Volume 83, Issue 5

VOLUME 83 ISSUE 5

ISSUE 5, NOVember 2022 TheFulcrumFB

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(PP. 3) UOSU: Fall General Assembly included speakers being cut off, controversial motions from Max Christie, and the adoption of a sexual violence policy (PP. 4) Canada lifts working hour restrictions for international students (PP. 4) Students face difficulty managing healthcare systems

ARTS

(PP. 6) University of Ottawa Pride Week: The art of drag (PP. 6) Checking in on the state of U of O student bars

SPORTS

(PP. 8) A rivalry renewed (PP. 8) Gee-Gees season ends with a bronze medal

SCIENCES

(PP. 10) Evidence based study strategies: How to survive exams

OPINIONS

(PP. 11) We deserve to be characters, not caricatures (PP. 11) Are we still doing EQAO?

STAFF

VIDEOGRAPHER

Features Editor

Social Media Manager

Opinions Editor

Jasmine McKnight Hailey Otten

News Editor

Staff Writer

Managing Editor

Arts Editor

News Associate

Graphic Designer

Sports Editor

Photographer

ScienceS & Tech Editor

Editors-in-Chief

Sanjida Rashid Kai Holub

Bardia Boomer 2

Vacant

Noah Bailey

Desirée Nikfardjam Victoria Drybrough

Bridget Coady

Matthew McConkey Grace Kim-Shin Yannick Mutombo

Brandon Adibe Emma Williams

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NEWS

NEWS EDITOR

Desirée Nikfardjam news.editor@thefulcrum.ca

UOSU: Fall General Assembly included speakers being cut off, controversial motions from Max Christie, and the adoption of a sexual violence policy Like last year, members faced difficulties accessing UOSU’s Sharepoint prior to the meeting Desirée Nikfardjam The University of Ottawa’s Students’ Union (UOSU) held its fall General Assembly (FGA) on Nov. 26 at 4 p.m.. The meeting, which has been held virtually for the past two years due to COVID-19, was offered in a hybrid format.

The meeting began with a land acknowledgement from the Indigenous student representative on UOSU’s Board of Directors (BOD) and co-president of the Indigenous Students Association, Quanah Traviss.

He said that since attending BOD meetings, he has always abstained from approving the agenda due to the land acknowledgement sections.

“I cannot bring

myself to vote yes on an agenda where the scripted land acknowledgement is read as if it’s just another item to check off the list,” he said.

Following land acknowledgements and approval of the agenda, the Executive Committee gave their updates, which was followed by a question period. While UOSU had allotted 30 minutes, the updates and question period lasted almost a full hour.

When voting on constitutional amendments, members of the FGA voted in favour of a Winter General Assembly, which will be held sometime between February and March of next year.

Additionally, members voted on three positions: one on pushing for hybrid learning options, one in

UOSU held their fall General Assembly on Nov. 26. Visual: Bardia Boomer/The Fulcrum.

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support of Iranian students, and one on working against over-policing on and near campus. All three amendments to UOSU’s positions book passed.

The first motion on the agenda was the approval of the UOSU by-election results, which included the ratification of Ratisbonne Mukadi Kazadi as equity commissioner and Hannah Wiedrick as a second BOD representative from the faculty of arts. Both Mukadi Kazadi and Wiedrick were ratified, and the appointment of a public accountant, the next motion, was also passed.

The first motion from members included the adoption of a sexual violence policy, brought forward by Alyssa Peyton.

“From the things I’ve witnessed person-

ally as a student, from talking to other students, my own experiences, also my volunteer and paid work at the WRC [Womens Resource Centre], I’ve noticed the lack of sexual violence policy does present a really big issue for students on campus in terms of safety and access to support and as well the prevention of sexual violence,“ said Peyton.

“I think having a policy is really important and I think it’s important to stress that it is survivor-centred.”

The motion was passed unanimously.

Multiple motions which had been added to the agenda were rescinded during the FGA, including the hiring of a multifaith coordinator — which UOSU is already in the process of doing, and will con-

duct interviews over the next few weeks — and the abolishment of the CVUO. One motion, presented by Max Christie, pushed for expanding participation in student politics. This motion caused a lot of commotion among attendees.

Shailee Shah, a fourth-year political science student, stated that while she agrees with a motion to ensure participation in student politics, there were many issues with the language Christie used in his motion.

“It completely discludes our principles of equity at this university.

This is a bilingual university where we have elected representatives representing these bilingual students… If you wanted an English-only university, go to Carleton,” said Shah.

Christie’s motion called on UOSU’s election committee to “remove the restriction that all executives must … be fully bilingual above and beyond what the University of Ottawa considers fluent.”

After countless amendments and divided discourse, the motion did not pass.

