The Mike Issue 8

THE MIKE WEDNESDAY march 2, 2016 ISSUE 13

mind your head

2

editorial

Reading Week is behind us and we’re into the final half of the semester. The first week back was met with the usual ebbs and flows of campus life—a multitude of on-campus events to excite, educate and ease us back into the rhythm of classes, midterms and assignments. Luckily, all of this has happened on the backdrop of a February that is unusual both in that it has granted us with an extra day and the absence of the expected sleet and slush associated with shortest, coldest month of the year. It appears that Spring may just be around the corner and sooner than we thought.

In the spirit of renewal and transformation, our feature on mental health awareness by Arts Editor Lia Kim, critiques the campus culture of keeping up at the expense of our health, well-being and in many cases, future successes. In her article she has spoken with Dr. Andrea Levinson, Psychiatrist-in-Chief at U of T’s Health and Wellness Centre. Dr. Levinson speaks to the prevalence of mental health issues on campus and how the Health and Wellness Centre, which has merged with the now-defunct Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) to provide students with access to the type of care that best suits their needs.

Our other sections follow in a similar vein discussing the reinterpretation of sports as a form of religion, a reflection on the water crisis in flint Michigan and a look toward the Blue Jays upcoming season. In anticipation of the upcoming SMC Double Blue Formal, we have another installation of suggestions on how to tackle the theme and feel like Don Corleone invited you himself. In other cinematic matters, the Arts section features a review of Room, the Canadian Oscar-winning film that finds hope in a harrowing situation.

In this issue, as with all of our others, we hope you find these stories- your stories- exciting, engaging and though provoking. And of course, if you want to join the conversation drop us a line at editorinchief@readthemike.com Salena Barry MANAGING EDITOR

Palakh Chhabria Editor-in-Chief

Salena Barry Managing Editor

Alex Wichert Sports Editor

Lia Kim Arts Editor

Elizabeth McDermott Faith Editor

Keenan Gibson Photography Editor

Anah Mirza Opinions Editor

Elizaveta Mironva Design Manager

Christina Bezerra Living Editor

Denys Matvyeyev Business Manager Emily Johnpulle Senior Copyeditor

OPINIONS are the new Black.

Write or Edit for us editorinchief@themike.com The Mike is the Official Bi-weekly Student Newspaper of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto, publishing since 1947. The Mike has a circulation of 2000, delivered to over 40 newsstands across the University of Toronto: St. George Campus and is published by The Mike Publications Inc. The Mike is printed by MasterWeb Inc on recycled newsprint stock and is a member of Canadian University Press. Copyright: 2012 The Mike Publications Inc. All Rights Reserved. All editorial inquires should be sent to editorinchief@readthemike.com. The Mike reserves the right to edit all submissions

3

arts Women’s streetwear in Toronto Sneaker shopping for the female consumer Briana Armson STAFF WRITER Over the past few years, I have found myself increasingly drawn to sneakers. Despite a student budget and small closet space, my shoe obsession has grown throughout my time at university, and lately I have been fixated on filling the sneaker void in my wardrobe.

My latest fixation? A pair of white Nike Air Max 90s. I embarked on a quest to uncover the freshest ladies sneaker and streetwear shops in the city.

Sneakers and streetwear go hand-in-hand, which may explain why I have purchased a handful of basketball and baseball jerseys in the past six months. “Streetwear” is a broad term used to describe clothing inspired by athletics, surf and skateboard culture, urban life, and hip-hop.

This easygoing style has exploded in the last few decades, becoming a major influence for high fashion and modern couture. Although it was once thought of as being worn predominantly by men, more and more women are donning streetwear in the form of athletic gear, sneakers, and snapbacks, but many have difficulty finding stores that stock ladies apparel. This hole in the market has prompted the opening of stores such as Community 54.

Community 54 is a popular sneaker and streetwear boutique that originates from NYC with a second location in Parkdale, Toronto. I was thrilled to learn that the store’s third location was female-focused and in my neck of the woods on Ossington Avenue. Since its opening in November, this ladies sneaker shop has sought to provide Toronto women with a fashion-forward assortment of footwear, including the latest Nikes, Adidas, and Timberlands.

The boutique also carries a small collection of exclusive men’s styles as well as children’s, but the focus is predominantly on female consumers. “Women want their own lifestyle concepts, not just a derivative of what the guys are wearing,” says Joel Reilly, Co-Founder of the Toronto branch. With a fluorescent glowing shoe wall

and the hottest apparel from both local and international brands, Community 54’s west end store is a must-shop for any gal interested in quality streetwear or the latest sneakers.

Despite Community 54’s efforts, the bias towards men’s streetwear is still very present in Toronto. Many of the stores carry women’s sneakers or apparel, but the selection is a quarter of what is available for men.

I asked my close friend and sneaker-head, Sarah Aldridge, to speak on the matter. Sarah, a student at Concordia University and an event curator, is big on the hip-hop scene. Last year, she produced a documentary, which was featured on CBC, about the under-representation of women titled Mic Drop: Where the Ladies in Hip-Hop?

I am happy to see female U of T students wearing Adidas Stan Smiths or Nike Air Force 1s on campus, showing that streetwear is now becoming more accessible. I also love the feminine twists taking place with ladies street style, like pairing frilly socks with iconic basketball sneakers. It is exciting to see the new direction that ladies streetwear is moving in, as well as the acknowledgment of women as consumers of this style.

The only problem is now my boyfriend wants to borrow my jerseys.

Sarah has rocked cool kicks ever since the day I met her, drawn to them by her “unconscious desire to escape the typical feminine style” that surrounded her on a daily basis where we grew up. Continually disappointed by the women’s offerings in Montreal, she sometimes resorts to buying sneakers in kid’s sizes or purchasing men’s styles—a prospect which may turn female consumers away, as the selection is unappealing and uninspired. She praises streetwear’s ability to foster a “general acceptance of a more androgynous style,” touching on the beautiful fluidity that occurs when women experiment with street style and masculine looks.

