The Plant December 2020 Vol.53 No.4

the plant SINCE 1969 VOL 53 NO 4

DECEMBER @THEPLANTNEWS THEPLANTNEWS.COM

2 THE PLANT

Letter from the Editor This is how it ends. I wish I could go back and warn myself of how tragically stressful this semester will be. The thought that I should have taken a gap year looms in the recesses of my mind. And yet in a couple of days I will have finished my 5th semester at Dawson, which feels surreal.

I feel like the struggle of online school is not talked about enough from the student perspective and I hope this semester will help create better online environments for next semester because honestly, I really fucking need it. I wanna applaud all of us for going through these hellish times and soon we will be able to get out the other side scathed, but okay.

I wish to thank all the readers this semester who have continuously shown The Plant their love. Although we are exclusively online, this platform has created a small community, helping me connect with others when connection is so difficult. I hope you have been given a sense of community as well.

So for the final time in 2020, between cramming for exams and getting ready for the holiday season, please enjoy your month’s read of The Plant.

Sadly, we are saying goodbye to our Visual Arts editor Frédéric Guillette and our Sports editor Donté Kydd-Richmond. They have done amazing jobs and I wish them so much luck in their future endeavours. This month, give some extra love to our Visual Arts and Sports sections. Applications for these positions are now open, so if you’re interested, please apply!

I wish you a great rest of 2020, best of luck with your exams, and a restful 6 week break.

See you next year!

With love, DAYLEN CONSERVE Editor-in-Chief

Index NEWS 3 ARTS & CULTURE 7 VISUAL ARTS 10 PLAYLIST 12 VOICES 13 CREATIVE WRITING 18 SPORTS 21 SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT 22 CURIOSITIES 23

The Plant is an editorially autonomous student paper. All opinions expressed in The Plant do not necessarily belong to The Plant, but are those of individuals. All content submitted to The Plant or its staff belongs to the paper. We reserve the right to reject or edit all submissions for brevity, taste and legality. The Plant welcomes typed and signed letters to the editor under 400 words.

Copyright 2020

NEWS 3

Banff, Alberta: An Unforgettable Student Experience KYRA CLARK Contributor In the small town of Banff, Alberta, Concordia University student and former Dawson Athletic Therapy intern Brianna Clark returned to her staff housing after a “Christmas in July” with her work colleagues. To their surprise, a herd of eight elk were sleeping on the front lawn. Clark and her crew joked about how they should probably let Santa and his reindeers finish their job before going up to their rooms.

“Surprisingly, this became a normal occurrence, having elk sleeping all over the front lawn,” she says. “We just weaved our way around and tiptoed to the front door trying not to disturb them.” Banff is teeming with extraordinary experiences like this, and they could become your reality next summer.

Banff is a hotspot for adventurous students from all over the world to unite, create unique memories, and work in the backyard of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. With endless opportunities to explore the vast outdoors, COVID-19 restrictions can be easily integrated into the lifestyle.

Most employees are not from Banff. In fact, native residents are given the nickname “unicorns” because they are so few. After spending three

Photo VIA MAPSWITHNOROADS.COM

consecutive summers in Banff, Clark confirms that because “everyone is in the same boat looking for friends, you will never be the only newbie.”

Parks Canada and Pursuit Collection are the recommended companies to which you should apply. Applications should be submitted on their websites in January before a summer season. According to Ashley Cameron, recruitment specialist for Pursuit Collection, “we hire 1500+ seasonal staff to work from April to October. Many of these positions are filled by students, and we do have some contract dates that align well with a student’s time off from school.”

Cameron explains that Pursuit Collection seeks candidates who are “adventure seekers” and “like-minded individuals who thrive on building connections and exploring the great outdoors.”

Sophia Auclair, a fifth semester Pure and Applied Science student at Dawson, is considering working in Banff, and sees a fit with the lifestyle.

“I’m very adventurous and will always say yes to doing new things and seeing new things,” she says, “I feel like if I go to Banff, I will meet a lot of outdoorsy people who like to do the same things as me.” Clark explains that her job at the gondola gift shop on Sulphur Mountain is extremely rewarding because she gets to speak

with people from all over the world about the beauty of her country.

Auclair believes that she would be a great candidate for a similar job because of her experience working with the public. “I am very comfortable working in customer service because I have worked in food, retail, and as a waitress.”

Banff is a hotspot for adventurous students from all over the world to unite, create unique memories, and work in the backyard of the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

According to Clark, in Banff, “you kind of have to be a ‘hell yeah let’s do it!’ type of person.” She carries this mantra with literally every step she takes in life. Clark got the word “why” tattooed on her left ankle, and the word “not” on her right.

Her fearless attitude was essential to her adventures in Banff, including a spontaneous decision to jump out of a plane during the last week of her trip.

She explains that she just went “up in a little plane, took a deep breath, the door opened, and I jumped.”

Clark took the leap. Will you?

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In-Person Final Examinations in the Age of COVID-19: Who Cares at Dawson College?

DINU MAHAPATUNA Voices Editor We’re all familiar with the impact of COVID-19 on Dawson student life.

If you’re not, I’ll give you a quick recap of the last episode: bright screens, headaches, coughs, repeat. Now, let’s skip the heart-wrenching montage and watch what you’ve come to see.

Once upon a time (or just three weeks ago), there was a problem. A real issue. A situation that pushed a couple thousand students to painstakingly type their names onto a virtual petition and sunk countless others into panic-induced profanities or sighs.

Today, you might think that there is no such problem. You think that filming wrapped, the heroes went out (or more accurately, stayed inside and Zoom-called) for drinks, and the big, bad wolf that is Dawson administration lies somewhere in a dark alley licking its wounds.

As I struggle to take the narrative you’ve already convinced yourself is true and stretch it into the corners of a spread, I’d like to remind you that happy endings and fanged administrators are as fictitious as candy dungeons and unicorns. This scoop is more akin to a half-melted ice cream cone and its conclusion a sticky puddle on the floor.

There aren’t isn’t any good or bad, just muddy soup of people trying to do what they think is best.

But let’s go back to the beginning, to the root of the reason why Dawson had been making headlines for forcing students to take in-person final exams.

For Rosemary Marini, a first-year Commerce student, a panic-inducing surprise took the unsuspecting form of a curt MIO delivered on November 19.

“You are scheduled for an in-person exam between the dates of December 16th and 23rd. We understand you may have concerns about this, but we would like to assure you

Photo VIA GETTY IMAGES

that Dawson College is following all Public Health guidelines and taking the necessary precautions to ensure these exams take place safely.”