Two motions were added, and passed, to add time to the general assembly. However, as the meeting progressed, it was clear that the assembly was getting tired and even a little restless.

Chair of the Board, Paige Holland, began limiting the time people could

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spend speaking on a motion and cutting them off mid-sentence, which was not received well by the members of the assembly.

Kareem Brochu, president of the Telfer Students’ Association and a former UOSU BOD representative, took a moment to acknowledge the short and “disrespectful” actions of Holland. “ Throughout the entire meeting, the

chair has been a taunt disrespectful to speakers, in rushing them to finish speaking, or just asking in them in an unkind way to leave the mic. I think that there’s a way to conduct a meeting without having to be disrespectful like that,” said Brochu.

He continued, “a lot of us have chaired meetings before … I understand that it can be stressful and tiring, but

everybody here is here for the benefit of others.

They’re here to advocate, they’re not here to waste anyone’s time, so I think we should just all give a little bit more respect to the people speaking.”

Holland did not respond, and continued with accepting speakers.

Brought forward as other business by Traviss, the last motion to be passed at the FGA was

a push for bilingual rights for Indigenous students.

The motion, which would alter the constitution to allow Indigenous students who speak a combination of either French or English, and a language Indigenous to Turtle Island, to run for an executive position, was passed unanimously.

With a total of three separate motions to increase the length of the meeting to ensure

diligence was given to all motions on the agenda, this year’s meeting lasted just shy of seven hours, adjourning at 10:45 p.m.

In recent years, the FGA has gone far longer than anticipated times, ending just before midnight last year, and as late as 2 a.m. the year before.

The next UOSU General Assembly will be held in the Winter semester.

Canada lifts working hour restrictions for international students Canada lifts working hour limit for international students Caroline Kirkey The Government of Canada announced on Oct. 16, that it will allow international students to work beyond the 20-hourper-week restrictions as of Nov. 15.

The Government has recognized that, with the COVID-19 pandemic, many jobs have been lost and businesses are dealing with staff shortages. The lifting of the working restrictions on international students will allow them to work longer shifts, which many students are looking forward to. They explained the change is temporary, and is supposed to end in 2023.

University of Ottawa (U of O) students are hopeful the extra hours will help them financially.

Tamali Nag, a PhD chemistry student from India, explained why she would be taking advantage of

the working restrictions being lightened. “Being an international student here in uOttawa, it’s kind of tough, especially on funds.”

With the University’s tuition increase earlier this year, international students are looking at a per-term tuition fee that, for most programs and faculties, more than quadruples those of Ontario residents. In the faculty of arts, a Canadian student from Ontario is estimated to have a per-term tuition fee of $3,044.08, while an international student would pay $19,346.02.

Nag further explained how the Government’s lightened working restrictions are beneficial to her.

“I believe it’s going to help me more in the paying of my tuition and loans,” she said. When asked if she felt that lifting the restrictions was going to help other international

students, she said, “It will help them in the long run and keep them saving up for extra higher education, like pursuing grad studies”.

The Fulcrum also met with Yousra Bassoul, a first-year international stu-

more money for themselves and can do many things that I can’t do.”

With the restriction being lifted, there has also been some fear amongst international students about not having

make time for this,” said Bassoul.

The increase in available work hours for international students allows them to pay for tuition fees, groceries, and everyday life items. While

International students now permitted to work more hours. Image: Cottonbro Studio/Pexels.

dent from Morocco studying biomedical mechanical engineering. “When I see my Canadian friends, I see that they can work more than 20 hours, they have

enough time to dedicate to their studies.

“From my own point of view, you have enough time for anything you want, you just have to

some students have expressed they may get behind in their studies, many international students are happy about the increased working hours.

Students face difficulty managing healthcare systems As pediatric hospitals fill up and ER wait times persist, everyone is struggling to find access to medical professionals for patients within their capacity, and public health agencies declaring an unWith health expected flu epidemic, departments across the students at the University country struggling to care of Ottawa (U of O) have

Amira Benjamin

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been especially struggling to find medical attention.

Pediatric hospitals have been notably overwhelmed, with institutions such as SickKids

reporting that their ER wait times are reaching up to 12 hours. Some hospitals in Ottawa have even resorted to using ‘unconventional spaces’ to treat

patients in October.

With fewer and fewer doctors in the city accepting new patients, students have to use their own means to find medi-

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cal advice and solutions.

Mackenzie Snelgrove, a fourth-year in human kinetics, was one such student. She was suffering from pneumonia earlier this month, and struggled to find a doctor to talk to or even a walk-in clinic to attend for antibiotics.

“I called maybe six or seven clinics that are advertised to be walk-in clinics, and apparently over COVID, they shut down the ‘walk-in’ part and were only family doctors, I guess? And they weren’t accepting new patients and so they wouldn’t see me,” she recounted.

