The Mike Oct 7 Issue

THURSDAY OCTOBER 8, 2015 ISSUE 6 - New Year, New President

OLD TRADITIONS NEW HISTORIES: AN INTERVIEW WITH NEW PRESIDENT DAVID MULRONEY P.8

Editorial

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Welcome to a new year at the University of Toronto! It’s an exciting time to be here, at the cusp of great change - not only do we transition into a new year at university, but St Michael’s college welcomes a new president and nature corresponds by shedding the old with a autumn blush.

As promising as all of this sounds, we know that dealing with change can be daunting and overwhelming. Although university presents us with unprecedented opportunities, it also brings with it formidable challenges. Whether it be making it from one end of campus to the other in under ten minutes, dealing with two mid-terms and a basketball tryout on the same day or having to spend thanksgiving alone because flights home are too darn expensive.

We at The Mike know that the struggle is real. We’re dealing with many changes of our own: putting together a team that seeks to be a conduit for student engagement at St Michael’s College...

Putting out a newspaper that gives a voice to our remarkable community. We realized quickly [but are still learning] that the great thing about change is that one can truly redefine themselves. And in that spirit we’ve added a new section: Faith and Thought, to celebrate the beautiful values of our college.

We want to be a reflection of the great things happening at SMC and a platform to showcase the unsung talents that make our community. And we invite you to join us in this endeavour. After all, it’s easier getting through these seemingly insurmountable challenges with someone [or an entire team] by your side!

Palakh Chhabria | Editor-in-Chief

The Mike Masthead 2015-2016 Interim Editor-in-Chief Ms. Palakh Chhabria

editorinchief@readthemike.com

Interim Arts Editor Mr. Chris Kaumeyer

arts@readthemike.com

Interim Managing Editor Ms. Salena Barry managingeditor@readthemike.com

Outgoing Editor-in-Chief Mr. Louis Train

Interim Living Editor

Interim Sports Editor

Interim Faith Editor

Interim Opinions Editor

living@readthemike.com

Mr. Alex Wichert sports@readthemike.com

faith@readthemike.com

opinions@readthemike.com

Ms. Christina Bezerra

Ms. Elizabeth McDermott

Ms. Anah Mirza

@readthemike 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

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editorial

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A Call to Pens Elizabeth McDermott|Faith Editor

Someone once asked me if I was a writer. I hesitated at the time, but later thought – why should I not be one? False modesty plays no part; the question was are you one, not are you a good one. I believe my fellow students may feel the same hesitancy, or else the line up to write for the Mike would be much longer. What gives legitimacy to one’s writing? When did one’s identity become so tied up with how they earn their living? I imagine a writer to be someone who agrees with me when I say ‘I am, therefore I write’. We seek legitimacy in a culture that does not ascribe it to us unless we have the money to show for it. But the aim of our work is not remuneration. Like writers before us, our concern is the human experience expressed again, but anew. Fellow writers, let’s not allow ourselves to be told our work is worth less than ones that lead to a sizeable paycheque. To accept that what we live to do is worthless without being paid to do it is to neglect our duty. The human experience is not reducible to income – therefore income cannot be our end. We should remember that some of the greatest writers were not paid but jailed for writing. We have been given the gift of freedom of expression at a time when many others are not so lucky. Let us use that gift and share it with others; for it is when our gifts are used for the community that they fulfill their potential. It may not be a matter of life and death for us - but as any writer knows, it is certainly a matter of life.

Arts are the new black. write or edit for us

editorinchief@readthemike.com

ARTS

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Hidden Treasures Across Campus

Discover the St. George Campus and its artistic charm has to offer. Amidst the 150 plus buildings, there are dozens of hidden exhibits, murals and museums which feature some of the most exquisite art work on campus.

One of these hidden gems is Soldier’s Tower located inbetween University College and Hart House. This tower is often overlooked in that students mostly walk under it in order to travel to the north side of campus; however, the structure is an absolute artistic marvel. Built in 1924, the tower showcases beautiful architecture and features a memorial and museum dedicated to university students who died in World War I and II. The most breathtaking display within the tower is a 12- panel stain glass window depicting John McCrae’s notorious poem “In Flander's Field”.

Stephanie Martins |Contributor Spanning over 30 blocks, it is difficult to appreciate and discover all of the aesthetic gems U of T’s St. George campus

Only a few steps away from Soldier’s Tower exists hallways filled with spectacular art - entirely created by U of T students.

In the lower levels of Hart House, just outside the restaurant and bar, dozens of paintings, sketches, and photographs are hung on the walls. Not only do these works of art tend to lean towards daring postmodern techniques or themes, many of

them feature optical illusions and eccentric colours. Next time when grabbing a beer or lunch at Hart House, take a second to walk through these hallways and admire the incredible art of your peers.

Although the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library is no secret, some of the astounding collections featured in the library can be. The library obviously focuses on its book collection, featuring over 200 books published before 1501, but it also features original manuscripts, photographs, artifacts and correspondences between famous writers and theorists.

The library will be kicking off the New Year with an exhibit commemorating Shakespeare - 2016 marks 400 years since his death. The exhibit will feature Shakespeare’s earlier works, poetry, maps and most excitingly, experimentation with form and genre.

For more information on any of these buildings or exhibits, visit the university of Toronto website or keep reading ‘The Mike’ for updates and upcoming events.

Hey Mikes, It’s Better To Be Loved Meet Francesco Yates - the newest addition to Toronto's roster of up-and-coming musicians Lily Song|Contributor If you had been there at the UTSU’s Concert during St. Mike’s Frosh Week, you would have been hypnotized by an irresistible mixture of voice and guitar. Sometimes vicious and electrifying, sometimes romantic and sweet, this Canadian singer is quickly gaining loyal fans. His name is Francesco Yates.

Composing music since the age of 11 and signed to the Atlantic Records by the age of 16, this young Torontonian had an ideal start. His first single, Call, was released on 2014 and successfully ranked 77th on the Canadian Hot Billboards.

In the following year he released his next single, Better to Be Loved, and easily beat his past record by ranking 37th. By 2015, he performed at the Ottawa’s Canada Day Celebration and Toronto’s PAN AM and PARA PAN AM concerts to thousands of attendees and won the CTV’s Canadian Radio Music Awards’ Heatseeker Award. It is immensely exciting how his future albums will continue to surprise us.