In the forwarded MIO, one message was particularly concerning. It hinted towards the school’s concerns that perhaps students weren’t being quite as academically excellent as administrators or teachers hoped they would be: “Your health is our top priority, but as an institution of higher learning, our mission is to provide you with a quality and robust education.”

A large proportion of the student body (approximately 214 out of 235 students, if a recent Rate My Teachers poll is to be taken seriously) is firmly against the idea of going to school for in-person examinations. For most, the question at the forefront of in-person final exams is whether academic integrity should supersede health concerns.

The answer might seem obvious, until you encounter the students for whom academic integrity is practically a matter of life and death.

Contrary to popular belief, not all the students who support the school’s initial decision to hold in-person final exams are basement-dwelling geeks.

In fact, as far as my investigation went, these students were a vocal minority of ambitious Dawson Sciences students with bright smiles and friendly demeanours, but above-average obsessions

over standard deviations. In the interest of trying to understand their philosophy, I interviewed two second-year Health Sciences students, Catherine Korman and Devon Haseltine.

The pro-in-person argument centres on what Korman and Haseltine refer to as the “fragile R-Score.” As I imagine their college grades crumbling into the aether, Haseltine continues in an impassioned voice, “our standard deviations are stuffed!” He clarifies his statement: “Look, it’s like all of a sudden the class average is a 92, when last year, people [who took the same class] got a 70.”

Haseltine and Korman seem to confirm what the Dawson administration fears. Korman describes how certain students pay to download an app which automatically generates answers to online test questions. Haseltine seconds her, saying “students who want to cheat are going to find a way to cheat online and that’s not fair to Catherine or I, or our university applications, or our plans for the future.” They also point to student hypocrisy. “You can’t be going to restaurants and bars and then get scared about writing an in-person exam,” says Korman, “For me, it’s just not congruent.”

A statement that I contemplated long after our interview wrapped was one of Haseltine’s comments, “the risk-reward ratio is skewed,” a sentence

NEWS 5 5 which received an emphatic nod from Korman. For them, the risk is not getting into med school, but for others the risk is the loss of a life.

“We’re all aware of the impacts of the pandemic. I’m well aware that there are people dying from the pandemic, but I feel like the reaction is a bit…intense,” one of the two said, hinting to the fact that maybe they don’t see the school’s measure as inherently fatal or even dangerous. “Dawson’s leadership is excellent,” states Haseltine.

Another source, who asked to remain anonymous, is not so convinced of the school’s excellence. “[I’m] very uncomfortable. I just feel like the school is placing academic integrity over the wellness of their students while there are more people getting COVID.” The source pointed to an actual recent development; new cases of COVID-19 had risen from 5631 a few days before our interview to 7861 the day of our Zoom call.

For this particular Health Sciences student, who has multiple immuno-compromised family members and is at-risk herself, the price of a life is more tangible than for many others.

The student wastes no time getting to the heart of the issue, “they all want the exams to be in-person, but I don’t think the risk is worth it. But apparently my teachers do think it’s worth the risk.”

The source’s statement begs the question: Should we really be blaming the Dawson administration for the decision to hold in-person examinations?

Or, are they merely middlemen, voicing the concern of frustrated teachers?

to their Instagram, in their decision to stand against the school’s initial policy. According to Danahé Orduña Martínez, Director of Communications for the DSU, “we try to please everyone, but sometimes we have to choose a side.” Orduña Martínez, a Social Science (Child Studies) student, has played an integral part in the student body’s interaction with the issue of in-person final exams. She runs the aforementioned DSU Instagram page, and is privy to details regarding the DSU’s relationship with school administration.

According to Orduña Martínez, even though the executive team attempted to appeal to the school during a meeting between Chairperson Kevin Contant-Holowatyj and the academic dean, “they did not see our point. It was not really collaborative. We wanted to discuss with them before talking to students, but…” she shrugged. It was in reaction to this refusal to collaborate that “the Chairperson contacted news outlets,” Orduña Martínez adds, beginning to list off all the prominent news outlets contacted in the executive team’s efforts to bring awareness to the issue: CBC, CTV, La Presse, Global News and “another one, but I don’t remember.” This tactic was successful to say the least; the media onslaught pushed the school into a difficult corner in terms of public image. This was a battle the school administration was clearly not prepared to fight.

The school announced on November 26, approximately two weeks after their initial announcement, “All examinations, except those which have an essential in-person practical component, will be conducted online.” The school attributes their change of heart

to “new guidelines from the Ministère de L’Enseignement supérieur and the Direction régionale de la santé publique with respect to a period of voluntary confinement, as well as to important logistical constraints.”

However, recent posts on the DSU Instagram page indicate otherwise.

“We have worked tirelessly to pressure the school to reverse their decision to hold in-person exams at Dawson College. It is my pleasure to announce that we have been successful,” says the DSU Chairperson in his victory lap of a video.

Some students are dissatisfied by the administration’s change of heart.

For every student who was genuinely concerned about their lives and the lives of others, there are others for whom, as my anonymous source puts it, “COVID-19 is harmless until there’s a test involved. Replace the test with a drink or a concert and they couldn’t care less.”

In the end I can’t help but wonder, who really cares at Dawson College?

The students who want to stay healthy, or the ones who want to preserve the value of their grades? The teachers who want to stay at home, or the ones who want to keep a close eye on their students? Or is it Dawson administration, the body we know so very little about?

I have a vendetta against the idea of defining this particular situation into bold dark lines, so I’ll leave you with my not-so-new news and a gray blob of a story to ponder until you hop on Instagram and scroll your cares away. p

The source brings an interesting although unconfirmed theory pointing to the latter hypothesis. “So apparently the school sent out an anonymous survey about academic integrity and a lot of people said they were cheating. You can understand why the teachers were upset.” I reached out to a few Science teachers for comment, but none were available for a meeting.

Conjecture and theory aside, there is yet another facet of the in-person exam situation to consider.

The Dawson Student Union executive team sided with the majority of students, “unanimously,” according

Photo: INTERVIEW WITH DANAHÉ ORDUÑA MARTÍNEZ

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NEWS 6

The Perks of Purchasing from Small Businesses MAIJA BARONI Staff Writer

Ordinary holiday traditions and celebrations are drastically altered due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But while one immediate consequence is widespread loneliness and monotony, the pandemic grants us an opportunity to re-evaluate our spending habits during the most commercial time of the year. Hence, many have turned to shopping locally or from small businesses, both online and off.

Etsy's online marketplace is an attractive platform for those seeking to support their local artists and entrepreneurs. It allows shoppers to digitally browse and discover small shops with quirky merchandise, while limiting the necessity for in-person shopping and physical contact. Known for its handcrafted and vintage items, Etsy also facilitates finding genuinely unique and special gifts, which makes their recipients feel that much more appreciated.

