The Mike, Issue 7 (2017-18)

The official student newspaper of the University of St. Michael’s College since 1947.

Volume LXX, Issue 7 January 30, 2018 readthemike.com

NEWS

ARTS

A look at SMSCU’s early 2018 plans, initiatives (page 2)

Hart House presents Arthur Miller’s The Crucible (page 6)

FEATURE

OPINIONS

The health benefits of a plantbased diet (pages 8–9)

How Brennan Hall might look going forward (page 10)

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NEWS

News Editor Aaron Panciera news@readthemike.com

Volume LXX By students, for students.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Josh Scott editorinchief@readthemike.com MANAGING EDITOR Liam McConnell managingeditor@readthemike.com BUSINESS MANAGER Rhonda Rathburn business@readthemike.com MANAGING ONLINE EDITOR Prijanga Ahilan SENIOR COPY EDITOR Jamie Stalcup NEWS EDITOR Aaron Panciera news@readthemike.com ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITORS Bardia Besharat, Emily Barber OPINIONS EDITOR Julia Orsini opinions@readthemike.com ASSOCIATE OPINIONS EDITORS Bryan Liceralde, Leanne Grosbeck FEATURES EDITOR Téana Graziani features@readthemike.com ASSOCIATE FEATURES EDITOR Sara Alonzi ARTS EDITOR Miranda Mirabelli arts@readthemike.com ASSOCIATE ARTS EDITOR Ascenza Paolella LOGOS EDITOR Francesco Rampino logos@readthemike.com SCIENCE & TECH EDITOR Jiaxing Huang science@readthemike.com SPORTS EDITOR Ben Denomme sports@readthemike.com PHOTO EDITOR Layla Pereira-DaSilva ILLUSTRATION EDITOR Jennifer Boothby COPY EDITORS M. Kalaczynski, Rebeca Ancer, Mara Ng, Kristine Sahagun

WEBSITE EDITOR Angela Feng SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Emily So OUTREACH DIRECTOR Josh Simpson DESIGN MANAGERS Varisha Naeem, Garnet Ryu STAFF Chan Lee, Braedon Balko, Jonfranco Monaco, Korto Zambeli-Tardif, Pran Sathiy CONTRIBUTORS Yoav Shimoni, Gazelle Dehzad, L.F. Van Reede van Oudtshoorn, Hiromitsu Higashi, Anna Zappone, Jessica Frascà, Maryam Rahimi Shahmirzadi, Chiara Brum Bozzi, Ben Grieco, Ninan Zhao, Yinan Liu, Victoria Yang, Leticia Gaba, Zoe Burke, Sophie McGuire, Matthew Simoes FACULTY ADVISOR Randy Boyagoda COVER IMAGE Martin Poole LOGO DESIGN Le nonpareil Chris Quental VACANCIES Design Manager (1) If you’re interested in the above position, please email Liam at managingeditor@readthemike.com.

The Mike has been the official student newspaper of the University of St. Michael’s College (USMC) since 1947. It is published bi-weekly, 10–12 times a year, with a circulation of 2,000, delivered to over 40 newsstands across U of T’s St. George campus.

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A Look at SMCSU Initiatives for 2018 February AGM aims to bring new initiatives and promote existing ones Emily Barber ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR The St. Michael’s College Student Union’s (SMCSU) Annual General Meeting (AGM), projected to take place this February, will usher in new and existing initiatives for University of St. Michael’s College (USMC) students, and promises to keep students both informed and involved.

“SMCSU has been working hard since October to get things done either internally within the council, as well as with external affairs,” SMCSU Vice-President Kate Strazds told The Mike. “As a council, we are collectively excited to continue to communicate with students and hope to continue our efforts to help strengthen the community within USMC.” SMCSU President Samantha Douek has created the new SMCSU website that is set to launch by the end of January. The council has also created new Facebook and Instagram accounts to help strengthen communication between students and the union that represents them.

Numerous events and initiatives have already taken place this year, including the various Winterfest events that took place January 8–12, football viewing events, Pizza and Board Games events, and Kelly’s Korner.

Events planned for this semester will be released in a timetable that spans the rest of the 2018 term. They will include, but are not limited to, monthly Kelly’s Korner and Pair-A-Dice collaboration events, Super Bowl and Olympic viewing parties, and pancake breakfasts. There is also a formal being planned for the end of the year amongst leaders at USMC.

students and be open for discussion during the AGM in February.

In terms of job openings for SMCSU, the council has accepted applicants for the positions that were made available, and has made sure to reach out to the individuals who have expressed interest.

Council positions that were not filled in the October election include Vice-President of Religious Affairs, Vice-President of Athletics, and Vice-President of Finance.

According to Strazds, “Since it is almost February, the council believes that creating committees in lieu of having another election before March will be a great way for students to get involved with SMCSU initiatives.” Committees that SMCSU intends to create include a first-year committee and a formal planning committee.

When asked what students should keep in mind for this semester, SMCSU responded that they encourage students to stay posted for upcoming initiatives and collaborations on the horizon. The more students can communicate with the council to express what they are interested in or if they have any inquiries about the council, the better they can fulfill their job.

“Our job on SMCSU is ultimately to represent the great body of students from USMC,” Strazds writes. “We hope to keep you engaged within the community, and plan initiatives that are devoted to improving your community and academic life on campus, while planning these initiatives by keeping equity in mind and finally executing these events with care and in an organizational manner.”

In terms of logistics, the budget for the 2017–18 term will be made available to

Introducing the Sheptytsky Institute

Sheptytsky offers opportunity by way of graduate courses and more Chan Lee STAFF REPORTER The Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky Institute of Eastern Christian Studies, also known as the Sheptytsky Institute, is an autonomous department of the Faculty of Theology at the University of St. Michael’s College (USMC). Father Andriy Chirovsky founded the Sheptytsky Institute in 1986 in Chicago, but the institute moved to St. Paul’s University in 1990. The Sheptytsky Institute has operated within USMC since July 1, 2017.

“It became obvious that Theology was being downsized at Saint Paul’s University,” Fr. Peter Galadza, Professor of Liturgy at the Sheptytsky Institute, told The Mike. “We started thinking of a place we could continue to grow in the future [and so] we approached St. Mike’s.”

The Sheptytsky Institute is based on the study of Eastern Christian Theology, of which they primarily focus on Eastern Orthodox, Assyrian, Eastern Catholic, and Pre-Chalcedonian families. Additionally, the Sheptytsky Institute focuses on spirituality, liturgy, history, and ecclesial polity, in addition to theology.

According to the Sheptytsky website, it does not currently offer undergraduate courses, but “some are being contemplated at this time.” Students, however, from the University of Toronto (U of T) and USMC can enrol in graduate level courses. From there, students can choose between two research-oriented degrees or two of the pastorally oriented degrees. The Sheptytsky Institute also offers some online courses for

distance education.

It also holds events throughout the year in order to raise student awareness. According to Galadza, they hold “outreach events, Tuesdays and Thursdays, and public presentations.” Galadza also stated that the Sheptytsky Institute had and is offering free meals in the form of “Greek for Breakfast,” an opportunity for people to have free breakfast and learn about various topics. Additionally, the liturgical services are available to the whole community.

If you would like to learn more about the Sheptytsky Institute, it is located in Elmsley Hall’s chapel space.

NEWS

Website: readthemike.com Facebook/Twitter/Instagram: @readthemike

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Brennan Hall Renovation Update, Town Hall Recap Renovations began January 22, 2018 Aaron Panciera NEWS EDITOR On Thursday, January 11, the University of St. Michael’s College (USMC) held a town hall in The Coop to discuss the upcoming renovations to Brennan Hall.

The town hall was moderated by USMC Principal and Vice-President Randy Boyagoda and saw representatives from the architectural firm Gow Hastings, as well as a USMC student panel.

Renovations to Brennan Hall have been in the planning period since fall 2017, and physical renovations began on January 22. The purpose of the renovations is to create a more student-friendly space within Brennan, as well as to move the registrar’s office in an effort to counteract overcrowding and revitalize Brennan Hall.

With phase one of the project after construction begins, access to Brennan Hall will be limited. This applies in particular to the Brennan Lounge.

However, the college is working toward ensuring that the resources of Brennan will still be available. This includes the St. Michael’s College Student Union (SMCSU) office relocating to Brennan Hall 102, The Coop being reserved as a student-only space until the end of classes on April 5, and the continuation of a fully functional Canada Room for students living on residence. Students will be asked to access the Canada Room via the Brennan Hall South Entrance.

The office of Stephen Marchment, Assistant Dean, Residence Life, will move to Brennan Hall 203. The office of Erica Tice, Campus Minister, will move to Brennan Hall 107A. The town hall began with an introduction by Boyagoda, who outlined why renovations to Brennan are necessary, as well as what these renovations might look like.

“St Mike’s is investing in this renewal of Brennan Hall for a number of reasons,” Boyagoda said. “Primarily, I think to modernize student facilities and services to make it easier for students to access the services that you need and to improve upon our services to better meet your needs.”

Along with moving the registrar’s office to better adapt to the volume of student traffic, plans also include revamped spaces for student organization and club offices, improved lounge areas, and an increased amount of natural light in the building.

Response to this project has been primarily positive.

However, some students remain unsure as to whether substituting The Coop for Brennan Lounge will provide sufficient enough accommodation to them during phase one of the process.

Approximately 50 USMC students and staff were in attendance at the town hall.

At the town hall, the student panel led by SMCSU President Samantha Douek, Commuter Don Angelo Serrentino, and Editor-in-Chief of The Mike Josh Scott spoke about their own experiences with the registrar as well as their hopes for the project.

After describing having to wait hours to access registrarial services, Douek described why moving the registrar’s office to Brennan would benefit students. “[Relocating the registrar’s office] makes everything easier for students and also, at the registrar’s office, for everyone working there because it becomes a more accessible space and it’s easier to communicate,” Douek said.

Gow Hastings, the architects of the Ryerson Universi-

Yoav Shimoni / THE MIKE

ty StudentHub, will be tasked with the project of renovating Brennan Hall. Philip Hastings works almost exclusively on college and university projects. Along with the Ryerson StudentHub, he has also worked on the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education’s Office of the Registrar, the Bahen Centre, and the Green Beet Cafe located in Gerstein Library.

According to Hastings, the renovations outside the creation of the new registrar’s office will mainly be cosmetic and will concern such items as lighting and furniture.

The exact cost of the project is still unknown as the final budget will depend on the extent of the full renovations. The renovations will be funded through two main sources.

“The renovation and renewal of Brennan Hall is expected to be funded through a fundraising campaign, which is already attracting generous donations from St. Mike’s alumni and friends,” Stefan Slovak, Director of Communications, Events and Outreach, said. The second source will be, “through a fund, designated to support capital projects and approved for this purpose by the Collegium (the governing board of USMC) in December 2017.”

Both USMC and Hastings have emphasized how vital they consider student feedback to the renovation process. Along with the town hall which featured both a student panel and an open questions period, the college recently sent out a survey. The survey asked about students’ current use of Brennan as well as what they would like to see after renovations.

While at this point, it is difficult to tell what exactly the new Brennan Hall will look like, USMC hopes that it will become a brighter, warmer, and more welcoming hub of St. Mike’s student activity.

