October 5, 2016 Issue by On the Record News (Formerly the Ryersonian)

Ryerson’s new curling captain See page 13 for more

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ryersonian.ca Volume 71 Number 4

Produced by the Ryerson School of Journalism

RSU student groups can’t get a room KEVIN JOHN SIAZON RYERSONIAN

Every September, the Pakistani Students’ Association (PSA) holds a welcome dinner to kick off the school year. “That’s a tradition, it has to happen,” said Rabia Tanvir, PSA vice-president communications. But this year it didn’t happen — at least not in September. The PSA is not alone. Confusion with the Ryerson Students’ Union’s (RSU) new online room booking form has left several student groups stuck without space. The online room booking system was introduced this year for RSU student groups. Previously, student groups visited the RSU office in person to fill out a booking form. Now, groups fill out a Google form and wait for an email response. According to

the RSU, there are more than 200 groups that use their space booking services. The first time she tried to book online, Tanvir mistakenly completed a form meant for external groups on the Ryerson Student Campus Centre’s website, at which point she was told to request the booking through the RSU’s general email. By the time she received a response, space on campus was booked well into the semester. She said she had to settle for a room half the size of what she requested — and a “welcome dinner” date in November. The RSU Student Groups Manual for the 2016-17 academic year doesn’t make reference to the online booking process. The manual still advises groups to book space in person at the RSU.

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The voters speak out Ryerson sudents get real about electoral reform. Details at ryersonian.ca

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Water trailer woes washed away page 5 Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Ryerson student met the royal couple through initiative to end stigma around mental health KAYLA ROSEN RYERSONIAN

During their whirlwind visit to Canada, William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, boarded a sailboat with 19 representatives from Jack.org, a student-led initiative to end the stigma around mental health. One of these representatives was Ryerson student, Shayan Yazdanpanah, who sat down with the Ryersonian to discuss his meeting with the royal couple:

When Ryerson met royalty

COURTESY JACK.ORG

Shayan Yazdanpanah

Q: How did Jack.org end up with the opportunity to meet Will and Kate? I learned about it about a month ago, and the way it worked was that there’s this foundation that works really closely with the Royal Family. The Royal Family mentioned one of their priorities this year was mental health, and they wanted to learn more about mental health in Canada as they were on their tour.

And so they reached out to this organization, who then reached out to Jack.org and they were like, “Hey, these people are really aligned with what you’re doing,” and Jack.org jumped at the opportunity. I got chosen because I was one of the students that well represented their network. And so there was 18 other students on board with me, and we were from all across Canada, and we all represented the network very well. Q: Any interesting experiences while meeting the royal couple? Well, aside from meeting the royal couple — meeting them was the coolest thing in itself. I know this is probably a really cliché thing to say, but they were very genuine, down-to-earth people. Seeing them in pictures and stuff, you usually see them all dressed up formally. But when I saw them they were dressed casually. Kate was wearing a green jacket. Will had a laid-back style.

I was surprised to see how chill they were. They were joking around with us. Will joked around with me specifically. It’s weird to say you joked around with the prince. I was surprised to see how relaxed they were and how receptive they were to what we were talking about, as well as the mental health side. Q: What did you hope would be accomplished by meeting them? You know, as a student, and especially as a journalist, you can probably see that mental health isn’t always something that gets a lot of attention. But I can tell you from my experience with this that everyone has been messaging me saying, “Oh my gosh, you’re talking to Will and Kate about mental health?” That was the biggest thing. Will and Kate themselves, they weren’t meeting us to learn about mental health. If they really

wanted to, they could hire someone to (teach) that. But they were meeting with us to see what students are doing about it, but also give us a platform to spread our message to the entire world, which is really what happened with this. Through this one interaction, we now have Jack.org’s messaging going to so many different people and so many people are talking about mental health going, “Oh, wow, if the royal couple is interested in it, maybe I should read up on it too.” And so that was kind of the big goal and that is really what happened. Q: What did you talk about with them? I was specifically talking with them about what I do with Jack Talks. I explained how the process works, how we go to high schools and universities and give these talks. And we talked a bit about what the content of the talks

essentially is and I answered by saying it’s a really basic introduction about what it means to have mental health. It means that all Canadians, everyone in the world has mental health. It was really casual. A lot of us had planned out what we were going to say before but we really kind of just went along with it and just bounced off one another. It was just a very normal, casual conversation.