However, the pandemic's unforeseen disruptions have brought about several other significant reasons to shop on Etsy or from small businesses, aside from their distinctive, peculiar appeal.

you directly aid and purchase from budding creatives, allowing them to make a living doing something they love and ensuring their business's survival.

Supporting these smaller entrepreneurs means spending your money in a much more impactful way.

Many other issues that arise when buying from big corporations can be remedied by buying from small businesses. For one thing, minorities are rarely in positions of power in such corporations and rarely benefit from them. In contrast, Etsy provides a platform for minorities to be seen and thrive independently off of their innovative products.

Another critical benefit is sustainability; it’s no secret that Christmas is annually damaging to the environment. Whether it be for feasts, gifts, or decorations, our excessive consumption culminates in an environmental disaster. But most Etsy sellers and small business owners make all of their products themselves; handmade items consume a

Small businesses have been economically suffering over the past few months; the city closures and regulations make them even more financially vulnerable than normal. Not to mention, independent sellers such as those on Etsy mostly run their shops entirely on their own. A large portion of them have dedicated their career and savings to their business, making it their only source of income.

Large corporations make ample profit during this season. Amazon reported record sales numbers in the holidays last year. Supporting these smaller entrepreneurs means spending your money in a much more impactful way, rather than adding to commercial companies' already overflowing pot of gold. Etsy helps

Photo VIA CNN

lot less energy than a mass production assembly lines and generally aren’t produced overseas, limiting the amount of long-distance shipping.

And independent sellers will often only buy what they need according to demand, limiting waste.

Lastly, if you quickly pull out your credit card and have your CVV number memorized better than your phone number, buying handmade could limit your spendings. The increased price-point of a handmade good matches an increased value in authenticity and quality. Conscious spending choices mean that you ensure that every buck you spend is worthwhile.

Overall, shopping locally from small businesses, or supporting online shops like those on Etsy, is the new holiday habit we should perhaps all adopt from this year forward.

Besides, even when setting aside all the ethical and environmental advantages, you manage to acquire some really unique and beautiful items. It makes your gifts that much more sincere during this season of love and caring, which we could all use a little bit more of this year. p p

ARTS & CULTURE 7 7

Music and Self Care with Thanya Iyer the same title from 2018, and finally this latest album, KIND. What has changed sonically for you and the band between projects?

Photo VIA THANYA IYER BENJAMIN WEXLER Copy Editor

How does the title KIND play into the music of your newest album?

Thanya Iyer is a Montreal multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter. We met over Zoom to talk about her 2020 sophomore album KIND, a soothing and experimental blend of styles new and old.

It was Pompey who suggested we name it KIND. And having already written all of the song titles and concepts down, I realized we should.

Because it's about humankind; the relationships that we have, the dimensions of humankind, being kind to yourself. It’s multidimensional for me.

I'm going to start by asking you something that I have been struggling with while trying to write about your music. What type of music do you make?

Ooh, that’s a hard question for me to answer. It’s a product of all of my life’s influences and everything I've ever heard, loved, and listened to on repeat. There are so many things: I studied classical violin, but I grew up playing South Asian classical music, singing, and dancing. Montreal's South Indian community had lots of get-togethers and variety shows where my friends and I performed. I really love jazz, and got into it along with my collaborators around the album and my school friends. There’s the newer music I listen to as well, of course. I’ve listened to all the styles, and I feel that's what it is — a mesh of everything. Our bass player Pompey has said something like...future folk, or twinkle rock? We’re trying to invent new words for it.

Well, it’s certainly good to have that type of music to listen to right now. On the topic of selfcare, you’re currently studying Music Therapy at Concordia. How much does your schoolwork inform your art and vice versa?

I'm interested in our minds, our journeys and the struggles that we face — that’s what leads me to music therapy and psychology. Music therapy came after the album, and it’s cool, because self care is embedded in the program. We have weekly journals where we have to say what we did for self care and how we might use it in a music therapy context. It helps me to look deeper into myself, and that’s always what I'm interested in when songwriting too!

You have the album Do You Dream from 2016, then a mixtape with

Do You Dream was very acoustic, but we were just starting to discover electronic instruments. I had gotten my first violin pedal. There was an upright and grand piano, as well as a keyboard, but we also explored some synths. That album is really the start of a shift into the electronic world.

Daniel, our drummer, had recorded all of our jams, and a bunch of field recordings, and he made this 70-minute collage of the whole album. While we were touring in the States, we started replicating that live, and recorded it, and had some choir friends sing on it.

That turned into our 2018 mixtape, a live recording of us trying to play a 20-minute collage. It came out very electronic. Coming back to this album is swinging the balance back to our acoustic sound, with horns and strings and all.

Do you plan to tour with it once you can?

I hope so! I do feel the void of not being able to connect live with people.

We’ve been so lucky to meet lots of communities across North America.

We got our first booking agent recently. They told us “we’re only going to book things once it's safe,” and I told them that’s perfect, because that's all I want to do too.

Are you working on new music?

Over the quarantine, I got into a routine of songwriting everyday, so we have lots of songs for the third album. And we might do a little EP in there — something more acoustic that we record with the third album.

We love changing the songs up and we can never decide which version we like best. It would be nice to share the whole scope. I'm trying to figure out how to do it in a safe way. The quarantine can make you feel like you’re walking through mud, but it’s gonna happen. p p

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Diversity in the Grammy Nominations JULIA QUYNH Staff Writer

Can the Grammy Awards still be called “Music’s biggest night”?

The esteemed ceremony has always sparked fiery debates about its impartiality. The 63rd Annual Grammy Award nominees were announced on November 24, and this year is no exception.

Last year, the Recording Academy faced controversy. After a rocky start to the term of the Academy’s first-ever female president and CEO, Deborah Dugan, she sent an email to human-resources alleging that “something was seriously amiss at the Academy.” She alleged various conflicts of interest, voting irregularities, and financial mismanagement, and a toxic culture rampant in the Academy’s governance. Shortly after, Dugan was placed on leave for accusations of misconduct after holding the position for only five months.

Since, she has been vocal and critical about what she describes as the “boy’s club” controlling the Academy.

The Recording Academy made an effort to improve by hiring its first-ever diversity and inclusion officer, Valeisha Butterfield Jones. It has also partnered with Color of Change for various diversity initiatives and announced an expansion of the organisation to include 2,300 new voting members, 48% being female and 32% being of underrepresented racial groups.

