THE VARSITY
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T HE VA
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Vol. CXLVI, No. 6 MASTHEAD
Medha Surajpal editor@thevarsity.ca
Editor-in-Chief
Chloe Weston creative@thevarsity.ca
Creative Director
Sophie Esther Ramsey managingexternal@thevarsity.ca
Managing Editor, External
Ozair Chaudhry managinginternal@thevarsity.ca
Managing Editor, Internal
Jake Takeuchi online@thevarsity.ca
Managing Online Editor
Nora Zolfaghari copy@thevarsity.ca
Senior Copy Editor
Callie Zhang deputysce@thevarsity.ca
Deputy Senior Copy Editor
Ella MacCormack news@thevarsity.ca
News Editor
Junia Alsinawi deputynews@thevarsity.ca
Deputy News Editor
Emma Dobrovnik assistantnews@thevarsity.ca
Assistant News Editor
Ahmed Hawamdeh opinion@thevarsity.ca
Opinion Editor
Medha Barath biz@thevarsity.ca
Business & Labour Editor
Shontia Sanders features@thevarsity.ca
Features Editor
Sofia Moniz arts@thevarsity.ca
Arts & Culture Editor
Ridhi Balani science@thevarsity.ca
Science Editor
Caroline Ho sports@thevarsity.ca
Sports Editor
Aksaamai Ormonbekova design@thevarsity.ca
Design Editor
Brennan Karunaratne design@thevarsity.ca
Design Editor
Erika Ozols photos@thevarsity.ca
Photo Editor
Simona Agostino illustration@thevarsity.ca
Illustration Editor
Jennifer Song video@thevarsity.ca
Short-Form Video Editor
Emily Shen emilyshen@thevarsity.ca
Front End Web Developer
Sataphon Obra sataphon.ob@gmail.com
Back End Web Developer
Vacant utm@thevarsity.ca
UTM Bureau Chief
Vacant utsc@thevarsity.ca
UTSC Bureau Chief
Matthew Molinaro grad@thevarsity.ca
Graduate Bureau Chief
Vacant publiceditor@thevarsity.ca
Public Editor
Raina Proulx-Sanyal
Associate Copy Editor
Celesta Maniatogianni
Associate News Editor
Vesa Lunji & Zaneb
Cover: Tree
Yousaf
The Varsity acknowledges that our office is built on the traditional territory of several First Nations, including the Huron-Wendat, the Petun First Nations, the Seneca, and most recently, the Mississaugas of the Credit. Journalists have historically harmed Indigenous communities by overlooking their stories, contributing to stereotypes, and telling their stories without their input. Therefore, we make this acknowledgement as a starting point for our responsibility to tell those stories more accurately, critically, and in accordance with the wishes of Indigenous Peoples.
Letter from the Editors: The climate crisis is worth writing about
On this week’s stories and content
Medha Surajpal & Chloe Weston Editor-in-Chief & Creative Director
Hello Varsity readers! I hope the midterm season is treating you well. This week’s newsprint brings you our annual Climate issue. The whole reason we keep bringing this theme back into our 146-year-old paper is because there are always more issues to discuss when it comes to protecting our environment.
Living in Toronto, it is impossible to ignore
Turkish Delight
Ashley Wong Varsity Contributor
the changes in the air, in the seasons, and even on our campus. However, it is very easy to become desensitized to the garbage littered across roads and the overall decline in the city’s air quality.
We dedicate an issue of our publication to problems like these that have grown more prominent. As students, it is our responsibility to foster awareness and concern for the world we live in. It is our future, after all. Issue 6 covers AI and the environment in our
Business & Labour section, touching on the impact of AI models on water use and energy consumption. Our Arts & Culture section has a lovely introduction to sustainable curation, on bringing environmentalism to the visual arts.
In Science, the importance of trees downtown brings new life to the living environment that surrounds us.
If any of this sounds like something you want to learn about, please read on! Be sure to recycle this issue when you’re done with it.
ACROSS
1. Court
4. C.S. Lewis’s “The ______, the 1-down, and the Wardrobe” 5. “______ change you wish to see in the world”
6. The Monaco Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500, for two 7. Reason for an Adderall prescription, for short
DOWN
1. C.S. Lewis’s “The 4-across, the ______, and the Wardrobe” 2. ______ and aahed
3. Half of the digits in binary code
4. Starring role
5. Modern descendant of the corset
photo by Aiden Fung, illustrations by Simona Agostino, design by Chloe Weston.
Copy Editors: Cindy Xiao, Cyrilla Zhang, Joao Pedro Domingues, Juliet Pieters, Lorraine Liu, Lucy Wang, Madiha Syed, Sarah Pan, Zaneb Asad, Zuhal Olomi
Designers: Carina Chan, Parwin Rafie Vacant
What happened since Ruth Marshall’s
post Professor’s comment on Gaza sparks free speech debate after being misinterpreted as endorsing Charlie Kirk's death
Eleanor Yuneun Park Varsity Contributor
On September 11, U of T placed Associate Professor Ruth Marshall on leave and announced it would close the Jackman Humanities Building (JHB) for two days.
