Volume 53 Issue 3 by The Medium

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

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See on Page 10 >> Advice for New Students: Finding your own community on campus Two writers from The Medium describe the importance of finding the right community—whether it’s the right friend group or the right club.

LAYOUT BY SEHAJ WANDER

Issue 3 Volume 53 September 21, 2026

READ ON PAGE 14 >> UTM’s Soccar History to make and a drought to break UTM Men’s Soccer sets their sights on a legendary three-peat, while the women’s team aims to secure their first championship in three years.

COVER ART BY ELIZABETH ROSSI

NEWS

Editor | Natalie Ramadan news@themedium.ca

Department of Mathematics and Computer Science launches new pilot peer mentorship program

The MCS pilot program is pairing first-years with experienced upper-year students to ease the transition into UTM. Yusuf Ali Contributor he Department of Mathematical and Computational Sciences (MCS) T launched a new peer mentorship program in September to support directentry first-year students. The program aims to improve students’ transition into MCS and their sense of belonging.

Participation will be limited and will expand if the pilot becomes successful. The focus of the assistance will be students’ academic performance, retention within MCS programs, and sense of belonging in study programs that are highly demanding. The key responsibilities of the mentors include a mentor-to-mentee ratio of 1:5, and a 1:1 meeting each term with each mentee. The mentees will be connecting with upper-year students who have experience navigating the same academic environment. The mentorship program is seeking third-year computer science specialists or majors, or information security specialists with a strong academic standing, including a CGPA of 3.2 or above. Mentors are expected to be both well-versed in the subject matter and have a good academic record to be able to effectively help and inspire younger students. Part of the LAUNCH program The program will operate under the Centre for Student Engagement’s LAUNCH program, which seeks to help students by fostering a sense of community and supporting the development of academic skills through sessions focusing on essential university skills. LAUNCH currently offers three broad initiatives in UTM010, UTM020, and UTM030, as seen on Acorn. The first of the three is available to business, culture, and management students, the second focuses on science, mathematics, and psychology, while the third focuses on the humanities and social sciences.

Illustrated by Hafsah Raheel

All three contain many disciplines condensed into one and, as such, may be limited in how they address specific program concerns. The program is not a course and does not count for any credits. It is an extracurricular program, allowing participants to receive co-curricular credits for completion upon completion.

She noted the workload and the difficulty of university mathematics, compared to high school mathematics as a major challenge for direct-entry MCS students. She said a program such as the MCS mentorship initiative could have helped bridge that gap.

A third-year mathematics student who has asked to remain anonymous provided The Medium with their perspective regarding the usefulness of a mentorship program tailored specifically to the program.

As the pilot program moves through the academic year, the MCS department will have the opportunity to determine whether a tailored mentorship program can address students’ specific needs.

GOVERNING COLUMN Campus admin targets student retention and new academic programs as UTM sheds $250 million from its five-year revenue forecast The Academic Affairs Committee discussed student retention, new academic programs, and ongoing enrolment challenges at its most recent session. Prekshaa Surana Campus Governance Correspondent TM’s Academic Affairs Committee discussed enrolment shortfalls, new U academic programs, and student advising at its September 10 meeting, as administrators outlined priorities for the 2026–27 school year amid financial pressures.

William Gough, Vice-Principal (Academic) and Dean at UTM said domestic and international enrolment remained below target. While he credited summer recruitment and retention efforts with the recruitment of 100 additional students, he noted that the university has had less success internationally. Alexandra Gillespie, Vice-President and Principal at UTM added that enrolment changes had prompted a roughly C$250-million reduction to UTM’s

Photo Credits: Aaron Calpito

03 five-year revenue forecast. Gillespie added the campus had responded through operational and administrative savings while increasing its academic budget, and aimed to continue protecting research and teaching. Gough outlined plans for academic revision with a focus on recruitment, admissions, retention, and student success. He identified the International Foundations Program as one initiative intended to support international recruitment, while acknowledging that enrolment targets might need reassessment. Proposed academic initiatives include nine additional co-op internship streams, a new academic unit and minor in Indigenous Studies, UTM’s first PhD program in Communication and Technology, and the inclusion of the Lawrence Bloomberg Nursing Program at UTM, which launched this fall with 30 students. Other priorities include creating new Indigenous and black graduate student admissions awards and acknowledging Professor Michelle Arkin, a worldleading researcher in drug discovery as UTM’s first Eddie Goldenberg Research Chair of Canada. Dr. France Gagnon, Vice-Principal, Research and Innovation at UTM outlined efforts to reduce barriers to grant applications, support larger research proposals and expand external partnerships. She reported that UTM had lost two Canada Research Chair allocations following earlier reductions in qualifying federal research funding, while describing more recent funding growth. Scott Clarke, Manager of Enrolment, Retention, and Strategic Initiatives from the Office of the Registrar presented nine advising pilots since 2025, using randomized comparisons to assess support for students facing academic risks.

One pilot involved 1,008 first-year students with first-term sessional GPAs below 1.85. Students were assigned dedicated advisors, recording an 84 per cent return rate for their second year, compared with 78 per cent in the standard-advising control group. Suspension rates fell from 14 per cent to seven per cent. A second pilot focused on 985 incoming commerce, management, and social sciences students with lower admission averages. Dedicated outreach reduced summer drop-off rates, cutting the proportion of students who accepted offers but failed to register from 20 to 15 per cent, though overall academic gains remained modest. When the floor was opened to questions, one student at the meeting described waiting weeks or months for a response from advisors and asked whether temporary advisors could help during busy periods. Clarke acknowledged delays and said daily drop-in advising now offers same-day appointments. He shared that financial modelling was examining staffing costs alongside potential retention gains. Clarke also identified difficulties accessing earlier warning signs, including missed assessments and disengagement from Quercus, and called for closer collaboration with academic units and faculty. The three presentations were received for information rather than for approval. The committee approved the previous meeting’s report through its consent agenda. The upcoming Academic Affairs meeting for UTM will take place on October 15.

UTM Campus Affairs committee discuss energy, transit, and student support updates

Administrators outline emission targets, extended bus services, and student support plans, as members sought details on savings and output.

Prekshaa Surana Campus Governance Correspondent

The planned upgrades included switching heating equipment to electricity and improving Central Utilities Plant 1. UTM is expected to choose a company to design and build Central Utilities Plant 2 by the end of October. When asked how much energy the projects had saved, Azhari said updated figures would be available once the work was finished and the savings were confirmed. Another member inquired whether long-term savings would cover the initial costs. Azhari responded that efficient equipment would reduce utility costs and help repay investments. He also pointed to provincial incentive programs and the campus’s green revolving fund. Expanded bus services and student support Luke Barber, Executive Director of Digital and Physical Infrastructure, stated UTM would see approximately 80 additional bus arrivals on weekdays between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Changes include doubled frequency on MiWay route 1 East and West, tripled frequency on route 101, and extensions of routes 48 and 126 to campus.

Photo Credits: Aaron Calpito

TM administrators outlined energy upgrades, expanded transit service at campus and plans to improve support for students at the Governing Council’s Campus Affairs Committee meeting on September 15, where members questioned how progress and outcomes would be measured.