Even with a smaller women’s selection, Toronto still has some great streetwear stores for female enthusiasts to check out. Livestock on Spadina Ave. is considered one of the best footwear stores in North America, stocking an impressive ladies collection, while F as in Frank on Queen St. features vintage treasures, including a massive jersey collection suitable for both men and women. Many online stores also feature a vast array of styles and brands for women, the largest being Karmaloop—Sarah’s personal favourite.

SMCSU Scholarship: Hear it from the Horse’s mouth On popular demand, The Mike gives you the skinny on the SMCSU scholarship. Education and Government Commissioners Thivyan Gunarajah and Jordan Beese discuss what makes a good application.

What is the mandate of the Ed and Gov commission at SMSCU?

What are you looking for in a successful applicant?

The role of the Education and Government commission as per the SMCSU Constitution is to ensure a greater participation of students in making decisions that affect them. We also host events that improve the quality of education at the SMC and the University, such as our Symposium in late March. We serve as the liaison between SMC-registered clubs and SMCSU and are involved in the Club Recognition board, which determines both SMC-registered clubs and the budget we allocate to them. Finally we are in charge of being knowledgeable on the constitution and ensuring it’s followed. We sit on the Constitutional and Procedures Review Board, where the SMCSU constitution and any potential amendments to it are discussed.

We are looking for candidates with a certain “wow” factor, such as someone who has really made a difference in the community. Don’t sell yourself short!

Who are the references usually? Students? Staff?

Reference letters typically come from staff members because they tend to be more credible, however letters from students in leadership positions will also be accepted.

What is the purpose of this scholarship?

The purpose of the SMCSU Scholarship is to reward individuals who feel we feel encompass values that are important here at SMC and in general.

Although we do require students to be in good academic standing, we want the scholarship to be based more on non-academic aspects and extracurricular such as leadership, community involvement, and engagement both around St Mike’s and outside of it. We hope not only to reward these individuals but to help promote these values to others as well.

Who decides the recipients?

The Education and Government commission is responsible for deciding the recipients of the scholarship.

Thivyan Gunarajah

Jordan Beese

4

arts

Do you have what it takes?

Elizaveta Mironova DESIGN EDITOR

Breaking into the modelling industry and making it big sounded easy at first.

Gisele Bündchen, the highest-paid model in the world, was scouted on a school trip to Sao Paulo when she was 13.

Adriana Lima, best known as a Victoria’s Secret Angel, won first-place in Ford’s “Supermodel of Brazil” model search at the age of 15.

Kate Moss was approached at JFK Airport after vacationing in the Bahamas.

All you have to do is walk into a modelling agency with your Polaroids, and you are automatically signed. Youève got a pretty face—right?

With the growth of the fashion industry and the emergence of SAL Media, the road to becoming a model is not as straightforward as it once was. Brands, photographers, and agents can get any girl they want from anywhere in the world, largely because we have become so interconnected, and multiculturalism is en vogue.

Accessibility and choices are luxuries for those at the top of the fashion industry; but for the common model, this is not the case. The competition is overwhelming and it mounts up from everywhere.

Spectacular faces are a dime a dozen on Instagram and Facebook, and being healthy, slim, and fit have become fashionable trends.

What you need now is the full package: “the look,” a mother agency, a strong portfolio, as well as sponsorship or a work visa. But, most importantly, you need the time and desire to keep fighting.

Models are seen as pinnacles of allure, but more and more people are starting to question conventional beauty standards. Many brands are interested in something new and unordinary— perhaps an androgynous look—so there is a larger demand for “interesting” models.

Agencies are looking to galvanize their Boards, and instead of hiring the typical “cute blonde,” they will take on someone with a “baby face,” or someone who has “odd features” like a heavy jaw-line or a tooth-gap. Having “the look” is the ultimate, unidentifiable ambition of a young girl; but with a constant turnover of trends, it is almost impossible to know when or where to begin.

A mother agency is usually the first place where a young girl starts out. It is a small, boutique organization that focuses on preparing the female model, teaching her how to pose and walk, developing good Polaroids and photos, and generally advising her at every step.

Additionally, a mother agency always has strong connections with photographers and well-known agencies like Elite Model Management or IMG Models, which are where girls are transferred to when they are ready to work full-time. Back in the ‘80s, most girls could walk into Ford Models or Next Model Management and sign a contract, but nowadays, intense preparation is required.

The mother agent’s main job is to help models build strong books. Photo shoots are arranged in a variety of different styles in order to best showcase the model’s beauty and talent. Natural photos are no longer sufficient, and to work in places like Milan or New York City models must have strong photos and years of experience under their wings.

Many girls work for two or three seasons in Asia—where the market is flourishing—collecting photos from local and international magazines as well as participating in ad campaigns and runway shows.

Eventually, when enough material has been accumulated, these models are ready to move on and work internationally with well-known labels.

Japan and Singapore are two of the most popular start-out spots. Many girls take at least a couple of months off to build their portfolios and travel to places like New York City or Paris, all in hopes of catching the attention of large agencies. A mother agency only has so many connections, and they cannot always get contracts for their models.

Models attend open-calls and do what is necessary to network with agents. Even a gorgeous girl with a strong portfolio can be turned away if she does not have a work visa for a specific country. Large agencies also have a diverse assortment of models, so a lot of the time it can feel as though it is not worth engaging in the tedious sponsorship process.

Being told “yes” at the beginning of a modelling career is a rare thing. So when a girl is fortunate enough to actually obtain it, it is extremely rewarding and beyond thrilling. However, people are not necessarily going to like your look, so it is important to have thick skin and a positive attitude.

Compelling performances from Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay Lia Kim ARTS EDITOR The room in Emma Donoghue’s Room, a worldwide publishing smash that was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2010, is a soundproofed garden shed, locked from the outside, in which a young mother—Ma (Brie Larson)— and her five-year-old son—Jack (Jacob Tremblay)—are kept permanently imprisoned in the backyard of the rapist who abducted Ma when she was a teenager.

