November 9, 2016 Issue by On the Record News (Formerly the Ryersonian)

Rye artist puts ink to skin See page 10

Coach Rana is back in action See page 13

yersonian R WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2016

ryersonian.ca Volume 71 Number 8

Produced by the Ryerson School of Journalism

Fancy footing ESTHER LEE RYERSONIAN

The votes are in

COURTESY RICH GIRARD | FLICKR

To find out what went down during yesterday’s election, head online to read our coverage from the Ram in the Rye and U.S. Consulate General Toronto. What’s online Text goesout here.Ryersonian.ca Xxxxx xxx xx x x. Xxxxx xxxxx Xxxxx Check for stories on xxx xx x x. Xxxxx xxxxx Xxxxx xxx xx x x. Xxxxx xxxxx the Standing Rock solidarity march, the Xxxxxxx xxxxx Xxxxx xxx xx x x. Xxxxx xxxxx Xxxxxxx new Xxxxx fashion Gimme360, a xxxxx xxx startup, xx x x. Xxxxx xxxxx Xxxxxxxand xxxxx Xxxxx xxxlook xx x x.at Xxxxx Xxxxx virtual the xxxxx life of a refugee.

By mixing social media and commerce, Ryerson students are creating a space for the sneakerhead community. Third-year entrepreneurship student, Owen Osinde, recently launched the beta version of Sneakerdeck, an online “social commerce platform” aimed at people who are passionate about sneakers, known as sneakerheads. Since the site launched on Oct. 12, they’ve already had more than 500 users sign up. “We want to create this Uber/ Airbnb experience but for sneakers,” said Osinde. Buying sneakers online is not new. They can be bought through social media sites like Facebook and Instagram. Please see SNEAKER, page 3

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Turning design into a virtual reality page 5

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Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Come as you are

JENNIE PEARSON | RYERSONIAN

Pastor Jeff Pike and his congregation enjoying a performance by the Groundswell band as part of their Sunday service at the Mod Club. Band members include Ryerson social work student Chelsea Schringa.

Meet the millennials who are bringing God to the club JENNIE PEARSON RYERSONIAN

Last Sunday marked the first ever church service held at the Mod Club. While it’s not your average venue, this is certainly not your average church. Groundswell is a non-denominational Christian church that is attracting young people with its high-energy meetings and approachable demeanour. With a full electric band, strobe lights, free coffee and candy bar,

it’s no surprise that millennials feel comfortable there. “You can come in your jeans, come in your sweat pants, or your pajamas. We’re not going to judge you,” said Jazelle Nicholson, one of several Ryerson students who are a part of Groundswell. Nicholson is a third-year creative industries student at Ryerson and has been going to Groundswell meetings for almost a year. She heard of the church from fellow student, Chelsea Schringa,

who is part of the Groundswell team and sings with the church’s band. According to Nicholson, what keeps her around is the community. “This is a church where you can find belonging ... where people really care about you,” she said. Groundswell Church was founded two years ago by 27-year-old Jeff Pike from London, Ont. While studying theology in Australia, Pike was introduced to Hillsong, a church with over

100,000 members around the globe. He was inspired by what a church could be. He later moved back to Canada with his wife, Mika, and they started building their own church with the hope of creating community in a sometimes lonely place like Toronto. “You can walk through the streets and see so many people but not connect ... I’ve never met so many people, but so many lonely people,” said Pike. While Pike’s main goal is to

spread the word of Jesus, he hopes in his church he is creating a place that people feel welcome, no matter their beliefs. “A lot of churches are known for what they’re against, and I want to be a church that’s known for what we’re for ... and we’re for the people of this city.” Groundswell will continue to hold meetings at the Mod Club on Sunday mornings. Pike hopes one day the church will have its own 24 hour drop-in centre. It’s all part of his five-year plan.

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Ryerson introduces new food incubator CHAYONIKA CHANDRA RYERSONIAN

COURTESY SNEAKERDECK

The Sneakerdeck team, pictured from left to right, Owen Osinde, Jasem Ahmady and Ryan MacDonald.

Sneaker market goes digital SNEAKER cont’d... But there’s no guarantee that you’ll get what you paid for. It’s a problem that Osinde experienced first-hand, having bought shoes from resellers and received fakes. “There’s a lot of high value sneakers which are being duplicated so people can make a quick profit out of it,” said Osinde. So, he came up with a solution. He got a team together consisting of Ryan MacDonald, a Shopify developer, and Jasem Ahmady, a third-year marketing student. “We both saw a huge problem in this market. The safety was compromised and we thought we could change that,” said Admady. Osinde first got the idea for the platform two years ago. On his breaks during work, he would go on Instagram and see all these pictures of shoes, but not know where to find them. “That really frustrated me because I wanted to know where to get these shoes and at what price to get them,” he said. Now, he wants to make the platform a fun and enjoyable place where people can connect as well as buy and sell shoes. The only feature on the platform right now is “decking,” where users can browse other sites for shoes that they like and save that information on Sneakerdeck in the form of a sneakercard. These sneakercards are similar to

Instagram posts, in which users can like and comment on the photo of the shoes. There is also a buy button, which redirects people to the site where the sneakers are sold. Ahmady says the group plans to introduce the resell feature in approximately three weeks, which would allow users to buy and sell their own sneakers via the platform. To ensure safety, they plan to implement measures like user reviews and feedback. Ryerson assistant professor Sameh Al Natour, whose area of research includes e-commerce, said that having measures like consumer reviews and ratings helps to reduce the perceived risk of a product. Jason Te, a third-year engineering student, who also has around 30 pairs of sneakers in his collection, said that he has heard horror stories of people buying sneakers online. “People will spend very high dollar amounts for a shoe that they think is authentic and when they actually get the shoe it’s unauthentic, broken packaging, broken shoes,” he said. He only buys and sells shoes with people that he knows, or friends of friends. However, he does go online to keep up to date with new sneakers coming out and has made a lot of friends

through the social media community. He belongs to a Toronto sneaker group on Facebook that he goes on if he is looking to buy or sell any shoes. While Sneakerdeck plans to focus on becoming a resale platform where people can buy shoes locally, they are committed to being a social media platform. “That’s the key to actually being successful,” said Osinde. He points to the popularity of Facebook groups and other platforms as a place for sneakerheads to socialize. While Al Natour says that you can’t really quantify the importance of social media in e-commerce, he says it’s all about selling an experience and “making consumers part of the conversation,” which is now becoming essential. He uses Nike as an example of a company that has been able to create major social media impact, and create its own culture. It’s still early on in the game for Sneakerdeck, but there are already signs that their strategy is working, with users signing up in the U.S. and Europe. @estherthefoodie