Almost everyone these days can either sing or play an instrument like the guitar, or a piano. But mastering all of them - like Yates - during your teenage? Not so easy. However, he notes that there is more than just ability and determination there needs to be passion. “Passion is what makes an artist an artist – not the talent. Because it’s the passion that creates the talent,” says Yates. In another magazine interview Yates gives a great advice: “Be yourself but first, know yourself, because you cannot be yourself if you don’t know yourself.”

Yates’ quotes do not just apply to musicians, but university students as well. Students these days memorize their notes all day and complain about their workload that nobody wants to be a student anymore. We all chose to be here whether we like it or not, so we should make the most out of it. And a part of doing that is developing a passion. So that when you study, you don’t just strain your hands by rewriting pages of notes - You visualize what your professor said, like being in a movie theatre, and become a film critic. If you have problems with the movie (the content), you let it out to the world by stating your opinion in your essay, or leading a discussion in a tutorial.

But before that, surely no one can excel in anything until

they learn. This applies for the “musical prodigy” Yates as well.

The little 11-year old Yates happened to watch a movie called School of Rock one day that made him sign up for a music camp during the summer. There he not only learned how to play and compose, but realized his dream and worked tirelessly until he really achieved it in the span of a few years. He continues to learn by working with other artists such as Pharrell and playing other instruments such as the bass, drums, and harmonica.

You’ve got passion, determination, and talent. But is that enough to conjure up a song that is going to stick in everybody’s head? The answer is no. Because lastly, you need inspiration. The ever-funky Yates with his unconventional afro says: “Anything can inspire me, really, from a book to a car ride or a

quote from a conversation I’ve had. Coincidence has a funny way of doing things like that. No one thing inspires me – I open myself to all the experiences to be inspired.” Inspiration has a reputation of something that is unique and rare that therefore it is difficult to obtain. But actually, it is not that hard to find if you let yourself roam free and take in all the events that happened in your day.

Whether you’re a university student or a growing pop star, I think we all need the same basic skills to get us through.

Although only 20-years old, Yates has these skills down and “he’s absolutely going to be a huge, huge, huge pop star” according to Pharrell. As a fellow Canadian, let us all continue to support Francesco Yates and his music!

faith & Thought Beauty in Faith

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Reflections on the power and importance of beauty in Catholicism Elizabeth McDermott|Faith Editor I believe what attracts one to the Catholic faith, even (and perhaps especially) those born into it, is the recognition of its beauty. Beauty naturally takes on many forms – truth, poetry, song, an encounter with Someone. Beauty has the power to move us in a way that arguments and debates ultimately cannot. It reaches us beyond the limits of reason, where words often fail. My hope for the Faith and Thought section is that it will provide a platform for this – to share what we find beautiful, and what attracts us to our faith. This aspect of sharing is vital because to share this beauty is to go deeper into the universality of the universal Church, and to be truly Catholic.

I was recently privileged to see the expression of this experience of beauty from two friends.

The first was Phil Stokman, a student at The Catholic University of America. He had heard Pope Francis speak on his recent visit to the United States. Though most people viewed his visit through the lens of its political ramifications, Phil was most struck by seeing Pope Francis who primarily viewed it as a human encounter. “In the days before the arrival of the Pope, I noticed that I was growing nervous.” Phil said. “I knew the Pope would have to meet so many people of high political power, people who are in a way ‘against him’ because of their different political positions. When he arrived, my anxiety disappeared. I saw a man who had come to the United States not to meet an agenda, but to meet a people.” Phil told of how he recognized the method with which Pope Francis leads the Church. “He looks at these people first as people with human hearts, not politicians. Certain that these people are his brothers and sisters in Christ, he believes political change begins with an encounter with a human person.” This was reflected in his relationship even towards the press: “I thank you for the work that you will do in helping me spread my mission of peace.” Pope Francis said to the press. Phil’s experience was a reminder of what it is that we are constantly called to: the human encounter, which takes precedence even over the greatest political issues.

By knowing every part [through your studies] you are going deeper into the truth of reality. Are you interested in the truth?’” This changed Michele, and, through his testimony, changed myself and the other students that heard him speak. This way of approaching studies is not common, and yet incredibly beautiful. He encouraged us to see our studies and the concomitant hours of work as an opportunity to build something, together with those who teach us. As Michele told us, “Studying is the way to go deeper into things, to understand the truth together.”

In listening to these two expressions of beauty that had moved my friends, I experienced what it is I want to be shared in this section. As a poem by Mary Dixon Thayer finishes, “Few meet to rise together – few to spurn that which is base, to work, and climb, and pray. Precious is friendship when friend calls to friend, ‘Be strong! Here is my hand. Let us ascend!” I would like nothing more than for this, the Faith and Thought section, to let us do just that. Friends, I ask for your hands, and offer you mine – let us ascend!

The second expression of beauty was one closer to home. In his testimony to the U of T chapter of Communion and Liberation, Michele Martello spoke of how he came to understand the beauty of his studies. When he was younger, he saw school as ‘a prison’. “I could start to live again only outside of school” he said. Desperate to help him, his mother asked a tutor to stay with him in his studies. “I told [my tutor] that there was nothing worse than studying, that nothing I lived had to do with it” he said. His tutor agreed. “He told me that to study means to be attracted to something. ‘You can’t be attracted, you can’t study, if right now it is not attractive.

Artwork by Miriam Tingle

Pope Francis’ Powerful Message on the Family Part One

Peter O’Hagan|Contributor Near the end of his recent trip to the United States, Pope Francis addressed the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia. Although he had prepared a text, the Pope chose instead to speak off the cuff. The result was quite possibly the most powerful statement he made, among many powerful statements, during his time in the U.S.

Beginning from God’s truth, love, and beauty, Francis set out in a short and beautiful speech what amounts to a theological history of the family. The family, he reminds us, was willed

by God – God who is so overflowing with love that He wanted to create human beings in His image. Right from the beginning, human beings were created as a family, which Francis calls “the most beautiful thing that God made.” God “created man and woman, and He gave them everything. He gave them the world! Grow, multiply, cultivate the earth, make it produce, make it grow. He presented to a family all of the love that He made in this marvelous creation.”

As those familiar with the Biblical story know, however, the first man and the first woman did not follow God’s plan – instead, they disobeyed God, with the result that humanity is now distanced from God. The world is broken, and already with the first children of that first couple, murder of brother by brother enters the world when Cain kills Abel.

