as well as a ritual of respect by opening the Memorial Room and holding a post-ceremony reception.
At the UTM ceremony, The Medium interviewed Sonia Carreiro, Supervisor of Sport Programs at UTM’s Depart-
ment of Recreation, Athletics and Wellness. She excerpts, candidly, “The ceremony is an ode to the veterans who served the country in the First and Second World Wars, and other conflicts, and also the people who are currently serving now.”
She reflected that “the least we can do is give them fifteen minutes of our time each year,” emphasizing that remembrance is not only a tradition but a responsibility. Having friends in the military, she spoke about the courage and bravery it takes to serve, qualities she believes deserve ongoing recognition and gratitude from the community.
Her message to others was simple yet powerful: to keep the memory of these soldiers alive. She urged the UTM community to pause, even briefly, to reflect on the sacrifices that make their freedoms possible. “Remembrance,” she said, “is the least we can do, but it means everything to those who once stood for us.”
Faculty and librarians petition for fair salary increases
effects of Ontario’s Bill 124, which previously capped public sector wages. The Ontario Court of Appeals ruled Bill 124 unconstitutional in 2024.
U of T Professors Semra Sevi and Tomasso Pavone argue that new hires are being excluded from across-the-board cost-of-living increases, sparking a petition with nearly 750 signatures.
University of Toronto (U of T) Professors Semra Sevi and Tomasso Pavone have launched a petition calling for fair pay for newly hired faculty and librarians across all three campuses. The petition, signed by nearly 750 faculty and librarians, argues that U of T is excluding newly hired staff from across-the-board (ATB) costof-living salary increases awarded by arbitrator Eli Gedalof this past July.
The issue traces back to December 2022, when the university hired Sevi and Pavone as assistant professors. Their contracts included a clause stating that their starting salaries would not be affected by future negotiations between U of T and the U of T Faculty Association (UTFA), which is the union representing faculty and librarians.
In 2023, arbitrator Gedalof awarded a 7% salary increase retroactive to July 1, 2022, for faculty and librarians. This increase was meant to offset inflation and the
Professors Sevi and Pavone, along with many new faculty and librarians hired after July 1, 2022, were excluded from this raise due to the contract clause, leaving them feeling duped. They raised this issue with U of T and launched a petition supported by 58 other faculty members and librarians.
The university made an exception, claiming, “in the unique circumstances of this award arising following a declaration that Bill 124 is unconstitutional, and without prejudice or precedent to the University’s right to revert to our normal practice in the future, we have decided to [give the 7% retroactive increase] in this instance.”
In 2024, arbitrator Gedalof issued another salary increase, granting a 3.5% ATB salary increase for 2024 and 2.5% for 2025. Once again, this increase excluded all hires after July 1.
Professors Sevi and Pavone raised this issue once more with U of T and initiated a new 2025 petition demanding equal pay for new hires. The petition argued that the university actively enforces a two-tier pay system, where faculty and librarians doing the same work get paid differently. The UTFA supported the petition, advocating on behalf of affected faculty and librarians by taking the issue to university administration.
U of T’s Office of the Vice President, Division of People Strategy, Equity and Culture, responded to the petition via email explaining its approach in applying ATB increases for new hires. Professor Sevi provided this email to The Medium.
The office said that starting salaries for new faculty are set with anticipated raises in mind, and that newly hired faculty are informed that their starting salaries will not include salary increases negotiated after the hiring date.
According to the university, “the starting salaries in offers to new faculty members already account for prospective increases their peers will receive on July 1 of the year of their appointment,” and “the University Administration is transparent to recently appointed faculty members regarding the fact that their starting salary will not be affected by any salary increase effective their date of hire that may occur as a result of negotiations between the University and UTFA.”
Additionally, they claim that ATB increases are applied to faculty members’ salaries as of June 30 each year. Faculty and librarians hired on July 1 will receive the adjustment the following year. For example, those hired on July 1, 2023 and remained within U of T employment until June 30, 2025, would have received the July 1, 2024 retroactive ATB increase in this past pay period.
Laila Alkelani Associate News Editor
Photo Credits: Melody Zhou
Undergraduates compete for $3600 in prizes in economics case competition
Camille Dornellas Contributor
Students used academic knowledge and creativity in the Undergraduate Economics Council’s second case competition.
On November 8, the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM)’s Undergraduate Economics Council (UEC) hosted the Economic Case Competition 2025. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., 21 teams of students gathered in the classrooms on the second floor of the Instructional Centre to compete for a prize pool of C$3600. This year’s theme was Breaking Point: Canada’s Productivity Problem, prompting contestants to critically assess Canada’s stagnating industrial output.
The second edition of the event featured 10 teams in the Beginner Division, comprising first and second year students, and 11 teams in the Advanced Division, comprising third and fourth years. After registering and receiving name badges with their team titles, the students went to room IB 245 for the Introduction Ceremony, where they met their panellists. Then, the executives divided them among four other classrooms. From 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., two rounds of presentations occurred with a one hour lunch break in between for networking.
The attendees faced evaluation from nine judges from Scotiabank, the Bank of Canada, the C.D. Howe Institute, Deloitte, Alterna Savings, KPMG US, BacharLorai Global, and Infrastructure Ontario.
The Advanced Division’s University of Toronto Mississauga Management Competition Team (UTMMC) won the C$1250 grand prize after receiving the highest score from the judges for their presentation. UTMMC Mentees placed first in the Beginner Division, taking home C$750.
During the presentations, beginner and advanced students had six minutes and eight minutes, respectively to address the issue of Canadian productivity and propose practical solutions for it. After that the judges had time to ask questions to the students and provide feedback on slide organization, content, and other aspects of their presentations.
Although the UEC set the competition’s overarching theme, competitors had the liberty to choose how to address the problem. In this way, teams approached the issue through different case studies like immigration and the trucking industry.
After round one of presentations, the attendees, judges, and executives gathered once more in IB 245 for the lunch break and networking. Many students took this time to
speak with the panellists and seek more feedback.
Infrastructure Ontario Research Manager Anil Wasif, the judge for the Beginner Division, gave a keynote address after the break. He spoke about the problem of Canada’s drop in productivity. “For a long, long time we didn’t really talk about productivity, as much as we should have, and that has actually led us to getting exposed” he said. He also outlined that “we had over-reliance on certain ideas we believed in as a nation.”
Wasif discussed how this emergency has been heard from big banks and big companies, and now it’s being heard from small businesses. He ended with a question to the students: “If you were to do something to show results from a short-term, medium term, long-term perspective, what are some quick winds that you can sort of envision?” Waif also commended the teams for their performance throughout the competition. “The level of sophistication, even the beginners have shown, is very, very impressive.”
Ryan Manucha, research fellow at the C.D. Howe Institute and a judge for the Advanced Division, gave a five-minute speech at the end of the ceremony. He talked about “risktaking in entrepreneurship,” but in the sense of “being a change agent in the world.” He mentioned the case of Gerard Comeau, a 62-year-old man who was fined after trying to bring more than 12 pints of beer he’d bought in Quebec into New Brunswick, an offence under New Brunswick law.
Manucha explained how, even though Gerard lost his case, he provoked a “sea wave of policy change in 2018.” He added, “I encourage you to harness your innovation and your thinking and go out and do some incredible things in the world.” The panellist also took the time to recognize the “calibre” of the attendees’ performances.
