The Plant October 2024 VOL. 61 NO. 2

the plant SINCE 1969 VOL 61 NO 2 2024

OCTOBER @THEPLANTDAWSON THEPLANTNEWS.COM

2 THE PLANT

Letter from the Editor & Artist Statement Dear Lovely Readers, I hope everyone is coming well into a slower season. The shining, sprinting inspiration of summer is finally slowing to the cool, crackling breath of fall. As Montréalais, we get to watch the first leaves fall and think: “Wow, how fortunate am I that I get to live through the complete beauty brought on by four maximally distinct season, truly a privilege to have access to such a variety of weather that the unknowing Torontonian could never fathom!” Of course, by late November this enlarged perspective becomes worded more as “fuck this fucking place” once mittens and scarves become mandatory on the daily and the sun sets at 4:30pm. (Sorry for reminding you!)

Here, the cold comes in with the wind from all angles. Dressing, commuting, hanging out, schooling, not one corner of the world in each of our lives survives un-touched, un-frozen, unbundled-up. When my morning commute goes from the lovely Bixi through the trees of Westmount to the now scum-and-salt covered floor of the 211, that’s when I know we’ve reached the other side of the year.

As what’s around us becomes more cold and grey we look at it less. There’s so much less to see, leaving only the things to do. Homework, study, stress. Hanging on white-nuckled to fork & knife during family dinners and scheduling museum outings because of their insipidness, they’re all there is to keep your head from drowning in snow. The confinement and rigidity can be scarily depleting.

But NEVER forget that winter time… IS COZY TIME!!! :D!!! Hot chocolate! Blankets! TV shows! Movies with friends! Books! Video games! In the summer, they make one lazy, but now it’s what the culture’s feeling. And the most beautiful part? All these rituals warm the soul tenfold when done together. Being locked inside together focuses our connection. There’s no outside to escape to, nothing to pull us away from every twitch, every giggle, every snort and every flirt of those dearest to us. Does that often lead to madness? Of course. But madness is amazing.

As the trees die, and their leaves cover our city in flame, don’t let it freeze your heart. Keep yourself alive. Keep your community alive, and they’ll reflect a shine stronger than any summer star. And don’t ignore what’s outside too. The screaming cold, the blasting snow, those can bring euphoria in their own way (when experienced in a safe space with consent). Take the exo13 line to Mont-Saint-Hilaire for a hike, let the harsh weather happen to you. When the leaves fall their souls rise out into the air, and pulling their breath into your lungs brings a rush of invigoration like no caffeine can provide.

Fall gives us more time to read. Not just books, or The Plant, but each other. Because when the wind comes from all angles, it pushes us closer together.

Index NEWS

3

ARTS & CULTURE

6

VISUAL ARTS

8

VOICES

13

CREATIVE WRITING

18

SPORTS

20

SCIENCE &

23

ENVIRONMENT

25

CURIOSITIES

29

For better and for worse,

MIRREN BODANIS, Editor-in-Chief This month our cover is commemorating a year of resistance during the genocide in Gaza and highlighting Palestinian steadfastness and resilience in the face of the illegal Zionist occupation. While this cover might seem insensitively timed to some, the intention is to highlight that the Zionist occupation has been ongoing for the past 76 years and that October 7th was not the start. Besides the 42,000+ identifiable Palestinians killed & 100,000+ injured by Israel over the last year, major human rights associations (including the UN’s highest court) have found Israel to be guilty of maintaining an apartheid state. Additionally, the 1948 Nakba—Israel’s creation and initial occupation of Palestine—displaced over 700,000 Palestinians, whose descendants are still living in refugee camps or exile. According to the UN and B’tselem, Israel killed 7,958 Palestinians from 1987-2023 (before October), including 2,329 in 2014 alone, while 729 Israelis had been killed by Palestinian resistance in the same timeframe.

I want to clarify the subjects I have drawn for this month and their significance. The “key” is a very prominent symbol in Palestinian resistance.

It represents the original keys of homes lost during the Nakba (1948) and occupation, symbolising justice and the right to return. The olive trees play a very important role in Palestinian heritage and culture, symbolising the strong connection Palestinians have with their land. Additionally, the characters in the cover wear a scarf adorned with intricate patterns, known as a keffiyeh. Keffiyehs are often worn by palestinian-allied activists and supporters as a symbol of solidarity. Finally, a Palestinian and Lebanese flag are present in the background. Palestine’s flag holds a significance of sovereignty and resistance. I thought it was important to add the flag of Lebanon due its shared history of struggle alongside Palestine against Zionist occupation and in light of Israel’s recent bombing and invasion of Lebanon. Thanks! See you next month!

TOWA DI PROFIO, Cover Artist

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 2024

NEWS 3

Student Protesters Chant “No More Bombs on Lebanon” During October 7 Walkout as Israel Kills Over 2000 Lebanese SANAD HAMDOUNA Visual Arts Editor Co-E.i.C. On October 7th 2024, hundreds of students from Universities and Cegeps across Montreal staged a walkout to mark a year since Hamas fighters breached the wall surrounding the beseiged Gaza Strip and attacked Israel, as well as to respond to one year of genocide in Gaza. They once again demanded their universities divest their finances and academics away from Israel, weapons manufacturers, and other war profiteers.

Yet among the usual chants of “free Palestine”, new chants also emerged, this time focusing on Lebanon, which had suffered a number of savage Israeli assaults in the previous weeks.

Hezbollah, a Lebanese faction with a significant armed wing, has been exchanging fire at a low intensity with Israel since October 8th 2023 in solidarity with the people of Gaza. But things escalated dramatically on the 17th of September, when thousands of pagers simultaneously exploded in Lebanon. The next day, walkietalkies and other small devices reportedly exploded too. These explosions injured nearly 3500 people and killed 42 according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.

This act of terror was allegedly part of an Israeli plot targeting Hezbollah operatives, yet according to Amnesty International: “Evidence indicates that those who planned and carried out these attacks could not verify who would be harmed when the devices exploded.” Videos of the attack quickly circulated online depicting pagers exploding in grocery stores, residential streets, and other busy public places, giving further evidence to the indiscriminate and careless fashion of the attacks, which led to the maiming of hundreds and killing of dozens of Lebanese civilians, including children. Additionally, Amnesty indicates

in their report that these pagers were not only distributed to Hezbollah fighters, but also to employees of civil institutions, such as healthcare workers.

These consequences are precisely why booby traps are largely prohibited under international law; indeed, this entire operation may violate the UN 1996 “Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby-Traps and Other Devices”.

Like with any act of terror, the psychological impact of this attack on the civilian population is intense, creating profound anxiety around the use of everyday technological items, such as phones and tvs, in fear they may also be booby trapped. One Lebanese civilian told Amnesty: “I left my phone at home, I didn’t open a laptop, I became paranoid. […] I don’t want people next to me. Because if they have a device, I am gone with them.”

If the pager terror attack wasn’t already considered a declaration of war, Israel then launched an intense bombing campaign starting on the 23rd of September. On the very first day of this bombing campaign Israel killed 558 Lebanese people, including 94 women and 50 children, and injured at least 1835 others according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health. Israel also started the day by attacking ambulances, health centers, and hospitals, killing 4 medics and injuring at least 16 others. A chilling reminder of Israel’s recent willful destruction of the Palestinian healthcare system in Gaza, leading to tens of thousands of excess deaths.

On the 27th of September, Israel killed Hassan Nasrallah, who had led Hezbollah for the last 32 years, in a wave of explosions that also leveled six apartment buildings, according to Al Jazeera The Lebanese Foreign Minister, Abdallah Bou Habib,

PHOTO BY WILLIAM WILSON @WILLIAMWILSONPHOTOGRAPHY, 7/10/2024

later revealed in a CNN interview that Nasrallah had agreed to a 21 day ceasefire shortly before he was assassinated by Israel.

Rumours of a similar deal had been in circulation shortly before Israel assassinated Hamas’ chief negotiator, Ismail Haniyeh, in July.

Despite decapitating Hezbollah, Israel said that it will keep bombing Lebanon.

According to Al Jazeera, Israeli attacks across Lebanon have killed at least 2071 people as of October 7th 2024, many of whom were civilians, and—according to the UN refugee agency—displaced as many as 1.2 Million civilians, nearly a quarter of the country’s population.

Israel’s attacks have long been criticized as disproportionate and inflicting too much damage on civilians and civilian infrastructure, but according to the Institute for Middle East Understanding (IMEU), that’s intentional.

The Dahiya Doctrine, is an Israeli military doctrine that calls for “the deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure” with overwhelming and disproportionate military force The Dahiya Doctrine, is an Israeli military doctrine that calls for “the deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure” with overwhelming and disproportionate military force, seemingly to punish civilians and push them to become hostile to enemies of Israel operating in their country. There is no evidence suggesting the doctrine has been successful. According to IMEU, it was made official in 2006 and was named after the southern Beirut suburb of Dahiya, where Hezbollah held its headquarters. The suburb was leveled in Israel’s 2006 attacks, which killed around 1000 civilians, a third of them children.

Evidence suggests Israel is once again applying the Dahiya Doctrine to the suburb and across Lebanon. Like with Gaza, Israel is deliberately killing civilians in Lebanon, and Canadian universities like McGill and Concordia still seem unbothered by their role in facilitating these atrocities.

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Stranger Danger: A Myth That Masks the True Threat to Women THALIA RUIZ RAMIREZ News Editor Every day, approximately 30 women attempt suicide as a result of domestic abuse, according to the National Centre for Domestic Violence. Much of society still clings to the notion of “stranger danger”— the idea that the greatest threats to safety come from unfamiliar faces according to The Oxford Learners’ Dictionary. But this belief distorts the reality of violence against women, often obscuring the real danger that lurks closer to home.

The myth of “stranger danger” is not only misleading but harmful—it encourages women to lower their guard around familiar faces while heightening their anxiety toward unknown individuals. This misplaced focus not only perpetuates ignorance about the real dangers women face, but also distracts us from creating protective measures where they are needed most: at home.

Statistics show that strangers do not perpetrate the vast majority of sexual abuse and assault cases. In 2022, 90% of reported sexual assault victims were women and girls, with 74% of them knowing their assailant personally. Whether it’s a family member, friend, or intimate partner, these are the relationships where women are most vulnerable. Only 13% of sexual assaults were committed by strangers, according to Statistics Canada. This stark reality calls into question the conventional wisdom that shapes our understanding of safety and trust.

The tragic case of Kristina Joksimovic, a former Miss Switzerland finalist, offers a horrifying example of how the real threat to women often emerges from within the home. According to The Indian Express, in February 2023, Joksimovic was murdered by her husband, Thomas, in a brutal act of domestic violence that shocked Switzerland and reverberated internationally.

Joksimovic was not only strangled but her body was also mutilated and dismembered in a chilling display of intimate partner violence. Thomas, who confessed to the crime, used a blender to “puree” parts of her body—a gruesome detail that emerged during his trial.

While Joksimovic’s case made headlines in Europe, stories of domestic violence are tragically common across the world.

In Kenya, the death of Ugandan Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei further

PHOTO VIA @SANSI AND PNGEGG

and survivor support services.