This year's nominations have acknowledged women more than in previous years. For the first time in the awards' history, the nominees for Best Rock Performance and Best Country Album are all women or women-fronted groups. However, despite commercial and critical success, some artists still did not receive recognition. Famed artists such as Halsey and the Weeknd called out the Recording Academy for their “snubs” in the nominations.

Halsey's third studio album, Manic, was shut out of any nomina-

Photo VIA MUSICWEEK

tions despite its positive reception and a number 2 debut on the American Billboard charts. Her successful singles Without Me, Graveyard, and You Should Be Sad fared no better. Even more shockingly, the Canadian-born singer and songwriter the Weeknd was shut out of any Grammy nominations despite his success with his 2020 album After Hours. His fourth studio album was released to wide acclaim, some calling it an artistic reinvention with impressive narrative cohesion and introspection. It managed to remain at the top of the US Billboard charts for four consecutive weeks. Yet he received no nominations.

Something was seriously amiss at the Academy.

Following the nomination announcement, the Weeknd tweeted, “The Grammys remain corrupt,” and added, “you owe me, my fans and the industry transparency.” Later on, Halsey made a statement on her Instagram story accusing the organization of selecting their nominees based on “behind the scenes private

performances.” Halsey wrote that “While I am thrilled for my talented friends who were recognized this year, I am hoping for more transparency or reform.” She also said that the Grammy awards are not always about the quality of music.

Korean boy-group BTS set a milestone in history by becoming the first-ever K-Pop act nominated in the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category with their record-breaking single, Dynamite. There has still been discussions over whether the song was snubbed for the Record of the Year category.

“It’s so unfair that BIPOC artists get so mistreated by the music industry,” states Valeria Campo Cervantes, a second-year Cinema Communications student. “But we live in a white man’s world, and there’s nothing we can do about it.”

The Grammy Awards have celebrated music since 1958. Still, in a modern landscape emphasizing equality, the awards no longer hold much significance without an even playing field for all artists, ensured by a transparent, reformed organisation. p

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ARTS & CULTURE 9 9

Discovering Quebec Culture: Occupation Double ALESSANDRO MORTELLARO Staff Writer

Reality TV is the runway where modern cultural movements take off. Where would we be without the Kardashians, Honey Boo Boo, Big Brother, and the Bachelorette/ Bachelor? If you were able to answer that question, you are likely an anglophone. So, what about the francophones? Where do their Kylies and Vanessa Grimaldi’s originate? Well, brace yourself, because you’re about to discover Occupation Double.

OD (Occupation Double) is a reality dating show. Like most, it uses its viewers' opinions to determine which couple wins and loses. However, the contestants themselves decide who gets eliminated weekly.

While it originated in Quebec, the majority of its seasons take place in foreign countries. However, this year, they were forced to return to their roots and film the show right here in Quebec after what had been eleven years. Hence why this year's season is called "OD: Chez Nous."

The show usually has a minimum of two houses that divide male and female contestants. This year the show featured a third house called the "Maison mixte," where both male and female contestants would be allowed to hang out together for a limited time.

Contestants go on one trip per week where they explore the local culture. Destinations vary between museums, amusement parks (Laronde), tourist attractions, and Quebec destination staples. Contestants also participate in various activities like themed parties, performances from local musical talent, rock climbing, fishing, helicopter rides, and more.

Ultimately, all of these things aim to get the contestants to socialize with each other.

Photo VIA TWITTER

Past a certain point, once relationships are established, contestants must do what they can to avoid elimination, which means maintaining your relationship and remaining likeable to the audience. Most fans appreciate a contestant that is honest, true to themselves, and who doesn’t stick to a strategy to keep likeability.

Above all, however, your likeability as a couple on the show determines your chances to win.

Occupation Double has a strong presence in Quebec’s culture, and perhaps more anglophones should jump in on the hype.

There is no doubt that OD has been a silent influencer of Quebec culture. There are numerous Facebook groups, aside from the ones run by OD based on the show.

They are home to memes, gossip, and news. The same can be said for Instagram, of course. But none of that compares to the commentary and general content that is found on YouTube. While this past season aired, several Quebec YouTubers/

influencers uploaded videos reacting to episodes, commenting, or generally using the show as the main topic for their videos.

All of this shows that OD has a strong presence in QC’s culture, and perhaps more anglophones should jump in on the hype. Suppose you’re yearning to watch the next Vanessa Grimaldi (Montrealer who won The Bachelor, Season 21) rise to stardom and meet their next match.

In that case, you should definitely consider tuning into next season of Occupation Double. If you think about it, you would be witnessing multiple Grimaldi’s, because they would all be locals!

With the show already dominating Quebec culture, it’s unlikely that we’ll be seeing a “Love Island Montreal” any time soon. However, sometimes we forget that we have a whole culture that’s always a few clicks away, just waiting for us. p p

10 THE PLANT

Photo by JILL GOLDENBERG

Photo by EKATENIRI DAMOULIANOS @EKATERINIXO

VISUAL ARTS 11

Photo by SOPHIA DOLGIN @_PHI_A

Photo by LUCIA FOSTER @LUCH1A

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PLAYLIST 12

Playlist by FRÉDÉRIC GUILLETTE Visual Arts Editor

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Ask The Plant BEATRIZ NEVES Arts & Culture Editor

Dear The Plant, I won't be rich if I follow the path I’m currently on. Should I switch programs?

Sincerely, Reader Dear Scrooge McDuck wannabe, If you ask this question to any academic adviser or proper counsellor, you will probably get the predictable answer that you should follow your passion regardless of money. They will say that financial reward comes if you work hard in any profession. They will say that your career should fall somewhere on the spectrum between passion and money.

You can follow their advice. You are free to live a mediocre life. If that is what you want. But I will not pretend that life is filled with rainbows and sunshine rays...because it isn't. If you want to let a piece of paper with former prime minister Sir Robert Borden on it decide your life, go ahead and be its puppet.

Why would someone not want to?

Well, not everyone’s passion aligns with their financial interests.

But what is the problem with having a job that gives you money but no fulfillment? You might be able to escape this dull, grey life by travelling once a year, since you can afford plane tickets and a luxury hotel.

Maybe your dream is to have a jacuzzi in a Westmount mansion, but your love is to be a cashier at a fast food place. You can enjoy the satisfaction (and moral superiority) of self-knowledge if you choose passion, but you probably won't go to lunch in a helicopter. A more viable solution is to turn this passion into a hobby.

I'm not one of those spiritual gurus who will tell you that you can make infinite money from any skill or passion you like. If you want to be rich, choose wisely. Welcome to reality. Of course, I am not part of this group of people because I am a student newspaper, and neither journalists nor students are known for their fat bank accounts.