Discussions on student services focused on plans to improve understanding of who uses campus support, and who may be missing out. Expanded student opportunities William Gough, Vice-Principal Academic and Dean at UTM reported that the Lawrence Bloomberg Nursing Program had launched this fall at UTM with 30 students. He also outlined plans for nine new undergraduate coop internship streams, expanding opportunities for students to secure professional experience.

Energy and emissions target

In the orientation update, Chad Nuttall, Assistant Dean of Students and International Initiatives reported that 3,441 new students had registered and built schedules.

Ahmed Azhari, managing director of Operations, Sustainability and Asset Management, presented the Utilities Master Plan. The plan supports UTM’s targets of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 39 per cent by 2030, reaching carbon neutrality by 2043, and becoming climate positive by 2050, which is part of a tri-campus initiative.

Orientation included more than 130 events and activities over seven days. Student groups received $45,000 in support, while 1,147 first-year students moved into residence over two days. The New Residence Building opened up for an additional 400 students on campus, adding to the oncampus residence capacity.

Azhari said the emissions target used a 1990 baseline of approximately 16,000 tonnes. Campus emissions had already fallen by 28.5 per cent through efficiency improvements and changes to Ontario’s electricity grid.

The committee approved its consent agenda. Its next meeting is scheduled for October 14, when it will consider the Central Utilities Plant 2 capital project.

04 OPINION

Editor | Mashiyat Ahmed opinion@themedium.ca

Environmental Editorial

The nature surrounding campus is living proof that Mississauga doesn’t need to be so lame Hiking paths like the UTM Nature Trail offer glimpses into a more varied, spontaneous, and expressive society. While I still haven’t grown tired of the hiking trails or UTM itself after all these years, I don’t like walking anywhere else in Mississauga—at all. Decades of car-centric urban planning have amounted to a city that often feels downright hostile to anyone who tries to explore it by foot. Oftentimes, the only greenery to be seen, if any, are plots of ankle-high grass and uniform rows of trees. Everything of interest is too far apart, there’s almost nowhere to sit, and barely any shade. Not to mention the ceaseless flow of drivers peeling off the thoroughfares who may or may not be on the lookout for pedestrians.

that she had never been on most of the trails before. That made me a bit nervous, since I was really hoping the places I had come to enjoy so much would leave a good impression on her too.

But, my fondness for UTM’s backyard grew out of precisely that desire for human connection. While I’m almost always alone when I go out to the woods, I’m constantly aware during my sojourns of the fact that I’m in a shared space. Aside from the fact that we wouldn’t even have hiking trails if they weren’t regularly being maintained or trampled over by passersby, sometimes when I wade into a secluded area I’ll find evidence that someone else had been there recently—fresh footprints, a fishing hook, a Suffice it to say, I was sold, and I knew right away burnt out fire pit, a sticker advertising a school club that from then on I’d take any chance I got to visit inside a hollowed out log. One time I climbed a tree the woods surrounding campus. and found a plastic dinosaur nestled between its branches, placed there by some other determined Over the next few weeks, I spent my breaks walking climber however long ago. up and down the Nature Trail, soaking in the scenery and trying out every route I came across. Once While I’m pretty sure these things weren’t actually I’d exhausted every path between the Credit River meant to be found, they always manage to instill and Sawmill Creek, I took to probing the woods for within me a sense of belonging. They offer glimpses secrets. I kept my eyes peeled for the faintest tracks into individual experiences of a public space, servand gaps between bushes, shoving my way through ing as reminders of the variety of ways people spend thickets when I could and crawling on all fours when their time in the same spots in nature and the simiI needed to, committing to memory every clearing, larity of emotions that being in nature makes us dead end, and climbable tree. feel. At least exploring the woods around campus has caused me to feel more connected to my comIt wasn’t long before I’d found a few places in the munity than I ever felt among strangers at Square woods that were secluded yet accessible enough One or standing alone amid the bustle of Dixie and that I could reliably claim them at my leisure. These Dundas. places became my havens throughout my next four years at UTM, along with the library basement be- Hence, the UTM Nature Trail has become my own fore its pleasantly chaotic atmosphere was snuffed little means of experiencing culture in this insipid out by the recent cubicle renovations. car-infested city that seems hell-bent on sterilizing every aspect of community outside the solitude of I never thought much about the time I spent in na- our homes. ture. I just did it because I enjoyed it. In retrospect, though, I realize it’s because the woods are the exact Whatever you do, don’t be boring opposite of everything I hate about this city. A couple months ago, I convinced a friend to walk Mississauga’s anti-Mississauga with me through the Nature Trail to Erindale Park. She told me she rarely ever goes off campus and

I recognize that not everyone might find the woods around campus to be as welcoming or accessible as I have. But to persist in our tendency, to relegate the many ways we connect with each other to their own time and place—whether by prioritizing cars over people or removing the long tables in the library— leaves our city vulnerable to becoming more lonely, more restrictive, and, worst of all, more lame.

Aaron Calpito Managing Editor Photo Credits: Aaron Calpito

ne of my earliest memories of UTM was visiting the Nature Trail for the first time. It was a mild and sunny September day in 2022. I was in the Centre for Student Engagement’s LAUNCH program with about a dozen other students, and our program leader had decided to take us all out for a walk through the woods around Lislehurst. As the purpose of LAUNCH is to help new students ease into university life, our leader used the trip to pitch the hiking trails around campus as a convenient means to unwind and exercise in between classes. I don’t remember much of what she said that day, but I distinctly remember the things that I felt—physical feelings, like the way my shoulders relaxed when I leaned against a tree, as well as the emotions, like the unmistakable sense of ease that washed over me as soon as we crossed from the asphalt of Principal’s Road to the dusty surface of a well-trodden path.

Towards the end of our walk, we stopped to sit on a bench just off Culham Trail. Under other circumstances, I might’ve thought this would be a good moment to start some small talk, ask her how she was feeling, or try to come up with some game to keep us occupied. Instead, we just sat there, silently watching people and clouds roll by, content with letting the scenery do all the talking for us. It was the As one of Canada’s rapidly growing cities, there first time in a long time that I wanted desperately to seems to be so little room for spontaneity and ad- connect with someone yet felt no compulsion to say venture. Even the two places in Mississauga I could a word. Everything just felt right. rely on for their bustling unpredictable nature—the UTM Library basement and Ridgeway Plaza—have Part of what I think made this moment possible is come under fire for apparently being too rowdy for the nature of the park itself. Nothing was pushing people to stomach. us in any particular direction, there were no distractions, and nothing in sight demanded attention over By contrast, the nature surrounding UTM possesses anything else. We were free to enjoy ourselves at a seemingly infinite wealth of beauty and opportu- our own pace, shift our gaze to whatever happened nity for discovery. That being said, if your idea of to catch our eye, and not feel pressured to use the community is a thrum of human activity and you space in any certain way. It’s a kind of atmosphere don’t mind driving everywhere to get your kicks, it that’s becoming increasingly rare in Mississauga, can be easy to dismiss the trails as little more than but one that nevertheless endures as proof that gena fun distraction from “real life,” or something that uine connection with the people and environment only appeals to those who prefer the company of around us doesn’t need to happen in a prescribed garter snakes and mosquitoes over other people. manner.

