Talon Times Vol 26 Spring Issue 2017

Talon TIMES

For the students, by the Students

Advice from a Graduating Gryphon As university acceptances are trickling in and as the Class of 2017 gets ready to say farewell to their home for the past 4 years, more and more seniors seem to be feeling nostalgic and reflecting on their high school careers (see Stage VI: Sadness in Lily Li’s The 8 stages of senioritis, page 13). As one of those graduating seniors, I have a few pearls of wisdom to share of my own... Page. 3

Hidden Figures: Black Women who Changed the World It seems that Katherine Johnson, an extraordinary physicist and mathematician who made significant contributions to NASA’s aeronautics and space programs, finally got the recognition she deserved in the critically-acclaimed movie Hidden Figures. With Black History Month and International Women’s Day (March 8th) behind us, it’s high time we look back and acknowledge the countless revolutionary women of colour who have been underrepresented in cultural and scientific history globally. Here are just a few who have shaped the world we live in today...

Page 14

The Art of Politics Forget Facebook, YouTube and Tumblr; if there was ever a symbol of the early twenty-first century’s growing social media culture, it would be Twitter.

Screaming into the void is an oddly satisfying pastime and Twitter is the guilty enabler. The site has become a hubbub of millions of people’s mundane thoughts, including those of the famous. Celebrities of all kinds, from musicians to movie stars, broadcast tidbits of their everyday lives and their opinions in 140 characters – opinions that, since last year’s controversial American presidential election, are becoming increasingly political...Page7

Volume Issue 3

26

VOLUME 26, ISSUE 3 SPRING 2017 PAGE 2

Advice Index

Advice p2 Community p3

Advice from a Graduating Gryphon Wind Ensemble: Back at it Again CPR and Defibrillator Programs Introduced to Peel Schools Glenforest's Win at University of Toronto Model United Nations A Spring Afternoon in Toronto

Editorial p7 The Art of Politics An Enemy of the People, a Pillar of Democracy

Global p8 A Progressive and Powerful Statement: Kenya's First Women-Only Village

National

p9

Science

p10

Hope for Electorial Reform Dashed After Months of Public Consultation

Make Way for the IA Craze Psychopath vs. Sociopath: What's the Difference?

Inventions that are Changing the World Sea Levels Rise as Canadian Glaciers Melt

Culture p12 Upcoming Blockbuster Hits 2016-17 NBA Season: The Story so Far Procrastination: Why it Happens and How to Beat it The 8 Stages of Senioritis Hidden Figures: Black Women Who Changed the World

Juan: The hills are alive with the sound of music!

Meggie: Let it rain! Let it raaiin.

Meggie: ude. Calm down, and breathe. I know it’s stressful, and I totally understand, but the more you think about it — the more you wait anxiously for that letter or email — the more you’ll feel as if your acceptance is evading you. Go outside, do your homework, hang out with your friends, ignore the voices squealing their acceptances, concentrate on you, and work hard. Check periodically for that email, or your application status.

Most importantly, have faith in yourself. Even if you don’t get into your first choice, who’s to say that your second, third or even fourth, won’t exceed your expectations in every possible way? Nevertheless, I believe in -University Hopeful you, and I know you’ll figure things out and you’ll get there, no matter how uphill and obstructed the climb. So, keep your head up, and it will all work out!

I’m worried that I won’t be accepted into my first-choice university. All my friends have received their acceptances and this is stressing me out. Help!

D

Juan:

W

hile you may think that your first-choice university will bring you the greatest success in the future, sometimes taking a detour could bring even more joy. University is not a be-all-end-all. It’s a stepping stone — a part of your personal development as a person. We mustn’t be too consumed by rankings and prestige. And as for your friends: congratulate them on their acceptances!

Don’t beat yourself up too much about this, because there’s still plenty of time until the whole admissions process is finalized. Strive for excellent grades during this period instead of being stressed out about something (that is, that one particular acceptance) somewhat outside of your control, because you must prioritize at the end of the day. I have faith in your capabilities and enthusiasm for the future. Try your absolute best to stay on top of the game, and work hard — the future is in your power. It’s your final semester, so make the best of it! It’s your last chance, after all. Procrastination shouldn’t be an excuse at this point. Now, leave your worries behind and keep moving forward!

Horoscopes p15 Comics p16

Credits

Teacher Supervisor

Mr. Gordon & Ms. Axon

Editors in Chief

Jovana Pajovic Amanda Yang

Copy Editors

Julie Cho Michelle Wei Suzany Manimaran Shankhalika Srikanth Srushti Patel Annie Zou Ghaid Asfour May Huang Aamna Ashfaq Zaina Khan Anushka Goyal Ruth Zelleke

Layout Designers

Rebecca Lee Evelyn Ku Srishti Roy Suchithra Shenthil Rana Al-Fayez Sam Lu Saamia Ansari Vaishnavi Bhamidi Kim Nguyen Jaziba Azher

Photographers

Kim Nguyen Khushi Nansi Saleha Ansari Katherine Woods Maleeha Anwar Annie Zou Annie Liu Srishti Roy Shivam Pandey Sam Lu Taranpreet Ghuman Pranav Sairam Munaam Naveed

Cover Designer Rebecca Lee

Meggie: kay I’m going to play Devil’s advocate here — do There’s this person I’ve been absolutely dyyou really want prom to be your first date? (That’s ing to ask to semi and/or prom. However, I’m assuming you haven’t gone out with this person before.)

Yes, prom is an essential part of growing up! It’s one last way too socially awkward for my own good. hurrah with all your friends from these four years of How can I overcome this initial fear and just high school. It’s a night of dress up, a night full of wonderful moments that you will cherish in your later years. do it?

-Seceret Admirer But that’s besides the point. Think about how much pressure having PROM as a first date would entail! You wouldn’t be spending the night with your closest friends for the past four years — you would be with someone that you may not know very well. While throwing yourself out there is a good idea in theory, do you really want to take this chance? This is supposed to be a celebration for YOU, not a celebration where you feel obligated to make sure your partner for the evening is having a good time. You should be with people who you don’t have to worry about, because you already know that just by being together, prom night will be one of your favourite high school memories. That’s my two cents, at least.

O

Juan: ou’ve already said it, so just do it. Maybe it’s putting your reputation, sanity, and loads of feelings on the line, but hey, it’s worth it.

There might not be ‘another time’ to do this. When your mind jumps to the worst case scenario, in which [said person] flat-out rejects you, makes you look like a fool and leaves you flabbergasted, you’re bound to have second thoughts about asking. I hope you’re grinning, at least a little bit. That seems a little outrageous, doesn’t it? Don’t forget that attending these events with your friends is just as exciting, and it takes a lot of pressure off of your shoulders. Regardless of what you ultimately decide, I believe that you will feel liberated after acting upon your thoughts. Think positively, but think realistically. You are far stronger and more confident than you think you are! Who knows, maybe this will be the beginning of something new — and not necessarily a relationship. Perhaps this will spark a new idea, or a new mentality. There is one thing I can guarantee, however: a goal without a plan is just a wish. Wishes don’t come true by simply sitting idle and hoping that miracles will happen. Put yourself out there, as the clock is ticking! May the odds be in your favour, you cheeky one.

Y

VOLUME 26, ISSUE 3 SPRING 2017 PAGE 3

Community

Advice from a graduating gryphon Photo: Munaam Naveed

A

By Ghaid Asfour

s university acceptances are trickling in and as the Class of 2017 gets ready to say farewell to their home for the past 4 years, more and more seniors seem to be feeling nostalgic and reflecting on their high school careers (see Stage VI: Sadness in Lily Li’s The 8 stages of senioritis, page 6). As one of those graduating seniors, I have a few pearls of wisdom to share of my own.

First, let’s back-track to the months before school is even in session. Use your summer vacations wisely!

Even though summer feels like the perfect time to relax and spend quality time with family and friends, it is also the perfect time to apply yourself and participate in meaningful summer programs.