The Medium interviewed students, judges, and executives throughout the event on the importance of the competition and, at the end, what they had thought about it.
“Competion would drive you to be better,” said Nicolas Fortun, Case Competition Director from the UEC. He posited that students “need a competition to practice skills and hone on the necessary preparations for pathways after they graduate.”
Business Coordinator Hanna Patricia Paras of Scotiabank Wealth Management, who judged in the Advanced Division, explained how there are abilities that attendees work on that go beyond public speaking. “You get to work a lot in a collaborative setting and then that end result of presenting is also a lot of learning experience.”
The UTMMC Advanced Division champions explained how the UEC competition is useful for students. “Yeah, I mean, if you wanna go into consulting, it’s obviously like
the most relevant kind of experience that you’re gonna gain,” said Sahaar Himmati, a member of the team.
However, according to her, this is not restricted to economic students. She stated that this “lower stakes” environment is a great space for learning. “I’m a bio major. I think doing case competitions helps with your public speaking, because regardless of what sort of career path that you take in life, you’re going to be required to communicate ideas.”
One of the most complimented aspects of the event was the fairness that the organization executives reached with the two rounds of presentations. “Yeah, I think, overall, it was a very good judge panel,” said Bahvya Mehra, member of Beginner Division champions UTMMC Mentees. “We had to present the same presentation to two different sets of judges…. So the overall result was given as a collaborative thing.”
He also commented on how this event allowed participants to get in contact with professionals from big companies and firms. “That gives us, as students, the opportunity to connect with the people... and make long lasting connections that we can further nurture.”
Jesse Chen, another member of the team, added how the feedback they received on their presentation was important. “[One of the judges] said, ‘less is actually more,’” reflecting on how the judges emphasized the importance of making clear, concise arguments as opposed to arguments overladen with details or redundancies.
The judges further complimented the students’ performances. “It’s great to see students try to come up with original ideas, and that’s kind of what we need for something like a productivity crisis,” said Bank of Canada Economist Saarah Sheikh, a judge for the Advanced Division.
The UEC concluded the event with the promise of an even greater third edition Case Competition next year.
The failures of the Democratic Party in the second Trump administration
The second Trump administration has demonstrated an unprecedented degree of authoritarianism in its first 10 months in office. The president has bombed boats in international waters without trial or evidence, dictated a large portion of economic policy through questionable tariffs and international bailout policies, has sent national guard troops to major cities and—most recently—hinted at the possibility of breaking the 22nd Amendment by running for a third term in office.
Congress’s inability to deal with Trump is not surprising, considering their record; most Americans view Congress as useless anyway. What is new, however, is the Democratic opposition’s inability to meet the moment. Failed strategies and complicity have led to record-low approval ratings, and a complete lack of strategy for the near, medium, or far future.
The Democratic National Committee’s (DNC) failed strategy has been in place for years. After rejecting a populist in Bernie Sanders to run a moderate, “normalcy” candidate in 2016, Hilary Clinton lost what should have been a lay-up election, and Americans voted in Donald Trump for the first time. This election should have been a wake-up call for the DNC and
shown the changing political sphere. Americans were evidently tired of estab-
Photo Credits: Nicholas Fortun
Photo Credits: Melody Zhou
lishment candidates and looked to Trump despite his “solutions,” like building a physical wall to stop drug and human smuggling, seemed laughable.
But the US did not learn from this.
Joe Biden, Obama’s Vice President and a member of the Democratic establishment, ran in 2020. Although he won, the election results were closer than expected and, in large, had less to do with Biden’s appeal and more to do with the timing of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Biden tried to run again in 2024, but was eventually pressured out due to old age, and the incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris took his place. Although polling seemed close, Harris’s 107-day campaign exploded on election night when Trump swept all major states in a blowout election.
While the moderate president approach has been a failure at defanging Donald Trump, this failure pales compared to the DNC “strategy” in combating Trump since he took office. I placed the word in quotations because any strategy is nonexistent. In fact, Congressional Democrats have found themselves completely incapable of delivering effective counter-messaging. Two instances have demonstrated this clearly.
The first relates to the release of files relating to government collusion with notorious sex-trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. It is not uncommon knowledge that Epstein worked with several prominent politicians in his sex-trafficking ring involving children. Ample evidence exists showing us that Donald Trump was on excellent terms with the financier, with pictures of the two at parties and a very positive letter written by Trump to Epstein on his birthday. When House Democrats finally attempted to release several files in July, Mike Johnson—the Republican speaker of the House—shut down the House until September, to cool off the matter.
Since then, pressure from the DNC has cooled off dramatically, with no new bills passing through the House regarding this matter. The Democrats should have used this very obvious political move to shield the President from pedophilic accusations to push strong messaging, but this did not occur. I cannot imagine any reason why this would be the case, striking out the possibility that establishment members of the DNC are also involved; something we know is true, as seen with Bill Clinton’s close affiliations to Epstein.
The second case of DNC silence has come in the delayed swearing-in of Arizona House Representative Adelita Grijalva. After winning a special election in late September, Grijalva was supposed to be sworn into the House shortly after. However, Johnson has delayed her swearing-in for over a month, making it a record. He has also delivered no clear reason for this.
This move is simply just a way to prevent the Democrats from having more influence in the House, and throughout this whole ordeal, the DNC has failed to stand up for one of their own, focusing on the ongoing government shutdown—as though they cannot address multiple issues at once.
Although we do not have a president to compare this to, no doubt had the situation been reversed—had Nancy Pelosi delayed the swearing-in of an elected GOP House member— there would be outrage from the Party and their pendants. Yet in the other case, legacy
Democrats are found silent.
At times, the DNC has been complicit with much of Trump’s takeover of the government. In March, Congressional Republicans forced a vote to push through a bill that would legally allow for financial cuts to several social services that Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest man, had advised the Trump administration through the unofficial Department of Government Efficiency.
While the leader of the Senate Democrats Chuck Schumer initially said he would not support these cuts, he changed his mind the day of the vote, supporting a bill. This did not only slash government to people in need, but also gave a boost to the budget of ICE and Border Patrol, likely leading to the deportation and detention of several innocent Americans, a decision which was met with condemnation from within the party.
New solutions are presenting themselves, but the DNC remains stubborn in adopting changes that may compromise their positions.
In New York, Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani swept the Democratic Primary for the Mayoral race against the legacy Democrat and disgraced former New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo. Despite Cuomo resigning in 2021 over allegations of sexually harassing women employees, he received a flurry of endorsements from “progressive” Democrats, such as Ritchie Torres. Despite the DNC working against him, Mamdani—a democratic socialist—won the primary decisively.
Since then, however, not only has he not received an endorsement from Schumer,who is the state representative for New York, but he has had to deal with several legacy democrats accusing him of being a “Jihadist,” and a religious extremist, despite his progressive ideals like his unwavering support for LGBTQ+ rights. He has also come under attack for his critical stance on Israel and the genocide they are committing in Gaza. Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand accused him of saying “globalize the intifada”: something he never said.
Cuomo, now running as an independent, has joined in on these attacks, making a nowdeleted AI ad of Mamdani eating rice with his hands and joining other racist attacks from Republicans. Despite these very clear racist remarks against their candidate, the DNC has remained silent, and the closest sign of solidarity has come from a silent endorsement from Hakeem Jeffries.