Photo Credits: Aaron Calpito

Our campus events are creating more waste than we talk about

MASTHEAD EDITORIAL BOARD

There is an important difference between simply managing waste and preventing it. It starts with making sustainability a more accessible and shared responsibility between the institution and its students.

Editor-in-Chief Samuel Kamalendran editor@themedium.ca

Emma Bedja Contributor

Managing Aaron Calpito managing@themedium.ca

For example, asking students to put a disposable cup into the correct recycling bin is better than sending it to landfill. But avoiding the disposable cup altogether is the better option. The same applies to event decorations, food packaging, promotional materials, and other single-use products.

Illustrated by Shanna Wong

alk into almost any campus event and you will probably find the same things: food, drinks, promotional materials, decorations, and eventually, a pile of things that need to be thrown away. Campus events are an important part of student life. They bring people together, introduce students to new clubs and organizations, and make university feel like more than just lectures and assignments. But behind the music, food, and activities is an environmental cost that can be easy to overlook. The University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) has already recognized this. UTM’s Sustainable Events program provides organizers with guidelines for reducing the environmental impact of their events, including choosing reusable dishes and cutlery, offering vegetarian and vegan options, avoiding unnecessary singleuse items, and considering the environmental impact of giveaways and decorations. Event organizers can even complete a sustainability checklist and receive a rating from Bronze to Platinum. The guidelines are there. The question is whether having guidelines is enough. For student organizers, sustainability can become another responsibility added to an already long-event planning checklist. Alongside booking a room, promoting an event, arranging food, and managing a budget, organizers are also expected to think about what happens to every cup, plate, container, and piece of decoration once the event ends—and that just isn’t realistic for students. This raises a bigger question: should sustainability depend so heavily on individual students making the right choices? UTM’s 2025 waste audit found that 14.34% of the material sent to landfill on campus was recyclable material, despite the university already having a recycling program. While this figure is not specific to campus events, it demonstrates a larger problem with relying on disposal and sorting as the final solution. Providing recycling bins is useful, but it does not address the waste that could have been avoided in the first place. There is an important difference between managing waste and preventing it.

News Natalie Ramadan news@themedium.ca

UTM’s Hospitality and Ancillary Services has already taken steps in this direction. The University works with event clients to determine attendance numbers and expectations in an effort to avoid over-ordering food and creating unnecessary food waste. Some campus dining locations—like Colman Commons and the Davis Building—also use organic waste dehydrators, which are estimated to reduce the amount of organic food output by around 50%. These initiatives show that reducing event waste is possible when sustainability is incorporated into the way an event operates, rather than left entirely to the people attending it.

Features Madhav Ajayamohan features@themedium.ca

The same approach should apply more broadly to student events.

Sports Tyler Mederiros sports@themedium.ca

Instead of expecting every club executive to figure out how to make an event sustainable, UTM could make sustainable options the easiest options available in the first place. Reusable dishes could be the default for catered events where possible. Event planning resources could make waste prevention just as prominent as recycling. Clubs should have easier access to reusable decorations, signage, and event supplies rather than purchasing materials that will only be used once. This would also make sustainability more accessible. Not every organizer has the time, knowledge or budget to research the environmental impact of every decision they make. Students are far more likely to choose sustainability if they are more convenient and affordable. There is also an opportunity for students to play a role in this process. UTM already has sustainability initiatives that involve student engagement, including programs focused on waste education and sustainable events. Students should absolutely be part of creating a more sustainable campus, but student involvement should complement institutional responsibility, not replace it.

Opinion Mashiyat Ahmed opinion@themedium.ca

A&E Diana Varzideh arts@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

Campus events are not going to disappear, nor should they. Some amount of waste will inevitably come from bringing hundreds of students together for food, activities, and celebrations. The goal should not be to make every event perfectly waste-free–because, let’s be honest, setting unattainable environmental standards is counter-productive. The goal instead should be to stop treating waste as an avoidable part of the experience when some of it can be prevented. UTM has demonstrated that sustainability is part of its campus priorities. Now, the challenge is to make those priorities more accessible for students—not only by setting sustainable options as the default—but by having critical and honest conversations about the ways in which mainstream sustainability on campus may risk outsourcing institutional responsibility to individual student groups.

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Is going green the new flex in the dating world?

When sustainability becomes part of our romantic appeal, caring about the planet can start to look more like a performance than a practice. Illustrated by Rojin Hajiabbasali

Jessy Fan Contributor

here are plenty of things we exaggerate when we try to impress someone we are interested in. We choose the best photos for our dating profiles. We pretend we know the restaurants they mention. We suddenly become interested in a band whose name we learned five minutes ago. Apparently, we might also become better environmentalists? I understand the temptation. If I were building a dating profile, I would obviously choose the version of myself I liked best to portray. I would pick the photo where my hair actually cooperates, not the supposedly “candid” photo someone took of me mid-sneeze. I would mention that I love baking, but probably leave out the fact that I see messages, tell myself I’ll reply later, and somehow only remember it seven hours later. Being environmentally conscious has become an attractive stance, both socially and morally. In a 2024 Psychology Today article, social psychologist Brian Collisson explains the psychology behind why and how eco-friendly behaviours can make someone appear more responsible, generous, and reliable, and even more desirable as a long-term romantic partner. In other words, carrying a reusable water bottle might communicate more than a preference against plastic. It can say something about the kind of person we want others to think we are. I don’t think there is anything wrong with finding environmental awareness attractive. I would probably see it as a good sign too. The choices we make tell other people something about our priorities. Someone who thinks about waste, consumption, or the future may also seem thoughtful in other parts of life—giving us a window into who they are as a potential romantic partner or friend. The problem with this seemingly harmless psychological preference is that it risks a slippery slope of when sustainability stops being a value and becomes a covert dating strategy. Collisson’s articulation of the relationship between environmental habits and perceived attractiveness found that study participants reported engaging in more eco-friendly behaviours when shown a potential romantic partner than when shown a non-romantic peer. Romance, it seems, can make us a little greener, or at least more eager to say that we are. I find this fascinating because the lie itself can seem so harmless. Nobody is pretending to be a completely different person. Maybe you recycle, just not as often as your profile says. Maybe you own a reusable bag, even if it spends most of its life forgotten under your kitchen sink. But the exaggeration reveals something bigger about how we pursue romantic connections in today’s world. Dating apps ask us to compress ourselves into a collection of photos, prompts, interests, and values. With limited space to tell strangers who we really are, we choose the parts that make us look and feel good. We don’t present ourselves exactly as we are on an ordinary Tuesday afternoon. We present the version of ourselves we hope someone will swipe right on. Environmentalism fits surprisingly well into that status quo where perception overpowers reality because being green can signal qualities that have little to do with recycling and planetary health. Research found that people making eco-friendly choices were perceived as warmer, more competent, and more suitable long-term partners. And that visible conservation behaviours increased perceptions of generosity and responsibility. Sustainability, then, can function almost like romantic social currency. Displaying it may increase our perceived value to someone else. Once a value becomes socially desirable, we gain an incentive to display it whether or not we consistently live by it. That bothers me more than someone actually forgetting to recycle. The climate crisis is no longer a crisis anymore. According to the United Nation’s Environment Program and predictions by the world’s leading climate scientists, global temperatures are projected to surpass the 1.5 degrees celsius threshold within the next few years. Although climate projections are not a perfected science, this apocalyptic warming would supercharge natural disasters, turn millions of people into climate migrants, and produce increasingly unlivable economic, agricultural, and social conditions. I believe that we are entering a period where environmental responsibility