However, Francis points out, God’s overflowing love for humanity meant that He did not abandon us: “There was so much love, so much love that He began to walk with humanity.

He began to walk with His people, until the fullness of time arrived, and He gave the greatest sign of His love, His Son.” Francis goes on: “And His Son, where did He send Him? To a palace?

To a city, to start a business? He sent Him to a family! God came into the world in a family.”

In a few short statements, brimming with his characteristic warmth and energy, the Pope has presented to us salvation history through the lens of the family. The family is willed by God from the beginning; and when the time came to redeem us, God chose to become human precisely through a family, just as we all come into existence. Further, as the Pope explained on Sept. 22 in an address to families in Cuba, the actions of Jesus throughout His life reveal the importance God places on the family and on the everyday elements of family life. Jesus begins his public life at a

wedding; He eats meals in the homes of his friends. Francis insists that Jesus wanted to enter into the life of the family, and that He stills wants to do the same now: “Jesus began his life [precisely] within a family, within a home. And he continues to enter into, and become a part of, our homes.”

Francis draws important conclusions from these reflections on the family, both in his address to the World Meeting of Families and in his remarks to Cuban families. The family is a “domestic church.” By this phrase (which is a common one in the Catholic understanding, not invented by Francis), the Pope means that the family is a privileged place where God comes to meet us; we encounter Jesus within the family.

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Meeting David Mulroney

Palakh Chhabria | Editor-in-Chief

Earlier this year St Michael’s College welcomed its new president and ViceChancellor David Mulroney, an SMC alumnus, who had a long and illustrious career in the Canadian Foreign Services.

He served as the Canadian Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China from 2009-2012, the Deputy Minister of the Afghanistan Task Force and the Associate Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. Just days ahead of his installation, Palakh Chhabria of The Mike got a chance to interview the President about his personal journey and plans for St Michael’s College in years to come.

The Mike: Could you tell us an interesting fact about yourself that we wouldn’t ordinarily know?

David Mulroney: My first paying job was working for a man named Lorne Michaels, who was the creator of Saturday Night Live and is still its producer. That’s back in the 1970s when he was producing a comedy show in Toronto. I was in High School and I answered an ad to be a dog walker...so I met Lorne Michaels, walked his dog and the next thing I know he’s in New York starting this late night show! [Laughs]

TM: [Laughs] Ok, so as students we all know that the president’s office is important and powerful, but specifically, what does the President of St Michael’s college do?

DM: The President is in fact the Chief Executive Officer of the University. More than that - it’s the president’s job to give voice to and help people understand the mission of the University… about what it means to be St Michael’s College and the center for catholic intellectual life in the University of Toronto.

TM: You mentioned in an earlier interview that coming to St. Mike’s for you was like homecoming because you grew up on this campus and the Basilian fathers were very influential in your education.

Now, there are thousands of students at this college, how do you expect them to have a similar, fulfilling experience?

DM: That’s a big challenge and I spend a lot of time thinking about it. One of the ways of addressing that is to remember that the university is more than just its course offerings. Important things at the university often happen outside of the classrooms - of course classrooms are a big part of it. I have to think a lot about student experience - first of all that we have an environment that is safe and healthy and happy.

My own memory of St. Mike’s was largely of how happy I was here. And that we’re creating opportunities for culture, sports, and current events and also to sustain their own religious and spiritual side. We are a Catholic institution but we’re welcoming to people of all faiths and to people who have no faith.

We’re as contemporary as the University of Toronto but we’re also a place where you can retreat a little bit to your thoughts. In line with our mission, we’re a place where people feel that their views are respected, their culture is respected and that they are respected.

TM: On the note of making our space safer, healthier and happier - are there any initiatives you’d like to share with us?

DM: One of the things I’ve looked at relates to residence life. After many consultations, and a lot of thinking and reading about what’s happening in Canada and the US, I have directed that students that are of age can consume beer or wine in residences but they can’t bring or consume hard liquor on residence. I want to be sure that while students that are of age have a chance to try these things as part of their adult lives, the most vulnerable members of our community–the youngest –are protected. Hard liquor is often a contributor to unsafe situations and I thought we need to - as many U.S. universities have done - remove that from

the equation.

I’m the first president at St. Mike’s who is also a parent. I have a daughter who attended St. Mike’s. Sometimes I take off my president’s hat and wear my parent’s hat - and I don’t want to sound paternalistic - but I am conscious of the responsibilities I have to our students and particularly, our young students. Another thing I’m doing is developing a close relationship with the dons. Both the residence dons and the student dons, to get a better sense of the kinds of concerns our students have, so we can work on solutions in real time. I see the dons as an extension of my own office.

TM: Why drives you so deeply in your new role? What motivates you to come into work before you need to?

7 DM: That’s a habit I started early on...the Basilian gifts are goodness, discipline and knowledge and sometimes I worry that I haven’t done so well on the goodness and knowledge part but I got the discipline part [chuckles].

The key to any success I’ve had in my life is that I started early and prepared myself. I retired from Government in 2012, spent three years at the Munk School working on China and Afghanistan issues, wrote my book and was then ready to try something new when Father George Smith of the Basilians called on me. I wasn’t thinking of this at all, I never aspired to be the head of a federated college... but the opportunity to come here was extremely important to me, since I see St Michael’s as an essential institution in Canadian life. It is a place that is unique in its ability, its vocation, and its mission for creating leaders in Canadian life.

It’s also an essential Catholic institution in North America. So it’s an institution I see as vital to the success of our society - however you define it - and the opportunity to serve in that institution was just too good to turn down.

TM: What can we expect from you the President of St Michael’s college, in the following months and years to come?

DM: The three things that I really want to focus on are, first: that St Michael’s plays its full role as a center for Catholic intellectual life at the university of Toronto... so it’s the place where Catholic intellectual tradition is passed on to a new generation and where it’s renewed through its contact with the world. Second is aiding an atmosphere for students where they feel intellectually stimulated, respected, safe, engaged with the ideas we’re offering them and engaged with the social issues they become aware of while they’re here. Third and related to that is that is creating a context for education in its broadest sense.

We’re creating opportunities for students to learn about the connection between religion and culture, politics and social policy… we’re bringing in top quality speakers and also arranging many cultural events.

In my spare time, another interest is to ensure I’m doing everything I can do broaden the international dimension of education at St Michael’s college. This is

something I feel passionate about given my own background.

