The Mike Issue 9

THE MIKE WEDNESDAY March 16, 2016 ISSUE 14

Adapting the University to Save the Institution Changing the educational model to better fit the needs of the 21st century

2

editorial

In contrast to universities in the United States, March Madness takes on a completely different meaning at U of T. As students churn out essays and problem sets in anticipation of the formidable finals, the clocks turn forward and green shoots begin to sprout all over Queen’s Park. While some dedicatedly observe Lent and deprive themselves of many luxuries as a form of penitence, others eagerly await indulging themselves on St Patrick’s Day – a celebration that has become somewhat of a tradition at SMC. In this issue, we bring to you an assortment of ideas that are reflective of the plurality of voices in our college. From a congenial discussion of the most vibrant spots in Toronto to celebrate St Patrick’s Day, to a meditation on the moral issues underlying recent developments in the national policy on euthanasia – we’ve got it all.

As a soon-to-be new graduate of the time-honored liberal arts system, the feature for this issue examines a question that is close to my heart. In this Information Age and Knowledge Economy, what is the role of the modern university? Has our university and current system of higher education adapted itself to the 21st century? Elizaveta Mironova examines these issues carefully and makes compelling arguments for hands-on learning through debate and internships, an approach that is quickly gaining currency.

I hope you enjoy reading this issue as much as we did putting it together for you. In advance of our last issue for the school year, we are now accepting writers and illustrators. If you have any questions or feedback, please reach out to us at editorinchief@readthemike.com.

Palakh Chhabria EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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 Illustrations The Mike Newspaper is looking for an illustrator to make stylized drawing of the following buildings on campus for a special upcoming issue. The drawings must be 2-dimesnsional, black and white and hand –drawn. They must be able to be converted into a highresolution digital format that can be input into Adobe InDesign CC (i.e. JPG, . EPS, .PNG). The position is paid and will offer the offer a forum to showcase their work.. We are looking for small sketches/ drawings of the following buildings: Rotman University College Robarts Library St. Mikes – (Brennan Hall, Carr Hall, Teefy Hall or Toronto School of Theology) Leslie Brown Pharmacy Building Pratt Library Sidney Smith Hall The drawings will need to be submitted by March 23, 2016 by midnight.

To apply please send one sample of your work to managingeditor@ readthemike.com and editorinchief@readthemike.com by Thursday March 17 at midnight. Please contact these e-mail addresses for further information.

Hart House

Brennan Hall

Rotman Business School

Sidney Smith

Artwork The Mike Newspaper is looking for artists to submit to their original work or photographs of it for a special upcoming issue. The theme of the issue will be renewal, so artworks related to this theme would be preferred. The artist’s work must be converted into a high-resolution digital format that can be input into Adobe InDesign CC (i.e. JPDF. EPS, .PNG). Along with an image of the work we would like a short paragraph (max 250 words) explaining the work. Having the work published in the edition will provide increased exposure of the work and an opportunity to be published.

To apply please send in an image of the selected work along with it’s title, medium, date and artist’s name to managingeditor@ readthemike.com and editorinchief@readthemike.com by Thursday, March 17 at midnight. Please contact these e-mail addresses for further information.

4

arts

Paying homage to our past Briana Armson STAFF WRITER U of T’s expansive public art collection contains multiple commemorative pieces that honour historical events and important public figures. Often when we pass such works during our daily routines, we are unaware of their significance. Learning the back-stories of sculptures and installations that are littered throughout St. George campus might make you pause the next time you come across one.

St. Michael’s College (SMC) has many hidden gems scattered across its grounds, one being “Kells Nest” by Bill Vazan which was made in 1997. Located between Victoria College and SMC, this large rock sculpture is 1.5m tall and almost 2m wide, making it fairly hard to miss. However, the meaning may seem obscure and hard to ascertain on first glance.

The stone is connected directly to the earth below, lacking the pediment many sculptures are placed upon, and it has a number of shallow holes drilled into its surface that forms a pattern of two double tracks. These tracks bend and snake across the rock’s surface, forming knots as they loop around one another like a complex treasure map.

The artist is an environmentalist who incorporates the earth heavily into his work, seeking to reconnect society with nature. He is well known both nationally and internationally, particularly in Montreal’s avant-garde art scene in which he has received several awards for his conceptual pieces. Many of Vazan’s pieces—including “Kells Nest”—are inspired by ancient petroglyphs, which are prehistoric rock carvings. He is fascinated by the contrast between the permanence of stone engravings and the ephemeral nature of human existence. The work is inspired by the petroglyphs created by the First Nations people in Canada from thousands of years ago, including those in Peterborough’s Provincial Park.

The name is derived from Vazan’s assistant Bill Kells who is of Iroquois descent.

If you walk through Hart House to the UTSU building, you will find another work that honours an historical moment, although this one is far more politically charged. The UTSU building is incredibly interesting in a number of ways, including its Venetian architecture, and the fact that it once housed a telescope to track a significant astronomical event in 1882. Although the telescope was donated in 1984, the building gained a moving sculptural work in 1992. The piece— “Broken Bicycle”—by Gu Xiu Hei is located on the backside of the building, visible when walking on the path from Hart House towards Gerstein Library.

Comprised of a dilapidated bicycle on top of tire tracks, Hei’s piece is a memorial to the students who died in the 1989 pro-democracy uprising in China’s Tiananmen Square.