and consciousness must matter beyond what it communicates about our personalities. Sustainability and environmental responsibility cannot just be another adjective squeezed between “foodie” and “loves rock climbing” on a dating profile. If we care about the environment only when someone attractive is watching, then our concern has become a performance. Of course, none of us perfectly live according to our values. Someone can care about climate change and still buy fast fashion. Someone can bring a reusable cup to campus and still order coffee in a disposable cup from campus cafes. Expecting perfect consistency would make any shred of environmentalism nearly impossible. The issue is not hypocrisy every time our behaviour falls short; it is deliberately turning our values into advertisements. Dating already gives us plenty of opportunities to perform. We select flattering photos, rewrite prompts, and carefully decide which interests deserve space on our profiles. Adding environmentalism to that list shows how easily even our moral values can become part of personal branding. Yet, I think relationships could also push sustainability in a more meaningful direction. Instead of exaggerating our habits to attract someone, we could actually influence each other to live more sustainably. One person’s greener habits may encourage the other to change. Personally, that is much more valuable than using environmentalism to make ourselves look attractive. If our relationships can shape our habits, then sustainability does not have to remain something we only practice for social capital. It can become something we genuinely practice together. Maybe the question then should not be whether being green makes us more attractive—because we know it does. The questions should be what happens to our values once there is nobody left to impress. A dating profile can tell me that you recycle, carry reusable bags, and care about the planet. Great! But eventually, the profile disappears and real life begins. What matters then is whether those values survive when they stop earning likes, matches, or approval.

An independence built on shortcuts is not a real independence

Trump’s tariffs exposed Canada’s dependence on one neighbour. The rush to fix it risks repeating the mistake at home. Atif Azam Contributor he Department of Mathematical and Computational Sciences (MCS) T launched a new peer mentorship program in September to support directentry first-year students. The program aims to improve students’ transition into MCS and their sense of belonging.

Photo Credits: Mashiyat Ahmed

program tailored specifically to the program. She noted the workload and the difficulty of university mathematics, compared to high school mathematics as a major challenge for direct-entry MCS students. She said a program such as the MCS mentorship initiative could have helped bridge that gap. As the pilot program moves through the academic year, the MCS department will have the opportunity to determine whether a tailored mentorship program can address students’ specific needs.

FEATURES

Editor | Madhav Ajayamohan features@themedium.ca

Stories of UTM: Looking at the campus environment beyond the deer and trees

Two writers from The Medium share how UTM led them to appreciate the environment beyond the obvious greenery. Maryam Raheel, Contributor April Roy, Contributor A patch of green among the grey By Maryam Raheel It feels almost absurd to say that my favourite part of nature at UTM is the parking garage. On a campus adored for its forested trails and carefully planted gardens, it might seem strange that the place I look forward to visiting most is a small patch of wildflowers and tall grasses that hug the broad concrete steps between Parking Lot 4 and Parking Lot 8. The staircase itself is unremarkable by design. It is bordered by steel railings and rooted amidst the

constant hum of car engines, creating a space designed to move people from point A to point B most efficiently.

Every morning, students hurry up the steps with backpacks on their shoulders, coffee cups and car keys in hand, walking to the tempo of productivity. Yet, just inches away, nature’s own morning unfolds with a different kind of urgency. Tall grasses bow with the wind until they spill over the steps, purple thistles bloom among tangled stems, and teasels stretch toward the sky like weathered paintbrushes. By late summer, white seed heads loosen into the breeze and drift through the air like tiny parachutes. From a distance, it looks like nothing more than a patch of overgrown grass and weeds. But for those

who take a moment to linger, small signs of life hidden among the stems begin to emerge.

A red-winged blackbird settles onto a swaying stalk, its crimson shoulder flashing against the greenery, while a cardinal darts between wildflowers with such speed that its brilliant feathers escape in a scarlet blur. On especially lucky mornings, a goldfinch perches on a thistle, its bright yellow body nearly indistinguishable from the sunlit blossoms surrounding it. Bees vanish into flowers heavy with pollen and butterflies weave an erratic path through the meadow. The entire hillside breathes with life that somehow thrives beside painted parking lines and car emissions. In the evenings, I walk down the steps to my car

08 with unhurried footsteps, admiring the golden light of the setting sun as it catches the feathery tops of the plants. The cheery chirps of daytime birds gradually fade into the steady chorus of hidden crickets. Between asphalt and concrete, nature has carved out its own corner of campus. It reminds me that sometimes beauty is within the places we pass every day, waiting for us to slow down and notice it. ENG259: Offering a new way to look at the environment By April Roy While I have always been in awe of UTM’s deer population, there is one environmental-related memory I particularly cherish—taking ENG259 Imagining Nature: Literature and the Environment I took this class with Professor Julia Boyd of the Department of English and Drama. Similar to Boyd’s other classes, ENG259 is grounded in social and environmental change, marrying the two. Despite tackling topics like climate change and environmental degradation, which are often cast in an air of doom and gloom, ENG259 focuses on joy and critical hope as a tool to combat environmen-

Photo Credits: Maryam Raheel

tal threats. This hope is practical, it accepts that the current situation is bad, but believes that change is possible. The course encouraged us to view nature as a common rather than a commodity, as well as to build a reciprocal relationship with it. We also connected our learning to various environmental texts and films, such as the poetry of Kathy Jetn̄il-Kijiner and Studio Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke. We applied what we learned from these texts to our final project. I ended up creating an original comic focusing on environmental themes. The course also offered students an incredibly rewarding experience to take part in editing, publishing, and contributing to a special issue for UTM’s English journal Folia, titled “From Page to Planet: Transforming Nature Through Art.” In this issue, I submitted an original non-fiction story called “Rich in Green” which goes into depth about my personal experiences in witnessing deforestation and environmental degradation in my hometown. Boyd’s enthusiasm and this class’s rich environmental content are among my most memorable experiences as an undergraduate student.

The products behind UTM’s silver-level fair trade campus ranking Exploring some of the fair trade products offered at UTM — and how good they are. Zainab Khalil, Contributor Madhav Ajayamohan, Features Editor TM was the first campus in Canada recognized as a Silver-level Fair Trade U Campus. According to Hospitality & Ancillary Services at UTM, this award was given due to the campus’ dedication to bringing “more Fair Trade products to campus to support awareness of Fair Trade brands.”

Photo Credits: Zainab Khalil

Fair trade products and brands must all follow the Fair Trade principles, which focus on ideals such as creating more opportunities for economically marginalized producers, allowing for equitable transactions between consumers and producers, and producing goods in a sustainable and climate-friendly way.

Every UTM student has at least one go-to on-campus food or drink. That one item you immediately gravitate towards after a really tough midterm, or after a lecture where you had no idea what happened. For me, that drink is the hot chocolate from the Fair Trade Cafe in the Maanjiwe nendamowinan building.

In the article below we talk about some of the fair trade products UTM offers. For a full list of products, check out this website: https://www.utm.utoronto. ca/hospitality/FairTrade#OnCampus.