TM: Your motto, “heart speaks to heart”, what does that mean?

DM: It’s ultimately the motto of Cardinal Newman and what it means really - it’s a reminder that although university is a place of the mind, a catholic university is also a place of the heart because we’re educating the whole person.

Why I want that as my motto is - I want to encourage that sense of connectedness, of shared responsibility, shared respect and of community with everybody that is a part of St Michael’s college.

TM: You talked of a few parallels between yourself and the class of 2019 at their orientation.

What advice do you have for the newest members of St Michael’s college?

DM: To keep their eyes and ears open and experience everything they can of university life. It’s a unique and wonderful time in your life where you feel stretched and challenged and absolutely renewed. So see this for what it is and enjoy it! Also, to remain confident and not to get discouraged - life can seem full of challenges, there are pressures on students to get good results and find a career and this can sometimes be overwhelming. Be confident, be optimistic - don’t just take the safe choice, take the choice that really responds to your heart and your dreams.

TM: Is that what you did?

DM: I did and for me that dream had to do with the international side of life. I had a cousin who was one of the few women in the department of Foreign Affairs in the 40s and 50s...I was really interested in what she had done and my wife was also someone who really loved international travel. So I wrote the foreign services exam… our first child had just been born and we set off for Korea! It was terra incognita but turned out to be a wonderful experience. My life overseas has opened the door for me to so many friends, so many experiences and ideas that I might not have encountered elsewhere. So I did pursue my dream and interestingly, my dream brought me back here to St Michael’s.

TM: Can you tell us of an interesting experience you had abroad, while at the foreign services?

DM: Let me think of a couple [pause]. One of them was meeting the Queen and Prince Philip when they came to Shanghai on the Royal Yacht Britannia. I got to go aboard for dinner with the Queen.

I also travelled to Afghanistan during the time of conflict. At one point I was visiting the Canadian forces at their base out west at Kandahar city when I was looking down on a highway that runs from Kabul to Kandahar to Herat, and realized, sitting up there in the Canadian fortress in 2008, that I had travelled on that very road

with a backpack on my back in the 1970’s. Now, I couldn’t even safely walk down that road. It gave me a sense of the chaos and destruction in Afghanistan, from all those decades of war. So I’ve had the chance to retrace my steps in life from time to time.

TM: Alright! Any final words for the students at St. Mike’s?

DM: Just that I hope to meet them, stay close to them. I want to be a very approachable president.

I’m someone that believes in leadership in walking around...so they’ll see me walking around a lot.

I welcome the chance to see them and have them knock on my door to say hello!

TM: Thank you very much and welcome back to St. Mike’s!

SporTS

8 Blue Jays – Then and Now

A look at Toronto’s ball club in 1985 and 2015 David Rouben |Contributor As the Blue Jays get set to make their first playoff run in 22 years, it’s worth looking back to the first time ever that they won their division. The 1985 Jays team finished 99-62 – those 99 wins are a franchise record and one that won’t be topped this year – and has plenty of players whose names are enshrined along the Rogers Centre’s Level of Excellence.

Even though this year’s team has got fans thinking 92 (and please look up that video if you haven’t yet), the 85 team seems like a more appropriate callback. As it was the club’s first postseason appearance, they brought baseball fever to the city.

That was the team that started an elongated period of success.

After 8 seasons of futility, they went on to win 5 division titles in 8 years including 3 straight from 1991-1993. Even with the back-to-back World Series wins, some fans still claim the 85 Blue Jays was their favourite season. It’s also a cautionary tale for anyone who’s been saying the word championship around this team because even though the Jays finished with the second best record in baseball in 85, they still got eliminated by the Royals (a potential playoff opponent this year) in 7 games after holding a 3-1 lead.

Mike Trout, last year’s MVP, saw his team get swept in the first round by the Royals. However, there’s no doubting that the Jays have confidence. There’s no one else that can say they have the support of an entire country.

The Leafs and Raptors have collectively made it to the playoffs during the last three years, and while the atmosphere and hype surrounding those two were great, it’ll be like nothing compared to this team. The ACC seats 20,000 people compared to 50,000 at the Rogers Centre, so the crowd noise will definitely play a factor for the opposing team’s pitcher. Also, while fans would have been happy to see the Leafs and Raptors get out of the first round, expectations are much higher for the Jays since they’ve been playing at a higher-caliber level. They also

traded away 12 talented pitching prospects so that they could win now, meaning that if the banner doesn’t fly North, the team in five years could look like the Phillies now. So even though the team has gone all-in to win now, there’s no telling how bright the future is going to be. w

Of course, that’s no reason not to enjoy this while it lasts. As the playoffs get set to start, make the effort to go to a bar or to have some sort of communal viewing experience.

If you can go to a game, do it. The price will be inordinately high, but there’s nothing like a playoff atmosphere – there’s a good chance it’ll be the loudest crowd during the postseason.

And lastly, but most important, remember to drink responsibly.

The 1985 roster is filled with players that will live on in Jays memory. The way this team has played, it’s only a matter of time before they have their names up on the Level of Excellence. The offense wasn’t as historically great then as it is now, but the 1985 team was defined by timely defense and excellent pitching. There is no doubt that, heading into the playoffs, the Jays will be watching old highlights of the 1985 team and looking to emulate them. Can David Price become the new Dave Stieb, Jose Bautista the new George Bell, or Troy Tulowitzki the new Tony Fernandez?

While the Jays have every right to celebrate their success this year, they also must know not to get ahead of themselves. They haven’t won anything yet, and the playoffs are a completely different beast than the regular season. Regular season success means nothing in October, and everything gets reset. In the last five years, the team with the best record in the American League has only made the World Series once.

Car(roll)e To Ask?

A look at the latest “big name” acquisition for the Toronto Raptors Jonfranco Monaco|Contributor

Born July 27th, 1986, in Birmingham, Alabama, DeMarre Carroll is an American basketball player currently playing in the National Basketball League (NBA).

Growing up, DeMarre was a Small Forward at John Carroll High School, in Birmingham. DeMarre led his team to backto-back state titles, and earned All-State status throughout his high school career. In 2004, his graduating year, DeMarre was listed as the No. 40 small forward and the No. 148 player in the United States.

