Volume 52 Issue 5

The Independent Student Newspaper of the University of Toronto Mississauga since 1974

Issue 5 Volume 52 September 29, 2025

themedium.ca

BIG DREAMS, ZERO DRIVE

STUDENT JOURNALISM

VANCOUVER ART GALLERY

It’s a quiet night. You hear crickets chirp outside your cracked window as a soft, early fall breeze drifts in. A steaming mug of tea perches on the edge of your desk, and your laptop is open to a fresh Word document. All your tabs are ready, references lined up.

The University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), or back then, Erindale College, first opened up in 1967. The following year, UTM’s first student newspaper, The Erindalian, was founded. The Erindalian would run for five years before closing in 1973.

The Vancouver Art Gallery was recently gifted a staggering 23 art pieces by Haida artist Guud san glans Robert Davidson. The works were created over a period of three decades by one of the most impactful Canadian artists and were contributed by TELUS CEO Darren Entwistle.

>> read more on page 04

>> read more on page 09

>> read more on page 09

NEWS Breaking down the “Hands Off Our Education” campaign The Medium interviewed CFS-O and UTMSU representatives to learn more about the campaign against Bill 33

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n May 29, Ontario’s Minister of Education, Paul Calandra, introduced Bill 33. If passed, the so-called Supporting Students and Children Act would increase the provincial government’s

power over many aspects of education, such as post-secondary admissions criteria, fee regulation, the implementation of “school resource officers,” and mandatory fees for essential services covered by universities. >> read more on page 03

Photo Credits: Aaron Calpito

SPORTS

Eagles fall short in season opener, bounce back in second match Tyler Medieros Associate Sports & Health Editor

Recapping the first and second matchdays for the men’s and women’s tri-campus soccer teams.

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he Men’s and Women’s Tri-Campus Soccer Teams recently made their long-awaited returns to the pitch..

The Men’s team were looking to resume their undefeated streak from last year, while the Women’s team hoped to put last season’s outdoor semi-final exit behind them with a strong start to the 2025/2026 season. Both the men

and the women faced off against UTSG (University of St.

equalizer would not go unrewarded. Nyah Petcu scored an

George) Blue on Sunday, September 14 and played their

incredible goal in the second half, levelling the game 1-1. As Rashid recalled, “The goal was scored around two meters away from the halfway line. It was a beautiful shot that travelled up and into the top right corner of the goal.”

second fixtures against UTSG Red the following weekend.

UTM women battle hard but unable to find a win in first games

continued to fight throughout the game,” said Amal Rashid,

The women continued to push for a late winning goal. Unfortunately, UTM would have to settle for the singular point after the late effort to seal all three. Despite the dropped points at home, Rashid remained positive. “I am proud that we were able to hold the score and keep this tie with the remaining time in the game.”

UTM women’s striker. UTM’s determination to find an

>> read more on page 12

Just minutes into their season, the girls suffered an early blow, conceding the first goal of the match. “Despite the fact that we were down 1 goal, we held our heads high and

02

News

Career Centre to hold annual Grad Fair on October 1

Editor | Aaron Calpito news@themedium.ca Photo Credits:that Aaron John posited theCalpito GPSF is an indispensable starting point for undergraduates who

wish to pursue further study. According to him, it allows these students to compare in

Laila Alkelani Contributer The Graduate and Professional School’s Fair is here to connect students with leading graduate programs, professional schools, and academic institutions.

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or many students at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), the start of a new academic school year is often marked by enthusiasm for starting classes afresh, connecting with new (and old) professors, and getting back into a familiar routine.

However, for those who plan to seek advanced studies post-graduation, this can be a disconcerting time. All too often, the pressure of perfecting graduate school applications overshadows students’ excitement. Thankfully, the annual Graduate and Professional Schools Fair (GPSF) at UTM is here to clarify the process and keep students informed of their choices after graduation.

This year, the GPSF will be held at the Recreation, Athletics, & Wellness Centre on October 1, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Run by the Career Centre, it offers students the opportunity to speak with a variety of program representatives and learn more about their institutions and the programs they offer.

At the GPSF, students can expect a lively environment where they can connect with representatives from Canadian and international graduate programs as well as from a wide range of institutions, including professional schools in medicine, law, business, and education. The full list of schools attending the fair is available in the floor plan on the Career Centre’s GPSF web page.

The Medium held an email interview with Jason John, Assistant Director of Employer Relations and Marketing at the Career Centre, about the rationale behind the GPSF. John wrote that the grad fair is designed to provide “direct access to information, resources, and representatives” that can guide and empower students to make informed decisions. It is held to “demystify the application process” and help students explore potential career pathways.

stitutions and programs in one place and speak directly with admissions representatives about program requirements, funding, and career trajectoriesTo get the most out of the GPSF, students should prepare prior to attending the fair with thoughtful questions for school representatives. The Career Centre offers workshops and online resources to help students plan ahead, such as its sample questions guide. It also recommends program research tools like universitystudy.ca.

Addressing readers, John clarified that “representatives may cover specific programs (e.g., law, medicine) or entire graduate schools, so bring your questions and a notebook for notes rather than resumes or transcripts, as applications are not accepted at the fair.”

Photobackground Credits: Melody Zhou Some representatives may ask about students’ academic to discuss program eligibility, which students may share verbally.The fair is also an opportunity for students to practice and develop their soft skills. Besides the obvious networking, students can learn research and career-planning skills by comparing programs, evaluating options and “developing a better understanding of how graduate connects to long-term Photostudy Credits: Melody Zhou career goals,” wrote John. They can also learn communication skills by asking representatives “targeted, professional questions.”

UTM students who are still undecided about attending may head to the UTM Career Centre, located in room DV 2228 of the William G. Davis building or email the Events Team at ccevents.utm@utoronto.ca with any questions they may have.

Breaking down the “Hands Off Our Education” campaign (From pg. 01) Drashti Patel Contributer

ondary education is currently fueling education gaps. But

ment has previously cut about C$670 million in funding

with Bill 33, the government aims to pin the high tuition

for OSAP in a single year, and the amount of funds taken

costs on ancillary and levy fees and to restrict school ad-

out of the financial aid program has only increased since.

owever, much of the bill is vaguely worded, meaning

missions on politically motivated and potentially arbitrary

With the additional control over bursaries Bill 33 could

it has the potential to grant the government of On-

terms.

bring, post-secondary education is at risk of becoming

H

tario alarmingly broad powers over schools and student governments across the province.

“This government continues to make it clear that it seeks

more inaccessible to low-income households.

to defund and privatize education,” he asserted. “How-

Students’ unions are there to address gaps between the

This is not the first time the province has attempted to in-

ever, when students come together and mobilize, we [can]

government and universities, to advocate specifically

crease oversight in education. With previous policies like

push back against these attacks.”

for students. Without the unions to autonomously pro-

the 2019 Student Choice Initiative (SCI), the Ford government attempted to control fees for student services that were democratically chosen by students.

The SCI was defeated twice in court by the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), a national union representing dozens of students’ unions at colleges and universities across the country, including the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) Students’ Union (UTMSU). Now, the CFS aims to stop Bill 33 through their Hands Off Our Education campaign.

To discuss the bill and its implications for post-secondary education, The Medium interviewed Omar Mousa, National Executive Representative of CFS-Ontario (CFS-O), on September 19.

Mousa explained that severe underfunding of post-sec-

The Medium also interviewed UTMSU President Andrew Park and Executive Director Melissa Theodore.

The student representatives explained that Bill 33, if it becomes law, would take precedence over any previous bills and policies for which students’ unions have been advocating. It would take away the independence of students’ unions, which is currently protected by the College and University Student Associations Act, and change their role in university governance.

Here at UTM, essential services such as U-Pass, financial bursaries currently provided by the university, and health and dental plans, which especially help international students, would all be at risk.

Further, under Premier Doug Ford, the provincial govern-

vide essential services and advocate for students’ needs, college and university students across Ontario may find themselves increasingly subject to the whims of a distant and parsimonious provincial government.