Every day, approximately campaigns The murders of Joksimovic and 30 women attempt suicide Cheptegei represent just two of many across the globe that expose the as a result of domestic cases myth of “stranger danger” for what it abuse, according to truly is—a convenient, but misleading Women are not most at risk the National Centre for narrative. from the shadowy figure lurking in a dark Domestic Violence. alleyway; they are far more likely to be underscores the devastating impact of gender-based violence. Cheptegei, who had recently competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics, was set on fire by her boyfriend in a horrific attack that left her with burns on 75% of her body, says CBC News. She succumbed to her injuries shortly after the attack, sparking outrage and a national reckoning on the issue of intimate partner violence.

Cheptegei’s death was not an isolated incident. In recent years, Kenya has seen several high-profile cases of domestic violence involving female athletes, including Kenyan runner Agnes Tirop and Bahraini athlete Damaris Muthee Mutua. These cases have fueled the growing conversation about the “silent epidemic” of violence against women in Kenya. According to the 2023 Kenyan Demographic and Health Survey, more than 11 million women in the country have experienced physical or sexual violence from a partner during their lifetime, and 2.8 million endured such violence in the past year alone. Cheptegei’s death, in particular, sparked the creation of Tirop’s Angels, an advocacy group that aims to combat gender-based violence through awareness

harmed by someone they know and trust.

Domestic violence, intimate partner abuse, and gender-based violence cut across all cultural, social, and economic lines, making them truly global issues.

In many societies, the stigma surrounding domestic abuse further complicates the ability of women to seek help or escape dangerous situations. For some women, the fear of being judged or ostracised by their communities keeps them trapped in cycles of violence. Others may be financially dependent on their abusers, or they may lack the legal resources or social support needed to leave safely. This is where the responsibility of governments, non-governmental organisations( NGOs), and communities becomes vital: creating safe environments, ensuring accessible legal recourse, and promoting awareness about the real dangers women face. Women deserve to feel safe in the spaces they occupy daily, and that can only happen when we acknowledge the true sources of harm and work to dismantle them.

Additional resources: A 24/7 call service offered by the government of Québec at 1-800-363-9010

NEWS 5 5

NewJeans - The K-Pop Corporate Mess SARAH BENSETITI Secretary In July 2023, social media platforms TikTok and Instagram were electrified by the infectious lyrics, “I’m super shy, super shy, but wait a minute while I make you mine, make you mine.” This catchy tune, titled “Super Shy,” marked a significant milestone for NewJeans, catapulting the K-pop group to unprecedented heights of fame and success. The song not only dominated the Billboard Global 200 but also made impressive strides on the US Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart. This surge in popularity cemented NewJeans’ status as one of the best-selling artists in the global music scene, showcasing their widespread appeal and talent.

However, on September 11, 2024, the K-pop industry was rocked by an unforeseen turn of events that sent shockwaves through the community. The five members of NewJeans—Minji, Danielle, Hanni, Haerin, and Hyein—went live on YouTube without the consent or knowledge of their managing company, Hybe. During this unsanctioned broadcast, the members candidly expressed their feelings of insecurity and dissatisfaction under the new management, issuing an ultimatum demanding the reinstatement of Min Heejin, the former CEO of Ador, the subsidiary under which NewJeans initially rose to fame. This bold move to speak out against Hybe, a near-monopoly in the K-pop world with subsidiaries like BigHit Music (home to BTS and Tomorrow X Together), Belift Lab (Enhypen), and Pledis Entertainment (Seventeen), sent shockwaves through the industry, highlighting the intense internal conflict within the company.

The roots of this controversy trace back even before NewJeans’ highly anticipated debut in July 2022 with their single “Attention.” Tensions heightened significantly with the release of Le Sserafim’s single “Fearless” in May

VIA NEWJEANS INSTAGRAM

Since the live video, NewJeans has remained silent, leaving many to speculate whether this marks the end of their journey as a group under Hybe’s management.

2022. Min Heejin, the visionary CEO of Ador, accused Hybe of plagiarizing her innovative concept for NewJeans. She believed that her meticulously crafted group was being undermined and overshadowed by the debut of Le Sserafim. Renowned for her avant-garde approach to the K-pop industry, Min Heejin envisioned NewJeans as a groundbreaking force, blending styles from the iconic 1990s and 2000s to redefine fifth-generation K-pop, setting new trends and standards in the industry.

Le Sserafim’s debut, however, threatened to eclipse Min Heejin’s meticulously planned introduction of NewJeans, igniting a fierce rivalry that underscored the high stakes and intense competition within the K-pop industry. The situation deteriorated further when Hybe, alarmed by Min Heejin’s 18% stake in Ador, feared she might attempt to take over the subsidiary and sever it from the parent company. Convinced she could persuade investors to support Ador’s independence, Hybe initiated an audit on April 24, 2024, leading to Min Heejin’s demotion from CEO to creative director, a move that further intensified the internal strife.

In retaliation, Min Heejin made broad statements alleging new plagiarism issues involving NewJeans and the newly debuted five-member girl group ILLIT, known for their hit song “Magnetic.” She claimed that ILLIT’s style and choreography closely mirrored that of Ador’s group, adding fuel to the fire. On April 25, 2024, Hybe reported Min Heejin to the police for breach of trust, citing audit evidence that suggested she planned to take over Ador.

The evidence included detailed discussions between Min Heejin and Ador employees about pressuring Hybe into selling the subsidiary’s shares, further complicating the already tumultuous situation.

On the same day, a press conference was held where Min Heejin denied the accusations despite the compelling evidence presented. She reiterated her plagiarism claims against Hybe and publicly defended her position, maintaining her stance firmly.

A month of silence followed, but in late May, BeLift Lab, the company behind ILLIT, filed a defamation lawsuit against

Min Heejin. They sought to protect their new girl group from the allegations, which had significant psychological effects on its members. This case is ongoing, but the court ruled that Min Heejin could retain her position as CEO of Ador despite Hybe’s audit, a decision that added another layer of complexity to the saga.

Despite these legal battles, NewJeans experienced success with their comeback “How Sweet” in June and July 2024.

However, it was not long before tensions rose again. Source Music, the subsidiary behind Le Sserafim, decided to sue Min Heejin for slandering their respective girl groups, staff, and participating creators.

This lawsuit, combined with others still pending, led Min Heejin to step down as CEO of Ador on August 27, 2024. She also declined a job offer from Hybe to become NewJeans’ producer, deeming the position unreasonable and untenable, highlighting the irreparable rift between her and the parent company.

The YouTube live session by NewJeans was a desperate plea for the reinstatement of a leader they trusted and felt safe with. In their public denouncement, they emphasised that Min Heejin’s primary concern was always the well-being and protection of the group against Hybe’s management practices. Since the live video, NewJeans has remained silent, leaving many to speculate whether this marks the end of their journey as a group under Hybe’s management.

The future of NewJeans remains uncertain, but their audacious stand against one of the most powerful entertainment companies in the K-pop world has already left an indelible mark on the industry. Fans are closely watching this situation, which could potentially trigger significant changes in how K-pop artists are managed and treated in the future. The fallout from this controversy may reshape the landscape of the K-pop industry, highlighting the urgent need for better management practices and artist protections. For the time being, however, NewJeans are believed to never be able to make music under Hybe again, a development that has left the K-pop world in a state of uncertainty and anticipation.

6 THE PLANT

Jumping out of the Big Screen: How the Manic Pixie Dream Girls Affects Women EZRA BUCUR Creative Writing Editor

In the world of character creation and fiction, the use of tropes is inescapable.

One does not have to look too deep to see this in some of the world’s oldest literary works. Common examples from the “damsel in distress” and the “heroic knight” of childhood fairytales, to the “blonde bombshells” and “rugged cowboys” of Old Hollywood come to mind when thinking of these stereotypes. Each character type has a specific, unchanging set of characteristics and a designated part that they must always play. As times changed and evolved,artists from marginalised communities dissected the many problems behind all these tropes. These critics pointed out that behind the seemingly innocent and sometimes comedic veneer of these

Girl, a reimagined “modern” woman that nevertheless falls into the same pitfalls as many older female character archetypes.

The term Manic Pixie Dream Girl was first coined by film critic Nathan Rabin in 2007, in his review of the film Elizabethtown (2005). In his review, he described Kristen Dunst’s character as such, writing that her character only sought “to teach broodingly soulful young men to embrace life and its infinite mysteries and adventures”.

Whilst he is the originator of the term itself, the trope had existed for years prior to that, with Rabin listing out the embodiment of these tropes in a 2008 article in The A.V Club. However, who comes to mind most vividly when this trope is brought up are Clementine from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), Ramona Flowers from

Most importantly, however, is that no matter how much she stands out, she remains a conventionally attractive (and usually always white) young woman. characters, there often exists a racist, sexist or homophobic message being peddled to audiences. For example, the damsel in distress trope became more and more critiqued by women, namely due to the popularity of the New Woman movement of the 1920s.

Ultimately, what could be downplayed as being “just a work of fiction” can impact the way that real people would be perceived. As a result, these archaic tropes slowly disappeared from modern productions, following the trend of various activist and artistic movements of the latter 20th century that sought to question and deconstruct the world around them.

If old character archetypes were to be utilised in movies, it would serve as a vessel to dismantle and critique these old ideologies. Despite this push to modernise fictional characters, they remain derived from the very same tropes that created and influenced them, a reflection of the society their authors exist in. This means that modern tropes, even when they are trying to distance themselves from old stereotypes, can lead to peddling these same outdated ideas. One of such tropes is the Manic Pixie Dream

Scott Pilgrim V.S The World (2010) and Summer from 500 Days of Summer (2009).

The Manic Pixie Dream Girl is a girl unlike any that the viewer has ever seen on screen. She’s different. Her hair is dyed in bright colours, her fashion sense leans on alternative styles. Her music taste is obscure and underground. All of these character traits exist in perfect correspondence with how she presents herself. She is mysterious, quirky, staying away from all those other girls, as she incarnates otherness. Most importantly, however, is that no matter how much she stands out, she remains a conventionally attractive (and usually always white) young woman. Indeed, the Manic Pixie Dream Girl does not serve herself, but rather the relatable male protagonist and the male viewer’s fantasy. Throughout the runtime of the movie, she assists the main, male character, giving him a sense of purpose he was unable to find within itself. All that could make a Manic Pixie Dream Girl grow and develop as her own person is instead thrusted upon the male character. For him, she is a life lesson, a goal to attain, a reason to grow and exist as a better man. On

the flipside, his female counterpart rarely gets any of that development herself. Ironically, despite these women being depicted as more “deep” and “interesting” than the fellow women within their own universe, they become a flat, one-dimensional character in the real world. The Manic Pixie Dream Girl is less of a character in her own right, acting instead as a plot device, a tool to advance the male character’s soul-searching journey.

In this way, she does not differ from other older female tropes. Notably, the damsel in distress also serves to build courage within the male character, so that he can one day hope to “save her”.

The only difference this time is that the onus of “saving” is on the man, using the woman as a proxy for his character growth throughout the movie, ignoring any struggles she might face.