Since taking office, the Trump administration has taken unprecedented moves to consolidate power and pursue an authoritarian agenda. Through this, the Democratic Party’s elite has remained silent, or often complicit. Apart from running poor candidates who lost to Trump, they have been woefully unable to meet the current moment.
Silence in critical moments, poor endorsements, and complicity have led to record low approvals, with no clear candidate for the 2028 federal elections. At the time of writing this, the Democrats swept a series of elections, including hard conservative races, signalling a good sign for the midterms. But this does not mean they have learned, and if they are incapable of building on their momentum, the failures of the DNC will remain open. Unless they can find a good footing, they will be doomed to the same failures for decades to come.
Painting our faces
only to realize that she had a three-step make-up routine: Fair and Lovely cream (...I know), kajal (which she didn’t use?) and a Dior mauve lipstick (okay, promising). It’s safe to say, I rocked a no-make-up look for a majority of middle school.
The day I embraced my face
I still remember my first make-up kit. Playing dressup, wearing plastic princess heels, smearing neon eye-shadow on my eyelids, and adding an unacceptable amount of shimmer on my cheekbones. I grew up wanting to add more Barbies to my doll collection and convincing my mom to do her make-up.
Middle school was when I saw glimpses of real makeup around me. Mascara, glossy lips, maybe a little bit of highlighter, adorned with thin golden hoops. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t come home and try to recreate that look instantly. I stole my mom’s makeup pouch
Growing up South Asian, my family embodied traditional skincare remedies and homemade facemasks. My mom was a proponent of no-make-up: just moisturizer, some powder when she wanted to ‘brighten’ her face, and lip balm to tie it all together. Instead of going shopping for make-up in India, we’d stock up on Vatika hair oil—a ride-or-die classic—and a bunch of other ingredients that made for the perfect face mask if you wanted to rid your hyperpigmentation.
Just mix some turmeric, sandalwood powder, honey, yoghurt and a bit of water and put it on your face, was my mom’s response to my whining on wanting to buy make-up so I could “fit in” with my friends.
High school was an experiment to say the least. Some days I’d define my eyebrows a bit more than usual, or I’d try a different shade of highlighter. Contour and bronzer were too advanced of a quest so I stuck to streaky concealer and an unflattering shade of blush. I loved experimenting with eyeshadow and would stay up late to perfect my blending.
Eventually, with a transition to university came tackling the imposter syndrome that the Covid-19 pandemic imposed. Studying from home. Calling family from home. Calling friends from home. Cooking food from home. A new home.
But funny enough, I grew to reconnect with my roots again through Bollywood cult classics. My best friend and I made it a weekly tradition to tackle one classic alongside mediocre takeouts. We admired Geet’s relentless fight for love in Jab We Met and cried with Naina as she parted ways from Bunny in Ye Jawaani Hai Deewani.
Then came Kate and Edwina in Season 2 of Bridgerton—the infamous historical romance book-to-show adaptation on Netflix. The main characters were both
South Asian and the leads of an incredibly popular Western series. Many people may think that this shift in the cast is a “breath of fresh air,” but to me? Well, it was more than that.
It was when Edwina referred to Kate as didi (older sister in Hindi). Kate’s preference of a morning cup of chai over English breakfast tea. The haldi ceremony. Kate massaging coconut oil in Edwina’s hair. The South Asian artisan influence in the embroidery and beading of the gowns. The chunky gold jewelry and the jhumkas.
All along in Western media, South Asians were portrayed to be different. The funny one. The smart one. The odd one out. But Kate and Edwina were portrayed to be confident, assertive, and worthy of love. They weren’t imitating anyone. Instead, they were empowering.
It would be cliché to say “I felt seen,” but at that moment, I didn’t feel the need to blend in, I didn’t feel the urge to change. Instead, I felt the need to be myself.
Now, instead of lining my eyebrows, I brush them through with some eyebrow gel. I replaced streaky concealer and the excessive highlighter with a skincare routine. I embrace my dark eyelids (which, technically, doubles as natural brown eyeshadow) and use a blush that adds a subtle glow. Contour and bronzer are still too advanced for my taste so instead, I stick to using a brown liner on my waterline.
My mom finds herself coming to my room now. Not to steal my make-up pouch but to ask me to apply a little bit of blush on her cheeks, fill in her eyebrows for her, and add a bit of mascara, even when her eyes get a little watery. Funny how she swore by the homemade turmeric face masks and coconut oil, yet still rocks a red lip and a saree on a night out.
Tradition or trend, inspiration or representation—it’s worth reminding ourselves that both can co-exist. What matters in the end is that you feel like yourself and nobody else.
Sandeepa Das Contributor
Illustrated by Sehajleen Wander
Santa Claus is coming to town (in July)
than a regular coffee in November. Buying themed items also encourages a sense of community and belonging among those who participate, just like any other trend.
Why are stores starting holidays sooner and sooner each year?
It’s October 31st, and you’ve made an emergency stop at Dollorama for a last-minute Halloween costume. But, when you walk into the store, you’re met by…Christmas decorations? Four aisles of wreaths, Santa hats, and other redand-green paraphernalia. The only Halloween costumes left are in the clearance box, on a shelf, filled with fake cobwebs, slowly collecting real ones.
Every year, it feels like the holidays are imposed on us faster and faster. Valentine’s Day arrives the day after New Year’s, pushed out prematurely by Easter, which is shoved aside by Canada Day. By mid-July, Halloween has returned, and Mariah Carey is ready to hit her high note on the first day of November. The process repeats every year, leaving shoppers and decorators alike asking…why?
Last year, The Guardian published an article proving that Christmas has been creeping up faster and faster, with Christmas markets around the world starting earlier as the years go by. Interestingly, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, dates were advancing to the end of November, but the trend dropped dramatically after the pandemic. This lends itself to theories that escapism is one of the driving forces encouraging companies to push festivities on the consumer. With the economic struggles dominant in urban life today, people need reasons to splurge and treat themselves. It is much easier, after all, to justify buying a limited-time peppermint drink
Physical stores and markets aren’t the only culprits in perpetuating these trends. As early as July, social media accounts begin posting about Christmas. Halloween inspires thousands of costume transition videos, and even smaller celebratory days—like National Girlfriend Day, National Boyfriend Day, and National Singles Day—get their spotlights throughout the year. Everyone is encouraged to create content for the holidays, whilst simultaneously “living in the moment.” The solution? Preparing, filming, and posting ahead of time to ride the currents of the algorithm.
This isn’t to say there is anything inherently evil about buying into the holiday spirit, but being aware of how much we spend is important. Companies creep holidays on us constantly, feeding off the sense of community and stress relief that the holidays create. They thrive on customer demand, creating more products and trends, and in return, pressure increases for customers to participate.
One recent example is the viral Starbucks Bearista cup: for just under 50 dollars, and only suitable for cold drinks in the winter, the Starbucks product promises to “bring instant joy to every sip.” The results of this particular Christmas treat were physical fights in stores as people tried to get their hands on the limited-time item, ending with Starbucks issuing an apology for their underestimation of just how much demand there would be for the cups. Amongst other complaints, people were quick to point out that the cups would soon be taking their place on thrift store shelves, or collecting dust in an attic, with other dramatic and short-lived trends.
It becomes exhausting keeping up with every holiday, not just for the participants, but for our planet, too. Even before the pandemic, Zero Waste told the CBC that 540,000 tons of packaging are thrown out each year. That statistic is just for Christmas in Canada, and does not include all the decorations and clothing people may throw out each year. If you consider all of those factors, as well as the effects of life after lockdown, the number becomes too large to comprehend.