Donoghue has adapted her own critically lauded novel for the screen, and she preserves, as much as possible, including Jack’s uninhibited explanatory narrative voice, especially in the opening scene: “Today I’m five,” declares Jack. “I was four last night going to sleep in Wardrobe, but when I wake up in Bed in the dark, I’m changed to five, abracadabra. Before that I was three, then two, then one, then zero.” (In the novel, Donoghue capitalizes Jack’s significant nouns.)

Told from young Jack’s perspective—filled with imagination and wonderment—the contents of the 100-square-foot room constitute an entire universe—from the ocean of the bathtub in which a paper boat floats, to the caves under the bed where the eggshell snake lives, and the safety of “Wardrobe” where Ma shelters Jack during their captor’s—Old Nick (Sean Bridgers)—nighttime visits.

Rather than focusing on the battle between victim and captor, Room emphasizes the significance of “what happens after” more so than it does with “what happened,” the latter constituting less than half of the film’s running time. In the second half of Room—following a tense escape scene—Jack and Ma try to reintegrate themselves into a society that does not know how to react to the horror of their predicament, other than to exploit it as a news story.

Through Jack’s eyes, we are newly amazed by the miracle of discovery—from the first touch of a toe onto a hospital floor, to a breakfast of pancakes, and petting a dog for the first time—Room is exceptional at capturing those moments and raising the ordinary to extraordinary.

What makes the film so effective—and at times challenging to watch—is that it is agonizingly aware of how time passes and things change. “You can’t go home again,” the American novelist Thomas Wolfe once wrote. Ma realizes that while she was trapped in that tiny room, life went on happening, her family had changed and her old friends had moved on. Room offers a sobering worldview, one in which “happily ever after” is no simple matter. “This is the story that you get,” Ma tells Jack when he is misbehaving.

Grim as the premise is, Room will prompt tears of gratitude. “There’s so much of place in the world,” Jack reminds us.

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living

Stuck thinking about who will inspire your formal look this year, here are some beauty blogger tips that are sure to make you the belle of the ball Emily Mais CONTRIBUTOR It’s that time of year again that everyone looks forward to—SMC Formal! Realistically, it’s probably the one time in eight months where U of T students have time to shower and get dressed up. I put together two looks that are so easy to recreate and can go with any clothing option.

rusty color to your lids). I used a chocolate brown colour as eyeliner for my upper lash line and waterline and set it with a matching powder to make sure it stayed on during a night of eating. Finally, I added a few coats of volumizing mascara.

I then did the basic primer, foundation, concealer in a V shape, and blended it all with a beauty blender routine.

For blush, I used the same bronzer (of course) and added a powder highlighter with a gold undertone on top of my cheekbones. For lips, I used a dark nude colour with a bronze gloss on top.

all skin tones. I started off with my eyes first and applied a light pink shadow all over the lid. I then added the tiniest amount of gunmetal (a dark shimmery grey) at the corner of my eye and blended it upwards into my crease. When using dark colours, always start off with the tiniest amount and then gradually build it up if you want to darken it, that way you’re less likely to look like you got hit in the face. I used a shimmery cream colour for the highlight underneath my brow bone. I finished the eye look with a ton of mascara. The foundation routine stayed the same, but for lips I used a light pink with coral undertones with a light pink gloss on top. I skipped blush and used a bit of bronzer and highlight instead.

Before a night out, remember….

For the first look, I was inspired by a Gigi Hadid interview where she said the most she does for a night out is a gold smokey eye. So obviously if Gigi Hadid does a gold smokey eye, then we all have to do one too.

I started off with my eyes first, so I could avoid sparkly fallout on the rest of my face. I applied a sparkly gold base all over my lid. Then, I added my bronzer in the crease (rust eye shadow is crazy popular right now—I always find that if you build up your bronzer enough it adds more of a

The second look is one of my personal favourites. It’s a gunmetal smoky eye—but I promise this looks amazing on

1. Drink lots of water the day before and the day of so your skin looks fresh and glowy.

2. Set your eyebrows with clear mascara.

3. Prime your skin and eyelids so everything stays on all night.

4. Don’t use a concealer that’s too light for your skin—it will make you look like you have white raccoon eyes in pictures.

5. Take a selfie with the flash on before you leave (so you know how those pictures will turn out once their posted).

Alex Wichert SPORTS EDITOR

UTICA President gives insight on planning and preparing for a big celebration of fashion and the clubs 70th anniversary of sharing the Italian heritage with St. Michael’s College Donato Rosati UTICA PRESIDENT After a two year hiatus, it gives me great pleasure to announce that UTICA will once again be hosting one of our trademark events: our annual fashion show. This year’s show will be especially noteworthy as we are simultaneously celebrating our 70th anniversary, marking a rich history of the preservation of Italian-Canadian culture on campus.

It has been a year-long objective of mine personally, as well as our executive council collectively to not only honour this milestone by respecting our past, but also asserting ourselves in the present and building for our future.

When I became President of UTICA just under a year ago, I had high expectations for this year. As any student association does, we have experienced our fair share of budgetary restrictions as well as the lingering effects of past mismanagement. However, I had the utmost faith in the current executive council and our ability to turn things around. In our preliminary summer meetings, we outlined what we hoped to achieve in the coming year to make that a reality. At the top of that list, evidently, was bringing back the event that had been so successful in years past but had come to feel virtually out of reach after a year of uncertainty and underachievement.

The Issue: According to government reports, over 10 000 youth are on the streets of Toronto during the year. The reason why the issue is not easily noticed, however, is that youth homelessness does not necessarily equate with living on the street in the sight of passerby. 60% of youth who find themselves out on the street stay in one of Toronto’s homeless shelters, 92% find friends and “couch surf ”, and 15% find a location close to the street that offers more shelter; squats, parks, alleys, and doorways are all commonly used as temporary lodging.