Students can learn more about the campaign against Bill 33 at www.handsoffoureducation.ca. Clubs and academic societies can sign an endorsement form on this website to show solidarity with the campaign.

October 20 to 24 will be the week of student mobilization.

More information can be found on the Hands Off Our Education website, UTMSU website and Instagram, and at the UTMSU office at the Student Centre (UTMSU has an open-door policy). The UTMSU also held a campaign information event on Wednesday, September 24, from four to six p.m. in the Student Centre.

03

Scam emails continue to flood into students’ inboxes Jia Bawa Podcast Manager UTM provides resources to defend against phishing, scams, and malicious messages, but student emails are still susceptible to infiltration and fraud.

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tudents at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) are all too familiar with scam emails. These messages often arrive unexpectedly, offering convenient and high-paying jobs or threatening to cancel your enrolment unless you act immediately. They are designed to panic students into replying before thinking twice, preying on the desperate, tired, and uninformed.

Many of them seem to come from employers at the university itself, using seemingly official logos, professional wording, and subject lines like “Part Time Assistant Job” and “Urgent - Account Suspension Notice.”

Even students who don’t lose money still feel the effect of scam emails. The Medium interviewed Ishan Paul, a fourth-year student and residence don at UTM, for his perspective on the

situation.

He explained that the pressure these messages create can worsen academic anxiety. “Midterms are going on throughout the whole year. There are always tests and assessments. Triggers like these can really push someone over the edge or negatively contribute to that stress.”

outreach like tabling, and a stronger email-filtering system that looks at emails being mass-sent from unauthorized sources,” he said.

Staying alert Students need to remain vigilant and report suspicious messages. According to U of T’s website, some important things to look out for include:

First years at greater risk As a residence don, Paul works with and offers guidance to many first-year and international students. He noted that confusion is common among students who aren’t used to the university’s systems and must deal with early information overload.

“Newer students aren’t fully familiar with the governance of U of T and what kind of departments interact with each other. They’re not sure if they’re going to receive an email about charges not being paid, or how these charges are going to be paid.”

Paul acknowledged that the sense of urgency in scam emails can be particularly distressing and prompt students to act hastily. “A lot of international students have their parents paying through the portals and having their finances managed by someone else,” he said. “That kind of sudden email or urgency can make things spiral out of control.”

He further stated that several of his students have narrowly avoided falling for scams, and even after he helps them through it and verifies that it is a scam, they are hesitant to fully trust him, asking, “Are you sure? I don’t want to get in trouble because of your opinion.”

To reassure his students, Paul always informs them when he receives a scam email by screenshotting the scam and warning them to disregard it.

Even with Campus Safety and the Service Desk being available to help students in such cases, Paul believes awareness and accessibility can improve. “It would be helpful to have a better system; maybe more in-person

a) Unsolicited job offers from people or companies you have never contacted. b) Generic greetings, like “Dear Student,” instead of using your name. c) Poor grammar or random capitalizations like “Job Opportunity”. d) Emails from free email providers like Gmail, instead of an official professional domain. e) Unrealistic job offers. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. f) Asking for money via E-Transfer or sensitive personal information like your Social Insurance Number (SIN), financial information, student number, etc. g) Threats. The University will never fail to provide prior notice, and will probably send two to three emails well in advance of the deadline.

When in doubt, pause before you click. A quick Google search can verify the sender’s email address and company. Don’t click any suspicious links that are meant to redirect you to a payment or job confirmation.

If you suspect an email is fraudulent or have already clicked a suspicious link, contact: UTM Career Centre: (905) 828-5451 (careers.utm@ utoronto.ca, Davis Building, Student Services Hub) Campus Safety: (905) 828-5200 (DV3116) I&ITS Service Desk: (905) 569-4300 (CCT Atrium (905) 569 4300, helpdesk.utm@utoronto.ca).

Additional resources on how to avoid fraudulent job postings and scams can be found on the CLNx Casual Job Board.

Illustrated by Sehaj Wander

Canada recognises Palestinian statehood Diana Fu Contributer Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that Canada will recognize Palestine’s independence after UN conference, joining a global push for a two-state solution.

O

n September 21, Prime Minister Mark Carney made an official statement that Canada would recognize Palestinian statehood as a means of achieving a two-state solution between Palestine and Israel.

The statement accused Israel of “working methodically to prevent the prospect of a Palestinian state from ever being established” through increased creation of illegal settlements in the West Bank and contributing to humanitarian catastrophe, famine in the Gaza Strip, and greater hostility towards Palestinians by the Israeli government, thus necessitating a more coordinated approach “to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution.”

The announcement follows similar statements made by other countries, such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Sehaj andIllustrated Portugal, by that theyWander would recognize Palestine as well.

Recognition amid the backdrop of United Nations conferences France has led the current global efforts at normalizing relations with Palestine, with President Emmanuel Macron announcing on July 24 his country’s intention to recognize Palestine by September and, along with Saudi Arabia, to co-chair a United Nations (UN) conference on preserving the idea of a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.

On July 29, following that conference, the leaders of all countries participating, including Canada, signed the New York Declaration. The Declaration calls for a swift end to hostilities in Gaza, affirms a two-state peaceful framework between Israel and Palestine, and opposes further Israeli settlements on Palestinian land, which are illegal under international law.

On September 12, France put the tenets of the Declaration to a vote in the UN General Assembly, where it passed with 142 votes in favour to 10 votes against. Israel and the U.S. voted against the Declaration.

The recognitions are not expected to result in changes in

Photo Credits: Hannah Azmat

04 Israeli policy. The government of Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel’s main opposition party have stringently opposed Palestinian statehood and the New York Declaration.

Netanyahu has vowed never to tolerate the idea of a Palestinian state and to continue Israel’s settlement policy in preparation for a possible annexation of the West Bank.

At the same time, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid described the recognition as a “diplomatic disaster” and a “reward for terror.”

Recognition is a “false victory” unless concrete steps are taken While the New York Declaration is diplomatically significant, it remains to be seen if the gesture can translate into concrete action on the ground in Palestine.

The Medium spoke to Onoasi Odo-Effiong, president of the University of Toronto Mississauga’s Social Justice

Club, about what formal recognition of Palestine would mean for Palestinian social justice.

Odo-Effiong termed the recognition as a “false victory.”

Canada’s belated diplomatic recognition of Palestine comes after years of constant humanitarian crises and crimes against humanity perpetrated by Israel. Moreover, she accused the government of Canada of trying to “appease both sides” by recognizing Palestine while continuing to sell arms to Israel.

A July 29 report by the Palestinian Youth Movement, World Beyond War, and the Arms Embargo Now Campaign suggests that Israel is still obtaining arms from Canadian sources, despite government insistence to the contrary. According to the report, the continued arms trade to Israel directly undermines Canadian efforts by domestic and international law to stop the genocide in Gaza.

Odo-Effiong also brought up the recent Israeli strikes on Qatar and Lebanon and the indiscriminate attacks by Is-

raeli forces against civilians and aid workers as reasons behind taking more concrete steps against Israel’s belligerency.

Referencing the recent successful Knesset vote that called for the annexation of the West Bank, she mentioned that Israel “genuinely believes that this is their birthright to own that land” and thus does not have an appetite for negotiating a two-state solution unless sustained international pressure can pressure Israel into accepting a ceasefire.

When asked what readers can do to help pressure Israel, Odo-Effiong suggested writing letters to political representatives, boycotting companies and people who do business with Israel, and spreading the word on Israeli atrocities to foster a grassroots movement for greater action against Israel and those who support its genocidal actions. “Removing your dollars… that are being sent to Israel is the most immediate thing any regular person can do.”

Bidets make their debut at UTM Sophie Minot Contributer A story of advocacy and cooperation—the washrooms of UTM’s Student Centre now have bidets.

were sorted out. The Student Centre has commercial

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n September 17, the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) Students’ Union (UTMSU) and the Muslim Students’ Association (MSA) announced the arrival of four new bidets in the Student Centre. One was installed in each men’s and women’s washroom on the first floor, one in an all-gender washroom on the second floor, and one in the washroom in the multifaith prayer room.