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The Food Innovation Hub (FIH) is Ryerson’s first student-led food incubator that helps companies start to grow and monetize their businesses. The FIH is a subset of the new initiative in the science faculty called the Science Discovery Zone (SDZ). “Toronto is a mecca for food; go around any corner and there’s 50 different ways in which different cultures innovate around food,” says Alexander Mines, one of the four founders and directors of the FIH. “Why don’t we have a place that cultivates this as a lightning rod centred around food?” The FIH is operated by a team of 15 entrepreneurship students, some of whom are Ryerson alumni. The idea to create this incubator was developed last year in Munich at the Academic Program for Entrepreneurship boot camp. In March 2015, the co-founders started brainstorming ideas for Ryerson’s own. They then went to Sicily, Italy for a summer school program hosted by the Future Food Institute, which is an Italian-based non-profit that collaborates with various food-related innovators. This is where they established a sustainable partnership with the Future Food Institute and gave birth to the FIH. One of FIH’s current incubatees, led by Gultegin Barkhudarov, is testing prototypes for edible glue made from plantain sap. The FIH has also been assisting former Ryerson student Sarah Brigel in monetizing the Microbe Hub, a student-led compost program which diverts organic waste from Ryerson into a vermiculture farm. A vermiculture farm is comprised of worms which are fed compost and the excrements are used as organic fertilizer. “Our original idea was to collect the castings (worm poop) and sell them, but no one on our

team was business-minded,” says Brigel. The FIH has assigned two Ryerson business management students to the Microbe Hub team to help them market their product and make their business financially sustainable. Since it began, the FIH has racked up five incubatees and two contracts for local businesses. Their goal is to double the amount of incubatees and contracts by the end of the school year. “Our long-term goal is make an ecosystem for people by connecting them to services and investors, which will help grow and commercialize their business,” says Trevor McConnell, another co-founder and director of the FIH. The FIH achieves this goal through educational seminars, networking events and corporate alliances. When the FIH was in the preliminary planning stage, the co-founders intended it to be a Ryerson zone. “In order to make it a zone, it would have to be approved by a bureaucracy of people and the whole process would’ve taken two years, which (as students) we didn’t have,” says McConnell. McConnell believes this is the right time for the FIH to exist. “Ryerson wasn’t interested in a food zone five years ago,” says McConnell. “Foodies and their food pictures on Instagram had just started gaining popularity so the idea was still pretty fresh.” Ryerson has capped the number of zones to 10 so the idea turned into a hub affiliated with the Science Discovery Zone. The SDZ space, which will include the FIH, is currently under renovation. The renovations are being done by those involved in the SDZ and its startup collaborators since they don’t have enough budget to hire outside contractors. The space will officially open Jan. 13, 2017. @chaychandra

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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

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Rye prof nails new test kit for bone disease Testing for osteoporosis has just gotten easier ... all you need is a nail clipping DANIELA OLARIU RYERSONIAN

A Ryerson professor has invented an at-home test kit that uses toe and fingernail clippings to assess the risk for osteoporosis. Mark Towler, a biomedical engineering professor who was recruited to Ryerson for his research, originally came up with the idea 10 years ago in the U.K., and on Oct. 9 the Osentia test kit went on sale in the British market. “There’s this big gap between people who are probably suffering from osteoporosis, yet they have no way of knowing and no way to protect themselves against it,” says Towler. “This test fills that gap and gives

people a chance to protect themselves in advance.” The Osentia test kit is the first of its kind to let people know whether they are at risk of the bone-thinning disease without visiting a doctor. It also suggests how to help prevent the risk of fractures. The test requires a single clipping of a finger or toenail. It is put into a small plastic bag that is supplied in the kit and then sent to a lab along with a health questionnaire. This checklist includes personal health questions on age, diet, lifestyle and exercise. The tests are then carried out on the nail at a medical facility in the U.K. “The proteins that make up your nails and the proteins that make up your bones are very similar,”

says Towler. “They are not the same but they have a lot in common. So if the proteins in your bones are mutating or degrading as you age, we can see the same problems in your fingernails,” he says. “By combining the analysis of the nail and the checklist, we can give you a relative risk of fracture in the next 10 years.” The results are sent back within seven days via email. The test measures the likelihood of having a fracture, it also comes with a recommendation of what the next steps should be. According to Towler, osteoporosis is a symptomless disease that affects one in two women and one in five men. This is due to the fact that women have a smaller

bone makeup and the estrogen that protects female bones slows down after menopause, making the bones thin much faster. Towler says that the sooner we think about bone health, the lower the risk of developing osteoporosis when we’re older. “The more you take care of your bones in your 20s and 30s, the higher up the density is, so you have further to fall before you have a fracture,” says Towler. “It’s important for young people to think about bone building exercises, eating correctly and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.” Osentia currently costs £40, which is about $70, and is available online. “We’re launching it in the U.K.

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first to see the demand that it has and then scale as we go on to different countries.” In the meantime, Towler is part of ongoing projects at Ryerson that use the same technology to test other diseases. “We’re doing trials here at Ryerson in collaboration with St. Michael’s Hospital to look at the same machines’ ability to detect arthritis as well,” says Towler. “These kinds of tests fill a real gap around the world. @danielaolariuu

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ALEXANDRA CHRONOPOULOS SAMRAWEET YOHANNES RYERSONIAN

Brexit Brexit was named word of the year by Collins Dictionary. While this win proved a blessing to headline writers everywhere – beating out other contenders such as Trumpism and “throw shade” – the dramatic sound of a British exit from the EU may be reduced to a “Brexmaybe” following the recent enactment of Article 50. This means that last week’s U.K. High Court ruled that a full withdrawal of the U.K. from the EU would only be possible with an unanimous full vote of Parliament. The vote is slated to take place in December. “Cash for Kim” This Vice investigation from May reports that many Polish companies are exploiting North Korean slave labourers whose dismal wages are being sent to Kim Jong-un’s Worker’s Party.

The UN estimates that there are about 50,000 North Koreans working as slave labourers abroad in Poland, Russia, Qatar and Mongolia among other places, and that their wages earn the Kim regime between $1.2 billion and $2.3 billion per year. The report showed that two Polish companies, Armex and Alson, distributed North Korean slave labourers to two large shipyards: Nauta and Crist. The report found that these slave labourers were working across Poland in industries such as surface construction, furniture production, agriculture, metalworking, medicine and finance. The labourers work 11 to 12 hours shifts, five days per week, live in cramped quarters and do not receive any of the money they make. They were told that their money will be given to them once they return to North Korea. The labourers are rarely allowed to leave the work sites. They are limited in their contact with their families and Polish locals.

240 refugees drown at sea At least 240 people drowned during a journey from North Africa to Italy. Among those reportedly killed were small children and pregnant women. Two inflatable dinghies carrying refugees headed to Italy left Libya on Nov. 2. Just hours after the voyage began on Wednesday, one of the boats capsized in the choppy Mediterranean Sea. The second vessel is believed to have overturned early Thursday. Many of the passengers in the boats were reportedly from sub-Saharan Africa. There were 29 survivors from the first boat, on which there were over 140 people, including pregnant women and about six children. There were just two survivors from the second boat. This raises the year’s death toll to about 4,220, the highest it has ever been.