U of T Signs Strategic Mandate Agreement St. George to reduce number of undergraduate admissions Gazelle Dehzad CONTRIBUTOR For the second time since its establishment, the University of Toronto (U of T) has signed a Strategic Mandate Agreement (SMA) with the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development for the period of April 1, 2017, to March 31, 2020. The SMA, which every post-secondary institution has signed, highlights current and future objectives and priorities shared between the province and the universities. “[The agreement] provides us, over three years, to have security of our funding, to be planning, and also to be able to identify areas that we want to seek investment in,” Andrew Thomson, Chief of Government Relations at the University of Toronto, explained in an interview with The Mike. “This allows us to institute and identify the key priorities, areas of investment, and how to offer programming across the three campuses of the university.”

The SMA outlines some of the main priorities shared between the University and the Ontario government.

This includes: maintaining a leadership position in research and innovation, expanding enrolment of international doctoral students, broadening internation-

al activities for students, and promoting access and diversity through financial support for students of all backgrounds.

The main area of focus that has been emphasized throughout the SMA is improving student experience.

The agreement details the steps that have been taken to create more opportunities for studying abroad, providing additional support to international students, better preparing graduate students for a range of academic and non-academic careers, and establishing a tri-campus Sexual Violence and Support Centre for students, faculty, and staff.

“The second area of focus is, of course, around research intensification. We are Canada’s leading research institution and this allows us an opportunity to clearly measure and reflect the strength that the University has in research,” Thomson stated. “An example of one of the changes that is in this agreement is we have agreed with the province to reduce the number of undergraduates on the St. George campus, instead to focus on more research-intensive activities at this campus while at the same time protecting our enrol-

ment in Scarborough and Mississauga.”

Over a three-year period, the downtown campus will be reducing domestic undergraduates by approximately 2,000 to coincide with demographic trends while maintaining the numbers at the Scarborough and Mississauga campuses. The University will be increasing Master’s and doctoral offerings.

The new SMA aims to build upon the current strengths of the university, and continue creating a diverse environment where students are provided the opportunity to explore their interests and build useful skills that will assist them in the workforce.

The SMA also provides financial sustainability for the University, which allows for growth and creativity. When asked about the long-term benefits this provides, Thomson said, “I think it’s a very positive piece for the University of Toronto. We are Canada’s leading university internationally recognized as one of the great universities of the world, and this funding agreement provides us support to continue on that mission.”

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NEWS

News Editor Aaron Panciera news@readthemike.com

An Academic Foundation for the Imagination USMC hosts 2018 Interdisciplinary Colloquium Braedon Balko STAFF REPORTER The University of St. Michael’s College (USMC) hosted an Interdisciplinary Colloquium featuring USMC students from a variety of academic backgrounds on January 27 from 8:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. at the Basilian Common Room in Brennan Hall. The students presented papers on the broad and open-ended topic of “The Imagination.” The Colloquium included reports from undergraduate students and graduate students alike, representing a very wide umbrella of academic disciplines, including Social Sciences, Humanities, Sciences, Commerce, and Theology. The Colloquium was, according to USMC Principal and Professor Randy Boyagoda, the first of its type, although it built on earlier undergraduate research forums that took place at USMC in years past.

The Colloquium was created, explains Boyagoda, due both to earlier efforts of a similar nature led by his predecessor Professor Domenico Pietropaolo, and because, as Boyagoda recounts, post-doctorate fellows “Rebekah Lamb and Peter O’Hagan approached me with this idea back in the fall — thought it might be a great way to encourage students to present their research more publicly, to bring together different disciplines to explore some shared questions, so I was very happy to support it and to encourage it.”

Each of the five panels of the Colloquium posed a different question or topic pertaining to the overall theme of imagination. Panel one explored “The

Imagination, Its Possibilities and Its Limits,” panel two was entitled, “The Imagination and Approaching the Past,” panel three was labelled “Imagining Community,” panel four was called “(Re)Imagining Boundaries,” and panel five, “Imagination, Technology, and Social Innovation,” concluded the Colloquium. However, these panels were not separated by discipline.

Instead, Boyagoda notes, they were all “grouped thematically … We tried to bring papers together that had connections to each other because that’s what makes it interesting — to hear two perspectives on the same question, to see different approaches … An English student and a biology student would take a fundamentally different approach to making sense of a research question, based on the methodology associated with their respective disciplines.”

Consequently, because the topic of each panel had such a wide breadth, the presentations within each panel tended to be extremely diverse. For example, Philip Trotter, a presenter for panel four, connected the topic of “(Re)Imagining Boundaries” both to the study of English literature and to questions of human tribulation.

“The paper I [presented] for the Colloquium,” Trotter explains, “[was] on Flannery O’Connor’s Wise Blood.

I [argued] that her ability to create ‘black comedy,’ as exemplified in Wise Blood, engages the reader in a particular way; by seamlessly combining comic and

serious elements, she prompts us to actively contemplate critical issues. The ‘black comedy’ defamiliarizes our world, compelling us to imagine hers, where we are confronted by fundamental concerns that we habitually avoid. I firmly believe that her prose redefines the limits of our imagination; her ‘black comedy’ strips away the constraints of the real world so we can apprehend the problems within it.”

“There [were] two goals to the Colloquium,” Boyagoda suggests. “One goal [was] to provide a platform for students to share their work outside of the classroom, beyond the classroom. One of the features of university life is a commitment to the [advancement] of knowledge, and one way that scholars do that is by way of sharing their work in colloquium … so to create an opportunity for undergraduate students and graduate students at St. Mike’s to do that here, it seemed to me like a great means of supporting students as they think about their research beyond coursework.

The second goal of this conference [was] to demonstrate to students from across St. Mike’s from different disciplines and areas of study and perspective that we share a common interest in the truth and pursuing insights of human experience of the world around us, and then to do so in community alongside others who will bring their own perspectives to thereupon share questions is really what a university community is all about.”

Strike Negotiations Enter ‘Crunch Time’ Negotiators for CUPE 3902 talk progress and possibilities L.F. van Reede van Oudtshoorn CONTRIBUTOR In a virtual town hall hosted by the local Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 3902 activist Rebecca Strung updated union members and interested parties on the progress of discussions with the University of Toronto (U of T), but refused to discuss any specific future plans for negotiations for fear of U of T employees listening in.

Negotiations between U of T and the CUPE 3902, Unit 1 have picked up since the December 2017 strike mandate vote, when 1,500 Unit 1 members voted in favour of a strike mandate.

Strung and her fellow negotiators also presented their views on the progress of talks with the university, noting that agreements have been reached regarding the strengthening of sexual violence and harassment protection for employees, and fairer discipline processes, including the creation of a new progressive discipline step and the clarification of union representatives’ rights.

In spite of these union successes, negotiations are

Calling all writers and reporters!

Would you like to cover what’s happening around USMC and U of T? Do you have a desire to try

still ongoing for many of the more controversial proposals submitted by CUPE 3902, with the university stating that it has no appetite to bargain on proposal to provide $20,000 minimum funding for graduate students. Additionally, the university has had to respond to CUPE 3902’s requests for better access to work for underfunded and post-funded workers. One of CUPE 3902’s activists, Emily Claire, said, “We have not agreed to any of these numbers [and] we’re going to keep pushing for more,” on the topic of these ongoing talks.

Union activists have had more success on the issue of health care, and while nothing has been agreed upon yet, Strung noted that the university seems to be willing to make concessions on improvements to mental health coverage, the creation of a fund for transgender workers to cover gender affirmation expenses, and other health needs.

Talks are expected to continue for some time, with Strung stating, “We are now at the conciliation stage.”

The conciliation stage is when the union and employyour hand at journalism? If so, you’re in luck!

Here at The Mike, we’re looking to grow. We’re currently seeking reporters in order to expand our News team. ALL ARE WELCOME AND NO APPLICATION OR PRIOR EXPERIENCE IS REQUIRED. All we ask for is enthusiasm and a willingness to learn!

We offer Staff Reporter tags to any USMC students who contribute to 25% of our regular issues, which means a minimum of 3 separate issues (given that we produce 12 on the year, bi-weekly). Staff mem-

er will negotiate with the assistance of a neutral third party — usually one from the Ministry of Labour.

Despite these noted successes, CUPE 3902 has not yet ruled out the possibility of a strike, with Strung informing listeners of the broadcast that “based on the timing of conciliation… the absolute earliest we can be on strike is February 7.” The strike deadline is set for February 26. This means that if a tentative agreement is not reached by that date, members of CUPE 3902, Unit 1 will go on strike. However, there appears to be hope for those living in fear of a TA strike, as Strung reiterated negotiators’ beliefs: both “feel good about the progress [they’ve] made since the strike mandate vote.”

Negotiations have entered into what Strung referred to as “crunch time.” It remains to be seen what will happen come February, but it is clear that the time for CUPE 3902, Unit 1 and the university to come to an agreement is now. If they cannot, a TA strike hangs in the balance.

bership entails voting rights in next year’s masthead elections, as well as in any other elections or voting situations before then and, since we are also anticipating becoming CCR-approved, would also be an exciting, low-commitment way for you to add to your respective CCRs! Just email Aaron, our News Editor, at news@ readthemike.com. Please don’t hesitate to reach out. If this opportunity sounds in any way like it might be up your alley, don’t self-reject! Just shoot him an email! He’d be happy to hear from you, and gladly tell you more.

SPORTS

Sports Editor Ben Denomme sports@readthemike.com

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Canadians on the World Stage Winter Olympic Preview: PyeongChang 2018 will be an Olympics to remember for many young Canadian athletes Ben Denomme SPORTS EDITOR Jonfranco Monaco STAFF WRITER This coming February, viewers should keep their eyes open for a number of stellar Canadian athletes who will be showcasing their talent at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang.

don’t want to miss. Some big names to look out for this February are Alex Harvey, Amanda Ammar, and Beckie Scott.

Bobsleigh — Begins February 18 There will be three total bobsleigh events held in PyeongChang this year: the two-man run, the twowoman run, and the four-man run. With 18 athletes competing in this event, Canada ties Germany for the most bobsleigh contenders. Some big names to look out for in this event are Chris le Bihan, Bryan Barnett, and Chelsea Valois.

Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir (Jonathan Hayward / CANADIAN PRESS).

Figure Skating — Begins February 12 Our Canadian figure skaters seek to hit the ground, running — or rather, hit the “ice, skating” in a few weeks. Almost a year ago at the 2017 World Figure Skating Championships in Helsinki, Finland, our Canadian ice dancers were able to qualify a whopping 17 total athletes to compete in the Winter Games. In addition to this, two of our most prized figure skaters on the team this year, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir were named flag bearers for our country, mast-heading not only their fellow skaters, but all their fellow athletes at the opening ceremonies. Canada qualified skaters across all single and paired events and has the most number of figure skating athletes from a single nation to compete in PyeongChang this February. It goes without saying that the Canadian figure skating team looks to continue its stellar performance from Helsinki and bring some medals home.

Curling — Begins February 13 Names like Rachel Homan, Joanne Courtney, Kevin Koe, and Ben Hebert are just a few of the 12 athletes competing in the curling competitions. Sweeping the ice like it’s their day job (which it is), Canada is tied with South Korea for the largest number of athletes competing in the curling event this coming February.

With the men’s, women’s, and a mixed event team, the curling event is one that viewers won’t want to miss.

Biathlon — Begins February 10 Canada qualified five men and five women for the biathlon event in the upcoming winter games.