The new bidets come after a months-long student-led campaign by the tri-campus advocacy group Bidets At U of T, the UTMSU, and the MSA. Many students see bidets, or at least washing with water, as basic sanitation. It is the norm for many families from Asia, parts of Europe, Latin America, and various religious communities, such as Muslims and Hindus.

Without access to a bidet on campus, many students opt to bring water bottles to the washroom or outright choose not to go, a common story among testimonies collected by Bidets At U of T over the past year.

The Medium interviewed representatives of Bidets at U of T, the UTMSU, and the MSA to unravel the story of how bidets were finally installed in the Student Centre.

Aliya Ali, a recent graduate of U of T Scarborough (UTSC) and founder of the Bidets At U of T movement, and Adam El-Falou, third-year advocacy director of the MSA and a UTMSU board member, explained that there is an expectation for students to assimilate.

“We learn to adapt rather than [push for] change,” ElFalou said. “We’re all thinking the same thing; it’s just a matter of someone vocalizing it. And that was Aliya.”

Not only did she put it into words, she organized it as data.

In August last year, four bidets were installed in UTSC’s Student Centre. “The demand was insane,” she noted.

“People had to wait 30 minutes in line during peak hours.” But UTSC was still on the fence about installing more.

When Ali asked campus administrators if they needed her to collect surveys to prove demand was high enough

Photo Credits: Aaron Calpito

to warrant more bidets, they said not to worry about it. Ali made a survey and started collecting responses anyway. She also started the Instagram account @bidets_at_uoft and messaged the MSA, the UTMSU, and the UTMSU. After receiving no response, she travelled to UTM in April to search for student representatives in person. That’s when she met El-Falou by chance. “She actually came to CCT—I was just chilling,” he recalled.

Ali proposed the idea and handed him posters with her survey’s QR code.

Responses flooded in throughout the summer. Adam became a UTMSU board member, and during a training meeting in June, he mentioned the bidet project to UTMSU Vice President of University Affairs Manaal Fatima. Fatima later told UTMSU President Andrew Park, whose response was simply: “That sounds pretty doable.” They emailed El-Falou a few weeks later, saying they wanted to take the bidet project seriously and got in touch with Ali. Bidets had been proposed before by the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Office, but the idea was turned down by the university. The team understood that the only building where they had the power to install bidets was the Student Centre, which is managed by the UTMSU. “I thought of doing a pilot project, one bidet in each washroom, just to see how it goes,” explained UTMSU General Manager Shane Madhani, who oversaw the bidets’ installation.

The union got in touch with plumbers, and logistics

toilets, which drove up installation costs. “It came to like six, seven hundred per,” Park explained. This is compared to residential bidets, which cost around C$100 to C$150 to install.

A brief delay came when Facilities Management & Planning objected to the installation. “[They said] ‘hey, you didn’t get permission,’” Park recalled. “Their worry was for caretaking—the cleanup and maintenance issues. When people use bidets, there may be water on the ground.”

Nevertheless, due to insightful planning and smooth cooperation, UTM officially had bidets by orientation week. According to Park, the bidets have been working perfectly, and there have been no cases of misuse.

The success of bidets at the Student Centre could pave the way for bidet installation in other buildings on campus. “If we’re going to call ourselves a world-class institution, then we should be able to live up to that aim with the services that we provide to students,” Park asserted.

Ali has since been contacted by students from universities around the world, including Harvard, Waterloo, and the University of Michigan, just to name a few, who also want bidets. She explained that she’s starting with universities, but she envisions expanding to hospitals and eventually residential buildings in the future.

05 Opinion

Editor | Yasmine Benabderrahmane opinion@themedium.ca

The truth of being an empath shows that women can recognize facial expressions and body language through neutral actions at a higher accuracy than men.

Maryam Raheel Contributor

However, this difference is not biologically inherent, it is rooted in social conditioning.

Since childhood, girls are encouraged and praised for being nurturing and self-sacrificing: characteristics also synonymous with motherhood. Meanwhile, boys are discouraged from showing such vulnerability, eliminating space for them to express empathy without judgement. This divide is known as the gender empathy gap.

These gendered expectations are also reflected in the media. Empathetic characters are overwhelmingly portrayed as “female” and are characterized as emotional, fragile, or as a damsel in distress. It is rare to see a character’s emotional intelligence be the source of their strength.

Take Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series as an example. While her academic brilliance is a focal point, it is her emotional intelligence and empathy that consistently guides her to make better decisions. These qualities are overshadowed by the one-dimensional label of being booksmart, while the series’ protagonist, Harry Potter, is celebrated for his bravery and courage.

This common storyline reinforces the idea that empathy is a lesser valued trait, compared to bravery, logic, or physical strength. With the constant dismissal of such feelings, people begin to question their importance.

Illustrated by Aria Zheng What often gets mistaken for weakness is actually strength when we learn to navigate these emotions without drowning in them.

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s a child, a sad movie scene was enough to reduce me to tears. A cartoon character losing their pet or a side character being left behind would form a lump in my throat. My family would roll their eyes. I sat there wondering why I felt so intensely compared to everyone else. I realized I felt as the characters did, absorbing their pain as if it was my own.

Empathy—translated from the German word “Einfühlung” meaning “feeling into”—refers to the ability to put one’s self in another person’s situation, thereby understanding and sharing their feelings. Often confused with adjacent concepts such as sympathy, compassion, or pity, empathy has a more immersive effect. Rather than feeling for someone, you feel with them.

This is more than just a moral concept. Extensive research has been conducted on the role of empathy across disciplines ranging from neuroscience to behavioural economics.

Despite the abundance of research highlighting the importance of empathy in human behaviour, a negative reputation surrounds such feelings. In classrooms, the quiet kid who cares “too much” gets brushed off as shy. In workplaces, the colleague that lingers “too long” on how their decisions will affect others is seen as inefficient. In a world that prioritizes rationality and logic, empathy is seen as a weakness.

Part of the issue is the perception that empathy equates to softness and softness tends to get mistaken for weakness. Upon searching the definition of empathy in the Cambridge Dictionary, it reveals “sensitivity” as a related term. Sensitivity, like empathy, is considered a flaw. Sensitive individuals are frequently told they’re “too emotional” or “too fragile.”

These traits are also often regarded as stereotypically feminine traits. Several studies have found that women tend to exhibit more empathetic behaviours than men. Research

Big dreams, zero drive

In truth, empathy isn’t as simple as feeling emotional. During an era of self-absorption, it takes strength to step away from our own lives and step into someone else’s world, even if just for a moment. This action is the key to building meaningful relationships and connecting, despite our differences. With empathy, we become better friends, neighbours, and humans, allowing us to respect and trust one another. It also creates effective leaders who utilize their emotional intelligence to foster collaboration and stronger connections.

Despite the essential part it plays in human behaviour, excessive empathy can take an emotional toll. People who over-empathize tend to become people-pleasers, constantly prioritizing the needs of others at the expense of their own. They might struggle with decision paralysis, by taking into account everyone else’s feelings instead of their own.

Long-term, the continual absorption of other people’s emotions can lead to a loss of self and negative effects on one’s own well-being.

So is there a way to sustain empathy without sacrificing our own happiness? Like any powerful tool, it must be used with care. Overuse can lead to potential harm. Achieving balance involves maintaining boundaries. Caring for others doesn’t mean shouldering the emotional weight of their struggles; it means offering support without losing ourselves in the process. Healthy boundaries allow us to differentiate between our feelings and others. In fact, they improve our ability to show up for others because we retain the ability to make conscious, empowering decisions.

Contrary to the idea that empathy and logic exist in separate spheres, the two can and should co-exist. Empathy becomes strength when grounded in self-awareness and emotional boundaries. Instead of claiming it as the opposite of rationality, it must be understood as a bridge between understanding and action.

When applied wisely, empathy is not a weakness. In choosing when and what deserves our emotional energy, we retain our sense of self and learn better ways to live alongside one another.

In the meantime, however, sacrifices are being made on our behalf; sacrifices of things that truly do belong to us: a clean, safe environment, access to food and water, peace.

