The Plant September 2023 Vol. 59 No.1

the plant SINCE 1969 VOL 59 NO 1 2023

SEPTEMBER @THEPLANTDAWSON THEPLANTNEWS.COM

2 THE PLANT

Letter from the Editor Dearest readers,

Index

September has fallen upon us as swiftly as the once-green leaves turned golden brown under our restless feet. September, with its impetuous heat waves and prophetic warnings. September, with its fair share of reunions, of broken escalators, of academic taming and unexpected encounters. September has spoken and here we all are, rewiring our sun-kissed souls. Thank you, sincerely, for picking up The Plant this month.

I truly wish that this September brings bliss to every single one of you.

Recalling my first semester at Dawson, I want to hug seventeen-year-old Simone as tightly as the laws of physics allow me to. Fall 2021 was for me an endless fight against the whirlpool into which schoolwork pulled both my mind and body. Yet, two years later, Dawson became, whether I initially planned it or not, an intrinsic part of me. I get to nurture and care for my precious (The Plant), I get to interact with people I love and admire deeply, I get to bloom and to learn. To all first years, you have, and I cannot stress this enough, the power to make college a fulfilling experience.

This month, for all of you newcomers, I compiled a few nuggets of thirdyear wisdom: Embrace every occasion wholeheartedly. Join clubs, and partake in the activities you deem corny or silly. Approach that one person who sits alone in your I.C.E. course. Be generous, especially to yourself. Be brave.

Ask questions, and ask them boldly. Be indulgent. Drop that one 8 a.m. class you despise (you will end up skipping it in a few weeks, trust me). Seek help if needed. And, lastly, celebrate small victories. As for me, by the time the issue will be out, I will officially be two months smoke-free: the longest I’ve gone since 2021. It isn’t easy, but if I can do it, you can too.

Yet, this September is not only about our individual selves and struggles.

It’s September again and we all hear a new, sinister wind roaring. The Earth is aching and we sense it; we’ve witnessed it all Summer long. Why choose to tremble silently while deluded in believing that our leaders’ magic wands will somehow save our skins? From wildfires that turned acres of ancestral forest into dust to small towns bitterly welcoming an entire year of rain within a day, it’s the official dawn of a dystopian age. This September, question our institutions and how our western lifestyle is a one-way ticket to obliteration. This month, I invite all of you to march, to bring your friends to climate strikes, and to be louder than ever before.

As some may know, being Editor-in-Chief is not something you simply do “for shits and giggles.” It is, at times, an extremely demanding task. For this, I have to thank before anyone else the remarkable Angélique for providing some stillness to my frenzy, and for being an overall Michelin three-star Managing Editor. This issue would have been dust without her brilliance. I am also bound to celebrate both the new and remaining staff, as The Plant could not be more blessed to have such bright, beautiful souls bringing our publication to safe harbour. My heart is swollen with love.

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VISUAL ARTS

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ARTS & CULTURE

12

PLAYLIST

17

EVENTS

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Sincerely yours,

VOICES

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CREATIVE WRITING

25

SIMONE BÉLANGER Editor-in-Chief, Fall 2023

SPORTS

28

CURIOSITIES

29

See you all next month.

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 2023

NEWS 3 3

The Political Weaponization of Criminality SABINA BELLISARIO-GIGLIO Science & Environment Editor

Former President Donald Trump recently found a new way to leverage voters in the upcoming election by weaponizing his piling criminal record. His recent campaign, NEVER SURRENDER, is gaining traction amidst his indictment in Georgia after becoming the first president in history to have his mugshot taken.

On Thursday August 24th, 2023, Trump expanded his list of felony charges after receiving 13 counts in Fulton County, including violating Georgia’s RICO act and solicitation of violation of oath by a public officer.

Trump has currently received 91 felony charges in total after a historical four indictments.

These charges have not deterred his campaigning efforts for the upcoming 2024 presidential elections; the recent mugshot taken in Georgia helped surge newfound support for the former president. Trump’s first post on X since his move to Truth Social was “ELECTION INTERFERENCE, NEVER SURRENDER,” accompanied by a picture of his mugshot and a link to his website. His online store is selling merchandise, from t-shirts to mugs, with his mugshot and the “NEVER SURRENDER!” tagline printed on it. While many Americans thought of the mugshot to be surreal and saddening, Fox News anchor Jesse Walters shared a rather lighthearted feeling about the baffling image, stating on his broadcast that the former president looks “good and he looks hard.” In a video posted by Trump, he alleges that his campaign raised over $10 million since his mugshot was released. According to POLITICO, Trump’s campaign raised $4.18 million the day after he visited Fulton County jail, the most earnings for his campaign in 24 hours.

Trump’s weaponization of his criminal charges has also helped skyrocket support for his 2024 election campaign. In a survey conducted

by The Wall Street Journal with 600 Republican primary voters, Donald Trump accumulated 66% of their support, with 59% stating he would be their first-choice vote. This number is

staggering, as Ron DeSantis, a presidential candidate and current governor of Florida, is in second place with only 48% of votes, with 35% of them stating he would be their second choice. Trump’s legal troubles have not affected his ability to win over other Republicans or potential nominees from other parties. The split is close yet alarming, as another survey

by The Wall Street Journal stated that, out of 1,500 registered voters, 40% would currently vote for Trump, and Joe Biden, the current president, received 39% of the votes. The running was almost equal, with a crucial 17% of people stating they were undecided. Trump is using his felony charges to gain support in his campaign, presenting them as a political asset and persuading Republican voters that criticism is an attack on their constitutional rights.

After being asked if the participants would support Trump as the Republican nominee even if he is convicted on criminal charges, six out of the eight candidates present confidently raised their hand.

Trump declined the opportunity to join the Republican presidential candidate debate held on August 23rd, 2023. His polling numbers were unaffected by this decision, despite being a topic of discussion at the debate.

Before it began, the eight candidates participating were required to sign a loyalty pledge to support the eventual representative of the party in the presidential election, in which Trump has a considerable lead among voters for this position.

After being asked if the participants would support Trump as the Republican nominee even if he is convicted on criminal charges, six out of the eight candidates present confidently raised their hand. According to Steven Cheung, a political advisor and spokesperson for Trump’s 2023-

24 primary, the other candidates are constantly vying for second place. He stated in June, during the extensive media coverage of Trump’s Florida arraignment: “There’s no oxygen for other candidates”. Trump always remains in the spotlight, while the other candidates are rarely considered the leading GOP nominee.

The topic of criminality and the justice system is an ongoing debate in the United States, and Trump’s unprecedented conviction raises many questions about his ability to run for president. The Constitution does not clearly state that a criminal record or indictment affects eligibility. A person convicted of a felony can still run for president, creating an exploitative loophole for the upcoming election on November 5th, 2024.

Another takeaway from Trump’s possible conviction will be his voting rights. Presently, only three states allow felons to vote despite incarceration. Florida, the state Trump is registered to vote in, does not allow felons to vote until they have completed their sentence. While he could, if convicted, petition for clemency to his state governor and cabinet members, it would be disquieting to have a potential sitting president who could not vote in the election he ran in.

The current state of numerous polls and chatter among Republican candidates seems to indicate that Trump’s 2024 election campaign is thriving. It remains to be determined if the next president of the United States will be enforcing laws written

by Congress from behind bars.

Photo VIA FULTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

4 THE PLANT

Online News Act: Bitter Standoff Involving Federal Government, Canadian Press, and Web Giants SIMONE BÉLANGER Editor-in-Chief

“People in Canada can’t see this content — In response to Canadian government legislation, news content can’t be viewed in Canada.” All accounts targeted by the Meta ban now display this short message, a token of the censorship exerted by Big Tech after the enactment of Bill C-18. The reactionary show of force suggests that the Web Giants will not go down without a fight, and many believe that, by going forward with the aforementioned legislation, the Liberals tried to bite off more than they could chew.

Nevertheless, Big Tech is not the only contester of the infamous law, which sparked controversy after controversy in the months following its disclosure to the general public.

The adoption of Bill C-18 reflects the slow decline of the news industry and the struggling of newsrooms throughout the country. According to data collected by the Local News Research Project, more than 250 newsrooms have closed over the past ten years, a phenomenon which can be vastly attributed to insufficient resources. As it often is the case, those who suffered the most are small, local papers, many having to go to great lengths in order to withstand the crisis. This June, Bell Canada Enterprises announced the laying off of 1,300 workers, totalling 3% of their workforce, among which stood a number of prominent Parliament Hill journalists.

Although this represents a historic cut for BCE Inc., the very existence of the news corporation is not threatened at the moment, as opposed to some community periodicals who may not see another year.

June 22 marked the first instance where a Canadian Act overtly challenged tech giants’ turf when the Act received royal assent. The infamous Online News Act, which mandates Big Tech to compensate Canadian news outlets for the revenues generated by traffic on their website when accessed from Google and Meta’s respective platforms, is scheduled to go into effect this December. The Bill, often referred to as a so-called link tax, establishes that for every link to news sites displayed on either Google or Meta’s digital spaces, a federal-set fee will be collected and reallocated to the Canadian news sector. The exact value of these compensations has yet to be

clarified, as Bill C-18 requires Web Giants to hold individual negotiation sessions with each outlet uploading news material on the corporations’ servers.

Nonetheless, the Act stipulates that an initial 4% of both Meta and Google’s annual profits from Canadian searches be redistributed to Canadian publications and News organizations, which would amount to $234 million ($172 million from Google and $62 million from Meta). The above formula, presented by the unified tripartite front made up of Trudeau’s Liberal Party, the NPD, and the BQ, leaves many unsatisfied whatsoever.

June 22 marked the first instance where a Canadian Act overtly challenged tech giants’ turf when the Act received royal assent.

One of the most notable issues behind the Online News Act pertains to small publications, who find themselves (once more) at a great competitive disadvantage. As stated in Bill C-18, the factor which dictates the compensation’s figure per outlet is the number of full-time employees. A model that, as many experts denounced, is not viable. Research Chair in Internet and e-Commerce Law at the University of Ottawa Michael Geist, indeed raises the point that “the standard creates an advantage for those who structure themselves primarily through full-time journalists rather than with freelancers or other contributors.” For the small, digital-first community papers, the result of the legislation’s approach is a gain close to null, as most of their writers are not regarded as full-time staff. The larger lobbying corporations, among which Bell, Rogers, the CBC and Postmedia stand, to name only a few, would end up with the upper hand, especially when considering that these organizations are widely state-funded. According to Globe and Mail reporter Marie Woolfe, the CBC would be swallowing the largest share of the Online News Act’s returns, additionally to their yearly subventions.

Throughout the 21–22 fiscal year, the corporation received a grand total of $1.2 billion in federal funding; the extra revenue generated by Bill C-18

would therefore be a gateway to swelling the already great discrepancy between the Davids and Goliaths of the industry. The current harmful status quo would persist, showcasing a certain incoherence when considering the bill’s motives and effects.