In addition to the difficulties surrounding visibility, youth homelessness is an issue that is swathed in misconception. Many people believe that those on the streets are to blame for being homeless, either because of their drug use, crime activities, or other behaviour that is scorned by society. In reality, over 70% of homeless youth have experienced some form of sexual, physical, or emotional abuse, causing them to have no choice but to leave home. In addition, many youth are ostracized from their families because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Those suffering from mental illness, too, can be exiled from their homes and forced to fend for themselves. Another misconception is that homeless people don’t work. Many, however, are among the working poor.

A person earning minimum wage cannot often make enough for proper support or to pay innercity rent. As a result, many resort to panhandling, break-and-enters, and selling drugs. 10% of homeless youth do or have done work in the sex trade, including street prostitution, phone or Internet sex, and messages or stripping.

Who Are We? Fortunately, there are ways to help. Trek for Teens is a not-for-profit organization composed of students from across Canada. The foundation organizes concerts, fashion shows, dance events, film festivals, conferences, and community-outreach opportunities with proceeds going to homeless youth shelters Horizons for Youth, Youth Without Shelter, and Covenant House Toronto.

Recent News And Upcoming Events: Trek for Teens hosted its first film festival on February 27! Entitled “Jump Cut Film Festival and Gala”, the evening contained screenings of submitted films, an address by guest speaker and award-winning director of “William’s Lullaby” Nicholas Arnold, and a reception in the lobby.

Trek for Teens would like to thank everyone who attended the first annual film festival – we hope you’re already looking forward to next year.

For the past four weeks, we have been working non-stop to make sure we not only bring the fashion show back, but hold it to the same standard that has been set in previous years. We feel that this year’s show blends a perfect mix of both tradition and innovation.

For this reason, we have decided to name it “Fuoriclasse,” a term that translates into “a Recently opening a chapter at Ryerson University, Trek for Teens is happy to be holding Games class of its own.” The runway will feature clothing from Five O Seven, Haggar, Over the For A Cause on March 3. The Ryerson Trek for Teens Club will be meeting and speaking with Rainbow, and our executives’ own wardrobes—a classic set we call personal style. students who wish to get involved with the organization over board games, coffee, and popcorn.

As the day draws closer, I find myself both anxious but also nostalgic. Knowing that this is the last UTICA fashion show I will have a part in has given me a great appreciation for the process. At the same time, it has only fuelled my motivation to make it the best one in recent memory and offer a worthy contribution to our illustrious history. To wrap up, I would like to personally invite you to our Fuoriclasse Fashion Show, which will be held on Friday, March 11th at 70 Down Restaurant & Lounge in Yorkville. Reception will be at 8:00 pm followed by the show at 9:00 pm and with the after party immediately following the show. Inquiries about tickets can be directed to any UTICA executive, and I would also like to extend an invitation to drop by if there are any further questions as my office door is always open. With 70 years now behind us, we are looking forward to our next 70. I hope you will be there with us to turn the page and look forward to what is to come. Four years ago, when I was first elected to this council, I aspired to not only contribute, but leave my own legacy as others have done before me. I am confident that this event will do so by bringing back an old classic while ensuring success for years to come.

The Walk for Homeless Youth will be held on March 8 – Elementary and Middle School students will walk with their teachers throughout Toronto and conclude the day at St. Michael’s College.

After briefly experiencing what it is like to be a little cold, tired, and hungry, students will gather for a series of rotation activities which include a guest speaker and an educational fair.

The Trek for Teens Foundation is a not-for-profit organization created to raise awareness of youth homelessness in local communities. Initiated in 2007 with leadership and guidance from the Rotary Club of Etobicoke, the Trek for Teens Foundation has been a repeated success, raising over $31,000 for Covenant House Toronto, Horizons for Youth, and Youth Without Shelter through the efforts of volunteers and participants.

Connect with us at: • facebook.com/trekforteens • @trekforteens • newsletter: email outreach@trekforteens.com • trekforteens.com • hello@trekforteens.com

Young minds matter Let’s change the conversation around mental health Lia Kim ARTS EDITOR Every morning of my first year in university, I woke to the sight of the “U of T” banner on my bedroom wall—the one they give you during frosh week, in the big, glorious “Welcome to U of T” packet.

You’re a treasured asset to our university, it said. We love you, we care about you, and we don’t want you to go to any other school because you’re the best of the best, it said.

Thinking back to that welcome packet, there is a glaring omission: we want you and will provide for you, so long as you can put on a façade of perfection.

I see that U of T is a fundamentally unhealthy place in one important way. The problem is: everyone is “okay.” After all, being the best of the best requires proof: you should be able to recite the periodic table from memory, discuss Schopenhauer’s influence on Nietzsche, converse intelligently about obscure Russian literature—all while taking five or six credits, maintaining a 4.2 grade point average at one of the toughest schools in the country, running a four-minute mile, and chairing more organizations than you can keep track of. You must do all of this and profess, at every opportunity, that you are “okay.”

Where does it come from? For most students at U of T, I think the pressure is subconscious, upheld by the desperation to “keep up with the Joneses,” because who among us actually wants to appear weak and vulnerable? You want to be able to say things like, “my classes are amazing.” “My extracurriculars put me over the top.” “I got published in the New York Times.” “I’m interning at the White House this summer.” “Everything is awesome.” This is “how [you] fit in, have everybody like you, and [how to] always be happy”—as conveyed in 2014’s oddly profound film The Lego Movie—and how you become “the most important, most interesting, greatest person of all time.”

Coming to U of T, we are told to succeed. And as students at this university, we know we want to and are capable of succeeding— that’s what got us in. But our mental health issues can thwart us, creating a conflict between our ambitions and the reality that sometimes we are legitimately not “okay.”

According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC), in any given year, one in five Canadians experiences a mental health or addiction problem.

To deviate from this script—to be in our own minds and to empathize with others—is for some reason unacceptable at U of T. None of us is completely okay. I have known friends who have suffered the deaths of siblings, who have been victims of one or more forms of abuse, who have fought life-threatening illness. But the pressure to conform—to being perfectly “fine” and “happy”—is a burden we have silently agreed to uphold.

