30 September 2014

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Editorial

THE MIKE

Masthead

Letter from Editor-in-Chief

Welcome back

Editorial Staff

Some thoughts on my first and 49th issue at the Mike

Editor-in-Chief Alekzia Hosein

editorinchief@readthemike.com

News Editor This is the first issue of The Mike's 45th year of publication.

This newspaper consists entirely of student contributions and relies on the SMC community to grow.

Just over four years ago I walked into the Mike office for the first time, a week before my frosh week was set to start. I was 18 and, to my parents’ horror, had just moved into my first apartment, about ten minutes from campus.

I volunteered to copy-edit. A copy-editor fixes stylistic and grammatical errors before an article is printed. I was initially too nervous to write, but the editor-in-chief at the time, Dan Seljak, assured me that I could try to contribute in any way possible.

I still remember the suffocating feeling of the muggy office on that humid August day. Working as a student journalist suddenly seemed to lack the glamour I had wrongfully associated it with. Although I had a field day marking errors in red ink, the issue ended up having two typing errors in one front-page headline. The article about the “Commumer Life Comision” will always haunt me.

Like most eager first-year students, I signed up for about a million clubs at club fairs, showed up for the first few meetings and slipped away. Luckily for me, I didn’t slip away from the Mike.

Each Monday night of my first year and the three years that followed, I stayed up until 4 am with the scanty production staff, editing, laying out, putting pictures together, coming up with headlines and contributing content, consuming a lot of pizza.

Over the past four years, the Mike has been printed 48 times. This is the 49th issue I will have been involved with. A lot has changed here since I’ve started working with the Mike, thanks to the contributions of

SMC students. We print on nicer paper now. We’ve shifted towards a two-day production schedule, an absolutely necessary step after spending sleepless nights in this office and walking home alone as the sun rose. Our standard issue is 16 pages, rather than the 12 we used to print (this is an irregular issue).

Although it has always been a lot of work, I’ve never considered the Mike to be a source of stress.

When I became consumed by a deep depression in the winter of my first year, this newspaper became simultaneously a source of comfort and a biweekly achievement to take pride in. Although my mental health has fluctuated over the years, I continued my work here at the Mike. I evolved from being a contributor, to a staff writer, to a section editor, to managing editor, and finally now, to editor-in-chief, developing new skills and facing new challenges at each level. I am very fortunate to have worked with such an accommodating staff, and that I was allowed to reach my fullest potential.

This newspaper has been with me since I’ve been a student here at UofT. It has been one consistent and constant force in my life, structuring the entirety of my adult life. I could not be more excited to give back to this newspaper what it has given to me.

I am proud to carry the torch that has been thrown to me from Micah Gold-Utting, one of my oldest friends, and the person I was most surprised to find working for the same student newspaper in my first year. I am also incredibly excited to be working with a diverse staff this year. Yasir and Louis return as business manager and arts editor, respectively. Otherwise our masthead is almost entirely new. However some longtime

contributors to the Mike are leading their own sections: Melissa Morgado heads the opinions section, Peter Galka is our new sports editor and John Castellarin is in charge of living.

Newcomer Elvin Peters is our news editor. I’m excited to see how each of these individuals helps to form and change this dynamic publication over the eight months.

If you're interested in writing for the Mike, having your photos or drawings published, copyediting, laying out pages, editing photos, or otherwise being part of one of SMC's most dynamic, creative teams, email me at editorinchief@readthemike.com and we can find a place for you.

Welcome back, SMC.

Alekzia Hosein | Editor-in-chief

Elvin Peters

news@readthemike.com

Arts Editor Louis Train

arts@readthemike.com

Opinions Editor Melissa Morgado

opinions@readthemike.com

Living Editor John Castellarin

living@readthemike.com

Sports Editor Peter Galka

sports@readthemike.com

Senior Copy Editor Palakh Chhabria

Illustrations Editor Vacant

Web Editor Vacant

Photos Editor Pavla Bobosikova

Business Staff Business Manager Yasir Mustafa

business@readthemike.com

Ad Manager Vacant

ads@readthemike.com

Ad Execs Vacant

Board of Directors BOD Student Reps.

Vacant

BOD Alumni Rep. Andy Lubinsky

BOD College Rep. Steve Hoselton

@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

LOOKING TO CONTRIBUTE? DROP US A LINE! editorinchief@readthemike.com www.readthemike.com 416-926-7272 • 81 ST. MARY ST. • TORONTO ON • M5S 1J4 •

News

THE MIKE

UNDERGRADUATE JOURNALS FAIR

SMCSU PRESENTS: KELLY'S KORNER

October 1, 11-2pm

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THE PANCAKES & BOOZE ART SHOW

October 1, 9pm

SHAKESPEARE IN THE QUAD: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM

John M. Kelly Library

Brennan Lounge

October 2-3, 8pm nightly

Adelaide Hall

Wanna enter the world of written academia? Learn about UofT's many undergraduate journals without even leaving the comfort of SMC. Features Q&A sessions with Dr. Konrad Eisenbichler and Reference Librarian, Richard Carter.

The first installation of SMC's monthly open mic night is here.

Swoon over the voice of your favourite SMC songstress, try out your Hoikity Choik-themed rap or just show off that Tibetan throat singing you've practiced all summer.

Benefits Lymphoma awareness!

Trinity College Quad

This US-based art festival's first Canadian installment. It's exactly what it sounds like, too. A killer art fest featuring 50+ international artists, live art battles, and most importantly, all the pancakes you can eat. $5 admission.

NUIT BLANCHE

BRAINS, WORDS AND VOICES: TORONTO'S ONLY MONTHLY POETRY RECITATION CONTEST

ALL-CANDIDATES FAIR: CITY OF TORONTO WARDS 20, 27, 44

October 4, 6:53 PM Toronto-wide

You know, that annual overnight thing with all of the outdoor, indoor and conceptual art exhibits?