Although Snelgrove was able to get in contact with one walk-in clinic, she said that they were strict with setting up an appointment.

“You had to show up at 1 p.m., which made it very difficult with my classes, so I ended up not being able to go there.

And I ended up calling my family doctor from back home [in Richmond Hill] to get my antibiotics.”

A view into hospitals Maya Revesz is a fourth-year nursing student undergoing two different types of clinicals this semester: ‘complex’ care at the Ottawa Hospital in oncology, and community care with chemotherapy patients.

They say that although they’re a bedside nurse at the hospital, which means their patients have been assigned, they’ve noticed a widespread shortage of healthcare support workers.

“I think there is increased anxiety with my patients, asking when the doctor is coming to see them and trying to plan

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Students are finding it difficult to receive medical attention. Image: Sasun Bughdaryan/Unsplash.

out when they can see the doctor and what they’re going to talk about,” they said. “And the problem with that is, since the doctors take on so many patients during the day, you can’t give your patients a specific time.”

Revesz’s unit at the hospital is currently on a COVID outbreak for the past two weeks, which has added challenges to their assigned workload.

“Like, I know a few shifts ago, I had three patients all requiring glucose checks throughout the day, and the glucose scanner that we have to measure, you need to get an ID badge to turn it on.

The problem with [this], since we’re on outbreak, is that you’re putting on your gown, you’re putting on your gloves, you’re putting on your face shield, and you’re going into a patient’s room — and your glucose scanner times out,” they explained.

“And so I would

have to go back [to] find my primary nurse and get their ID badge again. So taking off all the PPE, going back into the room…

I found myself running around a lot endlessly for small tasks that should be better organized.”

Are campuses masking up?

A CBC article reports that Ottawa universities — including the U of O — are following Ottawa Public Health guidelines and are not reinstating mask mandates. This counteracts ‘strong’ recommendations from Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer, to mask up indoors again.

Some universities have been taking preventative steps. The University of Waterloo reinstated its indoor mask mandate on Nov. 9, appearing to be the first in the province to do so.

Meanwhile, post-secondary institu-

tions like the U of O have dropped vaccination and mask mandates, leaving certain groups of students, such as immunocompromised and students with disabilities, on their own.

Snelgrove says that she would like to see more advertised flu shot clinics on campus, and possibly even social distancing measures.

“All of my classes are in Desmarais, so they’re tiny classrooms, but the classes are packed.

Everyone is sitting beside each other,” she said. “I’ve been sick twice this month and I haven’t been able to fully recover. And I’m not out doing crazy things — I’ve just been going to classes.”

Snelgrove says that in addition to receiving her antibiotics, she’s been wearing masks everywhere and taking vitamins as a preventative measure.

Revesz says that not a lot of people in the

University community understand the stress many nursing students face in regards to not getting sick while attending their clinicals.

“We have clinicals going every single week, and if you miss more than two shifts, they threaten to have you redo your semester, depending if you can’t make up those hours,” they said. “If I get sick, I’m putting my degree on the line, and I’m putting my, like, just my financial stability on the line. So, I think masking is a lot more important than people realize.”

As the weather grows colder and the semester comes to a close, it’s important to take care of your health — and consider our healthcare systems.

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ARTS

ARTS EDITOR

Victoria Drybrough arts@thefulcrum.ca

University of Ottawa Pride Week: The art of drag Exploring gender through drag Grace Kim-Shin The University of Ottawa and student associations on campus celebrated Pride Week last week from Nov. 14 to Nov. 20, with activities aimed to increase the visibility of the LGBTQ2A+ community. With drag shows in between sports games, workshops on pronouns and drag makeup, and fun nights of trivia and karaoke, the University showed its solidarity with the LGBTQ2A+ community.

Drag shows shined throughout the U of O’s Pride Week. They made their appearance throughout the Gees’ sports games, at the Lookout Bar in the ByWard Market, and at SAW Gallery. These unique performances celebrate gender fluidity and the LGBTQ2A+ community.

Although drag shows have recently become popularized on campuses and within mainstream culture, the art of drag has always existed.

Historically, drag made its mark in Shakespearean theatre performances all the way to vaudeville shows.

Drag shows are often defined by drag queens and kings dressing in dramatic colours, makeup, and clothing. Their performances are usually a mixture of dance and lip-syncing to music. These shows are highly entertaining while acting as a form of self-expression for performers. They explore the limits of gender by exaggerating gender norms through appearances.

By exploring gendered appearances, drag plays an important political function in questioning the gender binary.

Oftentimes, drag queens and kings will break down our barriers with humour, allowing us to relax our hard adherence to traditional masculine and feminine representations.

Drag shows celebrate the LGBTQ2A+ community as they imply that gender should be an expression of freedom, rather than of social restriction.