That does not mean, however, that you shouldn’t take a

break at all — everyone needs some time to re-energize.

There are so many enrichment programs available over the summer, like SHAD, which gives students the opportunity to establish new STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math) skills and live in-residence at one of the host universities across Canada. Students usually come of out these programs connected to a huge network of people and something to talk about when it is time to fill out university supplementary applications. Whether you choose to work, volunteer, or participate in an enrichment program, make sure your summers are meaningful and resume-enhancing. Do something challenging, different, self-building, and, of course, something that you love!

It may seem paradoxical to say that you should use

your summers wisely and have fun during the school year, but it is true, in a way. Obviously, we come to school to receive an education – to learn new things, to develop our academic skills, to earn credits. Nevertheless, it is equally important to understand that you’ll never be able to relive your high school days, so make use of them. Participate in spirit day activities! Attend fun workshops organized by clubs at the school! Go out for coffee with friends every now and then!

It’s the simple things that you’ll remember most. Far too often, students graduate from high school with nothing to look back at other than stress and exams, so try to keep a balance and have fun while you can.

This next point is crucial for your work ethic: never procrastinate. Never. Teachers never get tired of reiterating this gem — but rightly so. The

amount of time you are given to finish an assignment is usually the amount of time you need to complete it properly. Needless to say, delaying assignments sometimes correlates with lower grades. Although some might argue that they got away with leaving a few assignments undone until the night before, this strategy will eventually cease to work.

In order to get your schoolwork done on time, you must learn to prioritize!

Getting involved in the school community can be very fulfilling (and, not to mention, it’s something to embellish a scholarship application with).

Participating in extracurricular activities should be leisure; in other words, it should be something you enjoy doing, and not something that stresses you out, puts your mental health at risk, or conflicts with your academic interests.

Finally, here’s something I’ve learned over the course of the past few months: start university research early! The perfect post-secondary pathway won’t come looking for you! Even though applying to university is considered a Grade 12 responsibility, you should look through your options prior to your senior year to familiarize yourself with the process. Think about your favourite classes or what you like to do in your spare time. Perhaps you can see yourself making a career out of one of these things in the long run. Whatever your plan may be, there are a myriad of possibilities out there for you.

Some programs offer co-op, and some of them don’t. Some programs have small classes, while others have classes with hundreds of students. Some of them are interdisciplinary, and others are specialized. It

is also very important that you ask current university students about their experiences because remember: universities are money-making businesses, so they will always present themselves in a positive light. When speaking to current students, ask them, what things they don’t like about their program or university.

Even though the responses you receive will be anecdotal and might not reflect the program in its entirety, they are opinions that you won’t find on the university’s website.

These are only a few things to consider for those not yet graduating based on my experiences. Remember, high school may seem like a long journey, but it passes by quickly. So, make use of your time here and use the resources available to you while you can!

Photo: Munaam Naveed

VOLUME 26, ISSUE 3 SPRING 2017 PAGE 4

Community

Photo: Kim Nguyen

Wind Ensemble: Back at it again “

By Jovana Pajovic

So…you’re in the senior band. How do you spend your practices?”

“I—we play our music.”

My voice wavered. “We prep for concerts and competitions.

We talk about music.” I wish I could have come up with something more poetic to say about my time in Wind Ensemble — and not just to ‘wow’ the alumni interviewer sitting across the conference table, but to commemorate my experience in some small way.

Many of my most cherished memories at Glenforest are music-related: playing my first four-bar “solo” at Prin-

tempo in tenth grade, learning Inuit throat singing in music class, performing Stevie Wonder at the Burnhamthorpe library for many exuberant staff members in honour of Black History Month. Among these memories is one from this past February, when the Wind Ensemble and the Symphonic Band attended the Golden Horseshoe Music Festival in Ancaster.

On February 22nd, a rather warm Wednesday afternoon, we were off on an hourlong bus ride to Redeemer College, instruments in tow.

Redeemer is a small liberal arts school that hosts the competition almost every year

with its impressive auditorium and music spaces. During the four-day festival, the school is packed with middle school and high school students from across Southern Ontario. The festival invites concert and jazz bands to perform for two distinguished clinicians, complete an interactive workshop, and strive for a coveted Gold ranking — an opportunity to play at MusicFest, the national competition.

After spending the day frolicking through the campus and watching Symphonic perform, it came time for Wind Ensemble to play our three wonderful — and very different — pieces. The first,

Three Ayres From Gloucester, is written in early English folksong style and split into three movements, intending to capture the atmosphere of the commoners living in the shadows of medieval castles. Filum Vitae by Kenley Kristofferson was our second piece, a striking shift in mood, reverberating with colour and lyrical melodies. Printempo attendees will remember our finale, Dynasty by (Canadian!) Ryan Meeboer, a bold and energetic march with a big brassy sound that can fill any room.

Despite having to surmount certain obstacles (like bouncing back from two straight practice cancellations

because of weather conditions), the Wind Ensemble achieved a Silver Plus ranking. Our efforts on stage and at the workshop scored us an invitation to MusicFest for the fourth year in a row, which we are planning to (finally) attend in Niagara Falls this May. Symphonic Band also came home proud with a Silver ranking. Make sure you come out and support Wind Ensemble’s musical fundraiser for the trip in April!

While our triumph at Golden Horseshoe happened long after that first university interview was over, I still think about how I could have said so many more things

about being a music student at Glenforest — like how I met many of my closest friends in ninth grade music class, how helpful and kind our music teachers are, how grateful I am to be a part of such a spirited community of people.

“You talk about music?”

“Yes,” I replied, this time with conviction.

“We’re very passionate.”

“I guess you’re real band geeks then.”

“We embrace it.” Now that I was proud to say.

Photo: Kim Nguyen

VOLUME 26, ISSUE 3 SPRING 2017 PAGE 5

Community CPR and defibrillator programs introduced to Peel Schools “

By: Emi Roni

Patient is a young female, approximately 13 years old.

Deep lacerations to scalp. BP is steady at 85 over palp. Possible paralysis in lower legs.”

“Young male, aged 16 years. Anaphylactic shock: visible swelling of throat and mouth, difficulty in respiration. Found unconscious at the scene.”

“Child, aged approximately 5 years. Airway blockage due to food particles. Time of death 12:43.”

Meet Camille, David, and Nancy. Camille was your friendly, neighbour, David was your ambitious lab partner, and Nancy was your best friend’s younger sister. Camille regularly baked your family cookies, and babysat when you weren’t available.

You recall David’s voice, as he introduced you to his friends on the first day of school; if it weren’t for him, you would have probably circled the school 20 times searching for homeroom. Nancy always

followed you and your best friend around, eager to please you and join in on the fun. You remember how Nancy sorted her stuffed animals along her bed, making sure each one was properly taken care of.

These accounts, although fictional, are inspired by the reality of accidents taking place at educational institutions.

5,864 teen drivers aged 15-20 were involved in fatal car accidents this year, as stated by Edgar Snyder & Associates. 50,000 accidental

Photo: Hope Tree Care

drug overdoses occur each year among young teens 13-14 years old, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Last year, Maria Acebal, a chief executive officer of the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, in an article for the CNN, mentioned that researchers found that 8% of children under age 18 in the United States have at least one food allergy. 25% of allergic reactions that occur in school involve children not known to have

had an allergy before. These startling statistics prompted educators and students to initiate life-saving programs in schools globally.

60 schools in Peel launched the Advanced Coronary Treatment (ACT) Foundation's High School CPR and Defibrillator Training Program, teaching approximately 17,000 students essential skills relating to resuscitation.

Not only are the skills applicable to incidents occurring on school premises, but they

are valuable throughout life, as one cannot predict when they’ll come into use.

Although these educational systems have vastly improved their First Aid programs, there is still more work to be done. Continuing to implement programs in all schools and pushing for the safety of students and staff alike are both key.