If most news corporations adopted a pro-Bill C-18 stand, many journalists established that the Act is inherently flawed. Geist indeed argues that the infamous 4% is “picked out of thin air” and “would be used by other countries as a global minimum for similar payments.” Colette Brin, professor in the Département d’information et de communication and director of the Centre d’études sur les médias at Laval University, further exposes the arbitrary foundation of the bill.

Brin, when interviewed regarding Bill C-18 on Tout un matin, established the need for a long-term public support program to ensure the sustainability of small newsrooms. The professor also shed light on the current funding crisis threatening the perenniality of news outlets, stressing that the measures stated by the Online News Act are insufficient to counteract the extreme precarity of the news industry.

While opinions diverge within the journalistic profession, Big Tech’s mindset could not be more transparent: Bill C-18 is inviable, and must be brought to a halt no matter what.

Both Meta and Google deployed heavy artillery in an attempt to stop Ottawa from going through with the Act. Meta proceeded to censor hundreds of publications’ accounts (including The Plant’s), declaring on August 1 that “[they] have begun the process of ending news availability in Canada.” Google, on the other hand, qualified the Act as “unworkable” and announced their decision to “[remove] links to Canadian news from [their] Search, News, and Discover products,” as well as to conclude the operations of Google News Showcase in Canada. As a result of the Web Giants’ disproportionate reactionary stand, often viewed as both an intimidation campaign and negotiation tactic, the Parliament chose to suspend all federal advertising on Meta-owned platforms. Quebec Premier François Legault followed in Ottawa’s footsteps by reciprocating the measure at the provincial level, categorically tweeting, “No company is above the law.”

Still, the pulling of governmental advertising remains more of an

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Is Trudeau’s Controversial Bill C-18 Truly Promoting Fairness Within the Digital News Market? ideological counterblast than of an effective one, as the ensuing net deficit amounts to approximately C$10 million for Meta – i.e., a drop of water in the Pacific Ocean for the tech corporation. Naturally, news outlets would be severely harmed if Meta and Google went through with the ban, experts presaging a 50% decrease, on average, in web traffic on the outlets’ Internet pages according to a statement issued

by Village Media CEO Jeff Elgie. Although quantitative data is lacking due to the recency of said events, publications around the country have reported that fluctuations in online traffic are already spurring substantial financial losses.

While on paper the Online News Act primarily tackles monetary issues, both philosophical and ethical questions come into play. Meta’s president, Nick Clegg, considers Bill C-18 to rely on a fundamentally flawed premise, claiming that “Meta does not benefit unfairly from people sharing links to news content on our platform.”

Clegg further stated that their platforms are in reality doing Canadian outlets a favour by redirecting traffic from either Instagram or Facebook pages to the publications’ websites.

Another concern raised by the Web Giants consists in the individual negotiation of exclusive deals with every organization whose content is featured on their platforms. For instance, as part of Google’s News Showcase

program, the multinational had negotiated agreements covering over 150 publications across Canada. Under the Online News Act, these deals will all have to be ratified and independently renegotiated altogether. The ensuing discussions are likely to stretch out over months, representing a considerable waste of time and resources for all parties involved.

Another of Meta’s core arguments is that its platforms’ main purposes do not comprise the distributing and promoting of news, therefore making it illogical for such a profit-sucking legislation to fall down upon their heads. Yet, whether news content serves or not Meta’s initial intentions is fairly irrelevant as users’ media consumption habits dictate the content that is posted, shared, and recommended on digital platforms. As for these habits, roughly one out of three Canadians uses social media or Google as a primary source of information. This proportion is shown to be even greater among adults under 35, therefore raising critical democratic concerns when it comes to accessing information. Without reliable publications online, experts claim, disinformation, fabricated news, and hateful content will take over the relinquished virtual space, thus endangering the credibility of the press. Besides, the censorship exerted by Meta alludes to a rather disturbing matter: the apparent absence of means to fight the

Photo VIA STEVE NEASE FOR THE CAGLE POST

brute, unregulated power of Big Tech.

As Shani Laskin astutely expressed in McGill’s The Tribune, “The fact that Google and Meta can single-handedly make local news inaccessible to over thirty-eight million people indicates that changes need to be made in digital media consumption.”

Roughly one out of three Canadians uses social media or Google as a primary source of information. Without reliable publications online, experts claim, disinformation, fabricated news, and hateful content will take over the relinquished virtual space, thus endangering the credibility of the press.

Nowadays, the most effective ways to support news outlets are to subscribe to their content, to visit their webpage, and to download their apps.

Even if, as previously mentioned, The Plant’s account has been repeatedly plagued by Meta’s ban, our team will pursue its consistent, independent, quality news coverage of issues that cater to Dawson students and community.

The Plant remains accessible at https://www.theplantnews.com, and a fresh Instagram page, @theplantdawson, has been created in an attempt at holding out against Meta’s censorship.

If you wish to help your student-run publication outlive the Online News Act madness, contribute by sending your work to our email, sign up for the paper’s newsletter, follow the Plant on TikTok and Instagram, come visit us in room 2C.12, or pick up a copy of our monthly print editions on campus in the upper atrium.

6 THE PLANT

Colonialism, Is It Really a Thing of the Past?

Relations between Niger and France GLORIA BADIBANGA Staff Writer

Niger is one of the many West African countries formerly colonized by France.

Despite officially gaining its independence from France in 1960, France still wields significant influence in the country, maintaining its alliance. So why has there been a sudden surge in anti-French sentiment? Why are French flags being burned, the French embassy attacked, and protests against France’s presence are now consuming the streets of Niger?

On July 26th, 2023, a coup d’état took place in Niger, leading to the overthrow of the president, Mohamed Bazoum, by the Nigerien Junta conducted

by General Abdourahmane Tchiani.

Mohamed Bazoum, who became president in April 2021, was the first to be elected democratically. However, his presidential run came to a sudden and abrupt end due to his arrest and the Nigerien junta seizing power, leading to the beginning of the coup. The leaders of the coup have expressed that the motive behind overthrowing the former president was the lack of economic growth with the simultaneous rise in prices for basic necessities, a general rise in insecurities, and the ongoing security crisis regarding terrorist attacks.

Another factor that fueled the coup was France’s influence in the country.

Even post Niger’s colonization, France still had an impressive dominance in the country. Many people in Niger started to get fed up and tired of France controlling their country’s political, economic, and social life. A lot of the country’s population saw President Mohamed Bazoum as the last obstacle needing removal to finally be free from France, explaining why so many Nigeriens are actually in favour and supportive of the coup. In other words, the coup was them taking measures into their own hands.

Prior to the coup, France had a notable military presence in Niger. The West African country hosts a French military base with approximately 1,500 troops. Initially, the goal of having the French military in the country was to run an operation that would help Niger control and put an end to Islamist insurgency, terrorist groups, and violence.

Nonetheless, the security issues and violence in Niger still prevail despite France’s promise to help. The staticity of the country’s violence has led to many Nigeriens questioning France’s presence in their country. Many are starting to believe and claim that France

is there for explorative reasons and their primary goal isn’t actually to help Niger overcome their security problems. Following the coup, General Abdourahmane Tchiani has revoked five military deals with France, and thousands of Nigeriens have been protesting and demanding the removal of French troops.

Is France responsible for the instability and chaos happening in West African Countries? Is the legacy of French colonialism still lingering and haunting West Africans formerly colonised by France?

If looking back to the historical relation between France and Niger, the claims and beliefs of several Nigeriens aren’t outlandish and are, in fact, quite rational. Niger is one of the biggest uranium producers in the world. There are three primary mines operating in Niger used to exploit uranium and other of their natural resources, of which a French company named Orana has a majority equity stake in all three. For the past ten years, Niger has been one of France’s top three uranium suppliers. The relationship between France and Nigeria regarding supplying the European country’s uranium never sat well with several Nigeriens. To many, the relationship was more exploitative and unfair. Furthermore, the deals were not benefiting the general population, which is another reason why the leaders of the coup and many of the Nigeriens wanted France out of their country.

Throughout the upheaval of the successful coup, protest, and ultimate

Photo VIA SAM MEDNICK

chaos happening as a result, many countries have gotten involved, notably Russia. As the rise in political upheaval continues after the coup, Russia has been offering Niger military and economic aid. They have even strongly recommended ECOWAS (Economic Community Of West African States) not to intervene with military help as military intervention would disrupt the whole Sahel region. Even though there have been sightings in Niamey of people protesting with signs saying “Down with France, long live Putin,” some Nigeriens believe the country shouldn’t be praising Russia because, in the end, none of the countries intervening are genuinely motivated to assist. Many believe Russia is capitalizing on the coup and that their interference is their attempt to get a toe hold on the country. Others genuinely believe they have pure intentions and intend to help Niger. But one thing is clear, generally speaking, Niger would much rather have the presence of Russia than France in their country. For now, it is unclear whether or not Russia wants to help Niger or they’re just planning on treating the country as a pawn in a game of geopolitical chess.

All the current events happening in Niger raise many questions. Is France responsible for the instability and chaos happening in West African Countries? Is the legacy of French colonialism still lingering and haunting West Africans?

What is currently happening in Niger is very similar, if not identical, to what happened in neighboring West African countries such as Mali and Burkina Faso. Both coups in each country have led to a defeat for France, forcing them to withdraw military troops and presence. Will Niger share a similar fate?

NEWS 7 7

The CAQ’s Bill 31: Tried to Please All, Satisfied None EZRA BUCUR Staff Writer

On June 9th, 2023, France-Elaine Duranceau, the Minister Responsible for Housing, announced a new legislation, An Act to Amend Various Legislative Provisions With Respect to Housing, known as Bill 31. It affects both tenants and landlords by modifying eviction procedures and lease transfers. The law will be debated in the National Assembly in the fall, after its recess. It advertised itself as a response to the growing housing crisis in Montreal, yet it has received pushback from both landlords and tenants.

Many housing organizations have pursued action by protesting in the streets.

Normally, tenants who did not respond to an eviction notice from their landlord were assumed to have accepted it. However, Bill 31 modifies this policy and makes any unanswered eviction notice signify an automatic refusal. The burden of proof is now on the landlord to defend their position. Once a tenant is evicted, the owner owes them financial compensation. Currently, the compensation allotted is three months’ worth of rent. The new bill demands one month’s payment for every year lived in the property, at a maximum of 24 months. Finally, landlords were previously allowed to increase rent as they saw fit. With the advent of the new bill, they would have to warn the renter of the possible rent increase spanning a duration of five years.

The most controversial amendment is its modification of lease transfers. Usually, tenants were allowed to give out the remainder of their lease to another person. This was primarily done to avoid penalties that would ensue for an incomplete rental.

The landlord was also compelled to charge the new tenant the same rent as the previous one. However, Bill 31 permits landlords to reject lease transfer requests without providing a reason. The landlord will also be within their rights to completely cancel the lease. If the landlord accepts the lease transfer, they are able to charge up to 10% additional rent.