So, how can we enjoy the holidays without the stress of ruining our pockets and the environment?
The first step is the hardest: accepting that sometimes, old will do. We don’t need a new costume for every Halloween or candy cane mugs every December. If change is necessary, donate the old and go thrifting for new clothes. Use reusable packaging, or make gifts yourself. Rethink the third advent calendar of the season, or the cute-yet-problematic ursine cups for your coffee.
These are all much easier said than done, but awareness is an important step in the right direction. Maybe eventually, stores will put the Christmas decorations out on the first of December, where they belong.
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Diana Varzideh Contributor
Illustrated by Melody Zhou
Independence isn’t what I thought it would be
Nguyen Bao Han Tran Contributor
While we commemorate Indigenous cultures, we must also alert our attention to Indigenous causes.
Being introduced to Canadian history eventually introduced me to the many roads, buildings, and town squares that have been renamed from colonial to Indigenous names. An act that honours rich languages and commemorates Indigenous history, bringing about decolonization and reconciliation.
I would like to note that as a non-Indigenous writer and new member to Canadian society, my perspective has been limited to the online resources of Indigenous perspectives. Yet, it remains an honour being able to access resources on a voice that has been silenced, shamed, and stripped of dignity throughout history by the colonial regime.
Renaming spaces with Indigenous names is part of an initiative by Canadian governments and institutes to honour the Indigenous nations that claimed this land before the illegal occupation of their homes by European settlers. While, European settlers undermined the Indigenous peoples’ sovereignty over their land through genocide and forced assimilation, they were still revered by the government. Many buildings and statues were constructed to remember these colonial European figures such as Adolphus Egerton Ryerson, Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir William Cornwallis. Hence, many renaming initiatives have been assumed to remove their influence. For instance, we have the Anaquod road in Regina, Saskatchewan named after Glen Anaquod, an Elder, member of Muscowpetung First Nation, and a residential school survivor. Another instance would be the renaming of the “Langevin Block” on Parliament Hill to the “Office of the Prime Minister and Privy Council” in June 2017 due to Sir Hector-Louis Langevin’s involvement in the residential school system.
Removing the settlers’ influence also includes light to the rich and diverse Indigenous languages to rename these places and buildings. The Maanjiwe Nendamowinan building at UTM is an instance that we, students, see everyday. The name translates to gathering of minds in Anishinaabemowin. The city of Regina, Saskatchewan also named their new recreation centre the Mitaukuyé Owâs’ā Centre, with videos made to teach non-Indigenous people on the pronunciation and meaning of the name. According to Natural Resources Canada, as of 2025, “close to 30,000 official place names are of Indigenous origin, and efforts are ongoing to restore traditional names to reflect Indigenous cultures.”
Whilst honouring Indigenous heritages seems like a simple way to explain the reasons for these initiatives, a Metis writer and professor, Brenda Macdougall, claims that renaming forms people’s memories and sense of belonging instead of just solely a historical legacy.
Christina Gray, a Ts’msyen and Dene lawyer, explains that renaming places from colonial names revitalizes rich Indigenous languages and that is more than just a symbolic gesture; it reflects on Indigenous histories and connections to the land. The Indigenous Corporate Training Inc. builds upon this by reminding us of the value of the place names
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and how they are mnemonic devices that serve a historical, geographical and spiritual purpose.
One fascinating part about the renaming initiative is that it aims specifically at educating others about the history of Turtle Island that doesn’t rely within the boundaries of colonization. It teaches newcomers, like me, about the Indigenous cultures of the land. It is also a counter to the assimilation of the residential school system that forced Indigenous children away from their nations, lands and cultures, to internalize European ideals, resulting in mass cultural genocide and generation trauma.
However, I think that it’s important to remember that the issues surrounding Indigenous people go beyond just naming spaces. This is an issue laced in current struggles with European-instituted bureaucracies and the survival of the colonial regime. For example, Indigenous children are overrepresented in the foster care system and in prison inmate population, making up 53.8% of children in foster care and 42.8% of the prison population on average. Indigenous populations have also been subjected to greater rates of poverty and homelessness.
We must address the fact that Indigenous peoples are still displaced in their own lands, since their sovereignty has been revoked and restored only to a partial extent. In cases like these, resourcing the renaming of buildings and places turns a blind eye to the present plight that requires just as much funding, attention, and support. In fact, renaming buildings without aiding those struggling to live within their lands may become ostentatious since there is no value to commemorating Indigenous cultures when Indigenous communities are still condemned to the colonial systems and abuses of the Canadian government.
The Underrated “Science”: Philosophy Professor Alex Koo Discusses The Value of Pedagogy
sparked his interest in pedagogy, the science behind the field, and its impact on education.
Teaching: a passion project
Professor Koo dives into the science and complexity of teaching, and shares ways for students to optimize their learning experience.
Most students attend lectures every day without much thought to the preparation required for the courses. After all, isn’t it just another couple of hours of professors explaining complicated concepts?
In an interview with The Medium, Philosophy Professor Alex Koo at the University of Toronto (U of T) shares the pedagogical side of education. He dives deep into what
Professor Koo shared that he didn’t think much about his career in graduate school until he was given the opportunity to serve as a teaching assistant (TA). “I quickly realized that my favourite part of graduate school was TA-ing first-year philosophy [courses], which was super fun and enjoyable.”
While Professor Koo discovered his passion for teaching in his graduate studies, he did not learn about the field of pedagogy until he became a lecturer at the University of Toronto (U of T).
During his four years as a U of T lecturer, Professor Koo attended events held by a community called the Teaching and Learning Community of Practice. He explained, “They’re just a bunch of professors at U of T who are really interested in teaching, and I started going to their meetings and their presentations.”
Through interacting with other instructors, their enthusiasm for teaching sparked Professor Koo’s passion for pedagogy. “These other instructors were just so passionate about their work and teaching. It really inspired me to learn about it [pedagogy] and to rethink how I teach my classes at every level,” he said.
After teaching various classes and encountering likeminded colleagues, Professor Koo asked himself a critical question. “Did I want to publish and become a famous philosopher, like everyone thinks that they want to do? Or
do I go all in on teaching? Which is something that I love to do.”
After weighing between career factors and his passion, Professor Koo made the decision to devote his time to researching pedagogy and cultivating students in the most effective ways possible.
A surprise found in studying pedagogy
Among the many surprising things he discovered in studying pedagogy, Professor Koo was most shocked by how little he knew about the field. “I didn’t know anything about pedagogy, and here I was, already teaching students.”
Upon reflection, he realized how his knowledge of course design, learning and instruction can be improved. “I was surprised to find out how much evidence-based research is out there about learning models and course design.”
Professor Koo elaborated that he discovered many empirical studies were available about what is effective for student learning.
“I thought teaching was just your personal style, but it turns out there are some really good, accepted ways of facilitating learning.” Pedagogy has revealed that coursework is far more deliberate and complex than most think.
How is pedagogy relevant to students?
“When I read some of the major books on pedagogy, I kept thinking I wish I had read this when I was a student,” said Professor Koo.
Although course design pedagogy might not be as applica-
Audrey Thilloy Contributor
Photo Credits: Melody Zhou
Photo Credits: Prof. Alex Koo
ble for students, pedagogical knowledge can provide great study insights to students. For example, it offers scientific evidence on how to most effectively learn and have longterm retention and understanding of materials.
