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Read on Page 09 >> Spotted: UTM’s Favourite Campus Celebrities The deer of UTM are a beloved part of campus culture, appearing when you least expect them. They reveal how closely the campus is woven into the surrounding landscape.

LAYOUT BY SEHAJ WANDER

Issue 1 Volume 53 September 7, 2026

Find on Page 12>> Decorating your Dorm? Check out these tips! Moving into dorms for the first time can be daunting. For a lot of UTM students, this is your first time living away from home.

COVER ART BY MELODY ZHOU

NEWS

Editor | Natalie Ramadan news@themedium.ca

Theatre and Drama Studies Ends Joint Programming with Sheridan Camille Dornellas Contributor

Starting September 2026, students will receive a degree solely from UTM and will need 14 credits to graduate tarting in the Fall term of the 2026-2027 academic year, the Theatre S and Drama Studies (TDS) program, which was previously offered alongside Sheridan College, will be offered solely at the University of

Toronto Mississauga (UTM). Incoming students will find an updated curriculum with a completion requirement of 14 credits, up from 12. Current students of the TDS program will not be affected by this change. Sheridan College is legally obligated to allow students currently enrolled in the program the opportunity to complete their degrees. Therefore, the joint program will continue as is for the next three years for those students. In an interview with The Medium, Professor Holger Schott Syme, who is also Associate Chair and Director of Theatre, Photo Credits: Department of English & Drama Drama and Performance Studies, said, “[For] anyone who is currently a theatre student in the joint specialist, nothing changes. They’re still taking the same classes at Sheridan and at UTM as they would’ve be- working in the theatre and television/film industries. Professor Syme fore.” talked about his views and hopes for this system, “We have a large and diverse pool of people [...] I hope that by the time our students get to Professor Syme added that those who may be affected by these chang- fourth year they have some idea of who they are as artists, what’s imes are the current students who, for whatever reason, fail to complete portant to them, and what they want to do.” He also intends to try to their studies in the three-year window. These instances will be ana- make this system available for the students enrolled in the joint prolyzed on a case-by-case basis and the university “will figure out a solu- gram. tion that allows you to meet the same learning outcomes and to have a comparable educational experience.” While unfortunate for the three-decade-long relationship between Sheridan and UTM, Syme believes these changes to the TDS program According to the TDS website, incoming students under the new cur- to be good news. “If you read any news coverage of arts programs, riculum will be guided by adjunct professors who have a long-standing performing arts programs, at the college and the university level in relationship with Canadian theatre companies. The studio and pro- Ontario over the last two or three years, it’s all been stories of cancelduction courses will be taught by film and theatre professionals with lation, phasing out, and shrinking.” active careers in the industry. Mads Carrick, president of the UTM Musical Theatre Club said, “SheriAs for the increase in mandatory credits, Professor Syme explained dan phasing us out is an unfortunate reality when extreme budget cuts that the university made this change to more accurately reflect the to colleges across the province hit.” Carrick added that she’s grateful hours students spend on studio courses. “Right now, they’re at Sheri- for Sheridan and all their work, as well as UTM’s efforts to keep the dan all day on Tuesdays and Thursdays. So that’s twelve hours a week, program alive. “The faculty has been our rock through hearing this and they still only get a half credit.” For the new TDS program, studio news, and they are doing everything they can to ensure the program courses will be twelve-week long and weigh a full credit. remains successful on all fronts.” She concluded by expressing her excitement to see the wonderful training incoming first-years will expeAnother addition to the program is a mentorship system. Every stu rience. dent in their fourth year will be paired with a TDS graduate who is

UTM Departments Host Annual “Caribbean Lyme” Event, Celebrating Caribbean Culture & Cuisine

Over 135 UTM faculty, staff, and students filled The Blind Duck to enjoy Caribbean dishes and compete in an island-themed trivia game. Samuel Kamalendran Editor-in-Chief

n July 30, various University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) student services branches welcomed more than 135 UTM community members at The Blind Duck Pub and Patio, to the campus’ annual Caribbean Lyme event, a celebration of Caribbean culture,

Photo Credits: Entisar Yusuf

food, and music. The event was hosted by numerous university organizations, including the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Office (EDIO); the International

03 Education Centre; the Wellbeing & Belonging Committee; Student Recruitment and Admissions; the Department of Management; the Department of Geography, Geomatics and Environment; Connections and Conversations UTM; the Centre for Student Engagement (CSE); Black at UTM; and Accessibility Services. It was also sponsored by the CSE and U of T’s Hart House.

The game featured copious questions pertaining to Caribbean geography, culture, and cuisine. Moreover, every participant received a raffle ticket at registration. The raffle was drawn multiple times throughout the event and winners received various gifts, including gift baskets featuring Caribbean spices and snacks, and gift cards for Wanda’s Caribbean Kitchen.

According to Entisar Yusuf, a Program Coordinator at the EDIO, and the event’s lead and key architect, the event was designed to engage the entire campus community, to celebrate and showcase “the richness and diversity of Caribbean communities and cultures,” while fostering connection and inclusion among Caribbean and non-Caribbean community members.

For some students, the event was an opportunity to engage with great culture and food, and an important initiative that contributes to the student-focused atmosphere on campus. “For me, being a student leader and seeing this event happening on campus right now, it feels really good… everything is so nice,” said incoming co-op student Aryan, who is double majoring in computer science and statistics. Aryan also commented on the Menti quiz’s inclusivity and expressed his desire to see the event return next year.

With the event beginning officially at noon, participants eagerly filed into the pub to engage in the festivities. Inside there were ten tables, some with board games, while plenty of seating on the patio allowed attendees to enjoy the near-perfect weather. The event began with a meal catered by The Blind Duck, featuring their traditional Caribbean-themed menu: chickpea curry, rice and beans, and jerk chicken, along with fresh fruit, donut holes, and pop. After everyone settled into their seats, fourth-year students Laila McFarlane and Chanelle Blair, the event’s masters of ceremonies, took to the stage and gave a land acknowledgement and a Caribbean ancestral acknowledgement. The MCs then led the crowd through an island shout-out, with various Caribbean islands being named and their respective affiliates responding in kind. Jamaica saw the loudest response! After an introductory presentation for the event, a game of Caribbean trivia began on the interactive quiz platform, Mentimeter.

Speaking on the history of the program, Yusuf shared that the event is “becoming bigger and bigger every year,” and noted its increasing popularity among the UTM community. Yusuf stated, “There’s a higher demand for this event each year, especially among staff, as it’s a time for us to connect and unwind, and immerse ourselves in the music, the food, and learn more about the Caribbean culture on campus.” Yusuf also noted how, over the years, she has cultivated a strong and meaningful relationship with Shane Madhani, the Blind Duck General Manager, whose continued support has played an important role in the success of the event. “We are deeply grateful for his ongoing commitment and support,” she expressed. The event’s MCs, Macfarlene and Blair, also commented on specific aspects of the program and the impact the event has on

its participants. “Throughout the event, we were able to highlight different parts of Caribbean culture, from the carnival that happened to the steel pan instrument,” said McFarlane. Blair spoke on the impact of the trivia game, sharing how, “everybody got a little snippet into the Caribbean.” She also shared that the game was a great way for those from the Caribbean to gain more knowledge of other Caribbean countries. It also served to represent all the islands, and not just the more well-known ones. Martin Kengo, manager of Black Initiatives with the Office of the Vice-President and Principal at UTM, and Special Projects Officer for UTM’s Wellbeing and Belonging Department, touched on the broader vision guiding the event. “Here at UTM, we have a diverse student population, but also a diverse staff population. [This event] is a chance to appreciate, acknowledge, and celebrate that in a time when there’s so much divisiveness happening in the world.” This year is the seventh year of the event. Kengo shared that when the event was first conceived, it was designed with the desire to bring “Caribbean and non-Caribbean, Black and non-Black identifying” folks together, to celebrate Caribbean and African culture together in the same space. “It’s great to see many people amongst our staff and student community who don’t necessarily identify as Caribbean come out to appreciate the cultures… through the games, prizes and activities, and also to appreciate the vibes,” he said. Kengo also highlighted the impact of the event, evidenced by its overflowing numbers which surpassed the initial registration count, and expressed his hope for continued institutional support from both the EDIO team and other UTM departments for this particular initiative.