Photo: OYA Opportunities

Glenforest's wins big at University of Toronto's Model United Nations I

By: Suzany Manimaran

n mid-February, six Glenforest students participated in the annual University of Toronto Model United Nations Conference. UTMUN, as it is more widely called, is one of the largest and most prestigious conferences of its kind in Canada as well as in North America. From schools that are known for their established Model UN teams like Ursula Franklin Academy, to Glenforest’s own, fairly new team, UTMUN boasts a wide and diverse array of delegates from all over the GTA. The conference even hosts some foreign dignitaries from exotic lands (that is, exotic by the conference’s standards: students from Michigan and New Jersey).

Model United Nations brings students together to debate and solve current global issues and conflicts as if they were representing countries in the real United Nations.

From the ongoing immigration crisis, to global income inequality, to debating the terms of Brexit, MUN gives students the opportunity to become more knowledgeable about the world around them in a setting that strengthens their ability to think on their feet, negotiate, and collaborate to create solutions to the problems that the international community faces.

While they focus primarily on political discourse, MUN conferences stimulate introspective debate in many other unique and amusing ways. Whether you’re passionate about finding a solution for Ebola, entering a “Game of Thrones” style crisis to become Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, or even acting on the council of Death Eaters preparing for Voldemort’s takeover of the Muggle world, there’s a committee for everyone. MUN can enhance research skills through the academic position papers, and it can lead to bril-

liant immigration resolutions like “Raindrop, Drop Top, Make the Immigration Crisis Stop Stop” that bring forth innovative and creative solutions to an imminent global issue.

Model United Nations does require rigorous research into topics and knowledge of UN procedure. It is a hobby that’s academic in its nature and naturally necessitates a level of enthusiasm for research and knowledge, but as mentioned, that’s not all there is to it.

Glenforest’s MUN is a small, amateur, and relatively inexperienced delegation. It was the first or second big conference for Gryphon delegates, whereas many of the other schools had students who had been to a dozens of huge conferences. Despite the stiff competition, Glenforest was named the Best Small Delegation. The only thing more unexpected was the entire school realizing it had MUN the day after the conference, and an award-winning one at that!

Photo: Munaam Naveed

VOLUME 26, ISSUE 3 SPRING 2017 PAGE 6

Community

Photo: BlogTO

A spring afternoon in Toronto T

By: Aamna Ashfaq

he sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and the flowers are blooming.

Just as our beloved Ontarian groundhog Wiarton Willie predicted, spring has arrived early. What better place to spend a spring day in than Toronto, a city that offers us something new all the time!

Before exploring the new, however, you should revisit some of Toronto’s classic springtime hangouts, like Casa Loma, just north of the Annex in midtown. The Gothic-style castle is complete with decorated suites, secret passages, an 800-foot tunnel, towers, stables, and a beautiful five-acre estate garden. Casa Loma is the ideal place to spend an afternoon with your friends. After strolling through the beautiful gardens, come inside to not only gawk at the breathtaking

architecture, but to participate in the Casa Loma chapter of Escape! In Escape games, you and a group of friends are immersed in an interactive gameworld in which you must solve a mystery designed to fit a certain theme. Your team must work together to solve puzzles and discover clues to solve the mystery and escape within 60 minutes. The three games that Casa Loma offers are King of the Bootleggers, set in a secret 1920s speakeasy, Escape from the Tower, a nautical 1941 wartime adventure, and Station M, based on a covert manufacturing facility that produced gadgets and covert material for the British Security Coordination. What’s more: these situations are actually based on Casa Loma history, making for a fun and educational experience!

If you’re looking into a more laidback trip to the city,

try the zoo! A lot has changed at the Toronto Zoo since your last visit with your thirdgrade class. The zoo is home to 5,000 animals representing 500 different species in seven main exhibits, including Australasia, Tundra Trek, and of course, the Canada Domain.

Most importantly, visit to support the conservation work that the zoo does! For the past few years, the Toronto Zoo has been rebranding to showcase its state-of-the-art animal medical facilities, efforts to preserve endangered species, and status as a scientific and educational institution. “A lot of people don’t really see the conservation that zoos do, not only in (zoos) through (captive) breeding but out in the wild,” says Maria Frank, the zoo’s curator of mammals.

While spring is the ideal time to visit Casa Loma and the Toronto Zoo, those at-

tractions are available all year long! Spring is also a time for annual festivals in Toronto that you can only see once a year.

Among those festivals is the Scotiabank CONTACT photography festival, which runs for the entire month of May, and takes place in various venues across the city, including the CONTACT gallery just off Adelaide and Spadina, and the Textile Museum of Canada, around the corner from Nation Phillips Square. The gallery will feature over 1500 artists in 200 exhibitions and happenings, listed on the festival’s website starting April 1st.

Another exciting festival coming to the city very soon is Canadian Music Week. CMW dominates clubs and venues in the entertainment district for 6 days of live music, from April 18th to April 23rd. CMW is a triple-threat: it’s a music, comedy and film festival.

Perhaps you’ll spot some of your favourite artists around town that week. The setlist includes shows by Big Sean, Earl Sweatshirt, The Strumbellas, and Good Charlotte.

In Toronto, springtime is almost synonymous with the Hot Docs Canadian international documentary festival, running from April 27th to May 7th this year. Hot Docs is the largest festival of its kind in North America, offering over 200 films from Canada and around the world to audiences of more than 200,000 viewers. The festival has announced 10 films in its Special Presentations program, which is set aside for high-profile premieres and award-winning documentaries. Among those films is one whose star you may remember from Grade 9 science class. Yes, that’s right: Bill Nye has returned!

In Bill Nye: Science Guy, we

see a more serious side to the much-loved TV scientist. The filmmakers catch up with a modern-day Nye who finds himself trying to “restore science to its rightful place in a world hostile to evidence and reason”. Other Special Presentation films include The Worker’s Cup, about 24 construction companies competing “for glory and the thrill of hoisting the Workers Cup” during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, and Dolores, a biopic about activist Dolores Huerta who defied 1950s gender norms in her push for social change for women and people of colour.

These are just some of the countless places to visit this season. One thing we know for sure is that in Toronto, you’ll never run out of things to do!

VOLUME 26, ISSUE 3 SPRING 2017 PAGE 7

Editorial The Art

of Politics

Illustration: Shepard Fairey

F

By: Michelle Wei

orget Facebook, YouTube and Tumblr; if there was ever a symbol of the early twenty-first century’s growing social media culture, it would be Twitter. Screaming into the void is an oddly satisfying pastime and Twitter is the guilty enabler. The site has become a hubbub of millions of people’s mundane thoughts, including those of the famous. Celebrities of all kinds, from musicians to movie stars, broadcast tidbits of their everyday lives and their opinions in 140 characters – opinions that, since last year’s controversial American presidential election, are becoming increasingly political.

Unlike Facebook, where most pages are promotional, or Instagram, better built for edited pictures than paragraphs, Twitter is a purely textbased form of media, intended for ranting and complaining only if you please. And in the last weeks leading up to the final vote, the site was flooded with a line of Twitter-certified people ranting, complaining about, and denouncing Trump.

Politics seemed to be the new

Photo: Wired

trend for the famous, and Hollywood in particular.

However, many people were displeased with their idols’ opinions, commenting that “they should just stick to [insert profession here]”.

Between media backlash and social media struggle, the million dollar question remains: should celebrities be politically involved?

Gene Simmons, bassist of rock band KISS, disagrees. “I really believe democracy doesn't work well when celebrities butt their heads into places they don't belong,” he said in an interview with Yahoo! Music.

The musician raises a good point in pointing out the influence that celebrities have on their audience, but it’s difficult to say whether or not Simmons’ argument is applicable to democracy, especially when comparing the overwhelming high-profile support for Clinton during the election and the election’s results.

Mark Wahlberg, Ted actor who starred most recently in Patriots Day and Deepwater Horizon, also believes that celebrities should

not voice their support for political figures, stating that he didn't feel in a position to get involved in politics because of his own privilege.

