02 NEWS
U of T professor on leave after making a controversial comment on Charlie Kirk’s assassination
Aishat Abdulrazaq Contributer
Professor Ruth Marshall’s suspension reignites debate on free speech for faculty and university accountability.
On September 12, the University of Toronto (U of T) confirmed to CBC News that Associate Professor Ruth Marshall is on leave after a post on X (formerly Twitter) that appeared to respond to the shooting death of American conservative podcaster Charlie Kirk. U of T said it “took immediate action” and that the faculty member “is now on leave and not on campus,” adding the matter is being reviewed and the university would not comment further.
Screenshots of the post circulating online show an account identified as Marshall stating, “Shooting is honestly too good for so many of you fascist cunts.” The Toronto Star reported that the account later became private, and Marshall’s departmental pages have since been taken down.
Kirk, co-founder of the conservative organization Turning Point USA (TPUSA), was fatally shot on September 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University. The assassination sparked intense reactions across social media and in political circles. Kirk’s supporters praised his legacy as a defender of free-market conservatism, while critics pointed to his track record of inflammatory remarks.
Kirk often defended expansive interpretations of free speech and gun rights. At a 2023 TPUSA Faith event, he said it was “worth it to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights,” according to Media Matters.
This remark, which Kirk himself framed as a grim necessity of protecting constitutional rights, has fuelled many heated debates about the boundaries of free speech. For critics, that stance made Marshall’s comment especially
pointed.
Accordingly, Marshall’s suspension raised questions about how universities handle comments their professors make as private citizens online, especially as it concerns universities’ obligations to safety, non-discrimination, and reputation.
U of T’s longstanding Statement on Freedom of Speech affirms that faculty and students are free to comment on matters of public interest. However, the policy also clarifies that speech encouraging violence or constituting harassment is not protected.
This isn’t the first time U of T has navigated such tensions. Previously, some U of T professors made comments on violence in Gaza that sparked debate on campus, with community members split over whether remarks crossed from protected expression into speech that undermined safety and inclusion, The Varsity reported in November 2023. Some of those faculty members continued teaching without interruption, while others faced sharper criticism, highlighting the varied ways the university has responded to controversial remarks.
Online, students’ discussions about Marshall’s case have been mixed. In one Reddit thread on r/UofT discussing Marshall’s post, some users argued that professors should be able to share personal views.
“Is a person not allowed to share personal opinions on social media anymore?” one user stated. Others felt her words went too far. “At the very least, a poli-sci prof shouldn’t be advocating for political violence,” wrote another. Moderators ultimately locked some posts as the debate escalated.
In an interview with The Medium, Ethan Evans, president of the U of T Mississauga branch of Students For Liberty (SFL), said his club condemns Kirk’s killing and opposes political violence “under any circumstance.”
He described the assassination as “a massive tragedy” and
stressed that “political violence has no place in modern democracies.” He also said Marshall’s comments were “disgusting” and “an evil thing to say,” arguing that language that appears to celebrate violence risks encouraging more of it.
Evans emphasized a distinction between free speech and freedom from consequences. “Deference should usually be given to [protecting] what people say, and there shouldn’t be consequences for expressing opinions. But when speech crosses into encouraging violence or undermines others’ rights, reasonable limits can apply.”
He added that most students he has spoken with across political lines felt Marshall’s comments went too far, even if they disagreed with Kirk’s politics.
Evan’s advice to the U of T community is to lean into civil debate. “University is meant to be your time to grow and learn. Debate your fellow students. Listen to different opinions. Challenge your professors when you think they’re wrong. Don’t be afraid to express who you are.”
Photo Credits: Melody Zhou
For now, Marshall’s future at U of T remains uncertain. The university has not announced the outcome of its investigation.
IEC hosts annual Thrive-In conference for international students
Prekshaa Surana Contributer
Attendees learned about navigating student life through panel discussions and networking.
On October 1, the University of Toronto Mississauga’s (UTM) International Education Centre (IEC) hosted its annual Thrive-In conference, a networking and panel event targeted towards first- and second-year international students.
From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., attendees gathered in room DV 3140 of the William G. Davis Building to meet peers and
learn about student life. The session started with an “international bingo” icebreaker to help participants ease up and get to know each other. The session then continued with talks about academic practices, guidelines, and standards at the University of Toronto (U of T).
Presenters discussed essential information about academic integrity, grade point average, and program of study (POSt). They also discussed mentorship and student support resources students can access, such as International Student Success Coaching and the International Student Mentorship Program.
The event was divided by a dinner break, whereupon
participants mingled over complimentary rice, potato slices, kebabs, salad, and dessert from campus catering. Overall, the atmosphere was light and easygoing, perfect for casual conversation between students and staff.
The second segment of the event focused on more information-heavy topics, such as visas, immigration, career planning, and exchange and study abroad programs.
IEC Student Advisor Arshdeep Bindra went in-depth about international students’ legal rights, visa requirements, study permits, and future immigration opportunities.
Editor | Aaron Calpito news@themedium.ca
Then followed Lucille Yi, Employment Strategist at the
Illustrated by Ola Suschenko
Career Centre. She provided an overview of on- and off-campus opportunities available to students, including work-study, research positions, and internships, among others. She also shed light on Career Centre resources like one-on-one appointments to help students develop their résumés and cover letters.
Lastly, two students who personally underwent the study abroad and exchange programs shared their experiences. They shared information about the application procedure and financial support for students.
The Medium interviewed attendees after Thrive-In for their thoughts on the evening’s proceedings.
Enjhkhuslen Terbish, a second-year international student planning to specialize in psychology, said she thinks that the IEC should host such events because many students are overwhelmed and confused about what resources are available to them.
“I did not even know that I had to file taxes as a student, I had no idea about POSt either. The confusion with study permits was also another big hassle, so in
order to tackle these things, students need to have the right information, which can be given through these events,” Terbish shared.
First-year international student and aspiring microbiology specialist Giovanna Ravagnani de Oliveira expressed that she found Thrive-in to be comforting. “Being here at U of T has been a dream of mine since I was 10, but actually living the dream and it being something that I’m not used to is unsettling,” she shared. “Being here, though, makes it easier. Knowing that there are people in the same situation as me is comforting, making it easier for me to connect with them.”
She also praised Yi’s insights. “Lucy made it easier for me to understand and grasp, using satirical and candid language to help me get a better idea. I didn’t know that there were so many opportunities on campus with so much flexibility.” She concluded that she was feeling more prepared for university thanks to the event.