These arctic machines will be performing a mix of cross-country skiing and target shooting over a 20 kilometre course. The winter biathlon is seriously one of the most grueling events, testing both stamina and accuracy. The biathlon is a must-watch event. Even if you’re not a devout follower of the sport, the sheer test of stamina alone (in the cold weather, might I add) is enough to make even the most conditioned athletes burn out. Undoubtedly, our Canadians will not let us down.

Cross-Country Skiing — Begins February 10 Qualifying eight athletes, Canada seeks to contend with the cross-country skiing greats in PyeongChang: Italy, Finland, and France. With events ranging in distance from a 15 kilometre sprint to a 50 kilometre classic, cross-country skiing is definitely a sport you

Men’s Hockey — Begins February 10 The 2018 Olympics marks the first time in 24 years that current NHL players will not participate. As a result, the men’s hockey roster may be full of many unfamiliar faces. With an average age of 31, the players consist of past NHLers, as well as current Canadians in the Russian, Swedish, Swiss, German, Austrian, and American development leagues. The team has over 5,000 games of combined NHL experience, but many sports writers question whether this experience will be useful in this competition.

Toronto native and NHL veteran Chris Kelly will provide productive offence for Canada, along with notable goal-scorer, Derek Roy. 37-year-old Chris Lee will round out the defence and is no stranger to tense games, as he helped the Canadians win silver at the World Championships in 2017. In goal, Justin Peters should be effective, considering his history with the Carolina Hurricanes. The men’s hockey roster is full of great players so our Olympic gold hopes are high.

Women’s Hockey — Begins February 10

Luge — Begins February 10 Veteran luge athletes Tristan Walker and Justin Snith make up the Canadian men’s doubles team, and are joined by Alex Gough and Sam Edney for the team relay. Walker and Snith barely missed the podium in 2014 and posted a best-ever time in Canada. The relay team also took fourth place in 2014.

Singles luge athletes Mitchel Malyk, Reid Watts, Kimberley McRae, and Brooke Apshkrum will look to either improve upon or make a name for themselves in 2018. At only 18, Apshkrum is expected to place well, considering her gold medal win at the 2016 Youth Olympics.

Short-Track Speed Skating — Begins February 10 It is a difficult thing to write about Canadian short track speed skating without mentioning the Hamelin brothers. Charles and his brother Franҫois are a force in the speed skating world. Charles won gold in 2014 in the 1500-metre. He also won gold in 2010 in both the 500-metre and 5000-metre race. François won gold in 2010 in the 5000-metre relay.

The Hamelin brothers are not the only decorated Canadian short track speed skaters though, as Marianne St-Gelais has won three silvers combined from the 2010 and 2014 Olympic Games. She will look to win gold this year along with another silver teammate, Valérie Maltais. Charle Cournoyer (bronze, 2014) and Olivier Jean (gold, 2010) will also look to tack on a few more medals.

Snowboard — Begins February 10 Canadian snowboarding is full of superstars, with names like Mark McMorris, Sebastien Toutant, Max Parrot, Brooke Voigt, and Laurie Blouin. As such, it is possible that the podium will be speckled with Canadian athletes. McMorris will look to improve on his bronze in 2014, while Toutant will look to step on the podium. Blouin will look to make her entrance into the Olympics an impressive one, coming off a gold medal in slopestyle at the 2017 FIS World Championships.

Long-Track Speed Skating — Begins February 10

Hockey Canada

Sochi 2014 was a huge year for the Canadian women, winning gold in overtime with a 3–2 win over the United States. Even more impressive was that the gold won in Sochi was the fourth title in as many Olympics won by Team Canada. 14 players from the 2014 team are returning in 2018, including national hero Marie-Philip Poulin, who scored the deciding goal four years ago.

Shannon Szabados will be solid in net as she has been in the past two Olympic competitions, averaging less than one goal allowed per game. Meaghan Mikkelson will support Szabados on defence, along with Jocelyne Larocque, Lauriane Rougeau, and Laura Fortino. Poulin will be accompanied by big names like Meghan Agosta and Sarah Nurse on offence. Winning a fifth straight Olympic gold medal would be a shining display of the dominance Canada has on the ice.

Denny Morrison will look to add more medals to his four, hopefully attaining gold in individual competition.

Other members of the long-track speed skating team who will compete to earn a spot on the podium include: Gilmore Junio, Brianne Tutt, Kali Christ, and Marsha Hudey. The long-track speed skating team is full of young faces so it will be interesting to look at how these athletes compete on the world stage.

Shamil Zhumatov / REUTERS

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ARTS

Arts Editor Miranda Mirabelli arts@readthemike.com

1682 Meets 2018 at Hart House Theatre

The enduring legacy of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible Korto Zambeli-Tardif STAFF WRITER Michael Rubinstein’s adaptation of The Crucible at Hart House Theatre, playing until February 3, depicts Arthur Miller’s seminal play with the signifiers of fairy tales, thus indicating the eternal relevance of the show’s themes.

The Crucible dramatizes the 1692 wave of accusations, arrests, and executions surrounding the crime of witchcraft in Salem, Massachusetts. It focuses on several girls of the Puritan community who are discovered dancing in the woods at midnight.

As this impropriety is discussed and one of the girls faints due to shock, the jealousies and superstitions of various townspeople manifest as a fear of the Devil. The girls avoid punishment for their supposed misdeeds by accusing others of bewitching their minds. Among those whose lives are overturned in the aftermath are John Proctor, played by Jon Berrie, and his wife, Elizabeth, played by Melissa Taylor.

When Elizabeth is accused of witchcraft, John must confront his own culpability in order to free either of them. When the wave of vindictive accusations ends, it leads to a gutted community and a victorious yet besmirched justice system.

Arthur Miller’s play was written as a denunciation of the McCarthyite violations of civil liberties in 1950s America. The characters of The Crucible are similarly hectored by religious and legal authorities who arbitrarily interpret Scripture and jurisprudence as it suits their path of vengeance. Rubinstein’s production refuses the fashion of any single historical era by dressing its cast in simple costumes suggesting funerals and fairy tale roles. Old men walk with canes and the witchy girls contort in black skirts.

The universal, timeless significance of this story is

compounded by the blank, dark backdrop of the action, in which bare branches and the hovering faces of nosey townspeople float hauntingly. Set designer Chris Penna has effectively transplanted the colonial 1690s town into the archetypal forest where the tragedy of The Crucible is forever repeated.

Scott Gorman

This production displays a community that may be destroyed but a system that persists. Salem is very effectively presented as a community of engaged, outspoken citizens, as each new character shifts the centre of power. However, it seems that the collective and invisible fears of the townspeople hold the ultimate authority. The music seems to incarnate these invisible terrors, building to crescendos before punctuating the more shocking moments with a sound like a stopped heartbeat. These usually coincide with an outburst by one of the female characters, pushed past her limits by the coercive rage of those with authority. The performance of Nina Rose Taylor as Mary Warren is particularly notable as she suffers a magnificent breakdown due to the incessant

manipulation, both physical and psychological, visited on her by others. Mary grasps for some authority of her own by incriminating others, but her accusatory screams suggest that structural injustice relies on punishing and compromising everyone involved.

It is therefore lovelier when John and Elizabeth Proctor reunite in the play’s final minutes. Rubinstein’s careful direction has kept the actors physically separate for most of their time on stage, replicating the rift caused

by John’s previous infidelity. The couple’s embrace in their few moments together suggests that, after all the institutional havoc of the witch trials, the only salvation possible in this context is personal. The healing of a single relationship like John and Elizabeth’s marriage establishes the possibility of locating goodness in such a sad context. Berrie and Taylor sell their characters’ complementary strengths in their argument over the relative importance of truth and justice, an argument that can only contain tentative glimpses of hope.

The Crucible is a look at archetypal failures of communication and justice that will remain with you.

Following the performance on January 20, many audience members remained for a post-show talkback with the cast and crew, engaging in perceptive questions regarding the play’s continuing applicability.

One older audience member recalled her own experience of the McCarthy era; another viewer began a discussion of the presence and failures of feminist practice among the cast. Such enduring art is a good starting point for our discussions of uncomfortable topics, provided we take care to proceed calmly and remain mindful of the systems in which we enact change.

Saturday Nights Just Got Funnier Canada’s Finest at the Comedy Bar Miranda Mirabelli ARTS EDITOR Is it me, or have Saturday night outings gotten boring?

There are only so many times you can walk around Eaton Centre or go see the latest movie. Next time you and your friends are looking for a new place for a Saturday night hangout, I would like to suggest you go to the Comedy Bar on Bloor Street West. Providing endless laughs seven days a week, not only is there stand-up comedy, but also improv, sketches, and alternative comedy hosted between two stages every night. Toronto’s premiere venue for comedy is a great place for a typical Saturday night, date night, or even a birthday party. On January 13, I had the privilege to attend the sold-out show Canada’s Finest at the Comedy Bar. Empire Comedy Live presented a celebration of some of Canada’s very finest stand-up comedians.

The evening show featured the star of CityTV’s Sunnyside, Pat Thornton, and Comedy Central actor, Arthur Simeon. Both comedians delivered half-hour routines that brought the crowd to tears.

cently gotten married, which meant, you guessed it, wife jokes! He also reminded the audience that after wife jokes came divorce jokes, but he didn’t want to get too ahead of himself. He ended his stand-up act explaining his confusion about the excitement for the new Toyota Corolla because that, in itself, is a joke.

Thornton was the first act to be introduced that evening. Thornton is a comedic veteran from Ontario whose resume includes multiple performances at Montréal’s Just for Laughs Comedy Festival and the Winnipeg Comedy Festival, as well as multiple starring roles on CTV and The Comedy Network. He is a founding member of The Sketchersons and has a new 2017 stand-up special for The Comedy Network.

Thornton warmed up the crowd with a bit about email, and how tedious it has all become. The comedian doesn’t understand why Old Navy keeps sending the same email about the same jeans, and why KFC needs to know how they did. He also stated that he had re-

Simeon explained what it was like growing up in Uganda, a place where having electricity was common, but owning a microwave constituted bragging rights. He grew up with three older sisters and stated that yes, he had been in a dress multiple times and that because of his sisters, he has impressed many women with his ability to paint nails and braid hair.

He’s a self-proclaimed expert on “girl drama” and knows just how important the bathroom can be to an adolescent female. His time in Uganda gave him a unique perspective on our Canadian lifestyle as well as a satirical take on the heated political environment of the United States. Simeon also talked about the up-

“For those of you who haven’t seen my show before, it’s going to be delightful. For those of you who have: suck it up.” The second act of the night was Simeon. Simeon has travelled from Winnipeg to Halifax to perform in multiple comedy festivals. Originally from Uganda, Africa, the stand-up comedian has done multiple performances for Just for Laughs and CBC’s The Debaters, as well as contributed to The Comedy Network, CTV, MUCH, and more. He has participated in HBO Canada’s Funny As Hell and is quoted as being “one of the smartest stand-ups around” by NOW Magazine.

coming Black Panther movie along with topics ranging from H&M’s latest advertising foul up, to sensible commentary on the current state of racial discrimination here in Canada. Simeon jokes that if a black man were to break into your house, the most he would take is spare change and other valuables. If a white guy broke into your house, he would hack into your Wi-Fi network and access your security systems and computers. Then, he’d learn your schedule and stalk you on social media. He’d steal your identity and keep you locked in his basement for four months. With that, he gave the crowd something to think about next time someone stereotypes an African American as being a “criminal.”