Some bars will have last call extended until 4! You can have a great time without spending any money!

October 5, 9pm Coffin Factory

If you've been sitting memorizing pre-1975 poetry since birth, get off yourself to this event. There's a $50 cash prize to be won!

Tired of theataer being bound by, well, the theater? This production, brought to you by Trinity College's Drama Society, will push the barriers of Shakespeare's comedy, leaping beyond the thresholds of the physical building.

October 8, 1pm-5pm Hart House East Common Room

Get to know some City Council, TDSB and TCDSB candidates for the upcoming municipal election. If you're new to Toronto, this is your opportunity to learn a bit about the governance of this fine city.

October 3, 8pm

GIVE THANKS October 8-9, 12pm daily Brennan Lounge

SMC's Student Philanthropy Council has arranged this preThanksgiving event to show thanks to the people who make student life at St. Mike's possible. Drop by Brennan Hall to sign a banner and pick up some free midday snacks.

Alekzia Hosein | Editor-in-Chief

MOSCOW

Russia's Parliament, the Duma, have approved a bill that would limit foreign media ownership in the country to less than 20%. The change is expected to drastically change Russia's media landscape, giving much more control to the Kremlin. Foreign-owned television and film networks, as well as publishing companies forecast huge job losses in Russia over the next months.

BERLIN

On the iPhone 6's day of release, a trio of masked gunmen robbed the Apple Store located in Berlin's Kurf端rstendamm shopping, making away with thousands of Euros in cash. Bloomberg reports that only 15% of transactions in Germany, even for expensive electronic purchases, like computers and smartphones, are made using debit or credit cards. Most Germans still prefer to pay for things with Bargeld (cash).

LONDON

Radiohead's Thom Yorke has announced the release of his second solo album, Tomorrow's Modern Boxes, via Bittorrent for a cost of approximately. $6 The singer is no stranger to releasing electronic media through unconventional means. In 2007 and 2011, Radiohead released two PWYC albums available for direct download from their website. The average fan contributed $2.27 per album download.

MONTREAL

Self-proclaimed "Number One" free porn website, Pornhub, has introduced its very own record label. Pornhub Vice President affirms that the label is not looking for sexually-charged auditory content, but rather seeks " mature lyrics for an adult audience," explaining that music has always had a place on Pornhub. As part of the record label's release, the website is hosting a song search contest for the website's new anthem.

BERKELEY

Thanks to a exponential growth, invite-only social network, Ello, has gained a massive number of customers in the past week. The website describes its potential to be "a place to connect, create and celebrate life," rather than "a tool to deceive, coerce and manipulate." The network positions itself aggressively against other dominant social networks, redirecting users who disagree with their manifesto to facebook.com.

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Arts

THE MIKE

Netflix and new-flix Online content is using technology to reinforce the power of television Louis Train | Arts Editor Small changes in relevant technologies tend to have enormous effects on the arts, or so people claim: the printing press and the cotton gin each, in its own way, credited with sparking some upheaval in the written word (and therefore the congruent arts as a whole). It’s about accessibility, which sparks demographic shifts (usually a lowering of the average reader’s economic class), challenging both artistic intent and economic motivation to adapt and thrive.

Netflix may be, although only the latest, most legal stop in a journey that began with internet piracy over a decade ago, one of the most important technological innovations in recent artistic memory. The service, which is now available on all new smartphones and tablets, and almost all browsers, offers instant, unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows for an extremely affordable price. The more important feature of Netflix is its library, which is both vast and selective, two properties that confuse and try to contradict each other.

At press time, Netflix USA had 11,883 unique programs available for instant streaming, including entire television series (sometimes hundreds of episodes) as 1 program. Many of these shows are obscure or entirely inaccessible anywhere else.

The first instinct is to talk about Netflix original programming, which includes the socially ground-breaking Orange is the New Black and the artistically ground-breaking House of

Cards. Both of these shows (which share a measured passion in depicting nudity, violence, and queerness) easily make the best top-ten lists. But it is not because of these programs that Netflix is successful; it is because of Netflix, and the intense competition it has created within itself, that television of such high quality is demanded by the viewer. Recent schlock like Friends with Benefits (the TV show, not the schlocky movie) is displayed alongside Frasier and The Carol Burnett Show, programs of immeasurably higher quality. Even movies, always a much higher art form than TV, are being increasingly compared due to their equal accessibility and the growing trend of “marathoning” TV shows for hours, making

the experiences more similar. A fierce rise in competition and selection (remember, before streaming and PVR we watched what was on) mean that more of the same won’t be enough.

To guarantee a success, a show needs to be excellent. This is what spurned the recent success of AMC’s great dramas (Breaking Bad, Mad Men); even before the ubiquity of Netflix, internet streaming served the same purpose.

Rising quality in TV is nice, but its broader cultural implications are nicer. Television has historically been a very socially aware medium; between the mindless idylls of the Dick van Dyck Show and Green Acres it was hard to avoid the progressive optimism of Star Trek or the subversive weirdness of The Addams Family.

In the ‘70s, Norman Lear touted civil liberties through iconic characters while James L. Brooks took a subtler approach to the same goal. Now, Orange is the New Black has broken trans* barriers and House of Cards has shattered audience expectations about sexual orientation.

Good TV, it seems, from the masterful, easy comedy of the The Mary Tyler Moore Show to the financial goldmine of The Cosby Show to the Emmy juggernaut that is Modern Family, is synonymous with progressive TV. If audiences continue to push TV artists and executives in this direction, we will continue to enjoy good TV that is good for us.

Adrift at TIFF 2.0 A second year at the festival

Mark Matich | Staff Writer A year ago, I found myself “adrift at TIFF”, perambulating from one screen to the next, eventually caught up in the warm nostalgia of Raya Martin and Mark Peranson’s film endeavor La Ultima Pelicula, grappling with its oddness in my review, making predictions, including an admittedly naïve one regarding a potentially harmonized relationship between film and digital. In a recent editorial in his magazine Cinema Scope, Peranson continued to sing out a persuasive lament for the lack of celluloid “film” content at Cannes, and it seems that the situation is the same at TIFF for the most part, although among the retrospective screenings there may have been some 35mm content.