I’m not sure when my relationship with hot chocolate began; I only know that it was some time in first year, and it’s a steady relationship. In fact, during my year-long internship away from UTM, one of the very few things I missed was the hot chocolate. So, I was pleasantly surprised when I realized that the hot chocolate was also a fair trade product by Camino.

Fair Trade Flowers at UTM By Zainab Khalil Flowers always brighten your day. They have a long-spoken language of their own with each flower symbolizing different emotions. Red roses often symbolize love, bluebells express gratitude, and verbena indicates creativity. Flowers often appear in celebrations, such as graduations and anniversaries. It is a way of expressing your feelings when words alone are not enough. However, each stem has a much deeper story. Before ending up in a bouquet in our hands, flowers travel through farms, packing facilities, warehouses, distributors, and store shelves. On March 18, at UTM’s fourth annual Fair Trade and Sustainability Market, fair trade flowers were present on campus. Fair Trade Floral is a Mississauga-based importer and wholesaler founded in 2016. They offer fresh-cut and preserved flowers, including roses, hydrangeas, calla lilies, anelones and ranunculuses sourced from local and international farms. At UTM, they supply preserved roses at the Bookstore. Behind the company is Afshin A., who holds a bachelor of science in agriculture with specializations in agronomy and plant breeding, alongside training in floral and event design, landscape design, sculpture, calligraphy and music according to their website. His experiences allow him to understand how to ethically source and distribute the flowers. A flower’s journey gives it another layer of meaning. Through the availability of Fair Trade Floral on campus, students can trace a flower’s journey to a company locally based in Mississauga and connect with the people and places that shape them. Camino: The source of our chocolate, sugar and cocoa By Madhav Ajayamohan

Camino is a brand of fair trade and organic products by the co-op La Siembra. A co-op, or cooperative, is a business that gives each of its members an equal vote on how the business operates. La Siembra was established by Canadian entrepreneurs, who, after experiencing the exploitative nature of trade from trips abroad, sought a better path forward. In fact, that’s where the name Camino comes from: in Spanish, it means path. Their website explains it symbolizes “the path that connects us all, from farmers to consumers and consumers to farmers in a social solidarity economy.” La Siembra pioneered fair trade practices in Canada, and their website describes them as “the first registered importer of Fair Trade certified cocoa and sugar in North America.” Today, the co-op works with over 25 other producer co-ops from 14 countries, such as Togo, Madagascar, Panama, and Paraguay. At UTM, all non-branded food services around campus exclusively use Camino cinnamon, coconut, chocolate chips, and brown sugar for their cooking. You can also find Camino chocolate bars around any UTM food court as well. Inspired by this article, I tried the Mint Dark Chocolate bar with 67 per cent cacao. I quite liked the taste, and text on the wrapper informed me of the hours of work behind the chocolate bar I had acquired within a minute: the co-op Gebana Togo worked together with the cocoa-producing co-ops Scoops Procab and Scoops IKPA to produce this bar of rich pleasantness. The wrapper detailed how the bar was made, and how it was transported, providing full transparency on the production process. If you are a fan of chocolate who’s interested in its production process, go ahead and buy one to support the many workers behind it! And if you’re not a dark chocolate fan, there are other varieties, like the Hazelnut & Salted Caramel Oat-Based chocolate bar with 43 per cent cacao, the White Raspberry Crisp White Chocolate bar, or a regular milk chocolate bar.

Beyond “saving the bees”: What beehives at UTM can teach us about our relationship with nature

From backyard gardening to UTM’s rooftop beehives, Professor Damian Maddalena discusses his journey into beekeeping, the role of honeybees in North America, and what students can learn from the campus colonies. Photo Credits: Damian Maddalena Emma Bedja Contributor nvironmental scientist and landscape ecologist E Professor Damian Maddalena is a sessional lecturer at UTM. He started beekeeping because of a

different conversation.

The beehives at UTM therefore represent more than an effort to support pollinators. They are a starting point to discuss biodiversity, agriculture, and the way humans have reshaped natural environments.

question: what’s next?

A community built around the beehives

While living in North Carolina, Maddalena had already transformed his front yard into vegetable gardens, planted fruit trees, and kept chickens in his backyard. He had also read about beekeeping for years.

The ecological side of beekeeping is only part of its appeal. It is also a social activity.

He said, “I was like, all right, what next?”. Inspiration struck around 2018 when Maddalena’s neighbour, whose father was a hobbyist beekeeper, offered to build him a beehive. Years later, Maddalena now tends to honeybee colonies on the green roof of the Instructional Centre, in the Sky Garden on U of T’s Galbraith Building downtown, and other locations. What began as another addition to his backyard garden has become a personal interest and a way of thinking about ecology, agriculture, and the complicated relationship between humans and the species around us. Beyond the slogan, “Save the Bees”

Maddalena is the co-chair of the Urban Toronto Beekeepers’ Association (UTBA), where members range from their late twenties to their mid-eighties. Beekeeping gathers people who might otherwise never meet. It provides opportunities to turn conversations about bees into conversations about life. “Learning about the lived experience of others is one thing that makes the [UTBA] community so interesting to me,” Maddalena shared. That same sense of community extends to UTM’s beekeeping community. Maddalena works alongside fellow beekeeper Mohamad Alani, whose family has kept bees for three generations, primarily in Iraq, before continuing the practice in Canada. The colonies also have a tangible connection to campus life. Honey produced by honeybees at UTM is sold on campus and used by food services, giving students and staff a small taste of what happens above their heads.

Photo Credits: UTM Muslim Students Association

“It’s always a numbers game,” he said.

What students can learn from bees

As fall approaches, the focus shifts toward preparing the colonies for the winter. Honey is harvested, the hives are wrapped and insulated, and the beekeepers wait to see which colonies make it through the cold months.

Beyond honey and pollination, Maddalena sees beekeeping as an opportunity to slow down. For him, working with the colonies is a meditative practice. It requires patience, attention, and an understanding that not everything happening inside a beehive can be controlled.

Students interested in getting involved can reach out to Maddalena directly, although formal opportunities through his teaching are not currently available. Students can also connect with UofT BEES, a studentrun club based at the St. George campus that operates its own hives downtown.

That patience also reflects a larger lesson about food systems. Maintaining bees means learning what it takes to care for livestock and where some of the food people consume actually comes from.

Looking beyond the beehives

“We farm in these large, intense monocultures,” Maddalena explained. “Because of that, we have hired these little pollinators that we bring in and move around to pollinate many of the crops that we depend on.”

As for students who are nervous around bees, Maddalena has a simple piece of advice, “You’re not a flower.” Bees are generally interested in nectar and pollen, not people. Unless they feel threatened, they have little reason to interact with humans.

Honeybees are deeply connected to agriculture and have become an important social and cultural part of communities, but their relationship with native pollinators is more intricate than what environmental slogans represent.

Maddalena said this is one of the reasons he finds beekeeping so interesting. It allows him to explore an environmental issue that does not have a simple answer.

Keeping the colonies alive

For Maddalena, such complexity is exactly what makes beehives valuable.