Property owners in Quebec have raised their concerns about the new law, which its supporters hope will pass before Christmas. According to the Quebec Landlord Association (APQ), the private rental market is already suffering from the “over-

whelming obligations” of current housing regulations. Martin Mercier, president of the association, says it is a “setback,” but also acknowledges the lease transfer change as a positive. In its statement, the APQ focuses its concern on the housing market as well as property rights.

Renters have also been vocal about their opinions on the new law, primarily represented by housing rights organizations.

The primary point of contention regards the lease transfers which were seen by many people as an effective protesting tactic against rent increases. Housing organizations have vocalized their opposition to the law on the basis of its inefficiency towards the housing crisis. Catherine Lussier, an organizer of the Front d’Action Populaire en Réaménagement Urbain, argues that revoking this right from tenants is akin to accepting constant rent increases.

In response to this criticism, Duranceau defended the decision by claiming it was not the responsibility of tenants to control the rent. Meanwhile, Quebec Solidaire has opposed the new law. The party posted an online petition that called to retract the lease transfer clause. MNA André Fontecilla described it as a “major setback.”

He claims that the new legislation does not effectively address the housing crisis caused by short-term rentals.

On June 22nd protests were organized near the Parc metro station in Montreal as well as in Quebec City. The event occurred shortly before Moving Day, a symbolic day in Quebec from the time when leases would be fixed. Thousands gathered in order to protest against the cancellation of lease assignments,

Photo VIA CityNews

which was seen as one of the biggest protests for housing rights.

The Canadian housing crisis initially surfaced in cities like Toronto and Vancouver but has recently made its way to Montreal. On July 1st, 2022, 750 renter households were unable to get housing, and 24,000 people were on the waiting list for a new living space. As the availability of properties decreases, stemming from the scarcity resulting from poor housing policy in the 80s, more and more people will become priced out of their own homes.

The primary point of contention regards the lease transfers, which were seen by many people as an effective protesting tactic against rent increases.

The CAQ’s long-awaited bill attempts to tackle the increasing rent in a way that will satisfy both renters and landlords, yet none of them are pleased with its implications. The annulation of lease transfers, as well as the amendments made to eviction procedures, have not meaningfully addressed the root causes of the housing crisis. In fact, it can be a driver for getting people out of their homes, and not be able to find any places to live, as landlords will still be free to increase rent prices as they see fit. It does contribute to increased availability on the market, whether in terms of affordability or supply. Were the bill to pass this fall, the future generation of renters would be the first to live through its consequences.

8 THE PLANT

Visual Arts by MIA GUELI Visual Arts Editor

Artwork by Angélique Babineau @ANGELIQUEBABINEAU

Artwork by Mia Gueli @ MIAG.DRAWS

VISUAL ARTS 9

Artwork by Jaimee Alleeyah Nacionales @CHAILEE.ARTT

Artwork by Sanad Hamdouna @SNAD.JPEG

10 THE PLANT

Ongoing Colonization: The Effects of Residential Schools on the Indigenous Community DEFNE ALIEFENDIOGLU News Editor

Here in Quebec, the state of the Indigenous community is regularly shoved under the rug and brushed off. In class, students are taught that Indigenous oppression is a thing of the past and that their colonization is over. However, is that truly the case? To answer this question, I have interviewed Gülsüm, a Turkish social worker here in Quebec who has been stationed in Northern Quebec several times.

In Canada, between 1830 and 1996, Native children were forced into residential schools by the Church.

Children from First Nations, Métis, and Inuit groups were frequently taken from their families and villages against their will and placed in schools where they were forced to give up their customs, cultural practices, and languages. More than 150,000 children were put into these schools, and, according to Kisha Supernant, Director of the Institute of Prairie and Indigenous Archaeology and author of the article Every Child Matters, “One year after the unmarked graves of 215 Indigenous children were found in Kamloopsas, as of 2022, there are 4,130 confirmed names of children who have died in the hands of residential schools.” The exact number of children who have died and or committed suicide is unknown, as there are hundreds of unmarked and unnamed graves. In these schools, children’s hair would be cut, disconnecting them from their Native identities. Among other things, they were not allowed to speak their mother tongues or practice their religions.

At times, if they were caught speaking their native tongue, needles would be shoved into their tongues. They were not given proper sanitation, food, or health care. Children would be regularly beaten, shackled to their beds, whipped, sexually harassed and assaulted, and frequently given drugs.

The residential schools were around for nearly 166 years. The final school closed in 1996 in Saskatchewan, only 27 years ago. Many Indigenous children and youth are now the children and grandchildren of the survivors of these schools.

Gülsüm is a social worker who specializes in children who have been victims of domestic abuse. She had been interested in working with Indigenous children during her last years as a student at Dawson College. As she

wanted to not only read about the effects of their colonization but to see it herself, she chose to be stationed in Northern Quebec, in the region of Nunavik. Nunavik comprises 14 villages, all spread out over the Northern border of Quebec. The villages have no contact with each other as it is nearly impossible to go by land from one village to another. However, during winter, when the water freezes, people can travel by sleds or other winter transportation devices. The village that Gülsüm traveled to is called Salluit, the second furthest village after Ivujivik.

“Travelling there is extremely hard. It takes around 8 hours to get there by plane. We have to switch planes once and then go by jet after with like 36 people. Then, every 30 minutes, the jet lands at each village to drop workers off. So, for me, to go to Salluit, it’s around 4 stops before I get there.” Gülsüm said that it was very isolated, and she questioned how supplies were able to get by there. She later learned that there are boats that bring food and supplies 2 to 3 times a year. Because Nunavik is quite distant, and it takes a while to take supplies there, even for Gülsüm, a round trip from Montreal to Salluit costs around 4,000$. Therefore, inflation is elevated. “The prices there are around 3 times higher than here [Montreal].

An apple that is 2$ here will be sold at 6$ there.” In Salluit, there are around 1,500 people. In others, there are barely 500. However, in total, approximately 10,000 natives are living in the Nunavik region.

When asked to describe the state of the people, she said, “They drink almost every day. And once drunk, get filled with rage and violence. One day, I got a call and the caller told me that a woman was consuming alcohol near her child and that the child was not safe. So, I went to check it out, and the mother was drunk. She then pushed me and attacked me. I was near my car so I ran inside and locked the doors.

She started attacking the car, and the only thing I could focus on was her eyes. They were filled with so much rage. I’d never seen anything like it before.”

Marcel Gemme, a Drug and Alcohol Treatment Specialist, wrote in the article Indigenous Peoples In Canada—Discrimination and Generational Substance Use that around 78% of residential school survivors

had abused alcohol after attending the schools. According to Gülsüm, the people tend to consume drinks that have 95% of alcohol or higher, which they drink straight - i.e. without any water, ice, or any other chaser. “Wine and beer is nothing compared to it.

You can think of them like water,” she said. Cocaine is also heavily used and marijuana is a norm. Windows are usually closed when smoking and children grow up inhaling secondhand smoke. “I have some clients that are 10 and 11 years old who consume marijuana and alcohol,” she said. On average, at 8 years old, children start consuming these substances. It is also not uncommon either for older men to bribe little girls with the promise of drugs and alcohol for sexual pleasure.

“This other time, I got a call from a child. He said that he was abused at home and that his mother was drunk.

The child told me that the mother attacked him and threw her baby at the wall. So, we had to remove the children from the house and put them in a foster home,” reported Gülsüm. Foster homes, on the other hand, are typically transient. Often after a few months, reports of domestic violence from foster families emerge. It is a cycle the child can not escape from. “I know of a 4-year-old child who had to change homes 120 times,” she said.

Gülsüm stated that 95% of children are at risk of suicidal thoughts, addiction, and domestic abuse. In residential schools, the Church would kidnap, rape, sell, and kill Native women and children and then proceed to cover it up. Gülsüm said, “The media always hides the truth, especially when it comes to Natives. We [social workers] hear many things, but we don’t really have the facts. Yes, Indigenous women and children still go missing, but we don’t know how they go missing.

They are killed and thrown into rivers, they tell us that it was suicide, but we don’t really know if it was a suicide or not. We don’t know if they were murdered or even who they were murdered by.” Indigenous people are frequently labeled as “alcoholics,” “rapists,” and “mentally-ill,” therefore when they go missing or are murdered, it is often dismissed.

In the North, people are still significantly influenced by the Church, a fact that many are unaware of.

One night, Gülsüm asked one of her Indigenous friends in Salluit, a security guard, why they did not practice

NEWS 11 11 11

their spirituality and religion or hold any festivals or events to celebrate their traditions. The guard answered that they were still controlled by the Church, two people could not even gather together to practice their beliefs. If the Church gets word that such activities are taking place, people can be fined or arrested. Catholicism is still forced upon the Natives, who are still heavily monitored by the Church.

“The francophone pressure is a lot worse than the Anglo-Saxon one. I heard that the Indigenous population in Nunavut and Yellowknife are a lot freer and that their voices hold more power,” said Gülsüm.

Education in the North is neglected. Schools have pools, gymnasiums, and nice classrooms, yet, education is not prioritized. Teachers are usually absent for the majority of the school year. “There are 13-year-olds who don’t even know how to read and write,” said Gülsüm.

When she first got there, it was the summer. As the summer vacation came to an end and just when schools were about to open up again, construction began on the buildings and the opening had to be delayed. Because of the lack of schooling, the majority of

the youth there do not have a chance of accessing higher education. Education is learning about freedom. The more educated you are, the more conscious you are about your rights. You start to think for yourself and get to learn about the world. The more you prevent education, the more control and influence you have, trapping people within your grasp.

The Native communities of the North are mainly anglophone, however, the education system is solely in French.“To continue the relationships between them, they need to know English, but the government insists that they speak in French. There is so much pressure for them to speak French, but if they give up English, their connection with their relatives in Nunavut and Yellowknife will be cut,” Gülsüm stated. Although, thankfully, students are allowed to speak their language and attend at least one or two classes per week in their native tongue, English is needed to communicate with other villages as they all have different dialects.

The Indigenous communities in Quebec remain under colonization as you read this article. Not only that, but they are still living through the trau-

Classroom at Cross Lake Indian Residential School in Cross Lake, February 1940, Photo VIA CBC

ma from residential schools and all the torture that they went through in the past.

According to Donna Dubie, psychotherapist and executive director of Healing of the Seven Generations, when a person experiences great trauma, that trauma carries on generationally and can take as long as 7 generations to heal. Gülsüm stated, “Our ancestors are the source of our beliefs, behaviors, and thoughts. The trauma that the Natives have faced is still fresh. It hasn’t even been 40 years since the last residential school closed.

Only one or two generations have passed for the majority of them. They still have a long way to go before they can heal from the trauma they have been through.”

12 THE PLANT

The Plant Recommends: Hangout Spots!

Long breaks, as most of us know, are prone to become dull and tedious, often rhyming with the good old ascension to the library. For our very first issue this semester, The Plant’s team decided to curate a few outsidecampus alternatives that will allow you to flee the College’s walls for an hour or two. Recall the sweet crispness of September’s gentle breeze.