Multiple news outlets reported that the decision was related to Marshall's X post which they described was about Charlie Kirk's shooting. Marshall disputed this characterization, noting that she was responding to a user who called videos of children killed in Gaza “propaganda.”
Students and faculty spoke to The Varsity over concerns about U of T’s lack of communication on Marshall, adding to the ongoing campus discussions of free speech on Israel and Palestine. What happened?
September 10, 2:23 pm: American right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk is fatally shot at a public event at Utah Valley University.
September 10, 4:31 pm: Former US diplomat Josef Burton creates a post on X under the username ‘A-100 gecs,’ comparing a video of the Kirk shooting to the graphic imagery he has seen online of children harmed in Gaza. Another user responds to Burton to dispute his account of violence in Gaza, writing, “You’ve been seeing weak ass propaganda with lame props.”
September 10, around 9:30 pm: Marshall responds to this user, writing, “Shooting is honestly too good for so many of you fascist cunts.”
September 10, 10:50 pm: Marshall reposts the complete X thread, clarifying that her response was not about Kirk, but rather, “in response to atrocity denial in Gaza.”
September 11: Toronto Sun columnist Joe Warmington connects Marshall’s post to Kirk’s murder and quotes Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who calls her post “Disgusting. Sick people.”
September 11, 2:30 pm: Ontario Minister of Colleges and Universities Nolan Quinn posts on X: “I’ve been clear with the University of Toronto: they need to act,” added Quinn, with a link to the Toronto Sun article.
September 11: U of T places Marshall on leave.
U of T Media Relations releases a statement to The Varsity and other press outlets stating, “The University took immediate action upon learning of the concerning social media posts of a University of Toronto professor. The faculty member is now on leave and not on campus. The matter is being looked into and the University will not be commenting further.”
September 11, 3:05 pm: U of T announces on the UTogether community updates page that the JHB will be closed from September 11–12. The statement asks staff, faculty, and students studying in the building to leave and work from home for the two days “out of an abundance of caution following online comments.” Campus Safety officers are stationed at JHB, and Toronto Police Service (TPS) Media Relations Officer Stephanie Miceli confirms TPS officers “attend” U of T.
Communication with students
Students enrolled in Marshall’s courses have been kept in the dark, only receiving short explanations for their classes being abruptly cancelled.
On September 11, the Department of Political Science sent a one-sentence email to students in Marshall’s course JPR459 — Fanaticism: A Political History, announcing that the third upcoming lecture had been cancelled.
A fourth-year political science student in JPR459, who requested to only appear under the name Dean, visited the department the following Monday.
An undergraduate assistant told Dean that the department was looking for a new instructor for the course and called the situation “unprecedented” without explaining why the lecture was cancelled.
On September 15, the last day to enroll in courses, Dean spoke with another student also enrolled in Marshall’s class. “[They were] trying to figure out whether or not to drop the course and find a replacement.”
“The university went about [informing students]
in a very convoluted way, and I didn’t know if I was going to have to switch classes,” said Rebecca Paikin in an interview with The Varsity. Paikin is a third-year political science student enrolled in another course that Marshall was teaching: JPR364 — Religion and Politics in the Nation State.
On September 18, the Department of Political Science sent an email to JPR459 students confirming that the course would continue with Joseph Dattilo as the instructor. The email stated that questions related to the course should be directed to Dattilo, who now teaches both JPR459 and JPR364.
Dean described the university’s lack of communication with students in Marshall’s classes as both frustrating and confusing. Paikin echoed, “[The communication] should have been more open and honest.”
Marshall’s faculty page on the Department of Political Science notes that she is “currently on leave.” Marshall is cross-appointed at the Department for the Study of Religion (DSR) and the Department of Political Science. U of T declined to comment on whether Marshall would be on leave for the remainder of the academic year.
Communication with faculty
On September 11, DSR Chair Professor Pamela Klassen emailed the department, instructing staff, faculty, and graduate students to work from home while the JHB was closed. Members of the UTSG Department of Political Science also received a message from their chair, Professor Ryan Balot, explaining that the department office in Sidney Smith would be closed on September 12. Both messages repeated U of T’s media statement.
DSR Associate Professor Nada Moumtaz told The Varsity that Klassen explained in a department meeting how U of T had closed the building because department staff had received threats. Klassen did not respond to The Varsity in time for publication.
In an email to The Varsity, TPS Media Relations Officer Shannon Eames confirmed that they received a report of online threats against DSR faculty. Eames declined to comment further, as the TPS’s investigation is ongoing.
Moumtaz said, however, that U of T’s public statement “call[ing] the tweet ‘concerning’ ” makes it look like the university is addressing not Marshall’s safety but “the safety of others from her.”
When asked why the university had reopened JHB before TPS finished the investigation, a U of T spokesperson stated that “Students were not in immediate danger.”
What is protected speech?
Political science Professor Melissa S. Williams said that if the university placed Marshall on leave for disciplinary reasons, it would raise a lot of concerns among her colleagues — “especially because her post was falsely represented as a response to [Kirk’s] murder.”
Minister Quinn’s X post described Marshall’s remarks as “violent rhetoric,” while Toronto Sun columnist Warmington’s article on Marshall ran with the subheading, “[Marshall] has been placed on leave by university after creepy comments on the assassination murder of Charlie Kirk.” Warmington wrote, “Would you feel safe sending your child to the University of Toronto when one of its professors brags that ‘shooting’ someone is ‘too good’ for them?”