It may seem strange for an environmental scientist to question the role of honeybees. However, Maddalena’s interest extends beyond protecting honeybees. His background in landscape ecology has led him to consider what happens to native pollinators when honeybees are introduced into ecosystems where they did not originally evolve. Honeybees are not native to North America, yet they have become deeply embedded in the continent’s agricultural system. Large-scale agriculture relies heavily on pollination, and honeybee colonies can be transported between agricultural regions to support crop production.

“The reality is, honeybees do not need saving in North America,” he said, referring specifically to the popular environmental slogan “Save the Bees.” For him, protecting threatened native pollinators requires a

Photo Credits: Damian Maddalena

Of course, maintaining a beehive is not always easy. Last winter, UTM lost nearly all of its bee population, leaving only one surviving colony. Since then, Maddalena and the other beekeepers have worked to rebuild the colonies by splitting the surviving population.

The most interesting lesson from bees at UTM may be the complexity of nature it represents.

They provide honey, bring people together and give students a chance to engage with an aspect of campus they might otherwise overlook. More importantly, they offer a way to think about the connections between biodiversity, agriculture and human communities.

Advice for New Students: Finding your own community on campus Two writers from The Medium describe the importance of finding the right community—whether it’s the right friend group or the right club. Ayeshaa Murtaza, Contirbutor April Roy, Contributor Your company matters!!! By Ayeshaa Murtaza

tarting university can feel like a race to find “your people,” and the first year seems to be the only time you have to make friends. I quickly learned that this is not the case. People you barely notice in your first semester can become close friends in months, or years later. You can meet people through clubs, a random group project, or just because you happened to sit beside them one day. Some friendships will also fade—and that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. What matters most is being intentional about the people you spend time with. Your environment can completely change your university experience. For example, if everyone around you constantly talks about the difficulties of courses, or stresses how “cooked” they are, university can feel more overwhelming. During my first few weeks at UTM, people talked about getting low grades in courses—especially in chemistry and calculus. Because it seemed like everyone was struggling, I started to settle for my low grades. Instead of wanting to improve, I thought: since everyone is doing badly, it is the courses’ nature that caused unideal performances. This mindset was surprisingly demotivating for me as someone who used to care a lot about my grades. When everyone around you seems passive, pessimistic and uninterested, it can become easy to convince yourself that you do not need to work that hard and improve. The reverse is also true. Being around people who encourage you to try new things, take appropriate breaks, meet new people and carry an overall optimistic perspective can make university feel vastly different. The people around you influence your self-image, resilience, and what you are capable of. That is not to say you have to cut someone off just because they complain. Sometimes, discussing shared struggles in courses is half the fun, and it helps you get through it. The important part is paying attention to the atmosphere you surround yourself with. Every once in a while, stop and ask yourself how you feel after spending time with the people around you. Do they leave you feeling motivated or more discouraged than you did before? If it’s the latter, then you should give yourself time to find people you genuinely enjoy being around, even if it means you have to spend some time alone. There is nothing wrong with taking time to find your people or enjoy your own company. You will meet new people, change as a person, and find yourself in situations you could not have predicted. You are allowed to figure things out as you go—there is no obligation to get everything right the first time!

LAYOUT BY SEHAJ WANDER

Illustrated by Rojin Hajiabbasali

Take the chance to walk the road less travelled with a UTM club! By April Roy Stepping onto campus in the first weeks of university and seeing the abundance of clubs and organizations UTM offers can be overwhelming for new students. In my first year at UTM, I also found myself torn between all the possible options. Initially, I gravitated towards clubs that were in my comfort zone. However, one of the great opportunities of university is the choice to take the road less travelled and explore uncharted areas of interest. With this in mind, I began to attend events held by SAGE, one of UTM’s environmental clubs. I have always been passionate about the environment, and an environmental science course I was taking at the time further stoked my interest in SAGE. Although I did not end up staying in this club in second year, many club members made me feel welcome and excited to study at UTM. During the winter term of my first year, I stumbled across a flyer on a campus bulletin board encouraging students to submit pieces to The Medium. The decision to contribute to the student newspaper positively shaped my university experience. It allowed me to express myself and discuss issues I care about through articles and illustrations. Involvement in student organizations and clubs is a great way to expand your social and professional network, develop skills, and discover new interests. However, it is also rarely discussed how to balance these commitments with coursework. While many of these clubs hold special places in my heart, I had to let go of some to avoid overloading myself. Regardless of the time you spend in these clubs, they can serve as building blocks for your character and portfolio, and have a lasting impact on your undergraduate journey.

PHOTOS BY MELODY ZHOU

ARTS

The Frame: Environment

Every being is interconnected through nature.

Editor | Diana Varzideh arts@themedium.ca

Elizabeth Rossi, Contributor

Best second-hand stores for an environmentally-friendly closet

With social media’s influence leading to more clothes ending up in landfills, thrift stores are a great way to stay stylish, while caring for the environment. and bags; they don’t carry miscellaneous items like Value Village does.

Emma Catarino Contributor

and receive emails on discounts up to 50% off.

I also think that the best option for buying the cheapest clothes are bin or liquidation stores. These stores receive hundreds of second-hand clothing donations, or over-produced clothes that were rejected from brand-name stores. Unlike a thrift store like Value Village or Plato’s Closet, the donated items are not sorted through or filtered for quality/cleanliness. A helpful tip for these stores would be to bring your own gloves for sorting through the donation bins, and don’t try on clothes until you’ve had the chance to wash it at home. However, these stores have a massive appeal because you don’t pay per item, you pay a set amount based on the weight of all your items combined. Some stores even do promotions, where less busy days can cost you as little as $1.99 for a pound of clothing.

If you’re into more deluxe, designer clothing, check out Plato’s Closet. Plato’s Closet differs from Value Village because instead of accepting donations, Plato’s Closet will pay you for the clothes you bring in. This means that their prices are typically higher than thrift stores like Value Village, but they tend to have better quality pieces, which they curate in store based on popular trends. Plato’s Closet only sells clothing, shoes,

Lastly, if you’re looking to thrift clothes locally, try the Regenesis Market at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM)! Every Thursday from 12-5pm at the UTMSU Centre, Regenesis holds a free thrift store. Students are welcome to donate clothing items, but a donation is not necessary to take some clothing home. Every week, each student can take as many as five free items, which can also include jewelry and books.

f you’re like me, you don’t thrift simply because you enjoy cheaper, vintage fashion. You also do it because you want to help protect the environment, by keeping old clothes out of landfills, and rebelling against the rampant overconsumerism taking over social media. Here is my list of some second-hand clothing stores where you can find affordable, stylish additions to your closet! Value Village is a well-known thrifting chain, with many locations available across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Depending on the location, and the articles of clothing you’re buying, most pieces will cost you from $0.99 to $30.00. Scalpers and influencers have certainly driven thrift store prices higher over the past decade, but most clothing is still cheap and more affordable than buying brand-new. Value Village is useful because it doesn’t just sell clothes. They also have electronics, books, jewelry, purses, and old toys for sale. Helpful tip: if you donate anything to Value Village at the beginning of your thrifting trip, they will give you a discount coupon of 20% off your purchase that day. The company also has a rewards newsletter. You can sign up for free