Of the crunchy leaves longing for the giant shoes’ stomping. Beyond the gates, summoned you are! This month, let yourself be tempted by one of our beloved writers’ juicy picks. Buckle up friends, we’re taking a stroll!

CAFE CHATO You know what’s better than studying at the Dawson Library? Studying while being surrounded by cats! You can enjoy a smoothie, read a book, and cuddle with adorable kitties. The area is very comfortable, has great food (their affogatos are my personal favorite), and is very close to the college! It’s only five stations away and can be a great way to escape the sometimes suffocating Dawson College Air. :)

SIMONE BÉLANGER Editor-in-Chief

SARAH BENSETITI Secretary GRANDE BIBLIOTHÈQUE BANQ Forget everything you know about libraries. The flagship location of the Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec has broken records as the most frequented library in all of North America and the Francophonie! Housing an endless collection of books, movies, video games and vinyl records, the Grande Bibliothèque gives you room to soak in your book and do your homework with thousands of beautiful study spaces. A membership is completely free and it’s accessible through the Berri-UQAM metro station.

MIRREN BODANIS Voices Editor

Photo VIA Shaughnessy Cafe

SHAUGHNESSY CAFÉ Step inside a peaceful environment inhabited by laptop bound coffee-sippers and page-swiping book worms. This is an ideal place to chat with friends whether you have a 30 minute or 3 hour break, as the café is located right behind the forum. And don’t be shy to shazam the music, it is not a crime to add hidden gems to your playlist!

THOMAS FRENETTE Arts & Culture Co-Editor ESPLANADE TRANQUILLE Situated in the Quartier des Spectacles, Esplanade Tranquille offers tranquility through its comfortable space, winter skating rink and multipurpose areas for playing board games, studying, meeting friends or simply taking a nap. Its festive side is just as amusing. You can often find festivals and events nearby, so might as well take a look!

RALUCA-MARA MARE Staff Writer Photo VIA FABG - Architecture

ARTS & CULTURE 13 13

Euro Summer: The Invisible Trend of Eurocentrism and Wealth THOMAS FRENETTE Arts & Culture Co-Editor

Summer! The world suddenly takes on a whole new skin, one that does not resemble short night slumbers, shorter assignment deadlines, and even shorter time spent on other spheres of our lives.

Summer! The word is a warm welcome to broaden our horizons, be it by pursuing personal projects, connecting with new people and places, or revisiting familiar spaces for untapped insight.

For some, this corresponds to late night bike rides and drunken adventures, while for others the long break is the due season for focusing on employment to pocket some good money. But for the globetrotting lot, the numberless possibilities of summer seem to narrow down to a single option: Europe.

If I asked you to recall the quantity of Europe-related camera roll dumps you swiped through this past summer, would you even bother counting? Let me paint the picture for you, and let me know if it seems familiar.

Germany, Spain, and Portugal are mazes of narrow cobblestone streets and large carrefours, scenes of buskers playing suave saxophone solos and guitar licks, and sites of noonish yawns after long nights of indulgence in the local nightlife. France, Greece, and Italy are flanked by beaches to refresh in while sunbeams grant perfect tan lines, picnic locations bordered by lush gardens of enchanting flower fragrances, and cozy cityscapes to contemplate under golden sunsets.

Why do we pinpoint Europe as the promised land of la dolce vita? Has the world held a common consensus to proclaim it heaven on earth? Our social media feeds certainly attest so, but the roots of this reality run deeper.

The belief that a perfect summer can only be enjoyed in Europe is one of the many symptoms of Eurocentrism, a worldview that frames Europe as the central agent in world history, the creator of universal values and therefore the template for progress. Our history classes teach us a worldview in which the world is indebted to the innovations of Western civilization: Greece has taught us philosophy and the blueprint

of democratic society, Italy—or the Holy Roman Empire—the dexterity to govern a large area efficiently and France has provided a broad idea of liberalism. Moreover, we are taught to care for the preservation of the European continent precisely because it is the image of the world our historical sources care to convey.

As a result, the spotlight has always excluded Africa and Asia, save their acknowledgment as the respective birthplace and cradle of civilization. Not only is their precious histories neglected, but even the history of the Western world’s relationship with the East is generally glossed over or overlooked altogether. But this comes as no surprise. After all, why would you bother acknowledging a history which you have damaged at your own profit or tried to erase because it would position your continent in a more glorious light?

We are taught to care for the preservation of the European continent precisely because it is the image of the world our historical sources care to convey.

The abusive relationship between the West and the East–let’s not forget the Holy crusades, colonization, military interventions, etc.–is observed in the biased choices of Western historians to write accounts of the events both dependent and independent from the Western world. The famous aphorism of my Western civilization teacher Gesche Peters, “history is written by the winners, not the losers,” sums up why the remainder of the world is maintained in a position of forced submissiveness in order for the system to persist. For this, regions like Sudan, which is populated by more pyramids than Egypt, and Sidi Bou Said, a Tunisian village northeast of Tunis, indistinguishable from an island in the Greek archipelago, are not as renowned as their northern counterparts.

Consequences of the popularity

of European countries are felt not only historically and politically, but also economically. As you would expect, the almost ceremonial convergence to Europe has exponentially boosted the prices of its access. Ticket prices to fly over the Atlantic Ocean are considerably expensive, and even more so during the summer frenzy. Interviewed Dawson students report an average fee of 1475$ for one back-and-forth ticket to Europe this past summer. Similarly, day-to-day expenses are generally expensive. The wealth gap is very wide, as northern countries such as Denmark, Norway, and Switzerland are twice as expensive to live in as the Czech Republic, Spain, and Portugal. France, despite attracting the largest amount of tourists in the world, lands just about in the middle. Still, according to Numbeo - the world’s largest cost of living database, compared to Montreal, Paris has 14.1% higher grocery prices, 13.1% higher consumer prices and 18.6% lower local purchasing power. Tourists are thus expected to be comfortably wealthy in order to travel and enjoy their stay in Europe. And as the media persuades us to subscribe to the culture of European supremacy, it also motivates us to steer our modest student budgets into financial failure.

Traveling beyond the comforting familiarity of Europe rewards us in many ways. Away from overcrowded spaces and financial recklessness, simply let yourself flow in the powdery slopes of the Nevados de Chillán ski resort, in Chile, ascend to lofty spiritual and earthly summits of Chiang Mai, in Thailand, and roam the Zanzibar coastline aboard a Swahili dhow one sunset at a time. Better yet, relish in the delicious feeling that experiencing essential and humbling cultural lessons are helping sap the supremacy of Europe!

Photo VIA Sidi Bou Said, Tunisia, Via TripSavvy

14 THE PLANT

The Idol: A Look Into Sam Levinson’s Perverted Mind LILY GREENSPOON Arts & Culture Co-Editor Any TV series depicting the lives of struggling artists must include the quintessential ingredients: “sex, drugs, and hot girls,” as Sam Levinson elucidates in his most recent failure, The Idol. Levinson, Nepo baby and now a household name, has used this recipe time and time again. Levinson’s claim to fame and one of his few success stories, Euphoria, won nine Emmy Awards and one Golden Globe Award. Many regard Levinson’s use of sex and nudity in Euphoria as intentional and an ode to the hardships of being a teenager, and more specifically, the hardships of being a teenage girl.

Contrarily, this summer’s release, The Idol, will not be winning any Emmys; it was a shit show, pun intended, and has been canceled after five episodes. While Levinson’s depiction of struggling female characters in Euphoria was mostly well received, his inability to diverge from this storyline in all of his creations, including Malcolm and Marie, and, now The Idol, is questionable at best.

Why is Levinson, a grown man, so infatuated with struggling female characters, and more specifically, why must his depiction of them as emotionally vulnerable rely so heavily on them being naked in nearly every other scene?

The Idol’s lack of tastefulness and plot has gained much negative publicity; Rolling Stone magazine published an article hinting at some drama behind the scenes.

Amy Seimetz, former director, left abruptly due to conflict with Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye. It is rumored that he did not agree with the choices made by Seimetz and felt that the series centered too much on the “female perspective”. This insinuates that a “female perspective” is negative – because, God forbid, they were to create a meaningful series about womens’ struggles.

Alas, they scrapped the 80% of the series that had been completed, not to mention wasted $54-75 million, to refilm the series as Tesfaye, an inexperienced actor and creator, saw fit. Levinson and Tesfaye combined their perverted ideas and started from scratch; a show which was initially aimed to demonstrate the perils of fame and the harsh realities for women, turned into a potluck of bad acting and degrading sex scenes, usually reserved for pornography.

In the opening scene of episode one, Pop Tarts & Rat Tales, Jocelyn, played by Lily-Rose Depp, poses for her album cover:

a nude photoshoot. Jocelyn’s team, watching her pose, comments on her sex appeal and beauty. When one of the team members questions the direction of the photoshoot and its romanticization of mental illness, as Jocelyn poses in a red robe with a hospital wristband sitting noticeably on her tiny wrist, the chief of the team, a woman named Nikki, responds curtly, “Will you let people enjoy sex, drugs, and hot girls? Stop trying to cockblock America.” This quote might as well have been plucked from Levinson’s brain itself as it evidently conveys his perverted beliefs.

Why is Levinson, a grown man, so infatuated with struggling female characters, and more specifically, why must his depiction of them as emotionally vulnerable rely so heavily on them being naked in nearly every other scene?

While many people can move past this line and maybe even laugh at it, this scene as a whole harms the progress made in Hollywood and the film industry. Following this line, Jocelyn has a disagreement with her intimacy coordinator about the implications of her nudity rider. She wishes to show her breasts in the photoshoot, contrary to what the clause allows. The intimacy coordinator explains that there is a 48-hour waiting period that must be

Photo VIA ROLLING STONE MAGAZINE

respected before she can display her breasts in the photoshoot, and that it is this way for a reason: to protect female stars from spurof-the-moment pressures. Jocelyn practically rolls her eyes at him and accuses him of taking away her agency; the following clip shows him locked in a closet for merely doing his job. This scene in itself ridicules the measures put in place to ensure the safety and comfort of actors and actresses.

Levinson should know better, as he has respected and worked with these clauses in the past. For instance, Sydney Sweeney, who plays Cassie in Euphoria, took advantage of her contract and spoke up when she felt uncomfortable with the amount of nudity included in her scenes.

Levinson respected her decisions as he was required to by the fine print. Did he include this scene because he believes in a woman’s right to go against what her clause says and take ownership of her body, or because he was annoyed that his “artistic creativity” has been limited by a piece of paper in the past? Either way, when writing this scene, Levinson must have known it would get a reaction from the public.

Unfortunately, the offensive and questionable lines do not stop there. Notably, Jocelyn voices her attraction to cult leader Tedros, played by Tesfaye, by describing him as “rapey” and proceeds to engage in a masochistic and degrading sexual relationship with him. All this to say, what was intended to be a show about a female star “who finds herself sexually,” said one anonymous crew member, became “a show about a man who gets to abuse a woman and she loves it”; a disappointing outcome.