The Comedy Bar on Bloor Street West is a perfect Saturday night outing with friends or even those family members with a sense of humour. Booking tickets in advance is always a good way to go, and it provides some extra time to eat and drink before the show starts. Visit comedybar.ca for tickets and show information.

The Comedy Bar: 345 Bloor St. West (Miranda Mirabelli / THE MIKE).

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Diligence, Ingenuity, and Timeless Beauty Artistry in silk: The kimono of Itchiku Kubota at the Textile Museum of Canada Hiromitsu Higashi CONTRIBUTOR For many people, it is natural to consider merchandise branded with “Made in Japan” as a product of great design and outstanding quality. This phenomenon, sometimes deemed by scholars as a form of cognitive bias, appears to be explicable as we trace back the thousand-year history of Japanese textiles. These textiles are one of the most essential products crafted by Japanese artisans with methods developed by the efforts and experimentations of many generations. The scrupulous work of the craftspeople is presented at a seasonal exhibition of the Textile Museum of Canada (TMC): Diligence and Elegance.

Kimonos featuring sophisticated weaving, painting, dyeing, embroidery and application of gold and silver leaves (Hiromitsu Higashi / THE MIKE).

For those who are interested in exploring the mysterious world of Japanese textile, the kimono is most likely what initially inspires them to do so. During the Edo period (1603–1868), the kimono evolved from relatively simple clothing to an exquisite garment decorated with a variety of techniques, including sophisticated weaving, painting, dyeing, embroidery, and application of gold and silver leaf. Variations of the kimono also have different names depending on the subtle differences in construction. They are worn ac-

cording to the occasion, wearer’s age, social position, and marital status — bright colors and rich patterning are suitable for young unmarried girls, while luxurious and expensively patterned fabrics are reserved for the wealthy and upper classes.

The audiences may have already found themselves overwhelmed because while they face the blast unleashed by such a cluster of colourful, brilliant garments, there is an entirely different world to be explored when inspecting each piece of textile closely and separately. On an uchikake, an outer robe worn over another kimono, metal threads are used to depict images of waves and mountains as well as tortoise and crane figures on an extremely delicate white silk damask background already patterned with shades of pine, bamboo, plum blossoms, and citrus flowers. Additionally, even the density of foil wrapping varies on the metal threads to show the difference in brightness, alongside bamboo stalks and leaves meticulously painted to imitate shibori resist-dyeing, a task that requires a precise hand and a perfect eye.

Within the process of surface decoration of Japanese textiles, a variety of advanced techniques spirals up from the basic concept of cloth dyeing, spanning from yuzen-zome (hand-application of dye), chusen (pourdyeing), shibori (resist-dyeing), tsutsugaki (freehand paste-resist dyeing), to katazome (stencil-dyeing).

Notably among all, the famous idea of resist-dyeing — applying resist compound (usually made of a very sticky mixture of different seaweeds) to the fabrics to protect the patterns during background dyeing — has passed down to the present day with many modifications and improvements.

Walking through the hallway, all the textiles we see have something in common that reveals the nature of Japanese textiles: the craftsmen’s appreciation of nature as well as great affinity for the lands from

A crane figure on an extremely delicate white silk damask (Hiromitsu Higashi / THE MIKE).

which they derive resources, inspirations, and lives.

While the textiles are all patterned with figures of plants, animals and landscapes, the Japanese reflect the idea of natural connectedness through the use of seaweeds as paste, mulberry tree skins as stencils, persimmon juice as tanning agent, and indigo as the most widely-used pigment. For more than 1400 years has indigo taken the central role among dyeing materials because the beautiful shades of blue are also believed to strengthen the fabric and possess the smell to repel snakes in rice fields. For these reasons, indigo blue has been associated with hard labour and granted the title “Japan Blue.”

It has been quite a journey when we arrive at the end of the exhibition. These masterpieces of creativity and artistry possess the capability to evoke a sudden joy or sadness, a burst of energy or a poetic reflection, and always a profound admiration for the craftsmen’s skills, faiths, and life-long time investment, expressed in every brush stroke and every stitch. In the very end, there remains little wonder why a Japanese girl considers receiving a kimono at the age of 20 as one of her most memorable moments in life.

Mirvish Productions Speaks for the Trees Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax at the Royal Alexandra Theatre Anna Zappone CONTRIBUTOR

Picture on the programme (Anna Zappone / THE MIKE).

As a young girl, some of my earliest memories are from trips to the theatre to watch plays, ballets and other wonderful shows with my aunt. Being dazzled by the stage lights gave me a passion for the arts that has stayed with me all my life. The magnificence of the detailed architectural work, old theatre chairs, seeing the larger-than-life stage designs, and hearing the audience laugh and engage in the show transported me into the world of the show.

I was greeted with the same awe when I walked into the Royal Alexandra Theatre on Friday, January 19, to watch The Lorax. The story follows the tale of the Once-ler, played by Simon Paisley Day, who explains how he was a creative man who was confined to his family business. In search of the newest big invention, the Once-ler adventures to faraway places before encountering a forest full of Truffula trees, which are home to the Lorax. Despite the strong efforts made by the Lorax to show him the true natural benefits the trees have to offer, the Once-ler is blinded by the profit he sees in turning the trees into Thneeds, his latest profitable discovery.

The expansion of the Thneed business moves masses into the once forested area that is now home to many cities.

Against the Lorax’s pleads, the forest is eventually cut entirely, leaving the animals with their forgotten homes that are now nothing but bare and polluted.

Realizing the wrong he has done, the Once-ler retires to his lonely home until decades later when the young boy

forcing him to tell his story regrows the first Truffula tree and sparks a new era dedicated to the importance of green spaces.

The stage adaptation of the classic Dr. Seuss story stays true to its origins. The witty rhymes and the liveliness of the Lorax were truly commendable. While they didn’t venture into the Truffula forests of Toronto and find a real Lorax to play the part, the three puppeteers that maneuvered every action, David Ricardo-Pearce, Laura Caldow and Romina Hytten, brought the character to life. Jokes ranging from flatulence to air duct cleaning calls made the show fun for all ages while Charlie Fink made sure to include wide varieties from all music genres like rock, pop, and even folk. The story’s message of helping the environment is one that did not stop when the lights went down. As you left the venue, packets of vegetables seeds were given out to further advocate for the environment.

Overall, the two-hour show made for a fun and memorable time. Although the final performance was on January 21, there are many more opportunities to experience shows through the Ed Mirvish Theatre. King Charles III and Come From Away will be opening in the next few months. Grab a friend, a family member, or a loved one and enjoy a night at the theatre.

Packets of seeds handed out to the audience following the show (Anna Zappone / THE MIKE).

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FEATURE

Features Editor Téana Graziani features@readthemike.com

The Benefits of Going Green

A health-focused perspective on the plant-based diet Téana Graziani FEATURES EDITOR Eating healthy is something that we all try to do.

The reason why so many people fail at maintaining a healthy diet, aside from the potential expense and lifestyle change, is because they do not fully understand what a “healthy” diet consists of. To be fair, that isn’t completely our fault. With so much dietary research taking place over many decades, there have been numerous and sometimes conflicting claims as to what we should be eating to achieve optimal health for ourselves, causing lots of mixed messages and confusion.

Although veganism is becoming a more wellknown topic in popular culture, many people are still unaware of what it is. Being a vegan means that one does not consume or otherwise purchase any product that is derived from animals, mainly pertaining to meat, eggs, and dairy. There are many negative stereotypes and misconceptions that are associated with being vegan. However, it has been found that eating a plant-based diet is one of the best things that you can do for yourself and for your health.

Since 2014, there has been a 600% increase in the number of vegans in America. According to statistics in 2017, 6% of the United States and 1% of the world identifies as vegan. So why are so many people making the switch to a plant-based diet?

Lower Levels of Total Cholesterol Cholesterol levels play a large part in heart health.

Having high cholesterol levels increases your risk for coronary heart disease by blocking the arteries that lead to the heart, increasing risk for a heart attack. It has been found that plant-based diets are associated with significantly lower levels of total cholesterol. This is because plant cholesterol, or phytosterol, is toxic to human cells, so our intestines do not absorb it when we consume vegetables.

On the other hand, all animal products — but red meat in particular, including processed meats such as cold cuts and hot dogs — contain high levels of saturated and trans fats, as well as cholesterol itself. This animal cholesterol can be absorbed by the human body, and promotes high cholesterol levels in the body.

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, can be caused by high cholesterol levels. It contributes largely to health problems such as heart failure, stroke, and kidney disease. This is because the arteries become narrowed from a build-up of fat, cholesterol, and other substances which together are referred to as plaque. As arteries harden with plaque, blood clots become more likely to form. When the artery becomes blocked, the necessary oxygen cannot reach the heart, causing a heart attack. Worldwide, it is estimated that one billion people are affected by hypertension, and that approximately 80 million Americans aged 20 and older are hypertensive.

The common method of therapy recommended for dealing with high blood pressure is regular exercise to promote weight loss, and therefore less stress on the body’s internal system. Recent studies have shown however, that a plant-based diet alone is more effective in promoting weight loss, and as a result lowering blood pressure, than the combined effort of exercise and an omnivorous diet. This is because the plaque blocking the arteries consists of animal by-products such as saturated and trans fats as well as cholesterol. All derive from animal-based products, whereas plant-based products have none.

Veganism and a Low BMI Obesity and weight gain are sometimes associated with Type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Data from the Adventist Health Study has shown that the Body Mass Index (BMI) increases as the amount of animal products in one’s diet increases, and found that vegans have the lowest BMI even compared to vegetarians and pescetarians (those who eat fish alongside a vegetarian-based diet). Findings from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC Oxford) study have also shown that vegans gain significantly less weight as they age, compared to omnivores. The EPICPANACEA study, which is an offshoot of the EPIC Oxford study, found a positive correlation between total meat consumption and weight gain, even after adjusting for energy intake; an increase of 250 grams a day of meat led to a 2-kilogram weight gain after five years in both men and women.

Fort York Community Garden / TORONTO COMMUNITY GARDEN NETWORK (TCGN)

Lowers Risk of Developing Diabetes Since 2000, studies show that one out of every three children born will develop diabetes. It has been discovered that diabetes is largely preventable, even reversible, with lifestyle changes: namely by adopting a plant-based diet.

Animal fat consumption in individuals has been found to be positively associated with diabetes prevalence. Studies show that those who eat meat one or more days a week had significantly higher rates of diabetes, and that the more frequently meat was eaten, the more frequent the disease.

Even between those of the same weight, people who ate a plant-based diet had but a fraction of the diabetes rates, and no instances of diabetes were found in any of the vegan participants. According to Neal Barnard, M.D., this is because the fats found in animals and dairy products block cells’ insulin receptors, preventing glucose from entering those cells. This results in high blood sugar levels, and, therefore, a higher risk of developing diabetes.

Fewer Cancer-Promoting Agents Everyone either knows someone who has cancer, or someone who has had it. T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D., a professor at Cornell University and the author of The China Study, discovered the correlation between cancer and diet. He found that cancer develops over a long period of time, through three stages. The first stage is “Initiation,” which is when chemicals or other agents attack the genes of normal cells to produce genetically modified cells capable of eventually causing cancer. The body generally repairs most of such damage, but if the cell reproduces itself before it is repaired, its new daughter cell retains this genetic mutation. The second stage is “Promotion,” which is when the affected cells continue to replicate themselves and grow into cell masses, or tumours. This is a long growth phase that occurs over months or years, and is now known to be reversible. The final stage is “Progression” which occurs when the growing cancer masses break away from the tissue of origin, travelling to other tissues where they can grow independently, spreading the cancer as a result.