Thousands of unarmed civilians were killed during this demonstration fighting against

BROKEN BICYCLE

oppression by the Chinese government. The sculpture references photographs of injured and dead bodies lying atop broken bicycles after the uprising had taken place.

There is an accompanying plaque below the work in both English and Chinese, stating that it is in “memory of those who gave their lives for democracy,” and a gift from U of T students for those studying in China. When made aware of the context, it is clear why “Broken Bicycle” has been mounted on the UTSU building. The work is about students standing together and joining in a good cause, honouring the power that is possible from this unification. During the spring and summer when ivy leaves and flowers grow around the side of the building, this piece’s memorial function is further emphasized.

Continuing past Gerstein to the Medical Sciences building will lead you to discover a figural statue honouring Canadian physician Norman Bethune—a U of T graduate who is famous for his contributions to military medicine—made by Toronto artist David Pellettier. Bethune invented several new surgical techniques as well as creating the first mobile blood bank, which allowed doctors to give blood transfusions to wounded soldiers on the battlefield. Spending much of his life in China, Bethune was active during the SinoJapanese War. He trained Chinese doctors and tended to villagers and soldiers in need, as well as being an advocate for universal health care. This piece was funded by Chinese businessmen Zhang Bin and Niu Gensheng in honour of Dr. Bethune’s contribution to healthcare and his dedication to aiding Chinese citizens during the war.

The artist, a professor at OCADU since 1985, specializes in detailed life-like sculptures, some of which include the memorial statue of Jack Layton at the ferry terminal at Queen’s Quay. Pellettier expressed that he wanted to convey Bethune’s medical and humanitarian accomplishments in a reflective way. He is portrayed wearing traditional Chinese clothing and a stethoscope around his neck, gazing upwards in a moment of contemplation. This figure has a peaceful expression and is approachable as opposed to being overtly heroic.

Bethune’s surgeon’s gown is inscribed with an excerpt from his journal: “I am content. I am doing what I want to do… I am needed.”

Sometimes the meanings behind artworks on campus, or their historical significance, are not immediately clear on first glance. However, digging a little deeper and delving into the reasons why these works were created allows us to see that powerful and impressive commemorations are all around us.

KELLS NEST

NORMAN BETHUNE

Splash Keenan Gibson PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Capturing action and motion has always been one of my favourite forms of photography. This high speed capture was taken from a second boat moving in the opposite direction. When attempting to properly compose a photo, it’s always more exciting and satisfying when the instant you have in mind comes and goes in a matter of seconds.

5

arts Intended for children, but rich in wisdom about the grown-up world Lia Kim ARTS EDITOR Antoine de Saint-Exupéry only wrote one children’s book in his lifetime.

But it is among the most beloved of all time, one of those precious gems that “shine[s] upon children with a sidewise gleam,” a 1943 review of the beloved classic proclaimed, adding, “it will strike them in some place that is not the mind and glow there until the time comes for them to comprehend it.”

And so it has, shining its “sidewise gleam” on generations of children and ageless grown-ups alike.

The hallmark of superb writing lies in the ability to encode multiple layers of meaning into a single narrative. Exupéry’s The Little Prince (Le Petit Prince in its original French) is charmingly written and beautifully illustrated in a way that sweeps you into a whirlwind of childhood imagination, to peel away at the deepest truths of existential philosophy. “Here is my secret,” Exupéry reflects. “It is very simple: it is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” For those who have never read this beautiful bit of prose, it—along with the rest of the novella—is a must-read.

It’s a rare talent to capture such profound insight through linguistic minimalism and simplicity. But Exupéry’s classic is much more than a whimsical imaginary world; its introspective philosophical undercurrent invites grown-up readers to extract his or her own conclusive existentialism. In an especially moving chapter involving a multitude of roses, Exupéry muses, “you are beautiful, but you are empty.”

He goes on to say, “one could not die for you. To be sure, an ordinary passerby would think that my rose looked just like you—the rose that belongs to me. But in herself alone she is more important than all the hundreds of you other roses […] because she is my rose.”

When you ask people what their favourite part of The Little Prince is, many talk about the boa constrictor eating the elephant—how adults only see it as a hat—or the final drawing of a sheep—just three holes in a box—and/or the secret told to the little prince by the fox. It reminds us of the beginning of the story in which Exupéry states, “what is essential is what you can’t see, what’s inside the snake, what’s inside your heart.”

Published in 1943—with steady sales of about two million copies every year, and adapted to multiple media—Exupéry’s famous novella is being re-made into a major computer animated film, starring the likes of Rachel McAdams, Jeff Bridges, James Franco, and Ricky Gervais. The Little Prince is scheduled to open March 18.

Warning: trailer for The Little Prince may cause all the feelings.

Building an inclusive community on campus Elizabeth Shaha CONTRIBUTOR

The SMC Commuter Don team of 2015-2016 are a recognized student group that is specific to commuter students. In my personal experience, I have only been a part of St. Mike’s as a leader during Orientation week.

Unfortunately, the minute school started, I was too busy with my classes across campus, working off-campus, and commuting over an hour to get home. Campus life ended as soon as I physically left campus and that was a concern the Commuter Dons feared.

