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LAYOUT BY SEHAJ WANDER
Issue 2 Volume 53 September 14, 2026
Find on Page 03>> INTERVIEW WITH UTMSU’s PRESIDENT UTMSU President Adam El-Falou Adam El-Falou shares what UTM students can expect from IgniteUTM
COVER ART BY ROJIN HAJIABBASALI
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NEWS
Editor | Natalie Ramadan news@themedium.ca
From action day to creative play: First-week orientation events welcome students back to campus
A recap of the UTMSU’s movie-themed orientation and The Medium’s newsletter studio competition.
Emma Bedja Contributor
T
he UTM Students’ Union (UTMSU) Orientation was held from September 4 to September 11. On September 7, The Medium also held a Newsletter Studio orientation event. UTMSU Orientation In this movie-themed orientation, students had the chance to fight for the Championship Cup with one of the four houses of their choice—Allure, Rodeo, Nocturne, or Chrome. Students got to cheer, dance, and embody the unique identities represented by each home, ranging from Hollywood glamour to science fiction. Event programming also included Blackout Bingo with the Centre for Student Engagement, a Student Centre After Party, and an Action Day with the UTM Athletic Council. O-week concluded with a movie screening of White Chicks, a Premiere Night, and for the first time, a free Paint and Glow. The first few days featured activities hosted by each house, giving students the opportunity to get to know their teammates while competing and collaborating along the way. From testing their problemsolving skills to inspiring creativity, each activity offered a different way for students to connect and create a community. On Action Day, students came together for a series of athletic challenges and races. They competed for points and cheered on their teams from the sidelines. By the end of the day, Allure emerged victorious and took home the Championship Cup. As a recognizable face and voice throughout the events, UTMSU Vice President Campus Life Lois Ogunnubi contributed much to the energetic orientation week. She brought much enthusiasm and memorable dance moves to Blackout Bingo and Action Day. In an interview with The Medium, UTMSU Vice-President External Rajas Dhamija shared that the energy seen throughout the orientation was the result of considerable work behind the scenes. “On behalf of the UTMSU, we were glad about how the orientation turned out. It took a lot of hard work and dedication. But thanks to all the help from the volunteers and orientation leaders, we brought all our ideas to life,” he said.
The Medium’s Newsletter Studio The Medium’s orientation event created a similar environment of friendly competition for students. Students were given a blank sheet of paper to fill with ideas inspired by their summer. Over the course of a few hours, blank pages transformed into colourful sketches, designs, and personal reflections. Students submitted their custom work for a chance to win The Medium’s contest and have their artwork displayed in an upcoming issue. The winner also receives a UTM Bookstore gift card. For Rojin Hajiabbasali, one of The Medium’s outreach coordinators, the activity was about creating a space where students could experiment with their creativity while getting to know the publication. Photo Credits: Department Photo Credits: of English @utmsuorientation & Drama
“Our objective through our orientation event is to give students a quiet space to challenge their creativity,” Hajiabbasali said. The event also served as an invitation for students to contribute to The Medium and become a member of its community. Rameen Hashmi, The Medium’s other outreach coordinator, emphasized that the event was not simply about producing something that looked good on paper. Both Hajiabbasali and Hashmi explained that writing can become a reflection of the person behind it. “Writing is more than just putting words on paper,” Hashmi shared. “It’s a reflective piece, a thoughtful piece, and a piece that speaks about you as a person.” The Medium’s orientation also encouraged students to embrace the freedom to decide what comes next. This approach complemented the UTMSU’s orientation. Both created opportunities for students to meet people, explore new interests, and discover a community beyond their classrooms.
Orientation may only last a week, but the connections it cultivates can become part of students’ university experience long after the events end. Students can also look forward to the UTMSU’s upcoming annual boat cruise on September 16, which offers an evening of food and opportunities to dance among the views of the Toronto Harbour. Students can keep up with future social events by The Medium on their Instagram @ themedium.publications.
03
New UTM Residence building welcome 400 first-year students The latest addition to campus comes nearly two decades after the completion of UTM’s last residence building. supported, to cooking workshops where we enjoyed delicious jerk chicken, to my first ever graduation in university. UTM Residence is a place that I can joyfully call home.”
Sara Al-Shrouf Contributor
fter two consecutive years of construction, the New Residence Ultimately, residence is more than choosing a single or double A Building (NRB) welcomed an additional 400 students to the room. For many, it is a new step, a choice dependent upon proxUTM residence community on September 4. imity, costs, and making memories. The new six-storey building succeeds Oscar Peterson Hall (OPH), completed in 2007, as the newest UTM residence building, according to U of T News. It has increased the total number of residence students to around 2000. It features 135 double bedrooms, 115 single bedrooms and an additional 15 rooms for residence staff. NRB also offers various facilities, including but not limited to a music room, laundry facilities, communal kitchens, and study rooms. In an interview with The Medium, Acting Director of Student Housing and Residence Life Jen Skinner shared, “This residence was years in the making, and seeing the common spaces already buzzing with students settling in makes the wait worth it.” She continued, “Alongside our first-year housing guarantee, that means many more students get to call campus home.” While the new housing space is welcome, many upper-year students still believe additional affordable housing options are in order, in search of a place to call home amid rising local housing and tuition costs. Third-year resident student Franz Lyn Querol discussed the critical gap between university student enrolments and affordable student housing infrastructures both on and off campus. “Because it is so expensive and even though it is convenient, I don’t think I would [live on residence again],” Querol said. “I would recommend it for the first years for sure… because they also have events that facilitate the transition from high school or being an international student.”
Expanding campus residency continues to aid both staff and students in getting hands-on employment opportunities for community involvement. Housing administrators may need to continue expanding, to ensure support and services exist for students in an uncertain economy. Affordable housing may maximize student efforts in thriving within academic and social settings. Skinner explained, “Our commitment to student housing goes well beyond this one building. We’ve completed significant renovations to Putnam Place, McLuhan Court, Leacock Lane, and phase one of MaGrath Valley, and we’ll keep investing in our existing residences to meet the evolving needs of students.” “While there are no additional new builds planned in the immediate term, all of this work is guided by our long-term Student Housing Master Plan, which continues to shape how we grow and improve campus housing for years to come,” concluded Skinner. When asked about the NRB name reveal, Skinner said, “The name is one of the surprises we’re saving for our official opening celebration this fall, so keep an eye out. It’s worth the wait.” The official opening ceremony date is yet to be announced. Keep an eye on the @UTMResidence Instagram page for the ceremony announcement.
On the other hand, Ng’ang’a Gitau, a third-year student and returning Residence Student Staff (RSS) of the Student Housing & Residence Life (SHRL) shared, “While SHRL does offer a wide variety of competitive price points for the ever-growing UTM population, I believe focusing on the cost of a room on campus can run the risk of overlooking the great range of other benefits which are enjoyed by students living on residence.” Gitau went on to explain the personalized support first-year students receive from RSS, “It can be tricky adjusting to a living situation far from home or far from family, but the RSS are here to help ease that transition for the residence students.” Gitau shared his experience and why he is returning as a RSS. “It was the little things that kept bringing me back, and it is these same little things that I will cherish forever.” He continued, “It was also such a joy being supported by my global living learning community program facilitator, Amanda, all throughout my first year—from Zoom calls over reading week to ensure that I was well-
Photo Credits: @utmresidence
UTMSU President Adam El-Falou shares what UTM students can expect from IgniteUTM The union’s new governing body promises to improve student life by addressing issues in affordability and the financial burden that students face. Emma Catarino Contributor
ollowing the elections last winter, the UTM Students’ Union (UTMSU) is F now led by IgniteUTM. The team consists of President Adam El-Falou, Vice President (VP) Internal Xingyi (Freya) Gao, VP External Rajas Dhamija,
VP Equity Tiffany Da Silva, VP University Affairs Dana Al-Habash, and VP Campus Life Lois Ogunnibi-Oriade. El-Falou has a long history of serving the UTM student body. Having worked
04 in the advocacy department for the Muslim Students’ Association (MSA), he played an integral part in improving campus life for Muslim students. He fought for larger multi-faith spaces and the installation of bidets on campus. This was the beginning of El-Falou’s student advocacy journey, which later led him to apply for the role of UTMSU president.
for students. Initiatives like Free Breakfast Wednesdays are hosted in the Presentation Room at the Student Centre. The UTMSU also hopes to introduce a grocery bursary, which aims to help students combat rising food costs.