Campbell has also discovered that, although cancer and other diseases begin with genes, genetics are not the only arbiter of whether cancer appears in a person. He says that normal genes are converted into cancer genes by certain highreactive chemicals, also referred to as carcinogens or things that both initiate and promote cancer growth in humans. Campbell found that cancer cells would only grow if they were fed by these carcinogens. Some of the worst and most common carcinogens that we knowof are tobacco, red meat, processed meat, and UV radiation. One that many are unaware of, however, is called casein.

Casein is the main protein present in dairy, and it is used in many processed foods. It has been found to be the most significant cancer promoter ever discovered. Not only that: casein also has been found to increase cholesterol and to enhance the formation of fatty deposits in the arteries, causing cardiovascular disease. Animal-based proteins have the same effect on the body as casein does, rendering the same results.

We cannot do very much about the initiation of

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cancer cells in ourselves; it is outside of our control.

However, there is a lot that we can do to help prevent the promotion of the disease and letting it further develop by changing our exposure to promoting agents, therefore reversing the cancer process in us. Plant protein is safer to eat and does not promote cancer as it does not have this biological casein in its makeup. It has no effect on cancer promotion in the body, and converting to a plant-based diet can significantly lower your risk of the disease.

Popular Misconceptions There are many popular misconceptions about the vegan diet that are simply false. These are some of the most common myths and misunderstandings about veganism.

Anna Verdina / THE MIKE

Protein? Iron? From Where?

It is a common misconception that people who do not eat meat are protein deficient. Although protein is certainly an important nutrient which plays a key role in the functioning of our bodies, we do not need huge quantities of it. The Reference Daily Intake (RDA) recommends that we consume 0.36 grams of protein for every pound that we weigh.

The average person eating an omnivore diet eats doubles the amount of protein that they need daily.

This isn’t good;consuming too much protein can be bad for your health. There are no health advantages from eating more protein than recommended for your weight, and diets that are high in protein can even increase the risk of osteoporosis and kidney disease.

So where do people consuming a plant-based diet get their protein from? The most common sources are beans, nuts including nut-based milks, seeds, grains like quinoa, soy products, and many vegetables such as peas and leafy greens.

The thing about plant-based protein is that it is easier for your body to digest than the animalbased alternative. Meat contains 0% dietary fibre, which can be very hard on your digestive system and bowels. Fibre is essential because it maintains these processes. Not getting enough of it can cause heart disease, diabetes, weight gain, and especially colon cancer, which is the third most common cancer to date. Many people who follow the standard omnivore diet are not getting enough fibre in their diets. Dietary fibre comes from plant foods — mainly from plant cell walls. 25 grams is the recommended daily intake of fibre for an adult. High fibre foods also play a beneficial role in appetite control, keeping you from being hungry throughout the day. It also absorbs excess fats in the body. It has been found that fibre-rich foods generally have low glycemic loads have a preventative role and essential role in the management of blood glucose in diabetes.

And what about iron? Iron can be found in many of the same sources as protein. The recommended iron intake for adult men is a maximum of 20 milligrams a day, and for women, a maximum of 18 milligrams. This can easily be reached by eating plant-based foods. Similar to protein, the problem is that most omnivorous people are eating too much iron as a result of their meat intake. An excess of iron can result in the development of Alzheimer’s. When excess iron accumulates in the brain it destroys myelin, which is a fatty tissue that coats nerve fibres. Since a study in 2015, scientists have been able to predict if and when a person will get Alzheimer’s disease based on the amount of iron present in their brain.

Something that vegans and others on plant-based diets may occasionally miss out on is vitamin B12, which is found predominantly in animal products and fortified foods. B12 promotes the formation

of DNA and helps produce healthy blood cells and maintaining good nerve function. The recommended daily intake of B12 for people over the age of 19 is 2.4 milligrams a day. Breakfast cereal in particular is a good meatless source of B12, as well as many plant-based milks such as soy and almond milk, but if someone is struggling to reach the recommended daily intake, supplements are available and sufficient.

Soy and Estrogen: Healthy or Unhealthy?

Another common misconception held by many people is that soy beans and products that come from them are unhealthy. There is a belief that eating soy can affect the hormone levels in the body, causing breast cancer in women, and lowering sperm count in men. This is believed because, like all legumes, soy contains plant compounds called isoflavones (a.k.a. phytoestrogen). In soy beans, these compounds are highly concentrated. The chemical structure of these isoflavones weakly resembles that of estrogen, and can mimic the effects of the hormone. In theory, it is possible that any health issues that are related to hormones could be affected by these substances found in soy, giving rise to the belief that soy can lead to such health issues. However, recent studies have shown that although the action of the isoflavones is similar, it is not identical to human estrogen. This makes a big difference in the way human tissue responds to the hormone.

In terms of breast cancer, breast tissue holds numerous receptors that interact with various forms of estrogen, and it is the alpha receptors that are most likely to be bound with cancerous cells.

Oestadiol, which is the human form of the hormone, links to both the alpha and beta receptors whereas isoflavones, or the plant version, bind only to the beta receptors that can, in turn, reduce the activity of the cancer stimulating alpha receptors. This was discovered in a recent study which debunked the belief that soy is unsafe to eat, and suggests that it might even be helpful in preventing breast cancer in women.

As for soy’s effect on men, most studies that have been done on soy intake in men either demonstrate no effect at all, or only minor effects that likely depend on an individual’s genetics. It was found that regardless of soy intake, neither soy protein nor isoflavones affected the reproductive hormone concentrations in men regardless of age or cancer status, suggesting that the consumption of soy foods would not result in the adverse effects associated with lower testosterone levels.

What does contain a lot of estrogen, however, is milk produced by animals. Cows are like humans; they must be pregnant to produce milk. When pregnant, the estrogen levels in the blood and milk in both a cow and a human woman increase by

nearly 20 times. The estrogen in animal milk affects the body differently than plant-based phytoestrogens do, and has the potential to cause undesired effects. In a 2002 study done by Ganmaa Davaasambuu, a physician and scientist at the Harvard School of Public Health, after examining 42 countries, she and her colleagues found that countries with the highest consumption of dairy products had the highest rates of prostatic and testicular cancer. A similar study she conducted in 2005 showed the same results for breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers in women. Davaasambuu found that drinking large quantities of cow’s milk can significantly increase estrogen levels, and this estrogen may have the potential to increase a man’s risk of prostate cancer and reduce fertility.

She is currently conducting a further study to verify her assumptions.

Another study that was done on the effects of dairy on human estrogen levels was completed in 2010 and was done on men, women, and children.

All of those tested drank two 8-ounce glasses of organic filtered milk per day for 21 days. The results of the study concluded that the adult male participants had significantly increased levels of estrogen and progesterone as well as a sharp decline in testosterone. The rest of the participants also had increased estrogen and progesterone levels. According to the researchers, the levels of hormones could be problematic for children by delaying sexual maturation for males, and increasing it in females. In addition, adults could hypothetically see an increased risk of hormonesensitive cancers such as breast and prostate cancer. They did confirm however, that dairy intake had a direct effect on hormone related issues such as acne and pre-menstrual syndrome in the adult participants.

David Colvig / DES MOINES COMMUNITY GARDEN

Positive Takeaways In short, the vegan diet has its fair share of health benefits, and is definitely worth the try if you are able. Everyone should eat a varied diet according to their preferences and restrictions. Start being mindful about your nutrition as early as you can — it’s easier to maintain optimal health throughout your life than it is to treat it in older age!

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OPINIONS

Opinions Editor Julia Orsini opinions@readthemike.com

How Our Student Lounge Might Look Going Forward

What the Brennan renovation Town Hall revealed Jessica Frascà CONTRIBUTOR a space to cause a big ruckus. The renovations are starting soon. So as to give you a better idea of what is to come, I’ve included a glimpse of what the first floor layout of the new Brennan Hall will likely look like come completion.

Jessica Frascà is a St. Mike’s student double majoring in Architecture and Art History with a minor in Italian Studies. She is a Residence Don at St. Mike’s and is also a part of Hart House Camera Club.

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Gow Hastings Architects were the ones there responsible for hearing the students’ opinions so they can create spaces fitting for them. The architecture firm specializes in creating student lounges across different universities. Students who attended the Town Hall said that the architecture firm had a modern approach within their proposals. As seen in the plans and rendered images, the bright colours and funky furniture will allow students to enjoy the space even more than they already do.

Now, as exciting as it is to have comfy couches, the biggest question that leaves a true University of St. Michael’s College (USMC) student to ask is, “Will we one day see our pool table magically appear back in the lounge?” Although some students said it was a great opportunity to have their opinions heard at the Town Hall, it seemed like many aspects of the design, plans, and proposals have already been determined. As much as we would like to have an arcade approach to the lounge we have to be realistic; we attend a university where there will still be space to socialize, just not

po sti ng

Did you miss the Town Hall meeting to renovate Brennan Lounge? Well, here is your inside scoop on what to expect Brennan to become in the future.

First off, don’t you just hate when you have to wait hours at the registrar with no lounge chairs and/or comfy couches to sit on? Well the answer to all this is to bring the registrar into Brennan Lounge, so while you wait you can mingle with your peers and chill out.

Students who attended the Town Hall were given the opportunity to say what they would like to change or add to Brennan.

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The Coop will be the go-to place for a study and lounge zone. There will be a welcome desk as soon as you walk into the building so that all those students who will be looking for Brennan 200 will finally know where to go. The Registrar Office will be relocated to where the old St. Michael’s College Student Union (SMCSU) office was, while the new SMCSU office will be situated next to The Coop. The greatest news of this whole project will be the increased number of chairs, desks, and couches into Brennan. We can now have more spaces to nap in between classes and study spaces to talk in without having to worry about someone telling you to keep your voice down, like in the library.

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GOW HASTINGS ARCHITECTS INC 275 SPADINA ROAD TORONTO CANADA M5R 2V3 T 416 920 6831 F 416 920 0288 GOWHASTINGS.COM

A look at what the first floor of the renovated Brennan Hall could look like (the south doors are on the bottom).

Rendering provided courtesy of GOW Hastings, the architecture firm in charge of the Brennan Hall renovation.

Bring Fair Trade to Your Daily Grind A look at the top three coffee shops near campus that support fair trade Leanne Grosbeck ASSOCIATE OPINIONS EDITOR If you are anything like me at all, you live your academic career sustained by coffee. How could you not? The university is hedged by coffee shops, from your quintessential doughnut shops to your independent ones. As a result of our growing dependence on coffee to get ourselves through the day, the demand for coffee beans has risen profusely. For that reason, farmers find themselves subject to exploitation as they, more often than not, receive a small portion of the profits while their crops are at the mercy of unpredictable weather conditions. To combat this issue, a system of fair trade has been put into practice. Fair trade works to support coffee farmers and communities, while concurrently reducing the negative environmental impact. You can help by visiting an establishment that supports fair trade next time you need your caffeine fix. Fortunately, a number of these coffee shops can readily be found near campus and to help, I have comprised a list of the top three coffee shops. Not only do they offer the option of fair trade coffee, but all three shops are open later than most cafés, making them the perfect place for a study date.