Illustrated by Shanna Wong

The role of art in environmentalism

Examining the diverse impact of using art as a form of environmental protest Aqeel Shahid Ullah Contributor

rt has always been a powerful tool and has long been used for a multitude of purposes, from entertainment to propaganda. One such use that has always been prevalent is art being used as a tool for activism, specifically environmental activism, where many art pieces have been crafted specifically to spread awareness of environmental-related issues. An example is the work of the anonymous artist known as Banksy, whose graffiti works across all of England deal with topics like consumerism and greed. These pieces tend to have a variety of effects on people: some positive and some negative. While environmental art has existed for quite a long time, it was mostly used to simply capture the natural world around them rather than as a piece to spread a message, akin to modern photography through our smartphones. The politically charged environmental art as we know it today did not begin to take shape until the late 1990s, when artists began to contemplate the actual impact of their works on the environment. They considered how their pieces could be utilized to bring attention to issues taking place that were out of the public eye. In 1999, the term eco-vention was invented by Sue Spaid and Amy Lipton, which referred to the intervention of art in environmental degradation. Alongside curating an exhibition around this idea, the work of these two established environmental art as its own movement. In recent years, people have become increasingly conscious of environmental issues like deforestation and climate change, greatly improving the effectiveness of environmental art in communicating its message. This is also helped by the sheer reach that art has over everyone because it is a medium that breaks through cultural and language barriers, allowing its messages to spread far and wide. While creating art as a form of environmental activism has inspired a great deal of people, a separate movement focused on damaging art as a form of protest has done quite the opposite. Some environmentalists have turned to using food, like smashing cakes, on famous artworks to damage the artworks

Illustrated by Miya Kwan

and spread awareness on issues. In 2022 alone, 38 of these “art attacks” were documented in museums across the world. While the intention behind these attacks can be noble, they mostly have an adverse effect, with the public often regarding the activists as nuisances. Some argue that since these attacks are all the same in principle—where food is just smeared on artworks—they fail to draw any attention after a while and cause people to lose interest. At worst, it can cause people to downplay the works of actual environmental artists and ridicule their messages. The role of art in environmental activism is quite significant, but the effectiveness of its message is ultimately dependent on its delivery. While artists like Banksy have shown the mass appeal and impact of their work, the destructive “art attacks” of protestors tend to turn people away from supporting their causes. At its core, environmentally conscious art works best when it uses creative ways to inspire people and challenge them without antagonizing them.

A scenery in the library

A closer look at the art of MJ Singleton’s Mural of Community. Grisha Sharma Contributor

hree books stacked under my arm, I walked through the library doors to return them. I enter a room that’s empty, except for the smiling assistants behind the information desk. The place which normally bustled with chatting students in fall saw no such crowds in the middle of the summer. If not for the silence and the vacant halls, I would have never noticed the elaborate mural adorning the side of the entrance— a blend of our campus’ environment and the Indigenous elements inherent to the land. MJ Singleton’s artwork encapsulates the campus’ cozy atmosphere of women surrounding a bonfire, wearing moccasins, and wrapped in shawls. A seemingly young girl beats a handrum, indicating a storytelling circle. The teaching lodge behind the circle invites the students walking by, to not only be observers, but active participants. The artist adds an Indigenous perspective to campus-exclusive initiatives like the protection of seasonal salmon migration through the Credit River, displaying the water and the fish as a centerpiece. The piece borrows from the Anishinaabe Woodlands artstyle, using a vibrant blue, which complements the radiant yellow sun setting behind them. The animals hovering above the soft orange tones represent the Seven Grandfather Teachings. These teachings are significant to Anishinaabe communities, especially in regards to their relationship to the environment. While there are several murals across campus that represent the natural environment in a thought-provoking manner, this particular piece urges us to think about the campus environment through a spiritual and environmental perspective. The animals—which symbolise guiding principles for the success of a peaceful community and which the artist compels us to reflect on the members of this campus—represents the following: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

The Nibwaakaawin (beaver) symbolises wisdom, valuing a visionary perspective and intelligence for the benefit of the community; the Dabasendiziwin (wolf) symbolizes humility, to think of the community before one’s self; the Zoongide’ewin (mother bear) teaches us bravery, to face personal fears while also protecting others; the Zaagi’idiwin (eagle) denotes love, emphasizing the unconditional affection between all of Earth’s creatures; the Debwewin (turtle) carries the truth and teachings of the Earth existing since its creation; the Manaaji’idiwin (buffalo) represents respect, paying attention to oth-

Photo Credits: Hafsah Raheel

ers’ needs in reciprocal manner; and the Gwayakwaadiziwin (Sabe or raven) illustrates honesty, asking creatures to live with virtue.

The purposeful choice of situating these teachings in the front of the library at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) asks us to consider these teachings in the context of our day-to-day life and to connect with the natural environment; the long-lived birch and maple trees, the scurrying squirrels, the honking geese, the herd of spotted deers, and the rushing river which signifies the lifeline to all the creatures on the campus. The Anishinaabe floral art bordering the scene invites us to look beyond the academic stress burdening students as individuals; it invites us to share our fears and stresses with both the human and non-human community across the sacred land where the university is built on. The mural poses the question: how can Anishinaabe art and principles help us reduce the tension in our lives through the aid of the community? Next time you rush into the library during exam season, cease your steps for a moment, and observe this gorgeous mural. Wonder how you can be an integral part of the community depicted on the glass panes—a part of your own little bonfire.

POETRY CORNER

ers t t t e ....L rzid h Art o Ea aVa n a i by D

e ,

dito r

rth

I was born from your leftovers. Now I watch what’s left of you from the shorelines, And while I cannot ebb your fevered dreams, I pull the tides, blanketing your seams.

Left coal and charcoal stains; A love letter from the parasites’ brains. Yet that was not enough, For the parasites sought to build a parasite A parasite of thought (or on the brink), A parasite to help them think.

You played hostess To me and the parasites on the shorelines. Guests, you called them, but three days turned three-hundred thousand years more; “Enough!” I said, The rancid fish have all but beached on the shore. But you could not hear me from the shorelines, You could not see me in the city lights, I asked what the parasites have So you tried to touch me with the parasites. Beyond fire and shade, what I could not provide, And you told me they thought; They grazed me and returned to you. That was the housewarming gift the parasites brought. They told you I was born from your leftovers. But I shall not play host in your stead, But the house warmed fast, When you’re dead and nothing’s left over. With Prometheus’ touch,

14 SPORTS & HEALTH

Editor | Tyler Medeiros sports@themedium.ca

Taking the scenic route with UTM Moves

From treetop trekking to horseback riding, UTM Moves offers students opportunities to get active and explore the outdoors this fall semester. Prekshaa Surana Campus Governance Correspondant he start of a new semester usually comes with the insane presT sure of staying active. If you’re not hitting the gym five times a week or lifting 100 pounds, you’re somehow not active. Between lectures, assignments, and the commute home, staying active becomes a hundred times more difficult than it should be. However, it doesn’t have to be.