Professor Koo elucidated with an example of research findings. “There’s empirical evidence that students prefer learning styles that are the least conducive for them to learn.”
In these studies, researchers collected students’ preferences for course styles. Most students stated that they prefer a course with a dynamic lecturer where they can just sit and take notes. On the other hand, students generally don’t prefer a class with regular quizzes, assignments or discussions.
“It turns out that students overwhelmingly overestimate how much they retain just sitting there, listening to a really skilled lecturer versus how much they retain from active learning skills like discussions or regular quizzes,” said Professor Koo.
He shared this as an instance of the intrigue of pedagogy, saying that it is interesting to spot the difference between working to learn and retain knowledge, compared to attending lectures for entertainment.
Incorporating science into teaching
Professor Koo has applied his own pedagogical studies to course design and set up systems to help students learn effectively.
“Regular assessment is something that I’ve really incorporated into almost all my classes,” said Professor Koo. “And these [tests] can be small.” These low-stakes assessments’ value lies in allowing students to consistently work on class content.
“If they [students] don’t do well on these assessments, it doesn’t really matter overall. But it’s worth enough that students want to do well.” He shared that this type of consistent, challenging testing has been empirically shown to help with understanding and retention.
In one of his courses, PHL245: Modern Symbolic Logic, Professor Koo does a quick knowledge recapitulation on an online anonymous voting system called Mentimeter. He noted that students have an interestingly enthusiastic response and engagement to these assessments, even though they do not contribute to students’ grades.
“There’s something about the fact that students know that it’s coming at the beginning of every class, and they want to do well on it. Even though it’s not graded and it’s anonymous.”
Nowadays, these small-scale assessments are commonly seen in courses. However, university courses weren’t always structured like this. Professor Koo recalled that when he was an undergraduate, courses were structured very differently. This directly impacted the learning model that students adapted, and the effectiveness of their knowledge retention.
“There were no low-stakes, regular assignments. It was just like major essays or major tests, and that was it.” This difference is one of the many advances that pedagogy has contributed to education, reflecting how it optimizes students’ learning through information on course design and structure.
Consistent efforts from a supportive, passionate community
“I think it is worth pointing out that there are things that are very behind the scenes, but really support the UTM teaching community—and I think it’s great,” said Professor Koo.
He shared that there are many efforts made in the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) to promote effective pedagogy, such as pedagogy reading groups for faculty, where faculty members can sign up each semester. These reading groups allow faculty to vote on new books on pedagogy, and have discussions with other professors from various departments.
Professor Koo said that these conversations about teaching and learning are very valuable. For example, learning about other professors’ perspectives in different disciplines can inspire instructors to experiment with different teaching approaches.
The learning advice that you need to hear
“I want students to know that a lot of professors regularly care about the quality of their teaching and the quality of their students’ learning experience,” said Professor Koo.
While students often devote most of their time to studying and completing assignments, it is not the only factor that affects their learning experience and academic performance.
Professor Koo said, “Having discussions and conversations with faculty who show an interest in teaching is really worthwhile.” He explained that these discussions can help students’ connection and understanding of courses, and uncover reasons behind course structure and design.
“When students have that connection, they’re more invested in the learning experience and [students] do better
in the course.” He continued, “I think it’s totally fine to go to a philosophy class and talk about philosophy all the time. But also chatting with your professor about teaching-related questions…I think it’s great.”
These conversations can not only strengthen students’ academic knowledge, but they can also help connect students with professors, providing insights to both parties.
Pedagogy versus the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
When asked about the change that AI has brought to instructors, Professor Koo opened up about the way AI has affected the value of university education.
“I don’t think it’s an overstatement to say that generative AI is totally changing the way people are looking at university education.”
When Professor Koo was planning his third-year Philosophy of Science course, he did an experiment with AI and tested how long it would take students to do well in his course using generative AI platforms. He concluded that it would only take five to ten minutes to complete his entire course with a good grade.
“In philosophy, this does represent a pretty big problem. Because on the face of it, it seems like the quintessential product or artifact of a philosophy class should be some essays.” He continued, “The challenge is, how do you assign something, knowing that it’s so easy for anyone to get generative AI to do it in about 30 seconds?”
Professor Koo expressed that he had hoped to provide a learning experience so fulfilling that students would not employ AI in their assignments. However, despite his endeavours, it has not resulted in the way he expected to.
“I’m in the middle of testing out a new course design that’s trying to be generative AI proof.” He said that there are tough trade-offs to courses focused on avoiding the use of AI, and course design with this focus is a work in progress.
While instructors might still be discovering the best ways to prevent AI from affecting students’ learning experience, many endeavours are certainly being made to protect the value of education.
More importantly, many instructors are working to ensure students can learn in an environment where they can practice critical thinking, resilience, and acquire skills and knowledge that are essential to their future. And these crucial life skills can only be done through learning authentically, without relying on AI to think for us.
A Moment of Appreciation for an Old Friend
study in groups so that she can be held accountable by other people.
For others considering a Work Study program, Sophia suggested being discerning about the time commitment and what position will work best with your schedule.
While university life has helped me make new friends, there are connections I’ve cemented before UTM that remain strong to this day.
One of these friends of mine is Sophia Braganza, who I met in the middle of high school and is currently enrolled in a comparative physiology specialist as well as a molecular biology specialist. Although our postsecondary pathways have diverged from high school, I have stayed tight with Sophia and have come to see how dedicated she is to her university journey.
Alongside her studies, Sophia has enrolled in a Work Study program since last summer. The work position she has taken on through this program is a research assistant for EDI research in STEM education. “[M]y favourite part has been the communication aspect of the scientist features, and figuring out how to share their research in a way that’s comprehensible, pertinent to first-year STEM courses, and just compelling,” Sophia said. “Overall, it was the best feeling to be able to draw the first-year curriculum connections and spark student curiosity.”
To find a balance in Work Study, as she enrolled in the maximum number of courses for the program, Sophia has dedicated certain times of her day to particular tasks. “All I really think it came down to was time blocking and making a schedule,” she said. She also prefers to
“What I like about this particular Work Study is that it’s really flexible, so I think it’s all about knowing how much you’re willing to stretch yourself,” Sophia said.
While her Work Study position caters more to her academic pathway, Sophia is also a UTM Library Ambassador, which often involves her giving library tours during Orientation. For Sophia, this position came from a place of love and appreciation for the library. Having spent a lot of time in the library in her first year, Sophia wanted to find a way to build her interpersonal skills while also giving back to the UTM community. “I used a lot of the research-like resources that they had and it helped me a lot with my projects and I’m like, ‘Hey, I would really love to share what I’ve learned,’” Sophia said.
One commitment that connects to both her pathway and personal ambitions is her position as a Hospital Elderlife Program volunteer at the Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital where she works to prevent delirium in elderly patients. “I play games with them; I will do a lot of memory activities, provide mealtime support, lead light exercises, and so on,” she said. “I am there to support in any way I can, make sure that their minds aren’t really stagnating and putting them at ease whenever they’re confused about their situation, especially since many of them have dementia.”