What I’ll concern myself with this time around are the two feature moving pictures I saw, a screening of My Darling Clementine (John Ford, 1946). The movie makes arresting use

of long static close-ups and sweeping vistas in respective scenes, for example in the stirring final shootout and in chases across the iconic Monument Valley, which is part of the immersive nature imagery of the film. In a memorable moment, the embattled Wyatt Earp (Henry Fonda) emerges from dust kicked up by a horse to “get his man”. These kinds of heavily naturalistic instances temper starker work in chiaroscuro lighting, like an equally vivid scene of impromptu surgery. In this scene the mix of comedy of dead-serious dramatics is impressive, and gives a sense of the way in which the film goes beyond the Western genre tag as a film of mirrored archetypes: the good, virtuous wife and the lusty sensual wench, the noble lawman and swarthy no-account gunman, etc. But it would be reductive to pin it down to just this kind of dichotomy—the lyricism of the chase, for example, is an almost purely formal exercise, the sound of rattling hoofs pitted against the image of the heaving

muscles of the horses pulling the wagons. The film is full of pleasures.

Clementine is also notable for using classical measures of ellipsis (transitioning between cinematic moments) in a non-obvious and nondistracting way, noticeable in the way awkward confrontations always end with some frenzied saloon organ playing. A fellow cineaste at the screening with me noted the one really unbeautiful beat of the film, a racist joke early on about not giving booze to an Indian, indicative of Hollywood’s institutional stereotyping of minorities that really hasn’t changed all that much to the present day. I had never really looked at moments like these other than as just incidental to ‘30s and ‘40s melodramas until recently but they are far-reaching. There is a very rich vein of research and inquiry in looking at commercial movies through the optic of how they represent race; the deviousness of the inculcation of Hollywood movies as mechanisms of culture is definitely something worth considering when you next step into a Cineplex.

On a lighter note, the film has some great casting, including two players who later showed up in two canonical (in my humble opinion) fifties atomic science fiction films, the fey and delicate Cathy Downs in The Phantom from 10,000 Leagues (1955), and convivial Tim Holt in The Monster That Challenged the World (1957).

The 4K digital print screened lushly preserves

the idiosyncrasies of the original (hiss of the projected film etc); the film is widely available on video as well.

The other film I saw was the latest work of Roy Andersson, an art film director from Sweden known for Songs from the Second Floor.

It’s called A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence, and it is as arch as its title. The slow, mordant vignettes are usually quite funny, but the film lacks unity. Scratching of the ontological itch is futilely attempted in each, as Andersson struggles with the inadequacies that pervade daily existence, including a running gag about two entrepreneurs selling party gimmicks. The last section, which is essentially about the surreal-ness of human evil, is thematically incommensurable with the rest of the piece. Excised, it would leave the movie with just the right level of darkly comic ennui (if you’re into that sort of thing).

I was ecstatic to be back at TIFF this year, drifting into two very different but equally interesting films. TIFF seemed to be absolutely buzzing with activity this year, more than the last. As ever, festival films aren’t a sure bet, and I would be wary of the guides they hand to passersby. On the other hand, since they’re free, the retrospective screenings are always enthralling. If only I didn’t have class when King Hu’s kung fu Dragon Inn epic was playing…

THE MIKE

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THE MIKE

Top 10 apps for students Use your phone for more than texting in class!

Corrado Vindigni | Staff Writer As the school year begins, it’s always good to get off to a running start. Below is a list of 10 great apps every student should have (in no particular order). All apps are available for both android and iOS and are free unless otherwise stated.

1.

Blackboard Mobile Learn Most professors use the portal to share documents, make announcements, and display grades to the class. This app will make sure you’re always on track with the latest information, even when you’re computer isn’t around.

2.

Dropbox Who loves working in groups?

Then this app is for you! It’s likely at some point in your time at U of T you’re going to work on a group project and drop box is a great way to share files. Think of an online Microsoft explorer (for PC aficionados) or finder (for Mac junkies) where group files can be stored and accessed.

3. theScore After the weather, sports are probably one of the most common topics of conversation. Whether you’re in 8 fantasy pools or don’t know what NHL stands for, it’s always good to keep up to date with the latest scores. This way you can be

in the loop and have something to talk about should you have to revive an awkward conversation.

4.

M e r r i a m - We b s t e r dictionary Do you have an acquaintance or friend who is pretentious in their use of language and their condescending tendencies make you chagrined? Fear no more! This app will allow you to look up any words and the word of the day feature will allow you to enhance your vocab one verb at a time.

5.

Facebook/Twitter An obligatory inclusion for any list, Facebook is great for group work and also keeping track of different events at the university (ie.

SMCSU presents: TOGA). Twitter is helpful as you can consume a lot of information quickly on things such as how annoyed your friends are about the delays on the TTC, or what Kim Kardashian is up to at any point in time.

6.

Rocket Man Do you also hate TTC or GO delays? Download rocket app for the latest information on where stops and stations are, when the next bus/ streetcar will arrive and any delays or stoppages. A must have for any commuter.

7.

Doodle: Easy Scheduling One of the other pleasures of group work is trying to figure out when everyone’s available to meet.

If you’d rather not pay 2.99 for the app, use the mobile site where you can create availability polls for free and determine when’s the best time for your group to get together.

8.

Uber After a late night out, unless your willing to suffer on the blue bus (the 24 hour TTC bus), often cabs are the best way home. Uber lets you set up a pickup location, estimate your fare, and can charge the fare right to your account incase you spent all

your cash on four dollar shots at the Brunny.

9.