Get ready.

and your laptop is open to a fresh Word document. All your tabs are ready, references lined up.

You’re going to do it—you’re going to write that essay.

Sahrish Mirza Contributer

Yet…three days after the deadline, the document is still empty.

A personal exploration of what it feels like to dream big, but move slowly in a culture that worships speed

It isn’t that you don’t care or don’t have ambition. Your notes app is crammed with book ideas, business plans, and half-baked essays, just like this one. A peek into your brain would resemble something like Wonderland.

You have the dream, the vision, and the resources. So what’s missing?

I

t’s a quiet night. You hear crickets chirp outside your cracked window as a soft, early fall breeze drifts in. A steaming mug of tea perches on the edge of your desk,

This is the story of every ambitious person who can picture a glittering future but just can’t bring it into fruition—every ambitious person deemed “lazy” by society.

It paralyzes you, hinders you from just starting with that first sentence. But why?

Maybe it’s a fear of failure. Psychology Today’s article on the myth of laziness delves into how anxious avoidance can cause high achievers to feel “lazy.” In our capitalist society, we’re pressured to churn out product and keep ourselves busy in order to drive the economy and perpetuate the system.

We’re made to feel only as valuable as what we pro-

06 duce—in a system like this, fearing failure comes almost naturally. How many times have you opened a problem set just to close it immediately because you’re “not good at math?” Even with genuine interest in the topic, we can feel paralyzed by anxiety, which translates into what seems like indolence.

But even people with no interest in perfection can look “lazy.” Maybe it’s less about fear and more about our internal state—exhaustion, burnout, or just being stretched “too thin”.

Dr. Ferrara’s blog post explains the difference between burnout and laziness, highlighting that merely avoiding productivity is not the same thing as being chronically exposed to stress. It’s practically an initiation into the University of Toronto— or university in general—to be overloaded with work.

Midterm season rolls around, and suddenly you’re growing grey hairs from your head, reminding yourself to take breaks. But you can’t afford that— it’s always go, go, go. Next thing you know, your history paper is due on the same day as your math test and you can’t bring yourself to write or study.

But can you think of a time when you weren’t tired and didn’t fear performance, and you still couldn’t finish that last minute assignment, even with all your plans right in front of you? Sometimes it’s not nerves or exhaustion, but the sheer weight of too many choices.

We’ve all been victims of overthinking, of indecision, of self-criticism. Sometimes this whirlwind of

Illustrated by April Roy

choices and ideas can turn into T.V. static, or analsis paralysis.

When you’ve looked at the question from every which way, it’s hard, almost impossible, to decide how to go about it, to decide which way is the right way. Being bombarded by all of those ideas at once can overwhelm you, and render you unable to choose at all. This can look like quitting, or giving up, or “being lazy,” but it can feel impossible to even try when you’re in such a demanding headspace.

Maybe it’s not anxiety or fatigue or overwhelm—or maybe it’s all those things at the same time. But the bottom line is, laziness is a very catch-all term for

what is a very nuanced experience. It’s easy to just see something stationary and deem it unwilling to move, without considering whether or not it’s trying to, or what factors are intercepting its path.

So, maybe you’ll find yourself back at your desk, mug in hand, laptop open and empty. Maybe your mom will walk in and snap at you to study, or maybe that midnight due date will dance in front of your eyes, or maybe your own conscience will berate you for your paralysis. Maybe an observer would consider you lazy—but they don’t see the mental load, the fear, the indecision, or the exhaustion that has brought you here. And most of all, they don’t see the array of colourful aspirations and big ideas in your head.

STEM arrogance: Is it a justified stance?

Edwin Zhang Contributer STEM majors are going to school to be doctors, engineers, and physicists—people who are making a lasting impact on society. So, isn’t it a good thing to be arrogant?

— The Bates Student, 2019.

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here is a commonly perpetuated narrative that postgraduate humanities students often find themselves working low-wage, service industry positions that they are well overqualified for. This societal perception is dangerous, as it can serve to diminish the value of these degrees in the public eye and reinforces a supposed superiority of STEM paths, where it is assumed that graduating with a degree in those fields guarantees a high-paying role.

The opening quote reflects the justification that STEM arrogance is not only excusable but even beneficial, as these fields are seen as “real” contributions to society in contrast to humanities students. Obviously, as a humanities student myself, it is natural to say that this arrogance is unfounded. While it is hard to deny that doctors and scientists shape the infrastructure and tangible development in various health and wellness spheres, saving and improving the lives of many people worldwide, it sidelines the importance of establishing ethical frameworks and communicating these ideas well, so that these developments can be utilized to their greatest effectiveness, helping as many affected individuals as possible.

I grew up primarily around other East Asian students, where STEM is the field that most parents—who are the main deciding factor for a lot of people’s major decisions— push their children to get into. I found myself in a very different position from my peers, where my parents told me to study “what I liked” and work hard from there.

There were plenty of friends of mine who showed interest in things like programming and electronics from an early age, but there were those who seemed to only be going into STEM for the sake of their parents’ or perhaps their own financial interests. my peers, where my parents told me to study “what I liked” and work hard from there. There were plenty of friends of mine who showed interest in things like programming and electronics from an early age, but there were those who seemed to only be going into STEM for the sake of their parents’ or perhaps their own financial interests.

32% of students go into a major other than their desired one, often as a result of familial pressures. Those peers, and other students like them, reduce education to something akin to a transaction, and while there is nothing inherently wrong with this line of approach, it is undeniable that having a genuine interest in something will take you much farther in pursuing it than someone who is doing it with ulterior motives.

On average, STEM requires higher grades in university or college applications, and sometimes, even to continue in STEM studies, one needs to maintain a certain grade score. Thus, there is more of an effort required to maintain a high GPA, and while obviously a high GPA in humanities is still desirable, the requirement for such is less important.

STEM roles also often pay higher, so there is more demand and competition, especially if we remove those who are studying their major out of passion, and so we would find that people who pursue their program for future financial stability would lean towards STEM roles. I do not believe that this culture is very healthy.

The GPA thresholds and competition within STEM programs can also create a system of stress and elitism, where you are almost discouraged from sharing information with your peers. This negative environment can lead to feelings of loneliness and potentially further burnout. While this happens to a certain extent in humanities programs, there is less of a focus on competition and GPA scores, and so the environment is oftentimes friendlier.

STEM students who express this arrogance also fail to address the different skillsets required for humanities students. I’ve attended friends’ Engineering lectures and found myself completely lost from the very moment that the professor opened his mouth. Likewise, STEM friends have come into my lectures and didn’t seem very engaged with the material. It certainly makes sense to me that STEM students and humanities students are not engaged with each other’s material. They are very different in nature, and it is their different natures that require knowledge of them both in many different big governing decisions. Even the work we do is very different. I’m often reading dozens of papers for a single research paper, and they’re committing difficult mathematical concepts to memory.

Each discipline has its unique understandings and difficult aspects. Arrogance is formed when one group believes their skillset or work is more valuable, rather than

07 friends, it is clear that neither expertise is “easy.” No matter what, an effort is required to succeed in undergraduate and graduate institutions, and those who fail to recognize this are truly misled and failing to see the bigger picture.

MASTHEAD EDITORIAL BOARD Editor-in-Chief Aya Yafaoui editor@themedium.ca

Arrogance in STEM often stems from disillusioned beliefs that their roles in society will be more impactful, and certainly, their contributions can often be more tangible.

However, this dismisses the intellectual contributions that humanities studies can bring, which, in combination with practical application, can combine to create balanced frameworks to better society as a whole.

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 social@themedium.ca Outreach Mashiyat Ahmed outreach@themedium.ca Copy May Alsaigh may@themedium.ca Anaam Khan anaam@themedium.ca

Illustrated by Fabiha Ruthmila

acknowledging that society functions on a variety of different expertise, both technical and non-technical. However, in my personal experience and in the experience of some of my

Style, scam, or scheme?

Zainab Hassan Contributer A critical analysis on the rise of minimalism as an aesthetic

T

rends and aesthetics seem to rise and fall as frequently and as unpredictably as Ontario weather, but one that keeps persevering is minimalism.