This volunteer position has been shaped by some of So-
phia’s
personal experiences. She was previously a Palliative Care Meal Support volunteer at the Milton District Hospital since grade 12 before moving to Oakville. Prior to this experience, Sophia also volunteered at a retire-
April Roy Contributor
Photo Credits: April Roy
ment home following the loss of her grandfather. “My grandmother was the only one left and there was a lot of pain, there was grief, but there was a lot of our family coming together,” Sophia said. “I really wanted to be able to be with the elderly people and be able to support them in any way that I could, because I personally knew how difficult it was to stay away from family.”
Sophia’s grandmother has also played a big part in her passion for healthcare, as she is a four-time recurrent stroke patient as well as paraplegic and has been cared for by Sophia’s parents and aunt respectively. “I think my grandmother’s care has played a lot into our whole family dynamic. It really made me realize that I wanted to support old people in any way that I can in my career
going forward,” she said.
Sophia is grateful for her past experiences and how they have allowed her to increase her professional network and attain a more hands-on position at the Oakville Hospital, as well as the connections she has forged with patients who may not often be visited, and the chance to help put their minds at ease. “It’s rewarding to be that person for them, even if it’s just for a while,” Sophia said.
Despite taking on many roles, Sophia has been able to discern what positions are most crucial to her academic and professional pathway and which ones she has to let go of. “I had to be mature and realize that I couldn’t
overextend myself because then it would also drain me,” she said.
Since becoming friends with her through a few shared AP classes we had in high school—some of which she credits for helping prepare her for university life—Sophia has inspired me to go above and beyond for opportunities that will help shape my career path. She has also shown me the importance of knowing your personal limits and prioritizing quality time with family and friends as well as interpersonal growth through networking. I am proud to call her my friend and am glad for anyone whose path she crosses and heart she touches.
Italian Canadians: A Personal and Inspiring Lecture Perspective by the Honourable Frank Iacobucci
to Canada in the early 20th Century. Most of the Italian immigrants were from poor regions in Italy, so they did not have much financial resources or refined skills. On top of that, most Italian immigrants did not speak English when they first arrived in Canada.
The first Canadian Italian Judge of the Supreme Court of Canada, Frank Iacobucci inspires perseverance and courage with his personal experiences and success.
As the first Italian-Canadian Judge of the Supreme Court of Canada, the Honourable Frank Iacobucci inspires the University of Toronto (U of T) Mississauga (UTM) community with his example, knowledge and positivity.
On October 21, at the Grand Hall of the Maanjiwe Nendamowinan building, Iacobucci gave a lecture about Italian immigration to Canada and shared his experience as an Italian Canadian at UTM.
This lecture is part of an annual series that brings leading experts to broaden perspectives, share knowledge, and provide opportunities for the UTM community to engage with Italian Culture. It focuses on encouraging students to foster relationships and gain insights on great leadership. This event was supported by a generous donation from the Canadian Italian Development Association (CIDA) to the Department of Language Studies at UTM.
The lecture started with words from Arsalan Kahnemuyipour, Chair of the Language Studies Department and Professor Teresa Lobalsamo, Associate Chair of the Department. Associate Professor of Italian Studies, Anne Marie Casterelli, an important figure of CIDA, and the Italian Canadian academic community, also gave words to kickstart the event.
Among the distinguished members of the audience were Principal Alexandra Gillespie, the Vice-President of U of T and Principal of UTM; Professor Emeritus Michael Lettieri, who served as the Founding Chair of the Department of Language Studies at UTM; and Professor Emeritus Salvatore Bancheri, who was Interim Chair of the Department.
Iacobucci’s Lecture
Iacobucci began by noting that Italians started to migrate
Iacobucci’s parents arrived in Vancouver in the early 1920s from very poor Italian regions at the time - Abruzzo and Calabria. At their arrival, Iacobucci’s parents worked hard to provide for their family in hopes of giving better opportunities to their children.
Iacobucci noted his appreciation for his parents, saying, “I admire my amazingly strong parents, who were of the first immigrant generation.” Inspired by his parents’ dedication, Iacobucci decided to study hard and apply to law school.
Iacobucci shared that it was not expected that a child from an Italian immigrant family would succeed in academia or pursue a professional career due to many societal factors. Most Italian immigrants would get jobs in construction and excavation. These positions often came with poor wages, dangerous working conditions, and long working hours. On top of that, Italians were mistreated and subjected to discrimination, verbal and physical violence.
Italians also used to be deemed as dirty, poor, ignorant and associated with crimes. The overpopulation in their neighbourhoods were seen as “dangerous to the public health in Toronto.” These stereotypes and prejudices became stronger when Benito Mussolini took power in Italy and World War II started. The freedom of Italian Canadians was restricted so much that many started to change their last names — for example, a name like Rossini would be changed to Ross.
Moving forward with courage
Iacobucci attended the University of British Columbia in the late 50s to early 60s with the desire to attend law school to support his parents. Many tried to stop Iacobucci and change his mind for prejudicial reasons.
He shared an experience with his statistics professor, who told him “You don’t want to be a lawyer, you don’t have the right name.” This instance revealed the strong stereotypes about immigrants not being able to or have the same access as the local students. On the contrary, another professor encouraged Iacobucci to apply for law school, stating that Canada was changing.
Iacobucci’s encouraging professor was right. When Iacobucci was in his undergraduate studies, Canada was about to change with initiatives on multiculturality, diversity and inclusion. Canada was opening up to give rights and opportunities for minority groups like women, immigrants, ethnic and indigenous communities. These initiatives were drafted and proposed during Pierre Trudeau’s administration between the 1970s and 1980s.
Perseverance rewarded with success
Iacobucci obtained his Law degree in 1964 from the Uni-
versity of Cambridge, after which he practiced Corporate Law in New York City from 1964 to 1967. Iacobucci then became an Associate Professor of Law at U of T’s Faculty of Law - a position he held until 1985. Afterwards, he became Associate Dean and Vice-Dean of the University of Toronto. He was also Vice-President of the board of Italian Canadians, deputy minister and attorney general. In 1999, he became the first Canadian Italian Judge of the Supreme Court of Canada.
In a dialogue session of the lecture, Casterelli joked about Iacobucci’s career. “He couldn’t keep a job!” she laughed. “I really like to have many activities and give back to the community,” responded Iacobucci.
An inspiration for immigrants
Iacobucci’s remarkable career set precedents for immigrants regarding what they can achieve with consistent effort and perseverance — especially for international students, who had the courage to start a new life in a foreign country with a different language, environment and culture. He acknowledges the hardships that international students face in personal, academic, and financial aspects, despite UTM’s welcoming community.
Although these obstacles might make one’s goals seem unreachable, Iacobucci demonstrated that it is possible for international students to succeed and become impactful members of their communities.
Iacobucci finished the lecture by noting that he feels proud of his career and all the things he has achieved throughout his life at the age of 88. He expressed that he likes to think his efforts contributed to Canada’s openness to and inclusion of immigrants.
He is especially proud of some initiatives to which he contributed, stating that all minorities should have access to law, protection, recognition, justice, equality. Iacobucci also proclaimed that everyone should take pride in their heritage, roots and language. He added that minorities should feel as secure as all Canadians do, and be proud of being Canadian.
He stated that the most impactful lesson is what people learn from each other. “How proud [I am] of my Italian heritage and my participation in Italian Canadians making Canada a multicultural and inclusive democracy!”
Students’ afterthoughts
In a post-lecture interview with students from Italian and Linguistics disciplines, students reflected that they felt inspired and touched by Iacobucci’s experiences and reflection on immigrants’ lives.