Illustration done by Sehaj Wander
In an interview with The Medium, El-Falou shared, “Stepping into the presidential position, which represents students across everything: faith, background and program… it felt like the natural next step.”
El-Falou expressed his understanding that UTM clubs face financial roadblocks when it comes to the kinds of foods that they can serve at events. Currently, clubs holding events in buildings on campus other than the Student Centre are only allowed to provide food from Dana Hospitality.
Tuition affordability
With clubs being essenPhoto Credits: UTMSU tial to UTM’s student life, El-Falou said, “This limits clubs’ access to affordable and culturally appropriate food.” The UTMSU is hoping to change this policy so that clubs can purchase food from off-campus vendors, and remove the cost and diversity barriers.
According to El-Falou, the main concern he aims to address in campus life is affordability. As the cost of living increases, more and more students are finding certain aspects of campus life to be unaffordable.
The UTMSU also has plans to support students in other aspects of their campus life. In the past, they have successfully worked with MiWay to increase operational hours on the 110 bus route and the 126 bus route.
One contributor to this issue is the recent increase in tuition fees. Tuition for domestic Ontario residents has increased by two per cent, while tuition for non-Ontario resident undergraduate students has increased by five per cent. Tuition for international undergraduate students has also increased by an average of 4.1 per cent. This places a huge financial burden on students, especially combined with the OSAP cuts that the provincial government has recently introduced.
One of the upcoming goals is to do the same with the 199 Brampton bus route. “[This is] to ensure that [the bus route] fully aligns with the schedule of all students.” El-Falou shared.
El-Falou commented, “Students are charged simply to participate in the academic process through unnecessary fees, such as transcript request fees, exam deferral fees, and exam re-grade fees.” The UTMSU advocates that students should not have to choose between buying a meal or being able to review their own exam papers. “Education is a right, and every student must be able to exercise that right regardless of their financial circumstances,” said El-Falou. Food costs on campus In addition, the UTMSU is hoping to reduce the burden of food costs
OPINION
He also hopes to implement these initiatives through the operating budget, “This funding goes back into our three main pillars—events, services, and campaigns, to ensure that education is free, accessible and accessible for all.” El-Falou concluded, “We want to create many spaces for students to actively be involved in the UTMSU this year, as students make up the UTMSU.” Students are encouraged to join the UTMSU Commissions, such as the Campaigns & Advocacy Commission, the Student Life Commission, and the Student Services Commission. There are many open committees as well, such as the Committee for Palestine, the Student Housing Advisory Committee, the WeChat Committee, the World University Service of Canada Local Committee at UTM, the Transportation & Parking Advisory Committee, and the Committee to Indigenous Justice and Collaboration.
Editor | Mashiyat Ahmed opinion@themedium.ca
The traditional career ladder is dying, and we shouldn’t mourn it
As young people enter the workforce, maybe the response to an unpredictable world is an equally unpredictable and multidisciplinary career. Maryam Raheel Contributor
“
So, what are your plans after graduation?”
I’m typically hit with this question at family dinners as all eyes fall on me expectantly. The question used to be met with one-word answers: doctor, teacher, engineer. One profession, encapsulated in just two or three syllables, that could carry on for decades.
Now, I get asked this question at career fairs or networking conversations, usually by someone who just introduced themselves with a complex, multi-syllabled job title I had never heard of. Suddenly, answering with a single word feels outdated. For generations, a career was imagined as a ladder. You’d pick a rung to start on, climb steadily upward, and hope that somewhere near the top you would find professional success waiting for you. A degree led to an industry, an entry-level position led to a promotion, and years of loyalty led to a pension and comfortable retirement.
05 Illustration done by Rojin Hajiabbasali
Recently, the rungs are moving while we, as students about to enter the job market, are still learning how to climb the ladder. The change is more than simply generational restlessness. The work of planning and pursuing our careers itself is transforming beneath our feet. The World Economic Forum’s 2025 Future of Jobs Report estimates 39% of workers’ existing skill sets will become outdated by 2030. Preparing for one profession and refining it over the next forty years cannot realistically set us up for our entire working lives anymore. When I began my studiesAaron at theCalpito University of Toronto (UofT), I Samuel Kamalendran chose biology as my major and English Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor and biomedical communications as my minors. They occupied different columns on my transcript, so I assumed they belonged in different parts of my life. Biology was the practical path toward healthcare while the other two were simply hobbies dressed up as electives. Then the boundaries between my programs started to disappear. In my first year, a new required course appeared on the biology curriculum titled “Introduction to Biological Data”. Suddenly, a world that only explored organisms and body systems now included algorithms and numbers. Subjects that once occupied different shelves were starting to lean into one another. In my upper years, that imagined distinction blurred even more. Research for my biology degree focused on health policy, and questions about the human body became questions about the systems surrounding it. What looked like changing directions was really an accumulation of different perspectives. I think that is why young people—now more than ever—hesitate when asked what they want to be. Part of that hesitancy comes from having to navigate a world with complex, intersectional problems and no easy solution in sight; problems that generation rarely belong to just one discipline. Healthcare needs designers as much as it needs clinicians; climate change requires scientists, economists, and policymakers; and artificial intelligence (AI) is both an ethical and technical conversation. The innovative minds responding to increasingly complex challenges rarely draw solutions from one discipline alone. Their greatest strength is often the ability to translate and move between disciplines. Maybe predictable, linear careers aren’t what this world needs anymore. My master’s in innovation management reflects this change. My peers and I were encouraged to pick a function, such as project management, research, operations, or strategy. By choosing this, the same skill can be packed into a suitcase and carried across industries and geographies. Increasingly, this is what the labour market appears to reward. Employers consistently rank analytical thinking, creative problemsolving, resilience, and flexibility among the most sought-after skills. More than specialization or expertise, they value people that can apply knowledge in unfamiliar contexts. As careers become less tied to a single industry, it makes sense why young people are less willing to define themselves by one. More than one in three employed young Canadians reported they were somewhat or very likely to look for a job in a different industry the following year. Changing direction might not be a sign that they don’t know where they are going; it might be something that happens when the world itself keeps changing at a pace faster than it takes to build linear careers. I believe we should imagine our future career planning less as a ladder and more like a map with roads that split, disappear, and reappear somewhere unexpectedly. A pivot no longer erases the road behind it and skills accumulate rather than expire. The year spent learning to communicate becomes useful in strategy; an education in science becomes the foundation for informed policymaking and analysis; and experience in one industry becomes the lens through which we understand and innovate another. I find freedom in a multidisciplinary career. As a student, I no longer have to choose between pursuing science or creative writing and as a professional, I can leave an industry without necessarily
leaving behind everything I had built and learnt. But that freedom also exists in an economy that does not always make change a choice. Adaptability is empowering when chosen, but becomes exhausting when expected. Right now, our labour market rewards flexibility and demands constant reskilling, turning curiosity into another certification and lifelong learning into another line on a resume. The freedom to change direction becomes the pressure to always be changing direction in order to remain employed and economically viable. Young Canadians are entering a difficult labour market, with university graduates facing harder transitions to stable employment and rising housing costs making it difficult to relocate or accept lower-paid opportunities for valuable experience. This is where we need to distinguish between flexibility and instability. Young people should be able to move between industries and pursue multidisciplinary careers because their interests and skills evolve, rather than because economic conditions leave them no other choice. A multidisciplinary career should expand our choices and passions instead of becoming another requirement to stay afloat. I see the value of that flexibility in my own journey. Biology, communications, health policy, and innovation management once seemed like separate paths. Now, I draw on all of them as I pursue a career in healthcare innovation. I think that is where the traditional career ladder fails us. It forces us to climb toward one fixed destination and stepping sideways means losing progress. But the careers the new generation is building differ, as the skills we gain travel with us even when the industry or role does not. I still do not have a one-word answer when someone asks what I want to be. My answers simply reflect the fact that I am building a career for a world that no longer fits neatly into one profession.