However, whilst the idea of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl is flawed in the way in which it portrays women on the silver screen, this trope does not exist within a vacuum. “Unconventional” interests, traits or personality types are worshipped and venerated granted the woman who possesses them is seen as attractive, but only on a surface level. Women who dress themselves in alternative ways or have tastes that “differ” from what women are supposed to like to get fetishized and harassed. This behaviour is even more flagrant online, with many men feeling emboldened to post degrading and sexual comments under any girl who fits their preconceived notions of a “life changing experience”. Neurodivergent women are especially vulnerable to this mischaracterization, as their quirks and differences in presentation are seen as commodities by romantic prospects. Some men are drawn in by the enthralling Manic Pixie Dream Girl from their favourite movies, expecting real women to behave the same way. On the flipside, women feel pressured to “help” the men they care about, as they are once again told that they serve no purpose besides aiding the men that see them as nothing but a prospect. They also feel the need to adopt this persona of otherness and difference in order to even feel seen, even if they will be perceived in all the wrong ways. Through attempting to create a girl that stood out, that was

ARTS & CULTURE 7

different, male writers and directors have instead reinforced the patriarchal narrative that a woman can only exist to be a companion to a man, but never her own person.

traits. From an early age to further into adulthood, they are othered, deemed “quirky” and “awkward” by men and women alike. However, these same traits are fetishized when

Most importantly, however, is that no matter how much she stands out, she remains a conventionally attractive (and usually always white) young woman.

Despite this, art is experienced by all, not just the initial target audience. This means that many women, especially those who are neurodivergent or otherwise just considered “unconventional” find solace in characters who fit the Manic Pixie Dream Girl archetype. This may be due to a similar musical taste presented by these characters, or a similar style of dress. Many girls also feel inspired by the way these women present themselves and aspire to look and act like them. For example, many girls enjoy “The Smiths”, much like Summer from 500 Days of Summer, or dress in a similar fashion as Ramona Flowers from Scott Pilgrim v.s the World. This can be an inspiring result of these movies and can even serve as representation for many women out there. Unfortunately, this comes at the cost of being put into another box.

Neurodivergent women are fetishized and infantilised for their neurodivergent

displayed on a Manic Pixie Dream Girl, as she is a fantasy that cannot respond, argue or fight back against those who project an image onto her. Neurodivergent women are thus coveted and fetishized for traits that are a product of a neurological condition, and not treated as fully fledged human beings by predatory men. Whilst toxic relationships and mistreatment of women has existed long before the Manic Pixie Dream Girl, these tropes still misrepresent the reality of being a neurodivergent woman, or even just a woman who has never truly fit in.

Ultimately, art reflects the society in which it is created, and vice versa. This means that whilst there are definitely works of fiction that challenge the idea of The Manic Pixie Dream Girl written by women of all kinds, these works are not reaching the audience they deserve due to the grip patriarchy has on commercialized artwork. However, this does not mean that the viewer cannot

make a choice to seek these works out and break their bubble of what female characters can look like in various artistic projects. For example, Fleabag (2016) by Phoebe Waller-Bridge deconstructs what hides behind quirky and wild Fleabag, exploring her past and struggles. Ultimately, The Manic Pixie Dream Girl is a trope that stems not from hate, but from ignorance and dismissal of women’s unique struggles and personal autonomy. This does not mean it is exempt from critique and improvement. Like many other archetypes before it, art will evolve and change, hopefully highlighting the perspectives of these “strange” and “unconventional” women rather than the men who treat them as a developmental chapter of their lives.

VIA SARTORIAL GEEK

Visu Ar Visu Ar 8 THE PLANT

CURATED

BY SANAD HAMDOUNA Visual Arts Editor

SANAD HAMDOUNA @swordhymn_

KAYLIYA PHONGSAVATH SANANIKONE @krispythemerrykrisp

ual rts ual rts VISUAL ARTS 9

CAIDEN FINCH @caiden_magic

JANE HAO @kiragyu_

SAYA HIDAKA-MASSICOTTE @4a4k4a

10 THE PLANT

“Christian Girl Autumn” and Social Media’s Fall Obsession I’m certain you’ve noticed that once MAYA JABBARI Staff Writer

Time Magazine’s Mariah Espada and Moises Mendez II, write that the obsession of autumn started as early as 2011 on popular sites like Tumblr. At this time, Instagram had also been rising in popularity in the late 2010s with the concept of posting pictures that were like an extension of the user’s identity, or an extension of what the user wanted others to think was their identity. Later on, images from Tumblr associated with fall began to appear on Instagram, with influencers and their followers using fall-coloured presets.

With this relatively new web-curated fall obsession, a phenomenon emerged that would forever change how we perceive and consume the autumn season. Associated with conservative women during the weeks of fall, it inadvertently gained tons of social media traction. I’m sure you’ve scrolled past photos of women in chunky knit sweaters and skinny jeans, wearing crisp, clean Uggs while sipping a pumpkin spice latte surrounded by orangy leaves.

This is known as “Christian Girl Autumn”; it is resurrected every fall season.

“All it takes is one leaf to change to make me fold to my “Gilmore Girls” grind” This playful phenomenon was created in 2019 when social media user @ lasagnabby tweeted “Hot Girl Summer is coming to an end, get ready for Christian Girl Autumn.” In this tweet, a photo was attached of two white women wearing identical outfits. The user also explained that when they searched up ‘cute church outfits’, their screen had been flooded

VIA @GOODNIGHTMACAROON

with pictures of Caitlin Covington (the current face of “Christian Girl Autumn”).

As a result, Covington’s Instagram posts became an overnight sensation which transformed into a media frenzy. She then began to amass new followers (usually other conservative Christian white women) who copied her aesthetic. However, many others - such as the user mentioned above poked fun at the aesthetic itself.

Now, we see this same yearly obsession happening on TikTok and Pinterest, where people have taken the autumn aesthetic to new heights, just in different ways. Searching “Fallcore” (why we add ‘core’ to everything? I don’t know, but it’s silly) or seeing multiple users verbatim on Tiktok say “All it takes is one leaf to change to make me fold to my “Gilmore Girls” grind” are, I will admit, comical to see. “Gilmore Girls” nowadays has specifically become the epitome of autumn, with tweets like “Hot girls rewatch “Gilmore Girls” every fall”.

Many of us (if not all), have never lived in a town like Stars Hollow, yet, when we picture fall, the show’s cozy setting comes to mind in terms of what the season should look like.

This desired aesthetic has been changing slightly every year, but the core of this aesthetic and its popularization can be linked to social media’s response to “Christian Girl Autumn”. In fact, if you search “Pinterest Fall Trends 2019” thousands of images will appear of women wearing similar outfits to Convington’s, except many of them aren’t Covington herself.

The process by which social media and fall have bonded together to make an unstoppable cycle of seasonal trends, emerging and fading because of the commercialization of trends, has peaked.

Yet, we let ourselves consume it.

summer is deemed over and the weather starts to get chillier, and trees’ leaves begin to slightly change colour, almost every brand puts out something fall-themed to capitalize off the popularity of the season. We know this. By aligning their products with the idealized version of fall portrayed on these social media platforms, companies can also profit off of this trend.

Brands have specifically recognized the power of social media influencers in shaping consumer behaviour and are increasingly partnering with them for fallthemed campaigns. These collaborations

“Hot Girl Summer is coming to an end, get ready for Christian Girl Autumn” often involve influencers showcasing products in carefully staged autumn settings, blurring the line between genuine content and advertising. For instance, in an interview with Good Morning America, journalist Zoe Moore writes about Covington’s collaboration with the clothing company Liverpool Los Angeles for their exclusive fall collection with Nordstrom. The clothing collab contains cozy sweaters, plaid blazers, and denim, which to no surprise, perfectly matches the “Christian Girl Autumn” aesthetic that Covington exudes on her Instagram feed.

This strategy not only helps brands reach their target audience more effectively, but also lends an air of ‘authenticity’ to their marketing efforts.

All of this to say, while the “Christian Girl Autumn” phenomenon has transformed the perception of fall, it has also undeniably driven consumerism to new heights. Even though this means we might not celebrate the actuality of this phenomenon the way we did in 2019 and poke fun at it, we still do in other ways on the same platforms it originated from.

So keep an eye out for “Christian Girl Autumn” and its pressure to conform to fall consumerism…it would be a shame if you got a burnt tongue from that scorching pumpkin spice latte :(

11 11 ARTS & CULTURE

Gen Z Humour: Meta-Irony, Absurdism and Nihilism CHARLOTTE RENAUD Arts & Culture Editor

“History repeats itself, first as a tragedy, second as farce.” -Karl Marx A new generation’s arrival always produces a distinct culture composed of unique references, ultimately establishing its specific sense of humour. Generation Z –following Generation X and Millennials (Generation Y) – is considered to encapsulate those born from 1997 to 2012. However, this general cut off leaves a lot of wiggle room, especially in Gen Z’s case. Its humour isn’t limited to a strict age group, but can be appreciated by anyone engaging with its references via platforms like TikTok, Instagram, or Twitter. Our generation’s shared social media experience results in a unique type of humour that transcends geographical boundaries; it can be understood and enjoyed by anyone who has access to these social media platforms.

The rapidity at which these algorithms produce content plays an undeniably important role in shaping our humour.

Caroline Geer’s article “Gen-Z Humor and Absurdity: A Misnomer” for Gale Academic describes this phenomena: “Long-form and short-form content of increasingly niche and layered content appear on the feed, giving it the appearance of a joint or shared experience.” Algorithms like TikTok accelerate the speed at which these jokes are created, adapted, and shared. This is reflected in the content of Gen-Z’s ironic and absurd comedy.

While irony is one of the main building blocks of our generation’s humour, we are not the first ones to utilise it. Millennials, as well as other generations before us, have used irony in their comedy. In fact, this type of humour has been used for centuries in comedy and theatre such as Shakespeare’s use of dramatic irony in his plays. Irony can be separated into three levels: sarcasm,

VIA @GOODNIGHTMACAROON

post-irony, and meta-irony. Sarcasm, also used by other generations, has one layer of meaning. It simply expresses the opposite of what is said. The second level, post-irony, has two layers of meaning, like when someone says something in a sarcastic tone but actually means what they are saying. Both appear in Millennials’ and Gen X’s Facebook memes.

The third level, meta-irony, a concept popularised by Gen-Z, also has two layers of meaning, but the truth behind it is difficult to uncover. If someone says, “Guys, I’m not a good student. It’s not like I studied for that Shakespeare quiz and always get to class on time, guys stop…”, the statement sounds sarcastic, but the additional information suggests that the person is being sincere. We’re left not knowing the joke’s true meaning.

To understand it, we must be familiar with what the joke is referencing or who the person saying it is. For example,

brutality and even the climate crisis prompts a search for solace in absurdity and nihilism.

Camus’ philosophical essay “The Myth of Sisyphus” ascribes absurdity not only to our institutions and actions, but to the nature of humanity as well. The journalist and author Martin Esslin, in his article “The Absurdity of the Absurd” states that this is the case “not because the human condition is funny, but because it is deeply tragic in an age when the loss of belief in God and human progress has eliminated the meaning of existence and has made human existence essentially purposeless and hence plainly opposed to reason.” In a world that never seems to escape the tormenting push and pull relationship of causing harm and suffering from its consequences, our trust in society continues to lessen. We thus challenge the strict institutions that repeatedly fail us, to reject them as absolutes and recognize

In a world that never seems to escape the tormenting push and pull relationship of causing harm and suffering from its consequences, our trust in society continues to lessen. We thus challenge the strict institutions that repeatedly fail us, to reject them as absolutes and recognize their absurdity. people often take part in trends they find cringey to poke fun at them. Sometimes, the imitation is so well-replicated that people can’t determine whether the video is seriously taking part in the trend, or is parodying it. Unlike previous generations, this type of irony is particularly prominent in Gen-Z humour.