The clean girl aesthetic: the no makeup makeup look, the way most new apartments are all sleek and white and colourless, Garage’s total rebrand, my inability to find a single maxi skirt with patterns and frills. Everywhere I look, I see monochrome and the death of individuality.

Now, PSA: I don’t think there’s anything wrong with following trends. They’re fun, they can be interesting, and experimentation is never a bad thing. But for God’s sake, six people wearing the exact same black leggings, white shirt, and slick back bun, pushes it.

And it’s not just visual aesthetic that minimalism is invading. Our recipes too—you now have your three ingredients, low carb, low gluten, low everything. You have your “Come Declutter With Me” videos, your “Underconsumption Core”, and the new rise of “Cringe Culture.”

You also have the it’s not “that” deep movement.

But Zainab, that’s not minimalism! Sure it is.

Today’s definition of minimalism has taken on the mean ing of

keeping only what one considers essential. The Merriam Webster Dictionary def i n e s mini-

themedium.ca/contact @themediumUTM

@themessageUTM

malism as “a style […] that is characterised by extreme spareness and simplicity”. And it has infiltrated everything.

We say “it’s not that deep” to remove the deep, complicated meaning behind media, reducing it to surface level simplicity. Why dig deep for meaning when we can just accept the simple surface? Why prescribe meaning? Why think? Minimalist aesthetic embraces minimal thinking.

Minimalism has reduced everything about ourselves: our thoughts, our foods, our interests, our curiosity, our experimentation, our sentimentality. And the reason it has become so insidious is because it packages itself so reasonably.

Minimalism styles itself as the “correct” way—clean, refined, and encouraging a healthy, affordable lifestyle. Of course, we should be hygienic, we shouldn’t hoard or clutter, we should eat healthy. Of course, we should reduce overconsumption habits. Anyone would agree to this; I do!

But minimalism takes it so very far, and you have to wonder why. My theory: it is a mass social manipulation. Let me explain.

First, our economy—arguably, the world’s economy—isn’t doing great. And what better way to encourage people to not only adjust to this, but actively ignore it, than to encourage the aesthetic of simplicity and “under-consumption?” If we think that we’re purposefully centering our lives around “essentials only” and “under-consumption,” we won’t realise there’s nothing to consume because companies aren’t providing us with what we need. And when you stop realising, you stop caring.

Furthermore, it’s easier for companies to make “minimalist” clothing and items, for cheaper and sell them for higher prices. And you go along with it because you think “that’s just what’s in style!” I think that they’re practically scamming you. Anyone would agree to this; I do!

But minimalism takes it so very far, and you have to wonder why. My theory: it is a mass social manipulation. Let me explain.

First, our economy—arguably, the world’s economy—isn’t doing great. And what better way to encourage people to not only adjust to this, but actively ignore it, than to encourage the aesthetic of simplicity and “under-consumption?” If we think that we’re purposefully centering our lives around “essentials only” and “under-consumption,” we won’t realise there’s nothing to consume because companies aren’t providing us with what we need. And when you stop realising, you stop caring.

Furthermore, it’s easier for companies to make “minimalist” clothing and items, for cheaper and sell them for higher prices. And you go along with it because you think “that’s just what’s in style!” I think that they’re practically scamming you.

TO CONTRIBUTE & CONNECT:

@themediumUTM

At the end of the day, we are all students who strive to do good work for society, and there should be no resentment or arrogance between peers studying different things but working towards similar goals.

Illustrated by Sehaj Wander

And the more you conform, the easier it is to pick up on whoever doesn’t and target them. Which, arguably, is what we’ve Illustrated by Fabiha Ruthmila

08 already been doing. Hello Cringe Culture, the decimation of fandom spaces, and the raging increase in all types of bigotry. And of course, the act of minimalism can also be an attack on other cultures, to shame them into assimilating to a Western artistic movement, to make them look desirable.

Look, I’m not saying the idea of minimalism is inherently bad or even started out with bad intentions. Nor am I claiming that maximalism and other aesthetics are dead:

they’re alive and can be found in many alternative communities and global cultures.

But, there is a very obvious campaign happening that is pushing us towards both the assimilation and acceptance of a world that is becoming less accommodating for us to live in, let alone thrive in, and to do so without complaint. And it’s working.

Every day, the list of things that lead to dangerous pipelines grows longer and longer.

Perhaps, we should start considering if minimalism needs to be added to the list.

Features

Editor | Gisele Tang features@themedium.ca

Building sustainable communities beyond and on campus April Roy Contributor Chances are, you’ve seen the pop-ups from Regenesis UTM around campus. But do you know who they are, and what they do?

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t the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), just a couple of steps away from the Student Centre, you’ll find yourself at Regenesis UTM—a student-focused environmental organization, behind the produce food markets and free thrift store pop-ups you might have spotted around campus.

In an interview with The Medium, Christina Casciaro, director of Regenesis UTM, explains how these events and the organization extend far beyond their face value.

Goals and purpose When asked about the purpose of Regenesis UTM, Casciaro shared that the “main goal is to empower students as initiators of change. And we also focus on real, comprehensive and practical initiatives to make our campus and community a more suitable place.”

The core values and objectives of Regenesis UTM are reflected in their events and organizational design. Casciaro stated, “Regenesis aims to address equity, accessibility, city and community well-being.” These values are shown through the bilingual feature of the organization’s website.

“Since we are a Canadian organization, and we want to continue to expand, there’s that accessibility piece,” said Casciaro. “We also believe that environmental awareness shouldn’t be limited to one language. So, by making this [the website] bilingual, we can make sure that more people can engage with us and understand our content.”

Behind the scenes of Regenesis UTM events Regenesis’s food markets and thrift stores work to make necessities accessible to students at fair prices. The club credits the success of these events in gaining traction for the club with other parties as well.

For example, products for the Regenesis food market are ordered through FoodShare, which sources from the Ontario Food Terminal. These platforms have enabled Regensis UTM to buy good-quality products in bulk without sacrificing its commitment to sell at affordable prices.

On the other hand, all items from Regenesis UTM’s pop-up thrift store are donated, mostly from students. Those who donate are allowed to take up to five items, while those who don’t can take up to three items. This pop-up encourages students to play an active role in practical sustainability opportunities.

Most events hosted by the club take place at UTM’s Student Centre. By situating itself in this hot spot on campus, the club has been able to encourage more students to partake in environmentally friendly actions. Through this process, the UTM Students’ Union (UTMSU) has supported Regenesis UTM in various ways, such as allowing the club to book spaces without restrictions on what initiatives can occur.

well. Aside from being a tri-campus organization in all three University of Toronto campuses, Regenesis also has chapters in other universities, such as York University and the Toronto Metropolitan University.

Casciaro shared, “Each campus location operates separately with its own way of running things in terms of an executive team and staffing.” However, she explained that all chapters are supported by the overarching Regenesis Canada. The expansion of Regenesis across several university communities has served to create a wider reach. While the organization is currently focused on Ontario, Quebec and the West Coast, Regenesis hopes to expand beyond Canada and eventually to the U.S. In terms of the potential and power that the UTM chapter holds, Casciaro said, “Being at UTM means that we can tap into many different student communities and be able to expand our member base.”

While Regenesis UTM does not often directly interact with other chapters, it collaborates with many UTM organizations for events and activities. For example, it is currently partnering with the UTM Sustainability Office for BikeShare—a program designed to create affordable and sustainable access to transportation.

Upcoming events Driven by their passion for the environment, Regenesis has planned many events for the upcoming months. Students can look forward to events like the Repair Cafe, Indigenous hike, natural paint-making workshop, and beauty workshop.

The repair cafe will be a Halloween-themed event. What’s exciting is that it will potentially be partnered with UTM Fashion for participants to make homemade costumes. The Indigenous hike may also be hosted with the Student Association of Geography and Environment, while the beauty workshop, which provides the opportunity to create beauty products with homemade and sustainable, eco-friendly packaging, is funded through an Ocean Wise government grant.