1) The Green Beanery Located at the corner of Bloor and Bathurst, The Green Beanery prides itself on its environmentalist values and product quality. It offers sessions to help educate the public and promote policies which work toward supporting coffee growers and local economies. The café also sells various types of coffeemakers and beans so as to encourage its patrons to bring part of The Green Beanery home with them. The coffee shop advertises its Wi-Fi-free policy, so as to create an environment which encourages its visitors to be present. The Green Beanery is anything but your conventional coffee house.

2) Moonbean Coffee Company A not-so-quite-hidden gem within Kensington Market, the micro-roaster Moonbean Coffee Company is a local favourite. The company not only offers an extensive selection of brewed coffee and loose-leaf teas, but also has their own liquor license. Moonbean strives for accessibility, as it offers an array of glutenfree and vegan snack options. The café is perfect for

those days when all you would like to do is de-stress and relax on a patio.

3) Goldstruck Coffee Goldstruck Coffee, found in the heart of Yorkville, prides itself on its quality. What makes this coffee shop experience unique are the signature drinks that it offers. If feeling adventurous you should certainly try its Cayenne Latte. Goldstruck is pleasing to the eye, and certainly wins you over with its Klondike-aesthetic.

When in need of your next coffee fix, I highly recommend visiting one of these three coffee shops that support fair trade. Not only does fair trade mean you get to enjoy quality coffee, but it also means you can feel good doing so knowing that you are helping empower small farms and supporting local communities.

Leanne Grosbeck is a fourth-year St. Mike’s student studying English, History, and Indigenous Studies.

She is an Associate Opinions Editor for The Mike.

OPINIONS

Website: readthemike.com Facebook/Twitter/Instagram: @readthemike

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What is the Road to Re-election Paved With?

Why the minimum wage increase is good news for the average Ontarian Maryam Rahimi Shahmirzadi CONTRIBUTOR The new year started off with an increase in Ontario’s minimum wage from $11.60 per hour to $14 per hour.

For most, this was great news. Ontario Premier, Kathleen Wynne, claims that an increase in minimum wage will benefit not only the workers but also, the province itself. The wage increase allows workers and, by extension, families to make more money to spend, which at the end goes right back to the economy.

Others however felt like this policy implementation would hurt small business owners as they struggle with increased costs, inducing them to ultimately cut off worker’s benefit programs, give them less shift hours, or even lay them off all together. Just last week, people around the province protested against Canada’s very own Tim Hortons franchise for cutting employees benefits and breaks after the minimum wage rise implementation. On the same note, it is important to recognize that the increase in minimum wage is part of a much bigger legislation (Bill 148 — the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act) which entails that small businesses will benefit from a cut in corporate income tax from 4.5% to 3.5%. So, while small business have more to pay in the way of wages, they are paying less when it comes to taxes.

There are still others that question the timing of the implementation of this policy. Is it a coincidence that the Liberals thought of increasing the minimum wage months away from the provincial elections in June?

For the longest time, Patrick Brown, former Conser-

vative opposition leader and Wynne’s former election opponent, neither opposed the increased minimum wage considering how popular it has been with low income workers, nor did he support the policy, fearing alienation from business owners. The Conservatives alas took a stance on the issue late 2017 by asserting that once they win the June elections, they’ll cancel the current minimum wage and instead aim for the $15 an hour level by 2022. On the other side of the political spectrum, NDP had committed itself to an increased minimum wage for years but the idea did not quite have the same ring to it as it does in this critical time period before the elections. Naturally, the NDP is also bitter about Kathleen Wynne appealing to (or “stealing”) NDP votes by pulling off “NDP-like” social progressive moves.

The new minimum wage increase aside, Wynne has also introduced a pharmacare plan, known as the OHIP+ plan, that provides young Ontarians at and under the age of 24 with free access to more than 4,400 prescription drugs. Despite complaints about the increased bureaucracy work for those that already have insurance coverage and the fact that the plan only covers the youth — the healthiest age group — this policy has been generally popular among Ontarians. Indeed, surveys indicate that an overwhelming majority (72%) of people are supportive of the drug program. Similarly, the minimum wage increase has also been super popular in the province, with a 60%

approval rating.

Considering that we are on the brink of Ontario’s provincial elections, some argue that the two “NDP-like” policies implemented by Wynne are simply a final bid for attracting voters. It is no secret that Wynne has not enjoyed the best approval ratings during her time as Ontario’s Premier. She notoriously has had lower approval ratings than our southern neighbour’s President, Donald Trump. However, the Liberals’ new social progressive policies have been helpful in bumping Wynne’s rating from 12% in March to 20% in December of 2017.

So, what is the road to re-election paved with? Free drugs and a higher wage? In my opinion, it doesn’t matter at all what Wynne’s intentions are behind her new policies. As long as the OHIP+ program and the minimum wage rise improve the life of the average Ontarian (time can only tell in case of the latter), it doesn’t make a difference who implemented it or to what end.

Maryam Rahimi Shahmirzadi is a fourth-year St. Mike’s student majoring in International Relations and Political Science. She has been very involved with all four Model United Nations clubs on campus throughout the years and is hoping to pursue a career in diplomacy in the near future.

The Science of Love

A 21st-century philosophy on romantic relationships Bryan Liceralde ASSOCIATE OPINIONS EDITOR As a former romance writer who once wrote a 58,000word manuscript that was going to be reviewed by a publishing company, I know romantic relationships and dating are sciences: biology, chemistry, and physics. Biology explains how we can be magnetized by attractive people, chemistry determines if the couple (plus their feelings and interests) are compatible with each other, physics is how couples work to keep their relationships. Amazingly, in the 21st century, the only science that doesn’t seem to matter much in romantic relationships is the latter: physics.

Both Tinder and Instagram are perfect sites to fish for romantic dates. A simple post can be the bait to draw affection toward you. If you toss some swimsuit or ab photos in there, more people will bite your photographic lure. However, if they don’t think they’ll fall for you, they don’t need to say no: either they swipe to the next person in line or just don’t like your photo.

Basically, biology determines who turns us on and off.

However, it isn’t the mental image of the partner that keeps us motivated to pursue them. Rather, it’s the recurring fantasies that we have of them should they become our partners. Here’s where the chemistry gets involved. We must approach romantic relationships as if we were in a science lab, mixing chemicals and concoctions. Most of us would unconsciously theorize that the more attractive the partner, the better the chemistry we would have with them. This is but a fantasy people believe in. Therefore, the issue is: people hypothesize first and experiment last. Now, in science this is okay, but not in relationships. People hypothesize that because of their targeted dates’ attractive looks, they’ll be great boyfriends or girlfriends.

However, they don’t first experiment in the sense that they first get to know their partners and see if their

characters or interests are similar. Both dates may face explosive situations wherein they realize that their personalities and interests clash instead of click.

It’s like seeing hydrogen pop after mixing chemicals.

Eventually, they disappoint themselves after learning they’ve fallen for their own lie about their crush. To avoid explosive situations in love, do the opposite: experiment first, hypothesize last.

promises is the physics of relationships that I believe doesn’t matter much in this century.

Fascinatingly, despite these personality or interest clashes, some of us still want the dates. Why? Because, in this century, many seem to seek instant gratification rather than relationships with longevity.

They look for dates for the purposes of having a “trophy” girlfriend or boyfriend, the sole sight of whose body makes them happy every day. The following is my proverb: A man who loves a soul because of the body that contains it has no soul of his own. This also applies to women and same-sex love-seekers.

Many love-seekers also search for attractive dates to advance their social reputation. This isn’t surprising, for our generation is famous for being the most publicized ever.

Relationships should be a balance of fun and solemnity, so that you can keep your promise and have a smooth-running connection: this is how the physics of love works. Like successful chemistry, the key is in the mixture. And if the biology wasn’t right, you wouldn’t likely be in the relationship in the first place. Bring her to a nightclub, but take the time to talk to her under a tree and learn who she is off the dance floor. Take in an Oscar-winning film with him, but end your week with a kiss goodnight. If you can maintain such a balance, your relationship will grow all the stronger for it.

Now, I admit, I too search for physical beauty in women when looking for love. I’m not among those older people that believe in strictly traditional relationships.

However, I still ask myself some simple yet inevitable questions, such as if she’s a threat to my reputation (Will I be so enthralled with her that I neglect my studies? Will she get along with my friends?), if we’re mentally compatible, and if I could love her until the end, whenever that is. Any bachelor or bachelorette on the prowl should ask themselves questions like these before they fall for someone. If they can, they could potentially make promises to one another necessary to keep their relationship alive. The ability to keep such

Here’s a promise to my future girlfriend: I promise to make you happy daily. I’ll always defend you, but ensure you’ll have fun. Most importantly, I promise to love you. Some of us lack the willpower to make such promises, for we may not be able to act on them.

So, while all three main sciences are important for any romantic relationship, physics is the most important one. Physics teaches us how we should maintain our relationships through promises that keep them, and our love to each other, alive.

Bryan Liceralde is a second-year St. Mike’s student specializing in Political Science (International Relations focused) and double minoring in French and Italian. He is an Associate Opinions Editor for The Mike. For the past three years, he’s been a competitor in the Toronto Star Short Story contest writing tragedies and romantic dramas. Although his name is often misspelt, Bryan was once compared to Brian Griffin.

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LOGOS

Logos Editor Francesco Rampino logos@readthemike.com

Terror and Triumph

The paradoxical role that fear plays in our lives Chiara Brum Bozzi CONTRIBUTOR In light of the New Year, the prospect of a daunting new semester, and encroaching final marks, I deem it appropriate to discuss the crippling concept of fear of our academic and personal choices. Fear, I find, lurks ominously in many a heart of University of St. Michael’s College (USMC) students who are pursuing liberal arts majors. Often referred to as “knowledge sought for its own sake,” the lessons we learn as students in Arts and Science are often seen as lacking in practical use. While there is some truth in the thought that a degree in engineering or computer science may have more reliable and practical opportunities, to dismiss the value of the studies of thousands of students studying literature and social sciences as non-essential components of society is extremely reductive and, moreover, untrue. Take it from me: my mother, a St. Michael’s alumni, achieved a B.A. in Christianity and Culture at USMC, a Master’s in Theology at the Toronto School of Theology (TST), and is now the Senior Citizenship Judge of Canada. Now, despite my pride, I mention this as a counterpoint to those who insist (and those who believe) that the intrepid souls who choose liberal arts degrees are condemned to live a life without practicality or even meaning.

When you are afraid, dear reader, it may be because you feel as though you still have something to lose.

When you have failed, hit rock bottom, and then fallen through the trap door to discover the true rock bottom, you will come to realize that doing anything, no matter how minuscule of an accomplishment, is a step toward growth. I personally characterize rock bottom as firm ground. It is a foundation that can only be built upon; it is a springboard to a higher plane. Any future acquisition of achievement, or even failure, is knowledge and potential to cobble into your arsenal. Even if you have failed, that in itself is knowledge that you have used — if only by process of elimination — and have discovered what the answer is not.

Those who do come around to making goals and seeking the right path for themselves often attempt

to do so through New Year’s resolutions. The problem with New Year’s resolutions (aside from the fact that they romanticize the passing of one minute as a catalyst to incite profound change within a person without considering the pain, suffering, and effort it takes to accomplish something) is that it is goal-setting confined to the beginning-of-the-year enthusiasm that dissipates within a few hours. These resolutions enforce the same “I’ll start tomorrow,” mentality, a glorified procrastination that pushes resolution to the outer reaches of consciousness. Thwarted resolutions suggest that improvement can only occur within a certain window and that the failure to uphold that goal within the first two weeks is indicative of one’s inability to ever accomplish anything. The absurdity is laughable.