“A lot of celebrities, did, do and shouldn’t [give their political opinions],” he told Task and Purpose magazine. He argues that Hollywood is so far removed from ‘the real world’ that celebrities are unaware of actual issues and are sticking their noses into problems that they don’t understand. Of course, Wahlberg is making a generalization, but it’s one that is hard to disagree with when we see celebrities like Beyoncé dressing their five-year-old daughters in $26K dresses.

On the other hand, separating arts from politics isn’t as easy as it sounds. After all, it’s hard to remember a time when art and politics weren’t inexorably entwined, when art didn’t look society in the eye to ask, “What’s wrong today?”

Political turmoil has always found a way to seep into the arts, finding its voice through artists. Artists that – as most people forget – are not exclusive to painters and novelists, but are filmmakers, actors, and

entertainment hosts too.

When it comes to the dramatic arts, there is a lingering notion of acting and entertainment as inherently less than fine arts or linguistic arts (as if social criticism is limited to pretentious, thought-provoking paintings and dense, politically analytical novels). As movies established predictable tropes and reusable characters, and tabloids picked apart celebrity gossip on an hourly basis, we’ve learned to equate ‘entertainment’ with ‘cheap’ and ‘acting’ with ‘dumb’. As a result, actors and idols are confined to their role of ‘airheaded celebrity’ and told to stick to their job as if their political opinions mean less.

It is easy to forget that Ke$ha, the face of ‘trashy pop’, has a near genius IQ of 140 and is an outspoken women’s rights activist. It is easy to forget that Mayim Bialik does not only play a brilliant neuroscientist on the hit TV series The Big Bang Theory, she is one with a PhD in Neuroscience from UCLA. It is easy to forget that actors, actresses, and TV personalities are more than just their roles.

Despite the pigeonholes, labels, and a lot of determined shushing, artists and celebrities of all genres are refusing to give up their political voice.

The diverse cast of Hamilton: An American Musical – a historical re-telling of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton’s life as an immigrant from the Carribbean – addressed Mike Pence after a performance attended by the Vice President in November.

Pence is a fierce supporter of conversion therapy and anti-gay marriage; many actors in Hamilton are ethnically diverse as well as members of the LGBTQ community.

“We’re all here sharing a story about love,” said actor Brandon Victor Dixon to the Vice President. “We are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us. […] But we truly hope that this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and to work on behalf of all of us.”

At the Golden Globes, Meryl Streep used her acceptance speech for a lifetime achievement award to

criticize President Trump’s abuse of power and anti-immigrant rhetoric.

“And, you know, what is Hollywood, anyway? It's just a bunch of people from other places. […] So Hollywood is crawling with outsiders and foreigners. […]

Disrespect invites disrespect,” Streep emphasized. “Violence incites violence. When the powerful use their position to bully others, we all lose.”

After Trump’s attempted Muslim Ban, Ellen DeGeneres – comedian and popular television host of The Ellen DeGeneres Show – opted not to get political, but chose instead to talk about her ‘very non-political, family-friendly’ movie Finding Dory.

“Dory ends up at the Marine Life Institute behind a large wall, and they all have to get over the wall.

And, you won’t believe it, but that wall has almost no effect in keeping them out,” she commented drily.

VOLUME 26, ISSUE 3 SPRING 2017 PAGE 8

Editorial / Global An enemy of the people, A pillar of democracy

Photo: Business Insider

By: Suzany Manimaran

T

he free press has always played a crucial role in upholding democracy; relentless journalists take great risks to uncover ugly truths. If there are wars taking place – either across the world or within a congressional caucus – we expect to read about it, or at least glance over the headlines scrolling past our Facebook feeds the next day. We rely on the media to give us truthful, unbiased journalism and since Tuesday November the 8th, truthful journalism has had a field day. The problem is that in an era of fake news and al-

ternative facts, it is becoming increasingly difficult to separate truth from fiction, veracity from propaganda – even within the sources that the people should be able to trust.

When the President of the United States and his staff create false massacres and terrorist attacks as they see fit, the people lose trust in those that were elected to uphold truth and democracy. We have started to move towards a society where we rely upon news outlets like CNN and The New York Times to present us with the truth. So what happens when the executive

branch delegitimizes and undermines the free press?

In recent weeks, President Trump had barred many notable news organizations from the White House press briefings, among them Buzzfeed and Politico, but also CNN and The New York Times. By barring all the media that has been unapologetically critical towards the POTUS and only allowing relatively right wing conservative media access to the White House, Trump’s message rings clear. He goes so far as to call these networks an “enemy of the people”. He delegitimizes and even de-

monizes some of the most well respected and objective outlets of news media worldwide.

“To question the actual legitimacy of a free press,” as former Vice President Joe Biden said, “is one of the most dangerous things out there. [...] We should never challenge the basic truth that an independent and free press is the fundamental element in functions of our democracy.”

By withholding information about his administration from those that are critical of him, Trump ensures that the information is only being spread through media that will

paint him in a good light. By wielding this power of control over what news outlets get a seat in the room, Trump instils in them a fear of lashing out in any way that would offend him or his administration.

This will then have a significant impact on whether or not the media currently in the White House’s favour will publish a piece on Trump’s latest falsified immigrant terrorist attack in some random white majority country. It will impact whether or not the people have access to truthful, objective, and unbiased media.

As Biden says, the free-

dom of the press is a fundamental pillar of democracy. A fair and just administration should operate with transparency, they should be able to take some hits from critics, knowing that some criticism of policy won’t destroy them. If the idea of free press unsettles them to the point where they have to start barring news outlets from the press room, it makes the citizens wonder just what it is that they have to hide.

Photo: Source

A progressive and powerful statement: Kenya’s first women-only village A

By: Zaina Khan

little over a year ago, VICE’s feminist channel Broadly created a documentary about a certain village located in Samburu County, The Land of No Men: Inside Kenya’s Women-Only Village.

This village is named Umoja, and it’s peculiar because of the fact that it is inhabited solely by women. This haven, founded in 1990 by Rebecca Lolosoli and a group of female rape victims, is a place for women who have had enough of the abuse and injustice they suffer at the hands

of a patriarchal society.

Rebecca Lolosoli has been a prominent figure in the fight for women’s rights for decades. The path to protecting these rights hasn’t been exempt from dangers and obstacles over the years. One of her first efforts consisted of speaking out to the women in her village about their rights.

Unfortunately, this act of defiance (or so it was seen) resulted in her getting beaten by a group of men. Her husband, to whom she was married off at the age of 18, put no effort into stopping these men and thus she decided to leave him. It was

then, when she was recovering from her injuries at a hospital, reflecting on how she could put an end to violence against women in her home country, that she came up with the idea for a women-only village.

The women of Umoja have each, at some point or another, faced harsh treatment as a result of cultural norms in Samburu, including genital mutilation, child marriage, domestic violence, and rape. Female genital mutilation is a painful traditional practice that poses many health complications to girls and violates their human

rights. Child marriage in the region is extremely common and often encouraged by society. The practice has led to young girls being sent off to marry men old enough to be their grandfathers. Domestic violence happens much too often in Samburu, and rape is rampant in the culture.

However, it isn’t only Samburu men guilty of this offense.

The 15 founding women of Umoja were victims of rape by local British soldiers.

With the immense disparity in gender rights, it is easy to understand the females-only rule (sons are al-

lowed so long as they do not try to dominate the women).

However, on account of their progressive ideals, Umoja women have made a special exception to the ban on males.

The village school allows boys from other villages to attend their classes because Umoja strongly believes in the importance of education and for children “to know what’s going on in this world”. The women have also chosen an ethical and safe way to create money for the village: by creating and selling handmade jewellery. Overall, Umoja projects values that are instrumental

to the progress of a community and the protection of human rights, like education, safe working conditions, and of course, gender equality.

One thing we can all agree on is that the people of Umoja have taken a very unique approach to protecting their rights as females in the face of crushing adversity.