Absurdity is another one of its significant traits. Most memes are mixtures of niche cultural references that have gained popularity simply through their strange appeal. Videos with booming audio, unexpected transitions, and strange visuals are rapidly spreading on social platforms. A video or picture’s degree of ‘randomness’ seems to be proportionate to its comedic impact… but how come? GenZ’s consumption of social media’s pop culture references plays an undeniable role in fueling comedy’s desire for the bizarre.

Most importantly though, growing up amidst this chaotic world and constantly having to face the tragic realities of wars, genocides, school shootings, police

their absurdity.

Alongside irony and absurdity, Gen-Z’s humour openly embraces nihilism. They address their hardships in lighthearted ways, downplaying the severity of their situation. When Trump had ordered the killing of Iran’s major general, World War 3 memes started to emerge, despite the significant fear triggered by the situation.

In difficult times, comedy makes its way to the forefront as a coping mechanism for a shared anxiety about the future. However, while we joke about these serious topics, we are not passive in the face of these issues. As a generation, we are generally invested in politics and the state of our world because more than anything, we have hope for its betterment.

12 THE PLANT

Is Reading Actually Back or Is It All Performative?

TASNIA ALAM Curiosities Editor

BookTok, which is a community of users on TikTok who are passionate about books and literature, is often credited having made reading popular again. Look around, and you’ll see more and more people reading books in public places, like on the metro, instead of scrolling on their phones. However, did BookTok actually bring back the habit of reading, or did it simply turn it into a new, passing trend?

During quarantine, readers started posting aestheticized videos of books accompanied with quotes and pictures to share their passion on TikTok. This included quick summaries, emotional reactions, and the discussion of various themes and tropes in novels. They used this platform to be their reader-esque self.

In the article “The Rise of BookTok: Meet the Teen Influencers Pushing Books up the Charts”, Alison Flood writes that readers “are sharing their passion for books with millions – bringing titles they love to life online and reshaping the publishing world, all in under a minute.” BookTok is even described as the last wholesome place on the internet. However, some people disagree.

In a video posted in February 2024, Youtuber Mina Le explores the effects of the “hotgirlification” of reading, the appeal of reframing intellect as an accessory. This phenomenon has reached its peak to the point that books have infiltrated multiple other spheres like the fashion industry. Le uses the examples of the Skall Studio Copenhagen Fashion Week show, in which all the models carried a book as a fashion accessory, and the comeback of thin-framed librarian-esque glasses.

She critiques the use of books as props, especially online.

Books are very intertwined with the aesthetic of the readers. Their choice of

book showcases what they believe in and who they are, conveying a projected ideal of intelligence. However when it’s used in photos on social media, it’s all about looking stylish — having the right outfits, the right knick-knacks scattered around, the right background, the right lighting. Everything is done to create “a reading scene”, according to a The ColdHealing Substack writer.

Books are very easy to carry and place for photo-ops. Plus, they look great in photos. The aesthetic of it all is what brings more appeal to books, making reading seductive.

This is where overconsumption comes into play. Readers often like to differentiate between reading books, buying books, and collecting books to justify their tall stacks. In spite of what they say, it’s still overconsumption.

Many people — people who aren’t readers and readers who don’t consume much — think it’s a huge shame that readers are just collecting books for the aesthetic and not actually reading them, despite having decked-out shelves full of every kind of edition. What’s the point in having unread books?

However, books have always served as status symbols and decoration pieces throughout the centuries. So who’s to say people aren’t actually reading them? The “bookshelf wealth” trend retaliated against these accusations, with readers showing their piles of read books to prove that buying this many books was not on their agenda and is not simply for show. According to Mina Le, BookTok is a “digital book club”. It is one that is very vulnerable and open minded. Readers share their visceral reaction by posting videos of them crying, screaming, giggling, kicking their feet, throwing up and dying (figuratively) over books. Some readers stay up late at night because their book’s plot is too captivating to

VIA GLAMOUR, @READINGWITHPAPILLONS ON TIKTOK & @EMLBOOKS ON INSTAGRAM

wait for the morning to know what happens next, even if they have work or school the next day. BookTok allows readers to share their reading experiences, creating a community with a shared love.

One of the biggest advantages of this internet corner is the fact that it has become a powerful marketing tool for authors, writers, and even for BookTok content creators, who can now make a living off reading and talking about books, like @larryreads on TikTok. It has become a tool that readers, authors, bookstores — big enterprises and some indie shops — and publishing companies explore immensely, as it proves to be a huge benefit for the publishing industry.

Let’s take It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover for instance, as it’s one of the best examples demonstrating TikTok’s marketable impact. The book was first published in 2016 but only gained popularity in 2021. According to Elisavet Rozaki’s Reading Between the Likes: The Influence of BookTok on Reading Culture, where she quotes Stewart, the sales went up to 29 000 copies a week because of the attention BookTok brought to it. But why the sudden attention? Rozaki believes that the themes of the novel – family, abuse, and romance – spoke to many readers and is one of the main reasons it blew up on BookTok. She believes that women facing similar problems might have found a sense of comfort and relatability knowing they weren’t the only ones suffering. That’s something the bookish communities are known for. They seek relatable characters and situations.

So, BookTok did in fact bring back reading, but it brought it back with its twists — some more positive than others. Some anti-intellectualists believe reading doesn’t go hand in hand with critical thinking anymore because of its popularity and categorization on TikTok. Nevertheless, in its own way, BookTok further encouraged reading as an activity that is culturally accomplished.

VOICES 13 13

Always the Gunman, Never the Gun EMMA CASPI Voices Editor On September 4th, 2024, 14-yearold Colt Gray was accused of shooting two students and two teachers, as well as wounding 9 individuals at Apalachee High School in Georgia. He allegedly acquired the AR-15-style rifle as a Christmas gift from his father, Colin Gray. Two days after the shooting, Colt Gray was charged as an adult, with murder, while his father faced charges of involuntary manslaughter and second-degree murder. Shockingly, Colin Gray had not broken any gun laws, considering it is legal in Georgia to equip minors with rifles and to refuse any safety or precautionary measures concerning the access of firearms.

Faced with the reality of the Apalachee shooting and many others, American students are not protected, free, or equal.

According to the American Bill of Rights (1789), the Second Amendment grants everyone the right to bear arms: “A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

The Second Amendment is considered to have two parts: “a well-regulated Militia” is the “prefatory clause” and “keep and bear arms” is the “operative clause.”

The National Constitution Center explains that providing every citizen with a firearm gave rise to local militias, which the Founding Fathers claimed was a better mode of protection, preventing tyrannical reign and ensuring widespread safety and equality. Therefore, the Second Amendment protected the right to own a firearm from the National government’s infringement so that communities could pursue their ‘local militia duties’ without fear. The Second Amendment previously valued the protection, freedom, and equality to whom it applied. Faced with the reality of the Apalachee shooting and many others, American students are not protected, free, or equal.

American citizens no longer engage in ‘local militia duties’, which makes the Second Amendment highly contentious. If the militia caused “the right to keep and bear

arms,” shouldn’t the Second Amendment be obsolete and irrelevant? According to the legal case District of Columbia v. Heller, the right to bear arms still stands regardless of modern circumstances. On June 26th, 2008, the Supreme Court officially ruled that the Second Amendment should be interpreted as an inherent right to own arms for lawful purposes. One reason for their interpretation stems from the belief that the prefatory clause does not limit the operative clause.

So, why doesn’t the U.S.A. repeal the Second Amendment and call it a day?

After all, the NPR states that approximately 70% of Americans want more gun control.

As simplistic as repealing the Second Amendment sounds, the founding fathers purposefully made it tedious, requiring a successful national consensus to affect any change. Instead of making changes to the amendment, the American government has tried to work around the contingencies, careful enough not to infringe on people’s constitutional rights. However, working around the Second Amendment oftentimes results in ineffective change and futile attempts to cease school shootings and violence.

Vice President Kamala Harris reveals on her campaign trail that she “favour[s]… the Second Amendment and… know[s] [America] need[s] reasonable gun safety laws.” She therefore believes that the Second Amendment and gun control are not mutually exclusive. Commenting on the Georgia school shooting, Harris says “We have to end this epidemic of gun violence in our country.” My question is, who are “we” and how can “we” end this “epidemic” if there are constant loopholes within the Second Amendment?

On March 24th, 2024, Harris announced two “gun safety solutions” with efforts to prevent school gun violence. The first

implemented a National Extreme Risk Protection Order Resource Center (ERPO), which would provide training and support, and optimise the usage of red flag laws– laws that grant family members and law enforcement the right to revoke firearms if necessary. The second urges all states to pass red flag laws and to use the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) funding to help implement pre-existing laws. Harris’ logic follows that red flag laws provide resources that can help individuals “before tragedy occurs.”

But what if you took ‘tragedy’ out of the equation altogether and focused on prohibition instead of prevention? Indeed, the logic that a gun is only a piece of machinery until misused by a dangerous person sounds plausible in theory, but who are these “dangerous people” and how do we know what support they need? Harris’ prevention efforts seek to meet the needs of potentially harmful individuals and recognize crises. However, harm and crises are not one size fits all. Tragedy strikes because many fly under this makeshift detector, finding access to guns regardless of what preparation, training or support the government provides.

The Washington Post reveals that even with “Georgia child welfare workers, four school systems, three county sheriff’s departments and two local police agencies” working alongside Colt and his family, they inevitably failed at preventing the shooting.

So, while the White House publishes fact sheets and implements its “efforts to keep schools safe from gun violence,” American schools restlessly await meticulous and substantial laws to protect students.

VIA THE EPICENTER LA

14 THE PLANT

What is Trump doing right?

ABIGAIL OYEWOLE Staff Writer

If you were told a few years ago that a man facing multiple criminal charges would have a real chance of winning the American presidential election, you would have laughed but here we are today. As reported by BBC News, on May 30, 2024, the

Trump’s escalating threats to pervert the criminal justice system need to be taken seriously, Presidential nominee for the Republican party became the first former president to be criminally convicted in American history. Why does Donald John Trump, despite being a controversial figure with radical ideologies and provocative strategies, have a large base of supporters in the Presidential race? How do Trump’s campaign strategies, such as populism and appealing to a target demographic, work to garner a large base of loyalists?

The race’s two main contenders are Trump and Harris. New York Times data shows that, as of October 5th 2024, Trump has a 47% chance on the national polling average, taking the lead in North Carolina, Georgia, and Arizona. No presidential candidate has taken a significant lead towards the 270 electoral votes that are required to win. This race is said to be the first election since 2004 where candidates are so deadlocked in the seven “pivotal” states. Although Harris is slightly ahead of Trump, the polls have a reputation for underestimating Trump.

After the presidential debate, the poll averages in Pennsylvania and Arizona slightly shifted in favour of Trump.

This is advantageous for him as Arizona is one of the key states. The republican nominee currently has 219 electoral votes and can come out triumphant if he manages to emerge in the lead in the key states, or at least in most of them.