Students who attended the event were each given a cocurricular record credit and a success package, which
included a LinkedIn certificate. Event organizers also provided free IEC-themed notepads, pens, and stickers featuring an anthropomorphic deer in a red suit.
The IEC will host its next event, a Diwali-themed Dinner and Dialogues, on October 9. The full list of IEC events and program offerings can be found on their website, on the “Program & Events” page.
Undergraduate researchers shine at Experiential Education Fair
Aaron Calpito News Editor
The Fair showcased undergraduates’ research projects and taught students how they can engage in experiential learning.
On September 25, as a quiet fog encroached on campus, the Kaneff Centre Rotunda was abustle with activity for the Experiential Education Fair. Organised by the University of Toronto Mississauga’s (UTM) Experiential Education Unit (EEU), the annual event is meant to help students network and learn about practical learning opportunities.
From 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., dozens of undergraduate students presented their research to peers, staff, and faculty, who moved freely about the venue. Each presenter was stationed at a portable partition board, upon which hung a poster of their summarised research project.
Topics at the showcase stemmed from subjects including microbiology, machine learning, environmental science, and social psychology, among many others. Each presentation was the result of a months-long research project which undergraduates conducted alongside peers, graduates, and professors, as shared by some presenters in on-site interviews with The Medium.
from my peers, especially those that study physics,” he said. “I assumed some professors would also show up and help me gain insight on some of the tools that I used, how I presented some of the things, and how I can improve some of the models I had.”
Al-Jarrah’s project centred on the application of machine learning to automatically categorise data sets. “This is my first time presenting any research, so I think it’s interesting to convey all the work I’ve been working on over the summer.”
Fourth-year psychology specialist and linguistics minor Noemi Caponi was similarly excited to finally have a chance to show off her research on how people respond to different accents.
She expressed that she is especially pleased with her project because she and her partners started it from scratch, so they had an intimate understanding of every detail of their research throughout. “This is a very prideful moment for me,” she said.
Caponi also said that she hoped her presentation would inspire other undergraduates to pursue research. “When I was in first year and second year, I was very intimidated by the fact that people go out and do research…. But when students pass by, I hope that they see that we’re also just regular students at the end of the day.”
Co-presenters Farhia Mohamud and Grace Dairo felt greatly privileged to be able to present at the Fair.
“For students like myself, a black individual, there aren’t many experiences or entry points into research that are being proposed,” conveyed Mohamud, a fifth-year specialising in psychology and minoring in forensics. “I got into the summer [research opportunity program], which is for black and Indigenous students. So for me to have done that for the summer and to do another presentation with the super program and then to now be here with the EEU cements my future pathway into psychology.”
Fifth-year neuroscience specialist Dairo agreed, adding that through presenting she hopes to shed light on experiential learning opportunities for fellow students. “I really want to help unmask the ways to get into research, because a lot of these opportunities are not visible. You only hear about them from professors when you’re in conversation with them or through announcements by departments.”
Each interviewee said that they intend to continue their research, noting that their presentations only showcase some of the work they’ve done so far.
Al-Jarrah still intends to improve his models. Caponi expects that her group’s preliminary research will enable them to conduct more comprehensive studies. Mohamud and Dairo, whose project centred on the community-engaged research approach, conducted their research as part of a four-year longitudinal study that will eventually impact oncampus programs and initiatives.
One presenter, fourth-year biophysics specialist Yousif Al-Jarrah, saw the Fair as an exciting opportunity to advance his studies. “It’s always interesting to get some feedback
Photo Credits: Aria Zheng
Photo Credits: Aaron Calpito
The Fair also featured information sessions that ran parallel to the undergraduate research showcase. The sessions, each presented by EEU staff, included an introductory presentation to experiential learning at UTM, information sessions about the Research Opportunity Program and the UTM Co-op Internship Program, and a question and answer session featuring student ambassadors.
The EEU had cancelled plans to host the Fair over a two-day period, with tabling, networking with employers, and additional information sessions originally slated for Sep-
OPINION
EDITORIAL
tember 24. “This decision was made to ensure the event remains inclusive and accessible for everyone,” the EEU wrote in an email to this year’s registrants.
On November 4, the EEU will host its next event, “The Art of Mending” lecture by Professor Alison Syme, as part of the Lecture Me! series. The EEU’s full event roster is available on its website.
Editor | Yasmine Benabderrahmane opinion@themedium.ca
In the defense of violence
Yasmine Benabderrahmane Opinion Editor
We are terrorists when we are silent, we are terrorists when we speak; do not ask us to die quietly
Anew language must be born to materialise the horrors of Israel and the West and their accomplices—a brutality so relentless and dark and senseless.
The reported number of murdered Palestinians in Gaza by Israel are debated—some say 66,005 Palestinians, others say 66,200. In Sudan, the number of murdered people by the RSF have been reported to be 61,000 people, and others claim 150,000.
In the Global South, lives continue to be estimated by collapsed healthcare systems, in an effort to dignify their people. You see numbers that you do not grasp, except they are too inordinate. Figures we clutch onto, fearing that their reality is far more grotesque.
We have become numb, and our eyes gloss over the figures, but you might come across something that quantifies the chaos and feel the weight of it all. A daughter wailing over her mother’s body. A boy screaming for his brother to wake up. A grandfather’s worn body thrown over his grandchildren, grieving over small bodies wrapped in cloth. A testimony of a girl recalling the details of the sexual violence she has endured.
It guilts me that my writing on the Global South remains a target to a vernacular of devastation. So, note that the livelihood of Black and brown people does not exist within the borders of tragedy—our existence is more than pain and pity.
But, as the second-year mark of the deliberate genocidal attack on Gaza by the apartheid state of Israel approaches, the world’s humanity has become pliable.
Throughout the two years, journalists in the US, Canada, and UK alike continue to target Hamas as the perpetuator of this “war,” interrogating and demanding Palestinians and activists to condemn October 7th. This is always presumed with a complete disregard of the violence of the Zionist project that has existed since the nineteenthcentury.
To that, the West has conjured a few fantasies: that white skin is infantalized and victimised; Black and brown skin is inherently violent; every and any resistance is unjustifiable; and colonialism requires “international law” to be legitimised. It’s a historical narrative that has been used to satisfy the bloodthirst of the West.
Since the fifteenth-century, colonisers have tried to convince us that resistance is synonymous to terrorism. For terror and fear can only be truly experienced by the European.
So, to them, when a 10-year old Palestinian boy—orphaned, starved, and dismembered—chooses to defend his land, he is an instigator and his identity is established as inherently violent. They will taint and reduce his existence, and have him beg: “I am not a terrorist, I am a Palestinian… I want to take revenge for what they have done to our land.”