Not to forget, their free thrift store pop-ups will continue every month, with the Regenesis food market running every Thursday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Limitless opportunities Beyond the on-campus initiatives it offers for students, Regenesis UTM also has special opportunities for its executive and general members. An example is their Eco Leaders program. Through its requirement of 120 volunteering hours, the program provides the space and time for members to foster leadership skills and develop experience in project management. The biweekly training sessions for the program cover grant writing, outreach, communications, and more. Beyond that, executives also have an opportunity to earn their spot in a free retreat, which works to build workplace and leadership skills.

If you’re still not persuaded by the benefits of joining the organization, Casciaro’s personal story might just convince you. Having joined Regenesis UTM in her third year of university, Casciaro has found her experience fulfilling and empowering, where seeing Regenesis UTM’s development felt like a personal success to her.

Beyond the environmental field Many might have the misconception that Regenesis operates only within the environmental realm. However, Casciaro explained, “It is not just about protecting nature, but more so about creating systems where students can be engaged with supporting the planet.”

One way Regenesis supports students is by providing access to experiential education opportunities in fields such as accounting and communications. These initiatives are designed to bring together diverse skill sets and areas of expertise to help build an environmentally friendly community. In addition, Regenesis addresses both social and environmental concerns, recognizing that everyday issues—such as food affordability—carry important social as well as environmental implications.

Striving to expand, with the dream of creating a bigger impact Regenesis not only works to transcend barriers on campus, but between campuses as

Photo Credits: Melody Zhou

09

THE POWER OF STUDENT JOURNALISM Madhav Ajayamohan Feautures Editor

Professor Price started writing for The Medium on the encouragement of Lennox Phillips, the news editor for volumes 22 and 23. “Lennox was a cool dude,” Professor Price recounted, “I wanted to write more articles for him because I liked Lennox and I wanted to hang out with him more. And I just got into chasing stories around campus.” By Professor Price’s second year, The Medium became “the little place on campus where [he] felt a sense of belonging.”

I joined The Medium because I was looking for a place to write. For someone who only knows how to be himself in writing, this was the only place I could shout to my heart’s content. I was surprised to find out that the two previous and current EICs also had similar reasons for joining.

Photo Credits: April Roy A discourse on the purpose of The Medium and its meaningful mark in history over the years.

T

he University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), or back then, Erindale College, first opened up in 1967.

The following year, UTM’s first student newspaper, The Erindalian, was founded. The Erindalian would run for five years before closing in 1973. From its ashes, The Medium II sprang forth in 1974. As you can see, from the piece of paper you’re holding or the screen you’re gazing upon, our newspaper is still going strong… or is it?

Last year, I served as features editor of The Medium.

While I loved being an editor, it also showed me the reality of dying student journalism. Every week, I pitched to students, edited their articles and published them into a void where you hear nothing back. I couldn’t help but think, “What’s the point in writing if there is no one there to read it? What’s the point of The Medium?”

To answer this question, I decided to interview Professor Robert Price and Aya Yafaoui, former Editor in Chief (EIC) from Volume 26 and the current EIC for Volume 52. Two people, who at two different times, put their heart and soul into The Medium. I wanted to know why they kept on writing, and if it was worth it to continue.

A place of belonging I joined The Medium because I was looking for a place to write. For someone who only knows how to be himself in writing, this was the only place I could shout to my heart’s content. I was surprised to find out that the two previous and current EICs also had similar reasons for joining.

Professor Price started writing for The Medium on the encouragement of Lennox Phillips, the news editor for volumes 22 and 23. “Lennox was a cool dude,” Professor Price recounted, “I wanted to write more articles for him because I liked Lennox and I wanted to hang out with him more. And I just got into chasing stories around campus.” By Professor Price’s second year, The Medium became “the little place on campus where [he] felt a sense of belonging.”

Yafaoui also came searching for that same sense of belonging. “In my first year, I really struggled with feeling lonely on campus and connecting with the community,” Yafaoui admitted. “When second year rolled around, I wanted to join some clubs to meet some people.”

Yafaoui’s passion for writing and journalism led her to The Medium. She stayed with The Medium because it became a place where she could express herself. “I found a voice in my writing,” Yafaoui explained. “I found the things that I was passionate about, and I had the platform and ability to write about them.”

As writers, The Medium is a place for us to belong and a platform to communicate with others. However, Professor Price brought up an important question that The Medium has struggled to answer in the last few years— “What is The Medium to its readers? What makes them pick up the paper?”

Through thick and thin “When I was in The Medium, we had the view that we should be writing about the campus, the here and now,” Professor Price shared. They were focused on investigating decisions made by UTM committees and featuring students in the community. “We believed it was our mandate to inform students on what was happening.”

That was his solution to make readers, like yourself, pick up the paper. The Medium was a publication that informed the student body on important decisions made by campus authorities that end up affecting us. In addition, people always tend to pick up the paper if they or their friends are featured in it.

Up until before the pandemic, The Medium continued that same tradition. “Before the pandemic,” Yafaoui recounted, “The Medium was more integrated with the UTM community. Our sports editor had direct connections with athletes and coaches, and even for the opinion section, we used to get letters to the editor; it felt like there was a dialogue between The Medium and the students.”

Then everything changed when COVID-19 attacked. As the campus shut down and the community moved to a virtual space, many of The Medium’s connections disconnected.

“What we ended up having to do is pivot to being online and more global, because we didn’t have a local community to report on,” Yafaoui explained. When The Medium’s Instagram account was shut down due to Bill C-18, The Medium lost ways to connect with a now online student body. Since then, the paper has been slowly growing its community and engaging in meaningful content.

Why I will keep on writing At the start of my interview with Professor Price, I asked him about the difference between The Medium today and 25 years ago. He replied, “Each year of The Medium is a time capsule of the campus, and what was important to the students and the editors each year. How the editors produce the paper, and what they choose to focus on, is the product of the times.”

Every article written in every volume of The Medium serves to explain UTM at a specific time period. For example, Yafaoui explained that The Medium recorded what was happening on UTM during September 11, 2001.

In other words, student writers captured the emotions and atmosphere of UTM in response to the tragic event.

They recorded how the community responded to the catastrophe and how the community changed in response to it.

The articles we write for The Medium are not just information for current students. They are evidence of what the UTM campus experiences and values at a particular point in time. We document the social, political and artistic environment of the world, and how it mattered to students at that time. We create a dynamic record of the past and present.

I feel my despair lifting after the interview with Professor Price and Yafaoui. They have inspired me that even if it feels like my articles aren’t being read, knowing that I’m recording stories and histories of this time gives my work value and gives me a sense of purpose.

This story of The Medium, and why students keep on writing, has now been recorded and left for someone to read. I have lit the torch. It’s up to the readers, whether now or in the future, to pass it down.

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Photo by Arina Lee

10Arts

Editor | Yusuf Larizza-Ali arts@themedium.ca

The Entertainment Value of Therapy Dogs With Dino

S

tudent life can be stressful with hecticly balancing

different voices in the room.”

studies, work and squeezing in leisure activities. Ther-

apy may not initially come to mind as a leisure activity but

I have first hand experience with “Paws and Picnic” and

there is an event at the University of Toronto Mississauga

how it functions as a form of entertainment. I started at-

(UTM) that takes therapy and turns it into a fun activity

tending the event daily during the summer after seeing it

with the help of the campus’s own licensed therapy dog,

advertised on Instagram. The event typically occurs out-

Dino. Dino has been around the campus offering services

doors on picnic blankets and involves socializing, treats,

such as one-on-one dog therapy appointments, attending

petting Dino and playing games such as fetch with him.

events, and has his own Instagram page.

While Dino is a certified therapy dog, I came to realize he has entertainment value as well.