06
I view my fifth-year as a privilege. So, then why is pursuing one still shrouded in misunderstandings and taboo? At an institution like U of T, pursuing a fifth-year should be more normalized. Amanda Angelina Pereira-Rego Contributor ince my first semester at UTM, I planned to complete a fifth year. BeS cause of this firm decision, I experienced it all. The wide eyes, flared eyebrows, and concerned head tilts, followed by an inevitable “why?” The occasional monologue of well-intentioned advice that I sort of appreciated but never asked for: “so a few summer classes to catch up… petition to complete a course overload… I would just finish up my degree, and if I were you...”
I’m not alone in this. Whether it is peers, friends, colleagues, or family members, judgements about pursuing a fifth year can seem inescapable. But, for many students like myself, making the decision to pursue an additional year or semester beyond the “typical” four-year degree may prevent us from rushing into the next chapter of our lives with a lack of confidence—something that can impede our professional and personal journeys much more than taking an extra semester or year. Statistics Canada reported that from 2015-2016, the average time to complete an undergraduate degree was 4.7 years. While the organization has yet to update their study’s findings, The New York Times also observed that most students do not complete their undergraduate degree in four years. I believe that our time at university should be measured not by just what we learned in classrooms or through work, research, or internship experiences, but by the honest conversations and reflections we have with ourselves and our peers about who we are, what we need, and what we want at specific moments in time. If those conversations and desires don’t fit into dominant narratives of “success,” then maybe we should question the narrative as opposed to our own worth and success as students. But, where do these preconceived judgements even come from? The notion that a four-year degree is and should be standard really originates from when societal pressures funnel individuals toward a linear trajectory of so-called success. This completely arbitrary trajectory claims that students must graduate from high school in four years, attain a four-year undergraduate degree, then enter the workforce or earn a master’s degree soon after.
Students may shift their programs of study, too. They may remove a program, based on the requirements. They might drop a course that threatens to shackle their CGPA. They may add another program, after an elective course sparks an unexpected passion. Some may even consider a different program half way through their degree due to uncertainty with how AI will impact their employment security. I experimented with an arsenal of courses—hopping from law to linguistics, English to education studies, and politics to psychology. In my second year, I reapplied to my Program Of Study (POSt), confident in my choice: a major in sociology, a double minor in education studies and professional writing and communication, and a certificate in global studies. Yes, it’s a mouthful that absorbs precious space on my two-paged resume. But, the greatest asset that an extra year offers isn’t just the additional time to simply keep hustling away; it’s the freedom to invest more resources and care into ourselves without feeling like our race to the finish line is being timed. Burnout, the glamourization of overworking, and mental health challenges are not things we expect to factor into our vision of university life; but here at U of T, those experiences can become inevitable realities for the many of us. If a fifth-year can ease some of those pressures, give students more time to connect with resources, and wrap up their degrees with more confidence and self-care, why do we continue to believe a fouryear degree should be the norm? Throughout university, I met students who completed their degree in three years, while others took seven years. I realized that students try to form the decision that feels right for them, while navigating various barriers and pressures. Some students cannot even consider a fifth-year—despite their desire—because of visa restrictions, financial barriers, and even hidden family pressures rooted in outdated cultural expectations As I prepare to graduate this fall, I view my fifth year as a privilege. Even so, I don’t have a grand piece of advice to offer here. I only encourage students to reflect on what pathway feels right for them. One day, we will beam at the Starbuck’s sprints, dining hall dashes, and the looming fear of geese attacks. For now, focus on the moment: one assessment at a time, one week at a time. And, can we please stop the super senior jokes? I promise, it’s not that serious.
Various biases also fuel these expectations. Underneath the concerned head tilts and invasive questions lies the assumption that students who complete a fifth-year are doing so to make up for poor marks, or that they must have struggled with keeping themselves academically afloat, or lacked valuable time-management skills, or had planned their courses poorly. Was I not organized and proactive enough to thrive in the fastpaced and competitive environment of U of T, and therefore had to waste a critical year that could have otherwise been leveraged toward more productive aims? Instead of ruminating about alleged lost time, I believe that students must shift their perspective to recognize the benefits of a fifth-year. University can often feel like a homogenizing experience: we are all stuffed into similar classes, routines, and rituals to eventually arrive at a specific destination. Because of this, it’s easy to forget that each undergraduate journey and definition of success is different, defined by the unique combination of challenges, values, and goals that each one of us carry. Part of the challenge of actually shifting taboos and uncertainties associated with a fifth-year and beyond is demystifying the opportunities that come with taking more time. Many students leverage their fifth-year to seek additional opportunities beyond the classroom. They may earn income through work, co-ops, or internships. Some volunteer or engage in co-curricular activities. Others apply for grants, bursaries, or scholarships. These opportunities require ample time to not only complete but to even pursue in the first place. Students scour through virtual portals, discerning between authentic applications and ghost postings. They must network to fulfil the purportedly recommended but in actuality compulsory letter of recommendation. Of course, they must tailor their resumes and cover letters for each application, finding a sliver of time within their already bloated schedule to seek support from a career counselor. Some students may take an extra year because of uncertainty with their program and academic future. For instance, I entered university unsure about what programs to pursue. I felt dizzied by the smorgasbord of possible minors, majors, and specialists, along with the optional certificates.
Illustration done by Rojin Hajiabbasali
07
Yes, it is that deep: the Canadian International Air Show does not celebrate Canadian pride—it brazenly glorifies violence and the military industrial complex Amidst U.S-Canada tensions, global war profiteering, and Toronto’s diversity, it’s worth asking whose pride the Air Show supposedly celebrates? Mashiyat Ahmed Opinion Editor
ach year, to mark the end of the Canadian E National Exhibition (CNE)—as well as the bittersweet dimming of Toronto summers—
the Canadian International Air show hits our skies in a loud, honestly unremarkable, and increasingly insensitive performance of military planes and jets soaring up above. I would have almost forgotten about this year’s Air Show if it wasn’t for the fact that I happened to have been at Trinity Bellwoods Park on the mild afternoon of September 5th. My conversation with a friend was suddenly interrupted by the most screeching, metallic whistle of jets flying overhead, as they swerved and snaked through the clouds to make formations with the aircrafts’ exhausts. Anticlimactically and in poor taste—as so often is our displays of national pride—the Air Show was aeroplane acrobatics.
tion the Air Show so brazenly takes pride in. Our communities are concerned about how the spectacle can harm sensitive populations, including babies, small children, the elderly, and increasingly, those with traumatic experiences of military aggression. It also doesn’t help that these fucking planes come out of nowhere, with little to no warning. In 2023, Toronto’s mayor Olivia Chow wrote to the Air Show’s organizers, commenting that: “Millions of Torontonians chose to take root in this City as a place of hope. A place of refuge. For many residents, the tremendous noise generated by high-powered jets flying overhead brings back unwanted memories of the violence and war they fled to call Toronto home.” To add another layer of painful irony, many of those who fled from overseas did so in order to spare themselves violence and death from wars that countries like Canada (and the U.S.) have played a significant role in either initiating, arming, funding, or profiting from. Or all four. Likely all four.
pecially millennials and Gen Z—are choosing to express their national pride (or maybe, lack thereof?). In recent years, and because of political disenchantment among the younger generations, more people are empowered to question the shadows behind the innocent, welcoming, and submissive narrative of Canadian pride. Our growing pushback to the Air Show marks an important step towards balancing pride with necessary political criticism—or at least, I hope so. Some might argue that because of the trade war it’s more important than ever to display Canadian pride as our sovereignty is threatened by Trump’s buffoonery. However, many young Canadians are choosing to wake up to the lies of our nation’s pride as we too participate in the historical and current aggressions that we so easily point the finger at the U.S. for.