In 1956, Zohra Drif walked into an ice cream parlor, tucked a woven basket beneath a chair, and left. Shortly after, the basket exploded, killing at least three French men. To the French, it terrorised their peace; to the Algerian, it ignited a hope for their liberation. The French media went on to interrogate Larbi Ben M’Hidi, as reenacted
in the Battle of Algiers (1966), claiming it was “cowardly… to carry bombs [in baskets] which have killed many innocent lives.” To that, Ben M’Hidi responded:
Truthfully, you cannot taunt me with the narrative of empathy when it has never been a card dealt for my people. You cannot ask me to be the “bigger” person, to stand on a moral pedestal for the sake of humanity, when I had been stripped of humanisation in the first place.
And truthfully, the West fetishises peaceful protests. They romanticise the concept of civil treaties and productive conversations.
Yet, what they don’t realise is that in order for a peaceful approach to be achieved, the coloniser must dignify the colonised. But, colonialism is a violent and brutal process— and so decolonialism must mirror precisely that.
Malcolm X assumed such, too, claiming that “anyone who is depriving you of your freedom isn’t deserving of a peaceful approach.” Why must we audition for your empathy and perform for your compassion, knowing it will never be spared by the West?
Illustrated by Melody Zhou
Least of all, the West places quotas on who can be a victim of violence: Charlie Kirk—a podcaster that thrived through the spread of bigotry online and the resurgence of conservatism among the youth—was “a father and husband,” whilst thousands of Black and brown men are ridiculed by racialised indignity.
They define who can be violent: the US, whose every president, since 1980, has invaded a country in the Global South, each are regarded as “protectors of peace,” whilst thousands of Black and brown children are regarded as “terrorists” for seeking revenge.
It has become the case that terrorism lies within the language boundaries of colonialism. It is a word thrown against every freedom fighter, to delegitimize their movement. It is a term void of context and reason.
Because, “when the victim stands on his feet and fights back, he is not a victim anymore,” but a ploy in the “uncivilised” narrative that has been enforced on them.
I cannot condemn violence in the name of liberation. We are terrorists when we are silent, we are terrorists when we speak. Do not ask us to die quietly.
Canada’s commitment to peace is inconsistent
Ukraine has rightfully benefited from Canada’s full arsenal of support, while Palestine has received limited aid qualified by controversy and bureaucratic delay
I
n October 2023, the University of Toronto (UofT) Mississauga Students’ Union released a statement supporting “all people facing harm from the Palestinian genocide.” UofT officials subsequently condemned the union’s statement, ironically citing compassion and kindness as just cause. To many, this was a clear act of censorship and served as a warning that speaking out against the injustice in Palestine would be met with forfeit of their right to freedom of expression.
The dispute mirrored a larger reality of Canada’s political landscape: a staggering complacency despite what Canada has shown itself capable of in times of need.
When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the immediate mobilization of our governing officials established our solidarity and affirmed our country as a global leader in humanitarian support.
But we have yet to see commensurate action from the Canadian government in response to the Palestinian genocide.
The difference begins with recognition
For Ukraine, Canadian institutions and government leaders acted quickly and visibly. Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s administration framed itself as a staunch ally from the earliest days of the Russian invasion in 2022.
The University of Toronto, in parallel, established scholarships and financial aid programs that same year for displaced Ukrainian students, a gesture reinforced by a university-wide consensus of solidarity.
On Palestine, however, Trudeau treaded carefully. Aligning with other Western allies by the end of 2023, Trudeau classified Hamas as a terrorist organization and asserted that Israel had a right to defend itself.
Simultaneously, he called for the protection of civilian lives and for Israel to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.
It wasn’t until May 2025 that the UofT Faculty Association voted in favour of divestment from Israeli institutions and companies tied to the genocide effort, preceding Canada’s formal recognition of a Palestinian state this past September.
Despite similar directions, Canada severely underperformed in its promptness in recognizing Palestine’s right to self-determination after so readily demonstrating its capacity to rally to Ukraine’s aid.
While Ukraine saw large-scale, unified mobility and government investment, Palestine faced policies constrained
by bureaucracy and political wariness.
Canada has committed C$6.5 billion in military assistance to Ukraine through 2029, including weapons, vehicles, training programs, and advanced defence technology.
Through Operation UNIFIER, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have trained Ukrainian soldiers in both military and medical practices. The CAF also deployed personnel to support refugees in reception centres in Warsaw.
In February 2025, Canada began to redirect revenues from frozen Russian assets into relief funds for Ukraine. Further, the Canada-Ukraine
Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) afforded Ukrainian refugees a fast-tracked pathway to immigration, bolstered by settlement and transition services to support integration.
In contrast, Canada has pledged $104.5 million in humanitarian assistance since November 2024, with total contributions reaching $355 million by July 2025.
Israel’s blockage of land routes into Gaza caused Canada to participate in air-dropping food and medical supplies. While lifesaving, these drops were a demonstration of Canada’s limited influence in shaping conditions on the ground.
On immigration, the government introduced temporary measures allowing Palestinians already in Canada to stay, and created pathways for Canadian citizens to reunite with relatives trapped in Gaza.
But unlike the CUAET, these processes have been criticized for their lag and inadequacy. Reports surfaced of families waiting months for approval, with many applicants dying before their cases were processed.
At stake is Canada’s self-image. The nation casts itself as a defender of human rights and democracy. But when two crises unfold simultaneously, its record of valour is inconsistent.
Ukrainians have rightfully benefited from Canada’s full arsenal of support: military aid, expedited immigration, and unequivocal recognition.
Palestinians, by contrast, have received humanitarian packages and belated recognition, qualified by domestic controversy and bureaucratic delay.
How do we come to honour a country for its values when it has demonstrated that they are selective? As a people, our pride is caught between Canada’s vastly different responses to the war in Ukraine and the genocide of the Palestinian people. Omar El Akkad’s 2025 book so expertly exposes this “double-think” of this Western self-narrative.
In El Akkad’s words: “Rule, conventions, morals, reality itself: all exist so long as their existence is convenient to the preservation of power. Otherwise, they, like all else, are expendable.”
Scott Hreno Contributer
Illustrated by Melody Zhou
No room for debate
Zainab Hassan Contributer
The entire point of these debates is to disarm us of our outrage so we don’t use it constructively
As I sit here, writing this article, it is a Wednesday and I—alongside thousands of people across the world—am watching the Global Sumoud Flotilla be illegally detained for bringing life saving supplies to Gaza. By the time this article is published, the news will have confirmed Israel’s illegal seizing of these humanitarian aid vessels.