The National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) states that young people aged 15 to 24 are more likely to experience mental illness and/or substance use disorders than any other age group.

Furthermore, there is research in the American College Health Association National College Health Assessment (ACHA-NCHA) that highlights mental health concerns as having the largest impact

on academic success. Studies show that post-secondary students diagnosed with depression during university are three times more likely to experience early discontinuity, even after controlling for other variables like demographics, substance use, and high school GPA. Given these statistics, what does U of T provide for its students at a time in their lives when they are most susceptible to everything from depression and anxiety to other mood-related issues?

In the fall of 2015, U of T’s Counselling & Psychological Services (CAPS) merged with the university’s Health Services to form an integrated Health & Wellness Centre. “The overarching goal for students seeking mental health supports at U of T, is to facilitate each student receiving the right care at the right time, specific to their needs,” says Dr. Andrea Levinson, Psychiatrist-in-Chief at the Centre. “Students’ initial contact with our integrated Health & Wellness Centre is with a family doctor and/or nurse to ensure that their entire health presentation is addressed. A presenting mental health concern could have a physical underpinning, or there could be other health concerns that are impacting on the mental health presentation. Then the student is guided to supports that are the most immediate, accessible, and best-suited to their needs.”

Consistency on the part of the care provider is a priority to maintain continuity of care, insists Levinson. “I was pretty lucky,” admits a recent alumna. “Sometimes you don’t get to see the right person and talking to them doesn’t really help. I got to talk to someone who had the same background as me, and it really helped to be able to share something in common with my counsellor. I liked that we could relate to each other.” This is especially true in the case of international students, “many of [which] do not readily seek mental health supports,” says Levinson, adding, “and we are working actively to find ways to engage [them].”

Counselling or psychotherapeutic support is one important treatment option, highlights Levinson. “Counselling is offered now in group modalities, ion embedded sites across campus (i.e. within different faculties and colleges for greater proximity and access), as well as within the Centre, [which is located on the second floor of the Koffler Student Services Centre, at 214 College Street.]

Mental health services are offered in ‘episodes of care’ with no set,

pre-determined limit on services, but keeping in mind that the episodes of care are short-term to address the needs of the student at the time.”

The Centre attends to a variety of students ranging across all years of studies. “There is a tremendous need for mental health supports for graduate students,” stresses Levinson, “and the Centre has collaborated with the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) to position an embedded counsellor [there], specifically to support graduate students.”

Students must wait at least one week (two if they’re seeking counselling) to schedule an appointment at the Centre. However, same-day appointments are available each day on a first come, first served basis for one problem per visit. The best time to drop in is early in the morning between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. and typical wait times can range from 15 to 90 minutes. It is worth noting that students in distress who require help immediately can be seen on a same-day basis.

Yet, despite the many resources and facilities offered by U of T, and used by numerous students looking for help, these mental health issues persist. “We know that 60% of people with a mental health concern or illness will NOT seek help for fear of being labelled,” explains Levinson. “We are all working actively to reduce stigma related to mental illness. We are doing this here on campus at U of T, within the broader GTA, provincially and nationally. The MHCC has launched a systematic, national anti-stigma campaign, with a specific emphasis on youth mental health, to change Canadians’ behaviours and attitudes toward people living with mental illness.”

8

opinions

Discussion surrounding race relations becoming commonplace because we saw history happen Anah Mirza OPINIONS EDITOR To most university students, February is best known as the harbinger of joy: with joy being defined as reading week, of course. The fact that it is also Black History Month is, at least in the mainstream, relatively less-known. Having said that, quite a few important developments did transpire that can only nuance our understanding of race relations as it manifests in 2016.

for the award felt that the honour was misplaced. Personally, there wasn’t a single part of the song that was new to me. However, keeping in mind Macklemore’s audience, I do see value to its release. Full disclosure: as a non-black person of colour, my opinions are informed by different perspectives, and I in no way intend to invalidate any lived experiences. The track was a part of a partnership with a number of black-led organizations and initiatives.

There was, after all, that football game—and more importantly—its halftime show. The show featured a performance from Beyoncé that immediately followed the surprise release of her new single “Formation,” a track that celebrates blackness and is a strategic juxtaposition of politics and art. The music video and performance itself brought about a number of reactions, most notable of which are an appreciation of her unapologetic declaration as well as those threatened by the criticisms of law enforcement the work posits. Amidst controversy surrounding police forces organizing boycotts of the Formation World Tour dates, citing the anti-police imagery as their motivation, and an unprecedented ownership of black culture, lays a movement that puts voices that were previously silenced first.

Towards the end of the month, Kenya Barris’ sitcom Black-ish—also one of my favourite TV shows right now—unpacked police brutality as the topic waded its way into the centre of a multigenerational family’s living room. While there was no Black Lives Matter tiein, the episode’s plotline is especially relevant given the current backdrop of anti-racism narratives as they proceed in real time.

Just after the month’s halfway mark came one of music’s biggest nights and its move towards becoming a contributing piece. Kendrick Lamar’s sophomore album To Pimp A Butterfly won seven out of the eleven nominations it earned, but what made headlines was something an accolade doesn’t yet exist for. The rapper delivered a powerful performance featuring two songs off the album featuring both a prison backdrop and a nod to African heritage. All in all, Lamar produced a characterization of the contemporary African American experience.

Truthfully, I am disappointed that it took such explicit and mass releases of art to provoke these discussions. It is disheartening that we have become so desensitized to the fallacy of our post-racial claims. Nonetheless, I am hopeful—albeit carefully so. With years of systemic disadvantages to undo, progress has become the expectation; an expectation that must be demanded.

According to whom you ask, Kendrick Lamar was either snubbed for the second time or Taylor Swift became the first woman to have won the coveted Album of the Year award twice. Ultimately it is art and is thus subjective, so the answer will always be argued.