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AMIRA ZUBAIRI | RYERSONIAN

One Ryerson architecture students takes a tour of her project using a virtual reality headset.

VR gives students the tools to tour their projects AMIRA ZUBAIRI RYERSONIAN

Ryerson’s architectural science students have only been able to see their building designs through printed floor plans and computer screens – until now. With the architectural science department’s recent partnership with Yulio, a Toronto-based virtual reality software company, students can immerse themselves into their designs through virtual reality. On Nov. 7, first- and second-year students taking Prof. Vincent Hui’s design studio course had the opportunity to see buildings they designed in virtual

reality for the first time. “I’ve never seen software work like this before,” said Ysabel Arboleda, a second-year architectural science student. “Usually, we only see our designs in a snapshot, but here we see a 360 view. Everywhere we look will be your building. You won’t just be looking at a picture of it anymore. You’ll be standing inside of your building.” For their first project, the students spent nearly seven weeks designing restaurants for various Toronto buildings and neighbourhoods. During this process, the students met with their professor to go over their designs and received feedback on how to improve

them. But they were limited to viewing their designs on two-dimensional floor plans and computer screens until they were complete. Jessica Gu, a second-year student in Hui’s course, says seeing her restaurant design in virtual reality made her more critical of her work. She said that it can be an effective educational tool. “I think it would really help because it’s so different when you’re just getting 2D pictures of your building rather than you actually being in it and looking around, gauging how big things are or how tall things are. Without VR, you would never be able to get all that information so fast,”

RU Aware continues to petition JENNIE PEARSON RYERSONIAN

The campaign targeting the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) is gaining momentum after its first week on campus. A group of students called RU Aware talked to students around campus in hopes of generating discussion around Ryerson’s relationship with the CFS. The team spent Monday and

Tuesday last week educating students on Ryerson’s relationship with the federation. After the two days, the group collected petition signatures from students who wish to call an official vote on whether Ryerson stays with the CFS. The group was able to collect 1,000 signatures out of its projected goal of 9,000. “We set that goal to push ourselves. It was ambitious,” said Andre Villanueva, urban

planning student and RU Aware member. RU Aware plans to continue with the campaign until its goals are met. Once they’ve collected enough signatures, they will send their results directly to the CFS, which would be responsible for holding an official vote. But Villanueva is hopeful that they will reach their goal by the end of the semester.

said Gu. Hui, said integrating virtual reality technologies into the architectural science curriculum creates a more hands-on learning experience and helps students see the strengths and weaknesses of their work. “It’s not just simply new tools to make things look pretty,” said Hui. “It’s actually about getting inside the designs and realize that you could have done a better job here or you could have fixed this.” In addition to allowing students to immerse themselves in their designs, experience in virtual reality can give architectural science students a competitive advantage when they enter

the job market. “With this tool, we’re also enabling them to be ready for the industry,” said Hui. “In the future, architecture is not going to be hand drawn. It’s going to be digital. The industry’s already moving that way, so at Ryerson we’re just moving in advance of that. Our students are doing that in first year and I am confident that they will be ready for the industry.” Hui says his colleagues in other departments, such as interior design, are also planning to integrate virtual reality into their curriculum next semester. @AmiraZubairi

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Lachemi welcomes possible changes to Ward 27 DANIELLE LEE RYERSONIAN

A change in Ryerson ward boundaries could be an advantage, says president Mohamed Lachemi. A city council vote this week will determine if Ward 27, the

Toronto Centre-Rosedale ward where Ryerson resides, gets new boundaries. A proposed plan conducted by an independent group of consultants would split Ward 27 into three pieces, creating a total of 47 wards instead of 44. The mayor’s executive committee

MICHAL STOLARCZYK RYERSONIAN

Chris Munro spent a good portion of his life either in the military or as a blue collar worker; he thought of himself as a physical man. After returning to civilian life, he wanted to get back into school but didn’t know where to start. This is where Bridges to Ryerson came in. It is a program operated through Ryerson’s Chang School of Continuing Education which assists people who want to return to school but don’t know how. According to Ryerson’s president, Mohamed Lachemi, Ryerson has a history of being involved in transitioning war veterans into civilian lives by providing them with an education. “From the beginning in 1948, the purpose of the creation of Ryerson polytechnical institute was for the people who were coming back, the veterans,” Lachemi said. Those who get into the program are guided by a co-ordinator who helps them decide what courses they should do based on

CORRECTION

An article headlined "Facing racism at grad school," which appeared in the Voices section of the Oct. 26 edition of the Ryersonian, contained an error. It

their interests. Eventually, the hope is for them to either enter the civilian workforce or dive further into their education. The program itself caters to anyone who wants to get back into school, but it has a favourable path for veterans. According to the dean of the Chang School, Marie Bountrogianni, the program appeals to veterans and current members of the armed forces because of scheduling freedom. “We had an individual that had to go away for three months of training and when they came back, they were able to pick up where they left off in the program,” said Bountrogianni “We were able to connect them to resources on campus like counselling or supports in the community.” Lachemi has said that he is in talks with parts of the government to introduce new programs for veterans, either financial or academic. @miczyk

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said there were only two people of colour in the author's class during her master's studies at Western University. There were nine. The Ryersonian apologizes for the error. at there were only two people of colour in a

“We are part of the city, Lachemi said. “Any change, we’ll adapt. That’s part of what we do at Ryerson.”

or three councillors instead of just one. While it would require extra collaboration with other city councillors and their staff, it’s something Ryerson could benefit from says Lachemi. At the federal level, we are already represented by two MPs and he says this is an advantage.

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V O L L E Y B A L L

Helping Rye veterans get back to class

voted in favour of the plan on Oct. 26. While Ryerson is mainly intact in one area, future campus expansions could cause Ryerson to be part of other wards if the boundaries are voted through. This would mean that Ryerson could be meeting with two

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Bringing indigenous history to Rye fashion

Sexual violence policy reviewed

JACQUELINE MCKAY

SAMRAWEET YOHANNES

RYERSONIAN

If you’re an indigenous person new to an urban campus it might be hard to see yourself represented among the floods of fashion forward students on Gould Street. “It is really hard for indigenous students to come to an urban place and try and fit in,” said Riley Kucheran, a graduate student in the communication and culture program at Ryerson and member of the Pic River First Nation. Kucheran has been working with Ben Barry, associate professor of equity, diversity, and inclusion, at the fashion school, to incorporate indigenous curricula into his mandatory firstyear course, fashion concepts and theory. “Fashion is obviously a field that perpetuates colonialism against Canadian indigenous people,” said Barry. “But fashion also has the power to shift the current dynamic and to change colonialism and change appropriation.” Confiscating traditional clothing from indigenous people runs deep in the roots of Canada’s history. “Clothing was used as a weapon in residential schools to take the identity of the children who were attending it,” said Kucheran, who has been researching this topic for the course. Residential schools would strip children of of their traditional clothing and throw them in the garbage or burn them. Children were forced to wear western style school uniforms, according to What We Have Learned, Principles of Truth and Reconciliation. The experience of indigenous students in fashion courses, and the role clothing played in residential schools, will be part of