The situation in Gaza has been officially recognised as a genocide by multiple institutes including the UN, yet people still ask: what about Hamas? Across the ocean, the Sudanese face their own genocide in Darfur, and Congo faces its own forced starvation and an unprecedented rates of rape as a war tactic.
Across the border in the US, people’s rights to healthcare, shelter, education, and safety are being ripped away from them, all for the terrible crime of existing. These are just a few of the many instances across the world where people are being persecuted for their identity and existence.
In 2025, we find whole communities being persecuted for their religion, the colour of their skin, their sexuality, their gender, their bodies and abilities, and for simply living on land that might be “profitable”.
Meanwhile our governments do nothing but sit around and encourage complicity. Our academic institutions tell us to look at both sides in the name of objectivity and tolerance, and our media panders to those in power instead of criticizing them.
We are people. We have the right to exist. We have the right to food and water, to shelter, to education, and safety irrespective of disability, race, gender, sexuality, and religion. We have the right to protect ourselves from occupation, from colonization, and from persecution.
The question posed for this article was if human rights should be debatable ideas. The answer is no. I’m not going to play devil’s advocate, I’m not going to look at both sides, I’m not going to consider nuance. No: human rights are not debatable.
In fact, I will go as far as to say that even allowing human rights to be debated moves you from being passively complicit in their violation to actively aiding and abetting it. Human rights are not just simple concepts someone dreamed up; they are the fundamental bricks that make up the foundation of, not just democracy, but any functional society.
Whether it is in our classes, on our news, or on the latest Jubilee video, when you allow the debate of these rights, you do three things.
First, you give people a platform, informing society that not only are disregarding human rights tolerable, but their violation can be capitalized on. Jubilee has platformed individuals including Charlie Kirk and Jordan Peterson—both sporting incredibly
harmful rhetorics targeted against Muslims, people of colour, the LGBTQIA+ community, people with disabilities, and immigrants. Both made money from their platformed debates and their huge social presence. Jubilee has also, notoriously, platformed a Nazi. We have reached a point where we, as a society, find it acceptable to platform bigotry.
The second thing that occurs, when debating human rights, is the increased sympathy for and softening towards the violation of human rights. Suddenly, we are told to “tolerate others’ opinions”, that we need to be respectful, that these are people, too, and we need to take the moral high ground. I, personally, don’t consider that genocidal ideations and eugenics were something worth tolerating.
Lastly: there is this concept in politics known as the “controlled opposition.” You see it in governments, the news, and you see it in these so-called debates. The idea of the controlled opposition is to provide “safe” criticism to the systems in power—focusing on surface level issues without touching the deeper, systemic, root causes.
When we have these debates over human rights, we inherently dehumanize the people actually facing these issues, diminishing and disregarding them as pure theory, separate and distant from us. We argue for and against them. And yet, it is our government, our taxes, our indifference that allows these violations to continue. But because we’ve expended the energy to debate the matter, we’ve experienced the catharsis of “doing the right thing”, of criticising the system, and no longer are we motivated to change it. Words do look pretty without actions to back them up.
If the full extent of your activism is to debate people’s entitlement to human rights, then your activism is performative. If you have the time and energy to participate in these debates, then you have the time and energy to educate yourself and others about issues in the world and how our inherent systems feed into them. You have the time to donate to a charity; to volunteer at an NGO; to attend a protest; and to call your government officials and hold them accountable.
The entire point of these debates is to disarm us of our outrage so we don’t use it constructively. So why are we wasting our time debating a brick when we could be pulling down the wall?
EDITORIAL BOARD
Editor-in-Chief Aya Yafaoui editor@themedium.ca
Managing Editor Samuel Kamalendran managing@themedium.ca
News
Aaron Calpito news@themedium.ca
Opinion Yasmine Benabderrahmane opinion@themedium.ca
Features Gisele Tang features@themedium.ca
A&E
Yusuf Larizza-Ali arts@themedium.ca
Sports
Joseph Falzata sports@themedium.ca
Photo
Melody Zhou photos@themedium.ca
Design Sehajleen Wander design@themedium.ca
Podcast Jia Bawa
Social Media Jannine Uy
social@themedium.ca
Outreach Mashiyat Ahmed
outreach@themedium.ca
Copy May Alsaigh may@themedium.ca
Anaam Khan anaam@themedium.ca
TO CONTRIBUTE & CONNECT: themedium.ca/contact @themediumUTM @themediumUTM @themessageUTM
Illustrated by Melody Zhou
07 FEATURES
Editor | Gisele Tang
The changing landscape of social connection
Laiba Haque Contributer
Technology, grind culture, social anxiety - what’s stopping us from making meaningful connections as we once did?
On September 12, the University of Toronto (U of T) confirmed to CBC News that Associate Professor Ruth Marshall is on leave after a post on X (formerly Twitter) that appeared to respond to the shooting death of American conservative podcaster Charlie Kirk. U of T said it “took immediate action” and that the faculty member “is now on leave and not on campus,” adding the matter is being reviewed and the university would not comment further.
Screenshots of the post circulating online show an account identified as Marshall stating, “Shooting is honestly too good for so many of you fascist cunts.” The Toronto Star reported that the account later became private, and Marshall’s departmental pages have since been taken down.
Kirk, co-founder of the conservative organization Turning Point USA (TPUSA), was fatally shot on September 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University. The assassination sparked intense reactions across social media and in political circles. Kirk’s supporters praised his legacy as a defender of free-market conservatism, while critics pointed to his track record of inflammatory remarks.
Kirk often defended expansive interpretations of free speech and gun rights. At a 2023 TPUSA Faith event, he said it was “worth it to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights,” according to Media Matters.
This remark, which Kirk himself framed as a grim necessity of protecting constitutional rights, has fuelled many heated debates about the boundaries of free speech. For critics, that stance made Marshall’s comment especially pointed. Accordingly, Marshall’s suspension raised questions about how universities handle comments their professors make as private citizens online, especially as it concerns universities’ obligations to safety, non-discrimination, and reputation.
U of T’s longstanding Statement on Freedom of Speech affirms that faculty and students are free to comment on matters of public interest. However, the policy also clarifies that speech encouraging violence or constituting harassment is not protected.
This isn’t the first time U of T has navigated such tensions. Previously, some U of T professors made comments on violence in Gaza that sparked debate on campus, with community members split over whether remarks crossed from protected expression into speech that undermined safety and inclusion, The Varsity reported in November 2023. Some of those faculty members continued teaching without interruption, while others faced sharper criticism, highlighting the varied ways the university has responded to controversial remarks.