ARTS & CULTURE 15 15 15

From Party to Culture: Should We Be Concerned?

SARAH BENSETITI Secretary

How many times have we heard stories starting with the few words “I was drunk”? In a world pulsating with human activities, it is only normal to yearn for a few moments of liberation during which we can cast aside our obligations.

However, partying has evolved into a rapidly spreading culture, mainly among teenagers and younger adults. Party culture, specifically the prevalence of binge drinking during these social gatherings, raises two questions: Why is party culture spreading, and should it be a cause for concern?

The Prohibition: A Precursor to Modern Party Culture Interestingly, one past ideological movement paved the rise of party culture: Prohibition. This movement, which swept North America during the early 20th century, consisted of a wave of bans established to control and diminish the sales and consumption of alcohol.

Originating in the United States, Prohibition was founded on the belief that alcohol was the root cause of all modern societal ills. Even the province of Quebec’s capital, under the Dunkin Law, prohibited the sale of alcohol. However, Montreal was controversially spared and embraced the sale of alcohol, as the prohibition could be voted by referendum in Quebec under the Scott Act. The urban city was known as the Paris of the North, attracting mainly musicians and liquor tourists from America. They were drawn to Montreal’s vibrant atmosphere and the unbridled availability of alcohol, which fueled their desire to indulge in excess. The attempt to prohibit alcohol consumption simply enamoured the

Photo VIA Via Odyssey

substance with an exciting and adventurous romance, setting the foundations of modern party culture. Records show that at the beginning of the prohibition, alcohol consumption was reduced to 30% of its pre-prohibition value and spiked a few years later to 60-70% of its initial value, only to completely come back to it after the prohibition was revoked. Ultimately, the movement provoked the opposite of what it was aiming for: A resurgence in alcohol consumption and the emergence of a new culture centered around unrestrained partying and binge drinking.

What Exactly Is Party Culture and Why Is It So Prevalent?

Party culture, in essence, pertains to the cultural attributes of groups of individuals who engage in “social revelry” as a central aspect of their way of life, often involving the consumption of illicit substances.

However, party culture itself is characterised by a set of beliefs that play a pivotal role in its propagation and distinctive prevalence within society.

One of the socially constructed beliefs of party culture consists of the idea that one who engages in this culture perpetually seeks to push their boundaries. In other words, if you party once, there will be this inherent urge to surpass past partying experiences. This persistent desire to test one’s limits through excess becomes a driving force behind the perpetuation of party culture. It inspires individuals to embark on the journey repeatedly, resulting in each party exceeding the previous one and attracting more like-minded attendees. In the process, more people get invigorated in party culture and, in turn, contribute to its spread by challenging their limits.

This vicious pattern is marked by the social pressure to party, as those who reject party culture are often ostracized.

Therefore, party culture’s prevalence is a result of its unique customs and beliefs that foster its dissemination.

So, Is The Spread of Party Culture Worrisome?

Concerns about the prevalence of party culture are certainly justified when considering the statistics. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the United States reported that two thirds of the 60% of young adults aged eighteen to twenty-two years old who consumed alcohol in the past month partook in binge drinking.

The idea that excessive drinking is necessary for a teenager to establish their social status is profoundly affecting their lives, leading to severe alcohol intoxication. A study conducted by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration also found that 72% of the college students who admitted to public substance abuse required assistance with their alcoholism. College students are also prone to drinking due to negative emotions or simply trying to seek a euphoric state, resulting in an increasing number of teenagers being vulnerable to alcoholism. The National Institute of Justice of America reported that as many as three-quarters of sexual assaults involve alcohol consumption. This social phenomenon is deeply concerning, given its potentially grave consequences for young, vulnerable adults. As alcohol consumption among teenagers increases, so does the detrimental impact on their mental and physical well-being.

It’s a fact that party culture has become an integral part of modern lifestyle. Despite its popularity, its impacts are extremely troublesome and could have drastic consequences in the future.

Perhaps it is time for us to re-evaluate the freedom we give to party culture and find safer alternatives that give those the leisure they seek in times of need.

16 THE PLANT

VISUAL ARTS

Artwork by Antony Ma @CHIGGENSTUDIO

Artwork by Sophia Widell @SOYAGRAPHICS

PLAYLIST 17 17 17

Playlist by MIA GUELI Visual Arts Editor

18 THE PLANT

ARTS & CULTURE

SMALL EVENTS EURYDICE Dawson College’s Professional Theater Department presents the classic tale of love and separation of Orpheus and Eurydice contemporaneously refurbished with witty humor and surrealism. Catch the enthralling performance for willing payment every night at 7:30 p.m. from September 20 to 23 2023 at the Dawson New Dome Theatre (2000 Atwater Ave).

Photo VIA DAWSON COLLEGE

THE BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE The invite is out to all fans of psychedelic rock, folk music, and shoegaze, or with an overall appreciation of the alternative rock currents of the 90’s to come see The Brian Jonestown Massacre at the Beansfield Theater (2490 Notre-Dame Ouest) on September 22nd. Tickets prices are set at 41.50$ and doors open at 7 p.m. (show at 8 p.m.).

Photo VIA LOUDER THAN WAR

LUCY’S DELIRIUM Underground local all-female band Lucy’s Delirium are performing at the Turbo Haus on September 22nd. Unwind and dance to support fellow Dawson students with tickets available for 12$ at pre-sale and 15$ at the door. The show starts at 8:45 p.m.

Photo VIA @LUCYSDELIRIUM

SUPPORT LOCAL MOVIE THEATRES! At the Cinéma Moderne this month, catch “Yi Yi” (dir. Edward Yang), following a middle-class family over one year as they deal with life’s hard hitting questions on September 23rd at 5 p.m., “After Hours” (dir. Martin Scorcese), a man stuck in his routine who spends the wildest night of his life with a woman he met the same evening at a coffee shop on September 24th at 8:45 p.m., or “Even Hell Has Its Heroes” (dir.

Clyde Petersen), the Québec premiere of the tale of the slowest metal band on earth, Earth (no pun intended) on September 30th at 3:40 p.m.

Photo VIA CINÉMA MODERNE

VOICES 19 19 19

What if it Wasn’t the First Day of School?

EMMA CASPI Staff Writer

I walked into Dawson wondering how our education system came to this supposedly “enriching” program posing as a segue to become an erudite. Originally, believe it or not, the idea of higher education was similar to that of Plato’s academy in which revolving and perpetual discussions ignited the minds of young academics. I can’t help but think about what would happen if we didn’t have a “first day of school.”

When did this omnivorous system metamorphosize into the somewhat treacherous system we deem “our future” today? I stumbled upon this question on my first day of Liberal Arts, wondering how such a program—which was created by a slew of philosophers and curious and eager scholars beguiled by the art of expanding the mind—morphed into a religious and exhausting test of our minds, constantly observing if the information we have been force-fed is retained.

Moreover, Liberal Arts is just one example of the many programs that have undergone transformation. The sciences, business, nursing engineering, they have all evolved to be far more strategic, like perhaps our sanity and jurisdiction in our lives are indifferent.

John Newman decided to voice his opinion through his book The Idea of a University in 1852. To understand his stance on education, he explains in Discourse VI that, “The enlargement [of the mind] consists, not merely in the passive reception into the mind of several ideas hitherto unknown to it,

Photo VIA THE NEW YORK TIMES

but in the mind’s energetic and simultaneous action upon and towards and among those new ideas, which are rushing in upon it….There is no enlargement unless there be a comparison of ideas one with another.”

So, you mean to tell me that this system began as one to actively learn and not passively cram the specifics of who allegedly founded Rome, Julius Caesar’s last words to Brutus or Cleopatra’s scandalous affair with Marc Anthony? I could have spared myself perpetual tears of frustration and defeat for not remembering the exact year that Johannes Gutenberg printed his first book? I can’t be the only one curious to know what provoked scholars to engage in such tedious work, or rather what drove these educators to heinously create these impossibly high standards.

Michael Austin attempts to answer why the education that Newman proposed is no longer the same in his informative book Reading the World: Ideas That Matter. Austin believes that building an economy is far more important and justified than learning for learning’s sake. He even goes as far as to say that the educational system has morphed its curriculum to be purely job-based, meaning that what you learn will only be applied to what you pursue in the future.

Understandably, this curriculum partially makes sense in the preparation for the ‘real world’. However, what about the rest of our lives we do not spend at work? Shall we doddle the hours away, waiting for our next meeting? Austin believes that education is objective, not inherent, and thus, everyone perceives it to serve a

different function. This idea has been seemingly abused by our government allowing us to believe our function is to provide them with wealth. Moreover, Austin uses Seneca, a stoic philosopher of Ancient Rome who deeply valued the virtues that education brings forth, as an example to enhance his own belief that education is not pursuing certain programs, but using our minds to create virtue in which a functioning and free society may exist.

We can see that our education has morphed not for the betterment of society, as some would lead you to believe, but for a larger influx of money in our economy.

We can see that our education has morphed not for the betterment of society, as some would lead you to believe, but for a larger influx of money in our economy. Of course, this is not to negate any other reasoning of why our curriculums have changed, but only to exhibit that we are now seen as lucrative profit. We have all been affected by it…you don’t believe me?

I had a Dawson teacher once tell me that “feeling like you are going to die during a test is normal.” Well, I hate to break it to you, but it is not. But what if it didn’t have to be this way?

We are forced to accept and live in our world with all of its flawed norms, but what if we broke out of it?

Now, please don’t take this information too seriously, as Oscar Wilde would indubitably frown upon that. I simply wish to help you invoke the curiosity you may have lost.

What if instead of waking up with apprehension, we rise with a refreshed and inquiring mind? What if the exams we dread fill us with fulfillment and pleasure? What if our hearts ceased to break at the sight of an 80%, or our teeth did not chatter when our teacher called upon us? What if our graduations were not celebratory because we completed our tumultuous and frustrating classes, but because we reveled in every moment and asked every question you thought of? Imagine a world in which education does not rule us, but we rule it. What if it wasn’t the first day of school, but the last day we were ignorant?

20 THE PLANT

Is Colleen Hoover Replacing Good Literature?

HANNAH DANE Creative Writing Editor

Two steps into Indigo will lead you to the darkest, most depressing side of the modern book world: a table full of Colleen Hoover books. Colleen Hoover is an American author whose novels fall into the genres of Young Adult romance, New Adult romance, and psychological thrillers. In 2022, six of Hoover’s books reached the top ten bestselling list according to Publishers Weekly; It Ends with Us, Verity, It Starts with Us, Ugly Love, Reminders of Him, and November 9 reached first, second, third, fifth, eighth and ninth place, respectively. Though Hoover has amassed an immense following and formed a devoted fan base – the ‘CoHorts’ – her books have been subject to harsh criticism from the literary world. As Hoover’s books continue to outsell numerous classics and renowned authors, can we consider her books to be “good literature”?