However, the trends are not subjective. A hip-hop song has yet to win Song of the Year or Record of the Year. Micah Singleton, of The Verge, wrote that “the Recording Academy is all too happy to engage in the most polite form of plunder against hip-hop to boost the ratings of its telecast, while it rarely bestows its top award upon the genre.” He wrote this after citing Grammy Awards producer Ken Ehrlich’s remarks of contemporary American music’s profound roots in black music.

In January, rapper and producer duo Macklemore and Ryan Lewis released their track “White Privilege II,” a nine-minute exploration of white privilege, white supremacy, and the role of alliance in a movement like Black Lives Matter. Last year, Macklemore famously shared a text he wrote to Lamar after winning Best Rap Album, the category both were nominated for, back in 2014. To put it simply, the artist who effectively beat out the other

As with any program, the low-income grant aid comes with its risks and limits Zoya Khan CONTRIBUTOR This year, Ontario’s budget revealed a number of revisions: perhaps the most significant is the reduction of tuition fees for low-income students. Last Thursday, The provincial government said that students that qualify as low-income—i.e. family incomes of less than $50,000—are to receive grants totalling enough to cover college tuition. Low-income university students will also receive grants although they may not cover the entire amount of their tuition. Ontario’s rising tuition rates have been a topic for a number of years now and finally the calls to action have been answered.

The government has committed to releasing details in the coming months although radical changes can be expected. The program will also come into effect in 2017, which happens to be the same year that the current 3% tuition cap on undergraduate tuition expires. While groups from university administration to faculty associations have unanimously praised the program, there are other interests to account for once it comes to the crux of the matter. Schools like the University of Toronto will undoubtedly heavily lobby for an increase to the cap. As such, tuition costs could, in theory, proportionally increase, outweighing any concentrated measure the provincial government takes to reduce cost-bearing on the student. When it comes to the public cost of the program, Finance Minister Charles Sousa said the cost will remain approximately the same as the current aid scheme. With that said, it becomes apparent that the new program is a reallocation of resources as opposed to a new investment altogether. However, this is how balancing a budget works. Contrary to some portion of public opinion, money cannot just be printed—no, not even by the government. In fact, one of the programs that has been deemed a loser in the budget is healthcare. The government is attempting to break out all stops necessary to keep costs down and anticipates only a 1.8% increase in spending. This number is barely reflective of inflation and does not reflect the changing needs of an aging population.

As small fish in the very, very large pond that is the provincial government’s constituency, we must remember to hope for the best but prepare for every other possibilities. In other words, the undergrad way.

9

opinions Funding of education on reserves is a matter of equality Mariam Jammal STAFF WRITER To put it mildly, Canada has had a severely explotative relationship with its indigenous population, and although apologies have been made and reforms have been implemented, we are far from absolved of the crimes committed against Aboriginal people and the subsequent systematic disadvantages we continue to impose. One prominent example of this is discrimination on reserves and, more specifically, the underfunding of education. Now before the anti-affirmative action lobby shows up, let’s make something incredibly clear.

These are elementary and secondarylevel students receiving education and academic opportunities well below that national standard: as such, equalizing quality of and access to education will not result in negative academic performance everywhere else.

However, it does not stop there. Reserves are unfortunately well-known for being underfunded, which translates negatively for child welfare. According to Statistics Canada, Aboriginal children comprise 26% of kids in foster care. In some provinces and territories, 60% to 78% of Aboriginal children are in the child welfare system. It’s a never-ending vicious cycle that continues to separate Aboriginal families without a viable solution in sight. This is precisely what is frustrating about the current ruling of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal; this information has not seemed to stir any dialogue at all.

Perhaps it is too early to anticipate results from the federal government, but this was one of the major campaign stances for the Liberal government—amending relations with Canada’s indigenous people. Does formative childhood education take a back seat? No.

At this point, it should be addressed that public schools on reserves are not funded by the provincial government.

As a result, each student in a reserve school receives approximately $7,000 from the federal government. This is approximately $4,000 less than a student in the public education system, which is funded provincially. It is specifically reserve schools that came with this fiscal stipulation. Now I know what you’re thinking; why not just have the students

Although it may not seem like it, inaction is just as detrimental as implementing more regressive policies. By continuing to push off this issue, we condemn more and more generations to a cycle of missed opportunity, inequality, poverty, and cultural and familial disconnect.

It is important to understand that the mistreatment of Aboriginals cannot be solved overnight, and the longer we hold off on finding a sustainable solution, the

switch into a public school? Well, aside from the fact that reserve schools offered courses in national culture and traditions that were imperative to Aboriginal revival post-residential schools, it was also not an option for many students. Many reserves, especially those further north, are hours away from any town, so traveling to school is not a plausible solution.

longer these conditions will persist and the more likely they are to worsen. Indigenous children should not have to choose between a quality education (offered to Canadian students everywhere) and preserving their cultural integrity.

The Prevalence of Poison and Prejudice in US Water Infrastructure Briana Armson STAFF WRITER The water crisis in Flint, Michigan has exposed some ugly and alarming truths, including the negligence of the state and local government, and America’s dismal water infrastructure system. In April 2014, Flint’s water supply became contaminated with lead when the city decided to switch from using the Detroit treatment system to drawing from the Flint River in an effort to cut costs. This careless decision has negatively impacted the lives of the 100,000 people residing in Flint, a city already plagued with problems as 40% of the population live in impoverished conditions. Flint River water travelled in lead pipes to residents and the toxin leached the water supply as proper precautions were not taken with regards to sealing the pipes in addition to shortcomings in treating and testing the water.

This went on for quite some time until the world took notice when the media announced that 8,000 children had been poisoned, resulting in irreversible brain damage and lifelong learning difficulties. A federal state of emergency was declared and Michigan’s Governor, Rick Snyder, is now set to testify before a congressional committee.