U of T outlines its approach to AI infrastructure Zainab Khalil Contributor

The university’s AI-ready future could reshape how students learn and navigate university.

rtificial intelligence (AI) is becoming integrated into university practices, especially by 2030, whereby it will play a big role in how students study, brainstorm and work through university as a whole. In July 2026, the University of Toronto (U of T) announced a multi-year partnership with Cohere, a Toronto-based AI company founded by former U of T students. According to U of T News, the Cohere North platform is expected to support the university’s upcoming enterprise-wide platform that connects information across university systems while keeping data all within its control. For students, this change could impact multiple parts of the university experience, including classrooms, policies, and the Office of the

Registrar. In 2024, U of T established an AI Task Force to develop a strategy for responding to the rise of generative AI (GenAI). According to U of T’s AI Task Force report, the university’s approach centres on educational elements including active learning, critical thinking development, experiential learning, and responding to technological changes. The report highlights students’ access to personalized and interactive support systems for learning, as well as changes in the way instructors redesign assignments. In an interview with The Medium, Dr. Christopher Eaton, who studies AI literacy and emerging technologies in education, said, “AI-ready universities should be adaptable.” Part of that adaptability, he explained, means giving instructors and students room to experiment as the technology changes. It also means recognizing that policies can change rapidly and that AI may make sense for some tasks and have little place in others. Dr. Ea-

ton argues that universities will increasingly have to account for this as part of the learning environment itself, saying that it should be “woven into the fabric of the university structure.” That could eventually mean moving away from the same chatbot being used for every course. Dr. Eaton envisions smaller and more specialized models, tailored to the culture and students’ needs, as an important benchmark for 2030. These specialized models might look like interactions with chatbots that are designed around the materials and learning objective of a course. The skills that students may need to develop may therefore shift from knowing how it should be used to deciding whether it should be used. Dr. Eaton highlights that the “ability to evaluate AI outputs will be essential to its evolution,” alongside students’ judgement on how it fits into their learning processes. According to the Task Force, AI could help

04 university staff process transfer credits and manage scheduling and enrolment. Undergraduate students who may need additional academic support could also benefit from these systems. Students could also interact directly with university provided AI systems to explore academic opportunities and career paths, find answers to routine questions, or connect with the appropriate staff member when making inquiries.

tribute to conversations about where AI belongs within that structure.

Accessibility is another point that falls within U of T’s AI vision, as it imagines a wider use of AI for tasks like note taking, lecture transcription, synthesizing text to speech, screen reading and image recognition.

The Task Force recommends a university-wide AI advisory body that would consult faculty, librarians, staff and students when developing institutional guidance and evaluating new applications.

The report argues that providing AI systems institutionally could make access more equitable, while allowing U of T to evalu- Illustration done by Sehaj Wander ate tools for privacy bias and environmental impacts before they reach students. Research could also experience changes, as it may involve researchers using AI for tasks such as literature analysis and data management. The report emphasizes that researchers would still need to establish appropriate boundaries for AI use and assess the quality of its output. U of T currently facilitates its technological adaptations through AI kitchen, which the university describes as a secure environment where vetted AI tools and data can be tested for teaching, research, and administrative projects. Dr. Eaton stressed that students should have a meaningful role in determining how AI enters their education. “It is easy for learners to become left out of the conversations,” he said. This exclusion could undermine the eventual uptake and success of the technology. One way to prevent this is to include students as partners in some of the curriculum design. Instructors would continue to determine how a course meets its learning outcomes, but students could con-

YOUR ADVERTISEMENT GOES HERE Advertising is free for UTM Clubs!

Dr. Eaton also pointed to flexibility at the individual level, highlighting that when appropriate, students might have the opportunity “to opt out but with specific caveats” for AI use when it is incorporated into course work.

U of T’s decision to partner with Cohere adds another dimension because it asks who controls the technology and the data behind it. Cohere AI describes its own technology around the idea of sovereign AI systems that give organizations greater control over their data and infrastructure. Through partnerships, Cohere’s technology is intended to operate within U of T’s own AI environment. Dr. Eaton sees the Canadian connections as significant for higher education. He pointed to potential advantages for data security, individual property and the university’s ability to build AI systems around its own context. He also stops short of treating sovereign AI as a guaranteed solution. “I am skeptical that this is a bit of an idealised vision for AI and sovereign built AI,” he said. Rather, Dr. Eaton described it as a potential “North Star” for how the university approaches AI. Becoming AI ready means that the university has to determine how those systems operate in classrooms and how they might operate in student services. For students, the university envisioned that AI may eventually become a part of the infrastructure of university life. This also means that students need to learn when to assess AI and question what it produces.

Check out our BRAND NEW Crossword Section on Page 16 >>

05 OPINION

Editor | Mashiyat Ahmed opinion@themedium.ca

Welcome to Volume 53! A message to our readers, writers, and community members as The Medium enters the 2026-2027 school year on the mission leading us this year and the new initiatives we’re bringing to UTM’s student paper. Samuel Kamalendran Editor-in-Chief

Aaron Calpito Managing Editor

o the members of The Medium’s community,

It is a true honour and pleasure to welcome you all to Volume 53 of The Medium, the student newspaper of the University of Toronto Mississauga! For those of you who are unfamiliar with this publication, student journalism at UTM was born in 1968 as The Erindalian, which was the first student paper of what was then Erindale College. As years turned into decades, the paper went through numerous changes, from shutting down in 1973 to being refounded as Medium II in 1974 and then as The Medium in 1995, to moving into its current space in the Student Centre in 1999. Fast forward 27 years to that same space, where, this Monday, countless first-year students got their first taste of our paper as they engaged in The Medium’s annual orientation event, which this year, was a Newsletter Development Studio. I mention these first-years because I believe their presence and engagement with The Medium even before they step into their classes represents more than just a successful event. To me, their interest speaks to the fundamental nature of what The Medium is and will be: a space for students to express themselves through the development and application of their critical thinking and creative abilities. This space is seemingly detached from the world around it and even from the people behind it. For this event, attendees didn’t need to know what The Medium was, who produces it, or its history. They didn’t even need to know exactly what they would be doing or what The Medium was able to offer them. All they needed was a passion and the willingness to pursue such inclinations. Every year, without fail, these very young people compose the new waves of talent which crash on our shores, and through intentional practice and careful mentorship, grow as writers and leaders who ultimately join the forest of pillars that hold up this paper and ensure its survival year after year. Even when faced with the business of student life and responsibilities, the reason we are still here is that very passion that brought us to The Medium in the first place. It is when we choose to follow and embrace that passion that we are inspired to take what we have been given and build upon it, paying respect to the legacy left behind by fulfilling our obligation of advancing our mission. What is that mission you may ask? The Medium exists to (1) uncover the truth (2) unify our campus, and (3) enter-

tain, inform, educate and challenge. This year, we aim to do just that by continuing to bring our readers the community-created, quality journalism that has been read and enjoyed by generations of UTM community members. As in the past, our paper will include News, Features, Opinions, Sports, and Arts sections, and will be joined by a yearly magazine published in March, which will allow writers to contribute longer-form and creative pieces. While these plans are age-old practices that serve as the paper’s bedrock, what truly excites us are the various new initiatives that will be implemented this year. As a paper, it is imperative that we do not just remain the same year after year, but that we add to what has been given to us and take risks that put us in a better position to best serve our campus community. Perhaps the most notable plan we are thrilled to share is that this year, associates, staff writers, illustrators, key columnists, and cover artists will be paid for their work. This decision is meant to recognize the dedication that goes into the work of our team—labour that must be carried along academic workloads and other extracurricular activities. For those interested in learning more about the details of this new initiative, please check out our Instagram or any of our weekly emails. Below are the other changes that will be rolled out this year: •

•

Our outreach efforts have expanded significantly, and will feature even more events for writers and community members throughout the year. These efforts will include various tabling events, office activities, and socials, which will grow our visibility on campus and offer aspiring and current writers more opportunities to get involved with us. Our outreach team will also lead our yearly photo and short-story contests. Stay tuned for more information concerning those! Our paper will increase in page count from 12 to 16 pages, allowing for even more content to be distributed, more voices, and more cool new additions to the paper. Our issues will now feature cross-word puzzles and comics! Such additions have been long-requested by readers and this year we look forward to adding these and other cool elements to our paper! All of our issues will now feature cover art. We’ve seen for a while now how such art both attracts readers to our paper and serves as a creative archive that reflects the unique message of each issue. The increased frequency of the art also inspired us to pay the talented artists who developed such pieces. This year’s volume will see 3 new themes, in addition to the list of themes that are repeated annually. In 2027, we’ll join the rest of UTM in celebrating its 60th anniversary through an issue dedicated to the campus and its history. In our second issue of the Winter semester, we’ll give students the chance to reflect on the idea of “Coming to Age,” an issue which has been carefully placed in early 2027 to give students the chance to reflect on the first semester and the growth they’ve experienced. Finally, our last issue of the Fall Semester will be Holiday-themed, giving writers

•

the chance to close off the year in a festive manner while discussing their experiences celebrating the various holidays that take place in December. Video content is back! The Medium will publish weekly videos on our social media and website to go along with our regular publishing stream. These will include article features, a brand new archive series, video coverage of events, and more!