In October 2015, our team came up with the concept of the Commuter Ambassador Program. The program was built so that commuters can actively participate in commuter friendly events. Since commuters usually have many responsibilities outside of campus, we ask our ambassadors to pick two events per semester to dedicate their time to. At the events, they are encouraged to bring their own friends, connect with their Commuter Dons and take part in activities. Only in the first few weeks, we had over 30 students sign up for this initiative, and we soon noticed that this program had a lot of potential.

Our first Commuter Ambassador Retreat took place in February. This workshop allowed our Commuter Ambassadors to meet each other, participate in leadership workshops, and do Strength Finders. Our brainstorming session allowed the ambassadors to put their creativity and ideas to the test as they worked in teams. By giving the ambassadors these skill sets, they are not only better equipped as leaders, but future Commuter Dons as well.

In a few years, the current Commuter Dons predict that these Commuter Ambassadors will be placed in districts (e.g. East, North East, North West, and West) to make teams for doing activities both on and off-campus and compete with each other for the Commuter Cup. To make sure this community of commuter students continue to grow and inspire others, the Commuter Dons wanted to partner with The Mike and feature commuter stories. Whether you are on the GO, train, or walking to and from campus, you can take these stories home with you so that you know you are always part of St. Michael’s College.

Adapting the University to Save the Institution

Changing the educational model to better fit the needs of the 21st century Elizaveta Mironova DESIGN EDITOR

Initially established to equip the Catholic Church with educated priests, the university has become one of the most important institutions in modern society. It has been a large determinant of people’s place in society – emphasizing mechanical skill. Practical knowledge has been of the highest value through out history: the study of religion during the peak of power of the Catholic Church, business and engineering in the 21 century. Programs in demand have changed, but the overall system has not.

demand of a unique skill set from new graduates. This change has outgrown universities’ potential, but has not eroded their importance as social institutions. University gives young minds opportunities to discover what their interests are and creates a foundation for success. Knowledge transcends time, hence there is no reason academia should not.

Many universities choose to remain loyal to systems and curricula that were instituted at their inception. While it is essential to embrace authentic histories, traditions, and cultures; it is just as important to recognize the need for change that comes with time. A classical, lecture style learning environment no longer suffices when the theoretical and practical material is readily accessible – even to those outside the university setting – thanks to technological developments.

The main vision universities should be striving to achieve is providing young adults with the necessary tools to enact positive change. Creating an educational system that allows them to interact with the world, in consort with technology, is a crucial initiative that will allow for appropriate social change.

A common outcome of technological advancement is the increased

The liberal arts structure contrasts the very prominent route of diving

What should a university education in the 21st century look like?

An interdisciplinary approach that promotes communication, innovation, and problem solving is the answer. First and foremost, a shift back to Communications theorists Marshall McLuhan and Arjun Appadurai agree Liberal Arts education will help create a strong foundation for analytical that technology is pervasive and the driving force of social change in our thinking and communication. It gives students more choices in how they lives. In effect, it is imperative that our educational systems, particularly tackle problems, just as it provides them with a vigorous selection of topics higher education, correspond to this technological proliferation. to explore.

straight into a specialized stream in first year. Assuredly, having depth all night], for 18 hours [to look at the stars]: not a problem, cause that’s all of knowledge is extremely important, but it also isolates people into they’re doing.” factions and creates a divide within society. Technology has deconstructed boundaries and “deterritorialized” the world – consequently people have to embrace this change.

Likewise, the way in which material is taught needs to be adjusted for the 21st century. Discussions and projects, hand-in-hand with internship requirements and professor assessments is what many large institutions, like the University of Toronto, lack. Implementing a more hands-on approach allows students to better retain information and demonstrates how that information can be applied to different problems.

Online sources can now provide just as much, if not more, information than professors in universities – which creates a need for a new kind of relationship between the student and the professor. President of George Mason University, Angel Cabrera, accentuates that professors will have to become “learning facilitators and outcomes assessors.” This more complex relationship between teacher and student will help lay the foundation for changing relationships between people, and ultimately promote social change.

In addition to learning about topics on a very large spectrum, students are able to take interdisciplinary courses – such as Piano in Society or Mathematics: A Historical Tour of the Great Civilizations. These kinds of programs enrich students’ capabilities and provide them with different perspectives for understanding the world.

Another very interesting development in the interdisciplinary field of education is MIT Media Lab’s Design and Science Journal that was published Attention has been drawn to the increasing demand for a different model in January 2016. It combines two very different fields, but takes it a step of higher education, resulting in the establishment of numerous ingenious further by creating something that the authors call “anti-disciplinary.” This projects. journal and way of thinking allows for the creation of new methods which do not fit into one particular discipline.

An example of the shifting landscape in education can be seen in the relatively new project in British Columbia – Quest University. The framework of the institution counters the traditional university and was established by administrators and professors of universities from around the world. With no specific departments of majors, each student receives a liberal arts education, the requirements of which are satisfied by taking courses in five different areas (almost like the Breadth Requirements at the University of Toronto). Small classroom sizes – with a maximum of 20 people – facilitate and engage students in discussion rather than pumping information out into a half-empty lecture hall.

An interesting idiosyncrasy of the university is that courses are offered in block schedule, where each course is to be completed in three and a half weeks, one at a time. This provides the professor with the students’ utmost attention and greatest capacity for evaluation. As David Helfand, one of the university’s professors pointed out, “If I want to keep [the students up

The journal also showcases a new development in research, which is a product of a changing horizon of education – “peer-to-peer review.” The authors open up their articles to instant reviews, creating a discussion between researchers. It is common to see papers written in response to other papers, but that is inefficient in the digital age, so this is a sort of adjustment. Communication and innovation start out in universities and the main goal is to keep up with the pace of technological change for the best results.