Yet, maybe it's not that hard to make money through your passion. A little research never hurt anyone. Linkedin probably knows about the salary expectations you should have. There, you can find a job that can pay for a Tesla but won't make your closet smell like Gucci and Prada.

Balance is essential.

You could always play for the LotoQuebec draw. Elon Musk could still adopt you for no apparent reason. Or one of the Kardashians could fall madly in love with you. Or maybe a sugar daddy could fancy you

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and decide to reward you with a generous allowance. Or you might meet your secret grandmother and find out that you are in line for the throne of Genova. Who knows?

I could just wish you good luck. I understand your desire for wealth, but I enjoy the journey of becoming successful doing what I love.

Money might seem a good enough motivation for choosing a career path, but who knows if that motivation will last a lifetime. People say that there is nothing worse than waking up early to do work when you don't even care about the result. They say that there is no better feeling than doing something you love. But, again, it's unlikely those people know what caviar tastes like.

It comes down to what you are willing to sacrifice. Maybe you have to work harder during your career as an artist, for instance, to make minimum wage. You might be willing to exchange that for the few years of stress, pressure and the emptiness you would feel every day of your passionless career. You just have to bury your life’s calling under student loans and hundred dollars books.

Keep this in mind.

Sincerely, The Plant

Photo VIA KOLLAGE KID/FLICKR

VOICES 15 15

Maybe You Should Experiment With Psychedelics TINA LALONDE Contributor

Chances are, you are at home with a lot of free time on your hands, and perhaps that time can be used for self-reflection and new experiences.

Should psychedelics be one of them?

I’m not here to judge, only to inform and to guide, which is why I have conducted three interviews with avid psychedelic users in order to better understand the ways that psychoactive drugs can affect a person’s behaviour and way of thinking during and after a trip.

According to the American Psychological Association, “mental health issues have increased significantly over the last decade.” This fact goes to show that younger generations in particular can benefit from psychedelic experimentation. In recent years, more and more studies have been conducted on the effects of psychedelic drugs on the human mind and all the ways they can potentially benefit people suffering from severe mental disorders such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Neuroscientist Roland Griffiths writes that “large [doses] of psilocybin can induce mystical experiences in volunteers, including feelings of ego dissolution, a sense of revelation, ineffability and transcendence of time and space.” Positive effects are not limited to large doses. Microdosing – a technique in which a user takes a very small and barely noticeable dosage anywhere between once to a few times a week for a prolonged period of time– is also an effective way to treat mental health symptoms, boost creativity, and increase open mindedness. But of course, these methods are not without potential drawbacks. So, it is extremely important to be informed on these topics before jumping into a potentially life-altering experience.

My first interview was with Dean Simottas, a close friend of mine who has experienced many hallucinogenic trips. He described his experience on magic mushrooms as being like “a filter

Photo VIA DAVIDRPHOTO/FLICKR

over your world. Colours are more vibrant, things are wavier, and sounds reverberate.” For him, mushrooms were almost always enjoyable. His widened eyes paced around his warmly lit room in order to remember clearly. His hands motioned along with his words like he was conducting a symphony.

He described his experience on LSD as being more “energizing.” Upon asking about his DMT trip, his eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. “If the first two are a lazy river boat ride, this is a rocket ship to space,” he says. Finally, I asked him what he learnt from his experiences, to which he replied that he became more “open minded to topics like spirituality” and “things that can’t be explained by science.”

It also made me really get into Pink Floyd.

My second interview was with a coworker, Nikolas, another avid psychedelic user. He told me about 2-CB, a rare but “amazing” psychedelic.

According to him, its uniqueness lies in the mental clarity you continue to have in spite of the sensory stimulation and changes in perception. “Me and my friend Jamie both hallucinated an owl in the ceiling” he said with a wide grin. His frequent smiling and laughing tells me he enjoys reminiscing on these experiences. He was tranquil, well-spoken. I asked if these trips changed his outlook on life in any way, to which he replied that it “expanded

[his] understanding of human perception. We get locked predominantly in sight and touch, and our understanding of the world is uniquely tied to our physiology, but there’s a lot of things out there that we don’t understand.”

Lastly, I facetimed with Matthew Bergamin, a friend and student in the Social Studies program at Dawson.

“How do you like to spend your psychedelic trips?” I asked. Matthew, with a joint in the corner of his cracked lips, says that he enjoys being outside.

“I just sat on my porch looking at my neighbourhood, which is not something I ever do. It brought me to the present moment, made me wonder when was the last time I took a shower and was actually in the shower.” LSD in particular taught him the importance of “seeing the bigger picture,” and “overthinking less.” “Everything started to look more alive. The waves in my painting were really moving, like an animation. It also made me really get into Pink Floyd.”

As for their advice on how to ensure a safe, enjoyable trip, each and every one of them said to “be with people you trust,” and “be in a safe place.”

Dean emphasized to make sure that you are not neglecting any responsibilities beforehand, Nikolas highlighted the importance of giving yourself time to recover before getting back to real life, and according to Matthew, “don’t be around too many sober people, they’ll sketch you out.” p p

16 THE PLANT

As Seen On Zoom: Amélie Chornet, International Business JESSICA GEAREY News Editor

Amélie Chornet is an International Business student and the DSU’s new Director of Club’s and Services.

On a gloomy Tuesday morning we spoke through Zoom to talk about the DSU, mental health, and her aspirations for the future.

When she and a group of her friends proposed to the DSU that they wanted to start an investment club, she noticed that the process was gruellingly slow. “We had a really hard time starting it,” she says, “the DSU wasn’t really being open to hearing about our ideas or collaborating with us.” This incident prompted her and current DSU Chairperson Kevin ContantHolowatyj to run in the DSU elections.

It was Contant-Holowatyj who convinced Chornet to run with him. She says that she “really wanted club life to expand at Dawson,” and believes the way to do that is by improving accessibility and making the club creation process easier.

Outside the DSU, Chornet, like most students, finds the online school setting difficult. “I’m a very social person, so to be in my room doing all my classes and seeing people just on a screen is really tough,” she says. She adds that the little things like stepping into a classroom or sitting with all her friends are what she misses the most.

However, she tries to remain positive.

Chornet also has a love for travel. Throughout her life she’s had the chance to visit Europe, several parts of South America, and Senegal in West Africa. “Throughout high school I had a lot of intercultural experiences. I would attend other schools in different countries,” she says. “Learning about other people, cultures and just exploring the world is what I love.” She plans to visit parts of Asia and more of Africa when travel is safe again.

With school and the DSU, Chornet doesn’t have a lot of free time.