This is an interesting observation with respect to the human condition — we almost always jump at the effects of something, such as hard work, and often fail to get down to the root, the foundation, the cause.

For instance, when we watch Michael Phelps winning the gold for freestyle or the butterfly stroke, we focus on the glory, the fame, the accolades, the joy, and the accomplishment only in terms of itself. What we so often miss is the arduous hard work it took to get there: the early morning risings, the hours of swimming, the treatments and daily regimen, the work, the failures, and the fear. Now I must admit that someone who races a scientifically accurate simulated shark is probably predisposed to accomplishment and suspiciously immune to failure, but I digress. The point is, our envy is rooted in success, but no one can envy the soreness, the injuries, the mental defeat, and the demanding lifestyle.

To combat this misplaced envy, I offer my own dogma: a life led well is one that acknowledges the necessity and inevitability of pain and suffering in the development of the mere possibility of success. I liken this to the great incentive to get out of bed in the morning to make that mind-numbing 8 a.m. lecture. What I mean

by this is that there is no guarantee that the efforts we make will lead directly to the big ‘capital S’ Success we all desire. Acknowledging this inevitable failure and suffering is the best tactic to combat fear and to receive liberation from our own impossible standards.

We cannot have control of the world, but we can control the way we navigate it: through choosing to continue in spite of the harsh reality of abject failure.

The Basilian Fathers, the founders of St. Michael’s College, maintained the logos that reads “teach me goodness, discipline, and knowledge.” To be taught is to recognize that none of us, a priori, are accomplished, nor are we exempt from failure even if we are a 28-time medal-winning Olympic swimmer. The thing about success is that it is entirely contingent upon and duly proportionate to the effort you put in the striving to achieve greatness. Now, this is not to discredit goals or resolutions at all. By all means, set goals — realistic ones, if I might add — but do not expect to achieve them within the first two weeks of the semester. Having faith and exercising your will is something we are tasked with every day. Success may be defined as taking a leap by way of making choices informed by our faith, our knowledge, our reason, and our logos.

In the words of Epictetus, “It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows.” This openness to thought and learning is a necessary prerequisite to the act of learning in the first place. It is what allows us, Catholics and non-Catholics alike, to exercise an act of the good, recognize the true, and appreciate the beautiful. The Jesuit poet, Gerard Manley Hopkins, himself said that “the world is charged with the grandeur of God,” and so we must recognize, appreciate, and inquire into it by exercising our will in the face of fear even if, just as we leap into hope, we recognize failure and fear within our academic and personal lives alike.

Opening Our Minds and Sharing Our Lives The communal value of religion

Ben Grieco CONTRIBUTOR In his commencement address to the 2005 graduating class of Kenyon College, writer David Foster Wallace emphasized the importance of faith and the falsity behind atheism. According to Wallace, “Everybody worships. The only choice we get is what to worship.” He explains the evils behind worshipping tangible things like money, beauty, or intellect. The consequence of these false beliefs is that you will never have enough; perpetually plagued with the feeling that your life is missing something. If you place meaning in your life on the tangible, your life will lack meaning and purpose. However, if you choose instead to have faith in a religion, you will discover newfound meaning and a greater sense of fullness in your life. No matter what system of faith it may be, choosing to be a follower of a religion can help you discover your true purpose.

When Samuel Beckett’s tragicomedy Waiting for Godot was first performed in France in 1953, it was initially regarded as an inauspicious play, bewildering its audiences. Over time, it has developed into one of the most meaningful plays of our time, a play that speaks to all of us who are lost and searching for

meaning and purpose in our lives. It tells the story of two men, Vladimir and Estragon, who are in a desperate state, homeless and adrift with nothing but each other. Together, Vladimir and Estragon find hope in a hopeless world, believing that Godot, or God, would eventually come. And while Godot never actually comes and the two men seem as if they are wasting their time, their longing for Godot gives them hope.

But above all, it gives them purpose. Their purpose is not necessarily waiting for Godot, but rather, it is being there for one another. Vladimir and Estragon’s faith in Godot unites them and keeps them alive. Multiple times throughout the play, Vladimir and Estragon contemplate hanging themselves, but they never go through with it because of their hope in Godot’s arrival. They believe Godot will save them, but they actually save themselves through their heartfelt care for one another. Through their faith in Godot, Vladimir and Estragon developed friendship and unity that is hard to come by in reality.

Unity is sparse in today’s divided world. It seems as if there are more things separating human beings than

bringing us together. This is true not only worldwide, but especially in our local communities where societies are divided due to various factors such as economic standing, race, or religion. Therefore, it is up to us to overcome these dividing factors and recognize that despite our differences, whether the differences are physical, mental, or spiritual, we are all human beings. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once declared, “We must live together as brothers or perish together as fools.” And while religion may seem like a dividing factor, it can also demonstrate unity and peace amongst us, bringing people together in a way that nothing else can. People turn to religion for various reasons, whether for support in times of hardship, or guidance when we feel lost. And while we may be looking to some sort of God or divine creature for these things, we are also looking to those around us who share our faith. Whether it’s a church, a mosque, a synagogue, or wherever you go to practice your faith, look at those people surrounding you and remember that in sharing faith you are sharing something greater: a sense of support and strength, a reminder that you are not alone.

SCIENCE & TECH

Science & Tech Editor Jiaxing Huang science@readthemike.com

13

Where Does Our Water Really Go?

Vital new technologies and strategies for conserving water Ninan Zhao CONTRIBUTOR Every day, trillions of litres of free, fresh water drop from the sky onto the world’s cities each year, yet most of it is channeled straight into gutters, drains, and rivers. At best, this represents a waste of a valuable natural resource. At worst, it can lead to devastating urban floods.

As global temperatures rise, climate change will definitely threaten to bring more extreme weather. Yet, across the world, developing nations are getting increasingly urbanized. This means more forests and natural habitats will be cleared to make way for urban development. Since concrete soaks up water very poorly, this will further exacerbate the situation. That is why many scientists and politicians are proposing “sponge cities,” a reimagination of the urban environment where almost every raindrop is captured, controlled, and reused.

Controlling water in urban areas is nothing new. Since Roman times, engineers have constructed aqueducts and underground drainage systems to control the inflow and outflow of water in cities.

Since the start of the industrial revolution in Europe, places like Britain and France start to build more elaborate networks of water drainage systems like the Paris sewers featured in novels such as Les Misérables by Victor Hugo.

However, one of the disadvantages of those elaborate drainage systems is that they require a lot of time to construct, but many of the cities in developing countries grow too fast for the drainage systems to keep up. That is when new technology has to be used.

One of the main differences between traditional concrete drainage systems and the new concept of a sponge city is that instead of funneling rainwater away through pipes, a sponge

The Rochman Lab / U of T

city retains it for use within its own boundaries. This is done by increasing the greeneries in the city. For example, many buildings now have rooftop gardens. During the rainy season, the plants and soil in the garden will absorb water rather than let it flow down somewhere else. Environmentalists have calculated that a cluster of buildings installed with rooftop gardens could catch enough rain to replace up to half of all that building’s toilet water.

The rooftop gardens would also reduce the tropical air temperature by around 1.3˚C, reducing the energy needed to cool the building.

At ground level, impervious concrete can be replaced by bio-swales, ditches filled with native plants that naturally collect and filter rainwater. That water can then either be allowed to seep into the soil to replenish the groundwater or be collected in underground cisterns.

Some might be used to recharge depleted aquifers or irrigate gardens and urban farms. Some could replace the drinking water we use to flush our toilets and clean our homes. It could even be processed to make it clean enough to drink.

A lot of cities around the world now are buying into this idea of a sponge city.

For example, in Los Angeles, a disused 50-acre rock quarry is currently being renovated into a park-like facility that will capture storm water, treated to remove pollutants, and then used to re-

charge the city’s groundwater. The system should eventually be able to store more than a billion litres of water. In Shanghai, the city government has already spent $119 million planting greenery on rooftops, building wetlands for rainwater storage, and constructing permeable roads that store runoff. In early 2016, Shanghai announced the construction of 4.3 million square feet of rooftop gardens throughout the entire city to reduce flooding.

Although the sponge city as a concept is currently under trial in various cities, it indeed provides another thing for urban designers to consider when planning a city. Currently, Toronto does not have any relevant developments in this area.

Even though this technology may not be suitable for Toronto, it is still advisable for universities such as the University of Toronto (U of T) to start researching in this area because the future is unpredictable. With the current trend in climate change, extreme weather may happen more frequently in the future.

Toronto is a city that is near the lake; no one can be sure that urban flooding will not happen in the future. Given that U of T has such strong engineering and architecture departments, it is advisable to consider this concept as soon as possible.

Coffee-Drinking: A Personality Trait?

The social influence on student coffee consumption

Yinan Liu CONTRIBUTOR Traits, as defined by biology terminology, are the significant features of an organism. Biologists can differentiate and identify individuals in the same species by their special traits. The same can be applied to humans. Different eye colors, heights, skin tones, and more are telltale signs for others to differentiate one from the other. That’s how your friends recognize you.

However, there is another trait that we observe and overlook every day. Personal behaviour is also a part of our traits, and it affects our lives more that we think.

Take drinking coffee for example. I know this is probably going to offend a lot of people, but according to my observation of students in the past three years, I noticed people who previously had no coffee-drinking habits — or had no access to coffee — began to drink it: even willingly claiming they prefer it. They say that they “cannot live without coffee,” and always order one when out with friends. However, their drink preference shifts to other beverages when they are out alone. Few had noticed their change in behaviour and claimed that they were just trying new things on the menu. I do not believe that is the case.

You see, when people interact with each other, they

tend to recognize and identify others based on their “traits.” Therefore, you are able to recognize your friend across the street or even in a low-resolution video and confidently identify them. We can definitively identify a person based on their behaviour too, and this behaviour recognition comes from the traits that we decide to show to other people. “Oh yeah, my friend Timmy; he likes to play tennis.” Timmy has the trait of playing tennis, and is thus recognized by this.

We build up our personality and social life based on the traits we decide to show to other people, and this is how we separate ourselves from others.

on social media give them “coffee hype,” and then they no longer drink coffee because they need it, but because coffee is cool. Drinking coffee, then, has become a trait: one which identifies you as a “hard-working student.” It doesn’t matter if you like coffee or not, you have to drink it. This is the easiest trait you can get if you don’t have any. Just be sure to use a special order: instead of a double-double, order just one-part sugar, or something entirely different. Get a trait and make it yours. Like it or not, it’s going to be what you are recognized for.

And of course, there are people with no traits. Imagine a person with no obvious hobbies, achievements, or preferences. I bet you know someone like that. You can only recognize them by their appearance. They are invisible in social life, and that is not good.

Regardless of where students come from, many students start to drink coffee once they are here at the University of Toronto. This is a result of group-think and mimicry. Once they are here, they hear upper-year students claim coffee helps them stay awake. Articles

Chevanon Photography

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THE MOCK

Mock Editor Scoshua Jott editorinchief@readthemike.com

‘U of T Portal Renaming Contest’ Underway Entrant thrilled at the chance to win half of one textbook Victoria Yang CONTRIBUTOR After days of brainstorming, third-year Economics major Hannah Jones submitted her entry to win a University of Toronto (U of T) Bookstore gift card valued at $250, which is almost enough to purchase half of the mandatory textbook for her Critical Approaches to Microeconomics class.