R @KayRachelRosen

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SISTERS IN SPIRIT

Vigil honours stolen sisters Members of the Toronto and Ryerson communities honoured the lives of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls at the annual Sisters in Spirit vigil Tuesday, organized by The Native Women’s Resource Centre. According to the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC)’s database, since 2010, the number of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in Canada has been disproportionately high. NWAC’s research indicates that between 2000 and 2008 Indigenous women and girls represented approximately 10 per cent of all female homicides in Canada.. RYERSONIAN

RAM IN THE RYE

Petition brings favourites back to the Ram Buffalo caesar wraps and nachos are back at the Ram in the Rye after over 400 students signed a petition to resurrect their favourite menu items. The petition, created by fourthyear computer engineering student Matthew Smith, appeared on Change.org last week and circulated on Facebook. It urged the campus pub to bring back staples from the old menu, like sweet potato fries and chicken fingers Once the petition reaches 500 signatures, Smith said he hopes to send the Ram’s manager a complete outline of the changes people still want to be made.

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

BIKE PARKING

Ryerson racks ’em up University plans to make campus bike parking more accessible KEMEISHA MCDONALD RYERSONIAN

Ryerson University Business Services (UBS) will outline a plan to improve bike parking on campus today. The Public Realm Plan will examine bike parking as a part of campus design, transportation and parking strategy. The plan will also focus on safety and

accessibility “to better define and enhance our public spaces,” said UBS in an email. “We want to install new bicycle parking that will be well-used and fit in with our long-term planning, rather than installing them (for one purpose only).” According to UBS, there are about 1,150 bicycle parking spaces at Ryerson. About 2,700 students and faculty members cycle to

campus every day. “Not everyone is accessing campus on a bike at the same time. This results in availability of bike parking on some days and very little availability on others,” said UBS. The amount of available space varies depending on the campus area. For example, Gould Street is an area of high demand for Ryerson cyclists, so there aren’t many free bicycle parking spaces during busy school hours. There are also spots near the Rogers Communications Centre and Pitman Hall that aren’t used as often, said UBS, meaning current bike parking spaces don’t accurately reflect their location’s traffic. To improve bike parking on campus, UBS said that they have to factor in the type of parking spaces needed, where on campus to install them and whether or not they’ll be used enough to warrant their installation. UBS said installing new bike parking spaces is a shared responsibility between Ryerson University and the City of Toronto. Both president Mohamed Lachemi and

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Kristyn Wong-Tam, Ward 27 councillor, will attend the unveiling of the new parking spaces. The change comes after Ryerson students also expressed concerns about the lack of available bike parking. Bikes can often be seen parked along railings, poles and trees on campus, none of which are designated parking spots. Third-year creative industries student, Lavinia Tanzim, said that finding a place to park a bike at Ryerson is a hassle. “It seems to me that there’s a lot more bikes than there are (parking spaces), so that’s kind of challenging,” said Tanzim. “A lot of the time I come to campus it takes me, like, 10 minutes to find a place to lock my bike.” According to a statement UBS made over email, UBS will “continue to speak to cyclists to understand their needs. Staff across departments at Ryerson have been meeting throughout the summer to discuss the topic of cycling and bicycle parking and we intend to continue to do so.” @kemeishamc

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Correction: A story that appeared on page 5 of the Ryersonian last week incorrectly attributed information about student and faculty complaints about holding exams at the MTCC to Michelle Green. In fact, Green did not comment on any complaints that may have prompted the move from the MTCC to the MAC.

KEMEISHA MCDONALD | RYERSONIAN

Students have to find creative ways to lock up their bikes when campus bike racks are full.

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SPACE What you’ve missed in science & tech ROBERT MACKENZIE RYERSONIAN