The Medium will feature columns that will continue throughout the year and serve key purposes in illuminating routine events and ideas. In News, our administrative column will review the discussions which take place in UTM’s various committees, including the UTM Campus Council, Academic Affairs Committee, Campus Affairs Committee, and Quality Service to Students Committee. The Opinion section will feature “UTM, Unpacked,” a column which will allow writers to critically (and comically) break down the UTM and U of T condition—or, in other words, what it means to study, work, love, fail, and succeed at our university. Finally, the Arts section will once again feature the “Theatre Erindale” column, which will serve to explore the various productions run by UTM’s Theatre and Drama studies program and the awesome talent underpinning every aspect of each show. Moreover, given the time and effort these positions demand, our columnists will also receive payment for their work! Voiceovers are here! For the first time, our staff will record audio voiceovers of all The Medium’s new articles. We hope this will improve ease of access for all our readers (and listeners!). We will be expanding our advertising opportunities, with increased collaboration with students clubs and societies, university branches, and external businesses, to both help these groups achieve their institutional goals and to enable us to further realize our aspirations through additional income. And much more! We’ve re-developed various internal systems to refine our work-flows, and we’re also in the process of launching different initiatives and projects throughout the year to support our institutional sustainability and impact. Stay tuned to hear more about them! This year, it is our wish to take The Medium to new heights and we hope through intentional planning and dedicated work, we can do just that. We also know that we only achieve such goals with the support of the awesome team and community that calls The Medium home. It’s my pleasure to welcome the

that

06 home. It’s my pleasure to welcome the team that will oversee the work of our paper this coming year: • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Yasmine Benabderrahmane (Copy Editor); Gisele Tang (Copy Editor); Natalie Ramadan (News Editor); Mashiyat Ahmed (Opinion Editor); Madhav Ajayamohan (Features Editor); Diana Varzideh (Arts & Entertainment Editor); Tyler Medeiros (Sports & Health Editor); Melody Zhou (Photos Editor); Sehajleen Wander (Design Editor); Jannine Uy (Social Media & Online Editor); Samm Mohibuddin (Videographer); Rojin Hajiabbasali (Outreach Coordinator); and Rameen Hashmi (Outreach Coordinator).

It’s been a privilege to get to know (or know more!) about you these past few months, and it’s an even greater honour to have the chance to push towards our ambitions and face awaiting challenges together. While this is the team that we’ll be starting with, it is not a complete representation of our family. We await the arrival of fresh talent that will bring us new perspectives and ideas and form the team that will take our paper to new frontiers. In this respect, our goal as an organization is more than just to produce a weekly publication—it’s to be an incubator for aspiring writers, creatives, and student leaders to grow and flourish. Whether you feel confident in your writing, journalism, or illustrating skills, or are looking for opportunities to receive mentorship to hone your craft, our talented editors and generous community are always available to provide guidance to help you become better at what you want to do. With Volume 53 and the 2026-2027 school year ahead of us, we’ll leave you all with a warm invitation: this year, we want to continue to make UTM the focus of our journalism, which means that we want to hear from you on what you want to read about. Whether there is an event your club is hosting, an opinion you want to see brought to the spotlight, an individual you want interviewed, or an idea about what you want to see in our paper, our doors and ears are open. You can find all of our emails in the paper’s masthead—don’t hesitate to contact us! On behalf of the team, we’re grateful to have you on board this year and can’t wait to see what V53 will bring us all. Happy reading! Samuel Kamalendran, Editor-in-Chief Aaron Calpito, Managing Editor

The social side of studying: our campus study spaces should encourage both academics and socializing

As cubicle culture replaces communal tables, what happens to the community that came with studying in the UTM Library basement? Maryam Raheel Contributor

Most afternoons during the fall semester of 2023, I found myself heading down to the library’s basement floor. It was never loud enough to break the unwritten rule of library quietness, yet never truly quiet either. A chorus of whispered conversations floated between the long communal tables, punctuated by the scrape of chairs and the familiar question “is anyone sitting here?” asked repeatedly throughout the day. Sunlight poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows, highlighting rows of wooden tables crowded with iced coffees, tangled chargers, highlighted notes, and backpacks that possessed an unspoken right to reserve seats. Students wandered the space, subtly searching for an empty chair while quietly calculating who looked closest to packing up. The sound of a zipper was enough to alert the entire room of a potential available seat. Every table had its own ecosystem. A group in the far corner would be cramming for a chemistry midterm, while another nearby had somehow spent forty minutes discussing everything except the assignment open on their screens. For many students, the library basement was a default destination. My friends and I would debate where to spend our time between lectures, aiming to head upstairs. Yet, chatter from the lower floor drew us downstairs, armed with our coffees and laptops and settling into the same tables we spent complaining about just that morning. With this, the UTM Library’s basement quickly earned the reputation for campus’s prime “performative studying” spot. All of us witnessed it and most of us probably took part in it. The ritual of opening laptops, swirling our overpriced iced coffees, and declaring we would be productive. And the stereotype exists for a reason. Many afternoons slipped away with untouched assignments while conversations ranged from midterm stress to weekend plans. If uninterrupted productivity was the goal, there were silent study spaces just a staircase away. However, incoming UTM students this fall will not get to take part in this experience because the University recently decided to replace the communal tables with individual cubicles. The problem might not be that the basement failed to provide adequate study spots, but that we were measuring the success of the space by the wrong standards. We tend to imagine that studying happens in complete silence and alone. Our Library’s basement challenged this idea, allowing concentration and conversation to exist in the same space; a space reserved not only for hardcore studying but also for the small rituals that build social bonds through our communal outpourings of frustration and stress as midterms week made its brisk approach. The basement wasn’t popular because stu-

Illustration done by April Roy

dents wanted to look productive; it was a favoured study spot because it didn’t require us to be isolated from everyone else. Research on university learning commons reflects this. Students often choose communal library spaces even for independent work because the lively atmosphere fosters a sense of connection and belonging. The presence of our peers did not always mean collaboration, it made studying seem less solitary. There was comfort in being surrounded by people navigating the same midterms, deadlines, endless to-do lists, and just the overall experience of being a student. The Library basement’s distinctive quality was its ability to blur the line between academics and socializing, and therefore challenge the notion that the two are somehow inherently incompatible. With the mix of wheeled chairs, communal tables, and firm sofas, it was neither a typical library nor a student lounge, yet somehow managed to be both. The openness of the space invited small interactions that rarely happened elsewhere. A question about an assignment could become an impromptu tutoring session or you could overhear another group worrying about the same midterm and realize you weren’t the only one struggling through the semester. Productivity at the communal tables was rarely a linear experience. From the outside, moments of distractions dominated. But, I would argue they were an essential part of the education students received. These experiences are what made students more likely to show up to campus day after day. The mix of expected structure with unexpected pockets of spontaneity—and the shared experiences that followed—are especially meaningful at UTM, a predominantly commuter campus where fostering friendships can often feel transient. Many students arrive for class and leave when their last lecture ends, making opportunities for spontaneous community rare. The Library basement gave people a reason to stay; a reason to linger and chat a little longer. The hours spent there between classes was more than passing time as acquaintances became familiar faces, and familiar faces became friendships. You didn’t have to coordinate plans or ask the group chat who was free after class. Instead, you could simply grab a seat, and campus life happened around you. Now, the basement floor is a replica of the silent study spaces upstairs. Long communal tables have been replaced by neat rows of individual cubicles with high dividers separating one student from the next. Students slip into their own study spot, put on their headphones, and disappear behind their laptop screens. The renovation does have its pros. The cubicles are designed for focused work, providing more privacy and fewer chances of the person sitting next to you becoming an

07 unexpected participant in your afternoon. It reflects a reasonable demand for silent study spaces, particularly during the busiest weeks of the semester.

tion that allows for both. The basement offered a particular type of community where everyone arrived with the same purpose and had the chance to pursue it differently.

But, physical spaces do more than accommodate our habits; they also shape them. When a library gives each student an individual space, it encourages an individual experience. When it puts dozens of students around the same table, it creates opportunities for interaction, even if no one came with the intention to socialize.

It was inefficient, occasionally annoying, but entirely ours. I think that’s what gets lost when we judge university spaces simply by how well it supports an oftentimes narrow and outdated idea of productivity. While university should be considered a place for students to learn, it is also where we build friendships and develop a sense of belonging. The old basement was academically impractical because it left room for everything else important to the student experience. By turning our Library basement into another quiet and atomized study floor, UTM didn’t exactly eliminate the need for community spaces; it eliminated a valued way that community used to happen.