In the Fall of 2004, DeMarre started at Vanderbilt University, where he played basketball for two years. After a successful sophomore year (2005-2006), DeMarre transferred to the University of Missouri, where he would play under his uncle, Mike Anderson. This move shocked his coaches and teammates (at Vanderbilt) alike. In his senior year (2009), DeMarre led Missouri to a quarter final appearance in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championships.

Upon his arrival in Missouri, DeMarre started complaining about itchy legs, and was convinced that he had developed allergies. After being examined by multiple doctors, DeMarre was diagnosed with a liver condition, and it was identified that he would potentially need a liver transplant years down the road. It is possible that professional teams saw this and considered him a liability, which would, at that time, seem to affect the likelihood of him developing a career out of the sport.

let alone a new guy, causes one to ask, was it worth it? Was this the right move by the Raptors? DeMarre has proven himself to be an outstanding player, but on other teams.

As well, DeMarre has never played with any of his future line-mates before. A team can be full of stars, but if there is no chemistry between them, they are going nowhere.

DeMarre was selected 27th overall by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2009 NBA Draft, and has since played for the Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, Utah Jazz, and Atlanta Hawks as well. On July 9th, 2015, DeMarre signed a 4-year contract with the Toronto Raptors, for an astounding $60 million dollars, making him the highest paid player on the team.

Prior to signing DeMarre Carroll, the highest paid Raptor was Kyle Lowry, who is now making $3 million dollars less than DeMarre per season. Last season, Kyle Lowry put up an average of 17.6 points per game, had a .412 FG% (field goal percentage), and had a .808 FT% (free throw percentage).

DeMarre, last season, averaged 12.6 points per game, had a .487 FG%, and had a .702 FT%. Seeing as how numbers don't lie, it is fair to state that last season, Kyle Lowry had a stronger overall performance than DeMarre Carroll did.

Spending $14 million of their yearly $85 million dollar salary cap on any player,

I had the chance to speak to former University of Toronto Varsity Blues ‘Big-

Man’ Aidan Bull, and get his take on the signing of DeMarre Carroll. When asked for his general opinion on the acquisition, Aidan said, “DeMarre is a vital signing for the Raptors. They needed a replacement for Amir Johnson, [who signed with the Celtics this past offseason] and DeMarre Carroll is just the guy to maintain a big-body presence in the paint.” He went on to say “DeMarre is the grinder of the team, who will be there to ensure that, come the mid-to-late season mark when a lot of the teams are deflated, the Raptors will still have a driving force behind them.

DeMarre isn't the star, but he definitely is a big deciding factor in getting the win or not.”

It is tough to judge how well DeMarre Carroll will do when dawning the black, red, and white, but until then, we can only hope for the best.

SPORTS

9

Former Alumnus 'Makes it'

James Bodanis on being drafted into the Canadian Football League

Stephanie Martins|Contributor Former U of T student and Varsity Blue's defensive tackle James Bodanis has made it in the league. Drafted to the CFL this year as a third round pick (24th overall), he now plays for the Montreal Alouettes as an offensive linesman.

Bodanis has worked hard to make his dreams come true, transferring to Michigan State University in 2013 to play for the Spartans but being forced to sit out due to specific eligibility given by the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association). He has appeared in two preseason games and is currently on the Alouette practise roster but hopes to crack the active roster soon. I recently got to sit down with James to reminisce about campus life and discuss what it is like to be a professional athlete.

player before playing football and I ultimately decided that I wanted to stay in Toronto to do my post-secondary education.

TM: What was the most important lesson you learned when you played for the Varsity Blues?

JB: The most important lesson I learned while playing at U of T was how to deal with adversity. The two years I played we had a very talented team, but it always seemed to not be able to put everything together at the right time.

Since my time at U of T I have gotten to watch some Varsity Blues games and have definitely noticed an improvement in their ability to play as a complete unit. It's fun to see.

TM: What do you miss most about U of T and campus?

The Mike: When applying to universities as a teenager did you know that you were already interested in a career in football, and if so, why did you choose to attend the University of Toronto?

JB: I miss the Shawarma and soup from Hart House the most [laughs]. On top of that I miss a lot of the guys I used to see every day playing football.

James Bodanis: I actually didn't seriously get into football, until just before my 19th birthday. I had applied to U of T before even beginning to play football. I was a hockey

TM: How was it different playing for an American University football team in comparison to a Canadian University football team?

JB: The biggest difference is the scheduling and the level of commitment that is needed at an American program such as Michigan State.

The daily schedule as a student athlete often required a full schedule from 6 am all the way until 9 pm. The amount of money that elite NCAA programs produce often means that players tend to have all their energy maximized.

That being said, I would do it all over again as it was a great experience.

coaching I received while there it is doubtful I would have seen the success that I have had so far.

TM: Last but not least, can you tell us any secrets or funny stories from the locker room?

JB: [Laughs] Unfortunately not. All of the best stories are best kept in the locker room but I appreciate the attempt.

TM: How is the experience of playing for the CFL different than how you once imagined it?

JB: It's always weird when people ask me this question because I never really thought I would be playing professional football at any point during my youth. I just enjoy every day.

I'm being paid to play a sport professionally and I just take things day by day and try to get better at every opportunity.

TM: How did U of T attribute to your success as a professional athlete?

JB: U of T helped me greatly. The skills I learned at U of T were essentially the first real lessons I got in football and have carried me to MSU and eventually into the CFL. Without the

Penning a New Chapter

How Will the Addition of Phil Kessel Revamp the Penguins’ Offense?

Alex Wichert|Sports Editor

Few decisions by the Toronto Maple Leafs this summer divided fans as much as the trading of sniper Phil Kessel. Sure, other moves were, in all likelihood, of a more notable nature – the wooing and ultimate landing of head coach Mike Babcock, of course, comes to mind – but the deal that sent the winger to the Pittsburgh Penguins certainly earned its place around the top of the conversation queue for Leafs fans. Some pundits claimed the move was beneficial for Toronto while others called it a foolhardy endeavour; the question for us to consider here, however, is the effect Kessel will have in his new surroundings.

It’s been incredibly uncanny that this boatload of offensive stalwarts, replete with a system conducive to productivity, has slaved away in recent years to score more than two goals a game. However, this is exactly what has been the case for the Penguins. Toss in the variable of Marc-Andre Fleury every April or so and you have a team that has had the potential for success but one that has tasted silver-tinged champagne only once in this era. Granted, the defence was bruised and battered all season last year and Pittsburgh’s top guns in Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin have been less than robust when it comes to health but the team’s lack of scoring has absolutely been a cause of concern for Penguins fans.