However this past summer Dino started a new event called “Paws and Picnic” (or previously “Paws and Unwind”). The

Apart from fetch, he also brings chew toys and it’s always

event is run by April Forbes, a Career Outreach Consultant

funny to see his reaction when another dog is in sight. For

at the UTM Career Centre and Dino’s owner. When asked

me personally, since Dino is trained, he is much quieter

about why she started the event, April mentioned both she

than most dogs and that gives me an easier time around

and Dino wanted to spend time in the warm weather dur-

him. As such, students can feel more connected to him

ing the spring and summer terms. She also wanted to cre-

without feeling intimidated and more compelled to play

ate an informal setting for students and faculty to connect.

with him. I noticed that occasionally, Dino would eye ei-

April spoke further on the inspiration saying that she met

ther my food or the treats brought in, but in both cases

a student who had her own therapy dog and saw its appeal

there was less worry and even humor to be found in the

as students gathered around to pet him.

situation.

She had gotten a rescue dog, Dino, who was 1 years old and

The social aspect of these events was also appealing. With

very well trained, hoping to get him certified as a therapy

Dino as the focus, people reminisced about his charm and

dog. She also runs one-on-one therapy dog appointments

compared him to their own pets. Even non-pet people like

Paws and Picnic, a summer UTM event showed a combi-

for students through the Careers Centre and has said,

me can find enjoyment in Dino’s antics or the picnic atmo-

nation of picnic and dog games to create an entertaining

“these drop ins are more than just petting a dog, they are

sphere. Whether you’re there for the picnic, socializing or

experience.

about creating a safe community where career conversa-

Dino himself, he is the official star of the event and shows

tions are normalized, encouraged and supported by the

the entertainment value of therapy dogs.

Photo Credits: April Forbes Yusuf Larizza-Ali Arts & Entertainment Editor

The New Collection of the Vancouver Art Gallery apprentice to famed Haida carver Bill Reid and after four years, he created and lifted the first totem pole on Haida Gwaii in almost ninety years.

Aqeel Shahid Ullah Contributer

The style of Davidson’s works incorporates both Western and Haida history, displaying an intersection of artistic views from different cultural backgrounds. While his early works tended to be symmetrically composed, Davidson began moving past this style during the early 2000s, as seen in the works donated to the Vancouver Art Gallery. An example of this artistic evolution is the painting Halibut Halibut Halibut, which was originally created in 2000 and seems to present three halibuts. Davidson describes halibuts as a “mysterious creature,” due to the way they live while hugging the ground, which made Davidson wonder if it was possible to get any closer to the earth. He initially sketched the image to contain a single Halibut but later added an additional two, stating that just one “seemed a bit stingy.”

Davidson’s works during this period display a shift and evolution of his artistic style, which can be observed in the works donated to the gallery. His art in the early 2000s incorporated a more diverse use of form and colour, as seen in the aforementioned Halibut Halibut Halibut and the painted drum Second Variation on Tri Neg Drum, which was created in 2001 and was also among the pieces donated.

Illustrated by Shanna Wong Examining the new art pieces donated to the VAG and the history of their artist

T

he Vancouver Art Gallery was recently gifted a staggering 23 art pieces by Haida artist Guud san glans Robert Davidson. The works were created over a period of three decades by one of the most impactful Canadian artists and were contributed by TELUS CEO Darren Entwistle, who stated that each piece presented insight into what Davidson calls a “contemporary-traditional” aesthetic that has lasted many years.

Born in Alaska in 1946, Davidson hailed from a family of renowned artists, including his grandfather Charles Edenshaw, a respected Haida artist whose works were displayed even during a time when Haida culture was discriminated against by the government. As an infant, Davidson and his family relocated to the Haida village of Masset, located on a group of islands known as Haida Gwaii, where he grew up before moving to attend high school in Vancouver in 1965. Just one year later, he became the

Later, during the mid-2000s, he gravitated towards a more minimalist and abstract style while still being rooted in the Haida visual language, focusing more on individual shapes, bigger figures and two-tone palettes, as seen in works like Chief of the Underworld (2006) and Sea Anemone (2008). Davidson’s recent pieces indicate an ongoing fascination in thorough and symbolic expression in a smooth and vivid style, as depicted in works like Whimsical and Whirlpool Kwaa K’iilee (both 2018) and most emphasized in Driving Killer Whale (2019), which combines the simplicity of traditional minimalisation with the intricacy of Davidson’s ever-growing style.

For many people, this is not just a collection of art pieces, but a living record of growth, narrative and composition from a leading figure in the resurgence of Haida culture and art. Through the Vancouver Art Gallery and other institutions displaying his work, Davidson’s legacy will be immortalised as an important landmark of Haida art history.

11

POETRY CORNER Stamps and Scams

By Avneet Kaur

When my niece asks me about my hair, I tell her I don’t have curls in my hair, They aren’t shiny and straight like yours, They are a mess of frizz, memories, pain and suffering just societal chaos, Memories of who decayed, the ones who left a part of them in me.

Illustrated by SehaJ Wander

Fan Reactions to Taylor Swifts Newest Album Emma Catarino Contributor

On August 12th, Taylor Swift announced her latest album “The Life of a Showgirl” much to the excitement of fans

O

n October 3rd, to millions of fans’ delight, Taylor Swift’s latest album “The Life of a Showgirl” will be released. She declared the album on her then-boyfriend, Travis Kelce’s podcast, New Heights, back on the 12th of August. Swift decided to give the announcement on the podcast as a way to show unity and love between her and her now-fiance. This reveal comes in contrast to her previous albums, as she typically makes her announcements on her own social media, talk shows, or tours. Fans have had mixed feelings about her announcing on Kelce’s podcast, as it has garnered less social media attention and didn’t have as much promotional material.

When she asks me why do I carry such a small bag, I say I carry a bag with me that has two pills, One is for stress and the other is to avoid it, I take them together– For my left to survive it and my right to fight it.

The right is filled with opinions of people, The ones who never had to build their homes from scratch, For people who can easily comment for us to be thrown out, Ripped apart communities; left suffering because we wanted opportunities, Hopes in eyes being buried with votes in hands, Murdered homes built with twigs of dreams and sweat.

She sits there in silence, with words that did not make sense to her, A small girl who was drifted apart from her mother at five, For the sole reason of a missing stamp the mother was exiled, It’s not a stamp on a letter of love– Rather a booklet that world uses to keep us apart, The gates of safety and development turning into the volcano of hell and erupement.

The inflation in grocery has made deflation in hearts; Hospitality to hatred, diversity to deportment, All my eyes notice are the tears in the eyes of the homeless, The colour of skin defining the respect, the colour passport defining the welcome we get, All this little girl carries is hope and love not weighed in stamps and scams.

Regardless, hardcore swifties had high anticipations for a new album due to hints Swift has been planting for the last few months. In line with this being her 12th album, she teased it with a countdown on her website to 12:12 AM on Aug 12th, which is when the clip of the podcast announcement was released. She also posted 12 photos ahead of the album reveal, which featured her in various outfits and locations along her Eras Tour, and hinted at “a new era.” The release date of October 3rd is also significant as the digits of the date (10/3) add up to 13, which is famously Swift’s favourite number. The overall fan reactions to the new album have been positive, and with the release date quickly approaching, swifties are surely buzzing with excitement.

Taylor Swift says she was inspired to produce “The Life of a Showgirl” from her experience doing her two years long Eras Tour. The album’s will be thematically centered around balancing the dichotomy of her personal and private life, the pressure of fame and public expectation, and truth of working in the entertainment industry as a whole.

Swift has faced lots of backlash over the years, from being typecast as a pretty pop singer with no real substance, to more recently being hated whenever she attends one of Travis Kelce’s football games, all of which may be touched on in her new album. However, Swift will undoubtedly sing her own praises as well, as she knows she has created a highly successful empire and been a positive influence on girls for over a decade.

The album announcement came just two weeks before the announcement of her engagement to Travis Kelce, though the proposal itself happened a few days prior to the podcast. The engagement itself has had some mixed reactions, with many fans saying they’d hoped the announcement would be of a break-up rather than a proposal. Nonetheless, her engagement post on Instagram quickly became one of the most-liked posts on the platform as most fans are excited that Swift has finally found her “Romeo.”

Photo Credits: Hannah Azmat

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12Sports & Health

Editor | Joseph Falzata sports@themedium.ca

Eagles fall short in season opener, bounce back in second match (contd. from Page 01)

expectations for the rest of the season, Adamo stated that she was “definitely optimistic.”