U of T’s Statement on Freedom of Speech affirms that students, faculty, and staff have “the right to examine, question, investigate, speculate, and comment on any issue without reference to prescribed doctrine.” U of T’s social media guidelines acknowledge that faculty are increasingly engaging online and recommend they remain “aware of personal legal risks associated with postings about an identifiable individual or group that could be considered defamatory, harassing, discriminatory or otherwise illegal.”
Canada’s Criminal Code s.319 places limits on speech that incites hatred in public places against identifiable groups, such as those defined by race,
ethnicity, religion, or gender identity.
Leslie Green — University of Oxford and Queen’s University Faculty of Law Professor Emeritus — told The Varsity that Marshall’s X post falls within her rights to freedom of expression. “It is not an incitement to violence, and it is not hate speech,” he wrote. “Neo-fascists are not an ‘identifiable group’ in the meaning of the Criminal Code (s.318).”
However, UTSC Department of Political Science Associate Professor Renan Levine expressed concern in an interview with The Varsity that Marshall’s defence for her post was not only that her speech was figurative, but that she “was not calling conservatives fascist, [she] was calling Zionists fascists.” He added, “Even with the figurative speech, I’m not sure this makes it any better.”
Levine described the post that Marshall responded to, which called graphic videos from Gaza propaganda, as a "pro-Israel comment that suggested that the [original post’s] analogy wasn’t fair."
According to Levine, Marshall’s recent post aligns with her previous anti-Israel rhetoric online. Before her X account was made private following recent events, Marshall had reposted a post that referred to pro-Israel protesters on U of T campus as “fascists.” She called Canary Mission, a website that doxxes pro-Palestine supporters, a “fascist watchlist” in response to a post flagging a U of T student for participating in the pro-Palestine encampment at U of T.
Paikin, still enrolled in JPR364, is the VicePresident of Social Events at the Hillel Student Board at U of T. She told The Varsity that she found Marshall’s X post “absurdly disturbing as someone who does not agree with her in several areas, and that doesn’t make me evil… I’m willing to listen to her.”
“The context… obviously is important, but [Marshall’s] statement alone is really scary,” Paikin said. “If you are going to share your opinion and you expect it to be received openly, honestly, and be respected… you need to do the same thing to the other side.”
Paikin said, being a Zionist “doesn’t mean we condone evil… doesn’t mean that we believe in torture, doesn’t mean that we believe in genocide. These are not the same things.”
Free speech at U of T on Israel and Palestine Marshall has been a vocal advocate for faculty freedom of speech, particularly speech advocating for Palestine. In January, Marshall wrote to The Varsity that she sees a clear “double standard” from U of T in the ways it disciplines faculty for social media posts related to Israel and Palestine. Students and faculty have also raised similar concerns since her recent controversy.
In February, Marshall also told The Varsity that U of T’s draft “Guide to Law and Policy regarding Antisemitism and Anti-Israeli Discrimination at the University of Toronto” was unclear on whether and when the university would judge the use of terms like ‘Zionism’ as antisemitic.
“This poses a direct challenge to the academic freedom of the many faculty who teach and write about Israel and Palestine, or those who make their views about [Israel’s] genocide known on social media,” Marshall wrote.
A United Nations Commission of Inquiry in Geneva recently concluded that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, incited by top Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In an X post, Israel’s foreign ministry denounced the report as “distorted and false.”
Informed by consultation on the draft guide, U of T recognizes that actions directed at community members because they are Jewish, Israeli, or identify as Zionist can be harassment and violate law or policy. U of T’s website on addressing antisemitism reads that such actions are still problematic when “the word ‘Jewish’ or ‘Israeli’ is replaced with the word ‘Zionist.’
U of T clarifies that, “This is distinct from criticisms of the government of Israel and its policies.”
Assistant Professor Beverly Bain in UTM’s Department of Historical Studies, co-founder of
Scholar Strike Canada, said to The Varsity, “I feel like there is a form of retribution happening here by the university, that [it is] quick to apply punitive measures to those of us who have spoken up for Palestine.”
PhD student Sara Rasikh echoed Bain’s concerns. Rasikh, who was a spokesperson for UofT Occupy for Palestine when the student group set up an encampment in King’s College Circle in May 2024, told The Varsity, “The differential treatment of [Marshall] compared to faculty who have made Islamophobic or discriminatory remarks exposes [U of T’s] structural inconsistency.”
Rasikh added that she believes this treatment “penalizes advocacy and reinforces broader hierarchies of power” in the university.
When U of T filed an injunction to remove the student encampment, one of its objections to the encampment was that it was associated with antisemitic language and slogans. Ontario Superior Court Justice Marcus Koehnen, who presided over the case, ruled that the school did not have sufficient proof to show that the encampment was antisemitic.
Koehnen examined language from the protests, including “from the river to the sea, Palestine shall be free,” “glory to the martyrs,” and the word “intifada.” He ruled that automatic conclusions that the phrases are antisemitic were not justified, and that students in the encampment were also subject to hateful and violent speech. Counter protesters referring to encampment members as Nazis was one of the examples Koehnen deemed “hateful, violent, and intimidating” to student protesters.