Former astronaut visits Rye ROBERT MACKENZIE

Ryerson’s newest zone gets new, RYERSONIAN government-funded building Yaroslav Pustovyi is a forFinance minister Bill Morneau mer astronaut from Ukraine’s announced more than $30 million National Space Agency and is in federal funding for Ryerson now a prominent figure in Caninfrastructure Friday. ada’s private space sector. More than $20 million of that will Today, Pustovyi is the chair of go towards the Centre for Urban the Canadian Space Commerce Innovation (CUI), the future Association and helps run Space home of Ryerson’s new Science 1 Systems (S1S), a Canadian comDiscovery Zone (SDZ). mercial space flight company he The CUI will have a state-of-the- co-founded in 2009. art lab for the SDZ, which focuses Pustovyi spoke to Ryerson on microbiology research. students in the SLC Tuesday about Canada’s private space For more on sector, at an event organized by this story, visit Ryerson’s Space Society to kick ryersonian.ca off World Space Week. Q: When you started S1S, were there a lot of private comStudents going to boot camp panies in Canada’s space sector? You see, when you say “space Ryerson’s Legal Innovation Zone company,” it could mean anyis launching a Legal Tech Boot thing. If you mean rocketry comcamp. panies, then I would probably say The program, which will accept we were the only one. Maybe only 25 Ryerson students, will there are some other companies I analyze technology, entrepre- don’t know about, but we always neurship and law through tours considered ourselves as the only of law firms and courts and spe- one — the only chance Canada cialized workshops. has in these kinds of activities. I guess at the time, we were the only ones who were trying to Ryerson grad creates social net- push the suborbital space flight work for emergencies business. Q: Have you seen the private DEMHUB, the disaster and emer- space sector grow in Canada? gency management network, is a Commercial space is develnew startup co-founded by Jessica oping in Canada, but not on the Holmes, a graduate of Ryerson’s rocketry side, I would say. The master of digital media program. rocketry side is basically undeDEMHUB is a social network that veloped in Canada. connects the fields of disaster and Q: Is it important for the rockemergency management to make etry side of the private sector to it easier to find and share emer- grow in the country? gency information, to help comAbsolutely. I’m convinced that munities stay safe. it is essential. Some people believe

that Canada shouldn’t do rockets. I respect their opinion, but I think that access to space is critical for many reasons. Even from a national security and defence point it is important that Canada has its own technology to access space, both suborbital and orbital. Q: Why do you think young engineers, entrepreneurs and the like should think about joining Canada’s private space sector? You see, the private space sector, in my view, is wider than you think. There’s a word, it’s called “NewSpace.” NewSpace is this new, entrepreneurial approach to space. This is all technical, but it’s important to understand what NewSpace is, and I’m actually going to explain it at my presentation. I think this NewSpace model is the future, but at the same time, space is not just restricted to engineers and scientists. Space also has aspects of other professions built into it. There is a lot of opportunity to build a lot of different businesses that are on first glance not space-related, but using space components. This is why I think it’s important for future professionals in all fields, especially in the fields that are much related to space, to understand the opportunities with space. Q: What was the main message of the your presentation at Ryerson? I would say that NewSpace is the future for everyone who can see the opportunities that it presents. @rawbertmack

For the full interview, visit

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COURTESY YAROSLAV PUSTOVYI

Yaroslav Pustovyi was NASA’s backup payload specialist on a space shuttle mission.

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Water trailer makes return to campus JAMES TOZER RYERSONIAN

The HTO To Go water trailer had a much smoother orientation experience this year. Toronto Water blacklisted the Ryerson Students’ Union from requesting the mobile water station to attend campus events last fall. The RSU moved the trailer to accommodate Drake’s concert, which created “serious operational complications,” claimed Toronto Water. A year after the ordeal, the water trailer was back on campus, appearing on Gould Street for several days during orientation events. In a statement, Toronto Water said that the RSU became eligible

to request the trailer again in February 2016. The RSU provided documentation on how the September 2015 issues could have been avoided and what would be done at future events. Toronto Water’s statement said they were satisfied that communication between Ryerson, the RSU and other groups involved in orientation events had improved and that there would be “better event site mapping and planning” for orientation events. The layout for Drake’s Sept. 11, 2015 concert had to be changed the day of, forcing the RSU to move the water trailer approximately 15 metres back on Gould Street. Toronto Water said the move “resulted in health and safety issues for city staff, it

compromised Toronto Water assets and most importantly could have endangered public safety.” According to Andrea Bartlett, former RSU president, the union’s first attempt to regain eligibility was rejected by Toronto Water for not being specific enough, while the RSU’s second attempt wasn’t approved until February. Since the RSU has been reinstated, the HTO To Go water trailer has been on Ryerson’s campus numerous times with no issues, according to Toronto Water. RU Student Life has also brought the trailer to campus. The HTO To Go trailers attend public events, for free, from May through September. @station_nation

ATTENTION ALL FULL-TIME STUDENTS

ALL STUDENTS MUST OPT-OUT ONLINE

The Ryerson Students’ Union (RSU) provides you extended Health & Dental Insurance, but if you have comparable coverage, OPT-OUT for a refund by October 7, 2016 @ 6pm.