Tyler Medieros Associate Sports & Health Editor

“We played better than the last game,” she stated. “We have to focus on finding each other on the field. We were playing aimless balls at times. We need to look for feet.”

UTM men crumble in opener, pick up big win in second match Pressure was on for the Eagles as they were determined to continue their undefeated streak into the new season. The men set up in what looked to be a 4-3-3 formation, with the right back and left back looking to make overlapping runs when UTM were in possession.

The Eagles came flying out for the start of the match. They were aggressive in the air, strong in their tackles, and unwilling to lose possession. The fast start coincided with three shots on target within the first three minutes of the match. The UTSG goalkeeper pulled off some fine short-distance saves. Clearly unhappy with the opening few minutes, Blue decided to make two early substitutions to freshen things up. It was only a few minutes after the changes that UTSG were awarded a penalty shot after a handball from UTM. There was a hush in the crowd as UTSG number 10 stepped up to the spot, but UTM’s keeper Sami Mohaisen came up clutch with a big save to his right.

Photo Credits: UTM Recreation, Athletics & Wellness, Flickr

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ashid also expanded on her side’s pregame strategy and thoughts on the match.“Before the game, the coach emphasized working cohesively, meaning we all had to contribute defensively or offensively as we all had a role in plays regardless of our position. Because it was the first game of the season…the main goal was to learn about our strengths and weaknesses in a game situation. Coach Krista and Mackenzie also mentioned that they would be playing us in a range of different positions.”

A week later, the women were looking for all three points after a hard-fought draw. The Eagles conceded early on in the first half, but did not lose hope. “We kept our heads up, which I am proud of,” said veteran defender Ally Adamo. The women ended up losing the match 2-0, leaving them winless in their first two matches of the season.

Adamo spoke after the game about her team’s performance. “I think that the girls played well. We started out a little rough first half, unable to control the middle, but we changed our formation for the second half, so we had more control.” When asked about

At the 20th minute mark, UTM’s Number 19 looped an effort over the keeper that nestled into the back of the net and left UTSG Blue stunned. This would be the last good news for the Eagles as UTSG made four substitutions within the opening 20 minutes of the second half which changed the game’s momentum. The Blues scored in the 70th minute with a right-footed strike outside the box, and added another 2 goals within six minutes. The UTM players and coaching staff had no idea what had just hit them.

They were left with 10 minutes to find two goals to tie the match and three to walk away victorious. Despite a few efforts on goal, the Eagles couldn’t find a way through a resolute UTSG defence.

UTM Captain and Number 10, Pietro Arrigoni, was visibly furious with himself and his team in the dying moments of the match. He picked up a yellow card for dissent as he pushed an opposition player with two hands onto the ground. A week later, the men were hoping for all three points against their rivals UTSG Red. Despite an unsuccessful opening match, Head Coach ​​Szabi Bozosky and Assistant Coach Kevin Iyamabo kept their formation the same for Gameweek 2.

UTM’s central attacking midfielder Number 18 created the first big chance of the match. He dribbled past a couple of defenders

until he was pulled down to the ground by a UTSG defender. The defender received a yellow card for the shirt pull, and UTM were awarded a free kick. UTM struck first with a left-footed shot from number eight. The ball made its way through the keeper’s legs and into the back of the net sending UTM up 1-0 going into the break.

The second half kicked off with a bang after a 15-minute break for both sides. UTSG captain number 21 was elbowed to the ground by number 13 on UTM. The captain got up and said to his opponent, “I’m gonna f*ck you up, number 13.” The referee immediately blew his whistle, jogged over to the captain, and showed him a yellow card. The UTSG captain approached the referee further.

“He’s being an idiot ref.” The UTSG coach used the next stoppage of play to substitute his captain out of the match.

With just 20 minutes left in the game, UTSG were desperate for the equalizer. UTM did everything they could to not concede, wasting time putting the ball back into play on multiple occasions. This led to the referee saying, “Don’t give me a reason to give you a yellow for delaying the restart.” Ironically, UTM were awarded a penalty shot just moments later. Number 10 on UTM stood over the ball and made it 2-0 with a strike into the bottom left corner. The referee blew the final whistle a few minutes later giving the UTM tri-campus sports program its first win of the school year.

UTM’s Captain speaks after first win After their first hard-fought win of the season, UTM’s Captain Pietro Arrigoni commented on his team’s performance.”I thought it was a great game, we had great discipline. We could have finished some more chances and put away the game early, but I can’t complain.” UTM had multiple goal-scoring opportunities denied by the UTSG keeper. Arrigoni was also questioned on the referee’s involvement throughout the match, “He handled the game pretty well. There’s some subjective stuff that, in my view, he could’ve done better on, but I’m not overly concerned with that because we still came away with the win.”

With one win and one loss under his team’s belt, Arrigoni remains confident of his squad’s chances this season.

“We have a tough game against Scarborough next week. They’ve shown that they are a good team with strong performances against us last year. Off the highs of the strong win today, we can carry the momentum into the rest of the season.”

Check out the men’s and women’s schedules and come support your Eagles at home and on the road.

Fighting stress with horses and dogs For those with Complex PTSD (CPTSD), the pain runs even deeper.

Unlike PTSD, which often stems from a single traumatic event, CPTSD develops from ongoing, repeated trauma, often beginning in childhood.

CPTSD: A Breakdown The impact of CPTSD can linger for decades through feelings of fear, shame, addiction, fractured relationships, and a constant sense of being “behind” in life. For students balancing academic pressure, jobs, and personal challenges, untreated trauma can make university feel overwhelming, even impossible. This is especially true, when symptoms begin creeping up in early adulthood, where many are beginning their academic journey and don’t even know they have this diagnosis and why they are suddenly struggling and cannot keep up with peers.

Illustrated by Ola Suschenko

Sehr-Fatima Aslam Contributor Understanding the impact of CPTSD on student life and examining how animal-assisted therapy can help “I can’t handle this.”

“Things will never get better.”

“No one can be trusted.”’

T

hese aren’t just passing thoughts — they’re the daily reality for many living with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

While PTSD is widely known, CPTSD is less understood. It often develops in people who grew up in unsafe homes, where abuse, neglect, or loss was a daily reality. Researchers measure these experiences through the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) questionnaire.

The higher the score, the greater the risk of depression, heart disease, addiction, shortened life expectancy, and even decreased attainment of higher education.

Students with high ACE scores may find themselves struggling not only with mental health but also with trust, focus, and belonging.

What looks like procrastination or “burnout” can, in fact, be the body responding to trauma.

At the University of Toronto (UofT), the challenge can be magnified.

UofT is known for its intensity: long hours, competitive grading, and an institutional culture that prizes academic achievement above al-

most everything else. For students with CPTSD, that culture can feel especially punishing.

When mental health is treated as secondary to grades and research, students may internalize the belief that their struggles are personal failures, not systemic issues. Instead of being met with compassion, many feel like they are “falling behind” compared to peers. This mindset only deepens the shame and hopelessness already tied to trauma.

The Potential Role of Equine and Dog Therapy Equine therapy has been studied as an adjunct treatment for PTSD. The PTSD Association of Canada highlights how horses’ powerful electromagnetic field and calm rhythms can regulate human emotions, lowering stress and building trust. One pilot study even showed significant reductions in anxiety and trauma symptoms in first responders after just eight weeks of equine-assisted therapy.

Not every campus can offer horses,but some, like UTM, have introduced weekly dog therapy sessions. Research suggests animal-assisted therapy reduces cortisol, boosts mood, and helps students reconnect socially. For someone with CPTSD, these moments of relief aren’t just comforting; they can be life-saving.

CPTSD isn’t rare. It often hides behind addiction, academic struggles, or “bad attitudes.” It shapes how students show up in classrooms, friendships, and jobs. By expanding access to alternative therapies like equine programs, therapy dogs, or simply more trauma-informed campus care staff, universities like UofT could better balance their academic intensity with real pathways for nurturing talent and potential.