Your bank’s mobile app Every major bank now has an app and it’s always extremely convenient to able to take care of your finances on the road. Although functions are bank specific, most should allow you to check account balances and transactions, pay bills, and make transfers to other accounts or people.

10. Any game you choose Whether it’s Angry Birds or

Temple Run, everyone should have a go to game while they pass time waiting for TAs during office hours, or friends in the Kelly café. Just make sure you don’t become entirely obsessed and forget you have real responsibilities outside of achieving a new high score.

Street style: Frosh edition John Castellarin | Living Editor

photos: Sandro

Name: Francesca Granata Year: Fourth Major: Double major in Cognitive Science and Linguistics, and Minor in Buddhism, Psychology and Mental Health Twitter/Instagram @fgranata_

Handle:

Favourite Frosh Moment: Getting to ride the leader bed race cart and winning the frosh cup!

Name: Alex Wichert Year: Third Major: Double major in English and Book and Media Studies Twitter Handle: @alexwichert Favourite Frosh Moment: When we clinched the bed races and everyone flooded on the streets to celebrate!

Pehar

Living

THE MIKE

Do's and don'ts for new students

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And some tips that even upperclassmen could use Dane Saunders | Contributor Do: Go to office hours Professors have office hours for a reason. Plenty of people are nervous to ask questions during lecture or sometimes the right moment never comes up. Professors have to be there anyways so they are usually more than happy to help. Office hours are great because they allow you to get answers to your questions and also get to know your prof on a more personal basis. Knowing your prof personally will enhance your time in their class and if you ever need a job or a reference in the future, they are great people to talk to and they’ll be much more helpful if they know who you are.

Don’t: Wear clothes from other universities Don’t be that jerk wearing a Harvard sweater while sitting in Con Hall. You go to the University of Toronto and you should be proud to do so. No one’s asking you to become a U of T cheerleader but a little respect would be great. The bookstore has a huge selection of sweaters so you can stay fashionable for fall without slapping our campus across the face. Also, if you have a significant other’s sweater from another uni, don’t wear it because anyone who’s single will automatically hate you.

Do: Go to Brennan!

It’s tough to talk in class, so once you leave come to Brennan and mingle! It’s an awesome place to talk to familiar faces and meet new people.

As a small community, everyone in SMC has a mutual friend and it’s

amazing how quickly your network will expand once you star meeting a few people. Also, Brennan is where you can go to get tickets for all sorts of special events and find bulletins on everything happening at SMC. Don’t: Ask to use the bathroom or leave class So many people remember someone asking to go to the bathroom during their first class.

Guess what? You’re an adult now and can go without permission! Just don’t make a ruckus and interrupt.

In terms of leaving class, telling the prof before things start is always respectful, and sitting somewhere that allows for a quick and quiet escape is highly recommended.

Do: Get involved!

If you see a poster for something you want to be apart of, sign up, or if you know someone involved in something, ask to join. It can be hard to meet people in class, so joining smaller groups and getting to know people beyond academia will make your time at U of T so much more rewarding. Taking math but want an opportunity to write?

Join the Mike! No regular meetings and if you just want to contribute when you’re free to write, a regular commitment isn’t required. Sorry for the shameless plug but the main point is, extracurricular activities let you enhance your experience outside of the classroom which is a huge part of what university is all about.

Don’t: Make a lousy first impression When you go to class for the first time, be at your best. Maybe in high school you were sweet, but now in university people may no longer be

impressed. First impressions are always lasting, and if your prof sees you actin’ a fool on day one, it could be a hard perception to shake. In terms of your classmates, if you want to make new friends during your time here, being abrasive or acting too cool for school isn’t going to do you any favours.

Do: Be open!

For many of us, throughout high school we hung out with the same people with whom we had a lot in common. Personally, my favourite part of university is meeting people from different places, with different goals and interests. You can learn a lot from your peers and not giving

people a chance just because their different from you is probably one of the biggest mistakes you can make during your time at U of T. So while you’re here, be open to new people and ideas, and always be yourself, but stay humble and remember everyone has something positive to offer.

The life of a frosh leader Frosh still fun in fourth year

photo: Sandro

Pehar

Michael Carcone | Contributor This year I participated in my fourth and final frosh week (the last three as a leader) and looking back it has been one of my most rewarding experiences at U of T. As a froshie I had an amazing week, namely by participating in the bed races and helping SMC to win another Frosh Cup! After having such a great time and making friends at school who felt the same way, I decided to become a frosh leader in second year. For me, being a leader was even better than a froshie because my familiarity with the community helped me meet so many more people and since then I’ve participated as a leader every year.

Staying downtown with friends and going out every night after screaming cheers all day was exhausting, and all the pizza I consumed certainly didn’t

help, but I definitely don’t have any regrets. Looking back at the last four years, the highlight each year was definitely the bed races. I’ve raced all four years and won three of the four times (New College cheated in 2013 so it wasn’t my fault) and running up

King’s College Road with so many people cheering is an occasion like no other. I couldn’t recommend more that people get involved in frosh as some sort of staff member, because even if you didn’t enjoy it as a froshie the week is completely

different when you’re in charge. After a year at U of T you have a better understanding of the community and school and are able to fully enjoy the week without any of the worries or anxiety that come with starting university. Unfortunately my time as

a frosh leader is over but I wish future leaders luck and am hoping the frosh cup always stays blue and never leaves SMC.

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Sports

THE MIKE

Alex Anthopoulos Absolute assassin, and not a clown Brendan Forrest | Contributor Let's get one thing straight right off the bat.

I'm still all in on this season. 3.5 games back with 17 games to go and just one team (Seattle) to leapfrog in order to snag the wild card spot that has eluded Jays fans for so many years. No short order, but crazier things have happened.