In spite of his strong national polling average, Trump is not exactly known for being agreeable. Considering his numerous ongoing criminal cases, he is arguably the most controversial figure to ever run for president. ABC News details a summary of his charges relat-

ed to the 2020 election and January 6th insurrection: “Trump was charged with four counts: conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding and conspiracy against rights”. Trump allegedly attempted to coerce election officials to alter the results, spread false narratives about the results, and instigated the January 6th capitol riot to delay Biden’s ascension to presidency. The supreme court ruled that Trump, being a president at the time, has immunity for any official actions taken. While he vehemently denies the charges, stating that it is a plot by the Biden Administration and democrats, Trump still faces four criminal counts as a private citizen and political candidate. He is unrepentant about all charges and refers to them as “fake”. He vows to retaliate against his opponents whom he claims “lie and steal and cheat on elections” to “destroy America”. Based on his words, it is not hard to deduce that Trump plans to utilise the US justice department to go after those he deems his enemies, the most notable being Joe Biden.

“Trump’s escalating threats to pervert the criminal justice system need to be taken seriously,” said the former justice department inspector general Michael Bromwich. “We have never had a presidential candidate state as one of his central goals mobilizing the levers of justice to punish enemies and reward friends. No one has ever been brazen enough to campaign on an agenda of retribution and retaliation”.

In addition to his ongoing criminal cases, Trump’s policies and opinions have also gained traction for being controversial. Agenda 47 is a list of planned policies and proposals Trump intends to implement if he is re-elected into office. A few of those include ending gender-affirming care, eliminating the United States’s accountability to climate change, massive deportation, ban on birthright citizenship as part of an effort to curb US immigration, and stronger police protection, which will be detrimental for those on the receiving end of police brutality. Agenda 47 further proposes increasing the reach of the president over the executive branch. It also features similar proposals to Project 2025. This is a set of con-

servative political initiatives created by Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank based in Washington, D.C. Project 2025 is headed by two former Trump administration officials, Paul Dans and Spencer Chretien, former special assistants to Trump. According to BBC News, Project 2025 proposes that the entire federal bureaucracy, including independent agencies such as the Department of Justice, be placed under direct presidential control, a controversial idea known as “unitary executive theory”. Key proposals in Agenda 47 that mirror Project 2025’s are the ban on transgender people from serving in the military and an increase in presidential power. Despite glaring similarities in proposal and officials, Trump denies his involvement in Project 2025. On July 5th, he wrote to his social media platform on Truth Social, a property of Trump Media, “I know nothing about Project 2025. I have no idea who is behind it. I disagree with some of the things they’re saying and some of the things they’re saying are absolutely ridiculous and abysmal.

Anything they do, I wish them luck, but I have nothing to do with them”.

Taking all this into account, many wonder why and how it is possible for Donald Trump, a twice impeached former president facing 91 criminal counts, to stand a reasonable chance of returning to office. He has a blatant disregard for the rule of law and for the justice system of the country he seeks to serve. Given his words, actions, and policies, it seems absurd to have such a large base in the presidential race.

However, it is not, considering the effect of populism on the people.

Populism, according to the Oxford dictionary, is a political approach that strives to appeal to ordinary people who feel that their concerns are disregarded by established elite groups. It is an approach that exploits the disgruntled, presents someone like Trump as a saviour, and designates the opposing side as enemies working to keep them oppressed (the Democrats in this case).

It seeks to provoke the feeling of suppression to convince the disgruntled that they are victims and are doing nothing wrong except defending traditional values. Trump has turned to populism because it is a tool that has proven effective since the times of George

15 15 VOICES

Wallace and Ronald Reagan. Trump’s brand of populism can be characterised as one that reflects nativist, nationalist, and authoritarian ideologies, while presenting himself as the only one capable of saving America. As reported by New Lines Magazine, last spring at a rally in Waco, Texas, Trump told his loyalists: “I am your warrior. I am your justice.

And for those who have been wronged and betrayed, I am your retribution!”.

Trump’s populism is emotional in the sense that it aims to provoke anger against political institutions, ethnic minorities, women, and migrants. He makes false claims and induces fear to frame them as a threat to America and its traditional values. Trump presents himself as a saviour to the “forgotten men and women of America”. A successful factor in his brand of populism is the fear of status loss. “They [working-class white Americans] fear a loss of attention. A loss of validation. These are people who have always had racial privilege but never had much else.

Many feel passed over, ignored. Trump listened to them and spoke their language when few other politicians did,” says Andrew Cherlin, a sociologist at

John Hopkins University. The effect of Trump’s use of populism can be seen in his cult personality. It consists of extreme loyalists that exhibit unwavering support to their leader whom they view as a hero capable of protecting America from “threats”. Trump declared at

We have never had a presidential candidate state as one of his central goals mobilizing the levers of justice to punish enemies and reward friends. No one has ever been brazen enough to campaign on an agenda of retribution and retaliation

gy. Such followers do not necessarily base their support on political views, but on psychological needs such as assurance in a situation where they feel threatened, in a society that is quickly evolving and giving more voice to marginalised people.

In spite of legitimate criticism and controversy, Trump has a large base in the ongoing presidential race. This is largely due to his primary strategies namely, populism, identifying with the common people and appealing to a target demographic. Trump’s base remains resolute because his supporters mainly consist of staunch loyalists that believe that he can do no wrong, and that even if he does, it is a necessary act to protect the nation and “make America great again”. With Trump rapidly gaining on Kamala Harris, America should think about what will happen to democracy should Trump ascend to power. God Bless America!

the Republican convention “I am your voice” and “I alone can fix it”. His ability to commandeer and identify with followers in a personality cult has proved to be a useful skill and strate-

PHOTO VIA THE NEW YORKER

Halloween

loween Ha en Hallow PLAYLIST & MISCELLANEOUS 17

Halloween Events in Montreal Fright Fest

The classic La Ronde Fright Fest is back! During the day, families can enjoy fun, lighthearted activities, while nighttime ushers in a chill. Navigate through the park’s nine themed scare zones, which include eerie cemeteries, haunted theatres, and clown arenas, all while monsters and ghosts stalk your every move. The lights switch off after dark, so you can enjoy the rides and roller coasters under the starry sky. Whether you prefer wholesome spooks or are a die-hard horror fan, Fright Fest offers Halloween entertainment for all tastes.

VIA DAILY HIVE

When: Weekends October 5 to 27 Where: La Ronde Price: 55$

Looking for a cultural Halloween excursion? The Pointe-à-Callière Museum offers an immersive tour of its archeological remains with witchy workshops at every stop.

As you visit the new Witches: Out of the Shadows exhibition, you’re invited to interact with divination activities, which include tarot cards, astrology, and fortune-telling, and engage with rituals of protection and enchantment. After you’ve made your rounds, an in-house DJ sets the mood at the cocktail bar where you can ponder your new-found prophecies and watch artistic performances. Can’t make it? No worries– the exhibition is open from October 25th to April 6th, 2025.

Witches’ Night Out

When: Oct. 31 7pm-1am Where: Pointe-à-Callière Museum Price: 25$

VIA POINTE-À-CALLIÈRE

The Rocky Horror Picture Show Halloween Ball

Cinephiles, this one’s for you. Experience the cult classic film The Rocky Horror Picture Show on the big screen as a live shadow cast brings the iconic scenes to life on stage. Guided by a lively master of ceremonies, viewers are encouraged to join the fun with callback lines and movie props. After the screening, the night continues with a costume contest and the infamous Time Warp dance, so come dressed in your finest Halloween attire.

When: Oct. 31, Nov. 1 - 2, 7pm and 11pm Where: Rialto Theatre and St. George’s Church Price: 22.95$

VIA ROCKY HORROR MTL

Halloween Hardcore

La Sotterenea is hosting a costumed punk show just in time for Halloween, welcoming five hardcore bands to their (literally) underground venue. Headliners Bad Beat are joined by Suffer No Fools, Influx, and Loose Screw, with newcomers Iron Crusaders making their live debut. Featuring touring acts and emerging talent, this show is your chance to dive into the Montreal punk scene, support bands keeping the DIY spirit alive, and thrash in your most breathable costume.

When: Oct. 26 7pm-11pm Where: La Sotterenea Price: 20$ without costume, 15$ with

VIA MONTREAL ASK A PUNK

FATE OF THE SEASONS INÈS MONTEL Contributor It’s a September evening.

We have hidden ourselves in earnest From the icy autumn wind.

Covered in furs and spandex, our skin chokes on sweat celebrating the warmth it can get.

Hot beverage burns our tongues.

And we forget the threatening cold that harassed us not long ago.

I left my heart in the summer’s breeze.

And fear for what’s to come, once the leaves fall to the ground.

As winter rots my bones undone, autumn serves as a warning.

In November, the wailing of the morning, like a banshee washed up on the shore of the east coast, caresses our ears with a soft, folkloric melody sang three hundred years ago.

We drive up the highway, trees for miles ahead.

I grab your hand, seeking comfort, troubled by the promise of snow.

How beautiful it is when the seasons change.

Regardless of what’s to come, there is always hope that spring will come again.

CREATIVE WRITI NG

18 THE PLANT

TRIED LOVE

CHARLOTTE RENAUD Arts & Culture Editor

He is the author of this poem,

If this is to be written from my heart.

A love so untamed it must be condemned To a sentence behind bars, far from art.

He holds all of my words at fingertip.

He alone can play the chords of my voice.

That lonely cigarette between his lips

Lingers with him: temptation is no choice.

He holds all of me eternal in his eyes.

An equilibrium before disposal.

Downing the boiling coffee at sunrise,

Burnt butterflies - this pain is ambrosial.

And if this love is tried, it would hit walls.

As the gavel drops, the futile ashes fall.

CREATIV CREAT CREA CRE C CRE CREA CREAT CREATIV CREATIVE WRITING 19

BEDTIME AT 8PM

DORJI DHATSENPA Contributor

midnight pulse of Amygdala

against a warm August spacious backyard.

ghost of kids and we live next to a monastery carving out our siren song

fragile minds, we yearned for the earth (the brain is the echo

of the memories that burglarise you) for a house of plenty

CENTIPEDE

for minds full of Heaven and illness

NIRVANA AMANI Contributor

i saw them in a Zyprexa epileptic episode

You disgust me but I love you

in the midnight pulse of Amygdala

Slender hands full of intimidation

against the papier mache walls

And to you no operation’s quite like suicide

of my Parc-Ex apartment

You’d survive it all anyways

in a nonchalant parade mocking hurt

Staring at the light that pushed you into free fall

“bang, bang, kiss, kiss”

I daydream about how it’s like

invincible. beacons. is this house really haunted?

To be on the receiving end Of a touch from those

i go to bed at 8pm

Slender man bad band hands

have an anxious cry

The only justified resolution

and dogwhistle the angels of Love.

Would be for me to be consumed To the very bone at the end,

Yet I watch you fall and survive And replay it in my head Over and over again

In your wicked body escaping terror While being the very cause of it, I saw nothing

but the beautiful madness

Of one who has never had Anything to lose

20 THE PLANT

Supplements: What you need to know JADE GAGNÉ Sports Editor

Multivitamins, Omega 3s, Protein Powder, Vitamin C, and even Vitamin D are all supplements you can find in grocery stores, pharmacies, or your local health shop. I used to work out while using supplements myself, but at some point, I had to ask: “Are they that necessary for my body?” I wanted to know more on the subject to help myself and others take the same dietary additives, but more naturally and safely.

For that, I contacted my old private coach, Andrea Douala, and created a survey to retrieve information from other people who also do sports and take supplements.