Drag is a multidisciplinary art form that brings together elements of theatre, music, fashion, dance, and makeup.

As drag queens and kings search for the best ways to please the audience, they introspect and, at times, they emerge with egos or alter-egos, exposing audiences to different gendered perspectives.

For Claire Park, an executive member of the U of O Pride Club, drag performances are a “fun

way and such an interesting way to play with gender and expression.”

They reference Judith Butler’s notion of gender performativity, where gender is constructed through a series of repeated gendered actions.

Park relates this theory to drag performances, stating that “it’s very interesting to see such a literal take on performing gender [in drag shows], because even if we’re not aware of it, we’re always perform-

ing.”

Drag breaks down the barriers of strict binaries, gender roles, and norms. Through exaggeration, drag demands the viewer to reflect on the significance of our hardened notions of femininity and masculinity. The extraordinary performances put on by drag queens and kings make us realize that perhaps, as said by RuPaul Charles, “we’re all born naked and the rest is drag.”

Photo: Greta Hoffman/Pexels.

Checking in on the state of U of O student bars Students have been left with little alternatives and a freezing winter walk Mariana Gomez It’s no secret the COVID-19 pandemic forced many businesses to close their doors. The University of Ottawa bar scene is no exception.

While some bars had to close down entirely, others are waiting for their

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revival. However, in some cases, it seems there’s very little hope that this will happen. A recent Reddit post from a U of O grad laments the sudden lack of student bars, where there used to be a variety of options.

In present-day 2022, if a student wanted to grab a drink after class,

the options are quite limited. The corners opposite campus along King Edward Avenue are home to Father and Sons, the University Bar and Grill, and No Forks Given. Regardless, with over 40,000 in-person students, winning the Hunger Games seems easier than securing a table during peak hours.

Back in the day, the career space in the University Centre used to be 1848, a student bar where students could grab a pint in between classes.

Imagine walking out of a dreadful, three-hour lecture and meeting some friends right next door — the dream! With $2 drinks on Tuesdays, Karaoke

nights, and live music right in the heart of campus, 1848 was a prime spot to enjoy an afternoon.

Alas, as written in a 2016 article by the Fulcrum, the former Student Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO) released information regarding how costly these student bars can be. Hav-

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Image: Bardia Boomer/Fulcrum.

ing 1848’s last Instagram post in 2019 and their Facebook page erased completely, 1848 has unfortunately served its last tap.

Another popular bar that has yet to reopen is Nostalgica Pub and Beer Garden. Located at 601 Cumberland, its colourful lights, 27 beer taps and live events once made this bar a sensation. Nevertheless, the once-popular student bar is eerily quiet. Nostalgica was known for its café scene in the daytime and lively events at night.

Vegan options, elaborate dishes, and great drinks at an affordable price — as well as discounts for graduate students — made this

place a U of O staple.

Nostalgica remains closed, but hope for a reopening is not entirely lost. It still carries its domain, keeps up a semi-active social media presence, has an active phone number, and is still featured on the University’s official website.

Legend has it, pre-pandemic, Minto Sports Complex had a pub inside! Imagine how fun it would be to go watch a hockey game and talk about it afterward over a pint. Unfortunately for newer students, the pandemic took a toll on a number of social places in the University. With its last Instagram post being from

well over 6 years ago, and spot is the Royal Oak, once dear to its students. Father the website domain being located on Laurier street. and Sons is one popular

No Forks Given is a new restaurant at 191 Rue Somerset St. E. Bardia Boomer/Fulcrum.

on sale, it seems unlikely like Gee-Gees will be getting The Draft Pub back anytime soon.

Our last nostalgic

The Fulcrum is hiring a

Videographer

To apply, visit www.thefulcrum.ca/were-hiring or email the Editors-in-Chief at editor@thefulcrum.ca

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This quintessential English pub was the perfect spot for a night out. Its typical bar meals combined with traditional English food made for a great spot to grab a drink and destress.

Although the nearby spot is closed, The Royal Oak has many other locations around Ottawa and Whitby.

Nonetheless, the U of O has a few great locations that are near and

choice — whether it’s for a cheap hungover breakfast or Wednesday night Karaoke. One very underrated spot near the U of O is the University Bar and Grill on 196 Somerset St E, which offers affordable food and drinks and has a very cozy vibe, making this spot ideal for any students looking for a good time.

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SPORTS

SPORTS EDITOR

Brandon Adibe sports@thefulcrum.ca

A rivalry renewed

Gees fall 2-1 in their third matchup against Carleton this season Brandon Adibe On Thursday evening, the Gee-Gees women’s hockey team took a trip down Colonel By to face the Carleton Ravens. This was the third regular-season meeting between the two hockey teams this season. The Gees had won the previous two games 4-1 and 3-1, respectively.