OPT-OUT ONLINE AT www.rsuonline.ca/services or www.mystudentplan.ca/rsu

Did you opt out last year in 2015-16? No worries...

You’re automatically opted out - no need to apply every year for the refund of this fee If you opted out of the RSU health and dental plan in the previous year (2015-16), you will NOT receive a charge for the RSU health and dental plan on your RAMSS account. Please refer to information about “Changing your Status” for any OPT IN requirements go to: RSU site at www.rsuonline.ca/services

DEADLINE to OPT-OUT, OPT-IN or ADD DEPENDENTS:

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016 - 6pm There are ABSOLUTELY NO EXCEPTIONS to this deadline Need Info? Contact Member Services Office, Student Centre Lobby or email health@rsuonline.ca

KEVIN JOHN SIAZON | RYERSONIAN

Ryerson is one of five Ontario universities to run the pilot program next fall.

Provincial pilot tests the value of your education PATRICIA KAROUNOS RYERSONIAN

Students wondering if they’re developing the basic skills employers look for can soon take a test to find out. Ryerson has volunteered to participate in a pilot project next fall created by the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO). The project evaluates the numeracy, literacy and problem-solving skills of first-year and graduating post-secondary students. The Essential Adult Skills Initiative (EASI) pilot aims to see if students are developing transferable, non-disciplinary skills sought after by employers. The HEQCO said it’s voluntary for students to write the test. But, they are offering $10 to all test-takers as an incentive. There will also be a lottery with larger prizes. “If we’re telling students these are the sort of capabilities they’re developing, we should be able to prove it,” said Greg Moran, HEQCO’s director of special projects. “We want to improve the quality of programs so we optimize what students take away.” The project uses an international online assessment from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. First-year college students from 11 schools across the province will be the first to write the test

this October, followed by graduating college students in February 2017. Five universities in Ontario, including Ryerson and York, will run the pilot next fall. Moran said that all participating students would write the same test, regardless of their program. He said that the HEQCO expects architecture students will score higher on the numeracy portion than humanities students, for example. The online test, which can be taken from anywhere, is also adaptable, meaning the difficulty level changes as answers are evaluated. Feedback is provided immediately at the end of each portion. The goal of the pilot is to see if the test accurately measures these practical skills. Moran added that, increasingly, employers are emphasizing more general skills that can be applied outside of a student’s educational background. “(We’re) looking at generic things (that) apply to a variety of workplaces and allow someone to contribute to our society.” According to Marcia Moshé, interim vice-provost academic, that’s why Ryerson volunteered for EASI. “Career-readiness is of major importance to the university, and is an area that we are always looking to improve,” she told the Ryersonian in an email. @ patriciakar

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HEALTH CARE

Nursing students unprepared for dementia care, professor says Gaps in current curriculum leave students lacking knowledge of the disorder and how to manage it effectively

geriatric care) … including dementia,” said Newman. Newman is a proponent of raising awareness for dementia. She hosted a Youth Dementia Awareness Symposium over the weekend to provide young people with a better understanding of the disorder and how to help loved ones manage it. ISABELLE DOCTO Dementia is a disorder that RYERSONIAN most commonly affects the elderly. It describes conditions Ryerson’s nursing program that deteriorate brain functions must do more to teach students like memory, recognition and perabout geriatric care, says an assis- sonality. One of the most common tant professor of types of dementhe program. tia is Alzheimer’s The prodisease. fessor, KrisCanada’s growtine Newman, ing aging populaCanadians will be living teaches at Ryertion means that with dementia in 15 years son’s Daphne more people are Cockwell School susceptible to the of Nursing. She disorder. The Alzsaid first-year heimer Society of students learn Canada states that Gentle Persua564,000 Canais spent annually on care sive Approaches dians are curfor people living with (GPA) — a techrently living with dementia in Canada. nique to help dementia, and them care for that the disease elderly patients — but that the directly or indirectly affects 1.1 curriculum doesn’t make geriat- million Canadians. ric care a mandatory course. Sejal Patel, a third-year nursing While Ryerson’s nursing cur- student, was at the symposium’s riculum does offer a specific geri- first event on Friday. She remematric care course for fourth-year bers learning the GPA technique, students, it’s an optional course. but said this training wasn’t Newman said that she thinks it enough to make her feel confishould be mandatory through- dent going out into the workforce. out the program. “I haven’t worked with (people “There needs to be increased with dementia) since first year, standards and competencies that and a lot of the materials that were are integrated into (the) curric- taught, I didn’t really encounter in ulum (and) that are (specific to second year,” said Patel.