WIRED magazine explained “there are not many platforms besides the university that provide such a vehicle for individuals from different disciplines to interact with each other on such a regular basis.” University as an institution allows for the development of communication and critical thinking, creating a path to innovation which is one of the most important aspects of social change.

Most importantly, it allows young adults to discover their interests through academic endeavors and interactions, which all lead to the true meaning of success – happiness.

8

opinions

A Call for the Public to Use “Daesh” Civil unrest emerges from Mongkok riot

Briana Armson STAFF WRITER As of March 3rd, the Toronto Star will use “Daesh” to refer to the militant group many refer to as the “Islamic State,” “ISIS,” or “ISIL.” The Star is the first major Canadian media outlet to announce this terminology distinction, using an acronym for the group’s old Arabic name, al-Dawla al-Islamiya fil al-Iraq wa al-Sham. Michael Cooke, the newspaper’s editor-in-chief, has spoken publicly on the change: “These people are a huge multinational gang of killers and rapists—they have no legitimacy as a state and this name change helps emphasize that.”

The Star’s announcement has been welcomed and praised, both in readers’ letters and elsewhere.

The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) posted a response following the March 3rd article expressing its gratitude for the Star’s decision and calling on other public figures and media outlets to do the same. The Prime Minister of Britain, David Cameron, insists on using “Daesh,” as does the French government, yet many media organizations refrain from making the change, claiming it would confuse readers and viewers too much.

What is particularly confusing is calling a violent terrorist group the “Islamic State” when it is neither a state nor an accurate or complete representation of Islam. Media outlets are holding onto terminology that catches viewers’ attention in order to sensationalize headlines, which results in the use of terminology that is associated with fear and unimaginably vile acts. This unwillingness to let go of a name the group donned itself is causing harm and perpetuating Islamophobia, forming a dangerous link between all Muslims and the acts of an abhorrent terrorist organization. There have been many instances of anti-Muslim violence following news coverage of terrorist attacks by the “Islamic State,” “ISIS,” or “ISIL.”

Media outlets need to follow suit with the Star and make the change to “Daesh,” regardless of the so-called “confusion” that may ensue. Newspapers and other media organizations know better than anyone the power that comes from naming something and the impact of semantics on the definition and framing of the subject. Furthermore, referring to a terrorist group the name they want to be called is just adding fuel to the egomaniacal fire—why not call them something they abandoned because it has undesirable other meanings? Until those that control the information we receive, such as media outlets and public figures, overcome their fear of “confusion” and make the change from “Islamic State” to “Daesh,” innocent Muslims will continue to be stereotyped and confused for terrorists.

Arnold Yung CONTRIBUTOR Hong Kong is in uproar as violent clashes have broken out between police and protestors. On February 8th, hundreds took to the streets of Mongkok district when Food and Environment Hygiene inspectors attempted to shut down local street vendors operating in the area. Seen as an effort to clamp down local heritage, youth demonstrators surrounded and harassed the government inspectors, prompting police to be sent into the area. In response, protest sympathizers joined en masse, leading to a spade of incidents that engulfed into full-blown chaos. Windows were shattered and bricks were thrown as the outnumbered police force retaliated with pepper spray, batons, and the firing of warning shots.

As the whole city woke up from a night of chaos, dozens of demonstrators were arrested for inciting this “Fishball revolution.” Chief Executive CY Leung condemns the scuffle and has accused the protestors of perpetrating violence. Both pro-establishment and Pan-democrats have since denounced the riots and blamed local groups for instigating the riot, whilst the participants, many of them in the early 20s, justified their actions by claiming the police provoked them to respond by force. The rumour that alleged “troublemakers” were paid by proBeijing groups to provoke violence, and hence lower public opinion towards pro-democratic sentiment, was also suggested.

Yet, all these perspectives are key in unravelling bigger problems within Hong Kong society: emerging cleavages between government and citizenry, fostered by youth disillusionment.

This is similarly reflected in the leftist riots of 1966, which bare strong similarities with the Mongkok civil unrest of 2016. Inspired by the Cultural Revolution in China, local left wing youth demonstrators took to the streets when the colonial government attempted to raise the fare of cross-harbour ferries by 25%. Taking advantage of simmering public discontent towards growing corruption and poor living conditions, leftist protestors flooded the streets and fought in pitch battles against the police.

Fast forward 50 years to 2016 and much of these structural problems are still in place. Substitute expensive ferry fare rates with fishball vendors, and angry leftists with angry localists, and it leads to the same result. Both riots reflect fundamental issues that the city has yet to solve— living standards, government transparency and accountability towards its citizenry. With soaring property prices and the paltry performance of bureau secretaries, the current Hong Kong government is eroding in both image and trust.

As of this date, public frustration has translated beyond the streets. Recent breakthroughs in the in the New Territories East constituency’s by-election are demonstrative of this—the localist group Hong Kong Indigenous’ candidate is a recent graduate who was arrested for his participation in the riot. This shows growing distrust towards the Leung administration.

Rising youth awareness in politics, the failure to address social problems adequately and overall disillusionment with future economic prospects all contribute to civil unrest that is prone to repeat again. Fundamental problems must be addressed by the government on an equal platform with dissident voices to prevent further escalation.