This time around, the Ravens looked to take the game to the first-place team in the Réseau du Sport Etudiant du Québec division (RSEQ).

The first half of the first period was all Gee-Gees putting shots on net and hemming the Ravens in their own zone for long periods of time.

On the Gees’ first man advantage of the game, they came close to finding the opener when Reece Mepham fired a shot off the post before the powerplay expired.

This was a sign of things to come for the Gees powerplay, which has improved in recent games. The Gees created chances, but were unlucky when it came to taking them.

The first half of the first period was all Gee-Gees. Image: Bardia Boomer/Fulcrum.

Although the first half of the period was all Gee-Gees, the second half was a bit more balanced. With only a few minutes remaining, goalie Mahika Sarrazin went to work. Sarrazin made a series of saves after a partial break-away, then a wraparound and a shot from the slot, which she turned away with the blocker.

Even with the Gees outshooting the Ravens, it was actually Carleton that would go into

the break with the better scoring opportunities.

The Ravens kept up the quality scoring chances trend when they opened up the scoring 53 seconds into the second frame. The Ravens got on the board when a point shot was saved, but the rebound was turned in.

Carleton would double their lead on a shot from the half boards when Sarrazin was screened, and she had no chance.

The third peri-

od proved hopeful for the Gees when they momentarily had a five-on-three powerplay. The result of the powerplay was another shot off the post, this time from forward Sophie Gareau.

The Carleton keeper was standing on her head, saving thirty of the Gees’ shots late in the third period.

To generate some more offence, the Gees pulled their goalie early, with 2:42 left on the

clock.

was expected to be a good matchup for the Gees.

The match was tightly contested, but at the 79 minute mark, Soumaya Bouak assisted Cassandra Provost, who finished in the bottom right corner from a low strike with her left foot. This would hold up as the winner. This meant the Gees would face the Carabins or the Dinos of Calgary Uni-

versity — it proved to be the former.

The Carabins won their match after scoring early from Mégane Sauvé, one of the best university players in the country. They defended the lead valiantly to see out the game.

The semi-final matchup between the Carabins and the Gee-Gees proved to be the match of

The gamble would pay off as the thirty-first shot by the U of O was tipped in from a point shot by Viki Harkness.

The Gees would break up the shutout, but that’s as close as they would get to making a comeback. The Ravens took home the two points, winning 2-1.

Gee-Gees season ends with a bronze medal THE GEE-GEES BRING BACK A MEDAL FROM QUÉBEC CITY Brandon Adibe After a hardfought season, the Gees successfully defeated the Cape Breton Capers to win a bronze medal at the 2022 U Sports Women’s Soccer National Championships.

Unfortunately, the Gees were not able to play for the gold, as

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they lost on penalties to the eventual champions, the Montréal Carabins, who beat hosts, the Laval Rouge et Or. So, the argument can be made that the Gees were, in fact, the second-best team in this competition.

But enough about semantics — let’s look at how the team got to their bronze medal game.

The Gee-Gees came in ranked third. That means their first match of the tournament was against the sixth-ranked Trinity Western in this eight-team tournament.

Trinity Western, out of Langley, British Columbia, finished runners-up in Canada West to the number one ranked team in the nation, the University of British Columbia, so it

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the tournament — a battle of tactical identities and team philosophies, one could say. Montréal’s philosophy is to play simple and efficient. Meanwhile, we know the University of Ottawa can be skillful and dynamic in their style of play.

On a surprising note, Montréal resorted to an old tactic that is a lost art in the modern game of soccer: the use of a sweeper. A sweeper is a defender that drops far behind the rest of the

last defender when all else fails.

Montréal’s tactic didn’t seem to work early, though, as Angelina Gendreau combined with Provost to open the scoring.

In the second half, it was Montréal’s turn to turn on the style when Sauvé thrashed an audacious effort from outside the box, and it swerved into the near post with such power that Cassidy Joslin had no chance to block it.

The sweeper

trouble for the Gees throughout the game.

However, eight minutes after Montréal equalized, a flash of brilliance occurred when Olivia Allen used her pace and finesse to dribble through six Carabin defenders, and was brought down for a penalty which she promptly converted.

U n fo r t u n ate l y for the Gees, that would not stand as the winner. An awkward bounce that eluded the usually sure-handed Joslin found its way into the back of the

tion, as the match would proceed into extra time and, subsequently, penalties.

Montréal won the coin toss and elected to shoot first, which is a statistical advantage in soccer when it comes time for penalty kicks, so it was not looking good for the Gees, who were still a bit shaken from conceding earlier on.

Montréal keeper Catherine Langelier had the penalty shootout keepers dream of, saving three of the Gee-Gees kicks.