937,000 $10.4 billion

Patel remembers working with a patient living with dementia during her first-year nursing placement. She was helping an elderly resident eat breakfast one morning when the woman became suddenly frustrated and began screaming and making movements that indicated choking with her hands. “I was really shocked … I didn’t know what to do,” Patel said. “So, I think that’s why it’s really important for students to be educated, or not even students, anybody working with people with dementia.” In general, Newman said medical and nursing programs at other universities don’t have a main focus on geriatric care. The University of Toronto’s nursing program, for example, touches on developmental needs of the elderly in first year. They have a specialized two-day course for students keen on delving into elderly care. At McGill, geriatric medicine is also an elective. According to Newman, many new nursing students are more interested in pediatrics. But, because of Canada’s aging population, most end up working with older adults. The Youth Dementia Awareness Symposium was held in conjunction with World Alzheimer’s Month. @IsabelleDocto

ISABELLE DOCTO | RYERSONIAN

A dementia symposium was held at Ryerson as part of World Alzheimer’s Month.

Thanksgiving Lunch with President Lachemi Mohamed Lachemi, President and Vice-Chancellor invites Ryerson students for a Thanksgiving Lunch at the Ryerson Student Learning Centre, Amphitheatre on Thursday, October 6, 2016. Drop in for a free light lunch with President Mohamed Lachemi from 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. Please email presrsvp@ryerson.ca if we need to make any accessibility or dietary accommodations to ensure your inclusion in this event.

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

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No room of their own ROOMS cont’d...

Yasmin Khatau, from Musicians@Ryerson, said she finds the online form more time-consuming. Khatau explained that the new system doesn’t show room availabiliy — meaning that groups may complete the form only to receive a response a week later saying the room is booked. Daniel Tran, president of the Vietnamese Student Association at Ryerson (VSAR), expressed similar concerns in an email. “From my experience, booking rooms is a bit more work now ... even through it’s through an online form.” Casey Chu Cheong, the RSU’s internal co-ordinator, said that the RSU works with other booking

agents on campus to find space for student groups and that the 6-9 p.m. time-slot fills up quickly. Cheong said the RSU “receives complaints every year about the lack of bookable conference/ meeting styled space.” This year’s complications have led some groups to find creative ways around the new system. “We are collaborating with groups that do have room bookings and this way it’s a win-win situation for groups,” said a statement from the Ryerson Indian Students’ Association. “Our audience increases and collaborating brings diversity.” @KJSiaz

Soup and Substance Diversity is a reality, inclusion is a choice

Unlearning the academy: Speaking truth to power Thursday, October 13, 2016 Noon to 1 p.m. | Podium (POD) Room 250 Faculty, staff and students are invited to come and enjoy soup and participate in a discussion about inclusion at Ryerson. ryerson.ca/soupandsubstance @RyersonEDI #RyersonEDI

Moderated by: Denise O’Neil Green Assistant Vice-President/Vice-Provost Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and Darrell Bowden, Education and Awareness Coordinator We are committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. Please contact 416-979-5000, ext. 3243 or equity@ryerson.ca if you require accommodation.

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From Aleppo to Ryerson

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After escaping the war in Syria and coming to Canada, Karina Kheshvajian wanted one thing: to complete her education KATERINA GEORGIEVA

RYERSONIAN When Karina Kheshvajian, 22, finally arrived in Toronto, a year after leaving war-torn Syria, she had one goal: to go to Ryerson University. When her Syrian-Armenian family fled Syria in 2014, Kheshvajian was just a year away from graduating with an economics degree from the University of Aleppo. It was difficult for her to abandon her studies, so when her family arrived in Canada, completing her education was her top priority. “This is what I wanted from the beginning,” she said of coming to Ryerson. “I applied only (to) this school. I didn’t think about York, or any other schools.” She had heard that Ryerson had a reputable business program, and she knew that it was where she wanted to go. She was determined to get in. And for this school year she did. Her credits from Aleppo were not accepted by Ryerson, she explained. So, she had to start from the beginning. Now a first-year undergraduate student in the business management program, she’s thrilled. “I like the environment, the people … everything.” The best part? She doesn’t have to worry about bombs.