In a June 2024 Governing Council meeting, Ramy Elitzur — accounting professor at the Rotman School of Management — criticized the encampment by saying that U of T is where Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity (EDI) initiatives “became IED: improvised explosive device… the preferable weapons of terrorists.” Elitzur also compared Jewish protesters at the encampment to Jewish people who served in Nazi Germany’s military. When asked at the time about Elitzur’s comments, a university spokesperson told The Varsity that U of T has a “high threshold” for speech and expression, including “speech and imagery that are uncomfortable and offensive to some.” Elitzur did not respond to The Varsity in time for publication.
In November 2024, some faculty members said that they were called into their respective deans’ offices over posts in support of Palestine. When asked about why the administration called in its faculty, a U of T spokesperson told The Varsity that, “We want to be as forthright as possible, but for reasons of confidentiality and people’s privacy, we are not sharing more details.”
Input from advocacy groups
On September 26, Scholar Strike Canada published a statement expressing concern about Marshall’s suspension: “academics, students and staff on all Canadian university campuses must refuse to have our speech and academic freedom suppressed,” the statement reads.
“The swiftness by which Professor Marshall was sent home seems retaliatory on the part of University of Toronto as she has been a visible proPalestinian supporter on the university campus.”
The statement was co-signed by Occupy UofT, Toronto Students for Palestine, and the Boycott, Divest, Sanction (BDS) Caucus at U of T Graduate Students’ Union.
The U of T chapter for Faculty for Palestine also wrote to The Varsity that, “Faculty members and librarians are, firstly, individuals with Charter Rights, and secondly, educators with academic freedom... Support for Palestine is not an excuse for the administration’s abrogation of our rights and freedoms. These efforts at silencing us will fail.”
When asked to comment on faculty claiming that Marshall’s social media posts or her leave threatens academic freedom, a U of T Media Relations spokesperson directed The Varsity to the Statement on Freedom of Speech, quoting, “The purpose of the university also depends upon an environment of tolerance and mutual respect.”
The spokesperson also directed faculty experiencing digital harassment, hate, or threats to university resources.
Marshall told The Varsity that confidentiality provisions prevent her or her lawyer from commenting.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Sisters in Spirit Day honoured across campuses
Students, faculty, and administration attended university-wide address and UTM All-Nations Powwow
Emma Dobrovnik Assistant News Editor
On September 30, the University of Toronto marked the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (TRC) with a university-wide address and an All-Nations Powwow at UTM, which also honoured Sisters in Spirit Day.
University-wide address on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Hosted by the Offices of Indigenous Initiatives, First Nations House Indigenous Student Services, and Hart House, the tri-campus commemoration acknowledged the legacy of the Canadian residential school system. President Melanie Woodin and U of T Vice-President and UTSC Principal Linda Johnston delivered remarks alongside keynote speaker Carey Newman.
In her opening remarks, Woodin noted that the university is “guided by the priorities of [the university’s] Truth and Reconciliation Steering Committee.”
The committee’s 34 Calls to Action are organized into six categories: creating Indigenous spaces on campus, recruiting Indigenous faculty and staff, integrating Indigenous knowledge into the curriculum, prioritizing Indigenous research, providing Indigenous students with co-curricular support, and implementing institutional leadership.
“We’re increasing the presence of Indigenous students, staff, faculty, and librarians. We’re embedding Indigenous knowledge and perspectives into our curriculum. We’re supporting Indigenous-led research and scholarship, and we’re creating spaces that honour Indigenous histories, cultures, and traditions,” said Woodin.
She highlighted the opening of Ziibing — an Indigenous landscape project at Hart House — which responds to the Steering Committee’s call
for Indigenous spaces on campus. She also cited the university’s Indigenous Tuition Grant, which covers tuition for students from nine First Nations communities in Ontario.
Vice-President and Principal of UTSC Linda Johnston pointed to the opening of UTSC Indigenous House and added that Indigenous knowledge should not “be treated as a box to be checked.”
Keynote speaker and multidisciplinary artist Carey Newman expressed mixed feelings about inclusion on university campuses.
“When you’re recounting how equity, diversity, and inclusion works in your world, don’t tell me about the number of Indigenous people who work with you, don’t tell me about the number of Indigenous students who are there — tell me about the way that their presence has… transformed the
way that we measure success because that’s when I feel included,” said Newman.
In its 2024 Annual Progress Report, the Office of Indigenous Initiatives noted the university’s commitment to “the ongoing hiring of Indigenous faculty, staff, and librarians [and] recruiting Indigenous students.” The Student Equity Census from fall 2023 and fall 2024 reveal that only 0.7 per cent of students identified as Indigenous. According to the 2024 Employment Equity Survey, Indigenous representation among employees increased slightly to 1.4 per cent — a 0.1 per cent rise from 2023.
The report also highlighted challenges faced by Indigenous students, staff, faculty, and librarians at U of T. Respondents pointed to a lack of Indigenous presence compared to the high demand for Indigenous expertise in upcoming initiatives. They
also expressed concerns over limited Indigenous input in carrying out TRC goals.