Cue Kessel. Here comes a player capable of putting up 35-or-so goals a season on a team with little supporting cast. What will happen when he streaks down the wing, expectant of a direct feed from Crosby or Malkin? How will a newly-revamped Powerplay that has Kris Letang as a quarterback, Patric Hornqvist causing havoc in the crease, and Kessel humming around the slot for a one-timer change the way defensive alignments play the Penguins? The answer is far from certain but, for speculation purposes, it would appear that Pittsburgh has made an important move towards recapturing their once-potent offense.

The reality, though, is that the club’s window for success is dwindling. Crosby’s numbers, while still excellent, may suggest that he has reached his peak and has only the other side of the hill on which to travel, while every year brings contract issues and difficulties in keeping the nucleus together. These kinds of troubles are not atypical in the Salary Cap era – just ask the Chicago Blackhawks – but there are few Stan Bowmans in the league and keeping a talented core together for another seven or eight years may be too tall an order for Penguins management.

Regardless, Pittsburgh should have some pieces to play with during the 2015-2016 season.

They’ve gone back to the watering hole that is the world of trading and UFA’s to reconfigure their roster – a move that is not foreign to them in the last few years. This time, however, Penguins fans hope the team will have Philled up for the long haul.

Regardless, Pittsburgh should have some pieces to play with during the 2015-2016 season.

They’ve gone back to the watering hole that is the world of trading and UFA’s to reconfigure their roster – a move that is not foreign to them in the last few years. This time, however, Penguins fans should hope the team will have “Philled up” for the long haul.

10 Rap and Food Collide In the 6ix

LIVING

Rapper Drake and Food Network Chef open new Toronto Restaurant in the downtown core Stephanie Martins |Contributor To the surprise of many music and culinary fans, Toronto born rapper Drake and famous Chef Susur Lee have joined forces to open a new and exciting restaurant that will rock the downtown Toronto culinary scene. Officially launched on September 21, Fring's Toronto was buzzing with A-list celebrities that were itching to experience the creative drinks and delicious cuisine of the restaurant located at 455 King West.

Serena Williams, Jaden Smith and Jada Pinkett- Smith were just some of the few stars who came to support the rapper and chef in their new business endeavour. However, Drake and Susur are not the only two running the show. Lee's sons Kai and Levi Bent-Lee are also involved in the partnership and aim to keep the restaurant running smoothly when their father and rapper partner are out of the city.

The renovated restaurant has an eccentric bar, stunning light fixtures, a dance floor and even VIP booths for bottle service.

Although Chef Lee has yet to determine a fixed style of cuisine, the restaurant is likely to serve a variety of seafood tar tare plates and slaws, two dishes that Lee is notorious for. The bar also features several elaborate cocktails using ingredients like crushed raspberries and lychee cactus pear juice.

Fring's Toronto is expected to become quite the hot spot racking up over 10, 000 followers on Instagram in under a week. The restaurant is bound to attract even more tourists and food lovers to the downtown core. Not only will people be coming for the luscious food and drinks, but they will come to experience the Hollywood- like atmosphere. C'mon...Who doesn't want to run into Drake while having dinner?

The 6 Types of People You’ll Meet at SMC Sara Gonsalves |Contributor

St. Michael’s College is one of the most popular colleges at U of T. With almost 5,000 students, SMC has some of the most enthusiastic and well-rounded students you will find anywhere. Here are the five types of people you’ll find at SMC. The Frosh Fanatic The frosh fanatic is full of adventure and spirit. They’re ready for anything and can’t wait to get covered in blue paint. Their passion for the college is shown through their involvement in the months of planning and the countless hours they work during Frosh Week. They’re also known for drilling the words Hoikity Choik into your head.

The Resident Student The Resident Student is a rarity in the Brennan Lounge. You might see them for a brief moment on their way to the Canada Room or sneaking off to their room during frosh events.

No one knows for sure why that is, but if you’re lucky enough to get to know someone who lives on res, you won’t regret it.

The Club Enthusiast No, not the clubs on King West. At SMC, there are more than a dozen clubs ranging from cultural to academic. Club members are committed and are always looking for ways to improve their club status and attract new members. This is a fun and easy way to meet like-minded people, network and make friends.

The Kelly Keener The Kelly Keener is academic and serious about studying. You’ll find them on the 2nd floor, plugged into their MacBook and downing Starbucks coffee. Careful not to disturb them though, or you might evoke the wrath of a librarian. Kelly guarantees a good time, plus you’re bound to see a familiar face. If you can get past the quiet giggles, Kelly is a great place to be.

The Brennan Regular These are some of the best people you’ll meet at SMC. They are social and welcoming and are quick to join you on a trip to feed your coffee addiction. Brennan Lounge is definitely one of the best places to chill between classes, plus SMCSU always holds free pancake days there, so it’s a win-win.

The SMCSU Member The SMCSU member is a combination of the other four types of people at SMC. They’re ambitious and driven, but most of all, they’re committed to making SMC the very best it can be. Whatever your field of study, being on SMCSU is one of the best experiences you will ever have. Be careful when you run into them during elections, they just might rope you in.

LIVING Style Spotlight:

Francesca Granata Christina Bezerra|Living Editor

What’s your year and program: I’m in my fifth year studying Cognitive Science and Linguistics.

What are you wearing: Button down (Zara), Vest (Out On a Limb), Jeans (Aritzia), Booties(Steve Madden).

Favorite stores to shop at: Out On a Limb, Zara, and Aritzia What are your school style essentials: UofT sweatshirt Where do you get your style inspiration: I usually look to fashion accounts on instagram for inspiration.

One thing you’ll miss about SMC: definitely being a part of frosh Favorite place to eat on campus: Aroma, an essential part of a balanced lifestyle.

SMC Style Spotlight shines a light on some of SMC’s most fashionable students in order to promote diversity and inspire others to share their style. If you would like to be a part of the next SMC Style Spotlight email living@readthemike.com

The Mike Gets Fit:

The Mike Gets Fit: Healthy Snack Edition Christina Bezerra|Living Editor

Eating healthy is the last thing on my mind when the school year begins. This is mostly because I never educated myself on what to eat, especially since fast is the only thing that matters when it comes to food. If it doesn’t have a long prep time and tastes alright, it goes into my school bag and eventually pollutes my body. Although the bags of chips and chocolate bars are extremely delicious, I’ve made a vow to myself this year to make healthier decisions and I have decided that I would like to take The Mike with me.