Before diving into Hoover’s many shortcomings, a few positive points about her work can be mentioned. No matter one’s opinions on the author, Hoover’s rise to fame has sparked a creation of reading communities, from Facebook groups to Instagram accounts and TikTok posts with over 4.5 billion views in total. As television and social media have been increasingly replacing people’s reading habits, one could argue that any form of reading is a good thing. As a plethora of “new readers” get into Hoover’s collection, chances are they might also explore other authors and genres, making reading a regular routine. Taste is also subjective. What one might see as a terrible, bland, predictable book could be another’s favourite piece.

Objectively speaking, however, Hoover’s biggest releases are nothing short of highly questionable and disappointing. They share common characteristics: they are dialogue-heavy, fast-paced, and revolving around young adults in tumultuous romantic and sexual situations in the 21st century. Nevertheless, despite their success, are these traits enough to create “good” literary pieces?

Literary scholars throughout the centuries have outlined what “good literature” should be like. Aristotle’s

Poetics, for example, written 350 B.C.E., looked at how literature should be structured through six main elements: plot/structure, characterization, diction, spectacle, song, and thought-provoking ideas. Though Hoover’s books contain distinct plot structures and thought-provoking ideas as she tackles topics like marital abuse and sexual assault, diction and “music” are lacking. As Literary critic Laura Miller explained, “The blandness of Hoover’s characters makes them easy for anyone to identify with, and the smooth, featureless quality of her prose makes her novels easy to breeze through in a day or two.” Hoover’s books are hardly prosodic or richly written.

This simplicity, however, could simply be reflective of the masses’ inadequate reading skills. In 2013, Statistics Canada analysed adult literacy levels in the country. As a result, more than one in six adults failed even the most basic reading comprehension test. Almost a decade later, Falice Chin, writer for CBC, reported that “About half the [Canadian] adult population fell short of passing a high school level of assessment, by testing the ability to digest lengthier and more complex texts while processing the information accurately.” Reading a Colleen Hoover book, where the most complex literary reference stems from Finding Nemo, does not require any advanced literacy skill, so it sells.

Putting aside the undeniably bizarre elements Hoover has added to her books – like Lily Blossom Bloom, the name of the main character of It Ends with Us, who works as (you guessed it) a florist, using Ellen DeGeneres (of all people) as a guiding figure in that same novel, or the

Photo VIA Zoie Karagiannis

main characters of Ugly Love laughing at their newborn son’s “big balls” – another main problem critics have with her stories is the use of “trauma porn” to lure readers in. “Trauma Porn” is a term used to describe harsh, traumatic situations portrayed for the consumer’s entertainment. As I scroll through Hoover’s 5-star Goodreads reviews, an overwhelming amount of positive responses revolve around the visceral reactions Hoover’s books incite in their audience: “This is the most moving book that I’ve read in a LONG time” (@candace, 43), “I didn’t expect this book to impact me so hard” (@Angela).

Through tragic, sometimes violent scenes, readers are presented with scenarios that cause pain for the characters and the audience, only to be comforted by a well-wrapped happy ending. Sophie Lambert, managing director at the literary agency C&W explained this need for “trauma porn” in literature: “Post-pandemic, there are certain themes and types of genres that have really excelled. People want escape and hope and wonder and love.”

The yo-yo of emotions keeps people on their toes, crashing them down and then offering immense consolation when every problem is miraculously resolved, without having to invest time and energy into a more intricately written novel. It does not matter whether the book is “good” or not; if it gets its readers to feel something, Hoover fans will love it.

Reading in any form can be an enriching and entertaining pastime.

Picking up a Colleen Hoover book for a quick, stirring story is not a shameful crime, but maybe we need to be more careful about what we dub a literary masterpiece (I beg).

VOICES 21 21

It’s Not A Need, It’s A Want Why do you buy what you do not need?

RALUCA-MARA MARE Staff Writer

Hello new Dawson students and welcome back to the returning ones! I hope the start of your semester is fulfilling, but not by monetary means. It can be quite tough to resist giving in to temptations like the neighbouring mall, the pricey cafeteria, and the myriad of spending options that are all claimed to be necessities but are really simply wandering thoughts. One of the fundamental ideas of adulthood is understanding money. Money should be handled wisely, whether it is being earned or being spent. So, how wisely are you managing it?

Let’s explore the psychology of spending hard-earned money impulsively. We all have experienced a situation where we succumb to our desires to own a certain possession or make a certain purchase. However, some people fall into the spiraling effect of consumption and end up being trapped in a so-called Diderot Effect. Diderot, a famous French philosopher, grew up poor. In 1765, he was offered a huge sum of money by the emperor of Russia in exchange for his library, to help with his financial struggles. With the money, the philosopher bought himself an expensive robe, and realized it seemed out of place next to his other old-fashioned possessions. In order to fill the wealth gap, he felt the urge to replace all his belongings with newer and fancier ones. According to the Diderot Effect, purchasing a new item frequently leads to a cycle of consumption that encourages you to buy even more new items.

Photo VIA THE STATE NEWS

As a result, we find ourselves spending money on things that our past selves never truly needed to be happy or fulfilled. You were most likely a victim of the Diderot Effect at one point, whether it was buying matching shoes with your dress, buying a desk and changing the lamp, painting the room and changing the carpet, buying a sandwich and getting a dessert, getting a car and customizing the interior, etc. Therefore, it is important to understand our spending habits, and ask ourselves if buying a certain item is truly necessary or is it just an aftermath of the Diderot consumption spiral.

Falling into an excessive spending habit can cause the development of compulsive buying disorder (CBD).

People diagnosed with CBD report concerns related to shopping, pre-purchase tension or anxiety, and postpurchase relief. Significant mental comorbidity, including mood and anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, eating disorders, and other impulse control disorders are all associated with CBD, according to The National Library of Medicine. The anticipation, planning, shopping, and spending phases of CBD have all been distinguished by the previous source. The people diagnosed with CBD experience ideas, impulses, or preoccupations in the initial stage that are either related to possessing a certain object or the act of buying. The second stage is getting ready to spend money: determinations like when and where to go and what to wear can fall under this category. It’s possible that extensive analysis was done on sale items, new trends, or new stores in order to assure

a pleasing buying experience. The third stage entails the actual purchasing process, which many CBD users describe as being really thrilling and fulfilling their desires. A purchase completes the act, which is frequently followed by a feeling of disappointment in oneself for acting solely upon their desires.

Recognize that wanting is merely a choice offered by your mind, and not an order that you must obey.

Many techniques are possible to reduce spending: one of which is reducing exposure. For example, the now-forgotten Tim Hortons in the Dawson cafeteria was a crowded spot for the students that needed a quick refresher in between classes. Since its removal, the likelihood of falling into the habit of purchasing an iced coffee at 8am has decreased. Once the trigger or cue to spend is reduced, so is the spending itself. Another technique is to plan a budget. Self-imposed limits help keep track of the money gained and spent. It equally prevents overspending as the budget is set to fulfill your needs. As a college student, many opt for techniques such as the 50/30/20 rule. This rule suggests allocating 50% of your total after-tax income to needs, 30% to wants, and 20% to savings and other financial objectives. This way, you can manage your level of spending and think more about the things you spend your money on. Finally, as straightforward as it sounds, let go of wanting things. People will never quite stop wanting more. It is human nature. However, it is important to know that little upgrades are just as beneficial. Recognize that wanting is merely a choice offered by your mind, and not an order that you must obey.

It is normal to spend money. Managing your income does not mean restricting every single purchase and denying your monetary desires. It is good to follow a budget, but you can also indulge in a little occasional iced coffee before class or dine at an eating-out event with your friends!

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The Asterisk Next To Our Names: The Reality of Being Muslim in Québec ANGÉLIQUE BABINEAU Managing Editor DEFNE ALIEFENDIOGLU News Editor

Standing modestly on Saint-Dominique Street in downtown Montréal is the AlOmah Al-Islamiah Mosque. To enter its first glass door, a keycard is required, a measure put in place to protect the mosque’s Muslim community following several desecrations throughout the years.

However, this did not discourage 32-yearold Cory Anderson from shattering the glass door with a metal pole last April.

The man then proceeded to smash the second door’s lock with a concrete brick, before realizing he was outnumbered and running away. The man whose actions have yet to be labeled as a hate crime was released only a few days later, leaving the Muslim community flustered.

After the attack on the Islamic Cultural Centre of Québec City back in 2017, the Québec government said, “never again.” Yet, five years later, the province’s Muslim community continues to be targeted by assaults and governmental bills, such as Bill-21, fostering a climate of racism and Islamophobia.

Elisabeth Babineau, a 17-year-old Dawson student in the Law, Justice and Society program, revealed that her knowledge of Islam in high school was limited and mostly inaccurate. “We were taught that Muslims don’t eat pork because they believe a part of the pig is sacred and, since they are unsure which part is, they avoid

Photo VIA Angus Reid Institute

the meat altogether,” said Babineau. In reality, the consumption of pork in Islam is prohibited on the basis that the meat is unclean, a belief now supported by scientific research. Moreover, Babineau reported her surprise upon learning that “Allah” is the Arabic word for “God,” which, contrary to what she had learned in class, means that Muslims pray to and believe in the same Abrahamic God as Christians and Jews. The lack of proper education on the fundamentals of Islam in academic institutions constitutes an important factor in the cultivation of a climate of enmity and ignorance towards Muslims.

“If you are a Muslim or from the MENA region, even if you are a citizen, you will never really be viewed as a true Canadian.

There is always going to be that asterisk next to your name.”

By failing to properly educate non-Muslim students on basic aspects of Islam, the message sent to the Muslim community is that their identity is not one that is worthy of respect nor of consideration. Consequently, this disinformation, combined with the existing prejudice towards Muslims, creates a vicious circle

that results in othering and exclusion. In other words, the Muslim community is targeted and then labeled as a separate group with whom the rest of Québec population wishes not to associate.

Apart from harming Muslims, this process of dismissal also affects Middle Eastern and North African Quebecers, immigrants, and international students.

Wrongfully indeed, the Western world tends to confuse and misattribute Islam as a religion solely belonging to the MENA region. In reality, a minority of Muslims live in the Middle Eastern and North African region, representing, according to the Pew Research Center, only about 20% of worldwide Muslims.

Speaking to the assumptions made towards Middle Easterners and North Africans in Québec, a 20-year-old Muslim international student who wishes to remain anonymous said, “When people hear that I grew up in Qatar, they assume I had a totally different upbringing, like I grew up on Aladdin’s carpet eating camel meat or something.” These presumptions, whether they be innocently made or not, can profoundly damage one’s sense of belonging and identity: “If you are a Muslim or from the MENA region, even if you are a citizen, you will never really be viewed as a true Canadian. There is always going to be that asterisk next to your name,” continued our interviewee. As Middle Easterners and North Africans are often excluded from discussions surrounding systemic racism, such occurrences should not be taken lightly.