Joslin managed to make a brilliant save of her own, but it was not enough, and the Gees’ hopes of playing for a U Sports gold were dissolved.

Although the Gees went out in heartbreaking fashion, they still had a medal to play for.

The amount of mental fortitude it took for the team to get back up after such a tough outcome was commendable.

In the bronze medal match, the U of O took on the Cape Breton Capers, who lost their semi-final against the hosts, the Rouge et Or. Early in the match, it seemed like the Gees’ fortunes went from bad to worse as Provost was through on goal but ended up colliding with the keeper and landing hard on her shoulder.

There was a long pause in the match, and you could see that Provost was in a great deal of pain when the team’s athletic therapists checked on her.

Provost returned to the field of play still favouring her left shoulder.

It seemed like she was trying to help the team secure the medal at any cost, even if it meant playing through significant pain.

Before the halftime interval, Soumaya Bouak went on one of her skillful runs, which rival Photo: Stefane Kemilev/Fulcrum. teams became used to defensive to ‘sweep’ up strategy and Montréal’s net. This equalizer would seeing in this tournament through balls and be the defence as a whole caused be the last goal in regula- and squared it into Pro-

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vost, who finished in close.

When Bouak went to celebrate with the goalscorer, though, it appeared that Provost actually was telling her teammates not to embrace her as it may further aggravate her injury.

It just goes to show how physically demanding it is to play three matches in only a four-day time frame, when you usually need three to four days to fully recover from playing 90 minutes of soccer. It speaks to her character and sacrifice for her teammates.

The Gees would see out the match and receive their well-earned medal. The whole team was very deserving of their final place at Nationals, and the squad should be really proud of what they have achieved as a whole this season.

Playing on the largest stage calls for your best players to rise to the occasion, and throughout the weekend, that was evident from players like Cassandra Provost, Olivia Allen, Trinity Esprit, Kat Delev, Kayla Kyle, and Maya Smith. However, throughout the tournament, there was one constant spark in the midfield with her creative intelligence, and that was Soumaya Bouak.

Bouak was named joint player of the game in the match against the Carabins.

Monday evening, the team announced that Kayla Kyle, Kat Delev and Cassandra Provost were named U SPORTS Championship All-Stars.

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SCIENCES

SCIENCES & TECH EDITOR Emma Williams science@thefulcrum.ca

Evidence based study strategies: How to survive exams WHAT I TALK ABOUT WHEN I TALK ABOUT STUDYING Emma Williams Let’s get this out of the way quickly — it’s likely you’re not studying as effectively as you could be, according to science. If you happen to use strategies like rereading, highlighting, and summarizing or writing notes, that’s probably why.

Rereading was recorded as one of the most frequently used techniques, followed closely by highlighting and rewriting notes/summarizing, and I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I used those strategies in high school and even into my first year at university. However, what I didn’t know then was that all three were ranked as having a relatively low utility, according to a 2013 review.

Although some research has shown positive effects of rereading on answering problem-solving essay questions and short-answer application or inference questions, other studies using application or inference-based questions have reported effects only for higher-ability students, or no effects at all.

In my opinion, I’ve found rewriting notes to be largely a waste of time, especially the ones I put an emphasis on making “look pretty.” However, I won’t tell you what to do, only what the research has found — which is that active recall is the most effective revision strategy.

What is active recall and why does it work?

Active recall is a strategy that the involves retrieval of information from your brain rather

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than previous strategies that seem to be focused on putting information into your brain. As it turns out, through decades of research, we learn far better by actively trying to recall material.

The same review study found that active recall or practice testing has a high utility, and the effects have been demonstrated across an impressive range of practice-test formats, kinds of material, learner ages, outcome measures, and retention intervals. In addition, researchers recommend that every student should be trying to implement practice testing into their routines if they haven’t already.

If you aren’t convinced though, here are some studies done over the last 50 years.

In a 1939 study, which had two groups of students learn a specific topic and, after, tested them on the material either a week or day later.

Half of the students studied the material as they normally would, and the other half also studied the material as normal and were given practice tests at the end of their session.

The study found that the students who took the practice showed improved performance in grades by 10 to 15 per cent.

Another study from 2010 similarly took two groups of students and had them study material either by using practice tests at the end of their session or by using methods they preferred, like rereading and highlighting. The groups were then tested based on facts in addition to concepts.

The group who didn’t use

a practice test to reinforce their learning scored, on average, between 30 and 40 per cent. The group who did use a practice test performed significantly better on the final — some saw an increase of as much as 30 per cent.

One last point to be made comes from a 2011 study, which split students into four groups and asked them to learn material and tested them a week later. The first group was asked to study the chapter once, the second studied the chapter four times, the third group read the text once and then made a mind map, and the last group read the text once and tried to recall as much of the chapter as they possibly could.