I think much of the pushback on the changes to the basement’s layout stem from the fact that UTM already has many silent study spots. The library’s upper levels offered what the new basement now provides. Rather than having designated, entirely separate spaces for studying or socializing, many students like myself appreciated a loca-

It’s really tough loving Gloria Steinem

As students, we should problematize the praised and polished legacies of the white public intellectuals and icons whose wisdom is mainstreamed at the expense of black and brown voices. Mashiyat Ahmed Opinion Editor

Illustration done by Melody Zhou

n September 2nd, American feminist activist and journalist Gloria Steinem passed away in her New York City home at the age of 92. At the time of her death, Steinem had spent nearly six decades articulating, organizing, and fighting for the Women’s Movement, which began in the 60s and incrementally grew momentum in the 70s, and of which Steinem had become the most visible and recognizable face of. So much so that in the United States, Steinem to this day is referred to as the “Mother of the Women’s Movement,” denoting her decades of activism, journalism, and political and ideological defiance to the fangs of the patriarchy that thwarted a woman’s potential. At least in the US. At least for uppermiddle-class white women. I’m a Women, Gender, and Sexuality studies (WGS) student, and here at UTM, the WGS department offers a wide selection of intellectually rigorous courses with an emphasis on transnational and intersectional feminist scholarship—work that centers voices from across national borders, racial lines, economic stratas, historical contexts, and different bodies and sexualities too. We are taught to read, write, research, critically form arguments, and be creative all in the attempt to dismantle the ways in which norms dictate our lives, especially as black and brown students. I’ve come across Steinem’s journalism as an entry point into the type of discourses that defined the early seeds of reproductive justice and equality movements in the 60s and 70s. I’ve also engaged with Steinem as a figure whose representation of an exclusionary feminism has produced much harm. Others have probably had their In-

stagram feeds spun with her witty quotes, public speaking videos, or her infamous “If Men Could Menstruate” polemic. And yet, with Steinem’s death, the many public statements put out by other feminists, activists, celebrities, politicians, and everyday folks (including many of my peers active in social justice spaces) reveals a sort of quiet and normalized dissonance between her whitewashed image as the trailblazing feminist who refused to wear miniskirts and her unwillingness to engage with class liberation at the expense of the true, all-encompassing march towards justice. Yet, I would be remiss to say Steinem did not achieve anything. She co-founded the National Women’s Political Caucus in 1971 to elect more women into office; she also co-founded Ms., a leading magazine for feminist journalism at a time when most women’s magazines only wrote about the latest fashion trends or how to use ovens and dishwashers so that American husbands could come home to a clean house and a three-course meal. Steinem’s organizing and advocacy also led to the mainstreaming of reproductive rights and wage equality as the pillars of the Women’s Movement. Her journalism pushed the boundaries of what women were allowed to say and think. Years and months leading up to her death, Steinem was giving talks, writing articles, and in podcasts speaking about Trump, masculinity, and the growing divide between men and women, politically and socially. But it’s time that we—as students, future scholars, future leaders, and women and gender diverse folks ourselves—learn to hold two truths at once. We need to be able to grieve for someone we once viewed as an indomitable force for women’s rights while also recognizing that said force not only failed to center liberation for all, but actively prevented lower-class black and brown women from accessing and participating in mainstream movements supposedly posited towards justice.

MASTHEAD EDITORIAL BOARD Editor-in-Chief Samuel Kamalendran editor@themedium.ca Managing Aaron Calpito managing@themedium.ca News Natalie Ramadan news@themedium.ca Opinion Mashiyat Ahmed opinion@themedium.ca Features Madhav Ajayamohan features@themedium.ca A&E Diana Varzideh arts@themedium.ca Sports Tyler Mederiros sports@themedium.ca Photo Melody Zhou photos@themedium.ca Design Sehajleen Wander design@themedium.ca Social Media Jannine Uy social@themedium.ca Videographer Samm Mohibuddin video@themedium.ca Copy Yasmine Benabderrahmane yasmine@themedium.ca Gisele Tang gisele@themedium.ca

How do we respectfully acknowledge the passing of Steinem as a feminist icon, but also understand that our collective sorrow might come from a place of having been fed deliberate propaganda about the true nature of Steinem’s work? Does mainstream academia, public representations, and the media give us the right tools and knowledge to digest these contradictions about her legacy, and ask why we are so quick to valorize white activists for doing only a fraction of the labour that non-white and less privileged activists and organizers do with far more barriers in place? I don’t think so. Engaging with diverse voices within the feminist political space—voices that contend with race, gender, class, ableism, militarism, borders, sexuality, colonialism, and capitalism—we have an obligation to question the limits of Steinem’s feminism and the ways she used her racial, economic, and intellectual privileges to create a women’s movement that demonized intersectional analysis and power-making. An intersectional analysis that examines how class, race, and geopolitics factored into gender lib-

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08 eration. We also have a collective emotional tendency to paint people as saints following their deaths, but I think the rose-tinted lens through which the world sees Steinem’s life and legacy is an unsurprising reflection of the convenience of her feminism—which itself is inevitably tied to the convenience of her identity as a white, middle-class American woman. During her decades of public service—the importance and hard work of which I am not negating or underestimating—Steinem believed that reforming the government to allow greater political participation for women would fix our world. She believed that making women economically and socially equal to men would be enough. She also worked with American institutions to export anti-socialist and anti-communist rhetoric to communities abroad, furthering the government’s agenda at a time when many Americans were only waking up to the lies of the Vietnam War and American imperialism. Her goal was to give (white) women a seat at the table of patriarchy and capitalism without questioning who built the table and why. Her ambitious journalism, however, did give millions of women the language to articulate their frustrations with

their husbands, fathers, and brothers—but whose frustrations did she really echo? By pursuing equality through inclusion within existing institutions and logics, the feminism that Steinem popularized only worked to legitimize, protect, and expand the same systems of domination that made and continue to make women powerless. Steinem’s feminism simply had no space for the majority of the world’s women whose identities, experiences, and desires for liberation failed to fit into the neat musings and frameworks of the white, suburban fantasy of mere equality. Meanwhile, the disproportionate pressures that black and brown academics and intellectuals face within institutions continues to get tucked under the rug in favour of the self-congratulatory narratives about how accepting and liberal our universities are. I believe the recent death of Dr. Jason Arday, a black professor of sociology at the University of Cambridge, was a direct result of him being subjected to impossible levels of public abuse fuelled by the media mob that is the British press. This abuse and exposure, entirely disproportionate and racially motivated, is being justified due to instances of academic misconduct that Dr. Arday was accused of. After being forced to resign and hundreds of articles about his supposed unworthiness as an academic

later, he was found dead in his home on August 14th. The mob of cancel culture killed Dr. Arday. And so, how does Dr. Arday’s death help us reckon with Steinem’s legacy? I believe that juxtaposing Dr. Arday’s and Steinem’s recent deaths reveal a deeply uncomfortable but widening crack within the landscape of public and academic voices: that white voices, accomplishments, and legacies will always receive more praise, empathy, consideration, grace, and protection than those belonging to black and brown folks—whether by the press, the public, or the universities we consider to be beacons of intellectual freedom and institutional progressivism. I believe that if we are to properly grieve Steinem and understand her contributions to feminism— both the good and the bad—we have to be brutally honest about her life and influence. As students especially, we need to muster the knowledge and audacity to build alternative narratives of public figures that have long been heralded as the epitome or the ideal. The ideal feminist does not exist. The ideal legacy is a fantasy. We cannot move forward towards justice if our appetites can only stomach whitewashed, convenient narratives of the people and legacies that shape our world. We have to be willing to take the uncomfortable bite.

Cuffing season is not the cure Why do we treat lovers like subjects of romantic fantasies? Camille Dornellas Contributor The fall semester is approaching, and you start feeling the itch in your mind imagining how you’re going to meet your destined soulmate. Maybe at an orientation event? Or in a class where you arrive astonishingly late? Totally not fake scenarios that I have dwelled on. But, we call this renewed hope of finding love that we face every year The Cuffing Season. The act of getting into a relationship is often compared to being handcuffed—hence the name—but, I will not dwell on that name in this article. Love, in our society, is a milestone. It is a project on a goal board rather than the voluntary surrender of control by one’s self. Byung Chul-Han, a theologian and cultural theorist, analyzed the “decay” of love in his book The Agony of Eros and argued about the existence of an atopic Other—someone who is completely external to us and can not be fully defined or understood; someone like a romantic partner. This Other can bring negativity into our lives, which in Han’s vision, is a good thing. To Han, our societies correlate positivity with efficiency, optimization, and productivity. But, in a world overstuffed with the positive, the negative forces the self to dismiss the ego and reanimate.

But, romantic love isn’t an achievement or goal. Like Han claims, love “is not due to our initiative… [it is] without reason; it invades and wounds us.” Perhaps we are starting to notice that love is not always a viable solution for our wellbeing, like mental health. Olivia Rodrigo’s new song—“The Cure”— is an explicit example of us waking to this reality: but, it doesn’t matter how your love feels anymore, it’ll never be the cure. Love will never be a cure, because it simply never has been. The Other, your romantic partner, is not an entity to entertain or heal. They simply exist as you do, multi-layered, encompassed by unsettling mysteries and contraries. So, what do we do now? Do we switch our attention to course readings and looming midterms? Do we evade that responsibility and join our friends every weekend for outings? Running from our minds will not solve our issues. We have to change the way we understand romantic relationships, and that starts with acknowledging the fact that partners are not objects of fantasies. The corrosion of love is a consequence of a rotten structure of society. The problem isn’t Cuffing Season, but what it represents. But, if definition is necessary, I would look to the Portuguese poet Luís de Camões’ notion of a lover: I don’t know what, born I don’t know where | come I don’t know how, nor why it aches so keen.