Feminism is a movement we are far too comfortable painting with simplification Anah Mirza OPINIONS EDITOR “Feminist: a person who believes in the social, political and economic equality of the sexes.” Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie famously referenced this definition in her TED Talk on feminism in 2013, a snippet that would be later featured – alongside other portions of Adichie’s speech—on Beyoncé’s track “***Flawless.” According to that definition, feminism can logically be understood as being a concept inclusive of factors like gender, race, sexual orientation, and class.

However, mainstream feminist conversations that transpire today say otherwise.

Recall the so-called Twitter feud between recording artists Taylor Swift and Nicki Minaj of last summer when Minaj tweeted out dissatisfaction at the fact her record-breaking music video for “Anaconda” had not been nominated for the MTV VMA Video of the Year Award. To summarize, Minaj’s tweets called out a problem in that non-typical narratives are excluded from accolades and recognition. She argued that her video wasn’t nominated because it was premised on the celebration of black women and curvy figures, while videos featuring women with slim bodies are recognized regularly. Swift responded to these tweets having taken them as a direct jab against her, positing the problematic trend of pitting women against one another. As an observer, it is quite possible that Minaj was talking about success in the likes of Swift and her product, considering it was primarily the latter’s star-studded video for “Bad Blood” that earned her videorelated nods. Minaj promptly clarified with a follow-up tweet that she hadn’t been talking about Swift or her work but rather the industry’s continued exercise of body politics, sexism, and racism. The point being that the entertainment industry, pop culture, and society-at-large repeatedly fail to mitigate trends of disparity.

What many visualize as being feminism is white women in North America fighting for gender parity in the 1970s, a goal that presently, is still very much the standard strived towards.

What is not represented in this image is the complex layers of privilege whose deconstruction is necessary to achieve full equality. Instead, mainstream or white feminism does not centre around intersectionality and the challenges this more nuanced understanding brings with it.

none of the silhouettes illustrated a non-traditional ideal of beauty or femininity. That very same filter also used Beyoncé’s well-publicized lyric of “girls run the world” at the centre of the graphic. Beyoncé is, of course, the same female artist who Americans revel in claiming as theirs, while wholly rejecting any artistic celebration of her blackness. This selective recognition is not inclusive and does not give credit where credit is due.

During Ottawa’s celebration of International Women’s Day, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the next set of bills set to enter circulation in 2018 would feature an “iconic Canadian woman.” This announcement was coupled with the unveiling of a stamp and coin marking 100 years of women’s suffrage in Canada. On the day designated as a celebration of women, there was a failure to account for all of them.

This March 8th, International Women’s Day was perhaps the largest talking point in mainstream circles in years. For this, I am happy. For a number of other reasons, I remain dissatisfied.

There were many acknowledging the brilliant women in their lives like mothers, sisters, and significant others. There was still an absence of fighting for women because they are women—full stop. I expected that in 2016—as it’s so trendy to point out these days—there would be more substantial calls for ally-ship and for attention to underserved experiences. A very good friend of mine pointed out that the Snapchat filter for the day featured just two women of colour. Beyond that,

It was only women in Manitoba that received the right to vote at the provincial level in 1916; federal authorities granted the right two years later in 1918. Still, women in Quebec only received the right to vote provincially 20 years later in 1940.

And the most blatant discrepancy I see in the government’s commemoration of suffrage is the fact that Indigenous women were only enfranchised federally in 1960, more than 40 years after the federal government supposedly enabled women’s suffrage. One of the Liberals’ flagship election promises was a reconciliation with the Indigenous people of this land—a promise only seen in matters that are neatly nestled in the parameters of “Aboriginal issues.”

Intersectionality is inherent to our complex world, and the mainstream’s convenient ignorance of it is only detrimental to our shared, long-term future.

9

living A College Student’s Experience to the Magic of Working for the Walt Disney Company Jenna Rumeo CONTRIBUTOR On May 19th, 2015, I got on a plane with a dream to make dreams come true. Having been accepted as an International College Program participant, I was headed to Orlando, Florida to work for Walt Disney World Parks and Resorts.

The next two months, two weeks, and four days terrified me, not knowing what location I would be working at, who I would be living with, or how I would survive on my own. Needless to say, as Disney always does, my wildest expectations were greatly exceeded.

With extensive retail experience I was given a merchandise position at the Caribbean Beach Resort, but quickly learned that every employee, or as we say, cast member, despite job description were truly in the role of guest relations.

I didn’t spend my time working selling toys and souvenirs; I sold magic, happiness, and memories—all the while being dressed in the costume of a Caribbean pirate-ess. Families donning matching shirts, mouse ears, and tiaras received every penny they spent back in joy. There were guests who took pictures with me, recorded my Canadian accent, and visited the gift shop every day of their trip to see me and I was honoured to become a lasting part of their vacation.

In effect, they made going into work more of a vacation than a job for me. Evidently, magic making is the best job in the business. That is not to say that Disney is an effortless employer. The cast members who are stationed in the parks and resorts are the face of the company and that comes with a lot of responsibility. In order to give the highest level of guest service, cast members work extremely hard, and on top it all, make it all look easy!