Online, students’ discussions about Marshall’s case have been mixed. In one Reddit thread on r/UofT discussing Marshall’s post, some users argued that professors should be able to share personal views.
“Is a person not allowed to share personal opinions on social media anymore?” one user
stated. Others felt her words went too far. “At the very least, a poli-sci prof shouldn’t be advocating for political violence,” wrote another. Moderators ultimately locked some posts as the debate escalated.
In an interview with The Medium, Ethan Evans, president of the U of T Mississauga branch of Students For Liberty (SFL), said his club condemns Kirk’s killing and opposes political violence “under any circumstance.”
He described the assassination as “a massive tragedy” and stressed that “political violence has no place in modern democracies.” He also said Marshall’s comments were “disgusting” and “an evil thing to say,” arguing that language that appears to celebrate violence risks encouraging more of it.
Evans emphasized a distinction between free speech and freedom from consequences. “Deference should usually be given to [protecting] what people say, and there shouldn’t be consequences for expressing opinions. But when speech crosses into encouraging violence or undermines others’ rights, reasonable limits can apply.”
He added that most students he has spoken with across political lines felt Marshall’s comments went too far, even if they disagreed with Kirk’s politics.
Evan’s advice to the U of T community is to lean into civil debate. “University is meant to be your time to grow and learn. Debate your fellow students. Listen to different opinions. Challenge your professors when you think they’re wrong. Don’t be afraid to express who you are.”
For now, Marshall’s future at U of T remains uncertain. The university has not announced the outcome of its investigation.
Interview with UNICEF UTM
Laila Alkelani Contributer
UNICEF UTM is bringing UNICEF Canada’s mission to life with fundraising events and opportunities for student involvement on campus.
Originally known as the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, UNICEF was created in 1946 to provide food and healthcare resources for children and mothers in countries affected by World War II. In 1950, the organization’s mandate was extended to
help children and women in all developing countries, and in 1953, the organization became a permanent part of the United Nations System.
Founded in 2018 by UTM student Rumsha Daimaa, UNICEF UTM was created to spread UNICEF’s mission on campus and provide students with the means to advocate and fundraise for children.
The Medium sat down with UNICEF UTM’s president, Mustafa Amin and secretary, Mirthika Selliah, to understand how the club is implementing UNICEF’s global mission on the UTM campus.
Why the focus on children?
According to Selliah, most of UNICEF Canada’s campaigns and fundraisers are centred around children. To retain the original spirit of UNICEF, the UTM branch decided to stick to this focus.
Amin explained that adults have the opportunity to “amplify their voices, or advocate for themselves,” whereas most children have yet to develop the ability to do the same. Children also cannot access the same resources or materials that adults do, which puts them in
Illustrated by Aria Zheng
a more vulnerable position. With that in mind, UNICEF UTM has decided to aid children worldwide by raising funds for vaccines and emergency relief efforts.
The importance of hosting events
Every event UNICEF UTM holds is directed at raising money for one of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
Last year, the club held a fundraiser by selling Crumbl Cookies. To make it more appealing, the fundraiser was combined with a Polaroid booth for people to take pictures with their friends. According to Amin and Selliah, the cookies sold out quickly, and the club raised a substantial amount of money.
When asked about this year’s events, Amin shared, “October will be our debut month.” The club hopes to be active this year, starting strong with two events this
October, and maintaining a steady pace of hosting one event each month. This will provide students and faculty with numerous opportunities to attend and support fundraisers.
Given the success of last year’s Crumbl Cookies fundraiser, Amin hopes to bring back the baked goods fundraiser early on in October with a lecture on the manmade genocide in Gaza.
“The Sustainable Development Goal for the baked cookies fundraiser will be for Good Health and Well-being,” shared Amin. This will address the “Zero Hunger” goal. “My main goal for the Gaza event will be bringing in a learned guest lecturer to speak about the topic and raise awareness about children’s rights in the conflict zone, the role of international law, and what efforts are being taken to address famine in the region,” Amin continued.
As the club’s president, Amin also spoke about the three
pillars that he intends to implement throughout UNICEF UTM’s activities this year. The three pillars are education, advocacy, and fundraising. The club hopes to put more emphasis on fundraising, given that it is the most tangible way to make a direct impact and transform student involvement into real change for children worldwide. That being said, the club will ensure that each event also educates people on campus and advocates for children affected by global issues.
How you can help
Amin stated that by directly hosting events on campus, UNICEF UTM offers students and faculty an accessible way to make an impact. “We walk on this campus every day,” he said. “What we are here to do is provide the means for students and faculty to get involved. You don’t need to go far away. You don’t need to travel. It’s right here.”
Selliah echoed Amin’s point and said that UNICEF UTM can always benefit from an extra set of hands during events. Amin further notes that, “not only donating and spreading the word, but actually being there makes a big difference.” A larger crowd can liven up events, drawing more attention from passersby, which in turn boosts morale and raises donations.
These congregations also create a sense of community between students at UTM. In your free time, reach out to UNICEF UTM and volunteer to help set up events and fundraisers. Not only will you be contributing to a good cause, but you will also get to make new connections on campus.
Selliah elaborated that UNICEF UTM’s mission is not just about fundraising, but also about teaching and spreading awareness about the crises occurring around the world. So, even if you don’t have time to drop by the club’s events, you can show your support by posting on your social media to raise awareness of the issues taking place around the globe.
To spread awareness, students may also share posts from UNICEF UTM’s Instagram account @unicef.utm.
Nuclear weapons and its threats to humanity
Contributer
Canada’s stance on nuclear weapon abolition reflects alarming global issues.
Let’s talk about the destructive power of nuclear weapons. If you haven’t heard about weapon abolition yet, or you have but are wondering why it would be relevant to you, you probably don’t know enough about it yet. So, let me give you a tangible visualization of how threatening nuclear weapons are.
The horror hidden within nuclear weapons
Nuclear bombs that we’ve all heard about, like the one detonated in Hiroshima, have devastated lives and caused huge damage to our society and environment. Tens of thousands were killed, and many later succumbed to radiation poisoning. But keep in mind that with technological development, many of the nuclear weapons developed after World War II are much stronger than before.
Aside from their immediate lethality, nuclear weapons have detrimental long-term health consequences. For example, physicians have projected that around 2.4 million people worldwide will die from cancer just from atmospheric nuclear tests conducted from 1945 to 1980.
Beyond health impacts, nuclear weapons have severely damaged our environment, especially by causing radioactive contamination. Radioactive contamination infiltrates the air that we breathe, gets absorbed by plants, gets ingested by animals and contaminates
our food chain, just to name a few.