We feel the urge to get in a relationship because the year is starting, holidays are coming, and who doesn’t want to cuddle under a blanket while the snow falls outside? But, these reasons are all rooted in the single area that the subject of our love—the Other— does not have access to, which is the self. The Other is not an object that we can style, manipulate or edit. We will never know them completely and there will always be conflict because “if one could possess, grasp, and know the other, it would not be the Other,” but the self. The true presence of them implicates the rejection of sameness. Everyone loves the phrase “if we were all the same the world would be boring”, but in reality we want people to fit into our own ideas. I think that if Han could edit this phrase he would make it “No one can be the same. And because we want them to be, love is agonizing”. There is another theory as to why we are so hyperfixated on acquiring a romantic partner: redemption through love. It’s a theme that has been constantly reiterated in our childhood Disney movies—in Beauty and the Beast (1991), a witch’s curse is broken by love; in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) and Sleeping Beauty (1959), evil is undone by a true love’s kiss. So, when we find ourselves in a situation where Millennials and Gen Z are reporting higher levels of stress compared to older generations, for example, feeling the need to have a significant other becomes a beacon of light. Having a romantic partner turned out to be our way of redeeming and saving ourselves from our own perished minds and the evil of the world. But, while the illusion of romance feels like medicine, it can also corrode. In a world where everything feels doable, everything becomes a possibility and an achievement. You can get into the best Canadian university. You can achieve the highest GPA in your cohort. You can build a successful career.

Illustration done by Rojin Hajiabbasali

FEATURES

Spotted: UTM’s Favourite Campus Celebrities

Editor | Madhav Ajayamohan features@themedium.ca

Photo Credits: UTM Department of English & Drama

Samm Mohibuddin Videographer The deer of UTM are a beloved part of campus culture, appearing when you least expect them. They reveal how closely the campus is woven into the surrounding landscape. he University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) campus is known for its inteT gration with nature. The trees arch over familiar pathways like a canopy, students rush to class listening to the birds sing, and greenery seems to be stitched into the campus itself.

And every once in a while, you can spot a deer. Sometimes they emerge quietly from the woods, while other times you might spot one grazing near a residence or crossing a path ahead of you, especially at night when it’s quiet. It is easy to see why deer have become a beloved part of campus life. They add a fairy-tale element to an ordinary walk to classes.

Photo Credits: UTM Muslim Students Association

UTM sits on a 225-acre campus along the Credit Valley, surrounded by forests and protected green spaces with more than 20 campus sites “naturalized with native trees and wildflowers” since 2004, according to the UTM Sustainability Office. The deer most students encounter are probably white-tailed deer, a species commonly found in Ontario. They are easiest to recognize because of their distinct white tail when they run, like a small flag disappearing between the trees. According to National Geographic and the Government of Ontario, whitetailed deer rely on wooded habitats and connected corridors to move between feeding, shelter, and seasonal areas. In addition, the multiple patches of trees scattered around campus make it a hub for deer, as the campus becomes one piece of a much larger ecological system.

ances. They seem to roam campus more often in the colder months and when it’s dark. Their unpredictability is part of the charm that makes the campus so fun to walk around in.

This also explains why you can spot them almost all around campus. I have personally seen them near the walkway between student residences and the student center, the walkway between the Instructional Centre and Maanjiwe Nendamowinan as well as the North field close to the tennis courts.

So, the next time your mind is crowded with upcoming assignments, midterms, and everything else on your to-do list, look towards the trees. You might just catch a pair of ears rising above the grass or a deer staring right at you.

I have also spotted them on walks close to the William G. Davis Building. It is important to note that there is no guarantee of viewing or scheduled appear-

Sharing campus with many flora and fauna means that, as tempting as it may be to move closer for a perfect photo, the best way to appreciate deer (or any other wildlife) is to keep a respectful distance and avoid feeding them or getting too close.

UTM’s greenery and integration with the environment remind us that we are only a small part of the community that calls this campus home.

What happened this summer?

UTM students share summer memories of Ontario’s Studio Ghibli Summer Market and touring the historical city of Jaipur. April Roy Contributor

other Ghibli fans and vendors selling creative memorabilia.

Grisha Sharma Contributor

There were over one hundred vendors located in one room: each one an artist with a distinct brand identity and artistic style. We spent an hour taking everything in: macarons in the shape of beloved Studio Ghibli characters, drinks inspired by Studio Ghibli films, hair clips made entirely of buttons, bookmarks donning incredibly detailed landscape paintings, and beautiful watercolour paintings of Studio Ghibli films and characters.

The Summer Returns: An Escape to Ghibli By April Roy

spent this summer working full-time at Tim Hortons. My tasks and work environment were exhausting and stressful. It put a damper on my time to relax and unwind. However, it made the fun little adventures with my friends mean so much more.

As history buffs, my friend and I went further into JCCC to learn about Japan’s involvement in the world wars, stories about Japanese emigrants and the adversities they faced in different countries.

A particularly memorable experience I had was going to the Studio Ghibli Summer Market, located at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre (JCCC) in North York, with a fellow University of Toronto Mississauga student. We both love the Ghibli films and went dressed in outfits inspired by Kiki’s Delivery Service. The commute to the centre was lengthy as we had to take a GO bus, subway, and streetcar to reach the market. However, both of us were regular commuters, and we enjoyed the scenery on the way.

Ultimately, what made the day so magical was the environment. Every employee and vendor was friendly and the weather that day truly captured the spirit of Studio Ghibli: refreshing, scenic, and calming. The market typically runs two days during the summer every year, so my friend and I are sure to attend next summer!

Immediately upon arriving at the venue, we were welcomed by workers dressed in kimonos. We were overjoyed to see the lively market, filled with

Memories created this summer, both the ups and downs, have prepared me for my third year of university and what it has to offer. Photo Credits: April Roy

10 The Palaces of Water, Wind, and Royalty By Grisha Sharma

lars for a detailed guided tour of the place. Waving them aside, I led my family to Pritam Nawas Chowk—the Courtyard of the Beloved. As we walked in, my sister and I threw glances towards tourists posing in front of the palace’s iconic Peacock, Lotus, Rose, and Waves Gates. They spread their hands beneath the paintings of three peacocks, dazzling blue torsos and tri-coloured feathers, and leaned against ornate sprouting pink lotuses.

I had not been back to India in almost two years and I had not visited Jaipur since my early high school years. I saw what I expected from my hometown Delhi: flooded streets, unending rows of cars and rickshaws, and crowded metro stations. The same did not apply to Jaipur. In addition to the delicious cuisine and handmade jewellery, a day of touring the city’s three major palaces, Jal Mahal, Hawa Mahal, and the City Palace encapsulated the meaning of an ideal vacation.

“Some poor artist painted that masterpiece only to be reduced to some random couple’s Instagram post,” said my sister. While her comment rang true, as we delved further into the courtyards, I realized that no tourist could compete with Queen Gayatri Devi, the last maharani (wife of a monarch) of Jaipur for the title of best model in the palace. The glamorous consort could be found in pictures next to those of the city’s king, the crown prince, the English king, the first prime minister, and many other powerful figures of the 20th century.

The Water Palace A palace floated far from our view at the edge of a muted grey-blue lake as we exited the car. The Jal Mahal was a former hunting lodge, expanded and redesigned to suit the grandiosity of its title. Flamingos observed the line of tourists standing across the slab, which separated us from the water and white ducks swam towards the structure. We could not move further as the public was restricted from entering the palace. The Jal Mahal is often lauded as the crown jewel of Jaipur, a heavenly abode nowhere to be found in any other part of the world. Part of me thought of it only as a forbidden decoration not to be tampered with. I wonder if its enchanting status stems from the mystique of its interior to the public. The locals in Jaipur are intimately connected with their famed monuments, but this marvel constructed in water seems to have eluded them, both as a lodge in the past and a palace now. The Palace of Winds If the Jal Mahal represented the enclosed space for royal men, then the Hawa Mahal embodied the chambers for royal women. The pink honeycomb structure loomed over the muddy streets. Hundreds of small windows overlooked the bustling markets, with vendors boasting patterned fabrics, and the rising odour of street food filling the air. I doubt that eighteenth century aristocrats could imagine the palace’s current surroundings: roads being jammed by four-wheeled machines, and voices drowned out by endless honking. When I entered

The courtyards had once held public halls, hosted grand dancing performances, and heard the sound of the most revered singers of the city. Now, they teem with tourists taking selfies with cannons, sipping cappuccinos from the palace cafe while halflistening to guides prattling about the genealogy of rulers that one could see for themselves in the cultural museum inside the palace.