All-Nations Powwow on Sisters in Spirit Day
On Saturday, October 4, UTM celebrated its third annual All-Nations Powwow, coinciding with Sisters in Spirit Day, which honours the lives of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people.
The event featured drumming circles, traditional dances, and a sacred fire where attendees could burn medicinal herbs in a spiritual tradition known as Smudging. The Fire Keeper, responsible for tending the fire, guided participants and explained its cultural significance.
People of all ages and backgrounds were invited to join in song, dance, and prayer. Crowds packed the UTM Recreation, Athletics, and Wellness Centre and explored the market showcasing Indigenousowned businesses.
Vice-President and UTM Principal Alexandra Gillespie said that she hopes the powwow “takes another step along [the] path [of Truth and Reconciliation.]”
In an interview with The Varsity, third-year digital enterprise management student Blakeley Thompson, who volunteers as an Assistant to the Powwow Fire Keeper, discussed the importance of Indigenous positivity on campus. “We love to talk about Indigenous people only in the context of our pain and not in the context of what actually makes us valuable. Being identified only by suffering is restricting [and] focusing on more positive things is really nice. I enjoy it, and that’s what the powwow helps a lot with.”
Thompson expressed hope for change within the university: “My culture allows me to persist in an idea that we actually can, in fact, change these systems. The greatest tool of these systems is convincing you that you cannot change it.”
On September 29, a Pratt & Whitney recruitment event was cancelled after students protested at the Engineering Career Centre on College and Beverley Street. The event was planned in partnership with Career Exploration & Education and Student Life, and aimed to teach students about Pratt & Whitney’s hireable roles and the recruitment process.
Pratt & Whitney is an aircraft engine and auxiliary power system for commercial, business, and military aircrafts. In the about section of the event, they wrote that “our engines help connect people, grow economies and defend freedom.”
Hours before the event’s scheduled start, UofT Occupy for Palestine called for “ALL OUT NOW TO 255 BEVERLEY STREET” in a group Instagram post with World Beyond War Canada, Palestinian Youth Movement Toronto, and Tkarón:to Students in Solidarity with Palestine.
Protesters stood outside the building at 255 Beverley Street with a banner painted with “WEAPONS COMPANIES OFF OUR CAMPUS” while chanting and handing out fliers. Building staff locked the glass front doors.
UofT Occupy for Palestine wrote to The Varsity that because the Israeli Air Force has operated Pratt & Whitney-powered aircrafts since 1947, “the year the Nakba (the forced displacement of over 750 000 Palestinians from their homes) began, we felt that there was a moral imperative to try and cancel the recruitment event.”
The event was originally scheduled from 5:30–7:00 pm, and soon after 6 pm, a printed off paper read that, “The event has been CANCELLED. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding.”
When asked why the event was cancelled, a university spokesperson directed The Varsity to the U of T free speech FAQ, which reads, “While the University has — extremely rarely — denied,
Pratt & Whitney information session on campus cancelled after student protest
Aircraft engine company’s event cancelled within half an hour of planned start time
cancelled, or rescheduled bookings, the bar to do so is set very high and has nothing to do with whether the administration agrees or disagrees with the event’s proposed content,” and that “physical safety is an over-riding imperative when controversy arises. The university does not permit actions by any groups that cause (or are assessed to have the reasonable potential to cause) threats to the physical safety of members of the university community.”
In response, UofT Occupy for Palestine wrote to The Varsity that “University Administration’s response highlights a pattern of vilifying its own students… The reality remains that it is UofT and their willingness to invite Pratt & Whitney onto our campus that makes Palestinian students at UofT and in Gaza unsafe.”
The morning of the event, Dalla Lana School of Public Health PhD student and physician Dr. Kavita Algu emailed university administration to cancel the event.
On September 30, the Office of the President responded by thanking Dr. Algu for sharing their concerns, and wrote that the U of T Experiential Learning Commons “hosts opportunities and resources for students’ career exploration, professional mentorship, and connections with industry partners. As such, we maintain an open employer recruitment practice that responds to student interests from a range of disciplines.”
The email continued, “Posting a position or holding an information session does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the University of any company or position.
We encourage all students to reflect on their own interests and skills as they make career decisions.”
Pratt & Whitney has been recruiting on U of T campus for decades, with ads in The Varsity leading as far back as 1955.
U of T has officially partnered with Pratt & Whitney before. The Institute for Aerospace Studies and the Centre for Advanced Coating Technologies both list Pratt & Whitney as an industry partner, and the University of Toronto Institute for Multidisciplinary Design & Innovation was established in collaboration with companies including Pratt & Whitney.
Pratt & Whitney did not respond to The Varsity’s request for comment in time for publication.
Ella MacCormack News Editor
Attendees don orange shirts at the U of T National Day for Truth and Reconciliation address. EMMA DOBROVNIK/THEVARSITY
Aircraft engine company’s recruitment event was cancelled after a student protest at the Engineering Career Centre on College. COURTESY OF TORONTO STUDENTS IN SOLIDARITY WITH PALESTINE
U of T Law launches Canada’s first Animal Law program under direction of Professor Angela Fernandez
Law community discusses impacts of program and future of field
Matthew Molinaro Graduate Bureau Chief
On September 12, the U of T Henry N.R. Jackman Faculty of Law launched its Animal Law program. Directed by animal law expert Angela Fernandez, it is the first program of its kind in Canada and aims to make critical space for this growing area of legal practice.