According to a report from the US Government Accountability Office, the radioactive fallout from the 67 nuclear weapons tests conducted in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) between 1946 to 1958 was equivalent to detonating 1.7 Hiroshima-sized
Gisele Tang
Illustrated by Melody Zhou
Illustrated by Melody Zhou
bombs every day for 12 years. Needless to say, the contamination caused by this singular nuclear weapon testing project has caused unimaginable damage to ecosystems and, in turn, our health.
Understanding Canada’s stance on nuclear weapons
Despite the devastation nuclear weapons have continuously caused, countries like Canada remain hesitant to fully commit to nuclear weapon abolition.
Canada is one of the 190 members of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which aims to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology. However, Canada has yet to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which targets the prohibition and total elimination of nuclear weapons. In addition, though Canada does not possess any nuclear weapons, it allows their potential use through its membership in NATO, or rather, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
The Canadian government’s hesitance to abolish nuclear weapons is alarming. It reflects that some countries are still open to the possibility of using a weapon that could kill millions in a matter of seconds.
A figure to inspire us
After learning the impact of nuclear weapons, it is easy to feel hopeless. But instead of lingering in devastation, we can ignite hope by taking action ourselves. Professor John Polanyi at the University of Toronto sets an excellent example for us.
Polanyi was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1986. As a University Professor Emeritus and Nobel Prize laureate, Polanyi has publicly spoken on the importance of prohibiting nuclear weapons.
What can students do?
At this stage, though we might not have the expertise and reputation like Polanyi does, we as students carry two crucial elements in the nuclear abolition movement: hope and determination.
We are the next generation that can make the total elimination of nuclear weapons possible. Efforts as small as consistently getting informed, holding conversations on the
ARTS
urgency of nuclear weapon abolition and volunteering in nuclear abolition movements can make a real change. These actions may seem insignificant now, but if each of us is willing to make consistent efforts, society will be able to advance towards a direction that protects humanity.
Reading this article can be your first step in the nuclear abolition movement. Now, it is up to you to take this further and infiltrate it in whatever discipline you aspire to get into. Nuclear weapons are disguised as protection, but they threaten the future we are striving to build. And having learnt the threat that it poses, it is our responsibility to defend it.
stated. Others felt her words went too far. “At the very least, a poli-sci prof shouldn’t be advocating for political violence,” wrote another. Moderators ultimately locked some posts as the debate escalated.
In an interview with The Medium, Ethan Evans, president of the U of T Mississauga branch of Students For Liberty (SFL), said his club condemns Kirk’s killing and opposes political violence “under any circumstance.”
He described the assassination as “a massive tragedy” and stressed that “political violence has no place in modern democracies.” He also said Marshall’s comments were “disgusting” and “an evil thing to say,” arguing that language that appears to celebrate violence risks encouraging more of it.
Evans emphasized a distinction between free speech and freedom from consequences. “Deference should usually be given to [protecting] what people say, and there shouldn’t be consequences for expressing opinions. But when speech crosses into encouraging violence or undermines others’ rights, reasonable limits can apply.”
He added that most students he has spoken with across political lines felt Marshall’s comments went too far, even if they disagreed with Kirk’s politics.
Evan’s advice to the U of T community is to lean into civil debate. “University is meant to be your time to grow and learn. Debate your fellow students. Listen to different opinions. Challenge your professors when you think they’re wrong. Don’t be afraid to express who you are.”
For now, Marshall’s future at U of T remains uncertain. The university has not announced the outcome of its investigation.
Editor | Yusuf Larizza-Ali arts@themedium.ca
Four Documentaries that Expose the Hidden Injustices We Don’t See
Why students should pay attention to these films that uncover the hidden systems of oppression shaping lives around us
As students, we often think of human rights abuses as dramatic events—wars, mass killings and harsh policing. However, injustice runs deeper, existing in silence and accepted in ways that are frequently overlooked. These four documentaries spotlight ignored unfairness, prompting viewers to consider how oppressive structures persist openly.
Zero Impunity (2019)
Across several countires including Syria, the Central African Republic and Iraq, Zero Impunity records instances of sexual violence during conflict using animation alongside other media. It combines reporting of not just what happened, but also how structures like global organizations allow offenders to avoid consequences, reinforced by shame and lack of accountability. This film reveals a pattern—a system where worldwide inaction alongside broken institutions allows harm to repeat itself. Moreover, it demonstrates how unspoken truths don’t end when fighting stops; they follow survivors, obstruction both healing yet also any chance at fairness.
13th (2016)
DuVernay’s 13th (2016), looks at America’s prisons, specifically, how they worsen racial disparities via widespread
imprisonment. It proposes the 13th amendment, which ended slavery but contained an exemption for involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime, thus allowing prison to be used as a way of maintaining control. This film follows the story of an injustice—beginning after the Civil War—continuing through segregation, then evolving into modern police practices alongside for-profit prisons. The film reveals that injustice gets built into laws, so legal systems sometimes reinforce hardship instead of fixing it. 13th (2016) helps students understand the case study and connect it to policy, history and lived experiences.
The Conscience of Nhem En (2008)
The movie The Conscience of Nhem En (2008), directed by Steven Okazaki, uncovers the life of Nhem En, a young man who photographed horrors within Tuol Sleng, a Cambodian jail during the 1970s where countless people suffered. The film delves into what happens when communities confront—or ignore—official brutality. It prompts reflection on lingering pain and forgotten stories passed down through families.
The Unthinkable (2021)
Shot mostly on cellphones, The Unthinkable (2021) relays stories from those who lived through—or lost loved ones to—the crackdown following democracy demonstrations in Eswatini, once known as Swaziland. It shows events through the eyes of people directly involved. Most news about protests focuses on big countries; however, this movie shines a light on what’s happening in tiny Eswatini, which rarely makes headlines. Many young citizens there first became aware of politics because they experienced government crackdowns firsthand.
The stories in these films reveal that hardship does not constantly show in obvious conflict; often, it lingers in neglect, quiet acceptance and official indifference. They challenge viewers—especially students—to consider unfairness worldwide, but also within their own communities. Documentaries don’t just state facts, they also work to unsettle as they inform. That uneasy feeling? is what gets people thinking, fostering conversations that extend into everyday existence.
Evan’s advice to the U of T community is to lean into civil debate. “University is meant to be your time to grow and learn. Debate your fellow students. Listen to different opinions. Challenge your professors when you think they’re wrong. Don’t be afraid to express who you are.”