The consultation phase of Ryerson’s sexual violence policy review is over. It is expected now to go to the Board of Governors for approval at its meeting later this month. Lachemi said the plan is to share the new and improved policy with the community before the end of the semester. The final two meetings from the consultation phase were held on Nov. 7 and Nov. 8, for students and faculty respectively. They focused on investigations and adjudications in sexual violence cases on campus. The new policy will be longer, in order to meet the regulations mandated by the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development and to ensure all of the required content is added. After this period, the policy will be reviewed every three years. Throughout the semester, the school has been hosting town halls and a myriad of workshops on sexual violence tailored to students, faculty and staff. The Office of Sexual Violence Support and Education held open meetings to provide the university community with an update on Bill 132, Ontario’s Sexual Violence and Harassment Action Plan Act. The original policy was created in consultation with the Ryerson community during 2014 and 2015. It was approved by the Board of Governors in June 2015.

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Cree students and teacher in class at All Saints Indian Residential School, circa March 1945.

a 50-minute lecture given by Kucheran in the course. The rest of the three-hour class will be a panel discussion with indigenous fashion experts, followed by a networking event that will give students a chance to mingle and ask questions. The course is still being researched and the panellists are still being decided. But, according to Kucheran, Sage Paul, who created the Setsune indigenous fashion incubator, may be one of them. The Aboriginal education council at Ryerson gives money to faculty who want to incorporate indigenous history and culture into their course material. This is also one of the recommendations put forward by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission last year. When Barry went to the council at Ryerson to make this part of his curriculum, Kucheran volunteered to do the research. “In spearheading this curriculum, this is why I am working

with Riley”, said Barry. “Obviously as an indigenous student, these are issues he has a perspective on that I do not.” Both Barry and Kucheran have been working to gather as many different perspectives as possible in assembling material for this curriculum. Kucheran stresses the importance of listening to indigenous elders when he was conducting his research. “I think it is important that there is power sharing, and that faculty members step back when dealing with issues of identity, that is not their own identity or area of expertise, and support others to really take the platform and provide a pathway for them to champion these issues,” said Barry, who is not indigenous himself. A mandatory viewing for this course will be the first episode of Urban Native Girl by Lisa Charleyboy, a First Nation writer from interior B.C., who created the

Magazine Urban Native Girl. In a biographical documentary series about the creation of the magazine, Charleyboy talks about attending Ryerson as a fashion student and incorporating a Salish design into a hat she made for a project. She was told by her professor “that isn’t fashion.” “I think, just now, we are starting to see indigenous content being created,” said Kucheran, “If you don’t see yourself in courses and in any other way, you are not as likely to engage in that culture.” The course is scheduled to launch on Feb. 1 and will be open to students who are not enrolled . The lecture will focus on how indigenous culture has been misused in the fashion industry and how students can change this power dynamic. “Really the goal of this class is to foster the next generation of agents of change,” said Barry. @mckayjacqueline

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R yers

Divest Ryerson: no m

Students across the country have been calling on their universities to cut ties with the fossil fue CATHERINE MACHADO RYERSONIAN

Before the protest at Parliament Hill, not much was being said about Divest Ryerson. The arrests of two core members, Ben Donato-Woodger and Emma Beattie, put Ryerson on the map in the fossil fuel divestment movement. While protesting against the Kinder Morgan Trans Canada pipeline expansion project, they were among 99 people arrested for climbing over a barricade. In the end, they were let off with a warning. However, Donato-Woodger said the action brought about more than 6,000 views onto their Facebook page. “I think it’s actually now the most seen post on our Facebook page,” he said. Beattie said that it was definitely a good way to start conversations, especially with people she didn’t even know were interested in the movement. The group’s ultimate goal is to get Ryerson to stop investing — or to divest — from CATHERINE MACHADO | RYERSONIAN

We’re looking for transparency and accountability, two things that U of T doesn’t have. — Ben Donato-Woodger

the fossil fuel industry. As of the end of September 2016, Ryerson had $4.5 million invested in the fossil fuel industry. With an endowment fund valued at roughly $125 million, that amounts to just under four per cent of the school’s total investments. These funds are pooled together with

From left to right: organizers of Divest Ryerson: Taylor Posey, Tiffany Encina and Emma Beattie at Monday’s meeting.

other universities and institutions and are managed by a third-party investment firm called Fiera Capital. “So the pool itself has a statement in investment policies and procedures, so when you enter the pool, you agree to the guidelines around that pool,” explained David Pennycook, vice-chairman and executive vice-president of Fiera Capital’s institutional markets. The current guidelines of the pool call for investments that meet ethical requirements and environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards. The ethical restraints blacklist stocks that deal with porn, alcohol, firearms, gambling, military contracting, nuclear power and tobacco. The ESG factors in the social and environmental impacts of a company, as well as its overall governance.

Pennycook said that companies are ranked from “top to bottom” in these areas and they choose from the best within each specific industry grouping. “Are you a bad polluter, or do you fall under the guidelines of what is acceptable in that industry,” Pennycook explained. But, Donato-Woodger argues that these considerations aren’t enough. “You’re still choosing between companies that are not in line with the climate science. “So they are all wrong,” he said. His group calls for divestment are not the first of their kind. Actually, they are far from it. Across the nation, students have been calling for their universities to divest from the fossil-fuel industries. Donato-Woodger became involved in the movement in 2013 while studying at

the University of Toronto. He led the divestment campaign there to what was considered a near-success. “I came to divestment as I came to understand in my now decade of being in the climate movement that it’s not just that people don’t understand, it’s that the fossil fuel industry has too much power,” said Donato-Woodger. The energy sector in Canada is worth just under $400 billion. “I’m not labouring under the delusion that the fossil fuel industry will fall if all universities divest,” said Beattie. Donato-Woodger explains that what they are looking to do here is take away the fossil fuel industry’s social licence, Beattie adds that although divestment action is largely a symbolic act, it is still extremely powerful.

sonian

Features

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

more fracks to give

el industry. Ryerson students break down where your university stands in the movement “The divestment movement is a social phenomenon,” according to Wayne Wachell, CEO of the fossil free investing firm Genus Capital. He said as more people do this it creates more awareness and puts more pressure on other universities to divest. This ultimately stigmatizes the energy companies to change their behaviour. Wachell said there are two reasons why people divest. The first reason is that they are concerned about climate change affecting their brand. “You better walk the walk, if your actual values are focused on sustainability your portfolio investments must be aligned with that,” said Wachell. The second reason is the financial risk. He said that fossil fuel investments are at risk of becoming stranded assets, or unstable investments, if Canada is serious about adhering to the calls to action outlined in the Paris agreement. What Wachell is referring to here is the new international law that calls on countries to keep the global temperature from rising no more than 2 degrees Celsius per year. This means reducing greenhouse gas emissions. “If that is the case, that will leave half the fossil fuel reserves in the ground,” he said. “The oil price is a roller-coaster that (Ryerson) should get off as soon as possible,” said Donato-Woodger. He looked back at U of T’s management of its campaign as an example of what not to put up with at Ryerson. “We’re looking for transparency and accountability, two things that U of T doesn’t have,” said Donato-Woodger. During U of T’s campaign, there was an advisory committee put in place to consider the group’s call for divestment. The commitee was told that it was going to get copies of the minutes from their meetings, but they never came through. They had actually recommended in their report that the university adopt a targeted strategy to begin divesting from fossil fuels.