I’ve taken the challenge of making and tasting all of the snacks in this article, and they are all picky eater certified. Take the challenge and check out the healthy snack roundup: Breakfast makes me bananas Breakfast in my house usually involves me running out the door and hoping that the Sid Smith Tim’s line is short enough to grab a coffee and breakfast sandwich. But due to some budget cuts and weight gain I’ve had to change my ways and wake up earlier to eat a little something at home. This is where the bananas come in. For this snack you’ll need bananas and your choice of almond butter or peanut butter. Take one tablespoon of the butter and spread it on top of a peeled banana. Add granola or dark chocolate generously to bring some sweetness to your morning.

Frozen Berries in Yogurt Yogurt has become my go to whenever I’m craving ice cream or Nutella. Though nothing can replace those two amazing snacks, frozen yogurt is a great alternative. For this snack all you need is any flavor of yogurt you desire and any choice of berry (I prefer blueberries)! Dip the berry into a bowl of yogurt and remove and place on a flat surface. Freeze over night and your frozen goodness will be ready to take to school the next day.

Trail Mix I’m not going to lie, trail mix looks gross and scares me. It reminds me of something I would eat but very reluctantly, like a child eating broccoli. But with much research I have learned that trail mix isn’t that bad and you can personalize it to make it look delicious and good for you. To make your own mix you’ll need your favorite mixed nonsalted nuts (mine are cashews and peanuts), dark chocolate chips, yogurt covered pretzels, raisins or dried cranberries and almond butter bits. Mix all the ingredients together and you have a healthy snack to pick at while catching up on readings.

Vegetables and Hummus Anyone that knows me knows that I have a serious love for hummus. Its my favorite snack and can be easily made at home or you can buy them in small packages made for your lunch box. Pack some carrots, cucumbers and cherry tomatoes along with some hummus and enjoy the deliciousness that is vegetables and hummus.

Have a suggestion for our Get Fit series? Email Living@readthemike.com to get involved!

11

12

Opinion

Fahmy and Canada's Responsibility

The implications of Canada's failure to step up Mariam Jammal|Contribuor A few weeks ago, Canadian journalist Mohamed Fahmy was finally pardoned by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Famy had been found guilty on terrorism charges and sentenced to three years in prison in addition to the pre-trial time he had spent in custody. While this is cause for celebration, it’s time to look back at Canada’s lackluster response during the proceeding. The way our government handled negotiations for one of our own expats is disappointing. It speaks to the devaluing of Canadian citizens who work abroad, especially those who are foreign born.

Our government’s unwillingness to adequately step in on behalf of a Canadian citizen imprisoned by an unjust judicial system runs contrary to the values we hold dear as Canadians. Unfortunately this follows a pattern of behaviour; We’ve seen the jarring emergence of citizen prioritization this year. The latest decisions to create a two-tier citizen framework through Bill C-24 and the elimination of Canadian expats’ right to votes speak volumes. Mohamed Fahmy was merely a catalyst for the real repercussions of our complacency toward our rights as citizens regardless of where we are in the world and how we’ve acquired our citizenship status.

Now that the trial is over and we can be assured of his safety, it is time to step back and look at the precedent that is being set. We are creating an environment of uncertainty and vulnerability for a nation that is built and sustained by foreign-born Canadians and their children. We are privileged to be able to work abroad knowing that our rights are protected by our governments no matter where we are. Working abroad does not mean that we are giving up our identity as Canadians, it means we are leaving our mark as Canadians wherever we go. We take pride in our citizenship and pride in our country and that is not something that should be taken for granted.

Mohamed Fahmy was pardoned, and despite the minimal support he received from the Canadian government, he still looks forward to coming home and enjoying the rights and freedoms he has as a Canadian citizen.

UTSU and Adequate Representation

The importance of UTSU and its duty ensure all of us are heard Zayneb Ragheai | Contributor The University of Toronto Students’ Union held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Wednesday October 7 where members discussed their concerns and voted on proposals. Board restructuring was arguably the hottest issue on the table, given that it deals with a component central to democracy: representation.

Having a Board of Directors in place is an effective mechanism to ensure that the Executive Committee remains accountable to the colleges and student societies while simultaneously giving them the ability to voice their opinions on issues related to the UTSU. The election period last spring gave way to a very close race across all colleges, ensuring that Directorship at each division is especially capable.

For the most part, the structure of the UTSU is actually beneficial both for representation at the university-wide level and for the well-being of individual colleges. As much as the UTSU needs to improve, it is a long-standing, established organization complete with pre-existing mechanisms that would be difficult to replicate should the desire for an alternative structure arise. If the colleges were to create a different union or de-federate altogether, it would be a huge challenge to provide the same resources in the same amount and scope (i.e. health & dental insurance). I mean this in the sense that the UTSU is designed to provide services and run events for upwards of 50,000 students, and that it would be implausible to rearrange the configuration of the union to ensure that it could be continued effectively either individually as colleges or in conjunction with the other colleges.

Instead, I think we should focus on continuing to do what we can to fix the deficiencies of the Union (which there are a lot of, no argument there). Where and how the UTSU allocates the funding it receives is one of the biggest problems with the organization. It spends way too much money on the same advocacy and political campaigns, when those same resources could go towards initiatives to improve student life across campus. If the UTSU stopped producing 17 different kinds of ‘racism sucks’ buttons and instead allocated that money towards further subsidizing student costs such as transportation or organizing more campus-wide events to engage students outside of classes, then it would at least be seen as doing a better job of acting as a students’ union than it is now.

Ultimately, concerns like these need to see the light of day. If we are to achieve true representation, then individuals and bodies need to be empowered enough to represent and lobby for students’ interests.