‘I was so close to dying’ Many of Kheshvajian’s peers in Aleppo did not even bother going to school because it was so dangerous. “You don’t even know (if) you will go back home, (if) you will be safe, alive, or not,” she explained. “In Aleppo, there is no safe place. You don’t know when the bombs will explode. It’s like a hell.” She overcame her the fears because school was so important to her. “You can’t stay at home because … you don’t even know,” she said. “Maybe, you will die (while) you’re sitting (in) your home.” In January 2013, BBC reported that two explosions struck the University of Aleppo campus. Upwards of 80 people were reportedly killed. Kheshvajian was there. She was writing an exam when she heard a blast nearby. “It was so close,” she said, describing the pressure felt from the explosion.

She powered through and completed her exam despite the sounds of windows shattering in the aftermath of the explosion. She remembered that the invigilators told the students, “’Don’t move, and don’t try to look, or cheat. Just stay where you are.’” She recalled the terrible traffic on the streets that day. She remembered seeing blood. “It was the worst day ever,” she said. Close brushes with death became the norm for Kheshvajian, including the time a bomb hit the second floor of the building that she lived in. “There were times that I was so close to dying, but thank God, nothing happened. I didn’t even get hurt.” She carried on with her studies. She took English classes and computer classes. “I wanted to do all this even if bombs were falling on the other street,” she said. “I didn’t care. Because, if I’m going to die, I will die.”

Limbo in Lebanon In July 2014, her family decided to go to Beirut on “vacation” for a few months. Kheshvajian was happy to get out of Syria. There were no airplanes flying out of Aleppo, so Kheshvajian, her mother, father, younger brother and sister (now 17 and 18, respectively) had no other choice but to travel to Beirut by car. Kheshvajian explained that they essentially had to sneak out of the country. The roads to Beirut were heavily patrolled by police and military personnel. “It’s not safe … I couldn’t even sleep for (a) few minutes (during the trip), because we were so stressed.” Once they finally made it to Beirut safely, Kheshvajian was in limbo. Determined to get her degree, she had planned on returning to Aleppo over Christmas so that she could write her exams, “but the situation (in Syria) kept getting worse and worse,” said Kheshvajian. Eventually, any possibility of returning to Aleppo was lost altogether, and a three-month “vacation” became an indefinite waiting game. The family was determined to go someplace without conflict, where they could feel safe. And so, they looked to Canada.

Karina Kheshvajian at Niagara Falls.

‘Everything was different’

After nine months of paperwork and one year after fleeing Syria, the Kheshvajian family arrived in Canada as immigrants on July 28, 2015. They were sponsored by a friend of Kheshvajian’s mom. “Everything (was) new,” Kheshvajian remembered. “Everything was different. Nothing … is similar to the country that I lived (in). ” The language is what shocked her the most. Though she had studied English basics at school, she was far from fluent. “In order to do anything ... anything … you have to know the English language well,” she said. Her parents also struggled with English, so Kheshvajian took it upon herself to take care of things for her family. She even assembled all of her family’s papers in order to come to Canada.

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COURTESY WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

War-torn Aleppo.

COURTESY KARINA KHESHVAJIAN

COURTESY ALALSORRY VIA TWITTER

Aleppo citizens amid the destruction in the city.

The English exam Like many newcomers, one of the biggest challenges Kheshvajian faced in order to get into a Canadian university was passing an English proficiency test. Acceptable tests include the Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL), the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and Ryerson’s own Ryerson Test of English Proficiency (RTEP). Some of these tests can be quite expensive, Kheshvajian said. CAEL, for example, costs $225 plus tax every time an individual takes the test. Kheshvajian said she spent about a $1,000 on exams before passing the RTEP. “I have lots of friends (here, and) none of them (have gone) to university (or) completed their degree because they don’t want to get stressed about this stuff,” said Kheshvajian. “They can’t pay all this money if they fail (the English exams).” Kheshvajian got a scholarship for English classes through

Finally safe

the Refugee Career Jumpstart Project, which helped her prepare for (and pass) the exam. ‘You have to work to live’ After a year, her family is adjusting to life in Scarborough. They continue to face some financial difficulties, but Kheshvajian is trying to help out as much as she can. “I have fees at school, and also I have to support my family,” Kheshvajian explained. When she’s not at school, she works part time as a junior accountant. “I’m either working, or at school or studying at home … doing nothing else.” This is a stark contrast to what it was like for her in Aleppo. “In Aleppo, you don’t have to worry about working and paying your tuition, at all. University (was) free,” she said. “Here, it’s completely different. You have to work to live.”