[Ed- Alas, we are still waiting] Let's say though, that the Jays don't pull it off this year, as is reasonable to expect, and find themselves floating amid the realm of mediocrity that has marked each season since Joe Carter touched 'em all 21 years ago. It would be the second year into a proposed three year plan that the Jays have failed to compete. Not a three year rebuild, but a plan revolving around three full years of competitive, probably even playoff-worthy, baseball. Most would regard that as a failure, and it would be hard to blame them.

Sure, R.A. Dickey, a centerpiece in the Jays' 2012 retooling, will be 40 by next spring training. Mark Buehrle will be 36. Jose Bautista, the club's MVP, will be 34. Edwin Encarnacion, the Jay's second best bat and arguably the best power hitter in the AL, is no spring chicken – he'll turn 32 this offseason and is only signed through 2015. It seems as though if the plan fails, the Jays will be screwed. That's the stance I see a lot of people taking. But let's look at things from a different perspective.

Of course, Jays fans would rather see 29 year old Jose Bautista than 34 year old Jose next season. But in my opinion, he is the kind of player who can continue to contribute at a high level even when his natural athleticism starts to fade. He has arguably the best eye at the plate of anyone in the game. I would contend that he can continue to get on base at an elite clip

for several more years, regardless of a decline in bat speed. Edwin Encarnacion is two years younger, and has a club option on his contract for 2016 at just 10 million dollars. That's at least two more years of cheap, elite hitting to anchor the Jays offense. Contract extensions aside, these guys can continue to contribute past the proposed end of the three year plan.

Further, what success the Jays have had this year has been in no small part due to the emergence of rookie pitchers Marcus Stroman and fellow youngster Aaron Sanchez, who promises to serve a starting role as early as next season. Drew Hutchison turned 24 less than a month ago. While he has been inconsistent this season (his ERA is well over 4.00), the sustained periods of dominance he has shown are promising. Daniel Norris is 21. Dalton Pompey, one of the most highly regarded outfield prospects in the game, was called up this September and has already made contributions to winning games. The young talent is certainly there, and it's ready to contribute for decades to come.

Yes, the three year plan has failed. But you know what? I'm glad it has. 3 years of competitive baseball guarantees nothing, and implies an inherent downturn in success after the third year. Even the stable of young, high-ceiling arms that Alex Anthopolous and his team have built up in the past five years doesn't guarantee anything. But, unlike a three year shot at the big time, it promotes the kind of success that is sustainable -- and sustained competitiveness is what Blue Jays fans want.

Anthopolous should accordingly be praised for the job he's done. Even the ultimate failure of “the plan” will not hinder success in the days beyond it, as some might contend. And those days are looking increasingly bright.

Peter Galka | Sports Editor

NFL

Following The NFLPA’s approval of the league’s new drug testing policy, Cleveland Browns’ WR (and everybody’s favourite car salesman) Josh Gordon, had his suspension for marijuana use reduced from a full season to 10 games.

NHL

A couple changes to look out for this upcoming season in the NHL: Spin-o-ramas are no longer allowed in shootouts, diving fines and repercussions will be more harsh, and the trapezoid behind the net has been expanded by 2 feet for the safety of the league’s defencemen.

MLB

For the final push for the playoffs, The Baltimore Orioles lost their behemoth of a slugger, Chris ‘Crush’ Davis, for 25 games (including playoff games) for Amphetamine use.

WNBA

The Phoenix Mercury swept the Chicago Sky to claim their 3rd WNBA Championship thanks in part to the heroics of Diana Taurasi’s MVP effort of 24 points and 5 assists.

FIBA

The USA cruised to the championship game where they faced an unlikely opponent in Serbia who managed to knock off international powerhouse, France to get to the gold medal game.

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Sports

Teaming with intrigue A look at some stories of interest heading into the 2014-2015 NHL Season Alex Wichert | Staff Writer

to be seen if he is the coach who can put it all together and run a successful system but, if there is one coach who has earned the respect of fans across the league, it should be Barry Trotz. The Predators, with the rosters and players they have had available to them, iced some incredibly impressive squads. A large part of their winning ways was the man who is now leading the charge in Washington.

One interesting aspect of Trotz’s new job is that he has an entirely different goalie situation to work with. Braden Holtby is a good, young goaltender who will undoubtedly improve.

However, he is, justifiably, not a Tomas Voukoun or a Pekka Rinne at this stage in his career. Trotz has had the luxury of some allworld talent between the pipes in the past – he will have to rebuild Holtby’s confidence after the disheartening and, at times, tumultuous season that was last year.

With the boys of summer packing up their beach gear and the autumn season eagerly rushing into place, fall is once again accompanied by the optimistic and exciting time known as the start of hockey season. Regardless of their allegiances and respective teams, most fans allow themselves to ambitiously hope for improvement from last year; whether improvement means a Stanley Cup, a Playoff berth, or continued development in the rebuilding cycle, no team enters the 2014-2015 National Hockey League season without some hope.

In addition to the anticipation of a fresh start, the intrigue of storylines forged during the last few campaigns or in the offseason pull at the consciousness of the league as a collective. Let’s take a quick look at some of the appealing narratives we have to look forward to this season.

2. The Rise of the Dallas Stars Last summer, Stars General Manager Jim Nill orchestrated the swap that saw Boston Bruins forward Tyler Seguin sent to Dallas. Seguin flourished in his new surroundings, providing a solid one-two punch with captain Jamie Benn.

This summer, Nill was again involved in a big trade – long-time Ottawa Senator and recently named captain Jason Spezza allegedly nixed a deal that would have sent him to Nashville in favour of relocation to the big D. It isn’t difficult to see why Spezza would choose Dallas as his destination of choice: top forwards aside, Kari Lehtonen is a very underrated goaltender, Valeri Nichushkin will soon be living up to his employer’s namesake as he is a rising star, and the blueline boasts a mix of experienced defensemen and emerging youths. The roster, coupled with the intelligent Nill at the helm and Lindy Ruff behind the bench, appears to be a recipe for a second-straight ticket to the postseason.