Opinion

13

Canada, the World and the Election

The importance of our international repuation as an election issue Saad Shah|Staff Writer

There are less than two weeks until the 42nd federal elections where Canada has the opportunity to elect new Members of Parliament to its House of Commons. The leaders of the three major parties are doing their best to present all kinds of plans to appeal to Canadians. The Liberals have promised to spend $1.5 billion over four years on a youth job strategy. The New Democrats’ have committed to spending $100 million a year to create over 40,000 jobs and paid internships for youth. The Conservatives too, have promised to foster job creation in the skilled trades and provide tax breaks and federal funding for training and education. These employment incentives have been coupled with various tax breaks promised by party leaders: The Liberals guarantee lowering the federal income tax rate to 20.5 per cent on incomes between $44,700 and $89,401. These plans give the voters the sense that positive change is coming to Ottawa, one way or another. However, between all the rhetoric about job creation, boosting the economy and creating tax breaks for hardworking Canadians, many people don’t realize that Canada’s image internationally is just as vital as the economic health of the country.

Last month, a report was leaked from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development illustrating Canada’s declining position in world affairs. Historically, Canada has been regarded as a “middle power” that is able to “punch above its weight” in foreign affairs. The 1950s were the heyday of international goodwill when Lester B. Pearson

won the Nobel Peace Prize for his contribution in resolving the Suez Canal Crisis in Egypt. In the 1980s, Canada enjoyed a strong reputation as an arbitrator in global disputes and had particularly good relations with our neighbour to the South under the tenure of Conservative PM Brian Mulroney. The leaked report by no means blames a particular party for the loss of Canada’s reputation as an “honest broker,” although criticism has been levelled against Stephen Harper’s black-and-white view of international relations, in most media.

In thinking about what is next in terms of the federal election and which party to vote for, foreign policy is just as important a consideration as domestic issues. Canada, being a member nation in several multinational organizations (NATO, the G20, the G7, La Francophonie, among others), cannot afford to suffer further blows to its international reputation. All the party leaders have promised to increase the number of refugees Canada will accept, lower green house gas emissions from various industrial sectors and conclude the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). However, for these measures to amount to substantial and tangible benefits for Canada, the future government, however it is formed, needs to ensure that Canada’s status as a global peace maker is restored and that it is once again known as a beacon of peaceful diplomacy in the world of cut-throat global politics.

Why I Listen to Music for the Lyrics Rethinking why we praise the popular over profound Andre Darbinian|Contributor Last year was probably the best year ever. Why, you ask? I met Mumford & Sons. For those of you who don’t know me, if you were to ask me who my favourite band is, I would instantly say Mumford & Sons. They are the band that got me into songwriting, and as much as I enjoy their banjo riffs, their lyrics are really what held me.

of the current chart-toppers, I found that the two most popular tracks are The Weekend’s “The Hills” and Justin Bieber’s “What Do You Mean?” For the sake of this article, let’s say that the general theme for both of these songs are relationships and love. And now let’s look at this 2009 quote from an artist I quite admire, Jon Foreman:

Personally, I think our mentality towards music should be similar to that one person in class asks their question regardless of how it makes others perceive them. Generally, however, most of us are like the class that waits for the awkward silence to end after the professor asks if there are any questions. To put simply, most of the music we listen to and add to our libraries is only there because of its popularity rather than its inherent value.

"I was thinking about how love (not just lust or codependency that commonly flood the tunes on the airways) actually involves quite a bit of faith. There's a lot of letting go involved. Two souls in love is an intricate dance of give and take. I can be a fairly solitary person from time to time. Sure, I love being with people, but I also need time alone. I guess I thrive on the poles. So this song is about the dance involved in a relationship the coming together and letting go. The song equates love with breathing- pulling in and releasing. Or a seed, for the seed to grow it has to be dropped and buried.

We’re too busy to think about what’s actually filling our ears, and deafly follow the lineup of singles. After a recent Google search

In our barcode society, love is

often portrayed as consumption. As consumers in a commercial driven culture we can begin to view other souls as objects, or potential cures for our deepest fears and insecurities.

"Perhaps if I found the right lover I would no longer feel this deep existential despair." But of course no human soul could be the Constant Other, the face that will never go away. Only the infinite can fill that role. But the silence can be deafening. It's a fearful thing to be alone. Do you love me enough to let me go? "I can't live without you" - "I would die if you ever left me. " These are songs of love, the others are the songs of consumption.

Looking back, I find it both funny and sad how accurate this quote still is. For the most part, Pop culture hasn’t changed. So I challenge you to Google the lyrics to all of your favourite songs and approach them from this mentality of giving. For it’s my hope as a songwriter that perhaps my lyrics, as rough as they may be, will be a gift to those around me

rather than a form of consumption.

14 The Mark Mindy Made

The strength that role models give us

Zoya Khan| Contributor Okay, I am going to be straight with you guys: I love Mindy Kaling. If you have no idea who she is, I pity you just a little bit. She is one of the geniuses who brought us The Office (US) and the angel who brought us The Mindy Project. Mindy Kaling is commonly known as the Indian-Who-Made-It in Hollywood even though she was born and raised in America.

She plays a huge role in the representation of the Asian community and is also a major inspiration to me. She worked hard to get where she is today and she did it the old fashioned way - by getting through university (ahem, ahem) and going from there. Her narrative follows the same path as the average woman’s and is spiced up by her intelligence, humor, great fashion sense and obsession with the Real Housewives.

Although when I look at Mindy I see a confident comedian, my perception isn’t what most people see. Some people still have a problem with her weight, her skin colour, or the premise that her character on The Mindy Project is could possibly be intelligent enough to be a doctor.

I’m sorry, what? I know that the world isn’t perfect but ignoring her work because she doesn’t fit the typical mold for a female Hollywood star seems unfair and close-minded, especially in a society as diverse as ours. Are you seriously going to be annoyed because you think she uses too many pop cultural references and dresses in bright colours given her character’s profession? By no means am I saying everyone has to love Mindy Kaling – everyone is entitled to their tastes - but it is frustrating when people criticize someone simply because they do not fit the status quo.

This isn’t just specific to Mindy but applies to any public figure or person.

We often forget that there are other factors that contribute to a person’s personality. One of the major lessons that I learned from Mindy is to be yourself and own it. Take your strengths and weaknesses and own them.

There is nothing wrong in wanting to please others or to feel pretty. There is nothing wrong with feeling hurt by a backhanded compliment and standing up for yourself even if it wasn’t meant to offend.

Watching Mindy’s character on television and reading her work gave me a source of confidence and hope. She convinced me that hard work does actually pay off and that I should take pride in who I am and I am grateful for that. I have seen and read a bit on confidence, courage, empowerment but nothing has struck me quite like Mindy Kaling’s work. It all comes down to the fact that she is genuine - thank you, Mindy.

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