Photo VIA @MY_DSU ON INSTAGRAM

When she does have a spare moment, most of it needs to be reserved for sleep, but there are other restful downtime activities. “I like reading, spending time with my family, and I have a really cute dog,” she says.

Chornet also stresses the importance of taking care of her mental health with so much on her plate. She explains that she has “always had bad anxiety problems, so over the years I have developed certain tendencies to help.” She says she treats herself as she would treat a friend. Doing things like meditating before bed or making a time schedule helps her manage her stress. “I tell myself that I have to give myself breaks and I have to breathe, and I have to sleep,” she says. She emphasizes that her anxiety has helped her be more emotionally intelligent.

Chornet adds that her particular set of circumstances “has made me understand myself more.” Chornet is now

able to manage her stress, while also knowing how to predict her reactions to certain situations and how to calm herself down. These aspects of her growth make Chornet proud of how much stronger she has gotten through her mental health journey.

When I asked Chornet how her friends would describe her, she emphasized that she is a good listener. As the Director of Club and Services she knows that the pandemic has impacted the connections that she could have made with students, but she doesn’t let that get in the way of who she is.

She notes that she loves to hear what people are thinking, and as Director of Clubs and Services that’s a good skill to have. “I think I’m a very caring person,” she says, “I want the best for the people I love.” Hopefully Chornet will be able to put her good listening skills to use soon. p p

VOICES 17 17

Recipe Ramble: Sugar Cookies JULIE JACQUES Managing Editor

My Grandma overdoes it. She makes ten pounds of mashed potatoes for eight people, sending everyone off with heavy Tupperware and careful instructions for defrosting/reheating. But the effort she puts into meals is the most eloquent expression of feelings she knows.

Claire Bouchard, like most matriarchs, is blessed with the uncanny ability to hold a home together with food, and for that, I have always been grateful. Whenever I cook or bake, I try to channel that energy: love of food, love of family…

I certainly wasn’t given the privilege of helping out in the kitchen in my early years. As a child, I was banished with the swat of a wooden spoon– understandably of course, due to the pots of boiling water and counters covered in precariously balanced knives (perhaps I’m more accurately describing my own kitchen situation rather than my grandmother’s).

Years later, and I’m still not allowed into Christmas dinner kitchens. There’s too much going on, and so little space! The delicate pastry for our Tourtière du Lac St Jean and

the 100s of potato donuts (sent home with everyone at the end of the night) are dealt with by my grandmother and godmother.

However, I’ve been privy to a few of my grandma’s secrets over the years. The perfect buttercream includes a splash of cream for the fluffy texture, and you have to whip your log cake batter for at least 7 minutes for it to gain enough volume.

The perfect custard can’t be rushed, and éclairs au chocolat taste a million times better in bite size than in regular size, for whatever reason.

If you can’t tell, I’ve always preferred desserts. That’s why when Curiosities Editor Adela approached me to help her out with a recipe for this month’s section, I jumped at the chance! We brainstormed for a bit, looking for a straightforward, fun recipe to make, and I immediately thought of sugar cookies– simple but festive.

Of course, you might think, sugar cookies, huh? Somewhat overdone… Well, they can be slightly boring, but they’re only boring if you make them boring! So, Adela and I decided to come out of our comfort zones and try something we’d never done before: slice and bake cookies.

The concept of slice and bake cookies is quite simple, actually. You know when you buy those delicious Pillsbury cookies around Easter or Halloween, and they have a design in the center, something like a bunny or jack-o-lantern? Those are, effectively, slice and bake cookies, except they’re pre sliced for the consumer. To make them at home, you make sugar cookies, divide your batch, dye one part and use the leftover dough to cover it.

Mistakes still yield tasty treats.

Adela and I had never actually tried this before, and looking back, we may have done some things differently. For example, the green food colouring we got was a lighter, almost neon green. We figured it would be fine to make trees with, but when they came out of the oven, we realized the green was way too light and the lines between regular cookie and dyed cookie were very blurred.

Also, we seemed to have trouble with the general size of our cookies.

Our cutters were pretty big, so wrapping cookie dough around an already general cookie sized tree or snowflake proved to be harder than we thought.

Nevertheless, we prevailed! The cookies were delicious – soft, crumbly, with a nice wintry peppermint taste to them, kudos to some rare and precious peppermint extract.

Another thing I enjoy about baking: nothing is ever quite perfect.

I’ve always found that motivating, but also, comforting. I know that if I accidentally scramble eggs in my custard or overproof my doughnuts, I can always try again next week. And, most of the time, as my grandmother often reminds me, mistakes still yield tasty treats. p p

Photo VIA E01/FLICKR

18 THE PLANT

Ethereal This month, each contribution I received was more ethereal than the last. If the naked trees and sparse, dirty snowbanks outside don’t give you chills, these poems will. Their words melt like ice in the mouth and warm like a cup of chamomile tea.

Peace and Love Always, MAYAN GODMAIRE Creative Writing Editor

Untitled ANONYMOUS Contributor i. the snake it sang some words of love and i was a fool and believed them

Color’s story KIDDO Contributor They have stories.

They have personalities.

Green, for example, is the wonderful love story between a happy sun and a free ocean.

Together, they gave life to grass.

Grass, so small and yet so big.

Grass, that searches water to survive and wind to feel free.

Together, they gave life to trees: our lungs.

Or at least that’s what a kid told me.

He told me: “That’s green’s story”.

Maybe he’s wrong, and maybe he’s not.

But what I do know is that, that kid understood something very important.

He understood that seeing life in colors is seeing life itself.

CREATIVE WRITING 19

ursa minor GABRIELLE PILON Contributor Flickers of light speckled Across the dark ocean above, Its waves Enveloping the Earth in a Blanket with too many Holes. Letting the cold in.

Within its depths, I see you Shining brightly, I can spot you From miles away From my quiet field, The tickling green grass Confusing my senses As I gaze up at the maze Of lighthouses, Trying to guide my hazelnut eyes.

But, I am focused. On you As you dance, among Countless other lanterns Each perfectly placed Among the rest,

(I love you)

As they hang so low, I reach my hand out.

Stretching my fingers That have always been too Short Grabbing onto nothing My hand slipping through,

JEANNE HOPE Contributor

Grasping at the cold air, I feel.

a hovering cloud shaped like a shoe over you, through the sand in my eyes, I see through to you.

empty.

Adrift Like a boat, Lost. At sea.