The most shocking part about this tragedy is that there are other cities in America with higher levels of lead poisoning in their populations. These cities include Detroit and Cleveland, whose water supplies are clean and safe to drink, as well as many towns located in southern states such as Alabama and Louisiana. The difference is that unlike Flint, the poisoning occurs in a far more subtle and gradual way, obtained from coming into contact with old buildings with lead paint and lead-ridden soil outside. The crisis in Flint has garnered worldwide attention and media coverage due to the devastating fact it was preventable and based on a decision motivated by greed.

Flint’s crisis has also raised questions about the US government’s negligent treatment of marginalized groups. The majority of the Flint’s population, 57%, is black and make up a disproportionate number of people affected by lead-poisoning in America. This is because minorities and those in the lower-class are not given the same standards of building materials, safety precautions, and health care in their segregated communities and are subjected to environmental hazards and illnesses. Between 2007 and 2010, approximately 6% of black children and 2% of white children contained high-levels of lead in their bloodstreams across the US. There is no question that marginalized groups in America are paying the price for greedy government systems cutting corners by neglecting to provide them with the means to basic human care, even something as simple and necessary to survival as clean water.

Michael Moore has sought to expose the pitfalls of Rick Snyder and the Michigan state government even further by posting an article on his website titled, “10 Things They Won’t Tell You About the Flint Water Tragedy. But I Will.” The list includes Nestle’s sinister involvement in the crisis as the wife of Snyder’s Chief of Staff is the company’s state spokesperson. Nestle is the state’s largest owner of private water supplies and draws 400

gallons of fresh water per minute from Lake Michigan, forcing Flint’s residents to buy the company’s bottled product since their water is undrinkable. Moore has formed a petition to prosecute and arrest Governor Snyder which is available to sign on his website; over 600,000 signatures have been gathered so far.

As of February 24th, senators have formed a tentative agreement in response to the crisis which sanctions $70 million to revamp Flint’s water infrastructure and $100 million in emergency aid to repair or replace its lead pipes. It’s truly devastating to see how long it took for a proper plan to come into place for Flint as well as the negligence, greed, and thoughtlessness of the state’s local government. I hope the exposure of this tragedy leads to real changes being made in America’s water infrastructure, particularly regarding regimented standardization to ensure equality in all communities as too many children have paid the price for the gains of a small elite.

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faith & thought

Has professional sports become the new secular religion?

Oona Nadler CONTRIBUTOR This phenomenon is increasingly gaining attention.

Academics, popular media, and sports fans are exploring the idea that sports can now be considered a new religion. Parallels can easily be drawn. Fans “worship” different teams like different sects in a religion. Then there are the games where crowds gather for the same purpose. Like religious teaching, sports’ lore is passed from one generation to the next. Sports can also teach valuable, even ethical, lessons such as to never give up, work hard, show good sportsmanship: all a part of how to be an ethical human being. Sports can give people fulfillment and a way to connect to one another.

Religion is complex. However, if one looks at the ceremonial aspect of religion, I think professional sports are similar. Fans “practice” sports the way the devout practice their religion in their dedication and the communal experience. Today, much of religion has become more individual—the individual decides how and where they want to approach religion. In contrast, professional sports team are organized. The entire community participates in sports with a common belief—their team should win. Sports loyalty is also aligned regionally, reflecting the way organized religion used to be united by geography as well.

But is sports actually a religion? Has it taken a new role in society? In my opinion, sports does not have a philosophy or theology behind it. No matter how one theorizes the play, this is not the same as discussing

matters of theology. Sports is not a religion in the intellectual sense.

What about the emotional and spiritual aspect of sports fandom? When the Blue Jays did well last year it seemed to be the only thing anyone in Toronto could talk about.

Even people who were not usually interested in sports took pride in Toronto’s team. I was in Sammy’s Student Exchange at Hart House for the quarter finals. The room was packed. The air was electric. When the Blue Jays hit a home run, the crowd went wild. We shared a vision, a purpose. The space had become united as a haven for people to express the same positive emotions with their fellow fans.

I’m not saying it was religious experience…but it was pretty close. This quality that sports creates, that makes people cry and become ecstatic seems close to a religious experience in a church or temple. People are united and feel a presence that is created through their actions and ritual.

I do not think sports has become a religion. However, I do think it is has adopted attributes that has made religion successful and a key center of societies for millennia. If sports continues on this trajectory, then who knows?

It may make a religion yet.

A historical meeting of two Churches Elizabeth McDermott FAITH EDITOR Almost 1,000 years after the schism between Eastern and Western Christianity, Pope Francis has met with Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church. This is the first meeting between a Catholic Pope and a Russian Orthodox Patriarch. The two met on February 12th in Cuba and spoke for two hours. When they met, Pope Francis exclaimed, “Finally! We are brothers.” Patriarch Kirill responded, “Now things are easier.”

The two church leaders released a joint document that spoke of the plight of the Christians in the Middle East, affirmed teachings on the family and the right to life, and hoped that this meeting could lead to unity between Churches. “We have been divided by wounds caused by old and recent conflicts, by differences inherited from our ancestors, in the understanding and expression of our faith in God, one in three Persons—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We are pained by the loss of unity, the outcome of human weakness and of sin,” the declaration read.

Some have speculated that the cooperation of the Russian Church is motivated by politics instead of a desire for unity, at a time when Russia is criticized by many in the West for its actions in Syria and Ukraine. Patriarch Kirill is a spiritual advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin and has called Putin’s rule a “miracle of God.” Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Kiev-Halych, head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, spoke of this meeting as historically significant; however, he said, “The meeting in Havana is just the beginning of the path. We must not fix our attention on one only point. We must think what to do after. The first thing is to free religion from politics. We cannot reconcile with geopolitics, but we can reconcile with our brothers.” Pope Francis, after meeting with Patriarch Kirill, said, “We speak as brothers,” in hopes that the differences between the Churches can be overcome with love.

Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral Andi Bordt CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER Photography has always been my artistic strength, but strictly in the digital medium. This series of photos were an exploration of black and white film.