Currently, it offers two courses: LAW253 — Animals and the Law and LAW327 — The Laws of Human and Animal Relations — a seminar taught by Man Ha Tse, the 2024–2026 Inaugural Postdoctoral Fellow in Animal Law.
More than an elective
For the last four years, Fernandez has taught LAW253: Animals and the Law, which covers the treatment of non-human animals, welfare policies, Indigenous approaches to non-human animals, and legal protections for animals. In her view, the introduction of an animal law program has far-reaching implications for all members of the U of T law community.
“It opens up a world of possibilities for students… For faculty, they might think about ways in which their areas of research intersect with animals. Most legal subjects touch on them –– family law, property law, constitutional law, administrative law, wills and estates, environmental law, health law, criminal law, even contracts and torts,” Fernandez wrote in an email to The Varsity
“There’s an important message here also for the legal profession [in] that lawyers will be more and more interested in learning about [animal law] issues and moving into practice areas related to them.”
Daniel Kim, who graduated from U of T Law in 2025, was not always interested in animal law. “I’m actually not a big animal lover,” Kim wrote in an email to The Varsity , “at U of T, you need to take some courses to fill certain pre-requisites for graduation, and Professor Fernandez’s Animals and the Law class filled one of those pre-reqs and fit my timetable.”
Kim struggled at first, but wrote that Fernandez “was super encouraging. She noted how not everyone in the field of animal law are animal lovers. Instead, everyone is united by a
The
“Critical mass” of administrative staff to be on-campus full-time as of January 2026
By Celesta Maniatogianni, Associate News Editor
Last Friday, October 3, U of T president Melanie Woodin said in a notice that as of January 2026, or “sooner in some cases,” a certain amount of administrative staff at the university will need to be on campus fulltime, “five days per week.”
The United Steelworkers 1998, the union representing U of T administrative employees, stated that the collective agreement’s language on alternative work arrangements “cannot be unilaterally changed by the University.”
Ontario raises minimum wage to $17.60 an hour — Queen’s Park
By Ella MacCormack, News Editor
On October 1, the provincial minimum wage was increased by $0.40 to $17.60 an hour.
general distaste for cruelty towards animals.” Kim stuck with the class and wrote a research paper on pet custody disputes, which placed third in the Student Animal Law Research Paper Contest this week.
“Incoming and prospective students will be entering U of T at a time when the image of ‘animal law is just an elective’ is no longer true,” Kim wrote. “As a result, I can see far more interest coming from students in understanding and researching about animal law in a serious manner.”
In an email to The Varsity , Animal Law Program Research Associate Kira Berkeley spoke to animal law’s legitimacy and argued that the creation of the program would have seismic effects for students, faculty, and animal rights movements.
The Employment Standards Act means the minimum wage in Ontario increases every year by the Ontario Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures the price fluctuation of goods and services. The annual average CPI was 2.4 per cent this year.
Prior to deductions, a student working 24 hours per week during the 24 instructional weeks of the school year will see a $230.40 increase.
UofT Engineers strike back at Western with wooden train — London, Ontario
By Devin Botar, Varsity Contributor
On Wednesday, a secret society of U of T engineering pranksters left a large wooden train on a roof at Western University.
The rivalry between U of T’s Brute Force Committee (BFC) and Western’s Geer Team broke out last April Fool’s Day, when the Geer Team placed a cement-wheeled Volkswagen Beetle outside Sandford Fleming.
Later that month, the BFC responded with a giant wooden mustang left on a roof at Western and promised further retaliation, which has now come.
UTSU approves 2024–2025 financial statements and increases food coalition funding — UTSG Student Commons
“It validates decades of advocacy and strengthens the animal rights movement by embedding these concerns within mainstream legal education,” Berkeley explained.
Looking forward
In her capacity as Research Associate, KrystalAnne Roussel wrote to The Varsity that she will be focused on building partnerships within and beyond the university to make an impact on pressing animal law issues and ensure that the field is accessible to policymakers, advocates, and the public alike.
“I see this program helping to shape the future of animal law in Canada, creating a foundation for legal reforms that reflect society’s growing concern for animals and the environment,” Roussel wrote.
By Ella MacCormack, News Editor
On September 21, the University of Toronto Student Union (UTSU) approved the last fiscal year’s financial statements and increased U of T food coalition funding from $10,000 to $13,000, which can now provide free meals twice a week instead of once.
Out of a total $21.8 million in revenue, the UTSU’s main expenses were $16.9 million for the health and dental plan, $2.6 million for salaries and employee benefits, $496,000 for programs and services, and $487,000 for levied student groups. The remaining $984,000 in expenses were allocated to occupancy, governance and administration, meeting and conventions, amortization, and professional fees.
11.3 per cent of UTSU students opted out of the health and dental plan, $2.2 million was refunded out of the $19.7 million collected.
The UTSU Annual General Meeting will also take place on October 26.