What is truly admirable about this concept is that when there was no one to stand up for these women and amend the injustices they lived through, they joined together and stood up for themselves.

VOLUME 26, ISSUE 3 SPRING 2017 PAGE 9

National

Photo: The Indian Express

Hope for electoral reform dashed after months of public consultation by: Shankhalika Srikanth

P

rime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberal government are turning their back on electoral reform, despite their campaign promise assuring Canadians that the 2015 election would be the last to use the traditional firstpast-the-post voting system and the $4.1 million spent on consultations. However, what exactly is the first-pastthe-post (FPTP) system?

FPTP is in fact the simplest voting method, and has been the system used in Canada for 149 years. In essence, the country is divided into ridings, and in each riding, the candidate with the most votes wins. The party with the most elected candidates then forms the government.

The flaw in this system is that “most votes” often does not equal “majority of votes”; it is possible, and frequently the case, that a candidate wins their riding with less than 50% of the vote if there are more than two candidates running.

This means that the majority of the voting population did not vote for the winner. This was the case in the last federal election, where the Liberals

formed a majority government with 40% of the vote.

In accordance with their campaign pledge, repeated often throughout the election, the Liberals started nationwide consultation on electoral reform and set up a committee to study the issue and report on their results. In late 2016, the four Liberal MPs on the committee advised against immediately changing the current voting system; instead they proposed a referendum on replacing it with proportional representation.

This is a system used around the world in various forms, in which citizens vote for the party and not the candidate, and each party is allocated the percentage of the seats that they won. In this way, small parties can gain more seats, and the resulting diversity of opinion may force legislators to work across party lines, as the power and responsibility in government is spread out more equally. However, there is a risk of allowing extremist or radical parties to gain more power and traction.

This risk was one of the reasons the government cited when opting not to hold a referendum on the issue. In

addition, Trudeau cited worries that a referendum could be “divisive” for different regions and provinces. After the release of the 300+ page report by the committee on electoral reform, then Minister for Democratic Institutions Maryam Monsef declared the committee a failure; she apologized the next day, after public and political outcry against her remarks.

Soon after the publication of the committee’s report, the government launched MyDemocracy.ca, an online and phone survey conducted

by Toronto-based Vox Pop Labs that ran from December 5th of last year to January 17th. Rather than asking questions about specific electoral systems, the government requested a survey polling citizens on their views regarding general democratic values. After completing the survey, the person would be given a label such as “co-operator,” “guardian,” “challenger,” “innovator,” or “pragmatist” to describe their style of democracy.

The survey was widely ridiculed and criticized.

Many opposition members and other critics said that the questions were too loaded,

presented misleading worstcase scenario alternatives to the current voting system, and were overall very vague.

In addition, it was impossible to prevent someone from completing the survey twice, or even verifying that they were a Canadian resident, though Vox Pop Labs claimed to have taken these possible errors into account when tabulating their results.

These results were released late January by Minister Karina Gould, who had replaced Maryam Monsef to lead the Ministry of Democratic Institutions earlier that month. Opinions regarding attributes representative of different electoral systems were very mixed and in addition, 67% of respondents said they were somewhat or very satisfied with democracy in Canada. 70% of people said they would support more than one party working together, sharing accountability, but 53% also said they would need to know which one party was in control of government decisions. 65% of participants said they would value having diverse opinions represented in Parliament, but 45% would reconsider this when faced

with the possibility of extremist or radical opinion being included in the equation. These seemingly contradictory sets of statistics show that there was not clear support for proportional representation in this survey. The uncertainty is heightened upon considering that less than 1.5% of the eligible voting population participated in the study.

On February 1st, after multiple public consultations, committee reports, MP town hall meetings, and a national ministerial tour, the Liberal government scrapped their long-promised plans for electoral reform. Trudeau argued that there was no consensus on a new voting system, and that he did not feel this issue was a priority for Canadians (despite saying in an interview two months earlier that Canadians wanted a “better system of choosing our governments”). The electoral reform committee that reported in early December stated the need for Canadians “to be more engaged,” and that trying to push through reform at this moment would be too “rushed”. They said more public engagement and education was required before introduc-

ing a proposition to replace the current electoral system. However, it seems unlikely that the current government will revisit this concern in the future.

Public reaction was fierce, with NDP critics calling Trudeau a “liar” and Liberal supporters feeling “betrayed”

by Trudeau’s reversal on what they felt to be a genuine promise for reform. Protests were staged on February 11th, with hundreds petitioning in Toronto for proportional representation, and twenty more protests planned across the country.

Jonathon Cassels, an Ontario resident, created an e-petition calling for electoral reform that was sponsored

by Nathan Cullen, the NDP critic for democratic reform.

Created before plans for the reform were cancelled, the petition closed on March 3rd with 130,000 signatures.

Once Cullen introduces a certified copy in the House of Commons, Liberals will be required to respond to the petition within 45 days.

VOLUME 26, ISSUE 3 SPRING 2017 PAGE 10

Science

Make way for the AI craze Photo: Robotics Trends

by: Anjalie Thatte

I

t is hard to deny that sometimes, reality is stranger than fiction, especially when considering how the rocket, submarine, and helicopter were all inspired by science fiction novels. Today, the hot topic that is taking the technology world by storm is Artificial Intelligence. In fact, even Google co-founder Sergey Brin finds the AI revolution surprising, stating “It’s an in-

credible time and it’s very hard to forecast what these things can do […] We don’t really know the limits.” How exactly is AI changing our lives?

For one, we can now communicate with “virtual agents”, computer-generated characters, through speech and even non-verbal behaviour.

From simple chat-bots to advanced systems seemingly networking with humans, virtual agents which are currently popular in customer service

and support applications.

Virtual agents are usually simple tools, but AI has also provided us with more complex technologies like deep learning learning platforms. These are examples of advanced machine learning, where a computer is programmed with the ability to learn autonomously. Deep learning consists of multiple composed layers of artificial neural network that aim to mimic the human brain in

how it adapts and incorporates new information in its physiological structure. Currently, deep learning has applications in classifying and recognizing patterns in “big data”, which are enormous data sets that would be impossible for the human brain to analyse and classify efficiently.

Finally, AI has given us biometric security technology, which has critical security applications. Usually, the idea of biometrics suggests imag-

es of fingerprint and retina scans. But this stream goes much further than security in the present day. Biometrics enables computers and machines to interact with humans more naturally through the recognition and response to image, touch, speech and even body language by the human. And when discussing security, a biometric system is much more secure than any pin or password.

While the Nautilus from

Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea may not be a source of inspiration for inventors anymore, it is undeniable that artificial intelligence is adding a sense of magic to our lives already.

Psychopath vs. Sociopath: What's the difference?

F

Photo: Readers Digest

Photo: Your Health

by: Julie Cho

rom Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs (scary but unrealistic) to Anton Chigurh in No Country for Old Men (scarily realistic), popular movies and television series through the ages have created certain, often interchangeable profiles for psychopathy and sociopathy. Both terms are frequently associated with “bad guys” – often serial killers, murderers, even Presidents, in recent months – who commit immoral acts without experiencing feelings of guilt. In reality, there is a specific distinction between psychopathy and sociopathy, which the field of psychiatry classifies as antisocial personality disorders.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders defines those with antisocial personality disorder as someone who has more than three of the characteristics they outline, which include regularly breaking the law, constantly deceiving and lying, being prone to aggressive behavior, and not feeling any remorse or guilt.

Although both psychopaths and sociopaths suffer from an-

tisocial personality disorder, certain symptoms distinguish them from each other.

Psychopaths are generally believed to be genetically predisposed towards the condition (see Philip Hunter, 2005). On the other hand, sociopaths tend to be influenced by the environment, for instance, childhood experience of abuse or trauma.