That’s not to say that cast members were only making magic; we had a great share of magic as well. At the forefront, roommates. Students were given the option to request roommates. I decided to leave it up to Disney and chose the randomized roommate generator. This was a very scary decision, but I was very lucky. It turned out being one of the absolute best decisions I made during my program. My roommate was Ashley (featured in the photo), a college sophomore cheerleader from a small town in Wisconsin studying sonography. We were very different and we quickly became best friends. Bonded by park-going (tirelessly), a college diet (ramen noodles and Disney quick-service), and learning how to line dance (poorly), she was the Sulley to my Mike Wazowski. Making friends from all over the world was one of the best parts of the program. Because of Disney, some of the greatest people I have ever met are from China, Mexico, Jamaica, Norway, Indiana, and even Waterloo, Ontario. This displays Disney’s power to bring people together and defy limits.

And for the highlight of the trip, the park adventures. All castmembers get a main gate pass, meaning they can go into every park for free with the exception of certain extremely popular days, which are reserved for guests who purchased a ticket. This main gate pass is one of the many perks of working for this remarkable company. I thought I had defied the laws of physics and psychology at U of T by replacing sleep with caffeine in order to complete assignments and study for tests. My ability to overcome sleep was far greater challenged in Disney. An eight and a half hour shift was no excuse to miss out on a day at Disney. If I worked a morning shift, I would ditch my costume in my locker and head to the park for the rest of the evening and to catch the nightly firework extravaganza and vice versa. Days off meant park hopping (including the completion of the four-parksone-day challenge), character dining experiences, and trying fulfill everything on our Disney bucket list. Highlights of this bucket list include meeting Disney royalty, particularly Queen Elsa and Mulan, conquering Magic Kingdom’s mountains, spending weekends at Hollywood Studios for its limited time only “Star Wars Weekends,” surviving off of Dole-Whip and Mickey ice cream bars, and touring the pavilions at Epcot—my personal favourite being Norway!

A guide to all the parties around the city, big or small Christina Bezerra LIVING EDITOR St. Patrick’s Day is my favourite holiday of the university calendar. Not only is it historically fascinating and carries religious meaning, but it has also become one of the biggest “Hallmark” holidays. St. Patrick’s Day has been a day of friends and all things green ever since I turned 19. What other day of the year is it acceptable to drink green beer or order a Shamrock Shake from McDonald’s. It can be pretty complicated to organize a successful St. Patrick’s Day celebration, especially in the large city of Toronto. Here is your guide to all things St. Patrick’s Day this weekend around the city: If you want to keep it quiet and cheap, a local pub is your best bet. The more popular pubs such as Grace O’Malley’s or The Madison are also sure to throw a grand event. Pubs are usually open earlier in the day on St. Patrick’s day and have drink specials. This year the luck of the Irish is with all university students as the green filled day lands on Thursday, which will definitely be an asset when searching for drink deals in the city.

Those of us looking for an event a little larger than your local pub can check out the brand new Toronto hot spot Early Mercy. Early Mercy is starting the party early by opening their doors at 1:00 p.m. and keeping the party going into the wee hours of the morning. If day drinking couldn’t get any better, there may be a few food truck appearances at the venue. Venues like the Everleigh on King Street have an extended license until 4:00 a.m. and crazy drink deals like $5 draughts.

If you’re like me and your boss doesn’t approve of day drinking during work hours or supporting your love for a good St. Patrick’s Day party, don’t worry; there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow in the form of a massive weekend St. Patrick’s Day party. Both Steam Whistle Brewery and Guinness are throwing huge parties on Saturday, which will bring out thousands of prospective St. Patrick Day lovers. Steam Whistle is keeping their party at their own brewery, while Guinness is taking over Polson Pier. Both events open early and end super late so you can get all your St. Patrick’s Day desires out in one full day.

Opting for a night in with some good friends and maybe a good movie featuring Ireland’s greatest exports, such as Colin Farrell or the dreamy Pierce Brosnan, is also a great option when avoiding crowds.

However you choose to celebrate March 17th, be sure to drink responsibly and enjoy a day of Irish culture!

The Disney International College program was undoubtedly one of the most amazing experiences of my life, which no article or testimony could possibly do justice.

Emily Mais CONTRIBUTOR

Lingerie-inspired clothing

Off-the-Shoulder Tops

Running Shoes

I guess our necks and collarbones are the new accessories for springs, since these off the shoulder tops are everywhere.

The short-sleeved pieces are amazing for spring, summer, and fall because you can wear them with jeans in the fall and spring and shorts in the summer. For spring, you can throw on any pair of jeans with sandals, flats, or heels.

It’s the perfect shirt if you are going to go vacation in the Hamptons. The long-sleeve style is great for the coldishwarmish weather right now, tucked into high-waisted jeans and booties.

The tank is amazing with high waited trousers and a blazer for a dressier look or even jeans and leather booties for a more casual look. These lace slip dresses are giving me flashbacks to 2007 high school dances where everyone would wear Abercrombie& Fitch lace tank tops. They are great because you can wear them to a formal event and throw on a pair of strappy heels and a little fur jacket. Or, you can totally dress it down and throw on a pair of (my favourite) black leather booties and a silky bomber jacket.

The next trend is probably the easiest way to transition into spring, and it is probably the one I love to hate. After I graduated high school, I vowed to never own a pair of running shoes again. However, since every celebrity has decided to use active wear as a form of street style, I think everyone needs a pair of cool running shoes in their spring wardrobes. Our BFFs Kendall and Gigi are always wearing a crop top, leggings, sneakers, and a cool statement jacket— which, if you ask me, is the perfect spring outfit.