Even though many things have changed since Iacobucci’s family’s arrival in Canada, students felt connected to his struggles in academic and professional life as his speech inspired them to aim high and strive for their ambitions with perseverance.
Adriana Esperanza Ojeda Beltran Contributor
Photo Credits: Julia Le
08 ARTS
The Louvre Heist Reopens an Old Question: Whose Treasures Were Those to Begin With?
Audrey Thilloy Contributor
The
stolen treasures and their significance
The items stolen form a résumé of nineteenth-century French imperial power: a tiara, necklace, and earrings linked to Queen Marie-Amélie and Queen Hortense; an emerald necklace and earrings from the set of Empress Marie-Louise; and a pearl and diamond tiara as well as the “reliquary brooch” from Empress Eugénie’s collection. Another crown, encrusted with over 1,300 diamonds and fifty-plus emeralds, was dropped and incurred damage.
While celebrated as emblems of the French monarchy, their materials tell a different story. Many of the diamonds, sapphires, emeralds and pearls were extracted through systems built on colonial rule, coerced labour, and resource exploitation.
How “French” are the French Crown Jewels?
Some pieces in particular made the headlines: the emerald-and-diamond necklace and earrings crafted for Marie-Louise in 1810. Its emeralds came from the Muzo mines in Boyacá, Colombia, celebrated for centuries but also shaped by colonial-era labour, violence and resource exploitation. These mines powered economies and supplied European courts long before France claimed the jewels as symbols of national identity.
Similarly, the parure linked to Hortense de Beauharnais with “Ceylon sapphires” (from Sri Lanka) reflects the transcontinental gem trade that underpinned nineteenth-century European royal aesthetics. Those jewels may sit behind French glass cases, but their stories stretch across continents—stories that the museum rarely narrates.
A heist that hit a nerve
Perhaps that is why the theft felt so symbolic, not because it exposed a security flaw –though it certainly did—but because it forced a conversion the world has tiptoed around. France, like other former empires, has collections of objects acquired through conquest, colonial extraction, or unequal trade. The Louvre is a monument of that legacy.
What the public rarely hears is that the story of a jewel begins not with a queen, but with a mine, a labourer, a trade route, and a shifting global economy. The Louvre’s labels highlight the French courts; they rarely mention Muzo, Colombia, or the histories embedded in those stones.
What happens now?
Whether the jewels will be recovered remains uncertain. Experts fear that their high gold and gemstone content might incentivize dismantling or resale on the black market—ac
tions that would not just erase French royal history but Colombian and other global his
tories embedded in the pieces.
As investigators prepare for that possibility, the world is watching closely, with one question ringing louder than any security alarm:
If the Louvre cannot protect these jewels, will it at least begin to protect their truths— naming where they came from, how they were extracted, and who paid the real price?
Lessons of the Night
Maryam Raheel Staff Writer
The night was made for mothers
Who take our pain to bed with them
She knew too much for too long
From a world that wasn’t too kind.
My naivety would be my downfall
I wanted too much, too soon
From a world I’ve not known too long
I am on a journey that’s just begun
And through this, the night will
Teach us patience.
Photo Credits: Melody Zhou
Photo Credits: Maryam Raheel
POLAROIDS
by Olivia Maddaloni
We stare down at the polaroids, The phantoms of Her youth
Scattered over a pale tablecloth
She glides a weary finger along every photo,
Tracing each face while consumed with hesitation
She’s asked to describe who she sees,
In these polaroids of parties and picnics,
Of family and friends
She blanks
Last week you remembered
Or two weeks ago
Or was it a month ago?
I study Her distraught face
I search the abyss that is Her gaze;
Her eyes dark and dense, flooded with intense silence
I fight to drag Her to the surface
Of those shadowy waters
Where memories are drowned
And Her soul suffocates
I’m pleading that she won’t give up, That she’ll resurface
From the murky sea of Her mind
She shifts Her gaze across the polaroids:
In one frame of tinted ink,
I was a child sitting in Her lap,
And on my head, she planted a frozen kiss
She traces my polaroid image
While I search the grim depths of Her eyes
And see there’s no flare; I know, as I tremble there,
That the ink has not forgotten—
She has
I clutch Her hand
Trusting Her memory seems like wishing
On a star burning to dust
I want to whisper:
“You’re looking at me, don’t you recognize me anymore?”
She slams Her fists on the squares of white photographs
But Her lips won’t form the words
Her breath won’t draw my name
Now, it’s midnight;
I stare upon the polaroids again
That lay scattered on my bed, aglow
Under my table lamp
Outside my window, rain falls from an obsidian sky
At least I’m hidden
At least,
In the beautiful darkness and thundering rain,
She won’t hear or see me cry
Hidden, she doesn’t know
She’s become synonymous with pity
I grasp the white polaroids,
The phantoms of Her youth
I trace their acrylic borders
And I step into their pasts, trying to find Her
Trying to get Her back
Over those still-frames, I weep
Why Her—why anyone?
Her cherished memories are now fleeting
Like the midnight behind my window
My heart’s longing endlessly, while
The relentless rain pours down
I’m losing her;
Even the rain can’t recall her name,
The drops of memory sliding down the glass
And like tears streaking my window,
My tears stain the polaroids.
Celebrities Who Flew Too Close To the Sun
Emma Catarino Contributor
In the past few years, a number of celebrities have fallen from public grace for one reason or another. A downfall in public opinion is often due to tasteless remarks, unsavory political ideologies, or a misconduct of some sort. These issues don’t arise overnight. They are often present in the celebrity for years being hidden by their PR teams. A lot of these celebrity behaviours are often tied to their egos. Some celebrities think their well-liked image and large fanbase makes them invincible, thus granting themselves permission to say or do anything, without considering the controversy it may cause. Other celebrities allow the fame to get to their heads, and use their power over others to get what things want, then use that same power to silence their victims.
However, public opinion is fickle and quick-changing. Any celebrity who’s been in the public eye long enough could tell you that with one wrong move, their entire brand could be lost overnight. Blake Lively is an example of how quickly one incident can change public opinion so drastically in so little time. Lively, and her husband Ryan Reynolds, were beloved actors. They were seen as a power couple, two people who were so well-liked they could do no wrong. That was until she decided to promote her new movie It Ends with Us, as a girly, flower-y, fun movie. This was in incredibly poor taste, as the movie itself is centered around domestic violence. Her refusal to acknowledge the sensitivity of the movie’s subject matter, or apologize for her promotional material, has severely impacted her reputation in subsequent years.
Many male celebrities have been exposed as sexual predators, preying on those who rank below them. Dan Schneider, for example, has been under fire for years for his treatment of the Nickelodeon child actors on set. Several actors like Jeanette McCurdy and Jerry Trainor have spoken out about his abuse. Trainor would reportedly stay on set after his shifts were over to keep a protective eye on his younger co-stars. Schneider’s behaviour was part of why he left Nickelodeon in 2018, and hasn’t produced anything since.
SPORTS
Sydney Sweeney is the most recent example. She was a rising star, renowned for her beauty and her role in Euphoria. She began receiving backlash months ago when she opted to sell her own bath water, a move that many saw as opposing the feminist movement. In a recent interview, Sweeney was confronted with the fact that her recent American Eagle jeans ads had white supremacy undertones. Her response was flippant, essentially confirming people’s suspicions. As a result, her fan base was significantly shrunken, and her recent films have been box office flops.