UTMSU sets aside up to $40,000 for October events, $35,000 for free breakfast Wednesdays — UTM Student Centre
By Ella MacCormack, News Editor
At the University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union (UTMSU) Board of Directors
Looking ahead for students and faculty, Fernandez identified more possibilities for the program. “We will next be thinking about some kind of designation for law students in animal law, say if they do a certain number of courses or fulfill a writing requirement. It would be great for them to have that designation on their transcript moving out into the world to do animal-related work.”
Fernandez also referenced opportunities for collaboration with other university faculty members in medicine and the arts who work on animal justice, environmental rights, and food politics.
“For Canada, we will likely see law faculties at other universities starting their own animal law programs, which would be wonderful. If they can then become inter-departmental or inter-faculty units integrated across the rest of the university that would be the dream.”
meeting on September 28, the union approved up to $40,000 for October pub and Halloween events, and $35,000 for free breakfast Wednesdays. The October pub and “Halloweek” events budget is particularly high to pay for an unnamed “big artist” performance at the pub.
Free Breakfast Wednesdays take place in the Student Centre Presentation Room at 10 am every week — supplies usually last for an hour, and feed around 300 students.
Gowns return to TCM for Saints’ Ball proposal — Trinity College By Devin
Botar,
Varsity Contributor
On Wednesday, September 30, the Trinity College Meeting (TCM) met in traditional academic gowns to discuss Saints’ Ball proposals — the first gowned TCM in five years after a students’ push for the return of gowns.
The TCM announced gowns will be freely available to borrow at Trinity academic dinners and the holiday dinner. According to TCM Chair Anneke Lee, the College plans to offer gowns for purchase by the end of the year. Students also approved a proposal for Trinity’s annual Saints’ Ball. The budget has been reduced to $15,000, as compared to $20,000 last year, and the theme will be Phantom of the Opera.
Simcoe Hall
Recycled Newswire
Students can take LAW253 — Animals and the Law and LAW327 — The Laws of Human and Animal Relations.
Arts & Culture
October 7, 2025
thevarsity.ca/category/arts-culture arts@thevarsity.ca
A new standard for sustainable art curation Creating sustainable curation that reflects contemporary climate-conscious values of art
Raina Proulx-Sanyal Associate Senior Copy Editor
A major point of discussion in contemporary art is climate change, as many exhibitions address growing concerns about the fate of the environment and our planet. Exhibitions such as the U of T Art Museum’s Dwelling Under Distant Suns address the current and future effects of climate change through the slow violence inflicted on our lives and the land we live on. While these exhibitions may address more abstract issues, like focusing on climate change in their content, in installation, they often generate excessive waste. This happens in the form of single-use print and construction materials, and the art pieces’ transit, making them unsustainable. However, curators and artists are coming up with methods of exhibition-making that reduce waste, bringing the focus of sustainability into their daily practices.
Why does this matter?
Both exhibitions and public art — art displayed outside of galleries or private institutions — contribute to waste directly and indirectly, in the creation of trash and the breakdown of materials into microplastics. Elements such as wallpaper, brochures, construction materials, and paint are neither permanent nor reusable, eventually breaking down into forever chemicals.
The shipment of these materials and the art itself is also costly, as artworks usually require the construction of custom crates that often cannot be reused. The constant rotation of exhibitions, with larger galleries having multiple temporary exhibitions at once, creates more material waste.
Now, as landfills in Ontario are running out of space, and the manufacturing of these materials is contributing to air and water pollution in Ontario and the Great Lakes, there is little room for this waste to accumulate. Globally, an estimated 70 million metric tons of carbon dioxide are produced by the visual art world. While this waste is not visible, it is still a major public production of pollution that must be addressed.
What’s to be done?
Organizations such as Western University’s Centre for Sustainable Curating provide guidance to curators and artists alike through handbooks, programming, and collaborations with sustainability organizations and institutions such as the Synthetic Collective. Their handbook, Using the Resources at Hand: Sustainable Exhibition Design, provides a framework for planning an exhibition with a low carbon footprint.
The handbook also lists vendors in Ontario for sustainable resourcing of materials such
as paper, furniture, moveable walls, technology, paint, and tools. Emphasizing reuse, they highlight the importance of community, illustrating how its support can result in more sustainable practices. Fostering a network of art organizations and vendors allows them to share resources and reuse materials, lessening their joint carbon footprint and level of consumption.
Sustainable practices are not limited to the physical materials of a gallery exhibit, as print media and public art also play a critical role in waste production from displaying art. The formatting of didactics or wall texts, as well as the methods of distributing printed materials, such as brochures and guides, are significant contributors to waste and pollution. Simple changes, such as changing the type of ink, paper, and size of the media, greatly affect the art exhibit’s carbon footprint.
These guides implore curators to think more critically about what they create and to be mindful of the space that their work takes up, taking the time to be meaningful with the resources they use.
In terms of public art, the Centre for Sustainable Curation also breaks down the impact of materials such as paint, steel and concrete that are common in the creation of public and outdoor works, highlighting their resourceintensive manufacturing and the permanence
of their breakdown and pollution. Instead, they offer the use of natural materials such as stone, which are low-maintenance and highimpact alternatives. While the use of stone and concrete may seem similar on the surface, their processes of extraction, maintenance, and degradation differ in their impact on the environment.