Photo Credits: Grisha Sharma

the palace, I expected the noise to cease behind me, but the monument was built for confined women to embrace this bedlam. The fountain centred on the first floor sprayed refreshing droplets around the area, accompanying the cool breeze breaking through the window. Unlike Jal Mahal, the seclusion in the Hawa Mahal was facilitated by hidden seated pockets across the palace, reserved for queens and princesses. This sandstone edifice serves as a lens to the city, providing an encompassing view of the market from each angle. When the women had satiated their boredom, they would return to their main residence. The Palace of Royalty I most looked forward to visiting the official residence of the city’s royal family. I searched through the palace’s various chambers and courtyards on Wikipedia during the car ride there. I expected a grand entrance, but instead I encountered strange men shoving pamphlets in our faces, asking six dol-

As a history student, a conflict arose within me on my train ride back to the capital. Tourism has been an integral part of the state’s economy, and it exposes the public to the rich culture of Jaipur. However, I was uncomfortable with the incessant sellers, tourists who used these structures as social media backgrounds, and those who purposefully ignored the colonial context that followed the construction of these buildings in favour of ticket sales. Will these palaces’ historical importance ever be appreciated as much as their commercialized purposes? The tourists, guides, the royal family, and the government all depend on them to profit. I doubt there is a path to change this situation. Commodity or not, the Pink City has always been precious to my heart. I look forward to venturing further in these palaces and their histories when I return in two years. For now, Toronto will have to suffice.

Advice for new students: Finding balance in university most of these years.

One of the challenges of transitioning into university is the newfound independence, paired with heavier workloads and greater responsibility for managing your own time. For ambitious students, this can make every opportunity that crosses their path feel important because there are so many clubs to join, positions to apply for, classes to take, and people to meet. Part of adjusting to your first year is learning what to take on, what to let go, and how to balance your time. Balance and success should be treated as one because of how connected they are. Friendships can provide different perspectives during stressful times and act as a support system, especially when you are far away from home. Hobbies also play an important role and help create space to reset and rewind. When students balance their workload, it will create room for growth, discovery, and enjoyment for the experiences they work hard to achieve. Illustration done by Sara Li

Zainab Khalil Contributor University is about setting and working towards goals, while leaving room for discovery and growth.

niversity is often framed as an exciting new beginning because there is so much to look forward to. You are finally beginning to build a life of your own while working towards goals that you have been preparing for. This can also bring uncertainty, pressure, and the feeling that you need to make the

Simply going through the motions of university can expose students to areas of interest they might not have considered before and explore passions they have carried for a long time. Writing has always been that for me. I have enjoyed it outside of school because it allows me to express myself, and university provided a place to cultivate that passion. Through writing and editing for student-run publications, I found another way to connect with people and stories across the University of Toronto. Such opportunities can shape your university experience as much as initial goals. I think of it like drawing a scribble: there might be planned directions, but unexpected turns are what lead to a masterpiece. Any course you enroll in can change the trajectory of your academic interest

11 or career path, an extracurricular can reveal and develop skills you never realized you had or needed, and a conversation or event can open a door to a once distant goal. Stepping outside of your comfort zone is important, because many fruitful experiences require putting yourself out there and

being willing to try something you may not feel completely qualified for. This can also mean giving yourself time and space to learn. University is about learning how to be ambitious in a healthy way. Set goals for yourself, work to-

ward achieving them, take chances on opportunities that you wouldn’t have signed up for, and step outside your comfort zone. Most importantly, leave some space around the plan. Because the most meaningful part of university might just be the things you opened up to explore.

Stories of UTM: Getting out of my shell with Synix April Roy Contributor New bonds and self-expression cultivated in UTM’s K-pop club, Synix.

first came to the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) as a nervous first-year, and performing in front of a crowd was the last thing on my mind. I was just hoping to meet some friends and do well in my classes so I could get into my desired program of study. However, as I familiarized myself with UTM, I realized that I need outlets to truly thrive.

I knew it, I was shakily climbing up the stage in the Student Centre, waiting for the music to start. I stared at the crowd of strangers, praying that muscle memory would kick in. I can’t remember much from the performance itIllustrated by Sehaj Wander self, except that my headband almost fell off and everyone from Synix was cheering me on. Afterwards, I watched a video of my performance. But I realized I lacked stage presence despite not making errors in my dance moves. Since then, I was motivated to improve my facial expressions and immerse myself in performances.

As a dancer and a longtime K-pop fan, I approached UTM’s K-pop dance club Synix during their orientation tabling. I attended a few of their workshops. I also applied to perform on the annual Halloween Pub Night, but I did not think I would be selected. When I found out I was chosen to perform, I worked hard to master the choreography to my favourite K-pop song, “Oh! my mistake” by the girl group April.

Synix’s K-pop Showcase, hosted at the end of each term, was the perfect opportunity to improve. I performed two boy group dances in the Synix Winter Showcase to explore and learn a different style of choreography. This experience connected me with other Synix members, who I eventually collaborated with in other showcases. My performances also inspired a friend to participate. In the subsequent showcases, we performed girl IllustratedTwice’s by Adanna Scott group songs together, including “This Is For” and Red Velvet’s “Russian Roulette.”

On the day of the performance, I was surprised to learn that I would be performing one of the two dances. I was also the only solo performer! Before

In my most recent showcase, I performed three dances. It was my most time-consuming and biggest dance challenge yet. However, the opportu-

ARTS

Illustration done by Hafsah Raheel

nity to explore many different dance styles was rewarding. It’s funny to look back and think of how nervous I was the first time I performed on stage, because now it feels like second nature. I enjoy working in group performances, because I get to bond with the team and be part of something bigger. Being part of Synix has helped me overcome my fear of meeting new people. It has also strengthened my confidence and stage presence (which helps with class presentations!). It gave me an outlet to release my academic stress and express myself authentically through my passion for dance and K-pop.

Editor | Diana Varzideh arts@themedium.ca

Arts courses at UTM

A look at some interesting art courses offered at UTM this year!

t’s back-to-school time, which means finalizing your course selections. Whether you’re looking for a course to fulfill a distribution requirement or an elective course, you have the opportunity to explore subjects outside of your routine coursework. Why not take this opportunity to explore the arts?

Mari Khan Contributor

Taking a course in the arts might seem daunting, or not very appealing, especially if you don’t feel a strong connection to the traditional arts like painting, design and sculpture. But the arts go beyond what most people see as traditional art forms. The arts also includes writing, and UTM offers a plethora of literature and writing courses that might catch your interest. For example, WRI173: Creative Non-Fiction, is a course that introduces non-fiction writing where students experiment with different writing techniques. Students in this course write four original narrative pieces about a variety of themes. I personally took this course during a summer semester and really enjoyed it. I liked being able to expand my writing style through memories that make up core aspects of me today. It was more than just a writing course; WRI173 is a course that invites you to explore what makes you who you are and reflect on important moments of your life that you want to preserve.

Illustration done by Adanna Scott

Perhaps you are not concerned with writing and literature, because you think generative AI has you covered. Or maybe you’re up at odd hours of the night spiraling over artificial intelligence creeping into every aspect of life, including the content you’re consuming, including the captions of social media posts. In that case, ENG107: Literature and AI would be the course for you. The premise of the course is to introduce and dissect AI’s effect on literature. How is AI influencing the future of writing? What are the ethics of using AI in literature? How have literature and human notions of AI fed into what AI is becoming? Generative AI might make a lot, but it is human imagination that made AI.

12 Or, did you discount your reading experience because you preferred comics to traditional novels? If English class in high school would have been more interesting to you had the passages being analysed were from comics, ENG235: Comics and the Graphic Novel might be the course for you! ENG235 rejects the idea that comics aren’t considered “real” reading. Over the semester, you will read fictional and non-fictional comics written by a curated list of authors, learn about the techniques used in writing comics, and interpret the comics. The course has also included the option for stu-

dents to create their own short comic. If these courses sound interesting, but none of them truly connect with you, you can find a full list of courses offered by the Department of English & Drama, along with course descriptions, here. Welcome, or welcome back to UTM, and good luck in the new academic year!

Tips for decorating your dorm

A short guide on how to make your dorm a home. Emma Catarino Contributor

My first tip would be to make the dorm space your own. Sites like Instagram, Tiktok, and Pinterest can help you get an idea of the aesthetic decorations you want to bring forth. Fairy lights or LEDs can be a creative way to personalize your room’s vibe. An extra throw pillow or chunky blanket can bring a pop of colour to the room and make it feel cozier. Adding a plant (fake ones work too) to your windowsill can bring some life to the room, or even a nice fragrance depending on which plant you choose. Make use of the wall space. Command strips are a great, cheap way to stick personal items on your wall without worrying about damaging the paint. UTM will have vendors selling posters outside of the Blind Duck within the first month of school—pick a few that speak to you to hang in your room. Or bring a poster from home for some familiarity. Instead of a poster, you could also hang a corkboard. These are versatile—you can pin pictures of loved ones, artwork, poetry, or small mementos to remind you of home. You could also use it as a vision board; pin on some pictures, phrases, etc., of what you hope your university life will look like.