1. Will Florida’s Free Agent Frenzy Pay Off ?

The Panthers, certainly, needed to hit the Salary Cap Floor this offseason and had cash to burn. However, the club did more than just plug holes with their signings – they added some Stanley Cup winners and veteran players to help out with the impressive young crop of up-and-comers the team already boasts. David Bolland, despite the hefty price tag, looks to rebound from an injury-plagued season with the Maple Leafs. Jussi Jokinen, Willie Mitchell, Al Montoya, and Shawn Thornton will all improve their new organization in different ways. Perhaps the biggest addition to the team, besides the drafting of Aaron Ekblad in June, was the trade that returned Roberto Luongo to Sunrise at the deadline. Luongo is still one of the best goaltenders in the league and will be looking to continue the noteworthy play he demonstrated in the last quarter of the 20132014 season. It definitely appears that Luongo was rejuvenated by his long-awaited change of address.

Although the Panthers will be more competitive this year, they will have to do battle with some strong divisional rivals before they can even think about the Playoffs. Boston, Tampa Bay, and Montreal will all be fierce foes again this year, Detroit and Toronto will both be looking to improve on last season, and the 2014-2015 incarnation of the Buffalo Sabres is an entirely different one from last year.

3. Can Barry Trotz Save the Capitals?

Barry Trotz is in unfamiliar territory. Gone are the days of rolling four lines of forwards containing one 20 goal scorer. Instead, Trotz has the offensive dynamo that is Alex Ovechkin at his disposal. Nicklas Backstrom, Matt Niskanen, and Mike Green will also be welcome members of the Capitals’ attack force.

With the exception of a few players throughout his Predators career, Trotz has never had this much production assembled on one roster.

Despite his time in Washington, It still remains

4. Vancouver Turnaround This season, the Canucks will be a different team from the one that closed out last year.

With Ryan Miller manning the net, promising youngster Bo Horvat centring a line, and a plethora of hardworking producers, such as Nick Bonino, making their debuts, Vancouver will be looking to brush aside the losses of last campaign and begin a new era. General Manager Jim Benning unquestionably converted some doubters with his performance at the NHL Draft this summer and new coach Willie Desjardins will provide a completely different style than the failed experiment that was John Tortorella. Thanks to the now oneyear-old system that was the realignment, the Canucks find themselves in a very difficult division. However, it appears that the club will be attempting to retool on the fly and not buy in to the tank strategy that many of today’s powerhouses once employed.

Hopeful theories and beguiling speculation – these are staples of every NHL season. The first national bank of hockey is almost open for business – and in each account there is quite a bit of interest.

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Opinions

THE MIKE

A new Ford on the horizon What is happening with the Ford family's plans in Toronto politics Saad Shah | Staff Writer Five days after Karen Stintz opted out of the mayoral race, a random sampling by Forum Poll showed Rob Ford’s support going up from 27% to 31% in just a matter of a few weeks. This meant that roughly 3 out of 10 Torontonians planned to vote for Ford. John Tory had a marginal lead with 34% supporting him, while Olivia Chow, who showed a lot of promise over the summer months, fell from 25% to 23% of potential votes. Now, with Doug Ford replacing his brother and claiming a cool 34% according to Forum Poll, it really does appear that the Ford name isn’t disappearing any time soon.

To be fair, it cannot be said at this point in time that the Ford duo will make a grand comeback given the delicate nature of this election.

Needless to say, the margin of error in these polls is quite large as well. For example the poll mentioned above

by Forum Poll was conducted via random automated telephone calls to Toronto homes. This of course does not represent the population of Toronto, as many do not subscribe to home phones. Nonetheless, these polls prove valuable for subjective analysis of what this rising popularity of the Ford name means for Toronto.

Personally, I fail to understand

why support for the Ford family is on the rise. Before Rob decided to drop out, it was evident that he had garnered enough support to stand a real chance. Even if we shift our attention purely to their projected plans if re-elected and momentarily ignore the many, many heinous acts Rob had committed while mayor of our city, we can see how little the plans actually make sense. For example, an overly ambitious transit plan purports to build 32 kilometres of new subway lines without a municipal tax increase. Ford’s estimates are vastly lowballed because building this proposed subway would require far more money. Their $9 billion dollar plan includes building subway along Finch Avenue West where the population density is not high enough to justify building a subway. Rob made similar promises for his last election campaign, where he promised expansion of the Scarborough subway, thus killing a more advanced seven-stop light rail that would have served the needs of the area better. The cost ultimately falls upon the average Torontonian because every ratepayer in the city has been saddled with a 30 year Scarborough subway property tax.

This is not to say that the transit plans of the other candidates in the mayoral race are perfect, but given the importance of transit in our busy

city, the blatant flaws in Ford’s plan particularly cannot be overlooked.

Many of Rob Ford’s supporters have argued that despite his “mistakes” in his private sphere of life, he is a leader who can get the job done. I couldn't disagree more.

Granted, his brother Doug may be a more accomplished leader given his time in council, but the ideas are the same and the intention of keeping the Ford name on the ballot is all too clear. People have to be packed like cattle onto the subway and streetcars during rush hour. Unemployment in Toronto is the highest compared to other cities in Canada, rising from 7.6 percent in 2013 to 8.4% in 2014.

The facts speak for themselves: a mayor who cannot get the people moving, who cannot help the people with employment, who has let homelessness continue to plague the lives of the underprivileged, does not deserve to be re-elected.

Assuming his brother keeps these same principles in mind, he hardly deserves the title as well.

At the end of the day, working as a mayor of any city is a very public position. The mayor is constantly under the supervision of not only the city, but also the country and the world as a whole. When the first videos of the mayor smoking certain hard drugs were released, jokes about his accountability as

mayor spread like wildfire, especially in many American talk shows. This job requires a responsible person with a clean track record who can represent the city without blemishing its reputation. Gaining votes through popularity of a name is no way to win an election. The leader ultimately represents the entire population, and if our mayor is the laughingstock of political analysts across the globe, what does that say about the status of our city? Toronto is one of the best places on the planet and rightfully deserves a leader who can

lead without a new weekly scandal that makes his own voters wince.