But I believe that, you Will one day guide me, Polaris, To the sky

little pears dipped and dropped in warm champagne, the yellow and gold splatter a faint tattoo on you. a car crash in the tall trees, its color drains of blue, two legs crushed, flesh, it feels like a déjà-vu for you. the red corkscrew on the couch, shrimp and cashew, do you remember when I got the stomach flu, with you? the ladybugs crying blood in June on the Japanese yew, I swam through the typhoon and the bullshit, anew for you. the mother and father in the kitchen, your world of view, an interview over fondue as I listen to blink-182 with you. you call me honeydew, and Jeanne disappears, a preview of the next twenty-two years. I will never bid adieu, to you.

20 THE PLANT

CREATIVE WRITING 20

My Gift CHAILY BITTON Contributor

abraham’s silence CYRIELLE OUEDRAOGO Contributor the son lay stretched out on bright rock skin taut atop crumbling bones as besides him the father wept and sharpened blade against grey stone under his back slick oxen blood below fingertips reddened mud a heavy hand descends upon his pleading lips. a reddened sun around him feathers fallen all, his tongue ashen soon fed to grief, and narrowed eyes made wide to see the gleam of silver quick and brief the time is come, and sobs the child dew pooling on quivering cheeks a silent plea to father’s palm the sun scorching his muffled psalm but not a quiver in his eye father holds faith and wields the blade but not a quiver in his cheek or time enough to dare to speak

It seems foolish to keep the same name when I am called seven others.

My grandfather’s name was many others, too.

But mostly, he went by Charlie.

My mother three days into labor and two days after her Birthday looked upon me and said: My gift.

A “chai” just for me.

An utterance of two Hebrew words and I was set for what is seeming to be a lifetime of a head tilt to the side.

A stuttering of an open mouth and a whisper of hesitation saying: Ka, Cha, Sha.

SPORTS 21 21

Skateboarding in the Olympics DONTÉ KYDD-RICHMOND Sports Editor

After being enjoyed as both a profession and a hobby for decades, skateboarding will take a huge step forward in visibility as it makes its Olympic debut at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo (which are retaining their 2020 branding but will be held in 2021).

Divided into street and park competitions, the event will take place at the Ariake Urban Sports Park in Tokyo on July 26 and 27 for the street competitions, and on August 5 and 6 for the park competitions.

Historically represented at events such as the X-Games and the Copenhagen Open, the introduction of skateboarding into the Olympics perhaps marks a turning point for the popularity of the sport; a sport that has long been a niche activity, characteristic of a unique subculture that is not always accessible, let alone well known, to the average person. Long seen as rebellious and irreverent, the inclusion of skateboarding in an event as globally mainstream as the Olympics is new to skaters and novices alike, and reception to this event has gone in different directions.

Many see the introduction of skating in the Olympics as a good thing; a win for skateboarding worldwide that allows for both wider recognition and less negative perception for the sport. Rick Maese’s article for The Washington Post (titled “Skateboarders wonder whether the Olympics will change sport’s renegade image”) asks people close to the sport

their thoughts on the move; “Honestly, I think skateboarding would be just fine if it wasn’t in the Olympics,” says Ryan Sheckler, a highly accomplished American skateboarder, “but now it’s here, and I think it can open the eyes to a whole new generation. People are going to see it’s not something to be frowned upon. It’s not a crime. It’s in the Olympics now. It’s like super official.” Young skateboarder Brighton Zeuner remarked, “I remember thinking: ‘Okay, that’s pretty cool. The Olympics — I guess that’s what I want to do now.’”

Long seen as rebellious and irreverent, the inclusion of skateboarding in an event as globally mainstream as the Olympics is new to skaters and novices alike.

Other opinions on the matter weren’t as positive; Tony Alva, a pioneer of vertical skateboarding and an undeniable legend of the sport, had things to say about it. “Skateboarding as a creative art form needs to disassociate with political corruption and a greedy IOC [International Olympic Committee] association,” Alva told Highsnobiety, “the athletes are the only people that really have any soul.

They too are being exploited for all the wrong reasons. Keep it real. Boycott the Olympics. Unless they clean up their act.”

Obviously there is doubt about the sincerity of this acceptance of skateboarding culture by an event as highly regarded and sophisticated as the Olympics. Will its inclusion dilute the sport and water down the authenticity of its culture and lore? Or will increased exposure breathe new life into the already vibrant scene?

The answer to that question depends on who you ask. Kit McConnell, sports director for the IOC, assured every one of the Olympics’ noble intentions; “We want to keep that spirit of skateboarding,” McConnell said, “it’s not just about taking skateboarding and making it feel like another Olympic sport. It’s about taking what’s very special about skateboarding and adding that onto the Olympic stage.”

While some experts and pioneers of the skateboarding world may feel skeptical, others are hopeful. “I think some people are scared it’s taking away the identity of skateboarding,” said Ryan Sheckler, “kind of that renegade, go out, skate where you’re not supposed to skate, have fun with friends and party. But it’s not going to take anything away from that. The sport is about freedom. No one is forcing anyone to go to the Olympics or skate in contests.” Sean Malto, another highly recognized skater, commented on how many don’t see skateboarding as a sport at all, and how the Olympics might change that. “Of course I hear people talk about the Olympics and if that’s going to change things. It definitely will,” said Malto. “It makes things a little more regimented. But I also think you get eyes on the sport, you get people involved at another level.”

As diehard sports fans and everyday viewers alike await the Olympics, an entirely new demographic now also has something to look forward to. In the grander scheme of things, we are all anticipating how these skateboarding events will ultimately impact the popularity, validity and connotations of the sport. Whether you are hopeful or pessimistic for how this will play out, skateboarding will never be the same. p p

Photo VIA SKATE NEWSWIRE

22 THE PLANT

SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT 22

Coronavirus Vaccine: What You Need To Know has never been approved of before: mRNA (messenger RNA) vaccines.

These are actually considered to be safer. According to the CBC article “What are the side effects of Pfizer’s, Moderna’s vaccines? Your questions answered” by writers Emily Chung and Amina Zafar, this “type of vaccine does not contain any virus or viral proteins, which means it can’t cause a real infection.”

Photo VIA BBC LAURA GERVAIS Science & Environment Editor

Nine months ago, we naïvely thought we were getting an extra week of Spring break. We all know how that turned out. Now, Christmas has officially been cancelled in Québec and it’s definitely not the most wonderful time of the year. Everyone is anxiously awaiting the return to “normal” — to get out of the house, to reunite with friends and family, to start living again.

A vaccine is on its way, and according to Health Canada, it could even be approved before Christmas.

"Thankfully, a vaccine is on its way. Usually, it takes approximately ten years to complete an approved vaccine — from the development stage to the clinical trials — and this time around, it has been a matter of months. The UK was the first out the gate; it approved one lot of Pfizer’s vaccines and has already begun inoculating its most vulnerable citizens as of December 8. Bahrain was the

second country to approve the vaccine. On December 9, Health Canada also approved the Pfizer vaccine.