What is often forgotten is that celebrities aren’t just people. They are brands. They are the figure heads for large companies that sell a certain product, whether it be music, film, etc. The PR teams in these companies work hard to tailor a brand that will apparel to the widest possible audience, to maximize revenue. If any part of that system taints the brand image, whether it be from the company or the celebrity themself, then the resulting public scorn will be swift and often longlasting.
Snow Scandal Strikes UTM Soccer
Tyler Medeiros Associate Sports & Health Editor
Eagles women’s soccer furious as they were forced to play the final under freezing conditions.
The final of the women’s tri-campus league went ahead on Sunday, November 9, despite an unexpected 5 inches of snow. Our Eagles were up against the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) at Valley Fields.
The Eagles made it to the pitch 30 minutes late due to the heavy snowfall early in the afternoon, causing major slowdowns on the highway. The traffic delay went unaccounted for by the UTSC Sports and Recreation staff and match officials, who demanded compensation if they were to award the Eagles 30 minutes to
warm up. The field conditions were not doing either team any favours heading into the match. The UTSC staff made zero attempt to remove excess snow or ensure that the sidelines were visible—safety precautions that were taken in the men’s final at UTM hours later.
The frigid conditions did not stop UTM from taking to the field. “Our love for the game and our appreciation for the opportunity to compete in this league kept us motivated to continue regardless of the conditions,” one UTM player commented.
UTSC struck first in the match, with Jordan Pawlowski tying the game for the Eagles with a powerful penalty shot. With the game tied at 1-1 heading into the halftime break and with snow continuing to make the field even more unplayable, the officiating team had the opportunity to rectify their mistake by stopping the
Editor | Joseph Falzata sports@themedium.ca
Photo Credits: Melody Zhou
Photo Credits: Melody Zhou
match and rescheduling for a later date. But seemingly no amount of snow was going to change their minds, and the game continued after 15 minutes.
Officiating continued to be a major issue for the Eagles in the second half as they had three players sent off for wearing earrings, despite a pre-game equipment check that cleared them to play. The Eagles were forced to continue playing down players, eventually conceding while their teammates were forced to watch on the sidelines after not
being allowed to rejoin the match.
UTSC went on to score two goals, with a late consolation goal for the Eagles coming from Amelia Caron. The game finished 3-2 to UTSC, who lifted the trophy in obscene circumstances.
The UTM players and staff expressed their frustration of UTSC’s handling of the situation to UTM staff in a letter signed by the team: “Our biggest concern is in regards to our physical safety, considering exposure to the weather conditions. Playing in a windchill of -5° C with now accumulating at 3 cm an hour was unsafe and unnecessary, and not conducive to playing a quality soccer game.”
The Eagles goalkeeper was perhaps the most notable victim of the brutal decision-making and negligence by the Sports and Recreation staff at UTSC. “Our goalkeeper experienced thermal shock. Our goalie stood with the wind behind her, and ice was persistently blown into the back of her neck for all 45 minutes of the first half, making excellent saves despite having to dive through the snow. At halftime, when warming up in the shed, she experienced dizziness, nausea, and shortness of breath and was unable to continue playing.”
Men’s Game Postponed in Mississauga
The men also laced up their boots two hours later to play their final against UTSG (Red) in UTM’s South Field.
Play was halted after just eight minutes with UTSG Red up 1-0 after a UTM defender slipped on the snow and put the Red’s striker through on goal. The referee deemed the conditions unplayable despite the efforts made by UTM RAWC staff to clear the pitch. The inconsistency between campus staff’s decisions for the men’s and women’s finals call into question why the matches failed to be given the same consideration.
CPL Proves it Can be Done, but with the Right Resources
Although the weather conditions did make playing a soccer match seemingly unreasonable, the Canadian Premier League (CPL) did not get in the way of a Canadian Classic. And it’s a good thing too, because this match birthed one of the most iconic moments in Canadian soccer history, the icicle kick.
Atlético Ottawa faced off against Calvary FC in the final at 5:00 pm on Sunday. The field had been shovelled and scraped top to bottom hours before the match to ensure the pitch was suitable for the players. Both sides were also heated up during halftime. These resources and facilities allow matches like these to be played. Without them, sports and recreation staff put the players at risk of injury and sickness—something that the UTM staff acknowledged but unfortunately for the women’s team, UTSC did not.
Eagles First Steps Back Onto the Court
(contd. from Pg 01)
UTM men’s basketball starts the season 0-2, women’s team split opening matches
Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams kicked off their regular season game on homecourt. For the past two Sundays, the teams have been battling against the St. George teams, trying to find rhythm in the new season.
Men’s Team Faces Early Setbacks
With the majority of the UTM men’s team being new players, the homeopener on November 2nd was the first steps on the court as an Eagle for most.
St. George Blue started the game with a fast pace that the UTM men were not expecting. By the end of first the Eagles were down 9-18 and had to regroup.
The second half of the game was a back and forth run. With key offensive efforts from Kent Lingat, a returning player, the game was a close battle right to the end. Unfortunately, the men were unable to close the final bit of the gap from St. George’s first steps on the court and St. Goerge left with a 79-75 win.
Finding themselves back on homecourt on November 9th, matching up against St. George Red, UTM was quickly put into another fast-paced contest. Getting open lanes and fast breaks, St. George was putting up quick offensive points. By half, St. George was up 49-27. UTM, lacking team communication, gave it their all to lock in for the next half. The third quarter saw UTM coming in much sharper, gaining 21 points in the quarter. For the final push UTM’s Dante Giovinazzo was contributing most to the rim offensively with 13 points by the end of the fourth. Yet, it was just not enough. St. George Red left with a 90-58 win.
The men now know where their spaces for growth are highlighted. With a long season ahead, there is a lot of space for success for this team and they are ready to conquer it.
Women’s Team Effort to Find their Flow
For another season, the UTM women’s team sees nearly a complete new roster on the bench. And as they know from last year, trying to find the perfect harmony of everyone’s skills comes with growing pains.
The season home opener began at the RAWC on November 2nd with UTM matched up against the defending champions, St. George Blue. UTM stepped on the court with confidence, ready as ever to make a name for themselves this season.
The first half of the game was a constant battle, ending the first half with St. George Blue led 32-30. UTM knew they needed to push harder if they were going to win this.
Crucial offensive efforts from one of the team’s captains, Kaitlin Parsons, put the team into a better position. By the end of the 4th she put 25pts on the board, scoring nearly half of the team’s total. Defensive efforts from second-year players Khushneet Uppal and Diore Thorpe came to shut down St. George’s offensive capabilities.
In the end, UTM managed to pull it together and the game ended in a 63-56 win for the Eagles.
On November 9th, UTM matched up against St. George Red once again on homecourt. With St. George Red being the final team UTM saw last season, the returning players were anxious to show them up this year.
The first half came and went and St. George was up by 16 at the buzzer with UTM struggling to find offensive openings on St. George’s locked down defense. UTM lost their momentum in the second half, St George capitalized on it and maintained their offensive advantage. The game came to a close with a 71-48 win for St. George Red.
With a 50/50 mix of new and returning players, the Eagles must reflect on mental and physical performances that need improvement. There is a lot of growth to come, and this shortcoming doesn’t stop them here.
Stay tuned for more updates as the season unfolds as our Eagles find their rhythm.