Neuroimaging has supported the theory that the structures in the brain responsible for emotion and impulse regulation, like the amygdala, are underdeveloped or dysfunctional in psychopaths (see studies by Christopher Patrick, 1994, and Blair et al., 1999). They have a difficult time developing emotional bonds to others and instead form relationships which they can manipulate to reach their goals. When they carry out criminal acts, they try their best to minimize risks by planning thoroughly and creating multiple safety routes.

Sociopathy, on the other hand, is believed to originate from environmental factors like being brought up in an abusive household or having experiences of emotional abuse which could have

caused a childhood trauma (see research by Robert Hare, 1993). Unlike psychopaths, sociopaths are more unpredictable and inconsistent in terms of behavior. Although they may have a hard time forming relationships with others, they can become easily attached to those with a similar mind.

Some may not be able to hold long-term jobs while others may lead a normal family life.

When engaging in criminal activity, they do so in an unorganized manner with little concern for risks, and become agitated easily with violent outbursts. Thus, it might be easy to picture Joker in The Dark Knight as a sociopath.

Nevertheless, it is a misconception that all psychopaths or sociopaths, or those with antisocial personality disorders are violent. They only pose a threat to society when they dissociate from their actions without feeling emotional guilt. It is often the case that they will live a normal life while trying to cope with their disorder, like millions of other individuals with mental illnesses.

VOLUME 26, ISSUE 13 SPRING 2017 PAGE 11

Science

Photo: Business Insider

Inventions that are changing the world I

by: Khyathi Rao

n this era of advancing technology, it seems that we see new gadgets and gizmos, doodads and doohickeys, thingamabobs and thingamajigs, and, of course, iWhatchamacallits, being introduced to our lives on a daily basis. While you might struggle to see the urgency of some of these so-called “inventions” (the car-exhaust grill, the Remote Wrangler, and picnic pants, to name a few), there are others that have practical applications and are helping solve some of our most serious global concerns. All in

all, it is fair to say that these inventions, regardless of their function, are changing our perception of what is possible.

Sense: Your Favourite Alarm Clock: Yes, that is right! Sense is not an ordinary alarm clock to which you wake up tired and grumpy. It is a temperature, humidity, light and air quality controller, all rolled into one. Sense has a sleek, aesthetically pleasing design, and more importantly, it adapts to user input. James Proud, founder of Hello, the company which created Sense, claims that it is “sleep-friendly” because it has a component

attached to the pillow that tracks the sleep cycle of the user. With this information, Sense wakes up the person at a time they are least likely to feel tired. Starting at $149, this could well be the answer to your morning nightmares.

UNICEF Kid Power Band: This charitable technology is a bracelet that provides food to malnourished children around the world, while encouraging those who wear it to stay fit. Just like Fitbit, once a certain goal of steps is achieved, the band awards points. These points are then converted into a certain

amount of food packages which are delivered to children in need. At just $40, you could keep both yourself and someone across the globe healthy!

WYND: Ray Wu is the creator of Wynd, a portable air purifier that creates a “bubble of clean air” by removing pollutants, dust, allergens, and smoke from your space, helping you breathe clean air and feel refreshed. What separates Wynd from other purifiers is not only function but its size: that of the average water bottle. Furthermore, Wynd is an “intelligent personal air quality system”, meaning that it

monitors the environment and only cleans as needed.

The Artificial Pancreas: Millions of people around the world must deal with diabetes everyday.

Although for most, monitoring the condition it is just a matter of checking their insulin levels, to check it several times every day can be a tedious process.

Thus, a medical company named Medtronic created “The Artificial Pancreas” to help Type 1 diabetes patients.

It is a small device attached to the user’s body, which monitors a variety of factors ranging from blood pressure to insulin

levels every five minutes. It is a great milestone in finding an ultimate solution to regulate body functions of diabetes patients.

These are just four of the hundreds of inventions created in the past year, among others like Google’s Virtual Reality and a Touchless Thermometer. Now all we can do is wait for even more awe-inspiring inventions to come along and test the boundaries of what we think we know just the same.

Sea levels rise as Canadian glaciers melt Photo: Global News

by: Annie Zhou

W

arming temperatures in the Arctic are melting Canadian glaciers and causing sea levels to rise.

Data collected by researchers from the University of California Irvine studying glaciers in the Queen Elizabeth Islands showed a 900 per cent increase in surface melting over the period of a decade from 2005 to 2015, most likely caused by

the warming temperatures.

The estimated gigatons of water lost has risen from 3 to 30.

Housing a fifth of all glaciers, Canada will be a major contributor to sea level change.

A study published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS) confirms an accelerating trend. Sea levels have risen as much in the past century as in the one thousand years prior.

By 2100, sea levels are project-

ed to rise as much as 1.4 meters from current levels. This would threaten major coastal and low-elevation megacities around the world. Venice and much of Italy’s Adriatic coast would be submerged underwater. Also on the list of areas affected are New York, Shanghai, and Mumbai. This is not just a problem of the future — many island nations are already experiencing the effects of rising sea levels.

Kiribati, an island nation in the central pacific Ocean, was forced to evacuate after most of its land was engulfed by the ocean. Just last year, five of the Pacific’s Solomon Islands disappeared as well.

"There are two billion people who live within two metres of contemporary sea level," says Martin Sharp, a glaciologist at the University of Alberta. "The scale of the refugee program that could

be generated by significant sea level rise could make what's been going on in Europe in the last two years look trivial by comparison."

The problem lies not only with the reduced land mass but the hazards posed to human livelihoods. The release of pollutants accumulated in glaciers, like DDT, has severely harmful effects to marine life and throughout the food chain.

Flooding, land instability and

erosion, and salt contamination of freshwater aquifers are only a few of the physical changes that could occur, putting property, infrastructure, and human lives at risk.

VOLUME 26, ISSUE 3 SPRING 2017 PAGE 12

Culture

Photo : Nerd Infinite

Upcoming blockbuster hits By: Rumla Omer

T

he Oscars are officially over, and they certainly showed us that this past year has been a blockbuster year for the film industry. A look into the calendar for movies for the next few months, however, makes last year look like just a warm-up.

To kick things off, the much-anticipated live-action Beauty and the Beast was released on March 17th. The adaptation of Disney’s beloved classic animated film re-tells the story of the strong and independent Belle. Taken prisoner by a beast and forced

to stay in his castle, Belle befriends the enchanted staff.

She soon learns to see beneath the harsh exterior of the beast to find a kind heart and soul.

With its stars Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, Emma Thompson and many more, Beauty and the Beast surely wowed both the loyal audience of the original adaption and new viewers.

Marvel releases its new phase of films starting May 5th with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. The first Galaxy movie was a huge success, with its fun-loving characters, plot, and of course, as per Marvel tradition, its humor. The sec-

ond volume will surely not disappoint. Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper and Dave Bautista all reprise their roles of their much-loved characters StarLord, Gamora, Groot, Rocket and Drax, respectively. Until May 5th, all you can do is sit back, wait, and re-watch those trailers three times over.

The next Marvel flick to hit the screens is Spider-Man: Homecoming on July 7th. After making an appearance in the highly successful Captain America: Civil War, Tom Holland returns as Peter Parker, the quirky 17 year old with strange and wonderful super-

powers, in his own standalone movie. Under the watchful eye of Tony Stark (Iron Man), Parker attempts to go back to his regular life after he meets with the Avengers, only to be continuously distracted with thoughts that keep urging him to do something bigger for the world than just save neighbourhood kids.

On November 17th, DC Comics gets its chance to shine among a string of Marvel movies with Justice League.

The film follows the aftermath of (spoiler alert!) Clark Kent’s “death” in Batman v. Superman. Featuring a league of highly famous and well known

superheroes, including Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Flash and Cyborg, this movie is sure to attract a large audience of superhero-lovers.

Big names like Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa, Ezra Miller and Henry Cavill all star in this monumental film that signifies a new era of film for DC Comics.