“I didn’t know how I’d be able to afford The Fundamental Principles of Microeconomics, 20th Canadian Edition,” said Jones, eyeing a nickel on the ground. “But entering this contest for the chance to win a gift card worth 50 dollars less than the average monthly cost of groceries in Toronto? What a prize!”

Portal, a platform known for crashing at tutorial signup time and its inactive course-discussion boards, will be replaced this year at Canada’s top research institution

after only one decade of student complaints. U of T launched the contest via a post on Portal, which failed to load for one-third of U of T students.

Jones isn’t alone in her excitement about the Portal Renaming Contest: U of T administration is also enthusiastic about the opportunity to promote their new platform.

announced: “QUERCUS.” The name was submitted jointly by three students, who are each excited to win the equivalent of one third of one half of one textbook. Hannah Jones has saved $1300 by torrenting her textbooks.

“We want to find a name that emphasizes U of T’s spirit and commitment to community, teaching, and learning,” said U of T President Meric Gertler to The Mike. “What better way to do so than by letting students fight over a gift card that amounts to 0.056% of my salary?” *UPDATE: The winner of the contest has since been

Element 5 Digital

Canadians Expect the Worst

Radio station plays three Neil Young songs in a row Leticia Gaba CONTRIBUTOR confirmed.

Murphy was driving his pickup truck on College Street when he heard the Q107.1 mini-marathon during the 5 p.m. happy hour.

Leticia Gaba

Neil Young fan Braden Murphy panicked after his favourite Canadian classic rock radio station played three Neil Young songs, one after the other, causing him to wonder if the revolutionary Canadian rock music legend had passed away, eyewitnesses

“Yeah, I remember him. I was driving alongside the guy when I saw him stop the car and break down in tears. I pulled down my window and asked him if he was okay, and he shouted ‘it’s too soon’ and asked me if I had heard yet,” said lead witness Michael S. to The Mike. “He was all distraught thinking old Neil died.”

Murphy admitted he’d been acting like a complete wreck: still reeling from the recent death of Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie.

“I only really listen to the radio when I’m driving my

pickup. I figured if 107.1 were playing more than just Old Man over and over, it could only mean one thing,” said Murphy, still trembling. “I was heartbroken, just waiting for the radio guy to break the news. It’s too soon, you know? They can’t take Downie and Young in just a few months.”

Traffic stalled on College Street as many Canadians rushed to console Murphy. Murphy later apologized for the misunderstanding, and the good Samaritans apologized for causing a traffic jam.

Q107.1 came under fire for a similar controversy in 2016 when they inexplicably played five Rush songs in a row, devastating many Canadians and causing the crash of a small-engine aircraft. They have not apologized.

New Scented Candle Line Replaces Actual Human Interaction The quick fix to all your pesky non-virtual relationships Zoe Burke CONTRIBUTOR Bath and Body Works recently released a series of scented candles based on real-life scenarios. “Last year, we released a line of scented candles inspired by positive emotions, like Serenity and Joy. The line was an overwhelming success,” Bath and Body Works Vice-President of Marketing Jim Burns told The Mike.

“So, this year we wanted to try something a little bit different.”

Their new candle line is flying off of the shelf.

Consumers have cited attraction to their cute packaging, realistic smells, and ability to start uncomfortable conversations that people have no idea how to start themselves. So far, their most popular scents have been Emotionally Unavailable, I Actually Hate Your New Haircut, and Oops, I Cheated.

In a press release, the company stated that their “Realistic Emotions Fragrant Candles” are the perfect way to subtly tell the people in your life exactly how you’re feeling without ever having to have any uncomfortable discussions.

“My daughter bought herself a Teen Angst candle and it has completely transformed my household”, says Linda, a 47-year-old soccer mom from Brampton.

“Now there are fewer fights in the house. When Ashley lights that candle, we all know to steer clear of her. It’s pure magic!”

The new candle line has already been declared “most relatable lifestyle item of the year” by internet candle vlogging sensation Az4angela.

Fred Lardner

FEATURES

Features Editor Téana Graziani features@readthemike.com

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Old Man Winter Got You Down?

How to stave off the Toronto winter blues Sophie McGuire CONTRIBUTOR you concentrate on your thoughts. It’s a conductive, tranquil activity to stimulate your deep-thinking and decision-making processes.

Hannah Jor

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a specific type of depression we are constantly learning about as more people struggle with the Canadian winter months, and not to mention Toronto’s seemingly endless construction. A friend of mine from a tropical country has experienced low spirits throughout the season since she came to Toronto, but you would think she were a true northerner by the way she braves and embraces the cold! Maybe you were born here, but winter still gets you down? How can we enjoy the Canadian winter when it dominates half of the year? There are many ways, my friend.

A wonderful place to start, especially if your birthday is in the winter months, is at Starbucks. This is because they give you a complimentary birthday drink with whipped cream. So if you choose a delicious drink then you have the warmth, whipped cream, and all the potential a birthday can bring ahead of you.

Bring your thermos and dress appropriately to go meet up with some friends at Nathan Phillips Square for free skating on an outdoor rink right downtown. It’s very accessible for Ryerson, University of Toronto (U of T), and George Brown students. You might even possibly mistake yourself for skating in Central Park, New York, when you’re in the midst of the urban grandeur and excitement of la grande ville. When you skate with friends, you don’t even feel the cold!

The cold is no match for the warmth and quality time shared between friends. I have also found that skating alone, at your own pace, zig-zagging between all the other skaters can help

My favourite indoor winter activity is to do my normal routine, but the only difference is standing in front of a fireplace! Interesting how “heart” is only one letter away from “hearth.” Doing readings and writing papers are still a necessity, but they are more enjoyable while working in front of a fireplace.

Anyone who wants a laid-back hairstyle the next day can also take a relaxing, hot shower and resume your position in front of the fireplace afterward. The heat provides the same effects as a blow dryer but you will not have to lift your arms to dry your hair. Your hair will be clean, warm, and as dry as you wish for tomorrow’s winter day.

Hot chocolate, warmth, and showers are pleasant things accessible to most of us for our enjoyment, but we must be aware that there are always those less fortunate than us. Especially in the winter months, our hearts sympathize with those who endure hunger, thirst, addiction, health problems, loneliness, and much more while trying to fight the biting cold. That is why a wonderful winter activity is to give some of your time to one of many humanitarian initiatives in the city, not to mention on cam-

For those whose birthday does not fall during the winter months, there are still many ways to enjoy a cold day in the city: simply make hot chocolate at home! Use your favourite mug, and when the instructions indicate two spoonfuls of chocolate powder, go one step further toward happiness and make them heaping spoonfuls of chocolate! It is truly good for the soul.

pus. Covenant House, Good Shepherd Ministries, Eva’s Initiatives, and many similar organizations provide Torontonians with the opportunity to share the warmth of charity with those suffering various hardships in our city. There is even an established program on campus at the Newman Center called “Out of the Cold” to help those who are inconceivably close to home.

As I said, a great winter activity is to give of yourself to structured charities.

However, we all have many responsibilities that exhaust our time, energy, and resources. Fortunately, there are other ways to keep from being idle in the winter. In fact, we can assume an entire undercover mission that will warm us up on these cold, grey days. We can always smile at someone. We can always ask a friend how they are. We can always nod to acknowledge the human dignity of anyone we see on the street, whether they are on a subway grille or skipping along holding their mother’s hand. Whether they are anyone, because anyone is a someone. These simple gestures are greater than any one winter activity. These actions are part of a mission that makes a serious difference, and stems from both the heart and a sense of personal responsibility. Spending winter engaged with such goals will brighten and warm your days November through March.

Peter Mintz

The Secret History of Alexander the Inept — Vol. 2 Matthew Simoes CONTRIBUTOR

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FEATURES

Features Editor Téana Graziani features@readthemike.com

Students of St. Mike’s, V5.0: Damian Di Biase Damian Di Biase is a third-year St. Mike’s student studying Political Science and Sociology.

What are your career aspirations following university?

Law school. Lawyer. Politician. Prime Minister. (In no particular order, after law school.)

How have you contributed to the University of St. Michael’s College (USMC) community?

I was always an active community member in my high school — I served as Student Council President in grade 12.

As soon as I got to university, I made a point of getting involved with St. Mike’s

and its student culture. I began as a Commuter Ambassador under the supervision of the Commuter Dons, which helped me get my feet wet, as well as through simply meeting and interacting with my peers. I would later join the St. Michael’s College Student Union (SMCSU) as one of its three University of Toronto Student Union (UTSU) representatives. As a member of council, I feel like I learned a lot about myself, the path I was on, including potential forks in the road that I could explore. I am also currently a mentor under the University of St. Michael’s College Connect Mentorship program, and have been for two years now.

You’ve also started your own club.

What is its purpose?

Damian Di Biase promoting his club to a group of USMC students in The Coop (Pran Sathiy / THE MIKE).

Pran Sathiy STAFF WRITER/PHOTOGRAPHER What inspired you to start this club?

And have you faced any difficulties in doing so thus far?

Damian (Pran Sathiy / THE MIKE).

I am the founder and President of USMC’s first environmental club. Our mission and our vision is first to re-evaluate and address the way we look at environmental initiatives within our college and then to promote outreach throughout campus. We are just getting started, and many members of our executive team comprise of a core group of students who already make a plethora of contributions toward and within the USMC community. This semester, we will undertake many of the logistical challenges necessary in order to move the club forward in terms of educating students who are interested in our initiative, corresponding events within campus, as well as community cleans throughout the city.

The preservation of our environment is very important to me, and I feel that it is something that is very important to many others as well. However, the most challenging question for most people concerns how they might better the environment without overly compromising their existing way of life. I believe that because of this hurdle, alongside the diversity of factors that play into people’s values and beliefs, it [has been] difficult to really jump start a club of this nature and get it off the ground and running.

What’s your favourite genre of music?

EDM DVBBS GANG GANG BUOYS AND GURLS. Cheers (*ham horn*).

Damian (Pran Sathiy / THE MIKE).

Issue 7, At A Glance...

CALLING ALL ARTISTS & EDITORS! THE LYRE is a new St. Mike’s-based journal of the arts in the University of Toronto (U of T).

THE LYRE is now accepting creative submissions from all U of T students, and staff applications from all St. Mike’s students. You can find our submission form and our application form on Facebook @thelyrejournal, or the web at thelyre.ca. The deadline to complete both is February 15 at 11:59 p.m. If you have any questions, or would like to learn more about us, please message us on Facebook or email us at thelyrejournal@gmail.com.

This issue, in News, we cover SMCSU (page 2), the Brennan Hall renovations (page 3), U of T’s Strategic Mandate Agreement with Ontario (page 5), and the potential for a TA strike (page 5).

In Sports, we’ve got a preview of what you can expect from Canada at the upcoming Winter Olympics (page 5).

In Arts, we have a review of Hart House’s The Crucible (page 6), and a piece on the beauty and uniqueness of Japanese silk on (page 7).

For our main feature, our Features Editor Téana Graziani considers the health benefits of a plant-based diet (pages 8 and 9).

In Opinions, we have a piece on the Brennan Hall renovations (page 10), as well as a piece on why the recent minimum wage increase is a good thing for the average Ontarian (page 11).

You can also find a postive perspective on fear and failure in Logos (page 12), a discussion on how cities can better manage their water supply in the Science & Tech (page 13), a surprise section (page 14), and some advice for how to better cope with winter in Toronto in Features (page 15).

Check out all this and more, inside!