Despite the challenges of her family’s first year, Kheshvajian is excited about what is possible in Canada. “I will have a better career, (a) better future,” she said. As a student, she’s still working to overcome the difficulties that come with studying in English, but she hopes that after a few months, she will start to feel better. Kheshvajian said she sometimes hesitates to tell people she’s from Aleppo. She doesn’t want people to feel sad for her because she comes from a place of war. “We don’t want that,” she said. For now, her main focus is getting her degree in a place where she finally feels safe. Here at Ryerson, she said, “we are not worried about safety, or about our lives. (That’s) the most important thing.” @KatGeorgieva

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Arts & Life

Urban Hip Hop Union’s DEVO 2016 ryersonian.ca Wednesday, October 5, 2016

KAYLA ROSEN RYERSONIAN

The Ryerson Theatre School building is ending its run with one last production: The Possibilities. The play, which was written by Howard Barker and directed by Brendan Healy, premièred Sept. 30 in the Abrams Studio Theatre. Its final performance will run tomorrow, marking the last curtain call at 44 Gerrard St. When it comes to the synopsis of the play, as the title indicates, there are a lot of possibilities. The show consists of 10 separate vignettes that span across time and place from 550 BC into the future. Each vignette has an individual storyline that touches on themes like betrayal, sexual desire, madness and revenge. There is little context given at the start of each scene, so it’s up to the audience to decipher what is happening and where. The only problem with The Possibilities is with the script. Barker often uses ideas which, combined with the constantly changing vignettes, can be confusing. This is a production that showcases the human condition in its most basic form and the actors put on a masterclass in acting. The Ryerson Theatre School will be moving to the Student Learning Centre during the fall reading week.

@KayRachelRosen

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The final bow The last production to be performed at the Abrams Studio Theatre is taking place this week KEVIN JOHN SIAZON | RYERSONIAN

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Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Arts & Life 11 4

onian

3D printing: the future of fashion Ryerson grad is designing a clothing line made from ‘smart’ technology materials COURTESY STEPHANIA STEFANAKOU

ROSEMOND QUARTEY RYERSONIAN

A recent Ryerson fashion communication graduate, Stephania Stefanakou, is creating an affordable 3D and wearable technology clothing line. The young designer described her creative wearable 3D clothing as “actually functional to wear every day.” Stefanakou is designing a sixpiece collection that combines

3D printing and tactile fabric as a part of the Design Fabrication Zone (DFZ) incubator. She will use 3D-printed designs for embellishments and embroidery on her clothing creations. “It’s going to be an actual fashion line like what you see at fashion week,” she said. For her thesis project last spring, Stefanakou created a 3D-printed flexible crop top using FilaFlex, an elastic filament. She uses this material because

“it just allows the wearer to have more movements,” she said. “I don’t want people to be too stiff.” The DFZ caught wind of her project and offered her a chance to begin a startup to continue working on 3D-printed clothing. Stefanakou also wanted to know how companies market their products to female consumers. It took her eight months to research and now, her target

market is women. She has also previously worked on other creative projects with smart technology and materials, including a skirt made with shape memory alloys. The skirt changes shape when room temperatures fluctuate and either shortens when the environment heats up, or gets longer when the room turns cold. Stefanakou’s inspiration for her collection sparked from working for the Wearable Art Show,

which features creative fashion designs by Canadian artists. She’s aiming to launch three pieces of her collection in December. Currently, Stefanakou is also assisting other students with their 3D and wearable technology projects at the Digital Media Experience Zone (DME). @rosemondq

Music Den hits the right note CASIMIR BOIVIN RYERSONIAN

The Faculty of Communication and Design’s (FCAD) new Music Den is already on its way to helping a Toronto-based innovator discover his passion. For Chris Prendergast, 29, the opportunity to work with industry veterans and collaborate with other young entrepreneurs inspired him to apply to be a part of the Music Den, a program that provides help to innovators in the music industry. Prendergast was encouraged to join the Music Den by a friend who was already involved in the program. Prendergast is working on

an invention called JamStack, a portable amplifier that mounts directly onto an electric guitar’s body. There’s also space to mount your smartphone next to the amplifier. A musician can then record music on the phone, as well as use the phone to create sound effects heard through the amplifier. “Where it really shines is practising ... it’s for getting better (at playing guitar),” he added. The JamStack was accepted into the program and Prendergast is currently being mentored by Music Den director and former music lawyer, Steven Ehrlick. Ehrlick said he was surprised to get such a hardware-based

pitch for the Den. “But that’s nature of innovation,” he added. “Surprise me.” Prendergast now has a working prototype. He will begin a crowdfunding campaign later this month. “Right now, we’re just focused on doing the best possible job at a crowdfunding campaign that we can,” he said. @clgboivin