For now, Marshall’s future at U of T remains uncertain. The university has not announced the outcome of its investigation.
Mariana Dominguez Rodriguez Contributer
Photo Credits: Melody Zhou
Backlash or Breakthrough? TIFF’s Balancing Act
Laiba Haque Contributer
The discussion around The Toronto International Film Festivals handling of a documentary film’s screening has raised questions about balancing sensitivity and expression
This year, the Toronto International Film Festival gave way to new launches of noteworthy films, active celebrity sightings and a lot of merchandise pop-ups that sparked excitement for the residents of Ontario. While people have given their thoughts and opinions on the overall storylines of latest releases like Jacob Elordi’s Frankenstein or Paul Mescal’s Hamnet, a documentary called “The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue” by Canadian director Barry Avrich provoked an alternative debate. Avrich, a former TMU and University of Toronto alumnus, created a documentary following the events of real-life Israeli general Tibon, who goes on a rescue mission to save his son and other family members during the Hamas attack of October 7th, 2023. His portrayal of those real-life horrors via modern-day interviews in combination with footage from that day, with CCTV security footage and Hamas member body cameras, made a hard-hitting piece of media.
To maintain TIFF’s brand, they added the film to the upcoming lineup on July 14th, 2025, with explicit instructions to change the title to “Out of Nowhere: The Ultimate Rescue,” and to provide legal clearances and insurance of the footage they collected, safeguarding the controversial themes from the festival’s brand. The production team and Avrich agreed to this, but failed to come up with the necessary documents and were ordered by CEO Cameron Bailey to pull out of the film’s August 8th showing. Avrich and others refused to do so, which led to Bailey uninviting them via email. Days later, on August 13th, 2025, Bailey
POETRY CORNER
re-invited the team and movie to premiere at TIFF for October 7th. CEO Bailey apologized on behalf of the company, expressing regret for any hurt or confusion caused by removing and then returning “The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue.” Avrich even claimed that “bringing audiences to films sometimes that make them feel uncomfortable” is part of a festival’s job, saying that it was up to the audience to determine the content and interpret it in numerous ways.
In a closer proximity perspective, third year Theatre and Drama student Saisha Bhagchandani at UTM, similarly expressed that “The whole point of controversial films is to make sure that people view things from a different perspective they might not normally take,” which is what a lot of performance art intends to provoke. Being introduced to differing standpoints and emotions is necessary in an open-ended way. Moral opinions mustn’t be enforced on their audiences; instead, film and media can push an easier agenda to explore newness and discomfort all at once. She also said that when it comes to film festivals like TIFF balancing controversy with audience concerns, one solution could be to create panels or dedicated spaces where people can have real discussions about the films. These kinds of conversations, she explained, can facilitate “artistic freedom…because it gives the public an actual place, a forum to respond”. Therefore, she makes a strong point about allowing audiences to draw their own conclusions from the films they watch, fostering inclusion even when TIFF or other festivals present debatable themes.
A couple of days following TIFF’s celebrations and the release of “The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue,” it ended up winning Best Documentary by people’s choice for Toronto International Film Festival, verifying the impact of a film with such sensitive subject matter. Even Avrich emphasized his gratitude, saying, “It’s not about
A stranger in the evening
In a haze long and red you seized me and you branded my heart with your name— ferried turmoil in my veins crackled bands in my ears startled me awake and I felt fire for the first time. I was under the impression everywhere through pain you are born though pain you bear you draw strength from weakness bloom in fissures grave digger god killer That was the truth
the critics, not about anybody else. It’s about the audience. And so to have the audience vote for this film? Incredibly validating.” Which is fundamentally the point of motion pictures and the art of expression. Through many hurdles and indecisions of launching “The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue” by Barry Avrich, the recognition at TIFF serves as proof that even the most controversial stories, when told with conviction, can resonate deeply with audiences and redefine the role of cinema in society.
But truly, you showed me on the precipice of delusion how far I’d gone how still I swelled how well I lied how much you knew So I pleaded to you.
Untether me from this shifting plain light up the demons shrouded within and listen as their discorded throats sputter the most harmonious chorus.
Sear this blighted expanse and smoke the sun dogs out of its sickly furrows before they bow their heads to unravelling vows.
Lend me your voice so I may tame this tumult amidst my monotony
and tonight we shall revel in the solemn vengeance of victory.
But the next day came like the day before Only the charred memory of a stranger in the evening.
And now I long for you to have these hearth-borne words, winter-bound:
You are so beautiful to find this place your name beats to the nostalgia for your fiery embrace.
By: Aaron Calpito News Editor
Photo Credits: Cherry Fung
Photo Credits: Aaron Calpito
UTM Library Novels on Human Rights
Emma Catarino Contributer
The UTM library has a vast collection of texts relating to human rights which may spark student’s interest on this topic.
The UTM library, which opened in 1967, is a staple of our campus. Being as old as Erindale College itself, the library is home to hundreds of thousands of texts, including fiction and nonfiction novels, as well as newspapers, magazines, historical articles, textbooks, etc. Many of these are written on various topics relating to human rights.
I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai is one of the most well known autobiographies ever written. It tells the story of Malala, a girl who was raised in the Swat Valley of Pakistan. She lived under the ongoing rule of the Taliban—an oppressive group known for taking away women’s right to education, amongst other heinous acts. At a young age, Malala joined her fa-
ther in speaking out against the Taliban’s rule, which made them a target. At 15 years old, the Taliban raided the bus that Malala was riding home from school and shot her in the head. She was taken to England for treatment, where she survived and continued advocating for women’s right to education. Her activism earned her the Nobel Peace Prize at just 17 years old, making her the youngest winner of this honor to date.
The Autobiography of Malcolm X was published in 1965, and tells the story of the prominent civil rights activist. Malcolm X was born in 1925 and grew up under heavy systemic racism. In his younger years, he dropped out of school and engaged in criminal activities, which led to his arrest and a prison sentence. While in prison, Malcolm decided to educate himself, setting himself up for his life of activism after his release. He famously adopted the last name “X” as a symbol representing both his rejection of his white, slave-given name, and representing his lost African ancestry. He spent over a decade advocating
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for the rights of black people in society, and speaking against racial issues like segregation and police brutality.
Published in 2014, Indivisible: Indigenous Human Rights was written by multiple authors, with the main writer/editor being Joyce Green. The main theme in this text is analyzing how Canadian laws don’t recognize Indigenous rights being synonymous with human rights. The novel touches on how historically, the rights of Indigenous people were stripped away when they were coerced to sign treaties under false pretenses, and the cultural genocide committed in residential schools. While these practices don’t continue today, the Canadian government arguably hasn’t made a strong effort to reconcile. At present, many Indigenous people are still being prejudiced against in society, are forced off of their traditional lands, and face poverty, all instituted by our government.