However, he said that during the final decision the president announced that he made three committees that no one knew about that gave them the ultimate no. He said that for these reasons and more, he is afraid of a committee and warned against the time delays in repeating the research. “I think that we’ve actually had enough committees from different universities on fossil fuel divestment and Ryerson doesn’t need to repeat it,” said Donato-Woodger. He said he would strongly discourage Ryerson from putting forth a policy that would stifle this debate. He said he has faith Ryerson will prove a more progressive school. “I think that fossil fuel divestment is a way that Ryerson can live up to that reputation,” said Donato-Woodger. President Mohamed Lachemi said that he knows these issues around divestment are an important topic right now but, “it’s not necessarily done as a result of a protest or people that are making noise.” He said it requires thinking about what are the best ways to invest Ryerson’s funds. Lachemi said that he is sure that with time universities will pay “extra attention” to the way that they invest money in the country. But for now, he is open to having the conversation. Divest Ryerson will be taking the president up on that offer in due time. “We have been in contact with the president’s office and we are setting up a meeting to talk,” said Beattie. She said that they will present their petition of more than 1,000 signatures and begin the conversation on how the divestment process at Ryerson would look. “Ryerson hasn’t divested from anything, so there’s no precedent,” said Beattie. In Donato-Woodger’s opinion, Ryerson is more progressive than any other university in Canada. “Ryerson should keep it up and remain in the lead by becoming the first university in Canada to formally support fossil fuel divestment,” he said.

CATHERINE MACHADO | RYERSONIAN

Members of the group painting a banner to spread awareness on campus.

NAME | RYERSONIAN

CATHERINE MACHADO | RYERSONIAN

Organizer Ben Donato-Woodger runs through points of discussion at Monday’s meeting.

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RTA grads go to Orlando Film Fest

Arts & Life

ryersonian.ca Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Stick ‘n’ poke tats KELSEY ADAMS RYERSONIAN

Fourth-year new media student Fion Liu gave her first stick ‘n’ poke tattoo in 2014 on a Tinder date. Her date asked her to poke a Chinese character on him and he supplied her with sewing needles, a vodka cap bottle and India ink. For decades this has been how most stick ‘n’ poke tattoos occur: in the spur of the moment, at parties and not necessarily in the most sanitary conditions. But there’s been a shift recently and this sort of tattooing has become a much more safe and widespread trend. Now, Liu has turned stick ‘n’ poke tattooing into a side business. She launched the Instagram account sadstab in April of this year to promote her work after friends told her they were willing to pay. Since then she’s done 185 tattoos out of her home

studio and charges between $40 and $200 for her work. She now uses actual tattoo ink and sanitized tattoo needles as opposed to the India ink and sewing needles she would get at craft stores. What separates stick ‘n’ poke from traditional tattooing is the use of a needle instead of a gun. Stick ‘n’ poke tattoos tend to be imperfect or wonky, but Liu’s are very precise. She attributes this to her years of experience drawing and painting. “For me, just knowing the brush strokes and line work are important. You need to know line work and pointillism to be able to tattoo,” she said. Liu really got into tattooing after a stick ‘n’ poke artist saw her artwork on her other Instagram page, altpaca, and wanted her to turn some of her drawings into tattoos at the Time Festival at Fort York in 2015. The artist taught her

KELSEY ADAMS | RYERSONIAN

how to stencil tattoos, how deep to poke the skin and how to sanitize the wound afterwards. Later she learned from the Toronto stick ‘n’ poke artist, Homepoke, that the needle should never be put down while tattooing. Liu’s trajectory from casual stick ‘n’ poker to a stick ‘n’ poke artist coincided with the rise in popularity of this kind of tattoo. On her sadstab account she gained followers fairly quickly. She now has over 1,500 after seven months. “I think in a really short period of time their popularity rose,” she said. “I would say right before summer ended my Ryerson friends realized it can be easily done. I think everyone gained more knowledge of what it is because all their friends have one now.” Word of mouth and social media is how stick ‘n’ pokes became mainstream and how Liu has built her business. She now gets contacted by bands through her Instagram to do tattoos for

them when they come to town. This past summer, she was invited backstage to tattoo her favourite band, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, at Wayhome Music Festival. “It feels really nice, like that acknowledgment. I feel like I’ve achieved something,” she said about the experience. Stick ‘n’ poke tattoos are also a cheaper alternative to normal tattoos, which is why students opt for them. “Getting something small can cost about $100 (at a tattoo parlour) when you can get something of the same size done for $40 and the result would be the same,” said Liu. “The experience is different too. People tend to not go into tattoo parlours for how intense and scary they can be.” This trend towards stick ‘n’ pokes has caused conflict between trained tattoo artists and people like her. “A tattoo artist was trolling me to see if I was legit. He was asking me all these questions like ‘Are your tattoo needles lead free?’ I bought them at the tattoo

supply store so I trust them,” she said. It’s disruptive in the same way Uber has been to the taxi companies, introducing a more affordable option. Criticism against stick ‘n’ poke artists usually focuses on lack of certification, cleanliness, hygiene and the fact they’re taking business away from tattoo parlours. However, the tradition of stick ‘n’ poking is rooted in a DIY, anti-establishment culture. It started in prisons and moved its way into underground punk and electronic music scenes. Its new iteration has become much more mainstream but still maintains its roots, albeit in much safer ways. “I really like stick ‘n’ poke for its DIY style, how everything is cheap and everyone can learn how to do it,” said Liu. She sees stick ‘n’ poking as a shareable skill, “I can show it to anyone and they can do it for themselves.” @kelseyxadams