Andrea Douala is a Concordia University student doing a master’s with a thesis in health and exercise science. She has also previously done a bachelor’s at the University of Ottawa, majoring in Biology with a minor in Aging Studies. Douala also did an internship in cardiology in France last year. I discovered Andrea through her personal coaching fitness program.

She became both my coach and my nutritionist at the same time.

What are nutrient supplements?

In 1905, while searching for the cause of the disease called Beriberi, scientist William Fletcher suspected that polished rice versus unpolished rice wouldn’t share the same nutrients.

Therefore, he realised that the special nutrient contained in the rice removed during the polishing process played a helping role in the disease. Fletcher then discovered that the removal of special factors from food would lead to diseases.

In 1906, biochemist Frederick Gowland Hopkins found that certain food factors like proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and minerals were important in the growth of the human body. . The work of these two scientists laid the foundation of the creation of modern supplement.

Dietary supplements are products created to add nutrients to your diet.

They come in various forms, including pills, capsules, powders, gummies, liquid, and even food. The most common types are Vitamin C or D, Minerals like Calcium or Iron, Herbs and Botanicals, and Amino Acids like

Glutamine and Enzymes. Those dietary additives are great for helping your overall health. The respondents of my survey are aged from 17 to 42 years old. They’ve all been practising sports like CrossFit, Competition volleyball, dancefit, Basketball, and musculation sessions for a minimum of a year and a half and up to ten years. Out of ten people, all of them take or used to take supplements, and 50% said that more than five people surrounding them also take them. Andrea explained that most of her clients have taken nutrition products at least once during their workout journey. The most popular supplements taken are protein products (powders, protein bars), pre-workout, and creatine.

The brands used by the respondents are CBUM Essentials, Believe, BUM Raw Essentials, EHPlabs, and Women’s Best.

The majority are taking the food additives before, after, and during the workout, five to seven times a week. Let’s say that, each day, the usual consumer takes 1 or 2 scoops of protein powder mixed in a smoothie, pancakes, or whichever kind of food they desire. That makes it 7 to 14 scoops a week. Generally, one scoop is 24 grams. When I looked up the brand named “Women’s Best,” the regular price for a 2lb container of “Fit Pro Whey Protein” is $79,99 and includes approximately thirty servings. If we do the math, the customer will have about two weeks worth of protein powder before needing to buy a new one. For a month, that’ll cost them around $159,98.

Is it necessary to pay for nutrient supplements we can find in our foods?

What are the effects?

The effects of taking nutrient supplements will mostly only be seen by yourself. People around you might not see the difference, but you will. Out of ten people, eight admitted that they did feel a difference when they took them. They get more energy and better focus. “A lot of supplements are nutrients naturally present in our body, and they all have specific roles to help the body function properly. When you exercise, your body needs more nutrients for proper energy production and recovery. So, the more you exercise, the more your body needs nutrients to function. Supplements will therefore become handy and make a difference,” claimed Andrea. As for

the effects linked to forgetting them, seven people said that not taking the supplement does not make a difference, but three said forgetting them, at the moment of the workout, makes them feel weaker. As for Andrea, she said that she doesn’t rely on supplements, she might take one kind once to twice a month, sometimes another one three times a

Real food should always be prioritised over supplements - Andrea Douala. week. The only constant supplement she takes is protein powder four times a week. Usually, the dose of supplements stays in your body for a couple of days, so even if you skip a day or two, you won’t feel like you’re missing anything.

Therefore, taking supplements will not make your body feel “unhealthy,” as they were created to give our bodies what they’re missing.

So, should we take them?

Overall, taking nutrient supplements is recommended, but you need to be aware that we all have different bodies.

What works for your sibling might not work for you, and that’s okay. You need to try what’s good for you. At least 65% of the participants recommended taking proteins, while 20% recommended preworkout. Andrea herself recommends taking collagen because it is the most abundant protein in the body and constitutes your skin, hair joints, and bones. It also tightens pores, which reduces excess oil on your face. “Before taking supplements, I think it is best to make changes in your diet and analyse the types of foods that you eat. As mentioned previously, the amount of physical activity that a person does should be taken into consideration before starting to take them. Also, we live in a society full of highly processed foods, meaning low vitamins and minerals, more toxins, and therefore more nutrient deficiencies. Supplements are sold over the counter, so anyone can have access to them. I therefore recommend being careful in their usage, as high doses of certain nutrients can have negative health impacts,” she said.

SPORTS 21

But, we should be careful about which ones then?

Three answers stood out to me when I asked which kind of supplement they would not recommend. One participant said that they do not recommend preworkout because it gives them heart palpitations. Many pre-workouts contain high levels of caffeine which can lead to heart palpitations, increased heart rate, and high-level blood pressure.

The high level of caffeine might also lead to insomnia or poor sleep quality if taken too late into the day. If you’re under some kind of medication, preworkout could also interact with it, causing adverse effects. The second one does not advise taking steroids, stating that it can weaken the immune system, making it more difficult to fight off infections. The bad effects of taking steroids for men are testicular shrinkage, reduced sperm count, and infertility. As for women, the use of steroids could deepen their voices, increase body hair, and create menstrual irregularities.

The final interesting answer was to not use weight-loss supplements because they contain harmful ingredients like pesticides, harmful chemicals, or heavy metals. Taking weight-loss products could create liver damage, digestive problems, and psychological side effects.

Basically, before taking any kind of supplements, please consult your doctor or nutritionist, to consider the side effects and to decide which would work best for your body and your health. “I don’t think there are “bad” supplements, but it’s always a matter of the reason one wants to use the supplement and the quantity.

More is like not enough. Vitamins and nutrients are micronutrients, meaning nutrients needed by your body in small amounts are harmful when taken in big quantities,” explained Andrea.

might help you make sure that you get the right amount of protein each day. A lot of factors need to be taken into consideration when starting to consume them, such as the amount of physical activity, symptoms, current diet, height, and weight of a person.

There’s no specific age to start taking supplements. Some toddlers might need Vitamin D supplements, and some teenagers might need calcium or vitamin D for bone health. It all depends on your health. Again, the advice of a professional is always needed. When using them properly, the supplements will be beneficial for your health and body, but a healthy diet is always the best supplement.

“Real food should always be prioritised over supplements,” concluded Andrea Douala.

When deciding to take supplements, your lifestyle is something to take in consideration. If you’re a busy person, taking protein powder during the day

Here’s a list of a few foods that can replace some nutrient supplements, and what they do. I hope this helps you find the nutrients that you need without spending an excessive amount of money on them.

FROM HTTPS://WWW.WEBMD.COM/FOOD-RECIPES/VITAMINS-AND-MINERALS-GOOD-FOOD-SOURCES

22 THE PLANT

A Bloc-Busting Playground AZEL-HANA BRUNET Contributor

It’s four o’clock in the afternoon and Thomas Gregoire, a 19-year-old psychology student, just finished school and headed toward his new favourite spot in town, Café Bloc. On his backpack hangs a funny pair of shoes. Looking like elf slippers, they are actually rock-climbing shoes. This downtown bouldering gym constitutes the perfect place for the young man. “I can train, do a couple of routes and when I feel tired, the café section is ideal to study. I can easily stay there until closing time,” confesses the climbing enthusiast.

Since the pandemic, this branch of rock-climbing has become extremely trendy. Leaving ropes and harnesses behind, bouldering’s goal is to climb short, but often tricky routes with only shoes and hand chalk. Of course, safety mats are on the ground in case of unwanted falls. According to the Boulder Brighton climbing center’s website, it is “rock climbing stripped down to its raw essentials.”

Bouldering gyms are proliferating like never before and have more devotees every day. Café Bloc opened in 2019, but it is far from being the only climbing gym on the island. Bloc Shop now has three

locations in Montreal, and other centers like Allez Up and Horizon Roc keep gaining fanatics.

A January 2019 article in The Cut magazine, titled “Why Is Everyone I Know Bouldering All of a Sudden?” attributes the activity’s popularity to its accessibility. Compared to the original form of top-rope climbing, it does not require a lot of equipment and can be practised alone, without a belayer spotting the climber. It also does not demand immediate strength or a specific body type.

It is easy to learn, and everybody can do it.

Even if it still requires total concentration toward a goal, the sport does not have the punitive and disciplinary aspect of other forms of training. “Bouldering is a fullbody workout, but you just feel like a kid in the park’s modules. It is playful and challenging,” argues Laurent Demers, a 19-year-old climbing lover and a media student at Vieux Montreal Cegep.

Indeed, the problem-solving aspect of the activity reinforces its charm. “I love that bouldering is like a physical puzzle.

The issue is clear and remains the same, it is up to you to figure it out,” declares Mazir Brunet, a 21-year-old boulderer.

The animation student enjoys the sport because he feels that it targets his logic and reflection. Boulderers have to try, fail, and repeat, until the route is climbed to the top.

The sport is often appreciated for being social. Since the ropes do not limit the number of people on a wall section, there are often a bunch of people stuck on the same problem. Analysing a specific climb as a group, all the participants can work together toward a solution. By exchanging tips and ideas, nice connections are created between the climbers. Laurent asserts that “it is really not a competitive activity where everyone is against each other. When someone manages to finish a tough route, we’re just all happy for them.”

Thomas supports this statement by saying that “the bouldering community is one of the least toxic.”

Thibaud Maret, a Bloc Shop employee in his twenties, believes that bouldering is for the outdoor lovers. “It can be similar to cliff or ice climbing, but with a far more accessible thrill. You can climb easily and regularly, without being restrained by distance, weather or equipment.

Plus, it is notably less damaging for the environment,” says the bouldering expert.

In the collective imagination, climbing necessitates an exterior stone surface and a trip to the mountain. With the amount of bouldering gyms in the city, a simple subscription and climbing becomes always possible.

Even if bouldering’s pros are many, it is important to consider the sport’s monetary restrictions. Climbing shoes are approximately 150$, and a monthly subscription is around 100$, which can be quite discouraging. Yet, bouldering’s growing celebrity does not seem to be fading. As Maret declares, “people will continue to boulder. It is the perfect combination of fun, dexterity and self-care.” *For any interested students, Rock Climbing is available at Dawson on Mondays (6-9 p.m.), Thursdays (11:50p.m.) and Fridays (4-5:30 p.m.) for only 5$. Go and try it, you only have to bring your student ID.

FROM @CAFE_BLOC ON INSTAGRAM

23 23 SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT

From A1 to C2: Navigating the CEFR Framework for Language Learning CHRISTOPHER JAMES DIMITRIADIS Contributor

For those who know me, it’s clear that I love languages and linguistics. The field is both fascinating and complex, offering endless learning opportunities. If you’ve studied a foreign language, you may have encountered the CEFR, so let me explain what it’s all about.

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is an international standard for measuring language proficiency. Developed by the Council of Europe between 1986 and 1989, CEFR provides a clear framework for assessing fluency across different languages and educational systems.

Its purpose is to facilitate consistent comparison and recognition of language skills, making it easier to evaluate language proficiency.

This article aims to explain the CEFR’s six levels — A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, and C2 — explaining what each level entails, how they are used in language education, and their significance for learners and educators.

The CEFR’s six proficiency levels are divided into three categories: A (Basic User), B (Independent User), and C (Proficient User). Each level represents a specific stage of language competence, ranging from beginner (A1) to advanced (C2). This structure helps standardised language assessments and ensures that learners’ skills are measured consistently, regardless of the language or educational context.