They found that the first group performed the worst, and most interestingly, the active recall group performed far better than the group that read the text four times — what this tells students is that practice testing ourselves once is likely more effective than rereading the chapter four times ever will be.

This study had another component where they asked students to predict which group would perform the best, or to predict the results of the study. 80 per cent of students thought the group which repeatedly reread the material (group two) would score the highest, and rated the active recall group as being the least effective/scoring the lowest on the test. This sheds some light onto our own assumptions about study techniques, and whether they match up with what’s been shown in research.

How to incorporate it into your study routine?

I would recommend using flashcards to practice retrieving information from your brain, and to ultimately quiz yourself on the material.

Some popular digital flashcard apps include Quizlet and Anki. As you progress through the semester, you might have questions come up in lectures or you might find a key concepts slide that’s listed at the beginning of lectures, which can help guide your flashcard questions. If your course uses a textbook, there are likely questions at the back of the textbook you could use to quiz yourself, as well.

If you can’t shake the habit of making notes, try doing so with the book closed rather than directly copying from your textbook or lecture slides. After you’ve reviewed the topic, close your book and try to recall or remember and write as much information as you can on a blank page. Afterwards, reopen your book or slides and check which parts you may have missed. Repeat this process until there aren’t any gaps left.

Another option would be to consider the Feynman technique, named after Nobel Prize in physics winner, Richard Feynman. In addition to furthering science, he was also an incredibly effective teacher, according to former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates. This technique was named after him because of his unique ability to explain complex ideas in a simple and digestible manner. The crux of this technique relies on the idea that the only way to understand all the details

Effective study strategies. Image: Green Chameleon/Unsplash.

of a concept is to explain it to someone else.

For the precise steps, you can find more information here.

It should go without saying that a great active recall method is practice testing. If you find yourself in a math, physics, or chemistry course, your best option is to stop making summary sheets or rereading slides, and instead work through as many practice problems as you possibly can. Use the textbook questions or questions posted by your professor. Closer to exams, try to find practice midterms to work through as a bonus — you can set a timer for an hour and 20 minutes to practice working under time constraints.

For more information on effective study strategies, I would watch a lecture given by Marty Lobdell titled, “Study Less Study Smart.” To name a few tips, Lobdell advises students to study in groups, avoid cramming, and also stressed the importance of sleep for longterm learning and retention.

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OPINIONS

OPINIONS EDITOR

Matthew McConkey opinions@thefulcrum.ca

We deserve to be characters, not caricatures HUMANIZING ASIAN PEOPLE ON SCREEN Grace Kim-Shin “For as long as I can remember, I have struggled to prove myself into existence,” writes Cathy Park Hong in Minor Feelings, an essay collection about the Asian-American experience.

It’s a sentiment echoed by Asian immigrants all over North America. They have to prove their right to exist here. They work exceptionally hard to gain minor recognition. But, like Hong says, they are shamed for having “minor feelings.”

For her, these minor feelings are the disregarded and invalidated experiences of marginalization minorities face in Western society.

Asian people have to prove themselves into existence not only in the workplace and in social spaces, but also on the big screen. Historically, Asian people portrayed in the media have been superficial caricatures forced into stereotypical roles.

Whether it’s the martial artist or the minority model, subjecting Asian people to characters that lack depth limits our humanity and renders us mere entertainment. It ignores

the fact that Asian people have lived in North America for generations and the unique stories they have which deserve to be represented on screen.

Recent films like

inner workings of both my home and my mind. When I recognized this, I felt both accepted and understood

by Western media. I felt as though my experiences were finally normal, and

malize the existence of first- and second-generation immigrant families and they will show the diversity of our struggles.

They will humanize Asian people and allow us to feel

cal roles imposed on us.

In a famous interview, James Baldwin tells us, “you think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but

that the unique challenges faced by Asian-American children deserved to be represented on screen.

To reflect real representation, movies must show that the Asian-American isn’t simply a divisive identity, but one that is cohesive. They must preach that our immigration story is not just a cycle of conflict, but a story of resolution. By doing this, they will nor-

validated in our cultural conflicts and plurality.

Asian children in North America must see themselves represented on screen to grow up with confidence. Many second-generation Asian immigrants struggle to understand where they fit in North American society.

Film has the power to alter this by telling our stories and affirming our independence from the stereotypi-

then you read.” Today, film provides the consolation that books once did, and we turn to film to remember that we aren’t alone in our hardships. Film is a form of art that is always political, and only when people of colour are humanized on screen will the medium get closer to representing our collective humanity.

dents, there is one thing that’s worse: taking a test so that teachers can be evaluated — not students.

Among Ontario elementa-

ry and secondary school students, such a test happens in Grades 3, 6 and 9.