Oddly enough, the most anticipated movie of 2017 by far is one with no title as of yet: Star Wars: Episode VIII. Its predecessor broke box office records to become the 3rd highest grossing movie of all time! Episode VIII will surely follow in its footsteps with

its action-filled plot, stellar graphics, and (as always) intricate costumes and makeups, not to mention its die-hard fan base. Luke Skywalker will also finally make his long awaited re-appearance!

Other movies to look out for in the coming months include The Fate of the Furious (April 14th), Wonder Woman (June 2nd), Bladerunner 2049 (October 6th), and Thor: Ragnarok (November 3rd).

Happy movie-watching!

Photo : Hollywood Reporter

Photo : Disney Pictures

Photo : Reddit

Photo : Pinterest

2016-17 NBA season: the story so far By: Balaaj Durrani

O

n February 19th, the eyes of NBA spectators were on New Orleans — the host of the 66th annual All-Star game.

The weekend was filled with festivities and other events, like the dunk contest, 3-point challenge, skills challenge, and the celebrity all-star game.

The New York Knicks’ Kristaps Porzingis won gold in the skills challenge, beating the Utah Jazz’s Gordon Hayward in the final.

In the dunk contest, one that many thought to be severely underwhelming in com-

parison to last year’s spectacle (held in Toronto!), defending champion Aaron Gordon was eliminated in the first round and the Indiana Pacers’ Glenn Robinson III came away with the win over the Phoenix Suns’ Derrick Jones Jr. In the 3-point challenge, the Houston Rockets’ sharpshooter Eric Gordon defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Kyrie Irving in an overtime finish.

In the actual All-Star game, the Western Conference all-stars defeated the Eastern Conference, 192-182.

New Orleans’ own Anthony

Davis won All-Star MVP with 52 points (an All-Star record) and 10 rebounds. Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks), Kemba Walker (Charlotte Hornets), Gordon Hayward (Utah Jazz), and DeAndre Jordan (Los Angeles Clippers) all made their first All-Star appearances.

The NBA season itself has been one for the ages.

Although the top of the conferences looks fairly similar, there is no doubt that much has changed. During the trade window, teams looked to improve their chances of competing, and many did. Star center

Demarcus Cousins was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans for the Pelicans’ rookie Buddy Hield, a move that many considered detrimental to the Sacramento Kings. The Cavaliers added a few pieces to their impressive roster, adding Derrick Williams, Deron Williams, Kyle Korver, and Andrew Bogut. The Toronto Raptors also made some moves, adding Serge Ibaka and PJ Tucker, and sending Terrence Ross to the Orlando Magic. Lou Williams was traded to the Houston Rockets to join fellow Sixth Man of the Year candidate Eric Gordon, and the Rockets sent

Corey Brewer to the Los Angeles Lakers in return.

In terms of play, there’s only one way to describe it: insane. For only the second time in history, a player is averaging a triple-double (at least 10 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists/steals/blocks). That player is none other than the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook. Westbrook is playing very well after his teammate Kevin Durant left the Thunder in the summer, and is a serious candidate for the MVP at the end of the season. Another MVP candidate is James Harden of the Hous-

ton Rockets, who has been a driving force behind the Rockets’ amazing season so far.

Other contenders include Lebron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) and Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio Spurs). As for who’ll take home the title this season, look for the Cavaliers to win the East once again, but the Spurs are looking very impressive at the moment, so they could very well win it all.

VOLUME 26, ISSUE 3 SPRING 2017 PAGE 13

Culture

Procrastination: why it happens and how to beat it P

By: Lily Li

rocrastination: the act of putting something off intentionally and habitually (Source: Merriam Webster Dictionary).

Procrastination for students: taking more-than-necessary trips to the fridge, googling whether pancakes or waffles came first, and then getting sucked into the black hole of Youtube where you end up in strange places that you can feel your search history judging you for (Source:

normal, functioning students). It is the number one widespread epidemic across schools worldwide; the toughest superbug that has yet to be subdued. It’s always flu season with this bad guy.

The science behind it all?

Research shows that procrastination is feeling-induced and relies on the short-term benefits overpowering the longterm ones. In the cognitive sense, it is the raging conflict between the limbic system (the ‘pleasure centre’ of the brain) and the prefrontal cor-

tex (the brain’s internal ‘planner’). What makes procrastination so tempting is that the limbic system is always automatic, whereas the latter must be consciously stimulated by deciding ‘I will do this task right now, despite the sheer amount of mental effort it would take’.

Procrastination can result in what is sometimes referred to as ‘moral compensation’, where one does a task that is seemingly useful (such as organizing a room) to avoid tackling the stack of pa-

pers casually lounging on the desk, waiting to be finished.

Examples include going for a run, moving files into folders for the millionth time, trying to hit inbox zero, and many, many more. In other words, it’s a false sense of rationality through excuses. As the saying goes: “Tomorrow is often the busiest day of the week.”

There is no magic potion or spell to beat procrastination — it can only be defeated with cold, hard willpower. It could be goals for the future that help propel actions. It could

be self-growth, the ability to improve yourself by striving to do so. Starting with small and specific goals, such as ‘limit social media time to half an hour a day for weekdays and an hour on weekends’ as opposed to ‘spend less time on social media’, is a surefire way to see progress through time.

The only thing left is to stick to those good habits.

Many professionals swear by the infamous Pomodoro technique of breaking working time into chunks of 25 minutes and taking routine breaks of 5

minutes per chunk. Of course, there are many other anti-procrastination methods out there, such as Getting Things Done, Don’t Break the Chain, or the short but sweet 1-3-5.

There is also a fun reverse psychology trick in which one can plan to waste time for a day, but actually feel bored and start being productive (caution: use at your own risk). Or maybe just do it tomorrow… just kidding! Get started and power through!

Photo : Getty Images

The 8 stages of senioritis B

By: Lily Li

largh, Blargh, Blargh. Hit snooze. Hit snooze. Drag self to school. Try to listen in class. Perfect the act of sleeping with your eyes open. Rinse and repeat.

This is senioritis: the painful ongoing battle of conquering your last semester of high school. Whether it’s feeling completely and utterly apathetic towards your marks, knowing that you should work harder on those prerequisite courses (but continuing to binge on movies each night), or just generally feeling groggy all the time, it’s a phenomenon that is bound to strike at one point or another.

This is not an overnight problem. These are the real, gradual stages of senioritis.

You might be a curious young one prepping for this pain (good for you), or you might be like me and going through it right now. (We’re all in this together!)

Stage I: Pride The time has finally come! You are now the gallant kings and queens of the school. You know your stuff, and you know all the shortcuts, plus all the routes to avoid during rush hour, a.k.a. anytime in-between classes.

You are totally cool, calm, and collected. What’s the use of a map or an agenda anymore?

Cringe.

gentlemen, there has never been a more perfect time to look like a walking oxymoron: a put-together slob! Yes, you may be four chapters behind in the bio homework, but hey, fake it ‘til you make it, eh?

sional wine taster doesn’t seem so bad at this point. Even dancing in a ridiculous chicken costume holding a sign seems like a plan. How about an extravagant birthday party clown?

Stage III: Waiting You’ve been at this place for too long; it’s become a sort of jail. Just thinking about grad makes you happy — those cute little floppy hats, all smiles, all sunshine. More importantly, no more work. But staring at the notebooks, loose leaf papers, and stationery, it only seems like a fuzzy vision that just seems, so far-off. Summer.

Please. Hurry. Up.

Stage V: Confusion You’ve come face-to-face with your quarter- (or fifth-, sixth-, maybe seventh-) life crisis, and nothing seems to make sense any longer. Panic mode ON.

ally shaped who you are today.

All those inside jokes, unexpected turns in schedule, and opportunities born from cold, hard ambition. It’s not going to come back. C’mon, these eyes are just sweating, what are you talking about?

onto your head at once, that highly-awaited milestone in life, the scene from that movie, the moment in time. You’re looking the most dapper or chic today, and you feel all sorts of sunbeams upon your face. Perhaps this is the cure!