Miseducation juxtaposed with the deeply problematic White Savior Complex of the West leads to the belief that imposing ideas and morals on other cultures is not only appropriate, but necessary. Quintessentially, the motive behind the enactment of Bill-21 was to affirm the secular state of Québec. The legislation states that the laicity of the State is based on, amongst other principles, “the religious neutrality of the State.” Since the enactment of the bill in 2019, Bill-21 has been found to, by far, affected hijabi women the most. Although Bill-21 only directly affects civil servants in positions of authority, when the Québec government demands that hijabi women remove their headscarf in order to exercise their profession, asking them to infringe upon their own personal beliefs, they are taking a stance on religion and one that is not neutral. According to a study led by the Association for Canadian Studies (including a sample consisting of individuals from various religious faiths), since 2019, two thirds of Muslim women reported having been a victim of a hate crime and 73% admitted to feeling less safe in public

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spaces. In truth, the passing of Bill-21 it denies Muslim women basic freedom utterly ignores the reality and questions of choice, which directly contradicts the premise of feminism. the very existence of Muslim women.

Violence and abuse against women unfortunately exist worldwide. We, as Quebecers, should begin focusing on our own responsibility when it comes to women’s safety within Canada. With the number of femicides in Canada reaching 184 last year, instead of scrutinizing other cultures and making assumptions based on unfounded stereotypes, it is our duty to look within our society and act on the matter.

The stigmatization of hijabi women, Muslims as well as Middle Eastern and North African people is, however, not specific to Québec nor to Canada. Referring to depictions of The Virgin Mary and of Jesus, our anonymous interviewee said, The study’s findings raise ques- “The Virgin Mary resembles more of a tions on another major problem: the Muslim woman than the modern ChrisWest’s preconceived idea that all Mus- tian woman, and Jesus, unlike what the lim women are oppressed and, there- West leads people to believe, was Middle fore, must be saved. Some have tried Eastern. However, no one will call Mary to paint Bill-21 as a “feminist” legisla- oppressed [or associate Jesus with modern tion under the fallacious pretense that stereotypes].” Indeed, when looking into it could, somehow, liberate persecuted historical facts, Jesus was born in modwomen. Apart from the fact that this ern-day Palestine, making him Middle line of thinking is deeply paternalistic, Eastern, and evidence points that Mary

Miseducation juxtaposed with the deeply problematic White Savior Complex of the West leads to the belief that imposing ideas and morals on other cultures is not only appropriate, but necessary.

wore a headscarf. Although prominent figures in Islam as well, Jesus and Mary are predominantly associated with Christianity. The discrepancy in the societal reading of both of these figures when in the context of Christianity and Islam reflects both racism and Islamophobia.

Additionally, the deeply problematic representation of Islam in mainstream media contributes to fueling the existent prejudice against Muslims. Tropes in television and films depicting Islam as a “force of evil” are overly common.

European shows like Elite often showcase one-dimensional Muslim characters whose sole arc is to “escape” Islam. This is exactly the case of Nadia’s character in Elite who turns away from religion, chooses to remove her hijab not long after meeting her White Savior Guzmán.

The danger lies in the fact that these archetypes have the power to frame their audience’s perception of an entire group, and, as tropes become recurrent, to crystallize these expectations in the mind of the viewers as the only “plausible” form of representation, leaving little room for critical thinking.

Seeing the absurdity of France’s latest legal prohibition, the abaya ban, Islamophobia has proven to still poison the social fabric of our society. Targeting young Muslim women simply for wearing abayas, modest and loosely fitted dresses, and denying them access to education is nothing short of outrageous. Yet, this does not seem to be the consensus as, according to BBC News, “the French themselves gave the measure an overwhelming 81% thumbs-up.”

In the last few years, from the Chinese concentration camps designed to eradicate Islam and the slaughtering of Muslims in India, countless examples of hate and violence towards Muslims have surfaced. We have a duty as human beings to hold each other accountable and to educate ourselves, which also means not letting instances of Islamophobia become so common that we forget their gravity.

Additional resources: https://www.uri.org/kids/world-religions/ muslim-beliefs

A colonial poster distributed in French-ruled Algeria (1957-1960), Photo VIA MIDDLE EAST EYE.

https://www.islamicreliefcanada. org/?utm_campaign=738137222&utm_ source=google&utm_medium=ppc&utm_content=363121941824&utm_ term=muslim%20 charity&adgroupid=40137566793&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvaDG2I2hgQMVi6zICh2J8w9qEAAYASAA

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VOICES

Global Inequality: How the REM Asks Whose Voices Need to be Heard MIRREN BODANIS Voices Editor

Earlier this year, I had the unfortunate experience of having to help my father clean out my late uncle’s apartment. My uncle was unable to work, living off government aid. The meager allowance provided to him by the provincial government housed him in a tiny studio situated nearly on top of the Decarie Trench.

Adjacent apartment complexes lined the decades old, perpetually congested sunken expressway, with only the apartment’s thin glass windows to separate tenants from the ear-splitting roar and visibly oozing pollution that emanates from the 6 lanes directly at their fondation.There is much beauty in the neighborhood. My uncle had shared with us stories of all the amazing people, pets, and shops that made place into home. But the inhumanity of the urban design is undeniable.

Politicians listen to the people’s voice, but it is ultimately the news media who decides whose voices get heard.

In the end, it is the public and the media who have the power to choose whose homes and neighborhoods we develop and improve. That is just the nature of public infrastructure. When a community has a problem, they make their voice heard. If it’s loud enough for “traditional” media (newspapers & TV networks) to care, they’ll start running it through the press, and once it’s loud enough in the press, politicians can’t ignore it or else they won’t get re-elected.

Theoretically, the people have more power than the media, but the media inform the people, and thus inform our votes. If, say, Montréal-Nord is unhappy, that is 84,000 people who might cost the mayor a vote. But if just TVA posts about it on Instagram, suddenly that’s 160,000 followers whose votes might be swayed.

Radio-Canada another 217,000. Le Devoir another 140,000. Politicians listen to the people’s voice, but it is ultimately the news media who decides whose voices get heard. They hold decisive power, not just in how they tell our stories, but whose stories they tell.

Now we arrive at the REM. Are there valid criticisms of the project? Being the largest public transport project in over half a century, built around the communities of millions of people… of course there are. But, it is a radically massive change in the urban landscape of our city that will bring about positive transformation to communities for the next century. The planet is burning.

The dystopian flavor of the phrase “cost of living crisis” has melted and relaxed into our daily vocabulary. We cannot keep building sprawling suburbs where the average home is 1.5 million dollars.

We cannot keep using slave labor to mine cobalt and build electric cars, and we can’t keep pumping toxic gas into the air while we drive gas ones. Given our current policies, without the kind of transformation the REM will bring, we are not only dooming ourselves, but affecting those around the globe. We know this. We need more transit, and transit-oriented development.

So, given all this, when the first white-and-lime train glided across the Champlain bridge, whose voice was amplified to reach the millions of voters across and around our island?

“Bad vibrations: Griffintown neighbors want the REM to pipe down” headlines the Montreal Gazette.

“Montreal residents of Griffintown concerned over loud noise from REM trains,” reads Global News.

“Le bruit, c’est partout, tout le temps” -La Presse These complaints may appear minor, but they hold significant influ-

Photo VIA Global News

ence. The REM de L’Est was supposed to be a significant extension in the northeast portion of the island, providing a long-overdue development to what has been, historically, an extremely marginalized set of communities. Protests, mostly in wealthier regions, campaigned against the fact that the train would run above-ground (just like roads!) A new underground plan was proposed, leading to a substantial increase in project costs (building tunnels is massively more expensive than building viaducts), people protested the cost (“At $36B, urban planners say REM de l’Est project needs a rethink” headlined CTV News,) and now the project is less likely to happen.

You know who didn’t get headlines about noise and ugliness? My Uncle & his thousand neighbors.

All experiences should be equal, yet we are at a time of unparalleled inequality. The REM is loud, and the Decarie Expressway is loud and pollutes to a lethal extent. An above-ground train is ugly, and so is a highway and it costs thousands more a year for people to use.

Taking the bus might add 10 minutes to your commute, but how many minutes would Yellowknifers wait to keep their community from turning to ash?

We are at a turning point in history, and we face choices. The best choices are made through hearing everyone’s voice, but we are not listening to everyone. So, my question to the CTVs, the TVAs, and the CBCs of our world is: Are we listening to those who pay the highest rent, or the voices of those who need to be heard most?

CREATIVE WRITING 25

Happy beginning-of-semester fellow Dawson students! As summer shows no signs of waning and we adjust to life back in the overcrowded hallways, I hope September doesn’t come with too many hurdles and ‘chapter 1 quizzes.’

Though I have been scrambling to find contributors to send me their lovely poems for this semester’s first issue, this diverse collection of comedic, heartbreaking, soft and rough pieces start off this new era for The Plant with a kick and a kiss. Now, let’s all sit back and enjoy Dawson’s incredibly talented writers.

Yours truly, HANNAH DANE Creative Writing Editor

Liquid Soap MICHELLE PARENT Contributor I am liquid soap, almost emptied by your use.

There is so little of me left and yet my shell is still the same. The years have not left any visible dents; the plastic bottle is still intact. Even when I fell and my guts drizzled over the bathroom floor, my bottle had only a scratch.

But half of me was gone.

You filled me with water then: empty promises that we could last, but now I bleed faster. And as you hit me down on your hand, squeezing my throat and my stomach, trying to reach the last of me, what then will be left of me but an empty shell?

Violets for Roses ANGÉLIQUE BABINEAU Managing Editor Crouched in the grass, my fingers steadily excavate the ground, making space for violets and their heart-shaped leaves. My fingernails are filthy with dirt; I loathe wearing gloves. A string of my strawberry blonde reckless hair falls in front of my left eye. I brush it back; I must focus. If it is true that we each are born with a distinct talent, mine is undoubtedly gardening. In honor of this new era, I have decided to replace the thorny red roses that once decorated the front of my house with charming deep purple African violets. As I am busy with my flowers, my neighbor emerges from behind her car, smiling.

She exclaims, “I don’t know how you do it! I must know your secret for growing such beautiful plants!” If only she knew the best fertilizer is a severed husband’s head.

Perhaps that is what you get for making me trade my violets for roses.

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Friendship is a Ring HANNAH DANE Creative Writing Editor You found it on the floor, miraculously!

Maybe you bought it at a shop or ordered it online.

There has never been a better ring, a better fit, a better feel; it even shines!

It sits tightly around your index finger, hugging it, snugging it, in a tight embrace.

You can barely feel it anymore!

It has clearly found its perfect place.

You’ve tried other ones before at special events or for a bit of change, but oh, nothing compares to your special ring.

It goes with everything, takes you everywhere.

Some days it snags on your shirt, Leaves a scratch on your arm, Or a bright red band on a swollen, choking knuckle: Only temporary dents.

One night you left it on while in the tub, while swimming, surfing, in a roaring tsunami, a level 5 hurricane!

And still it sat still, holding your hand tightly, The dent it leaves dug deep and welcomed.

-

For my Léanne

Goodbye Super Juice QUINN MCCART Contributor I had it in my grasp before she flew across the table, Franka’s face aghast, Yet my hand felt so stable.