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Wednesday, November 9, 2016

ALUMNI

Theatre grads hit the stage AMANDA GILMORE RYERSONIAN

A Ryerson grad has started her own theatre company with the help of her former classmates. Yell Rebel theatre company began as the idea of 2012 Ryerson theatre grad Eva Barrie, but required more than one person to become a reality. So Barrie pitched her idea to Noah Spitzer, who attended the theatre program with her. “Noah and I worked on shows (together) since we graduated and we are good friends,” says Barrie. When she initially created Yell Rebel she knew Spitzer

was one person she wanted to work with. After talking over drinks at a bar one night with Spitzer, he agreed to join the company and is now the producer of Agency, which is the first ever production for the company. Agency is about a daughter’s search for her father, who she previously thought had been killed during the Cold War. Spitzer says, “What separates Ryerson is, I guess it is the community I had there.” The tight network of students is how Barrie was able to get eight former theatre students and one current student together for her

company. The aim of the Yell Rebel theatre company is to create thought-provoking theatre that reflects diversity in storytelling. Even after getting Spitzer on board, there were not enough people to make a theatre company. There was only the playwright, who was also an actor, and the producer. Barrie and Spitzer began holding auditions for more talent to join their team. That’s when they found their director: Ryerson grad Megan Watson. “We met her when she was our instructor at Ryerson,” says Spitzer. When Watson joined Yell Rebel, more Ryerson grads, like Ben Sanders, got hired onto the project. Waston attended the theatre program at Ryerson with Sanders. “So when he came in to audition she already knew that he was gonna be good,” Spitzer explains. Sanders is now playing the role of Peter in Agency. There are cast and crew members working with the Yell Rebel company who studied elsewhere, but eight members of the company are Ryerson grads and one is a current student. Watson says that while they didn’t intentionally aim for a

Ryerson-heavy company, filling the company with alumni has had unexpected benefits. “There’s some kind of immediate baseline that people built on the same language. So, when I refer to ideas for techniques, the people can respond because of the same level of training,” says Watson. The rest of the Ryerson Yell Rebel team consists of Karyn McCallum the set and costume designer, Mikael Kangas as the light designer, Tamara Vuckovic the technical director, Lyon Smith the sound designer, and current fourth-year theatre production student Echo Zhou. Spitzer says that the theatre program at Ryerson teaches its students both the technical and the performance sides of the theatre. Which means, “Ryerson grads are able to produce indie theatre because of the connections across the board.” Yell Rebel’s première production, Agency, will show at The Theatre Centre BMO Incubator Space from Nov. 10-20. For tickets visit the Yell Rebel website (www.yellrebeltheatre.com/). @gilmoreamanda

Upcoming Arts & Life Events on Campus Self-Healing Through Yoga & Art: Yoga & art sessions for those who have been impacted by sexual violence. Nov. 14 Ryerson Student Campus Centre 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Ryerson Dances 2016: The School of Peformance presents a new dance show starring the second- to fouth-year students. Nov. 15 - Nov. 19 Ryerson Theatre 8 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. “Vertical Features” Screening Series Launch: The program consists of six free monthly screenings presenting contemporary and historical works. Nov. 18 Image Arts Building 7 p.m. Splice Exhibition Mass Exodus: Fashion Design and Communication students come together to showcase fashion models and photography on the runway. Nov. 23 Rogers Communications Centre (3rd Floor) 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.

COURTESY YELL REBEL, GREG WONG

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Sports

Weekend Wrap-up on ryersonian.ca Wednesday, November 9, 2016

BASKETBALL

Rams find Ring leader Fifth-year transfer Kellie Ring looks to finish her OUA career strong in a Rams jersey CARLO ZANETTE RYERSONIAN

Kellie Ring already has Feb. 18, 2017, circled on her calendar. Ring, a graduate student and member of Ryerson’s women’s basketball team, is looking forward to returning to Ottawa in just over three months from now, when she will get to face off against her former team in the Rams’ final game of the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) regular season. “We’re playing them in the last game of the season at Ottawa U, so it’s their senior night,” said Ring. “What a perfect ending to my OUA basketball career.” After playing four accomplished seasons for the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees and graduating from the school with a bachelor’s degree in communications,

Ring transferred to Ryerson’s master’s of digital media program. She will play out her final year of eligibility for the Rams. Her decision to transfer to Ryerson began several months ago while she was still playing at Ottawa, as she began to explore her options after graduation. “It was probably around this time last year where I really started looking, because all the deadlines were coming up to apply for grad school,” said Ring. Ring sent Rams head coach Carly Clarke an email to let her know she had applied to graduate school at Ryerson, before receiving her acceptance in early February. “She knew the exact program she wanted and only two schools had it, and we were one of them,” said Clarke. “And that, associated with the strength of our

basketball program, was attractive to her to play her last year.” Ring says that although she was exploring her options over the course of last year, she stayed focused on finishing strong in her final season at Ottawa before she started to really think about transferring. Ironically, the Rams met Ring’s Gee-Gees in the last season’s OUA championship game that Ryerson won by a score of 66-60, and both teams then advanced to the national championship tournament. At nationals, Ottawa lost its first game and moved to the tournament’s consolation bracket, while Ryerson went on to earn a silver medal. “After the season, that’s when I spoke to Carly that I was coming, and I made a decision right away,” said Ring. Ring moved to Toronto in May

COURTESY ALEX D’ADDESE

Transfer student Kellie Ring takes the court with her new team in an exhibition game versus Niagara College on Aug. 29.

COURTESY ALEX D’ADDESE

Kellie Ring on the court versus Niagara College on Aug. 29.

and trained with some of Ryerson’s other players over the summer, which she and Clarke both say helped Ring to bond with her teammates right away. “The chance to get to know them and interact with them for a few months before the season made everything a little less foreign,” said Clarke. As a player at Ottawa, Ring garnered several accolades, including being selected as an OUA first-team all-star twice and winning the OUA championship in 2012. “You’re always careful with transfers, but a fifth-year transfer that’s making a clear academic decision is a pretty safe one,” said Clarke. “And then obviously Kellie’s track record speaks for itself.” Ring’s track record is not limited just to individual statistics and team success though, as she has also shown considerable perseverance and dedication to basketball after sustaining

significant injuries. While at Ottawa, Ring tore her ACL — twice. Some players might have given up after suffering such devastating knee injuries, but Ring says that even after her second injury, she was determined to make a comeback. “There was never any doubt in my mind that I wanted to continue playing,” said Ring. “I honestly think that everything happens for a reason, and I grew so much as not only a basketball player from sitting out, but I think I grew so much as a person and matured.” Although she’s now playing for a new team, living in a new city, and has a long season ahead of her, Ring can’t help but look forward to Feb. 18. “It’s just going to be a great night,” said Ring. “Obviously, it’s still going to be competitive, but I just thought, what a fairy-tale ending.” With files from Hailey Salvian

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Wednesday, November 9, 2016

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Rana returns

After a year’s sabbatical for personal reasons, Roy Rana is back behind the Rams bench HAILEY SALVIAN RYERSONIAN

One of the most high-profile coaches in Canadian university basketball is back behind the Ryerson bench. Head coach Roy Rana, who built the men’s basketball program into a national powerhouse, is back behind the Rams’ bench after taking a year-long sabbatical during the 2015-2016 season. Rana did not disclose much information when he initially announced his sabbatical, but he opened up to the Ryersonian after a recent team practice. “When I decided to take the leave there were many factors that played into that, ” he said. “My mom was ill and wanted to make sure I could give her the time. “She passed away in April, so it was nice for me to have that time with her.” Rana spent the year coaching his sons’ basketball teams, worked around his home and prioritized his personal life over his