Illustration done by Nibras Tanveer

oving into dorms for the first time can be daunting. For a lot of UTM students, this is your first time living away from home. Here are some tips to bring familiarity to your dorm and to your new life as a university student.

This next tip may seem childish, but bring an emotional support item. This could be an item from your childhood, like a plush toy or an old blanket. It could be something that reminds you of someone you love, like a hoodie from an older sibling, or a gift from a friend. Or your support item could just be something you’ve had for a long time, like a backpack or water bottle that you’ve had since elementary school. Any item could work, as long as it brings comfort to your new university life. Last piece of advice: home is where your people are. Living in dorms will feel more peaceful when you make some friends in your building. You can use items like a deck of cards, a videogame console, or even a board game as a starting point to build friendships that could last years.

Opportunit : n o i i s e s s t e r r & C p x E . . A . ...UTM . lub . . s in their own words Maaz Ahtesham Contributor Get your semester started the right way with these creatively-focused student collectives.

nother semester has arrived for students and student groups at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM). In anticipation for the year, The Medium has had the pleasure of speaking to our campus’ art clubs about the opportunities for selfexpression at UTM this semester. With over 170 clubs, societies, and student associations recognised at UTM for the 2026-27 year, students of all backgrounds have access to a wide variety of communities to help them find their niche and keep them occupied outside of academics. For the “like-minded students interested in” musical theatre, look no further than Erindale Musical Theatre Productions (EMTP). “The only UTM Musical Theatre-focused student group,” according to EMTP president Mads Carrick, aims to “provide opportunities for students to grow and showcase their skills both in and behind the scenes of a Musical Theatre show.” EMTP’s big events are the Fall Revue, and their Spring Musical. Keep close watch of their Instagram (@utmmtclub) for cast and crew

calls coming soon.

If non-theatrical music is more your forte, then check out the Harmonix Music Club (HMC). HMC vice-president Sophia Jin shares that the club does their best to “create an inclusive and diverse musical landscape for students within the UTM community and welcome anyone to come play with [them]” and offers “an environment for creative expression through music by offering spaces and events on campus that allow students to come together.” Their initiatives include Pub Nights, karaoke events, open mic nights, and workshops. Embroidery meets charity through Craft with Care (CWC), “a new club on campus that seeks to encourage students (and even faculty/staff) to give back to the community.” Aside from facilitating fundraisers and hosting “social events like makerspaces and film nights,” CWC president Adjoa Boateng-Addo and her team encourages “all students with craft skills (like crochet and knitting) to donate handmade items, contributing to meaningful impact through their hobbies” through their Used Clothing Drive. The club uniquely “hopes to encourage students to look beyond themselves and look to those around them.” If dance piques your interest, get moving with the Lyrical Dance Collective (LDC). Sandra, president

and founder of LDC, describes the group as “an allinclusive dance club at UTM that does not require auditions to join, ensuring students of all experi ence levels and dance backgrounds are welcome.” LDC holds “drop-in dance classes and weekly performance practices in various styles including jazz, contemporary, hip-hop, Bollywood, and Kpop” alongside offering opportunities to perform throughout the year. Last but certainly not least, students with “interests in all visual art mediums” can look towards UTM Art Club (UTAC). Returning UTAC president Belinda Zhao already shared with The Medium last year their goal to “Art everywhere,” and the club is expected to continue their quest to do so in 2026-27. Whether students find their community via any of the aforementioned clubs, or even groups such as Channel6ix Film Studio, Comic Club, or UTM Film Club, art clubs at UTM are connected by a common goal: to bring students together through their particular passions and provide opportunities for creative expression outside of the usual university activities. You can find more information about campus clubs by searching for the University of Toronto’s Student Organization Portal; don’t delay in exploring your creative niche at UTM!

A look behind the scenes on the brainstorming and decorating of the student union for Orientation Week. Aida Umar Contributor

Illustration done by Sara Li

UTM’s tumultuous summer soundtrack

Glitz and glam at the UTMSU Orientation

Sophie Minot Contributor From trap beats to folk duets, students share the fresh songs that defined their summer. together with these new releases that UTM stuFeeldentsfreehaveto putbeena playlist loving! “It’s a really addictive song sonically and perfect if you’re in ur idgaf era,” states Bita Khaleghisohi regarding Tinashe’s song “Crash Out”, released on July 16. It’s a chaotic R&B song with a heavy trap beat. After being in the 2007 girl group called Stunners with Hayley Kiyoko, Tinashe is known for her hit single “Nasty” that was released in 2024. “Crash Out” teases her upcoming eighth studio album, Popstar, which will be released on September 25. For a vibe switch, try the single “Betty’s in the Band”. A song with a smooth harmonica opening, duet of acoustic guitars and vocals by Abigail Rose and Weston Hunter. Released on July 30, Nathan Carter recommends it saying, “I guess it’s somewhere in folk/country/pop but a very timeless song. Something that’s nice to sing along to in car rides! Makes me think of roadtripping up and down the east coast.” “I’ve been listening to ADÉLA, especially her ‘Ain’t in LA’. I think this might be the song of the summer similar to how charlixcx’s bratsummer was trending in ‘23”, said Enkune Zorigoo. The song was released on July 23, teasing her album PRIMA, which comes out September 4. It’s about how the coolest people aren’t the performative hipsters and trendsetters in LA, so enjoy just being where you are right now. Enkune mentioned wanting to visit a big pink ADÉLA promo poster in downtown that says, “THE BADDEST BITCHES ARE IN TORONTO”, you can also get t-shirts with the same print on her website. “Vince Staples dropped an album recently, it was okay. Denzel Curry dropped one, like, yesterday [and] that was great. The Rolling Stones dropped one which was random and funny… lowkey to me it seems like it’s been a big summer of old acts trying to make comebacks,” was Kaden Mason’s take. His favorite release of the summer was a four-song debut EP by Paulie Swan called Swans Today, out as of June 24. Swan is only 20-yearsold and based in Edinburgh, similar stylistically to Cameron Winter with a deep and weathered voice, read an interview feature with Swan on the UK’s The Skinny. Adam Fattouh’s “album of the summer” has been Detour by Kim Petras. A hyperpop album released on May 29, Fattouh, “discovered the album on a super long bus ride home which was horrible timing because it made me want to dance so badly”. Zack Radford has been listening to Noah Kahan’s new album The Great Divide, released April 24. It’s a cozy “endless autumn”, a pretty similar blueprint to his album Stick Season in 2022, complete with Kahan’s indie-folk falsetto and steady acoustic stomp. Perfect for the upcoming fall semester! Other releases to note are Lost Weekend by Phoebe Bridgers, Oh yeah? by Steve Lacy, Petal by Ariana Grande, Before The Morning Light by Johnny Drille, New Avatar by Kelela, and Offering by Ibeyi.

ollywood glamour, Western imagery, cyberpunk, and film noir may seem like four very different styles. At this year’s UTMSU Orientation, they all come together through Premiere 26, a movie-inspired theme that can be seen in the event’s decorations and displays. During Orientation, students were split into themed houses, each with its own name and look. Before students see the final result, those ideas go through brainstorming, voting, and several rounds of changes. As the UTMSU Orientation Leader, I helped bring Premiere 26 to life and saw it unfold firsthand— here is what happened behind the scenes. Premiere 26 was chosen by the Orientation Committee. Members took part in a brainstorming session where everyone shared ideas before voting on the final theme. “It took a couple of tries before we were able to land on Premiere 26, but I’m so glad that we did,” wrote Lois, UTMSU’s Vice President Campus Life, in an email to The Medium. The houses went through a similar process. The committee tried out several names before settling on the final ones. Early versions included Vacaro for Rodeo, Nexus for Chrome and Stygian for Nocturne. Allure was the only house that kept its original name. These changes were made to make the houses more recognizable and easier for students to connect with. Once the general concepts were chosen, the committee began working on the visual identities of each house. They used word and image searches to explore different styles and get a better sense of what each house should look and feel like. Nocturne was inspired by film noir, Allure by Hollywood’s glam, Rodeo by Western imagery, and Chrome by cyberpunk. These ideas helped guide decisions about the colours and overall visual direction of each house. Each house’s visual style was reflected in the way the Student Centre was decorated. Leaders and volunteers helped prepare the space and turn the committee’s ideas into the final decorations students would see. For Lois, one of the most exciting parts of the process is seeing those ideas become real after the work was put in by the committee, leaders and volunteers. “Leaders and volunteers did an amazing job of decorating everything and seeing the vision that the orientation committee worked so hard on come to life is so amazing,” she wrote. While students may only see the finished houses and polished ideas, a lot of the creative work happens before Orientation begins. The final designs come from brainstorming, revising ideas, researching different visual styles, and working together to turn those ideas into something students can actually see and experience. For the committee, the final step is seeing first-year students respond to what they created. As Lois said:“I can’t wait for our first years to see it!”