The decision ultimately lies in the hands of the people of Toronto.

When voting, people should make it a point to vote for the candidate with the most viable plan, and who is capable of delivering their promises without being involved in scandals which leave people completely baffled as to how someone accused of such allegations can still be in office. So, when the time comes on October 27th, choose wisely Toronto.

Naked but not alone Where does the celebrity nude photo leak leave us?

Melissa Morgado | Opinions Editor “Nude Scandal 2014” seems hardly surprising. Photo leaks have become almost a routine event, eliciting the same routine behavior from the masses: a shake of the head and a sigh about how x celebrity or y teenager was such a good role model/student, and how this all really

is a big disappointment – after, of course, making a point to check out the photos firsthand. Each incident typically commands attention for a few weeks, then begins to lose ground while readers move on the Next Big Thing. Things are slightly different this time around, however, as the types of reactions to these scandals are slowly beginning to shift.

This particular instance, involving

actresses Jennifer Lawrence and Victoria Justice, model Kate Upton, and, most recently, singer Jill Scott, has finally evoked the public outrage across social media that it deserves, fueled by feminist advocates who are attempting to induce critical dialogue on the treatment of women.

While the movement into destroying misogynistic views and treatment of women is a long road to completion, growing acceptance of the opinion

that these types of scandals are rights violations has been a very long time coming. People are beginning to accept that women are grossly maltreated in the public eye.

Without a doubt, women have long since been taught that any slip of female sexuality into the public sphere is the fault of the woman, regardless of the circumstances.

The public voraciously craves representations of female sexuality, then immediately condemns when that wish is granted, voluntarily or not. Certainly, one of the most remarkable things about these kinds of scandals has been the public’s readiness to attribute blame to the victimized female, rather than the criminal who released the photos.

The most remarkable thing is that no one ever seemed to think this was strange.

Why is this? Why do we insist on treating crimes involving female sexuality with such discomfort? I can’t keep track of the vast number of times where a woman’s privacy was invaded or her body was targeted, and the fault lay with the woman while the criminal quietly disappeared in the background.

It’s astounding to think that, in

2014, the prevailing fear of women commanding their sexuality remains so strong.

Consequently, the shifted reactions to this month’s nude scandal has been both encouraging and slightly unexpected, but no less appreciated for it. Millions across Twitter have taken to angrily disseminating it as a violation of privacy, while others have pointed out that these women have been victimized for taking part in a perfectly legal and personal choice, while the hacker has received minimal attention. Where most would have angrily kept quiet in past years, the encouragement of so many women furiously calling for proper legal consequences has helped create a core statement: Women are independent and free to make our own choices, whether or not those choices involve exposing our sexual being with pride. We are persons with rights that are as valid as anyone else’s, and therefore are deserving of an equal degree of justice.

This message is necessary, paramount, and beginning to gain traction. And that’s most definitely a good thing.

Opinions

THE MIKE

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The Ferguson fumble How mistakes compiled to make a truly hostile situation

Melissa Morgado | Opinions Editor Determined, unyielding protestors in Ferguson have driven social media users to dissect the political and social state of the United States of America and label it for what it is: a toxic atmosphere that clings, in some parts, to protecting age-old systemic injustices.

Following the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO, people uncomfortable with the existence of racial prejudice in authoritative forces have been forced to face reality. Not only did the Ferguson police force provide a sad excuse for documented proof of Brown stealing (justifying his death, in their opinion), but they have resorted to any and all means possible to avoid taking responsibility for their actions. Rather than admit

fault, the police force have become reminiscent of soldiers fighting in a war zone by employing means such as rubber bullets and tear gas on unarmed protestors. Really, the situation is bordering on Ferguson becoming a caricature of police brutality. More importantly, it is so ridiculous that the public has no choice but to address it as an issue of racism embedded in the system.

Critics have drawn comparisons

between the differential treatment of black and white victims. Some people have pointed out the police force’s prolonged reluctance to reveal information about the officer who shot Brown, while others have noted the indifference paid to officers who kill or maim black youths and receive the equivalent of a paid vacation.

Still others note that while so many white criminals that shot up schools or conspired to kill were excused as mentally disturbed, Michael Brown was treated as a law-breaking thug responsible for his own death.

Ferguson most definitely represents the quintessential human refusal to acknowledge uncomfortable truths. Despite the prevalence of race-related crimes up until now, so many people continue to staunchly declare that racism went out with the 90s, and the world is now home to the “one human race”.

It’s disheartening to hear excuse after excuse on why the police have so viciously chosen to defend one guilty white cop at the expense of the life of an innocent black youth. It’s also disheartening to hear those around

you stubbornly ignore it as the race issue that it is.

Thankfully, Ferguson’s exposure in the media has forced people to come to terms with the fact that some police forces are not as good as we would like to think. There’s no ignoring the fact that marching on unarmed protestors with weapons is indicative that the officers are trying to save face. Thanks to Twitter’s dedicated liveblogging, as well as smart comments by media sources such as The Colbert Report, the number of people recognizing the true nature of Ferguson’s chaos is larger than it could ever otherwise be.

Brown’s death brings police violence from all parts of the world to the forefront of public scrutiny, which is incredibly necessary if we are to take apart corrupt systems and put them back together again.

Reconstruction can only occur if we address these situations in the social and political contexts that they exist in. After that comes taking responsibility for our actions, which the Ferguson police force desperately needs to learn how to do.

A new activism Social media and the internet play an important role in mediating conflict

Melissa Morgado | Opinions Editor In recent years, the proliferation of social media has allowed people around the globe to create (mostly) informed opinions about numerous critical situations worldwide. Not only can the average citizen receive live updates about the truth of a crisis, devoid of the media’s malicious spin or selective government restrictions, but people also have the ability to hear both sides of the story before deciding upon the truth. No more apparent is this phenomenon than in

the famed Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Twitter’s numerous updates about the chaos has helped inform a large number of people who might even have previously been unaware of Palestine’s existence as a whole.