A1 (Beginner) At the A1 level, learners can understand and use basic expressions and phrases related to immediate needs. They grasp simple spoken or written information and communicate in a very limited manner.

For example, an A1 learner can use basic greetings, introduce themselves, and ask simple questions. Writing tasks are limited to short notes or filling out forms with basic personal information.

A2 (Elementary) The A2 level signifies elementary proficiency. Learners at this level understand and form simple sentences.

For example, they can ask for directions or order food, and communicate in routine tasks requiring direct information exchange. Writing abilities include creating short, simple texts on familiar subjects, such as writing postcards or emails.

B1 (Intermediate) B1 learners are at an intermediate stage, and are capable of understanding the main points of clear standard input on familiar matters. They can manage most simple conversations in this language on familiar topics. At this level, learners can produce simple connected text on familiar topics of personal interest, such as describing experiences or explaining opinions on common issues.

B2 (Upper Intermediate) At the B2 level, learners are upperintermediate users who can understand the main ideas of complex texts on both concrete and abstract topics. They can interact with native speakers fluently and spontaneously, making regular communication feasible. Writing at this level involves creating clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects, including essays or reports.

C1 (Advanced) C1 represents advanced proficiency, where learners can understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts and recognize implicit meaning. They can express themselves fluently and spontaneously, with effective use of organisational patterns and cohesive devices. Writing tasks include producing clear, well-structured texts on complex subjects, demonstrating control over style and coherence.

C2 (Proficiency) C2 is the highest proficiency level, characterised by near-native language skills. Learners at this stage can understand most communication with ease and can summarise information coherently. Their writing is clear, smooth flowing and suitable for complex writing tasks. C2 users express themselves with precision and nuance, handling sophisticated language tasks effectively.

CEFR levels provide a structured approach to tracking language learning goals that learners can use to gauge their current proficiency and plan their studying accordingly. Clear benchmarks let learners identify strengths and weaknesses so they can decide what to focus on. Certain exams, such as the Cambridge English tests and the French DELF (Diplôme d’Études en Langue Française) and DALF (Diplôme Approfondi de Langue Française), align

with CEFR levels, allowing learners to obtain official recognition of their language abilities.

The CEFR framework also influences the design of curricula. Educators and developers use CEFR levels to create content aligned with specific proficiency levels, ensuring lessons and resources are appropriate for learners’ skills. This alignment maintains consistency in language instruction.

A strength of the CEFR framework is its ability to standardise language proficiency measurement across different languages and contexts. This consistency facilitates communication among educators, learners, and institutions worldwide and supports transparency in language assessment. It helps learners set clear, achievable goals.

However, the CEFR framework has been criticised for perhaps not fully accounting for cultural and linguistic differences, leading to a one-size-fits-all approach that overlooks unique language learning contexts. Additionally, the framework’s descriptors may lack the nuance needed to capture the full range of language abilities.

Overall, CEFR levels offer a detailed and structured way to understand and assess language proficiency. Each level—from A1 (Beginner) to C2 (Proficiency)—represents a stage in language development, providing valuable benchmarks for both learners and educators. Understanding CEFR levels is essential for setting realistic goals, tracking progress, and designing effective instruction. As language education evolves, CEFR remains a key tool for consistent and meaningful evaluation of language skills.

24 THE PLANT

It’s Actually Cool to Try Putting a Plug in Your Butt MIRREN BODANIS Editor-in-Chief Some sections of the interview were translated from French “Sex is natural, sex is good. Not everybody does it, but everybody should.”

Those lyrics, referred to at the time as the most “distasteful lines of rock and roll” according to Genius, were written by (queer) pop star George Michael in 1988.

Although perhaps not as scandalous now as in the 80s, there’s still parts of sex that we find “distasteful”.

Putting a plug in your butt. Using a dildo with your partner. A cis woman using a strap on to peg her boyfriend. Did you have a reaction to these phrases? I would be lying if I said they didn’t make me feel uncomfortable at some point as well. To find out why, The Plant sat down with Sabrina Vo and Cindy Céspedes, the Senior Coordinator and Sexology Intern at The Hive (our DSU-provided Gender Advocacy Center).

“The students here are very open, but there’s always hesitation,” says Céspedes.

“The will is there, but people don’t always know how.” Vo explained how everyone can have internalised reactions to the less “typical” aspects of sex. “Some of the behaviours are hard to deconstruct right away. [Some people] will see a very realistic packer [a gender affirming device designed to create the appearance of a male genitalia], and the giggle is kind of there, if [I’m] talking about penetrative sex, masturbation, the clitoris, all of that. I feel like some students are really eager to learn, but there’s still that little hesitation of like ‘oh, my, is this okay? Can we really talk about our body parts, and name them correctly?’”

Vo & Céspedes also spoke about how, even if someone might be interested in exploring more taboo parts of sex, they can be afraid of what it means for their identity.

Vo explains “There are [people] who are maybe holding on to their identity very strongly, and that can make them afraid to try new things because it would define their identity or it would “go against” their sexuality or what they think their sexuality should mean. I always tell students: Sexual orientation is about your attraction, not your actions.”

“If you do something like butt plugs or anal play for [cis men], it’s always seen as like ‘oh, it’s gay sex, for sure.’ We assign

these sexual acts and activities to sexual orientations. [...] Your identity, it’s yours!

You know what you’re attracted to, and it’s not because you try something or do something that it defines your identity.”

Céspedes added how “if we do perceive sexuality as a spectrum that can be fluid, that can be dynamic, that can change, that you can step back into something again [...] it can make new things not an identity crisis, but the freedom to move things that you thought were so fixed.” That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a specific identity marker, specified Vo, saying that they can be “really important, something that made you find your community [...] but also holding on to that label can be a little internally constraining at times.”

Sex shops have this label of eroticism and being perverted, but we have to view those tools and means to transcend fears, or things you want to learn more about. Sometimes they can be really helpful in a relationship: to solidify it, to know the limits and the boundaries.

Céspedes explained how, no matter your identity or whether or not you have a partner, there’s benefits to incorporating toys into your sexual activities. “It can be a good way to explore preferences, communication, things you like, fantasies.”

These sex toys, or, as The Hive staff prefer to call them, “sex products” can help you better improve and relate to your physical and mental health in many different ways.

“Sex shops have this label of eroticism and

being perverted, but we have to view those tools and means to transcend fears, or things you want to learn more about. Sometimes they can be really helpful in a relationship: to solidify it, to know the limits and the boundaries.”

As an example of a “sex product” that goes beyond simple eroticism, they showed us a massage candle which is often sold at sex stores. When lit, it produces a relaxing scent, and then the melted “wax” is actually a massage oil that also treats cramps and muscle pains. “[Sex shops] are beginning to be more like a resource of sexual health, not just a source of merchandise for porn movies!” poked Céspedes. “When you feel good in your body, it has an impact on everything else: your work, your career, your ways of connecting with people, and your mental health. It’s all connected.

Sexuality is a central notion to know more about ourselves.”

Circling back to the original question, we asked what the first step can be for people who feel uncomfortable or weirded out by more “taboo” sexuality. “I think it could be interesting to ask where those thoughts are coming from,” said Vo. “What are the roots? It’s difficult, it’s not easy. [...]

It can be shocking [if you’ve] never seen representations of people from different backgrounds, with disabilities.”

“I know it’s kind of a stupid analogy, but imagine: If I buy a soccer ball and play with my friends, am I a soccer player? Or am I just… doing an activity? You can have sex with a [toy, or a] person of the same gender and not [completely change your identity.]

There’s something that you’re trying out.

You were feeling it, you were liking the person. You were comfortable.”

And isn’t that beautiful?

IMAGE VIA CONNECTPOS

CONTRIBUTIONS 2525

GRAPHIC BY AFSHA AKHTAR

The Plant, founded in 1969, is Dawson’s only student-run newspaper. We are a platform for students to share their writing, voice their opinions, and gain experience in the field of journalism.

Any Dawson student can submit articles, creative writing, or visual art to The Plant. We welcome student perspectives on all topics, but we particularly encourage Montreal or Dawson-specific content. What is happening on campus? What should fellow students know about?

Contributor articles are reviewed and edited in collaboration with our section editors before publication. Contributions are accepted at any time during the Fall and Winter semesters.

We publish an issue monthly, four months a semester.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us by email at theplantnewspaper@gmail.com or on instagram @theplantnews.

Our Frequently asked questions: Can I contribute to The Plant?

Yes, of course! All Dawson students (part time or full time) are allowed and even encouraged to contribute to The Plant whether it be written articles or pieces of artwork.

How can I contribute to The Plant?

Send us an email at theplantnewspaper@gmail.com with your article or artwork and an Editor will be in touch to consider it for publication.

What do you take as submissions?

Articles (500-800 words) Poetry & Creative Writing (Max. 400 Words) Visual Art (photography, paintings, drawings, Illustration of all kinds, etc) How many pieces can I submit?

Each contributor can only submit 1 piece per month to be published in the monthly print publication.

I don’t know what to write about…

No worries! We send out a weekly newsletter with topic ideas for contributors here.

CANADIAN UNIVERSITY PRESS CODE OF ETHICS

26 THE PLANT

Ass or Gas?: The Canadian Carbon Tax CIARAN WILLIAMS Science and Environment Editor

As cries of “axe the tax” echo across the House of Commons, the presence of Canada’s infamous carbon tax grows in our public consciousness. Since its implementation in 2019, the tax has become an ever more divisive issue among Canadians, becoming ever more involved in our political discourse. Hoping to turn it into a wedge issue, Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre has come out in strong opposition to it, espousing the isea that it imposes a financial burden on working-class Canadians, and even characterising the snap election he attempted to trigger as a “carbon tax election” to put the issue front and center for Canadian voters.

On the other end of the aisle, the Liberal government argues that it is the best way to help Canada reach climate targets. By putting a price on emissions, they believe polluters will be encouraged to transition to sustainable alternatives. This will then lower carbon emissions nationally, and guide us to our goal for net 0 carbon emissions by 2050.

Numerous opinion pieces and constant fiery rhetoric surrounding the tax often confuse information, preventing Canadians from understanding what the tax really is and how it affects them, what exactly the tax is, and what the actual cost for individual Canadians is. For this reason, it’s important to explain how the carbon tax works so you can inform your own opinion.

First implemented in 2019, the goal of the carbon tax was to put a price on pollution by introducing a cost to the emission of CO2. It can be broken down into two taxes: the consumer carbon tax, and the industrial carbon tax. The Canadian government started at a levy of 20$/tonne of CO2 burned for the consumer carbon tax in 2019, and increased the cost annually until it reached a cost of 80$/tonne in April of this year. The tax is slated to increase by another 15$/year increment until 2030, where it will cap out at 180$/ tonne. This ‘consumer carbon tax’ is the one you hear most about in the media, because it is what is directly affecting Canadians’ wallets, and thus draws the most attention from the media.

The industrial carbon tax, which you hear less about, is a method limiting industrial carbon pollution mostly through a system of regulation called “output based pricing system,” or OBPS for short.

Companies subject to this system and not the standard carbon levy are forced to pay a levy for any emissions they emit past a certain limit. This industrial carbon tax is expected to account for 48% of emissions reduction by 2030, according to

According to a Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) report published earlier this year that has been the subject of much attention, around 80% of Canadian households come out even or ahead after the rebate.