Well, at least Urban DictioStage VII: Acceptance nary says so.

You realize that time canSo, that’s senioritis in a not be stopped. So, you swal- nutshell, more or less. Hakuna low your pride (or dismay, matata. whatever floats your boat), grit your teeth, and pull through the remaining part of the madness. There’s still time to pull your act together, and you know that — you know that very well.

Stage VI: Sadness It all hits home like a truck. As much as you hated sitting through boring lectures, and hours and hours Stage II: Laziness and hours and HOURS of Stage VIII: Graduation Say hello to the messy Stage IV: Pathway Reconsid- studying and reviewing, you Here it comes: the whirlbedhead look, along with the erations just gotta admit to yourself, wind to end all whirlwinds, oversized anything! Ladies and Maybe being a profes- the people and experiences re- the heap of emotions dumped

VOLUME 26, ISSUE 3 SPRING 2017 PAGE 14

Culture

Photo : Paper Hope

Hidden Figures: black women who changed the world By: Katherine Woods It seems that Katherine Johnson, an extraordinary physicist and mathematician who made significant contributions to NASA’s aeronautics and space programs, finally got the recognition she deserved in the critically acclaimed movie Hidden Figures. With Black History Month and International Women’s Day (March 8th) behind us, it’s high time we look back and acknowledge the countless revolutionary women of colour who have been underrepresented in cultural and scientific history globally. Here are just a few who have shaped the world we live in today:

Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler (1831–1895)

Marsha P. Johnson (1945-1992)

A pioneer of her time, Dr. Crumpler was the first African American woman to get her MD in the United States in 1864.

She practiced medicine for 16 years, during which she cared for many freed slaves who would not have otherwise received medical care. In 1883 she published a book of medical tips for women and children (The Book of Medical Discourses) based on notes she kept during her time as a practicing doctor.

At the age of 25, Johnson was allegedly one of the first to fight back during the raid on Stonewall Inn, effectively inciting the gay liberation movement and modern day LGBT rights. She became an activist and, along with 17-year-old Sylvia Rivera, founded the Street Transgender Action Revolutionaries (STAR) group, which provides shelters and support for homeless transgender youth.

Photo : Rarn Pages

Bessie Coleman (1892-1926)

Dr. Shirley Jackson (1946-Present)

“Queen Bess” Coleman was the first woman of African American and Native American descent to hold an international pilot license in 1921. Because there were no piloting opportunities for her in the States, she had to save up the money herself to get her license in France. She quickly became an American air show success with her daring aviation stunts, and was working toward starting a school for African-American fliers before she tragically died in a plane crash in 1926.

Dr. Jackson is the theoretical physicist behind the breakthrough scientific discoveries that directly brought about the invention of fibre optic cables, touch tone telephones, caller ID, long distance calls, the portable fax, and solar cells. She was part of the first group of black students accepted into MIT and the first African-American woman to earn her Ph.D. at MIT. Photo : Notable Biographies

Photo : Tumblr

Mary Davidson Kenner (1912-2006)

Octavia Butler (1947-2006)

Ladies, ever wonder who to thank for your modern feminine hygiene products? Along with her sister and fellow inventor Mildred Kenner, Mary Davidson developed and held patents for the sanitary belt, an early predecessor of the maxi pad, along with multiple other patents including the bathroom tissue holder and The Walker.

Despite being dyslexic, Butler was an outstanding science fiction writer and the first of her genre to receive the MacArthur Fellowship, among many other awards. Her substantial body of work includes novels, short stories, and multiple series. Her writing brings much-needed representation to American literature by portraying diverse ethnicities, cultures, and female perspectives.

Photo : Atlanta Black Star

Photo : Shotgun Seamstress

Photo : Writers & Books

Dr. Hadiyah-Nicole Green (1982-Present)

Photo : Black Enterprise

Now for a look to the future of black women in STEM: Dr. Green, a young American medical physicist, developed a groundbreaking method to treat cancer in 2016. It involves the delivery of nanoparticles into cancer cells exclusively, so that a laser could be used to remove them with little to no side effects.

She has received a $1.1 million grant to further her research into this technology, and has carried out successful treatments on living animals.

Photo : HelloBeautiful

VOLUME 26, ISSUE 3 SPRING 2017 PAGE 15

Horoscopes Zodiac Signs: Art Movements!

Baroque Aries MAR 20 - APR 19

Baroque is a style of art meant to evoke emotion and passion in the viewer. Like Aries, Baroque paintings are exuberant, dramatic and larger than life. They are grandiose and bring out fierce emotions like pain, love, and glory. The passionate Aries will form an instant connection with this art style.

Rococo

Libra SEPT 22 - OCT 23

Art Nouveau Taurus APR 20 - MAY 20

Art Nouveau is a decorative style of art that uses soft, natural structures like plants and flowers.

Art Nouveau is a very lavish and decorative style that would appeal to the luxurious tastes of Taurus. At the same time the soft colours and natural structures would keep them grounded.

Surrealism Scorpio OCT 24 - NOV 21

Neo-Classical Gemini MAY 21 - JUNE 20

Neo Classical art draws inspiration from the “classical” Greek era — and while it may seem bland and boring to some, neo-classical inspires the Gemini for its simple elegance and noble grace: things that the analytical, overthinking air sign will love. For all their exuberance, Geminis can appreciate the beauty in simplicity.

Cancer JUNE 21 - JULY 22

Sagittarius NOV 22 - DEC 21

Leo JULY 23 - AUG 22

Capricorn DEC 22 - JAN 19

Virgo AUG 23 - SEPT 21

Ever the realist, Capricorn would be drawn in by realism art which stays grounded in the real rather than focus on exotic and supernatural elements that aren’t there. Capricorn is practical and traditional and would be charmed by the simplicity of it.

Renaissance Aquarius JAN 20 - FEB 18

American Modernism American Modernism was a style of art that used vibrant colours and symmetry to portray messages about an increasingly modernized world. The analytical Virgo would be drawn in by this art style that is simplistic at first glance, but says more as you look on.

Romanticism is stunning and awe-inspiring at the very first glance. The idealistic Sagittarius would be immediately drawn in by the awe inspiring imagery of glory and triumph. The haunting and beautiful depictions of nature would draw in the fire signs that are most known for their individualistic nature and wanderlust.

Realism

Mughal Painting

Mughal Painting utilizes bright colours and intricate decorations. Like the radiant Leo, Mughal Art is bright and complicated, using a variety of different elements to make it an enchanting work of art.

Surrealism is a movement exploring the potential of the unconscious mind that many people don’t really “get”. Scorpios can relate to the idea of always being misunderstood. Like Surrealism, they are paradoxical — cool and collected, but have a boiling temperament if they’re tested. The mysterious Scorpio would be intrigued by Surrealist art.

Romanticism

Impressionism

Impressionism is a style of painting where small dots and strokes come together to make one beautiful painting. The devil is in the details — and the over-contemplative and sentimental Cancer knows this all too well. The freedom impressionism offers draws in the intense Cancer; the small “flaws” will make art beautiful, something that the sensitive water sign forgets.

Rococo is a style of art that is elaborate, elegant, and immediately grabs your attention — just like a Libra. Rococo with all its frills and intricacies would appeal to Libra: ruled by Venus they seek out beautiful and luxurious things. The balance and harmony found in Rococo art would be perfect for the Scales.

The humanitarian nature and broad-minded creativity of the Aquarius embodies the principles of Renaissance art, the movement of Da Vinci and Michelangelo. Aquarians are always pushing boundaries with their intelligence and creativity, and are usually true Renaissance men (or women).

Fauvism

Fauvism is a style of art that emphasizes bright colour and expression. The expressive and intuitive water sign would be drawn in by the soft brush strokes and bright colours.

Pisces FEB 19 - MAR 20

Comics

By: Rizva Ahmed

By: Vince De

By: Tania Khan

VOLUME 26, ISSUE 3 SPRING 2017 PAGE 16