Spearheaded by peers and campus staff, UTM Moves—a student-led wellbeing program—serves as an approachable wellness program centered on accessible exercise, holistic health, and community building. One of the main focuses of this initiative is to represent groups traditionally underrepresented in fitness environments, such as racialized individuals, the 2SLGBTQ+ community, female identifying persons, and students navigating accessibility barriers. Beyond standard campus gatherings, participants can get involved through social walks, peer guidance, and various off-campus outdoor adventures. For transparency, I serve as UTM Moves’ Art & Design Lead and have also contributed to its wellness blog throughout the summer. That involvement forms part of my connection to the program, its efforts, and the importance of bringing movement into students’ everyday lives. The outdoor calendar begins with UTM Ascends, a treetop trekking trip scheduled for September 26 at Heart Lake Conservation Park in Brampton. Participants will spend three hours navigating aerial activities, including rope bridges, climbing challenges, and zip lines. Equipment and instruction are included, along with transportation from the University of Toronto Mississauga. The bus is scheduled to leave at 9:45 a.m. and return around 4:00 p.m. Listed fees are $25 for early registration and $45 at the regular rate. Students must be at least 60 inches tall—approximately 5’0 feet—weigh no more than 250 pounds, and be able to climb independently. Closed-toe shoes are required. Although the activity welcomes beginners, these requirements are important to review before registering. For students interested in exploring the outdoors on horseback, UTM Rides will take place on October 10 at Fallbrook Trail Ranch in Georgetown. The outing includes a one-hour guided trail ride, a safety demonstration, riding instruction, and access to additional ranch activities such as pickleball and hayrides. The trip is advertised as beginner-friendly, with ranch guides and UTM Moves staff supporting participants. Transportation is included in the listed $90 early-bird or $100 regular fee. Riders must wear long pants and closed-toe shoes, meet the 230-pound weight limit, and be able to mount and dismount independently using a mounting block. Students should also bring their own lunch and snacks to enjoy in between rides. Beyond its outdoor excursions, UTM Moves will host a free queer line dancing class on October 1, from noon to 1 p.m. in the Recre-

History to make and a drought to break

UTM Men’s Soccer sets their sights on a legendary three-peat, while the women’s team aims to secure their first championship in three years. Tyler Medeiros Sports & Health Editor

Graphic by Nibras Tanveer

ation, Athletics, and Wellness Centre (RAWC) Gym C. Led by SPURS Night Toronto, the beginner-friendly workshop welcomes students, staff, faculty, and librarians who identify as 2SLGBTQ+ or as allies. Instructors will break down classic and contemporary routines step by step, with a warm-up and water breaks built into the session. No partner or previous dance experience is required, and the class will take place in a sober, low-pressure environment. Registered participants will also receive refreshments. Later in the month, the MoveU Refresh & Recharge trip will bring students from across the University of Toronto’s (UofT) three campuses to Hart House Farm on October 28. The advertised activities include caving, cider making, archery, and s’mores, with lunch and bus transportation included in the $20 fee. The trip adds another opportunity to spend a day outdoors while meeting students beyond UTM. Students can find registration links on individual event pages and should review each activity’s eligibility requirements before booking. The full extended calendar with more events later in the fall can also be found here. UTM Moves also provides event difficulty ratings to help participants assess physical demands and mobility considerations. Questions about suitability or accommodations can be directed to utm. moves@utoronto.ca. Carving out time for a brief getaway during a busy week brings a refreshing shift in perspective. Whether you find yourself navigating aerial rope bridges, connecting with a horse on a guided trail, or venturing down paths you usually rush past, these experiences offer a welcome break from the rigorous campus routine. Academic to-do lists will be an essential part of your day-to-day lifestyle, but it’s important to create a health and wellness to-do list that includes taking a step back and simply enjoying the programs UTM Moves have to offer.

ith the University of Toronto Mississauga’s (UTM) Men’s TriW Campus soccer team winning back-to-back tri-campus championships over the past two seasons, the 2026 campaign provides the iconic, intimidating, but greatly rewarding task of completing the three-peat. All of the most iconic sports teams measure their success in threes. FC Barcelona won three trophies in one season during the early 2008-2009 season, the Toronto Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup three seasons in a row between 1962 and 1964, and the Los Angeles Lakers replicated that feat but in the NBA during the early 2000s. Work to be done Although the achievements of the past two seasons cannot be underestimated, the Eagles will be hoping to write their names into the history books of not just UTM sports, but University of Toronto

15 son. After having already climbed the hill of victory twice, having the same determination and will to win is hard to come across. Even professional sports teams going on a three season championship streak is notoriously rare for this reason. For example, only one team in the history of the Champions League has won the competition three seasons in a row: Real Madrid. With a desire to prove himself and aspirations of championship glory, Lopes understands the positive impact being on the team could have on the team and himself. “Making the team would mean a lot to me because it would give me the opportunity to compete and be part of a team. It would also be a great way to meet people, make friends, and represent the school,” said Lopes. Scores to settle

Photo Credits: UTM Recreation, Athletics & Wellness, Flickr

sports as a whole. In order to do that, the men’s team all but needs to secure that third consecutive trophy. Many key players have graduated and left the team leaving big holes in the squad. Zeki Lopes, first-year student in the management course at UTM recently tried out for the team and is hoping to bring fresh life to the squad. “I hope to bring a lot of effort, dedication, and positivity to the team,” he shared with us. Despite key losses in important areas going into the 2026 season, it has been hard for first-year students to break into teams throughout the years, dominated by older players. “I believe my chances of making the team are relatively low, given the high level of [experience from the other] players. However, I won’t rule out my chances, considering how hard I’ve worked and how dedicated I am,” Lopes added. Dedication is exactly what the Eagles will be in search of this sea-

After a controversial defeat at the hands of U of T Scarborough in last season’s women’s tri-campus final, the Eagles will be looking to enact their revenge on their Scarberian rivals in the opening game of the 2026 season, a game that has already taken place at the time of publication. Like the men’s team, the women’s squad has changed with players graduating and new faces entering the roster. It was back in the 2023 season that the women’s tri-campus soccer team lifted the championship trophy, a trophy that marked backto-back championships after a stellar season winning seven of their eight games played. They’ll need a similarly impressive record this season to compete with the talented St. George and Scarborough teams. Both the men’s and women’s tri-campus teams kicked-off their season over the weekend. The UTM men’s next match is away from home against St. George’s Red on September 27 at 2:15 p.m. The women’s team will play a couple hours earlier against the same opponent on the same pitch. So, if you want to make the most of your commute and represent UTM with pride, tune into both games and enjoy what is set to be an action packed weekend of football.

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Across

Down

1. Leafy mélange 4. “Wise” academic club that makes an appearance in this issue’s advice column 6. Commodity Aloysius O’Hare sells to make his fortune in The Lorax (2012) 7. Processed wood 9. Commercials that feature heavily in the long-running “Don’t Mess with Texas” anti-littering campaign, e.g. 11. It might fall from a Quercus 13. Japanese vehicle manufacturer that shares its name with a famous Canadian activist 15. Fish that make their annual run up the Credit River from September to October to spawn 16. What a plant might do in a drought 17. “Get lost!” (on the UTM Nature Trail, perhaps)

1. Treed wetlands, or a student’s workload come mid-terms 2. A caterpillar, for example 3. Landform at a river mouth, often triangular 5. Anti-Ford advocacy slogan, “Hands Off the _________” 8. The speaker in this issue’s Poetry Corner 10. Sound a seagull makes 12. The largest source of electricity in Ontario, accounting for about 50% of the province’s power generation 14. Recycled metal that gives the Instructional Centre its distinct green-blue colour 15. A large group of fish, or a submerged sandbar near the water’s surface

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