Executive Vice President of the Canadian Climate Institute, Dale Beugin. This is large compared to the 8-9% reduction in emissions caused by the consumer carbon tax.

All proceeds collected from the carbon tax are slated to return to the communities from which they came. According to the Canadian Government, 90% of funds collected are redistributed in the form of the Canadian Carb Rebate, a cheque or direct deposit granted by the government proactively. The other 10% is returned to businesses, farmers and Indigenous groups from the localities they were collected from. This is the main source of confusion surrounding the carbon tax, as most Canadians do not realise they actually make back what they lose to the tax in the form of this rebate. Also, many of Canada’s working class families that rely on emissions to turn a profit, like farmers, receive a large exemption, with 95% of farm-related emissions not being taxed.

With all of that laid out, what does the impact of the carbon tax actually look like on the Canadian economy and your wallet? Well, as a resident of Quebec, you can expect to see none of this affect you in the short-term.

Since 2013, Quebec has had its own carbon pricing scheme in place. Our cap-and-trade model, which grants emission allowances that companies can trade with one another (hence the name), meets the federal standards for carbon pricing. This means that provinces that have independent systems, like us, along with BC and the Northwest Territories, are completely exempt from the tax so long as our provincial systems meet a federally implemented standard for emissions reductions.

So, then, how does the Tax affect Canadians in the provinces subject to it? According to a Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) report published earlier this year that has been the subject of much attention, around 80% of Canadian households come out even or ahead after the rebate. This means that lower income families who don’t consume as many fossil fuels can expect to even make money on it. The 20% that see a loss to the tax are typically upper class Canadian who have larger houses, more vehicles and travel more often, thus polluting more. This means that by and large, the tax has no effect, or may even have a positive impact on most Canadians’ bank accounts.

This, however, does not account for the larger economic impact of the carbon tax. When governments pass large pieces of tax legislation, it is normal for them to have an impact on the larger economic standing of the country in the long-run, and the carbon tax is no different. According to the same PBO report that was cited earlier, and elaborated upon in an edition of CBC’s Power and Politics, parliamentary budget officer Yves Giroux estimated that the carbon tax would have a net negative impact on Canada’s GDP by 2030. This is concerning, because Canada has seen some of the smallest real GDP growth amongst developed nations in recent years, especially when compared to the United States. According to statistics pulled from the Fraser Institute, the carbon tax could account for a 1.8%

SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENT 27

drop in GDP and the loss of about 185,000 jobs nationwide. Most of these jobs would be lost in sectors that are most affected by the carbon tax, such as transportation and fossil fuel extraction. It is also important to note that the Fraser Institute is a think tank with a fiscally conservative lean, meaning their projections are not to be taken as being as objective as those of the PBO, which predicts only a 0.92% drop in GDP by 2030.

This means that the impact of the carbon tax long term might not bode well for an already comparatively weak Canadian economy.

Another argument against the carbon tax perpetuated by the Conservative Party is that it leads to increased inflation. The idea there is that the carbon tax will become a strain on the supply chain, and thus prices will increase to compensate.

The Conservative party suggests that as the Government imposes the tax on farmers, transportation, and other sectors, their profits will decrease due to the levy and force them to raise the prices of their goods and services to compensate.

This, however, is not corroborated by data. According to the Bank of Canada governor, Tiff Macklem, the

carbon tax is only responsible for a meager 0.15% of Canada’s inflation spike. This amount is insignificant when considered next to the inflation we have seen since the Pandemic due to supply chain shortages and corporate price gouging - however, it is still noteworthy.

The cost of the carbon tax on the Canadian economy may seem negative, but it must be considered against the alternative cost of climate change. As the environment continues to deteriorate, natural disasters such as wildfires like the one seen in Jasper, Alberta and floodings continue to increase in both regularity and intensity. These events carry their own costs, not only in repairs, but also in lives.

Unfortunately, however, it is difficult to estimate the exact cost of damage caused by climate change because, as PBO officer Yves Giroux points out, it is difficult to estimate exactly what natural disasters are the result of climate change, or how their intensity is impacted by it. This means it is impossible to put an exact number to the cost, but as the climate continues to worsen, we can be certain this figure will only grow.

With this in mind, it is time to

rethink whether the federal carbon tax is really so destructive. In a world edging climate catastrophe, methods of regulating emissions are becoming more and more necessary if we’re going to meet our net zero climate goals in time, regardless of their impacts on the Canadian economy which are seemingly more minimal than purported. What would be even worse than the carbon tax would be no method of regulation, which is simply not an alternative given the consequences. Given these facts, perhaps it is time to see through the rhetoric, and ask yourself if the carbon tax really is something that we should be opposed to.

PHOTO BY TODD KOROL/REUTERS

28 THE PLANT

Ask the Plant!

In our monthly advice column, we invite students to ask all their burning questions and receive answers in next month’s issue. Scan the QR Code to ask a question:

How do I stop thinking that I’m a burden to everyone?

-Leafy squirrel

Dear Leafy squirrel, As human beings, it’s so easy for us to focus on our flaws and our problems - so much so that we think that that’s all others can see us as. It’s important to recognize that we are so much more than our faults. We are our passions, our hobbies, our talents, our love for others, our love for ourselves and so much more. To stop feeling like a burden, you have to appreciate yourself for all that you are and think about all the good you bring to those around you. When times get tough, remember that we all need someone to lean on and that there’s nothing wrong with needing extra support, we aren’t immune to pain or hardships! If you feel like you would benefit from it, seeking help from a mental health professional could help the self-doubt and self-esteem issues that are often at the core of feeling like a burden. Take care and be gentle with yourself!!!

How to budget and save up your money when you tend to buy a lot in stores AND online?

And buy food for your breaks and don’t bring homemade food for xyz reason?

- Shopping addict Dear Shopping addict, Our wonderful campus is situated in such a bad spot for the shopaholics among us, I understand your dilemma. The temptation is never ending with countless cute shops and wonderful restaurants in our vicinity.

Sometimes what we need is a cold hard reality check! Discipline and discernment will help you on your journey. Buying food on break is so tempting and while it’s unrealistic for me to tell you to NEVER buy food at school but I’d implore you to take advantage of Dawson’s community services. For example, we have Dawson Dining’ on Tuesdays and Wednesdays which offer free vegan hot meals. We also have free breakfast on Mondays and Thursdays.

Taking advantage of these great initiatives will definitely curb the amount of times you’ll want to eat out thus saving you money.

When you make a budget for the month try setting aside an allowance for yourself and sticking to it as best as you can. You could decide to give yourself an allowance of 40$ a week for food and an allowance of 200$ for miscellaneous purchases. As for the shopping, I encourage you to really think about whether what you’re about to purchase will add to your life in a meaningful way or if you don’t have anything else at home that fulfills a similar purpose. Basically, try to lower your consumption! If you find that to be difficult, I’d suggest limiting your purchases to holidays like labour day and boxing day only. Another good trick is putting away the money you spent on an item in your savings . Ex: Buying a 40$ t-shirt and putting 40$ in your savings after. I leave you with this quote often attributed to Jay-Z “ If you can’t buy it twice, then you can’t afford it.”

29 THE PLANT

ASK THE PLANT / CROSSWORDS 29

CROSSWORD

Across 2. the character that’s always portrayed in green and a broom 4. it falls in a blur of yellow, orange and red and crunches under our feet

Down

5. the season everyone loves the most 6. we light these up for its aroma and the ambiance it sets 8. Jacob from Twilight 10. the fluid that runs through our veins 11. the hobby everyone gets into this time around with pies and muffins 12. the most-known fruits that grow from trees in Palestine 13. we carve designs on them and put lights in them 14. people wear keffiyehs and badges to show their ________ 15. our multiple legged friends 17. the arabic word for uprising 18. it’s ______ picking season!

COME BACK NEXT ISSUE FOR THE ANSWERS!

1. ________ from the oppression 3. what is on the 31st of the month?

7. the ensemble of the bones that we hang as decorations 9. the slogan we have been chanting for over a year 16. the smaller state of the 2 Palestinian territories

30 THE PLANT

SUDOKU & COMIC

COMIC BY SAYA HIDAKA-MASSICOTTE @4A4K4A

Curiosities by TASNIA ALAM Curiosities Editor

CURIOSITIES 31

ANSWER TO LAST MONTH’S CROSSWORD

HOROSCOPES Everyone’s favourite part is here! Here are the horoscopes of the month.

ARIES (MAR 21 - APR 19)

You can expect some intense moments coming your way with friends, or a potential new love interest…

TAURUS (APR. 20 - MAY 20)

A spa day is waiting for you right around the corner to detox yourself from those who surround you.

GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUNE 20)

Don’t worry, no one is going to come and disrupt your life in a life-changing way.

CANCER (JUNE 21 - JULY 22)

You have pent up energy… Maybe pour those feelings out in a new hobby, or a rage room. Either works.

LEO (JULY 23 - AUG. 22)

Reach out if you need help. It won’t hurt you.

VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22)

You deserve more credit than you give yourself. Keep it up, but don’t forget to celebrate your accomplishments.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23 - OCT. 22)

Happy birthday, Libras! Make a wish! Here’s your horoscope of the month! Treat yourself! You deserve it. However, don’t spend too much money!

SCORPIO (OCT. 23 - NOV. 21)

If you’re thinking about buying concert tickets, do it, even if it’s a solo outing.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 - DEC. 21)

Keep your head up, Sagittarius! Some dates are coming your way…

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 - JAN. 19)

Huge changes are coming your way. However, always remember that you’re the person in control.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 - FEB. 18)

Good changes are coming your way. For your love life, your career and your friendship circle.

PISCES (FEB. 19 - MAR. 20):

Listen to your friends, and don’t try to twist their words. It’s easier than you might think.

32 THE PLANT

MASTHEAD Mirren Bodanis Editor-in-Chief Sanad Hamdouna Editor-in-Chief Winie Coulanges Managing Editor Saima Mazumder Digital Managing Editor Julia Azzouz Copy Editor Juhaina Rauph Copy Editor Thalia Ruiz Ramirez News Editor Emma Caspi Voices Editor Charlotte Renaud Arts & Culture Editor Ciaran Williams Science & Environment Editor Jade Gagné Sports Editor Tasnia Alam Curiosities Editor Ezra Bucur Creative Writing Editor Sanad Hamdouna Visual Arts Editor

CONTRIBUTORS Maya Jabbari Staff Writer Abigail Oyewole Staff Writer

Christopher James Dimitriadis Azel-Hana Brunet Kayliya Phongsavath Sananikone Caiden Finch Jane Hao

Afsha Akhtar Social Media Manager

Inès Monte

Tennesy Braun Video Content Writer

Dorji Dhatsenpa

Nirvana Amani

Eliot Fleming Video Content Writer Naiomi Daoust Video Content Producer Lorina Kutan-Boghosian Video Content Producer Ron Barrera Video Content Producer Stef Cursaru Video Content Producer Yassine Benouahmane Graphic Designer Towa Di Profio Cover Artist Saya Hidaka-Massicotte Cartoonist Sarah Bensetiti Secretary

CONTACT The Plant Newspaper Dawson College 3040 Rue Sherbrooke O Montréal, QC H3Z 1A4 2C.12 theplantnews.com theplantnewspaper@gmail.com @theplantdawson