10

Sports

Taking a look at some of the NHL’s leading trophy hunters Alex Wichert SPORTS EDITOR The NHL season is coming to a close. That’s not a very engaging claim, is it? What’s more gripping is the fact that there are several closely-contested races which will – in all likelihood – come right down to the final puck drop. The kinds of races I mention here don’t involve teams jockeying for playoff positions or for sovereignty over their respective division. Rather, I’m referring to the annual, individual players’ awards announced at season’s end. While it’s still much too earlier to make a prediction on par with anything other than an educated guess, below are some projections for which player will walk away with some additional hardware.

Calder Trophy – Rookie of the Year: Max Domi, Arizona Coyotes.

I know what you’re thinking. How could anyone outmuscle Chicago phenom Artemi Panarin for this award? Quite simply, it comes down to the fact that Domi doesn’t have nearly the supporting cast of his Blackhawk rival. In recent memory, the Calder Trophy has consistently been awarded to a rookie, through no fault of his own, who has had the fortune to land on a rebounding team or a squad which would be quite successful even without the youngster’s help. Although Panarin has had an excellent season, leading or remaining at the top of the pack in rookie goals, assists, points, and powerplay points, he’s also had the opportunity to play on a line with Patrick Kane and Artem Anisimov.

While the Calder Trophy isn’t specifically designated to the rookie who does the most with the least, it is significant that Domi – and fellow rookie Anthony Duclair – have turned the ship around in Arizona and have done so with less fanfare. Sure, the Coyotes have dropped out of a playoff spot, but they’re still in the hunt and, if they get there, a large amount of credit will be due to Domi. Jack Eichel has climbed in the standings recently but, if Domi can put together an excellent final few weeks of the season, he should certainly get the recognition he deserves.

Vezina Trophy – Goalie of the Year: Braden Holtby, Washington Capitals.

I probably went against the consensus with my previous selection. For this category, I’ll remain within the opinion of most pundits.

Braden Holtby is the best goalie in the world at the moment. It’s unfortunate for Montreal’s Carey Price, as he might have continued his all-worldly play and landed not just the Vezina but the Hart Trophy for the 2015-2016 year. It certainly appeared, at the beginning of the season, that this would be the case.

However, it is Holtby who has risen to lead all NHL goalies. He started 72 games last season and, although he has a heavy workload again this season, his club is actually concerned that they aren’t keeping their goalie busy enough. One could make a case for a goaltender such as Roberto Luongo, who has helped lead the Florida Panthers back into the limelight with his stellar play. He certainly should be a finalist for the award. However, it is Holtby’s save percentage, goals against average, and – of course – win tally which put him on a notch above any other contenders. If he can win fifty games this season, he’ll both reach an unprecedented number of victories for NHL goaltenders and will solidify himself as the rightful winner of the Vezina award.

Hart Trophy – Most Valuable Player: Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks.

To get technical, this trophy is awarded to the player deemed to be most valuable to his team. The wording is somewhat vague, and has led to discussions in the past about the inherent differences between being “the best player in the league” and being “the most valuable to one’s team”. Regardless, I doubt anyone is going to realistically challenge Patrick Kane for either of these titles.

If I wanted to contest my own reasoning, I could suggest a player such as Braden Holtby or Dallas Star Jamie Benn for this award. I do think, though, that Kane has this one all but wrapped up. He’s never had more than 30 goals and 88 points in a season before this year. At the time of writing, he has 38 and 89. He’s a major reason why Chicago’s powerplay leads the league at 24.1%. So there’s the “best player in the league” bit, if one can ever resolutely claim to know the best player. How about the “most valuable to one’s team” title?

Well, Kane has helped to take the scoring pressure off of other big-name players in his club’s lineup. With the addition of former Blackhawk Andrew Ladd at the Trade Deadline, Kane’s ability to diffuse the scoring pressure may become even more understated but it should definitely not be forgotten. There’s also the fact that he is producing in almost every game. On one of the best teams in the league, it can be tempting to take a night off and simply sit back as another player contributes; this season, Kane has avoided that mentality at an exceptional pace.

These are, of course, merely predictions for how the rest of the season will unfold and how the votes will be tallied. There is a good chance, though, that the players highlighted above will soon be achieving some impressive (tro)feats of skill.

Giving credit to the fans who are the heart of the Blue Jays Alex Wichert SPORTS EDITOR I’d like to suggest that Munenori Kawasaki’s departure from the Toronto Blue Jays is, thematically, symptomatic of a larger peril that has been gripping the club for some time now. Sure, he is realistically a depth infielder with a light bat. I’m not claiming that any of Toronto’s major statistical categories will take a significant dive with his leaving.

The fact is, though, that you can sense there is a loss of “soul” on this team.

The Blue Jays are going to compete, of course. They have an array of young talent and almost all of their top dogs are still on the roster. However, with the public dissatisfaction between management and Jose Bautista, the ultimatum given to Edwin Encarnacion, the fact that AL-MVP Josh Donaldson was taken to arbitration, and the feeling that similar penny-pinching moves will be on the horizon, Jays fans are perfectly entitled to be disgruntled. There was a sense of close-knit comradery on the club last year – the kinds of player-player, player-fans, and player-management relationships which can be surprisingly uncommon. The first two connections still exist, but the third is strained.