This makes Canada the third country in the world to authorize it, and officials say that the first vaccinations could occur within a week!"

There are multiple vaccine contenders, but the main two are those produced by Pfizer and Moderna.

The Pfizer candidate is the most advanced, as it has completed the third phase of clinical trials. This means that the vaccine has been tested initially on 1-100 volunteers to check its functionality, then on 50-500 volunteers to verify schedule and dosage, and finally on 300-30,000 volunteers to confirm positive results on a larger scale. On November 18, the company announced that their vaccine proved to be 95% effective. Moderna’s clinical trial is still ongoing, but they’re not too far behind; their vaccine has shown to be 94.5% effective.

An interesting thing about both vaccines is that they both use a new, never-seen-before technology. Unlike the traditional protein-based vaccine and the viral vector vaccine, which have both been around for a while now, Pfizer and Moderna have developed a new kind of vaccine which

However, there remain concerns and questions to address. For instance, neither vaccine has been tested on immunodeficient patients, children, or pregnant people. We also don’t know how long the vaccines would work once administered or their long-term effects. Short-term side effects do not seem to be serious — they include your normal pain at the injection site, slight fatigue, and headache, among others. Another crucial factor to look at is the distribution of the vaccine once it has been approved, and that may prove to be a challenge, since it must be stored at a temperature of -70°C. Because of this, the vaccination of citizens of developing countries will be no easy feat, but an essential one nonetheless.

It may take a while to go out in public without a mask, but I have hope that one day soon(ish) we will once again be able to actually smile at people— not just crinkle our eyes at them so they know we’re smiling underneath the mask. Dr. Christopher Labos, who the Enriched Science students were lucky to have as a seminar guest speaker in October, provided his own reassurance: “It looks as if both these vaccines are going to work, and very likely both these vaccines are going to be rolling out early 2021.” p p

CURIOSITIES 23 23

How to make

SLICE AND BAKE PEPPERMINT SUGAR COOKIES

Presented by

ADELA PIRILLO Curiosities Editor

Ingredients: 2 and ¼ cups of flour ½ teaspoon of baking powder ¼ teaspoon of salt ¾ cup of unsalted butter, room temperature ¾ cup of granulated sugar 1 egg 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract or ¼ teaspoon of peppermint extract Cookie cutters Food colouring Instructions: Cream the room temperature butter until light in colour.

Beat the butter and sugar together until fluffy.

Add in the egg and the peppermint extract or vanilla extract.

Whisk flour, salt, and baking powder in a separate bowl.

Add dry ingredients into wet ingredients and beat until a shaggy dough forms.

Section the dough into two halves and dye one half the colour of your cookie.

Roll out the dough to a ¼ inch thickness.

Use a cookie cutter to cut out your shapes!

Stack all the cut out shapes one on top another.

Roll out the undyed dough to ¼ thickness and drape it over the stack of cookies.

Refrigerate for an hour until the dough is firm.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Cut dough into cookie shapes to reveal your pattern!

Bake for 8-10 minutes.

Enjoy!

Note: The father of our Copy Editor confirms that with a few slight changes, the recipe is just as excellent for a festive Hanukkah household

Photo BY ADELA PIRILLO

Photo BY ARIELA FREEDMAN

24 THE PLANT

CURIOSITIES 24

HOROSCOPES Ah, we’ve reached December. While the 2020 holiday season may seem a little different, I hope you all are still surrounded with happiness. Once exams are officially over, take time to chill. Till we meet again in February!

BIRTHDAY: If you were born December 10th, happy happy happy birthday! Also, if you were born June 10th, happy happy happy half birthday!

ARIES (mar. 20 - apr. 18): Your value is not based on your productivity. Be content with yourself first and the rest will fall into place.

TAURUS (apr. 19 - may 20): Do not let fear and rejection discourage you this month, Tauruses. Instead let it fuel you to work even harder.

GEMINI (may 21 - june 20): Take time this month to truly unpack your feelings. Write them all down, listen to yourself, and if you feel comfortable, share them with someone you trust.

CANCER (june 21 - july 22): You are so ready to turn the page.

Be open to forgiveness and growth, Cancers. You are stronger than you think.

SAGITTARIUS (nov. 22 - dec. 21) : Use this month to help you figure out your goals for the future and how you will get there. You are in complete control.

LEO (july 23 - aug. 22): Be grateful this month, Leos. Find time to appreciate the little aspects of your life that make you happiest.

CAPRICORN (dec.22 - jan. 19): Do not listen to others who try to put you down. Capricorns, only you know what is best for you.

VIRGO (aug. 23 - sept. 22): Your past, your fear, and your anxiety do not define you. Remember that this month, Virgos.

AQUARIUS (jan. 20 - feb. 18): In a frankly very dim world, be a source of light and positivity. Lift someone up and do not forget about yourself along the way.

LIBRA (sept.23 - oct. 22): You cannot control the actions of others. This month, take time to prioritize your own peace. The only thing you can control is yourself.

PISCES (feb. 19 - mar. 19) : Your never ending to do list is finally coming to an end. Take time to relax and enjoy simplicity this month.

SCORPIO (oct. 23 - nov. 21): Scorpios, this month find some independence. You are allowed to want me-time.

COMIC

Curiosities by

ADELA PIRILLO Curiosities Editor

25

MASTHEAD

CONTRIBUTORS

Daylen Conserve Editor-in-Chief

Tomas Oyarzun Cover Artist

Benjamin Wexler Copy Editor

Alessandro Mortellaro Staff Writer

Julie Jacques Managing Editor

Maija Baroni Staff Writer

Pipa Jones Graphic Designer

Julia Quynh Staff Writer

Kyra Clark Ekaterini Damoulianos Jill Goldenberg Sophia Dolgin Lucia Foster Tina Lalonde Chaily Bitton Cyrielle Ouedraogo Jeanne Hope Gabrielle Pilon Anonymous Kiddo

Jessica Gearey News Editor Beatriz Neves Arts & Culture Editor Frédéric Guillette Visual Arts Editor Laura Gervais Sciences Editor Donté Kydd-Richmond Sports Editor Mayan Godmaire Creative Writing Editor Dinu Mahapatuna Voices Editor Adela Pirillo Curiosities Editor

CONTACT The Plant Newspaper Dawson College 3040 Rue Sherbrooke O Montréal, QC H3Z 1A4 2C.15 theplantnews.com theplantnewspaper@gmail.com @theplantnews