For much of our country’s history, public displays of national pride have involved collective celebrations and spectacle—and that is, These criticisms have been communicated to for the most part, fine—even if I as an indithe organizers behind the Air Show, and the vidual still choose not to participate in that. replies have been… well, ironically, tone deaf. But, there comes a point where we need to ask ourselves who and what these normalized celebraPhoto Credits: Mashiyat Ahmed tory spectacles are meant for. For me, I’m just someone who doesn’t like loud noises and finds military spectacle as a show of celebration, frankly, out-oftouch and a tad bit desperate.
But it was also more than that. According to the Air Show’s website, the annual aviation performance is dedicated to “educating future generations on the exciting opportunities within the aerospace industry which In fact, opposing the Canaare inclusive for all.” Perhaps there is dian International Air Show a distinct place and time to celebrate might be the bigger and the vintage and modern technologibetter show of pride—precal hunk of metal and machine that cisely because it acknowlis an aeroplane or jet, but I seriously edges how our country’s question the appropriateness of this national mythmaking ofAir Show—especially in all its specten erases the immigrants tacle and loudness—in an urban meand refugees—disproportropolis like Toronto, where many of tionately black, brown, and the City’s residents are individuals non-Christian—who make and families who have fled violence Now in its 77th year, the Canadian International Air Show takes over the Toronto Harbourfront. up the economic, social, and and military aggression abroad; who What does the pushback against the Air Show reveal about how we should celebrate Canada? cultural fabric of the land have come from countries pillaged we claim to love so much. I by Western military aggression in the would argue that if there’s form of wars, proxy wars, occupations, land As writer Sadaf Ahsan reports in YahooNews, no place for political and social criticism in thefts, and genocides. when asked about the criticism, manager how we participate in patriotism then can of public affairs Colleen McCourt said that we even call it patriotism in the first place? Toronto already has a huge foreign-born “while we sympathize with the sensitivity that If we can’t be honest about our country, then and immigrant population—which is part of some members of the public might feel, our whose left to bear the noisy and indignifying what makes the city I called home for nearly goal has always been to inspire the public to brunt of our pride? 15 years so diverse and dynamic. On top of follow their dreams and have an appreciation that, refugees and asylum seekers make up for the field of aerospace for generations to In that sense, the call to cancel the Air Show roughly 15 percent of those who have been come.” becomes much bigger than noise complaints. admitted under the humanitarian category. It becomes about honouring the voices and While we don’t know the specific stories of all I find this response obviously problematic, experiences of those who shatter the falsethose who make up that 15 percent, I believe not only because it attempts to whitewash hoods and festivities unchecked patriotism that the insistence behind the Air Show each and sanitize the violent role that military air- often relies on year after year. year is jarringly tone deaf and insensitive to craft plays in facilitating war and Western aghow loud noises and the supposedly inno- gression, but because McCourt’s statement is By continuing the Air Show, not only are we cent acrobatics of military jets—which bear also the equivalent of a white guy who shrugs failing to belittling the stories of the families an uncanny acoustic and visual resemblance his shoulders and says “but it’s not that deep!” and individuals rebuilding their lives after to aerial war weaponry—can potentially re- when the valid concern at hand doesn’t affect having fled realities most of us cannot imagtraumatize those in Toronto who have painful him. ine, we are also making a ritualized mockery and unimaginable memories of bombs, drone of their trauma as a lousy excuse for supposstrikes, and other military violence. While additional criticism has been raised re- edly celebrating national pride and honourgarding the carbon footprint of these acrobat- ing the aerospace industry for their triumphs But this consensus is not original or new. Sev- ics, I believe that we need to talk more about and innovation–which has its own place and eral advocacy groups, journalists, and every- what the growing shift in attitude towards the time, but not like this. day people have spoken up about the disrup- Air Show represents for how Canadians — es-
08
FEATURES
UTM Stories: When learning got a little heated
Editor | Madhav Ajayamohan features@themedium.ca
MASTHEAD EDITORIAL BOARD
Arduinos, soldering, and burning plastic spiced things up in HSC402: Digital Learning Environments in Biology and Health Sciences
Editor-in-Chief Samuel Kamalendran editor@themedium.ca
Maryam Raheel Contributor
Managing Aaron Calpito managing@themedium.ca
The incident should have exposed that biology students armed with wires and microcontrollers were not quite ready for this kind of responsibility. Instead, our professor doubled down.
ucked away on the third floor of the CommuT nication, Culture & Technology Building, lectures in the windowless computer lab used for all The following week, he wheeled his own soldering biomedical communications courses separated students from the outside world for three hours at a time. Beneath the steady hum of fluorescent lights, rows of identical Mac desktops glowed against birch tables.
This is the place where I learned design software and spent hours turning scientific ideas into visual stories. The lab gradually became a studio where students dropped by between classes to secure and work on the computer that had their work saved. For one course, the computers slowly disappeared beneath colourful jumper wires that curled across the tables like vines, Arduino boards, and breadboards dotted with miniature lights waiting for the right line of code to bring them to life. Across the room, an LED light blinked triumphantly as the applause of twenty exhausted students erupted. Most of us had never interacted with these electronics before, yet our professor had us connect circuits with the optimism of beginners who had no idea how much could go wrong.
station into the lab. Soldering irons rested in metal cradles with spools of silver wire caught in the fluorescent light. Rather than turning to lectures or demonstrations, he trusted us with another unfamiliar tool. He guided us through the delicate process of creating permanent connections for our inventions. Some classrooms are remembered for what was written on the board. I remember this one for the confidence our professor placed in us before we fully earned it. In that room, my peers and I discovered that learning could take the form of creating. Ideas lived beyond the screens and manifested as somePhoto Credits: Maryam Raheel thing w e could build, touch, and, occasionally, smell.
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
Halfway through a class, a strange smell drifted through the room—the scent of melting plastic and scorched metal. Heads lifted in unison as students sniffed, wondering whether the smoke belonged to their neighbour’s project or their own. Our fingers hovered over power cables, ready to unplug everything. At that moment, our inventions seemed like fire hazards scattered across the tables.
Social Media Jannine Uy social@themedium.ca Videographer Samm Mohibuddin video@themedium.ca Copy Yasmine Benabderrahmane yasmine@themedium.ca
The new pandemic: forsaking the act of thinking
Gisele Tang gisele@themedium.ca
The growing tendency to outsource our thinking takes away the joy and excitement of life. Gisele Tang Copy Editor
gathered my thoughts on a Google Doc. It was by no means an enlightening reflection, but the process of spending time and effort to understand an idea was insightful and refreshing. It was like I finished a mental workout.
uring the summer, I read books that were gathD ering dust on my bookshelf. Amongst them were 1984 by George Orwell and The Great Gatsby by F. This experience taught me more about my thought Scott Fitzgerald.
Immediately after finishing these books, I found myself trying to comprehend the messages they were supposed to convey. I paused after noticing that I wasn’t sure. A hint of frustration lingered as I craved a quick answer.
process, what shaped my thoughts, the principles I stand for and what I needed to learn more about. I hear you think, “Duh, that’s like the average experience of reflecting on literally… anything.” But that’s the point! It was a very mundane process of thinking through something, but it was shocking how unnatural this process was to me.
But the struggle was worth it—two weeks later, I
This wasn’t an individual experience. I noticed my
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09 friends and family also shared an urge to be told an immediate answer when they consume any media that requires its audience to work for their own insights. That includes movies, songs, podcasts, or paintings. This observation raised some alarms in my head: is society forsaking the act of thinking?
True, searching for an answer is much more efficient in the short term. But how much context and nuance can Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbots or one-minute TikTok videos provide? Say you’re talking to an AI chatbot for an hour, and it provides a lot of information (note that it does not guarantee truthfulness). Its instantaneous nature still takes away the time and space for us to think.