COURTESY ALEX D’ADDESE

Head coach Roy Rana at the CIS Final 8 during the 2014-2015 season.

professional one for what he said was the first time in years. While he was away, the Rams were left in the hands of assistant coach Patrick (P. T.) Tatham, who had been with the team for five seasons before taking on the role of interim head coach. The 2015-2016 season was record-breaking for the Rams, as they reached No. 1 in Canada for the first time in program history and went on to win the school’s first-ever Ontario University Athletics (OUA) title. They also captured their second consecutive bronze medal at the Canadian Interuniversity Sport championship (now named U Sports). Even though Rana wasn’t physically with the team, fifthyear senior Juwon Grannum said he felt like Rana was “always with us in spirit.” Rana said he had mixed emotions watching the group from a non-active position. “It was tough not being around such a great group of guys and

watching them have all the success that they did, it was very rewarding,” he said. “Obviously you want to be a part of that as much as you can, but it was good to see where the program continues to go.” Having Tatham step in gave the Rams a sense of continuity, with minimal changes to the systems Rana implemented. “P. T., what he did offensively, defensively, he didn’t really stray from coach Rana’s sets and what he’s accomplished here and that made it a lot easier last year,” said Grannum. In his six seasons as head coach, Rana steadily increased the Rams’ win totals. He currently sits with 82 regular season victories, two trips to the OUA Final Four and CIS Final 8, winning an OUA silver medal and CIS bronze. But even still, there are differences in the two coaching styles that may take some adjusting for

players who are new to Rana’s methods. At practice, Rana doesn’t take a backseat approach. He’s in the driver’s seat, walking in and out of the play, stopping things when he doesn’t like what he sees, and applauding his squad when they execute how he wants them to. His style can be seen as harsher than most, but it’s undeniable that his system works. “He’s very passionate,” said fifth-year senior and OUA all-star Adika Peter-McNeilly. “He’s one of the few coaches I know who is going to come and make sure you maximize your ability. “Having that routine and focus every single day makes you want to be better … he just brings that out of a lot of guys.” Rana says his style is tough, but fair. “I think (the players) know I care tremendously about each and every one of them, but I’m

also going to hold them accountable every opportunity I get,” he said. “It’s a blend of giving them a hug and every once in a while snapping them back into the reality and the intensity they are going to have to play with.” For Rana, it was never a question of whether he was going to come back — returning was always his plan. Rana and the Rams made their regular season debut on Saturday and blew out the Laurier Golden Hawks 88-54. Their home opener is slated for Nov. 18 versus the Nipissing Lakers. “I’m glad and happy to be here with our guys again,” he said. “We’re building a new group and to see Adika and Juwon off in their final year, it’s always going to be special.”

clubs co-ordinator Randy Pipher, they are now looking into dates the club can book gym space for their winter practices. Space has been a main issue for the club this year, as their usual spot, the quad outside Kerr Hall, has been blocked off during many practice days. Moving into the gym would be a big step for a club that has

been trying to establish itself for many years. Darrin Rankine, a fourthyear student, joined the club during his first year at Ryerson, after seeing posters around campus and eventually finding a Facebook page run by former student, Nyo Mudzingwa. “Nyo really paved the way for rugby on campus. Without

him there probably wouldn’t be a group right now,” said Rankine. Mudzingwa and other club members have recently graduated, leaving Rankine and other executives to continue the work. Fourth-year student Jordan Olivia is one of three new executives. When Olivia first discovered the club in 2014, it was a small

group on Facebook of roughly 40 students. It has since grown to more than 180 members, with regular practices and five-on-five touch matches each week. “We are still a small club with little exposure and limited resources,” said Olivia. “(But, only) for now.”

@hailey_salvian

Rugby club finds a new home

JENNIE PEARSON RYERSONIAN

The Ryerson rugby club has found a new home at the RAC after years of difficulties. Current club executives met with staff at the RAC to go over their application for official club status last week. According to intramurals and

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Editorial

Read more Opinions and Editorials online ryersonian.ca Wednesday, November 9, 2016

EDITORIAL

Coffee lovers beware: the end is near Climate change is killing our beans The report is in: climate change is definitely a millennial issue. A recent report released by The Climate Institute, an independent research group in Australia, found that climate change, “is projected to cut the global area suitable for coffee production by as much as 50 per cent by 2050.” That means 50 per cent fewer flat whites and peppermint mocha frappuccinos to get us through all-nighters and Monday mornings. In addition to the disappearing land, the report highlights how warmer weather increases the threat of diseases like coffee rust, which infects plant leaves. It also creates an environment that leads to more pests like the coffee berry borer, a type of beetle that eats up hundreds of millions of dollars in coffee beans. Coffee companies like our BFF, Starbucks, are already taking measures to support their farmers in combating the changing weather. Some corporations are even changing the genetics of their beans to better withstand warmer climates. But adapting to a failing environment rather than using resources to fix the root problem seems backward. Last week, the Paris agreement

came into full effect. The agreement requires the 147 signing countries to make a commitment to combating climate change. Canada’s plan is to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent before 2030. By 2030 most of us probably won’t be at Ryerson; we’ll be well into our careers, buying homes and taking on leadership roles. And the weight of the Paris agreement will be falling heavily on our shoulders. If we want to save our precious beans and make our lives a little easier down the road, millennials need to start thinking proactively about climate change. If an empty coffee pot isn’t enough to scare you, recent research also suggests that climate change is digging deep into young people’s pockets too. According to an analysis published this summer by the think tank Demos and advocacy group Next Gen, without action on climate change, the U.S. millennial generation will lose nearly $8.8 trillion in lifetime income. That’s a lot of lattes. Contrary to what you may read on Donald Trump’s Twitter, climate change is real, and 2030 will be here before we know it. It’s time we wake up and smell the genetically modified coffee.

ALEX TSUI | RYERSONIAN

OPINION

End movie stereotypes KELSEY ADAMS RYERSONIAN

There’s never been a film quite like Barry Jenkins’s Moonlight. Moonlight focuses on the narrative of a young black male coming out while living in inner-city Miami during the 1980s. The most revolutionary scenes of the 2017 Oscars contender happen when two black men are allowed to be intimate and vulnerable with each other. This is a rarity on screen. These scenes shook me because, despite their simplicity,

it was the first time I was seeing black men on screen that accurately represented the black men I know in real life. Black male characters are usually one-dimensional — they’re angry, they’re menacing, they’re hardened. So seeing two black men caressing each other shows thrilling emotional depth. In fact, most characters of colour on film and in television are unvarying, if they exist at all. The greater issue is that films aren’t being made that explore the nuances of black, Asian, Latino or indigenous life. Instead, we get stereotypes like the sassy black friend, the “exotic” Latina or the Asian tiger mom. The University of Southern California did a study of 30,000 characters in 700 movies from 2007 to 2014 and found that, on average, only 27 per cent of characters were not white. This goes beyond diversity, hitting quotas and making sure token characters are added into

storylines. Representation alone isn’t enough if it continues to play into stereotypes. That’s why movies like Moonlight are so essential. More varied representation of characters in film and TV comes from more people of colour in directing chairs, writing rooms and production studios. The film industry needs to support black, brown, indigenous, Latino and Asian writers and filmmakers and trust that there are audiences for their films. It shouldn’t be a risk for studios to make movies that don’t focus on white characters. As moviegoers, we decide with our pockets what kind of films get made. We have more power than we realize. There are still so many stories that haven’t been told, and we should no longer accept the same tired storylines. @kelseyxadams