I fall to my knees, begging for forgiveness.

Jyoti stares right through me; My presence here, now meaningless.

Super juice all around me sends me back to those lonesome nights at sea.

Was it then that I was supposedly free?

Orange, ginger, and turmeric.

That was to strengthen me, the sick.

Now I find myself lying in the super juice, face down, offering nothing but a frown.

The dark hours ensue.

My head rests here until dawn.

Joni Mitchel once said “You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.”

CREATIVE WRITING 27 27 27

A Changed Season, A Lost Treasure SARAH BENSETITI Secretary Concealing the fiercest weapon, the deadliest ammunition, He disguised himself with the most luscious fruits.

My hunger, this constant craving, couldn’t restrain itself in the face of such an opportunity.

How could I say no to my only oxygen?

My body cried, screamed, drowned, sank, asking me to heed its warnings.

But deep down, I longed - I wanted, I needed, I yearned.

Burning with the desire, the temptation, to finally become an object of profit, of interest To be a simple sculpture that scratched his hungry entrails, His appetite tamed by the eagerness to be his, His fantasy that only I could fulfill.

The man covered me with the sweetest words, The soft, charming and poisonous idioms And slowly, the man corrupted his treasure.

He proudly seized these freshly bloomed flowers, Perhaps my only moments of ignorance, of purity The unthinkable, that’s what He did - that’s what I did.

To let go of my fresh harvest, to yield all to him, my only possession To go from spring to winter, From being a simple child to becoming a woman in this underdeveloped, pitiful body I did that - I wanted that, I kept convincing myself.

Every breath, every stretched muscle, I feel myself falling into a pit of these poisoned crops.

My body moved for him; my body still moves for him Rooted deep inside, savoring the little hope that resided within me, The hope of one day living without thinking of you.

You, with your nightmarish hands, your cursed voice, and surely, your mischievous eyes.

How can I live without planting the same seeds again and again and again?

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SPORTS 28

Canada Men’s Basketball Returns to Olympics After 23-year Hiatus MARC PHAM Sports Editor

Canada has earned tickets to the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France after making it to the FIBA World Cup 2023 playoffs.

After a nail-biting affair, the star-studded roster managed to clinch an 88-85 victory against the reigning champion, Spain, in the deciding match on September 3rd. This marks the first time the Men’s National Team has appeared in the Olympics since 2000.

Accredited for bringing forth the inventor of the game, Canada has always been a major competitor in the basketball world. However, the men’s team’s international record has not always been the most exceptional—they have yet to bring home a trophy despite a plethora of silver and bronze medals garnered throughout almost a century of history. The Men’s National Team’s last appearance in the Summer Olympics was in the 2000 tournament in Sydney, Australia. They would then miss out on the following five Olympics; they barely missed the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil falling 74-83 to France in the qualifiers in Manila, Philippines. As of February 27, 2023, they were ranked 15th in the FIBA World Ranking.

Following a lack of success in the late 2010s and early 2020s, in May 2022, Canada Basketball introduced a ‘summer core’ roster consisting of fourteen athletes willing to represent the country for three years.

“By assembling committed core groups of players and staff to represent Canada over the next several years, we firmly believe this will position this program for sustained success, both now and in the future,” said Nick Nurse, Head Coach. Nurse stepped down from the position earlier in June, replaced by Jordi Fernández, Head Coach of the Sacramento Kings.

The roster, captained by Kelly Olynyk of the Utah Jazz, includes stars such as R.J. Barrett of the New York Knicks and MVP at the 2017 FIBA Under-19 World Cup, Dillon Brooks of the Houston Rockets and 2023 NBA All-Defensive Second Team, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder, coming off a spectacular NBA season where he was named to the All-NBA First Team after averaging 31.4 points per game.

Canada qualified for the 2023 FIBA World Cup with flying colors, finishing first overall with an impressive 11-1 record and

a +351 round difference. To further prepare, leading up to the prestigious tournament, Canada Basketball announced a five-game exhibition series where the team would compete in Europe against the top-ranked nations in the world.

They finished the exhibition tour with a 3-2 record.

Accredited for bringing forth the inventor of the game, Canada has always been a major competitor in the basketball world.

Carrying the high from the tour into the FIBA World Cup, Canada announced their arrival in Jakarta, Indonesia with a dominant 95-65 win against France, ranked 5th, in the opening game.

The team then completed the first round of the group stage with a flawless 3-0 record, netting wins over Latvia and Lebanon. In the second stage, however, they would suffer their first loss to Brazil; this put them in dangerous waters as they were one more loss away from being eliminated and missing another Olympic. If they wanted to clinch a berth in the 2024 Paris Olympics, they would have to prevail over Spain, the top-ranked team in the tournament. Although their 11-game win streak was ended by Latvia in the prior match, La Roja had not lost consecutive games in the competition since 1990, and they are known to shine the most where the spotlight shines the brightest. The pressure was unfathomable for our boys in red and white.

Spain got off to a vehement start, leading 48-38 at halftime, but Canada

Photo VIA THE ATHLETIC

managed to claw back and take a narrow 53-52 lead. However, the Spaniards went on a hot streak, commandeering a 21-6 run; ten minutes remained on the clock, and the score was 73-61. In spite of the double-digit deficit, the unyielding Canadians still dug deep and eventually broke even by virtue of a three-pointer from Dillan Brooks with a minute on the clock.

Then came Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - the 25-year-old hit the picture-perfect pull-up jump shot from the top of the arc to give Canada an 82-80 lead with 44 seconds left.

La Roja’s fate was sealed when he calmly sank six free throws in the final period, granting Canada a spot in the FIBA World Cup playoffs, as well as a ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Torontonian superstar was monumental in the historic comeback win with 30 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds and 3 steals; he also made 14 free throws out of 16.

“We’re a part of history,” said Gilgeous-Alexander. “It’s something that’s almost indescribable. So many people along the way have put in so much work for this program and having the opportunity to do so, we want to thank them and also represent them when we go, and in the rest of this tournament.”

Despite eventually falling in the semi-finals to a red-hot Serbia, this marked Canada’s furthest progress in the FIBA World Cup; they even defeated Slovenia with Luka Dončić, regarded as one of the greatest European players of all time, in the quarterfinals. The third-place finish hardly matters now when the win against Spain effectively relegates to the dustbin a 23-year drought in this nation’s men’s basketball legacy. We shall see them again in the Paris Olympics next year.

CURIOSITIES 29 29 29

PUZZLES

Across 2. The way we go from one floor to another that is somehow always broken (dawson plz fix them) 3. The best student newspaper ever ;) 6. The place you go to to print your card 9. We have an upper and lower (1st floor & 2nd floor) 10. The place that is going to be packed during midterms and finals with students studying (and sleeping) 12. The mall connected to Dawson 13. A place you can go to on the 2nd floor since 1991 14. A place off-campus where we can have class 15. Dawson’s signature color

Down 1. The place where you can buy food in the school 4. The name of Dawson’s beautiful garden 5. The metro station connected to us 7. Student space that is in the 2C hallway where many events can be hosted (ex: trivia night) 8. The platform we use that includes Mio and Léa 11. The place where we go to buy our school supplies and textbooks

Curiosities by

TAMARA GALINATO Curiosities Editor

COME BACK NEXT ISSUE FOR THE ANSWERS!

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COMIC

Comic by Saya Hidaka-Massicotte @4a4k4a

CURIOSITIES 31 31 31

HOROSCOPES

ARIES (mar. 21 - apr. 19): Be ready for some big change this month. When you aren’t expecting it, you will be faced with a situation that you thought was resolved. Old wounds will heal and you’ll finally get closure.

LIBRA (sept. 23 - oct. 22): It’s your season Libras! Happy birthday! You have been very busy recently, but things will calm down. You will have time to recharge and get back into a routine but beware to not fall back into old patterns with the colder weather approaching.

TAURUS (apr. 20 - may 20): This month may bring you confusion your way as a serious dilemma is being sent your way. Don’t get overwhelmed and try focusing on things you love instead! There’s no need to look far, you already know the answer.

SCORPIO (oct. 23 - nov. 21): Stop procrastinating. You may be feeling tired but don’t give up on your goal and continue working hard as you will be rewarded. This month you may reconnect with an old friend but the question is, should you?

GEMINI (may 21 - june 20): It’s time to be honest with yourself and others. Know what you want and don’t be afraid to communicate your basic needs. You don’t have to deal with someone who doesn’t give you the bare minimum. Set your boundaries and be sure they are respected.

SAGITTARIUS (nov. 22 - dec. 21): You may be faced with a few dilemmas this month but there is no need to stress as you always solve them! Trust in your decision and stand your ground. Also, go try that restaurant!

CANCER (june 21 - july 22): Now is the time for communication. You may have lost touch with a few friends but don’t be afraid to reach out.

The actions of your past may catch up to you so be sure to listen to what the problem was to not repeat history.

LEO (july 23 - aug. 22): You may have had a problem with communication in the past but now is the time to communicate with the person you’ve wanted to talk to. Speak your truth and perhaps the situation will clear up.

VIRGO (aug. 23 - sept. 22): You may be feeling drained but take some time to breathe and recharge. Reading a book may help fill the void. You can also try to go outside for a walk and maybe even bring a friend along ;)

CAPRICORN (dec. 22 - jan. 19): You know what’s best for you so don’t fall back into old patterns just because they bring a sense of comfort. Don’t text them back (your friends will be mad at you)! You deserve better, remember your worth.

AQUARIUS (jan. 20 - feb. 18): Try pushing yourself out of your comfort zone this month, saying yes to things you never thought you would try.

Problems may arise in your friend group. Try that new recipe you’ve been wanting to try!

PISCES (feb. 19 - mar. 20): Things may feel rough right now, but they will get better.

Now is the time to move on from old situations you’ve been holding on to. New relationships will show you the love you deserve.

SUBTEXT Subtext is an online journal that will showcase the select writing of Dawson students. This wide-ranging journal will release its first ever issue in December 2023 and will feature exemplary essays, film reviews, articles, interviews, screenplays, and video essays written by students. Although Subtext focuses on cinema and communications, submissions are open for all Dawson students.

Additionally, each semester Cinema and Communication teachers will nominate exceptional student work for the Best Critical Essay Prize awarded at Media Night. Nominated work will automatically be considered for publication in Subtext. The media night winner for Best Writing will also be considered for publication in Subtext.

Start submitting your work now at DAWSON.SUBTEXT@GMAIL.COM! Follow Subtext on Instagram @SUBTEXT_DAWSON

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MASTHEAD

CONTRIBUTORS

Simone Bélanger Editor-in-Chief

Marco Pham Sports Editor

Angélique Babineau Managing Editor

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Mirren Bodanis Voices Editor Sabin Bellisario-Giglio Science & Environment Editor Hannah Dane Creative Writing Editor Mia Gueli Visual Arts Editor

Sanad Hamdouna Jaimee Alleeyah Nacionales Antony Ma Michelle Parent Quinn McCart Saya Hidaka-Massicotte

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