These standardized tests are called EQAO.

Image: Kai Holub/Fulcrum.

Minari and Everything Everywhere All at Once have made strides in Asian representation. Both films explore the divisions and resolutions between Western life and Asian values with their own nuance.

I remember relating to Joy Wang in Everything Everywhere — she had a hardened stubbornness and struggled to relate to her mother. The film reflected the

Are we still doing EQAO? QUESTIONING THE EFFICACY OF STANDARDIZED TESTING IN ONTARIO hausted and overwhelmed following a late-night study session. You can’t You know the think about your evaluafeeling. You’re both ex- tion without being over-

Sydney Grenier

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come by a mix of dread and nervousness. It’s exam time.

While test-taking is stressful for many stu-

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Photo: Nguyen Dang Hoang Nhu/Unsplash.

The acronym stands for Education Quality and Accountability Office; however, the seemingly relentless tests are commonly known by Ontario students as ‘Evil Questions Attacking Ontario.’

I maintain that standardized tests are indeed ‘evil’ and don’t promote education ‘quality.’ Nevertheless, parents are understandably concerned following recent EQAO test results. The Globe and Mail reported sizable drops in Grade 3 and 6 students who met provincial standards in reading, writing, and maths. Notably, just 47 per cent of Grade 6 students met the provincial standards in mathematics

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this past year.

Inevitably, two perspectives will emerge from these results. Some may argue that teachers and school systems are crumbling and consequently failing students.

This is a perspective which I oppose. Rather, I believe that standardized tests fail to reflect the quality of education. The goal of examinations should be to test the knowledge of the students. However, these standardized examinations only test the ability to memorize and regurgitate information.

In elementary school, I excelled with class assignments but struggled with test-taking. Suppose I was being evaluated on my understanding of essay

structure with two methods: a test and a project.

Students like myself would ace the project, but fail the test. If an EQAO analyst were to evaluate my test, they would conclude that I cannot structure an essay.

However, upon evaluating my project, it would be clear that I can successfully apply essay structure.

There seems to be a disconnect between what students learn and what they are able to remember. Testing, although it measures memorization, fails to capture a complete picture of education.

Therefore, with regard to the low EQAO results, a high level of concern seems unwarranted.

Ultimately, the only concerning thing re-

garding these scores is that standardized testing continues to be imposed on students to evaluate the quality of education in Ontario.

The goal of the EQAO testing is to provide credible results about the quality of the province’s education systems. Therefore, the method of evaluation should allow the students to justify their thinking and, as a result, the quality of their education.

I propose an evaluation which focuses on critical thinking as opposed to memorization.

Such a project could be available for students to work on throughout the year and submitted at the end of the term. This

project would still incorporate all the skills that are evaluated in current EQAO models, but the topic should be decided by teachers and students.

In addition to being student-centred, this method of evaluation will develop critical thinking, research and innovation — crucial skills for this upcoming generation. Of course, these assignments are sure to take more time to create and evaluate.

But, if you’re going to put ‘education’ and ‘quality’ together in the title of your organization, you’d better be ready to prepare a quality assessment and spend quality time assessing it.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Treasurer Claire Liu

Community Rep Mark Asfar

President & Continuity Rep Kalki Nagaratnam

Student Rep Amit Shanbhoug

Student Rep Erik Chin

Vice-President & Staff Rep Brendan Keane

Fulcrum Alumnus Emma Godmere

Executive Director Ludvica Boota

Chair & Community Rep Sam Coulavin

Staff Rep Keelan Buck

CONTRIBUTORS

The Fulcrum would like to thank Caroline Kirkey Amira Benjamin Mariana Gomez Stefane Kemilev Sydney Grenier for their contributions to this issue.

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Noah Bailey social@thefulcrum.ca

FEATURES EDITOR Bridget Coady features@thefulcrum.ca

NEWS EDITOR Desirée Nikfardjam news.editor@thefulcrum.ca

OPINIONS EDITOR Matthew McConkey opinions@thefulcrum.ca

MANAGING EDITOR Sanjida Rashid admin@thefulcrum.ca

ARTS EDITOR Victoria Drybrough arts@thefulcrum.ca

STAFF WRITER Grace Kim-Shin staff.writer@thefulcrum.ca

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Kai Holub multimedia@thefulcrum.ca

SPORTS EDITOR Brandon Adibe sports@thefulcrum.ca

NEWS ASSOCIATE Yannick Mutombo associate.news@thefulcrum.ca

PHOTOGRAPHER Bardia Boomer photographer@thefulcrum.ca

SCIENCE & TECH EDITOR Emma Williams science@thefulcrum.ca

EDITORIAL BOARD EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Jasmine McKnight Hailey Otten editor@thefulcrum.ca

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