That’s why the onus is on the fans to maintain their passion. The best way to push back and make sure the Toronto Blue Jays retain the heart they showed last year – and in years leading up to their playoff run – is to continue what you’ve been doing. Keep management accountable, whether through social media posts, articles, or public discussions. Support your players when they are going through difficult contract negotiations or challenging on-field play. Continue to give the home field advantage to your team through vocal attendance.

Players and fans may have been alienated by recent management moves but the Blue Jays have more than enough supporters to keep fan-ning the flames of excitement in the city.

Faith & Thought

11

What euthanasia legislation says about life Elizabeth McDermott FAITH EDITOR Cardinal Thomas Collins recently released a statement in response to the recommendations of a parliamentary committee regarding euthanasia and assisted suicide legislation. He expressed grave concerns over what this means for Canadians. He pointed out that the recommendations would unjustly force Canadians to act against their conscience. The recommendations include forcing all publicly funded institutions to provide this as a service and requiring doctors who do not wish to kill their patients to ensure that another will do so.

Many in favour of legalizing euthanasia cite compassion for those in unbearable and incurable pain. Yet when the broad recommendations to the government include, as Cardinal Collins notes, those with psychiatric conditions, the ability to pre-schedule death for those with conditions such as dementia and euthanasia for minors, may no longer to be true compassion for these people but a real devaluing of their lives. It disallows any belief in the beauty of being and insists that value lies in one’s abilities. This, the Cardinal says, is “a shaky foundation for social policy.”

In 2009, a letter written by Quebec medical students was published in the National Post. The letter was a response to the support of euthanasia by the Quebec College of Physicians. “Do we lose ourselves when we lose our health?” the students ask in the letter.

“The human being is marked by a desire to be loved in spite of illness and misery. This need for an affirmation of intrinsic worth, despite vulnerability and dependence, cannot be satisfied by suicide, which is an expression of nihilism; as if at some point our humanity could have no value. We, future physicians, will be watchful never to intentionally kill those patients who will be entrusted to us. Rather we will be witnesses to their beauty.”

This ability to see beauty in the lives of patients is nowhere to be found in the report on euthanasia and assisted suicide.

What does legalizing euthanasia mean for the lives of Canadians? It means that the people who govern us care more that we have a life without pain than a life without love. It means that though one can love and be loved, this is not worth suffering for and that suffering— not being—defines us. If a life with suffering is not worth living, are all in pain to be encouraged to end their lives? This legislation signals the bureaucratization of suicide. It is a process in which the government and health care professionals overstep their roles in the lives of Canadians. They grant themselves the power to decide what pain cannot be endured and whose lives shall be ended by those who work to preserve life. What is needed is not merely compassion for the suffering of others, compassion that will seek to end it at any cost. What is needed most is love, which may not end pain but can diminish it.

Tree Hands Andi Bordt CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER One of my personal favourites, this award-winning photography piece was the winner of the 2014 Ottawa Art Gallery Award and 2014 Corel Award. Achieving this was a high point in my history within the arts, and led to the inspiration for many of my later works.

Amanda Arulanandam CONTRIBUTOR When I was five-years-old, a boy in my class took my backpack. He didn’t actually steal it, I knew that. He had accidently picked it up, thinking it was his own. Still, I was too shy and scared to point out his error or even to tell my teacher. Instead, I cried and resigned myself to the fact that I’d never have my backpack again. The whole incident was a grave drama in my mind: I didn’t like that backpack too much and there wasn’t anything too valuable in it, but I felt as if I had endured a great loss and my world had been shattered. The boy eventually realized his mistake and returned my bag to me.

Looking back on the incident now, I can laugh about it and know that it was a drama in my mind. I had only been upset because I had a child’s perspective (a highstrung child’s perspective). Now that I’m older, though I’ve retained my high-strung character, I can see that the backpack would have been almost no loss to me at all.

But I also think that my perspective may be skewed now: perhaps when I’m older, and hopefully wiser, I will look back on my current anxieties and be amused by them.

Then I wonder, is God laughing at me right now? Since He is omniscient, He always has an “adult” perspective. In comparison, my perspective will always be limited, narrow, and “childish.” Perhaps some things that seem like terrible sufferings from my “childish” perspective are seen as petty and ridiculous from God’s “adult” perspective.

Perhaps that is why it often feels like He isn’t listening to me—I’m not worth listening to.

But then I remember that God isn’t just an “adult” but a father. So often parents see that their children are overly worried about relatively small concerns. They may try to help their children gain a more mature perspective in order to see that such concerns are not a big deal. Yet good parents will also have compassion for their children. They realize that their children struggle to have a mature perspective, and empathize in their children’s pain. God is no different. He knows that often our troubles are down to our immature perspective; if we would only “grow-up,” we wouldn’t be nearly as anxious and upset as we are now. He does not have contempt for us, but “remembers that we are dust” and has compassion for us (Psalms 103:14).

I often feel that God isn’t listening, that He doesn’t care about my tiny problems, and that He is probably laughing at me. He may be laughing (who wouldn’t?), but I trust that he is also listening and that He cares.

12

Carefree Keenan Gibson PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR These images are taken as a selection from my series titled “Carefree�. With Spring just around the corner, and warmer weather on the way, looking back at this series inspires me to get out outside, go shoot, and enjoy the people and nature around me. These photos were taken during a day trip with model, Madison Pellerin.