Are you forsaking thoughts? Many things we value, from art that we resonate with to the invention of various technologies, are all products of deliberate thinking. Moreover, elements that make life meaningful, like friendships and growth, are facilitated by meaningful conversations and personal reflection—which require deliberate thinking. When we stop thinking deeply about an idea or creating new ones, life ceases to be enjoyable. Thinking doesn’t just make room for knowledge and creativity—it is a crucial process to elicit joy and meaning out of everything we do and produce. For example, if you were greatly interested in a television show, you’d probably spend hours watching it, whether or not you know how it ends. Why? Because seeing the story unfold and experiencing the characters’ journeys brings you enjoyment, or even inspires you. And without actually watching the show, your engagement, fondness, and understanding of the show would be much less. Thinking more can make your life more exciting I would argue that thinking has a similar function to watching a show. Society’s increasing
Illustration done by Melody Zhou
reliance on being fed short, immediate answers dulls our lives by diminishing our wonder and curiosity. It decreases opportunities to engage in different experiences, whether that is reading a book, having a new idea pop up while daydreaming, or talking to someone about your subject of interest. But the modern problem isn’t that technology provides easy access to information; it is how the use of it has made many people stop being open to letting their unique observations, interactions, and reflection shape an idea. You might ask, “If I could have an answer within seconds, why should I spend extra time reading a book, thinking about a subject matter or discussing it with someone?”
If you still aren’t convinced, the effort to think also enhances our memory of a subject matter and our ability to connect it to other information. The logic is straightforward: the more effort you put in, the more likely you’ll be able to understand a comprehensive picture of a subject, and the more you’ll be able to recognize its details and connect it with other related ideas and knowledge. This in turn affects our ability to understand and appreciate the intricate relations of the world. Easy ways to incorporate “thought snacks” Now, I’m not asking you to stare at a tree for an hour and think, we all have busy lives, I get it. But instead of listening to music on your entire drive, perhaps sit in silence for 15 minutes. And when you’re looking for information, challenge yourself to hypothesize an answer before turning to Google to answer a question. Or, challenge yourself to Google questions, skip the AI summary and read human-written articles before turning to a chatbot. The deep dive you go on can result in a lot more than just the answer you are looking for.
Yingge dance: Connecting UTM students to the past and present UTM students stepped into one of Toronto’s top multicultural festivals through a Yingge dance performance at the seventh Toronto Dragon Festival.
Photos from Meilin Ma; Collaged by Melody Zhou
Meena Ma Contributor
A
Yingge dance performance made its Canadian debut at the seventh Toronto Dragon Festival (TDF), which took place from September 4 to September 6 at Nathan Phillips Square. Among the performers was Summer Qiu, a second-year UTM student majoring in biology with minors in psychology and forensic science. “When we stood on the stage and saw people from all over the world watching us, we suddenly realized that we were performing at City Hall,” Qiu recalled. Qiu was one of the UTM students who spent much of her summer learning Yingge, a traditional performance from the Chaoshan region of Guangdong, China that combines dance, martial arts movements, painted faces, and wooden sticks. Bringing Yingge to Toronto Yingge, sometimes called a “Chinese war dance,” is part of China’s national list of intangible cultural heritage. Jian Zhang, founder of the TDF and chair of its organizing committee, shared that he had wanted to bring Yingge to Canada for years. The effort was also welcomed by David Zhang, the festival’s chief director since its first edition. However, despite several earlier attempts, the idea only became possible this year, and organizing the performance still came with major challenges. “Chair Jian Zhang has been a driving force behind the Dragon Festival,” David said. “He spent a tremendous amount of time bringing
Yingge to the festival this year, and the response from visitors was very positive.” The addition of Yingge reflects the festival’s broader approach to balancing tradition with new programming. Since its first edition in 2018, the TDF has grown quickly by combining traditional Chinese culture with contemporary programming. The three-day festival now attracts more than 100,000 visitors each year and has become one of Toronto’s major multicultural festivals. Recruiting the young performers
10 Jian and the other organizers recruited performers from Toronto to build a dance group from scratch. Anna Bian, director of the Toronto Drama Troupe and a member of the TDF organizing committee, helped recruit and organize performers. Bian explained that Yingge requires young performers because it “combines martial arts, dance, Chinese opera and some other Chinese moves… [that] requires a lot of strength and agility.” Qiu joined the Yingge team because of her interest in traditional Chinese culture. After participating in a training session, Qiu also invited Jierun Xu, a UTM student specializing in statistics, to the Yingge dance preparation. Xu shared that before joining the team, he had never learned or performed it himself. “I thought it was a good opportunity to actually experience something myself, instead of just watching it through videos online.” Xu said. Xiaoyun Ling, a UTM student majoring in economics and communication, culture, information and technology joined the Yingge team after hearing about it through UTM’s Sol Dance Club. “I first heard about the Toronto Dragon Festival and the Yingge performance through conversations with other club members,” Ling Photo Credits: Grisha Sharma said. “It sounded like such a unique opportunity—not just to dance, but to be part of something that carried real cultural weight and history behind it.” Late-night practices and preparation One of the major roadblocks for the team was learning a Yingge dance without a professional Yingge instructor physically present in Toronto. Originally, Jian Zhang planned to bring experienced Yingge instructors from China to train the performers, but the arrangement fell through. The local team ended up learning from instructional videos and remote guidance from a Yingge coach in China. Another challenge was getting such a large group to come together. Bian recalled that participants went to rehearsal after work. Ling, who was completing an internship during the summer, was one such instance. Participants would arrive at around 8:30 p.m. or 9 p.m. and stay until 11 p.m. With the performance date looming closer, the team also did weekend rehearsals that lasted several hours. Qiu shared that this schedule lasted for roughly two months. “We always had to squeeze rehearsals after work hours,” Ling reminisced. “Even though it was exhausting, it was also incredibly en-
riching.” The final performance: Sharing Chinese culture and connecting with the community The Yingge dance also gave the students a new way to experience Toronto’s multiculturalism. For Ling, the performance made Toronto’s multiculturalism feel less abstract. “It’s one thing to hear about multiculturalism in a classroom setting. But it’s a completely different thing to stand in a public square, in traditional costume, and directly feel that openness and curiosity from people of all backgrounds.” Cynthia Yeung, a UTM graduate and a member of the TDF Yingge team, shared that performing alongside other UTM students gave her a new perspective on traditional Chinese culture. “Culture is not just something from the past,” Yeung said. “It can continue to grow and be shared through new generations…. Traditional culture can be presented in many different ways and still connect with young people today.” Yeung added, “Performing Yingge in Toronto made me feel proud to share a part of Chinese culture with people from different cultural backgrounds.” A key moment for Xu was standing near the Toronto sign at City Hall during the Dragon Festival. Being surrounded by the crowds and performances made him feel like he was a part of the Toronto community, rather than simply studying in this city. Qiu had a similar experience and described the performance as a chance to move “from campus into the Toronto community.” The performance also left a strong impact on the young performers including all the students from UTM. Jian Zhang shared that some young performers were initially only attracted to how energetic and powerful Yingge looked, but as they practiced for the performance, their interest in the dance’s cultural story grew. Bian said that she would like to see more local middle-school and high-school students take part in the future, including young Chinese Canadians who may have had limited exposure to traditional Chinese culture. For the UTM students, the experience was more than a performance—it was a way to connect with both their cultural roots and the wider Toronto community.