I focused on basic composition while shooting this roll of film. The priority of this series was more on the final product (developing the roll) than the actual objective aspect. Shot in Montreal with Canon Ae-1 with Ilford Hp5+ 400.

11

sports Discussing the dark side of the sport known as horse racing

Making the case for defence over offence in the world of baseball

Alex Wichert SPORTS EDITOR

Alex Wichert SPORTS EDITOR

With just a preliminary glance, it appears to be an historic example of genuine family fun: take your kids down to the race track to see the skillful jockeys compete with one another in a most genteel fashion. Watch these athletes ride their well-trained horses to the finish line, coming upon the last bend in the track with no room for error and a photo finish which will make headlines across the Internet. Maybe, if you have a keen eye for talent or simply strike it lucky, you’ll load up on a certain contender and win big with the odds.

Regardless of who emerges victorious, you’ll have spent a day out in the open air and relatively close to these majestic creatures.

However, there are some facts and notes of which the horse racing industry doesn’t want you to be aware. Behind the clean and beautiful façade of the sport is something rather insidious. And that something is not a concept which can simply be disregarded.

It’s very dangerous for the horses.

Sure, there is the argument that these equestrian performers are raised to be the best.

They’re given the best meals, top grooming and care, and they certainly are privy to fame within the horse racing world. They’re almost celebrities. But there are also myriad dangers and difficulties for these animals who – let’s be honest – haven’t actively sought this kind of a career in any fashion.

For one, horses die on the racetrack all the time. These fatalities are not just terrifying for audience members – they can be traumatizing for the horses, too. Fractured bones, broken spines, and other major injuries amount to mortal incidents which either immediately end the horse’s life or lead to a jockey’s choice of ending the horse’s life. The latter option is due to the fact that there is a rather ubiquitous perspective within the industry that effectively reduces its hooved athletes to commodities: they can be replaced. It’s true, technically. There will always be a line of riders or owners who have a scoop on the nextbest competitor. However, this attitude is more appropriate for a hockey player who breaks a stick – just grab another from the bench and get back out there. Regarding a sentient being, well, you’d be hard-pressed to craft an argument which successfully advocates in favour of denying their intrinsic rights. In other, less vague terms, you simply can’t.

Even if the horses make it through the race alive, they’re not out of the fire yet. For one thing, they’re being whipped the entire time. It’s not as if they’re cantering about on their own accord – they’re reacting to a violent attack. This “motivation” is a large reason why the horses get into accidents. They are forced to outrun their usual capabilities and, pounding along a track made of hard-packed dirt, can find a crash imminent. In addition, a horse – who is often doped up on prohibited steroids or other performance enhancing drugs – is normally much too young to race when it is selected for the sport. Forced to support such an excessive amount of weight, and to move at breakneck speeds, results in the kinds of afflictions you’d expect from this treatment.

Before you chalk these findings up to simply emerging from animal rights websites and organizations such as PETA, I encourage you to take a quick Google search on the subject.

You’ll see these kinds of articles on animal rights locations, sure, but you’ll also find a PETA-written piece published in The New York Times, and articles which question horse racing’s merits on general news and magazine sites, as well. ABC Action News and The Atlantic are just two examples. It’s not an avant-garde theory and it’s not something so counter-culture that it must be dismissed as the proposition of “merely” animal rights advocates. It’s simply about doing the right thing.

So, if you’re asked to spend some time at the race track in the near future, it is strongly hoped that you will consider the other side of horse racing, turn to your companions, and say, “nay”.

You would be right to be a little skeptical, given the way things turned out last year. After all, the 2015 MLB Season was supposed to see an offensively-stacked Detroit Tigers club claw their way to the top of the standings, or at least hit enough homeruns to be competitive every night. Technically, the pundits, fans, and those in the know who made these predictions were correct: Detroit certainly did boast an impressive offensive squad last season, even after trading Yoenis Céspedes at the Deadline last summer. The batting wasn’t the issue.

It was the pitching.

Yikes – just take a look at the individual and team numbers for the Tigers’ staff last year, especially the relievers and those who work from the bullpen, and you’ll see that it takes more than a Miguel Cabrera and company to win games. It takes a series of capable arms – and the players to whom those arms are attached – which can ensure that, on those games when you just can’t buy a hit, you’re kept in a game until you find enough change to make the purchase. There’s also a psychological factor involved: more faith in one’s pitcher results in less pressure to produce offensively which will, most likely, result in more offence.

Even if you’re the kind of player who thrives under pressure, scoring three runs in an inning but then going out into the field and surrendering four gets pretty mentally draining. It’s definitely more comfortable to be ahead.

So that’s why the Tigers focused on pitchers this offseason. Sure, they made a few splashes with players who are dynamic batters, such as Cameron Maybin and Justin Upton, but even these players can bring it in the field to match their talents at the plate. Detroit, though, knew they had to restock their pitching prowess. The acquisitions of big-name Free Agent Jordan Zimmermann, dependable and – the Tigers hope – hopeful reclamation project Mike Pelfrey, and closer Francisco Rodriguez will all go a long way toward revamping Detroit’s ability to shut down another team. However, the depth moves the club made are also proof that pitching really was a priority for the squad and is something which cannot be ignored. Poor defence cannot be mitigated by big bats. This is true at all levels but is especially and demonstrably true at the Major League level.

With the 2016 baseball season fast approaching, Detroit will look to rebound from their defensive woes of last year. If their pitching can hold up, in addition to their impressive batting stars, the Tigers will certainly be feline good.

12 Keenan Gibson PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

Allen Gardens is one of Toronto’s oldest parks, and an oasis during the winter months.

The indoor botanical gardens act as a beautiful backdrop for portraiture and model photography. This is a small selection of the images taken of Mitch Hiscox (@mitch.hc) and Carmen Alonso (@carmentricks) during a day trip, taken to escape the winters cold.

Frontier College @ U of T St. George

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Games Night @ UofT Wednesday, March 16 Hart House Debates Room Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

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