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Voices

Read more Voices online ryersonian.ca Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Loneliness and love on exchange ‘For the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel alone’ AMANDA GILMORE RYERSONIAN

When I found out I was going to London for my study abroad, I felt a mix of excitement and anxiety. London was a place I wanted to visit for as long as I can remember. It wasn’t because of the pub life or accents, but because my family is from the United Kingdom. I was thrilled that I was going to live the lifestyle that my family did, but also terrified that I would be alone for nearly half a year. I arrived in January 2016 and that first month was extremely lonely. I didn’t know anyone and it was hard to meet people. I began touring London and saw the landmarks I dreamed about, like the London Eye and Big Ben. But I was seeing them alone. Every night I went back to my dorm

with a hollowness in my gut and my eyes heavy and wet from crying. It wasn’t until my second month that I met a group of American girls who were also studying abroad. I realized all of us shared the same fear of being alone during our time in London. We began travelling together, went to pubs, the cinema, parks and much more. I finally felt like things were going to be all right. I could get through these last four months because I had people to share my experiences. Yet, wanting to “get through” a study abroad isn’t a good feeling. I went to London because I wanted to have the best time of my life. I came to realize that’s hard to do when you’re homesick. It didn’t matter who was around me or what I did; I missed my mom, my cousin Jordon and my close

friends. I missed my support system in Toronto. It wasn’t until I met a guy named Thomas at a bar one February night that my homesickness began disappearing. I was at a pub named Euston Tap with a friend when Thomas noticed my accent. He thought I was American, as most Europeans do, and commented on it. Once we had the mini-argument about how Canadians don’t sound like Americans, he gave me his number. There was one thing I told myself before going to London: don’t get into a relationship. I was studying abroad for a very short time and would have to head back to Toronto soon. Essentially, if I got into a relationship it would have an expiration date. So what was the point? Thomas agreed and we became friends. Eventually our

COURTESY AMANDA GILMORE

The Ryersonian’s Amanda Gilmore on exchange in England last semester.

friendship turned into a relationship. Those months were the happiest that I was in London, and maybe in my entire life. For the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel alone. It took only two months for me to fall in love with him. Not knowing what is going to happen to your relationship when you’re no longer on the same continent is depressing. It was something Thomas and I never spoke about when I was in London. We continued to talk once I returned to Toronto, but never about our relationship. I couldn’t handle dancing around the conversation anymore, and asked him after a week if we were still a couple. Turns out we were, and still are. I won’t say long distance is easy. It’s extremely hard. There is a loneliness I feel now that’s worse than the loneliness I felt in London. But to me, the relationship is

worth it. Since my time in London, we’ve gone on a trip to New York together, and I’ve flown back to London and Thomas has come to Toronto. It isn’t an ideal situation, as anyone in a long-distance relationship will tell you, but for now, it’s the only one we have. At times during my study abroad I felt extremely lonely, even when I had friends to do things with. There is something about the special connection you have with people that makes a place your home. Toronto is my home because my family is here. But London is also my home because I became who I am today due to those nights of emptiness and tears in my dorm room. It’s also where the boy I love is. @GilmoreAmanda

R yersonian

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Campus Connection

Quote ... Unquote

Events Nov. 9

Full stories online at ryersonian.ca

Chillin’ at the SLC Noon – 2 p.m. Student Learning Centre (SLC), 341 Yonge St. Event listing at ryerson.ca/news/ events

There are so many of us here at Ryerson who love beauty, yet no one’s made the effort to really bring all of us together.

Is there a “Rape Culture” in Canada? Noon – 2 p.m. Rogers Communications Centre, 80 Gould St., Room 103 Event listing at ryerson.ca/news/ events

Cassie Chan What we wanted to do is remove barriers for people, so they can check on the progress of the project they’re funding.

Nov. 10

Alex De Jäger

Rams score OUA soccer awards

We were so fortunate to be able to work with the Sidra Project and bring them to campus because what they’re doing is incredible.

Last Wednesday, the 2016 Ontario University Athletics (OUA) men’s soccer major awards were announced. Ryerson earned some of the top regular season honours. Six players on the Rams men’s soccer team received all-star nods. In addition, head coach Filip Prostran was named the OUA East Division coach of the year for the second straight season.

Emma Jankowski Newsroom Manager Jennie Pearson

COURTESY | TAGWA MOYO

See the full story online.

Managing Editor Video Alex Tsui

Features Editor Alexandra Chronopoulos

Managing Editor Print

Sports Editor

Photo Editors

Jennie Pearson

Hailey Salvian

News Editors

Op-Ed/Voices Editor

Chayonika Chandra Catherine Machado Samraweet Yohannes

Jennie Pearson Michal Stolarczyk

Carlo Zanette

Arts & Life Editors

Managing Editors Digital

Amanda Gilmore Sydney Masonovich

Jacqueline McKay Daniela Olariu

Lineup Editors Robert Foreman Michal Stolarczyk

Managing Editors Social/Engagement Angela Bulatao-Taay Amira Zubairi

Copy Editors Anna-Kaye Evans Richa Syal

Reporters Ebyan Abdigir Kelsey Adams Alyana Ladha Danielle Lee

Esther Lee Selena Singh Megan Stephens

Instructors Peter Bakogeorge Jagg Carr-Locke Philippe Devos

Publisher Janice Neil

Business Manager Aseel Kafil

Contact Us We would like to hear from you. Please include your name, program and year. Unsigned letters will not be published. We reserve the right to edit letters for length. Ryerson University 80 Gould Street Toronto, Ontario M5B 2K3 Newsroom: 416-979-5323 Email: sonian@ryerson.ca

Ryersonian.ca @TheRyersonian TheRyersonian @theryersonian The Ryersonian

Te d Rogers MBA Speaker Series: Kathleen Wynne 3:30 p.m. – 5 p.m. Ted Rogers School of Management, 55 Dundas St. W., 7th floor, TRS 1-147 Event listing at ryerson.ca/news/ events

Nov. 11 Remembrance Ceremony

Day

10:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. North end of Quad Event listing at ryerson.ca/news/ events

Rams volleyball vs. Nipissing 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. Mattamy Athletic Centre Event listing at ryerson.ca/news/ events

Nov. 14 Self-Healing Through Yoga & Art 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Student Campus Centre (SCC), 55 Gould St., Tecumseh Auditorium Event listing at ryerson.ca/news/ events