Advice for new students: make your degree work for you and form friendships beyond
The Medium executives share their advice on choosing electives and making friends outside of your program Mashiyat Ahmed Opinion Editor
Rameen Hashimi Contributor
Make your degree work for you By Mashiyat Ahmed hroughout the past four years at UTM, I’ve T switched up my double minor of choice an astounding three times. Yes, you can call me
indecisive. Maybe I am just another victim of how stressful and confusing academic planning can be at the U of T, where it seems that everyone around me is riding the blissful train of certainty, while I am still trying to Google Maps my way to the station. With my graduation around the corner, I am finishing my degree with a specialist in neuroscience paired with a double minor in philosophy of science and women, gender, and
sexuality studies. Before this, I was “settled” on professional writing. Before that, biology, and even before that, anthropology! When it comes to academic planning and, clearly, our career outlook, there’s a sad yet unsurprising level of gatekeeping and myopic thinking that contaminates how students are taught to build and imagine our professional lives. A result of that rigid thinking is the idea that one’s specialist or major of choice is the more important part of the degree. In thinking so, minors and electives are often cast aside as less central to one’s professional life. I have known many students—including myself, who initially decided to minor in something with the borrowed thought that doing so would help bolster their “actual” degree. For me, pairing a biology minor with neuroscience felt like the right choice. The natural choice,
even. By now, I’ve taken enough courses across wildly different and unrelated departments to know that sometimes, making bold choices and taking risks—even if it means being unable to explain to others what your degree combination is about—can be incredibly fulfilling both personally and professionally. We as students need to reframe unconventional program combinations not as signs of indecision or randomness, but as key stepping stones towards exercising the muscle of an intersectional and interdisciplinary intellect. Learning about feminist politics helped me understand how and why neuroscientific data sets and research methods marginalize women’s bodies and brains. Concepts from philosophy of science, cognitive ethics, and bio-
11 ethics taught me to question the fundamental assumptions which drive research and “pop science.” My atypical program combination is now part of the reasons why I feel more empowered to pursue a non-traditional career in science journalism amongst other professional side quests. As a fifth-year, I have the luxury of perspective. It’s only something that comes with time and experience, but if I could share a kernel of wisdom with all the first-years and returning students, it would be this: make your degree work for you. Make bold choices, take unconventional electives, change up your programs as many times as you need to. Don’t settle for a passion that you aren’t even sure belongs to you in the first place. Dear first-years: What you might be overlooking in friendships By Rameen Hashimi Dear first-years, While classes only began about a week ago, I imagine you have been straining to remember everyone you meet and everything you see. Rest assured, it is an important component of a beautiful university experience. After all, learning to remember and retrieve names is important when you get to form many new connections each day. Recently, you may have bonded with a new friend during an orientation event or simply introduced yourselves before the beginning of a lecture.
Perhaps as you exchanged your social media tags, a realization hit: your programs are substantially different. Trust me, I know the initial worry that your paths won’t cross again—has a friendship ended before it could even begin? But please, also trust me in reflecting on why this is not necessarily the case. Firstly, I encourage you not to limit yourselves to friendships within your program and courses. Sometimes it may take extra effort to arrange hangouts with friends in other programs, but you can still nurture supportive relationships. However, even if time or circumstances drift you apart, know that the connection was not wasted. You never know when your paths might cross again! I’ll illustrate this with a personal story: my recent experience planning The Medium’s orientation event as an Outreach Coordinator was a full-circle moment. My teammate Rojin Hajiabbasali and I met as participants in the same UTMSU orientation event a year ago. Flash forward to meeting and bonding again at The Medium was super exciting. And now, we get to bond over our outreach efforts and beyond! Overall, this is a brilliant time to connect with others and engage in the community on campus! While it can most certainly be challenging, don’t be shy about initiating a conversation, even if it’s just for five minutes. After all, it can be the beginning of a friendship!
ARTS
Editor | Diana Varzideh arts@themedium.ca
Looking beyond the classroom with Hicham Benohoud’s The Classroom
Reflecting on the Blackwood Gallery’s summer program with curator, Fraser McCallum. Maaz Ahtesham Contributor
Illustration done by Sara Li
he Blackwood Gallery’s summer program T was a lightbox exhibition and event series concerning “experimental education, movement, and creative pedagogy,” according to the gallery’s website. The program was curated by the gallery’s project coordinator Fraser McCallum, who has been in the position since 2019 and taken lead on almost a dozen art programs at UTM. The Medium spoke with McCallum to better understand the program’s concepts and significance within a university campus. In the waning days of summer, anyone at UTM may have noticed black and white images displayed outdoors depicting students in unusual situations within a classroom. These four lightboxes scattered around the Davis and Kaneff buildings presented Hicham Benohoud’s The Classroom, a series of photographs shot between 1994 and 2002. At UTM specifically, McCallum explains that the photographs “can prompt us to think about how we learn, what the mechanisms by which knowledge is transmitted to people are, and what are different ways of doing that.” Within the photographs selected for the program, subjects are partially hidden behind Bristol boards or students, closed within their own clothes, confined inside a hula hoop, or suspended above their peers who, in the background of every image, remain at their desks engaged in school work as usual. According to the Blackwood Gallery, these images reflect “Benohoud’s frustrations with Morocco’s rigid educational system of the time, whose curriculum of rote repetition and mimicry bored him and his students alike.” The students’ faces reflect a weariness as well, which “also hints at students’ own struggles they might be having,” shared McCallum.
Latent in the explicit imagery is the concept of a “hidden curriculum,” which McCallum described as the understanding of social norms, gender roles, conduct, ethics, morals, and all kinds of hidden values taught through socialization within a classroom. McCallum explained, “A classroom is not just a place where the explicit, the overt curriculum is taught, but it’s also the way we become citizens in a society. It teaches us ways of being together.” While The Classroom was on display, the Blackwood Gallery itself, located in the Kaneff Centre, hosted free public programs
from guest artists also focused similarly on performance and pedagogy. In June, Professor Lucy El-Sherif and the Zaytouna Academy of Cultural Arts presented Itshalit wit hatit, a “strengthening and heartwarming” display of dabke, a Palestinian folk dance. July first saw PhD candidate Jose Miguel Esteban lead program participants around campus for Crip Choreographic Witnessing, allowing the group to scribe audio descriptions accompanying artwork for accessibility purposes through feeling rather than just seeing. Dr. Maya El Helou later demonstrated how to record ethnography through drawings in Sketching the So-
12 ial, emphasizing “how to be a participant observer” and how “the way we look at the world also shapes it.” The last event, The Secret School of Nature, was hosted in August by artist Leila Fatemi at Visual Arts Mississauga. This program, closely aligned with The Classroom, was a children’s focused event involving Instax Polaroid cameras and a nature walk, allowing attendees to “look more closely at nature, at our everyday surroundings with different lenses—literally.” As fall swings into session, be sure to check out this semester’s program Lines, Pattern, and Action, curated by UTM Professor Ruba Kana’an and focused on “reimagining [traditional, colonial-era Pakistani art materials and methods] in a contemporary art context.” McCallum shared that the Blackwood Gallery hopes to be a “kind of hub where different interdisciplinary conversations can happen,” reaching out to classes, student groups, and the external community alike.
Photo Credits: Maaz Ahtesham
The success of 2026’s cinema revival
After years of disappointing movie releases, 2026 has managed to breathe new life into the world of filmmaking. Emma Catarino Contributor
There are a few reasons why the public has been less enthusiastic about movie releases in recent years, most of which boils down to cost. With movie tickets costing over $15 each, and a bucket of popcorn costing just as much, there’s less incentive to see films in the theatre. This is especially true for younger generations who simply can’t afford the prices. Streaming services have been gaining popularity over the last few years, so most people would prefer to wait a month until new films are released on streaming platforms rather than go into a theatre. Not only is this a cheaper option, but it allows for a quieter, private viewing experience. Another reason for the decreased excitement over new releases is simply due to the quality of movies, or rather, lack thereof. Many agree that Hollywood is becoming dry and redundant, with the same actors and same bland writing being used repeatedly. Audiences are upset with the lack of originality and depth in recent films, particularly in regards to large production companies like Disney. The visuals in movies have also become less appealing over time as CGI use increases while the visual quality of movies seemingly decreases. A lot of the films released in 2026 addressed these issues, and that’s why they’ve drawn a larger crowd. Backrooms (2026) and Obsession (2026) are two films that were massively popular with younger crowds, and for good reason. First, they were both directed by young, up-
The history and transformation of the film critic. Mari Khan Contributor he World Films Community Network describes T a film critic as “someone who analyzes and evaluates films, providing reviews and commen-
or the last decade, and especially since F the COVID-19 pandemic, general interests in upcoming movies has been decreas-
ing steadily. Yet, theatres this year were packed all summer long. Covering a wide variety of genres—from horror, to ancient retellings, to musical theatre—the 2026 movie lineup has attracted all kinds of crowds. Even Gen Z, who are less likely to watch a movie in theatres, in comparison to their millennial and Gen X counterparts, are finally excited for upcoming releases.
Can anyone be a film critic?
tary on various aspects of a movie [... and] express their opinions on whether a film is worth watching.”