Illustration done by Sara Li

POETRY CORNER

Spring in Fall Joy Pius, Contributor

Every September, the campus blooms again. Not with lilies nor daffodils, but with books and new looks. With crowded hallways and long Tim’s line. With confused faces and even tired ones.

All things to make us grow. Whether this is your first or last year, September has a way of pulling you backward while asking you to move forward.

Every academic year offers us another chance Outside, the trees begin to bloom. their quiet conversation A chance to rewrite the routine. to trade green To plant bigger dreams. for orange, yellow, and red. To reach for higher branches. But on campus, To let the sunlight find life anew begins, a different type of green. the places in us Green with possibility. we kept hidden. Green with growth. Green with hope. The leaves will soon start falling, but we are rising. Because summer is a strange kind of win- The days may be getting shorter, ter. but our horizons are getting longer. We disappear. The air may be getting colder, Hibernate beneath the heat, but something inside us sleeping longer, is warming. thinking deeper, becoming quieter. Perhaps that is the secret And somewhere between we forget every year: May and August, That endings we shed. can be beginnings in disguise. Maybe the seasons Old habits. have never been as simple Old fears. as we thought they were. Old versions of ourselves. It's September and suddenly, Maybe, just maybe, we are seeds again. Winter knows that even stillness can be Buried beneath the familiar soil preparation. of classrooms, lecture halls, Summer knows that we are allowed to events and routines. change.

SPORTS & HEALTH

And fall knows that letting go is not the same as losing. So, with the leaves about to fall We may just discover spring in the most unexpected place. Here's to another September. To fresh pages and unfamiliar faces. To new goals, new dreams, new mistakes, new memories. To the person you were and the person you're becoming. To flowers blooming where we least expect them. To finding your way even when you don't have a map. And to remembering that no matter how many times life asks you to start over, you are never starting from nothing. You are starting from experience. From growth. From everything you survived, everything you learned, everything you became. With September calling you back into the classroom, walk toward it with joy. Because sometimes, the most beautiful spring comes in the fall.

Editor | Tyler Medeiros sports@themedium.ca

The case for taking the “Long Way”

Why staying active in university might have less to do with finding time and more to do with how we use it Maryam Raheel Associate Opinion Editor

y the time I reach my 9 a.m. lecture, I have already climbed three staircases, trekked across campus, and chugged half of my water bottle. My day begins at the parking lot, alongside several other students rushing toward the RAWC stairs. On mornings when I am already cutting it close, I barely have time to catch my breath before starting the climb. Between my heartbeat pounding in my ears and my backpack weighing on my shoulders, I’m more focused on making it to class than realizing that the incline is similar to a workout itself. UTM has always felt deceptively small. The buildings form a circle, making every destination seem close. Yet the walk from one end to the other always feels longer when your next class starts in seven minutes. By noon, I have usually traversed

Illustrated by Sehaj Wander

the circular path several times, weaving between the Davis building, Library, and Deerfield Hall, often opting to climb another set of stairs to get some more steps in and save time, because waiting for the elevator usually takes longer. Around lunchtime, the search for a place to sit becomes a campus-wide scavenger hunt. My friends and I scout out tables in one building with no luck and repeat the sweep across several other common areas. By the time we finally find a table that fits us all, the search would have taken us through half of campus. By then, we had definitely earned our lunch. None of these choices feel intentional. I don’t wander campus counting my steps or calculating how much physical activity I have accumulated. They become a part of my routine as I rush to class or meet up with a friend.

Illustration done by Sehaj Wander

15 Throughout most of my time at UTM, I approached staying active with an all-or-nothing mindset. I would wait for the perfect week, when I was somehow caught up on all my work and still had enough energy, to spend an hour at the gym. But unfortunately, exercise often became something I constantly put off for another day. One morning, an invitation from a friend for an early gym session had me at campus before the sun had risen up. What started as a one-time invitation quickly became a routine. It felt good to start the day having done something for myself before school’s demands caught up with me. However, that satisfaction was often tested when I reached the stairs on my way to class, and the ache in my legs had me seriously considering the elevator, despite still having ample time before the start of class. Still, I do not make it to the gym every day. Some evenings I join friends for drop-in sport games or swim laps at the pool. Other days, there is no formal workout at all. My only movement comes

from walking across campus, climbing stairs, or deciding that the food in another building is worth the walk. As students, we tend to treat exercise like another task competing for space in an already demanding schedule. However, so much of student life is already built around moving from one place to the next. Our campus asks us to walk, climb, and carry before we get the chance to sit. It is easy to dismiss these moments because there is no timer running as I cross campus, no hype playlist chosen for the occasion, and no one applauding me for taking the stairs. The routes we choose and habits we repeat matter more than we give them credit for. That accumulation of movement has been emphasized by public health researchers. The World Health Organization recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week for adults, while emphasizing that some movement is better than none. A 2025 study examining daily

step counts found that greater number of steps were associated with better health outcomes. For students who spend much of their day walking, even these ordinary choices become part of the bigger picture. The benefits extend beyond improved physical health. A study found that higher levels of physical activity were associated with lower odds of depressive symptoms. Even light-intensity exercise was associated with improvements in anxiety and stress levels. However, walking to class is not a substitute for other forms of exercise, nor does taking a few flights of stairs suddenly transform an otherwise sedentary day. It simply makes the distinction between ‘working out’ and ‘being active’ less rigid. There will be mornings where you do not make it to the gym and evenings when assignments take longer than expected. Sometimes, maintaining an active lifestyle means noticing the opportunities hiding in the time you have. And sometimes, that can look remarkably ordinary.

Sporting enthusiasm reignited through World Cup festivities at UTM

UTM’s participation in UofT’s Global Month of Soccer brought new life to soccer on campus this summer. Tyler Medeiros Sports & Health Editor

lthough the city of Toronto hosted matches, festivals, and immersive experiences, Mississauga and the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) specifically celebrated the 2026 FIFA World Cup in style. From engaging watch parties to competitive tournaments, UTM was one of the many places to be in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) during over a month of World Cup action.

the men last year. Intramural soccer leagues will also begin in September with registration now open. If you are not able to commit to weekly games, check out the RAWC schedule for drop-in soccer throughout the year. Whilst it’s impossible to ignore the temporary added boost in attention soccer received on campus due to Canada’s first home World Cup, there are more than enough ways to showcase your soccer talent, passion, and love both on and off the field at UTM.

Global Soccer Month at UTM Across all three University of Toronto (UofT) campuses, soccer was celebrated by passionate students, faculty and staff eager to watch the most-watched sporting event in the world and replicate goals and celebrations from the tournament on the pitch. Interactive match screenings took place in a World Cup-themed Davis building with large flags from teams taking part in the competition spread out around the central cafeteria seating area. There were also several ways to put your soccer knowledge and FIFA/EAFC (football simulation video games) skills to the test with activities held throughout the summer. It wasn’t just for bragging rights; the keep-up, trivia, and select challenges throughout Global Soccer Month rewarded winning participants with an official 2026 FIFA World Cup ball and a Canada soccer jersey. Soccer fans and students at UTM brought their fandom to new heights beyond campus by coordinating a watch party at a nearby pub. Many students met at the pub to watch both finalists, Spain and Argentina. UTM student Luka Keilj attended the screening and noted that the afternoon generated “good vibes.” The Soccer Skills Zone was another standout day of action designed for anyone and everyone interested in kicking a ball, whether for the first or the 5,678 times. What Next? Ronaldo scored in the 6ix, Messi fell short, and Rodri lifted the trophy, which is all fine and dandy, but what happens now? UTM Athletics, International Education Centre, and many other clubs across all three campuses, lived up to the hype the World Cup demands, but without the blockbuster tournament, does soccer participation fall victim to the endless work-school-study grind? During the 2025-2026 school year, the University of Toronto Mississauga Soccer Club (UTMSC) hosted watch parties on campus, drawing students to celebrate, socialize, and eat whilst watching the beautiful game. This year, the UTMSC will continue hosting watch parties in the Student Centre with the hope of increasing student attendance with snacks and beverages. For those who prefer to play the game, the Men’s and Women’s Tri-Campus soccer teams will be hosting tryouts this month in the hopes of finding new talent and reuniting past players after a championship-winning season for Photo Credits: @utm_athletics

Across

Down

5. To whom you might say the title of this crossword.

1. With 13 across, what many grade schoolers just came back from.

6. “If you ever need help, don’t be afraid to ___!” 8. Gov. resource meant to ease the sting of tuition. 9. “Smile for the camera!” 11. Premiere on the Blind Duck stage, say. 13. Much of Western Europe just had their hottest one on record. 14. Beneficiaries of 8 across. 15. Elected representatives of 14 across.

2. “PLEASE, read the ________!” - many a disgruntled professor. 3.UTM010/020/030, CSE’s mentorship program for new students. 4. Undergraduate accolade. 5. O-week. 7. Centre that’s the home of the Registrar and Student Recruitment. 10. Something too many upperyears make a habit of skipping. 12. What a club executive might have high hopes for at their orientation event.

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