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COURTESY DANIEL SLATER

Chris Prendergast demonstrating his new creation, JamStack, at a Ryerson studio.

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Editorial

Read more Opinions and Editorials online ryersonian.ca Wednesday, October 5, 2016

EDITORIAL

Gender identity is a matter of basic respect Last week, a University of Toronto psychology professor released an online lecture that, among its many topics, deals with the inclusion of gender identity and gender expression as protected grounds in the federal government’s Bill C-16 and the Ontario Human Rights Code. During the 57-minute rant, the professor, Jordan Peterson, repeatedly starts his sentences with “I’m scared.” On this point alone, we agree. Even at Ryerson, we are scared, too. As students, we’re scared that a professor could be so ill-informed about the extensive literature that explores gender identity and expression. We’re scared that the same professor teaches an undergraduate course in the psychology of personality that explores “the interaction of cultural and biological factors in the development and expression of individual differences.” We’re scared that someone, whose own website emphasizes how beloved he is by his students, could be so quick to completely dismiss a student or colleague’s right to be referred to by the pronouns they identify with. We are students at a university that has also struggled to incorporate gender expression and identity into policy. Creating inclusive and gender neutral washrooms has been a lengthy process that is still not complete. The university still isolates trans and genderqueer students by

putting the onus on them to reach out to their professors with their names and pronouns at the start of every semester. Ryerson’s website still uses the wording “preferred name and pronouns.” It’s language that diminishes the significance of these markers — and if the significance is lost on you, consider being misgendered in your own day-to-day life. Journalism, too, has struggled with using gender neutral pronouns. The Canadian Press has yet to create a formal entry on the subject — so newsrooms across the country, like ours, must form their own individual policies or address the issue on a case-by-case basis. The Ryersonian is still determining what its official policy will be. However, when a policy is developed it will be informed not only by the choices of other publications, but also by the people the policy will affect. What Peterson fails to realize is that he does not have the right to choose. It simply does not matter how educated or confident you are in your own assumptions about gender expression or identity. What matters is that the person specifying their name or pronouns knows how they want to be identified. And as for accepting their requests? It doesn’t take a PhD to know that is just a matter of basic respect.

KEVIN JOHN SIAZON | RYERSONIAN

OPINION

No technology in classrooms KAYLA ROSEN RYERSONIAN

Recently, two political science professors at the University of Toronto, Ryan Balot and Clifford Orwin, wrote a column for The Globe and Mail about why they are banning electronic devices from their classrooms. They argue that technology serves as a distraction, as opposed to a learning tool in the classroom, and that students learn more when they are fully present. I have to admit, I wholeheartedly agree. There’s no denying that I love

technology. In fact, you can find me glued to my computer for a good chunk of the day. But, I also believe that there is a time and a place for everything and, in my experience, the classroom is not the place for laptops and cellphones. For the entirety of my undergrad, I didn’t bring my computer to school and I turned off my phone during every class. These decisions allowed me to better participate in class, which contributed to my academic success. For those who believe that computers aid in their learning, a report released last year by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development shows otherwise. The report, which surveyed 31 countries, including Canada, found that computers can actually serve as a distraction. Another study published in Psychological Science titled, “The Pen is Mightier Than the Keyboard: Advantages of Longhand Over Laptop Note Taking,” found

that students who took handwritten notes retained more information than those who took them on laptops. But these studies only reinforce what is obvious. Two weeks ago, I did a presentation in class that didn’t require anyone to take notes, yet the majority of my class didn’t look up from their computer screens for the full 10 minutes. And this is not an isolated incident. When it comes to a solution, Balot and Orwin got it right: only students who are registered to use computers through accessibility services, or those who take notes on their behalf, should be allowed to use computers in class. Professors need to crack down on where and when technology is used in classes. Their students would be better for it. @KayRachelRosen

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