Illustration done by April Roy and-coming directors Kane Parsons and Curry Barker. Both directors brought fresh ideas to the world of horror movies, redefining what we think of as a scary monster. For example (and spoilers ahead!), instead of having the “monster” in Obsession be a sentient doll, a serial killer, or a perverted clown, Barker had his villain reflect the monstrous qualities present in everyday people: Bear, the movie’s protagonist and true evil, is meant to represent an abuser. Meanwhile, Nikki, the surface level “scary” character, only acts in the horrific ways that she does as a result of the trauma inflicted upon her by Bear. This fresh spin on horror is evidently something that fans have been craving, and it’s evident—the indie film grossed 500 times its budget and is still being discussed months after its release. Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is also deserving of its high acclaim. Much to the delight of its actors and audience alike, the film almost exclusively used real sets rather than CGI to make its stunning visuals. For example, a real historic Viking boat was used for some of the scenes, and the cast and crew had to hike up a mountain everyday to reach the set of Odysseus’s (the protagonist) palace. Audiences in turn appreciated both the gorgeous visuals that this created and the effort that went into the project. Part of The Odyssey’s popularity can be attributed to Nolan’s reputation and its A-List cast. The common thread in the success of movies throughout the summer was that viewers could see the quality and care that was put into its production, and that was what made them return time and time again.
The earliest examples of film critics are journalists in the USA from the early 20th century who would write reviews for films being released. In Canada, one of the earliest and most influential critics was Jay Scott, the primary film critic for The Globe and Mail beginning in 1977. When journalists first began writing about the films being released, it was more of a review than a critique of films. Films were taken at face value, and not yet considered an art form to convey serious messaging (at least in the West). Soon enough, European and Soviet filmmakers saw film as an opportunity to communicate complex and politically motivated content, providing more substance to critique. As the approach to filmmaking evolved globally, so did the writing of film critics. Critiques were being written by specialized staff instead of journalists who were pulled from another section. Films were being taken seriously and the people writing about it took it seriously, too. Because they were small in numbers and experts in their field of writing, film critics held significant power in how the public would perceive a film and if it was worthwhile to watch. However, the era of the film critic being a coveted position was about to change. The evolution of film critics Before the turn of the century, the internet changed the value of film critics and who could be a film critic. For example, Rotten Tomatoes, which launched in 1998, is a website that collects and averages reviews from film critics and the general public, taking away from the weighted ratings of film critics considered more popular. Other websites like Letterboxd have also allowed for anyone to write about a film and have a platform to share it on. But, it’s not limited to websites. Social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube provide a place to share thoughts on a film. Anyone can review, comment, and share whether they think a film or TV-series is worth watching. The only pre-requisite is having access to a device with
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internet connection.
Who gets to be a film critic?
meaning in the film. They consider whether the material coherently conveyed its intended message. This doesn’t necessarily limit film critics to being certified professionals, because they’re technically not. But, they are individuals with an understanding of the art form of film. This could be a film student, someone who took a couple film courses, or a frequent moviegoer.
Everyone deserves the opportunity to share their perspective on a film. Anyone can provide a review of a film. But, not everyone can be a film critic. A film critic considers factors beyond an appeal to personal taste. Their job entails tearing movies apart to find the messages, matter, and
The internet has provided a stage for more individuals to share their opinions, whether it’s to provide a critical lens or just their opinion that a film was only positively received because it’s Spider-Man. In the end, it’s up to the reader which critiques they deem valuable.
Anyone can be a film critic, but this raises the question: does everyone deserve to be called a film critic?
Fall fashion is having a déjà vu moment This fall, we are finding new ways to wear something old.
Illustration done by Jessy Fan
Jessy Fan Contributor eptember marks more than the beginning S of another semester. As iced coffees turn into hot lattes and the city’s summer heat slowly gives way to sweater weather, our wardrobes begin their seasonal shift too. But this fall, you might not need an entirely new closet. Some of the season’s biggest trends may already look surprisingly familiar.
Fall 2026 fashion is embracing contrast, pairing practical silhouettes with more expressive colours, textures, and details. From ballet flats to polka dots and vibrant reds, styles from the past are finding their way back into the present, just slightly reinvented. Fall and winter 2026 collections have similarly emphasized contrast, combining practical silhouettes and classic wardrobe staples with richer textures and unexpected details. Ballet flats aren’t going anywhere If you bought ballet flats during the recent comeback, there is good news: they will survive another season. While they may feel like a product of the 2020s, ballet flats have a very extensive history. Their transition from dancewear to everyday fashion took off in the mid-20th century. In 1956, French shoemaker Rose Repetto created the now-famous Cendrillon ballet flat for the French actress and model, Brigitte Bardot, who wore the style in the movie And God Created Woman (1956). It was then that Bardot transformed the balletinspired shoe into an everyday fashion staple. The simple shoe continues to appear across fashion this fall, as designers find new ways to play with the familiar silhouette. Fall collections have featured everything from classic low-cut flats to lace-up versions, as well as newer variations such as glove flats and ballet-sneaker hybrids as contrasting alternatives to the traditional ballerina style. 70 years later and the simple shoe continues to appear across fashion. Vogue’s 2026 fall collection has featured ballet flats alongside newer alternatives and hybrids, including kitten heels and ballet sneakers. Rather than disappearing and suddenly returning in 2026, the ballet flat has been experiencing another revival over the past several years. For students, their appeal is easy to understand. Ballet flats can dress up a pair of jeans without looking overly formal and can be an outfit that easily transitions from a lectureattendance to a dinner party fit. Add socks or tights when Toronto starts getting colder, and summer’s little flat can stay around for at least a few more weeks. Polka dots make their return Polka dots have escaped the back of the closet too, although they have been making their way in and out of fashion for more than a century. The term “polka dots” first appeared in print as early as 1857, but the pattern became par-
ticularly fashionable during the 1920s. In 1926, Miss America winner, Norma Small, wore a polka-dot swimsuit, and by the 1940s and 1950s, the print had become a recognizable part of popular fashion, appearing on figures like Marilyn Monroe. Now, the familiar dots are back for more. The print appeared prominently in multiple fall 2026 runway collections, including oversized versions across suits, shorts, and other pieces. While the pattern carries plenty of vintage associations, this season’s interpretation does not have to feel like a costume. A dotted blouse with jeans, a scarf tied around a bag, or a printed skirt under a simple sweater offers an easier way to get into the trend. For those willing to experiment, larger dots can turn an otherwise basic outfit into a statement itself. The pattern may be old, but that is partly what makes its return so accessible. There is a good chance a dotted piece is already hiding somewhere in your wardrobe. Red gets brighter Burgundy and fall have always paired together nicely. The deep wine shade returns this year, but it is sharing the spotlight with something much louder—bright red. Vogue’s Fall 2026 Colour Report identified both burgundy and bright red among the season’s major colours, with the colours appearing in Miu Miu, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and other
fashion houses’ collections. Unlike a particular shoe or print, red never really disappeared from fashion, so its 2026 presence is less of a comeback than a shift in shade and styling. Burgundy remains the familiar autumn choice, while brighter reds bring more energy into the season. Instead of waiting for the holidays, cherry red can enter the wardrobe now. A red handbag against a neutral outfit, a scarf over a dark coat, or even a pair of red ballet flats can provide enough of a pop-of-colour. Meanwhile, burgundy offers a quieter option, especially when paired with grey, brown, cream, or denim. Perhaps, the sense of nostalgia and familiarity is what makes this fall season’s trends so approachable. They may have long histories, but none of them are strangers to our recent wardrobes. Ballet flats have already spent several seasons making their comeback, polka dots have never completely disappeared, and red returns almost every autumn. Fashion rarely returns exactly as we remember it. Instead, it bounces from its own history and gives familiar pieces another life. This fall, getting dressed for a new semester might simply mean finding a new way to wear something old.
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Editor | Tyler Medeiros sports@themedium.ca
Save on Toronto FC, Marlies, Raptors 905 and Argos tickets with unrivalled deals
A guide to navigating Toronto sports team discounts offered to UTM students. Aymaan Chowdhury Contributor
or students at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), F downtown Toronto can feel like a world away. Some of the country’s biggest sports teams play just across the city, yet ticket prices often make watching from a screen the more affordable option.