Rather than accepting spokespeople’s’ statements at face value that Israel is simply protecting itself against rebellion, the public largely has the ability to read an array of reports and take a good look at stats rounding off the massive death tolls in both the Israeli and Palestinian communities.

Even if it’s been said a million times before, social media is definitively changing the way we interpret news.

That being said, no amount of social awareness can compensate for action. Many have pointed out that while spreading awareness over the Internet of global crises is good, it isn’t enough to deter enemy groups from clashing, or to help a rebellious group stand up against its oppressors. A well-known criminological theory states that condemnation without certainty of swift repercussions has no effect at all. Case in point, the UN Security Council continues to remind Israel that it violates the Fourth Geneva Convention by not appropriately managing the operations and citizens

of its occupied territory, while Israel continues to defer the warning without consequence.

We need to start using social media more and more as a way to introduce real world activism. Becoming educated about the issue itself is fine in its own right, but encouraging action from bystanders is an entirely different and more useful ballgame.

We have seen this in the most recent trend in social media – the ALS Challenge – which prompted people to go further than just reading and agreeing that something deserves support. While the intentions of participators may have strayed into

just making a successful Vine, it’s undeniable that the ALS Challenge provoked enough tangible support to make the whole thing worthwhile.

Of course, it’s no easy task to generate this type of response for the Israel-Palestine conflict. After all, it’s not feasible for everyone to hop on a plane and negotiate peace.

Populations hold power in public outcry, however. We can voice our support and we can volunteer for and donate to organizations with a direct role in the care of civilians. Voicing dissent against the US government for refueling Israel’s ammunition, for example, might be a healthy start.

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THEMOCK

Sudoku

(CUP) — Puzzles provided by Sudoweb.com. Used with permission.

Comic's Corner KLARA WOLDENGA | THE OTHER PRESS (DOUGLAS COLLEGE)

Horoscopes Libra | Sep 23 - Oct 21 Hey Libra, we both know you've got a lot going on right now. On top of that, you're the type who always wants to throw yourself into every relationship, helping friends and family and partners with their dilemmas. But things are tough right now and maybe it's time you asked for something instead. Reach out to someone around you next time you need an essay proofread, a coffee break or simply just a hug.

Midterms suck.

Scorpio | Oct 23 - Nov 22 You have really lovely hair. Don't ever cut it shorter.

Sagittarius | Nov 23 - Dec 22 If you want to be happy, you have to do two things in life: making positive experiences and achieving goals.The goals can be tiny and short-term, as long as they align with your values and make you feel like you have a purpose. Finding a balance between pleasant activities and achievements is a good way to gain a sense of control.

Capricorn | Dec 23 - Jan 22 It's still pretty nice out, but you should start practicing your comfort food recipes now. Figure out what's missing from your mac and cheese recipe and which soups will work best on chilly days and which chilis will work best on soupy days.

Consider buying a slow cooker.

Aquarius | Jan 23 - Feb 22 WANT US TO FEATURE YOUR ART? SEND POEMS, PHOTOS AND DRAWINGS TO ARTS@READTHEMIKE.COM

Once my boyfriend wanted to leave the apartment during an argument to get some air and take

Alekzia Hosein Future Seer in Chief

a break from the stressful environment. So I hid all of his left shoes so he couldn't leave. Boys don't like this. Don't do this. Let people make their own decisions, even if their decisions feel like they'll hurt you.

the roles that you have in your life and you'll realize that you're a lot better at some of them than others.

Pisces | Feb 23 - Mar 22

You know that really depressing movie you put on when you're feeling a bit sad and you want to cry? For some people, it's The Notebook or Marley and Me. Some might choose Blue Valentine or Closer. Personally I like Vincent Gallo's The Brown Bunny or Lars von Trier's Melancholia. Let's make an pact to stop watching these movies and to go outside and play with a dog instead.

Do you ever wonder what's missing from your life? It's contentment. Now aren't you happy that you can stop worrying and start working on being satisfied?

Aries | Mar 21 - Apr 19 There are some great places to cry at UofT. Hart House chapel, the tiny waterfall behind Pratt, the basement of Odette Hall, Philosopher's Walk, all non-gendered bathrooms. Robarts' reading rooms are not great. The general rule is that if people are trying to study or eat, try your best not to cry around them.You'll thank me later.

Taurus | Apr 20 - May 20 Figure skating season is coming up soon, so you'd better sharpen those skates and start working on those axel jumps. If you can't find a rink, try sliding around Front Campus on a muddy day.The sensation won't be exactly the same but if you can land a triple lutz there, imagine how good you'll be on ice!

Gemini | May 21 - Jun 21 It's hard to feel like you're special when your life revolves around being a student and the general mood on campus seems to depend entirely on the evaluation cycle.

Try out a new activity. Preferably something off-campus so you can interact with people from a wide variety of backgrounds with a wide variety of stress-causers. Expand

Cancer | Jun 22 - Jul 22

Leo | Jul 23 - Aug 22 It costs $2.70 every time I take the TTC to class. It takes 30-35 minutes. Walking takes me 50-55 minutes, but I spend $3.50 on an espresso drink if I walk. I have classes four days a week. But Leo, none of that matters.You should start accepting that you can't always control what happens in life. Please don't suggest that I get a Metropass. I'll still want coffee.

Virgo | Aug 23 - Sep 22 My G1 expires next year. I sometimes feel like a failure because I'm 22 and can't drive, but then I realize that even if I could drive, I couldn't afford insurance or parking in this city. Or a car. Stop holding yourself to impossible standards,Virgo and live in the real world.

If you think you can write better horoscopes, email: editorinchief@readthemike.com