Eagles Fly High and Fall Flat in Gameweek 3
Tyler Medeiros Associate Sports & Health Editor
Recapping the third matchday for the men’s and women’s tri-campus soccer teams
The Men’s and Women’s Tri-Campus Soccer Teams hosted UTSC (University of Toronto Scarborough) in Matchday 3 of their regular seasons on Sunday, September 28. The men were looking to capture consecutive wins, whereas the women were hoping to grab their first three points of the season. The UTSC men were heading into the match undefeated
with two wins. The UTSC women were off the back of two losses so far.
All square in the first 45
The men’s match was played at a fast pace from the first whistle. The entire UTSC men’s team decided to wear long-sleeve jerseys during the match. A controversial choice, considering the match was played at 2 pm in 22-degree sunny weather. The coordinated jersey tactic was used by Arsenal during Arsene Wenger’s time as manager. He would often require players to decide if they wanted to wear long or short-sleeved jerseys. The decision had to be unanimous. The philosophy behind this decision is that the team feels more unified wearing the same type of clothing. But despite the solidarity in their kit, the UTSC men’s team were struggling to defend.
The referee awarded UTM a free kick. Ethan struck the ball and it crashed the underside of the crossbar. Both teams were unsure if the ball had crossed the line. The assistant referee had the best view of the goal line and decided the goal was good. UTM were controlling possession before they turned the ball over on their defensive end. The UTSC left winger dribbled passed two defenders and tucked the ball in the back of the net. Both teams had opportunities to take a 2-1 lead in the match, but neither could convert.
Mississauga Magic in the second half
The referee was lenient throughout the match. He jumped over the ball when it was close to him. It was a largely uneventful second half until UTM’s number
15 decided to inject some magic into the afternoon. He struck the ball from just outside the center circle, and it flew high and dropped just in time to fall in the back of the net. The midfielder stood exactly where he struck the ball with his hands high in the air in celebration.
UTM 1st first-choice goalkeeper, Sami, signalled to the bench a few minutes later. They subbed in their second-choice keeper, who was met with disrespectful comments from the opposition. “Recognize the sub,” the UTSC captain shouted. (continues next page)
Editor | Joseph Falzata sports@themedium.ca
Photo Credits: UTM Recreation, Athletics & Wellness
UTSC were getting frustrated and unwilling to go home with a loss. They were going aggressively into tackles and were fortunate not to receive yellow cards. “How many more fouls till we see a yellow?” Coach Szabi Bozosky shouted. Shortly after, the referee awarded UTM a penalty shot. UTM’s golden opportunity to seal the game had arrived. Ethan stepped, looking to score his second of the match. The ball was struck purely, but the UTSC was equal to it with a fine save. The UTM fans fell silent, but the coach continued to question the referee. “How long take these three minutes?” UTSC were doing everything it could to equalize. Their keeper was taking free kicks and urging all of his teammates to get into the box. Unfortunately for them, they were
unable to break a tight UTM defence as the game finished 2-1
UTM women continue to struggle
The women did not have the same magic in them as the men did. I spoke with Amal Rashid to learn more about the match. “Before the game, the coach reminded us to actively support each other through defending as one and attacking as one. Honestly, the result of the game was quite disappointing as we weren’t expecting a loss.”
The women ended up losing the match 3-1, with the Eagles’ goal coming from Jordan Pawlowski.
The women scored a combined total of eight goals against UTSC last year. Either UTSC had a massive rebuild during the offseason, or UTM are in for a tough remainder of the season.
“Regardless of the result, I still believe that the potential we have as a team is waiting to be unlocked. I can feel that each of us is ready to push ourselves and show everyone the work that we put into getting the results we want as a team,” said Amal.
The Eagles return to the pitch on Sunday, October 5, to take on UTSG Red at Valley Fields. The women’s game is at 5:45 pm and the men’s match is at 8 pm.
Strolling through the oasis nextdoor
Rameen Hashmi, Contributor
UTM Moves hosted its first nature walk last week, giving students the chance to smell the autumn air (and receive a credit!)
If you’re reading this in between darting from class to class, allow me to introduce you to some rather unexpected fellow “runners”: the Salmon in the Credit River. That’s right — with just a brief walk to Erindale Park, you’ll be surrounded by the most gorgeous Fall scenery and have a chance at witnessing this species’ seasonal migration. And, while also captivating as a standalone experience to observe, on October 3rd, UTM Moves, the Riverwood Conservancy team, and Hart House collaborated to provide our Eagle com-
munity with a refreshing, welcoming, and eye-opening nature walk experience.
The group met at the RAWC and walked together to Erindale Park, through a nearly direct and seamless pathway. Under the shining sun and surrounded by vibrant trees when entering the park, the positive impact of this experience could already be seen. Making its way to the pavilion, the group met with a Riverwood team representative who thoroughly and insightfully contextualized the migration, a key takeaway being its unfortunate roots and their continuing effects today. More specifically, the Atlantic salmon of this area had faced numerous pressures and challenges from colonization, such as through pollutants making their way into the water from this activity. This was to the extent that, at one point, the Atlantic salmon population had become extirpated. The weight of this can be seen through how, for example, in Indigenous stories originating before this period, these fish are detailed to to be in large numbers. This was a profound lesson to learn, shaping our experience of nature to be of not only awe, but mindfulness and awareness. The group then began the observation aspect of the walk, following the facilitator’s insights on ways to identify potential salmon areas. This was a deeply engaging, mindful experience, as the group observed the delicate flow of the water and surrounding nature.
The walk was deeply meaningful and fulfilling, to say the least — and, luckily, there are more along the way. These events are aimed at fostering community, tackling inequities, and promoting wellbeing, especially in underrepresented communities in these spaces. The UTM Walks schedule for upcoming events, such as the Guided Fall Photography event happening on October 20th, can be found on the website. And, as an added benefit, if you attend 4 of these events and complete the corresponding requirements, you qualify for CCR credit!
Having said this, however, it can feel difficult to carve out time for new experiences in one’s busy university schedule—especially given midterm season. Yet, in these stretches, perhaps making time for even part of such an event can be the inspiration, refreshment, and motivation-builder that will help you feel and do your best. I hope you are inspired to step outside of your comfort zone and make the most of these exciting opportunities — and, hey, you may get to see The Salmon Run on the way!
Photo Credits: UTM Recreation, Athletics & Wellness