The U of T Alumni Retail & Leisure Discounts portal, however, lists ticket offers that can make attending games more affordable. The caveat, as with most promotions of this kind, is that offers change throughout the year, and students must pay close attention to eligibility requirements. The Current Playbook: Two Toronto teams currently have active offers. The Toronto Argonauts offer up to 25 percent off select tickets at BMO Field, with the promotion listed through December 1, 2026. Toronto FC similarly offers up to 15 percent off select matches at BMO Field, valid through November 1. Other offers are more seasonal in nature. The Toronto Marlies previously offered a discount of up to 35 percent, and Raptors 905 offered up to 30 percent off select tickets. Both promotions have since ended, but fans can monitor the U of T page for new offers as those seasons get underway. For UTM students, Raptors 905 may be the most convenient option. Unlike the NBA’s Toronto Raptors who dominate the court at Scotiabank Arena, their G League affiliate plays at Mississauga Sports & Entertainment Centre. Illustration done by Sara Li
Photo Credits: Tyler Medeiros mouth—specifically, from his mother. His $50 ticket was discounted by 15 percent, saving him $7.50. “It was actually super easy,” Medeiros said, “all you have to do is use the discount code on Ticketmaster.” The savings got him into BMO Field for a memorable afternoon. Toronto FC defeated Dallas 3–1, with Federico Bernardeschi scoring two goals. “The atmosphere was fantastic,” Medeiros said. “TFC got the win with a stellar performance from Bernardeschi, and the crowd was loving it.” Medeiros said he would “definitely” use the discount again, whether for another Toronto FC match or for one of the other teams available through U of T offers. More Than a Discount Having a 15-25 percent off discount will not eliminate every cost. UTM students must still account for transportation, food, and the time required to travel from Mississauga to downtown Toronto.
The “Alumni” Catch There is an important detail to consider before purchasing: U of T officially lists these promotions under “Alumni Benefits,” meaning they should not automatically be treated as general student discounts. Eligibility requirements also vary between offers. Students are advised to follow the official U of T links and confirm that they qualify for a specific promotion before buying a ticket, rather than assuming a T-Card guarantees access. From UTM to BMO Field The Toronto FC discount has already made a live game more affordable for at least one UTM student. Tyler Medeiros, the Sports Editor, attended Toronto FC’s 2024 match against FC Dallas after learning about the discount by word of
What the discount offers, however, is an experience a stream cannot reproduce: chanting alongside supporters and seeing the city beyond campus. Between classes, commutes, and late nights in the library, UTM students can easily feel disconnected from downtown Toronto. A discounted ticket may not fully close that distance, but it can make crossing it a little easier.
Is it finally their year?
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Assessing the Toronto Maple Leafs offseason and Stanley Cup chances with a flashback to life in the GTA the last time the Cup came home. Shahmeer Hashmi Contributor
the Leafs beat their arch-rivals, the Montreal Canadiens, for the Cup, UofT opened a small, single building on a stretch of farmland along the Credit River and named it Erindale College. It had 155 students and 28 faculty members with more deer and rabbits wandering the property than people. It gets stranger. The City of Mississauga was still named “Toronto Township,” a patch of farms and villages like Cooksville, Clarkson, and Streetsville. The name “Mississauga” was only chosen in 1968 after a public vote. The GO transit system launched that same spring, too, as a three-year experiment nobody thought would survive. Downtown Toronto was no different. The CN Tower was still a decade away, no SkyDome (Rogers Centre), and no Scotiabank Arena. Mckenna brings hope to a tough division Despite the long, drawn-out wait and terrible 2025-2026 season, the entire fanbase has had their hopes resurrected by an 18-year-old. Justin Bieber walked up on stage this past June at the draft in Buffalo and selected a Whitehorse, Yukon native to the Maple Leafs. Gavin McKenna became the third player to be selected first overall in franchise history, following Wendel Clark and Auston Matthews. He posted video-game-like numbers before being drafted, recording 180 points across the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) and NCAA National Collegiate Athletic Association competitions last season.
Illustration done by Sara Li
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very September, for almost two decades, I tell myself that this will be the year the Leafs go all the way. At this point, I’ve stopped trusting myself, but even then I still hopelessly believe. September 2026 is here, a few weeks out from the NHL season beginning, and it is no different. Changes during the off season To state the obvious, last season was horrendous. The Leafs didn’t just miss the playoffs for the first time since 2016; they finished dead last in their division with a lacklustre record of 32-36-14. General Manager (GM) Brad Treliving was fired soon after in March, and Head Coach Craig Berube followed in May. The historic franchise hasn’t lifted a Stanley Cup, the top prize in the NHL, since 1967, and a collapse like the one we have seen over the last couple seasons usually indicates a long-winded “trust the process” rebuild. Despite the shipwreck of a season, the hockey gods looked down on Toronto and decided to send them a gift. The Leafs won the draft lottery with the fifth-best odds, winning a coin flip that had absolutely no business landing their way. You can call it fate, a guardian angel, or the universe feeling guilty for years of Leafs misery, but whatever it was, it changed the entire mood around the city overnight. New GM John Chayka began his tenure on May 3rd and tore the roster down to the studs. Jim Hiller and Daniel Alfredsson joined the coaching staff, with former Leafs legend Mats Sundin joining the team in a senior advisory role. Fan favourites and key roster pieces, including Joseph Woll, were shipped off. In their place came twotime Stanley Cup champion Sergei Bobrovsky from the Florida Panthers, D-man Darren Raddysh from the Tampa Bay Lightning, and several others. Not to mention other player additions made during free agency. Before we continue, it might be worth setting the scene as to what the world was like 59 years ago, the last time the Leafs got their hands on what many fans argue is the hardest trophy to win in all of sports. The last time we had the cup In 1967, the place you are reading this from didn’t exist. UTM was not a campus, nor a singular building… nothing. That September, after
However, the consensus around the league and on social media is that McKenna, as good a player as he will become, is not fully ready for what’s to follow. It seems that a 50-point rookie season will be considered a genuine success for him. For an undersized 5-foot-11 winger, the jump to the NHL will be a major adjustment as he develops his defensive game and adapts to professional hockey. None of that changes the fact that he was the right choice at No. 1 overall. McKenna is not an immediate solution to the Mitch Marner-sized hole in the lineup, and expecting him to be one would be unfair. Another very important thing to keep in mind is the Atlantic Division itself, which looks like the most competitive in the league. Seven of the eight teams look to be legitimate playoff contenders. Buffalo and Montreal, two proven teams; Tampa Bay and Florida, both with big additions; and Ottawa and Boston, dangerous as always. Detroit may be a step behind, but they cannot be counted out. With only three guaranteed divisional playoff spots and two wild cards available in the Eastern Conference, seven teams are fighting for five spots. All this comes before the Leafs’ main issue. Winning four rounds of playoff hockey against strong teams, all vying for the same goal. Toronto will need to climb a huge mountain; imagine walking up and down the RAWC steps 10 times after hitting legs in the gym for two hours. Time to hit the ice Maybe what the Leafs are lacking is some spirit from UTM students. There isn’t a huge hockey culture at the school right now, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t die hard fans around campus. The UTM Eagles have both a Men’s and Women’s ice hockey team. If you’re a fan or player, consider getting involved. If playing isn’t your thing, nothing is stopping a group of students from starting a club, a fantasy league, within your own program, residence building or the entire campus to watch hockey games and cheer on the Buds. Campus hockey culture isn’t going to build itself—just like Chayka had to step in and revitalize the roster, someone needs to take that first step and send the invite. So here it is. The road to success runs through the hardest division in a league that shows absolutely no mercy. Despite that, the Leafs will be much better than they were last year. The plan is real, and the passion is there. For six decades, every season, with more added pressure, we still keep Be-Leaf-ing. So, light the candles, knock on wood, pray to whatever you believe in, because for the first time in a while, a drastic change in the off-season has actually given us a reason to think that the parade might be closer than we think. Strap in for another year. Go Leafs, Go!
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Thank-you for your Illustrations Sara Li Rojin Hajiabbasali Melody Zhou April Roy Jessy Fan