These practices might seem irrelevant on a larger scale, especially as these same materials, such as concrete, are being manufactured at such a large scale in other fields. But because contemporary art deals with climate change and its critique in much of its content, it is important to practice what we preach. If the methods that create the messages warning of climate change don’t reflect their own beliefs, what is the point of the message at all?
These ideas and methods are already being put into motion. For example, the Art Museum at U of T’s exhibition called Plastic Heart: Surface All the Way Through not only investigates the use of plastic on the macro scale, but also in the context of museum conservation. Displaying both old and new art made of plastic, they challenge what it means to conserve an art object and what its degradation might mean.
The Plastic Heart DIY Fieldguide outlines some of the sustainable practices they employed, such as limiting shipping, using previous constructions, and replacing vinyl labelling with natural ink printed on recycled paper. This critical eye, reflecting on its own creation, allows for a break in practice, reevaluating the carbon footprint of exhibitions and challenging their ability to reduce their impact, contributing to a new standard of sustainability within art curation.
A bigger picture?
These practices can extend beyond the art world, as methods of reusing can apply to the cultural sector as a whole. Art galleries and museums are conductors of education and culture, reflecting the actions and values that dominate society. Therefore, the way in which we approach the curation of a gallery is a reflection of the way that we curate the world we live in.
Dehlia Hannah, an associate professor of Environmental Aesthetics at the University of Copenhagen, muses on the current state of the world that artists find themselves in, in a call for presentations focused on environmental restoration in museums, describing it as “postcolonial landscapes of extraction and recuperation, great plastic garbage patches in the oceans, urban sewage treatment plants, burning forests, and oil palm plantations.”
In a world so ravaged by the effects of climate change, the work in a gallery is no longer confined to the physical space it inhabits; its methods of creation bleed outside of the gallery walls and into the land it takes root on.
Why art?
If you ask 10 people to define art, you will get 10 definitions. If you ask me, an artwork and its display are the reflection of the experience and expression of the artist and their environment. The method in which it is displayed to the public is incredibly deliberate, as art is the sum of the visual and philosophical decisions of its artist.
In this sense, how an exhibition materializes shapes our perspective on waste and frivolity on a larger scale, as these methods of expression become a part of the cultural zeitgeist. Creating sustainable curatorial practices is critical in the creation and engagement of culture and art, slowly shaping the values of society.
SIMONA AGOSTINO/THEVARSITY
Plant-based food options around campus
Exploring plant-based dining choices at all three campuses
Rayn Lakhani, Grace McHugh
Jazmeet Saxena Varsity Contributors
Looking to fuel up with some healthy plantbased meals near your U of T campus? This list compiles a few of the surrounding cafés and restaurants at each campus that specialize in an exclusively to near-exclusively vegan menu.
UTM
Community Resto
Located approximately a 15-minute drive away from campus in Port Credit, Community is a plant-based restaurant that serves a variety of classic homestyle dishes for brunch, lunch, dinner, and beyond. There are also a number of gluten-free and organic dishes, all served for about $23 or less.
Whether you are looking for breakfast, poutine, burgers, salad, or anything in between, Community has crafted a thorough menu with many plant-based alternatives to traditionally non-vegan dishes. There is also an amazing selection of drinks and sweet treats to enjoy!
Nourishmoi
Like Community, Nourishmoi is also located in the beautiful Port Credit neighbourhood, approximately a 15-minute drive away, and has
an extensive menu of plant-based protein items, such as chickpea shawarmas, black bean burgers, and tempeh bake’n. With a menu featuring a diverse range of cuisines, you would be hard-pressed to find something here that you don’t like! Additionally, meals are even more affordably priced, with all mains served for around $20.
Happy Taco
This trendy taco spot in Port Credit is a localfavourite vegan restaurant, as recommended by reviewers on local plant-based eatery guide, Happy Cow.
Serving tacos made with jackfruit and butternut squash cheese, the chain, which also operates near the UTSG campus, offers some delicious Mexican plant-based cuisine.
UTSG
Bunner’s
Bunner’s is a vegan, gluten-free, and nut-free bakery just a short walk south into Kensington Market.
This vegan community favourite offers numerous grab-and-go treats like muffins, whoopie pies, cupcakes, scones, cookies, brownies, and my favourite, their Nanaimo bars. If you are looking for a meal here, they sell prepared meals like pot pie and butternut squash mac and cheese. Just in time for fall, they have a seasonal selection of pumpkinflavoured sweets, so go try that pumpkin spice cinnamon bun!
Pro tip: bring your student ID for a 10 per cent discount!
Alternity
Alternity is just down the street from Woodsworth College, perfect for a quick fix for the health-conscious student. They serve invigorating teas, lattes, coffees, cacao elixirs, and smoothies, all made with plant-based milk. They offer a few vegan and gluten-free meals, such as salads, wraps, and a soup of the day, all for under $15. I highly recommend their cardamom rose tea latte or the 5 Mushrooms cacao elixir.
Their lounge is spacious and inviting, offering a perfect nook to finish a paper in. Bonus: their menu includes notation for organic ingredients!
Saigon Lotus Saigon Lotus boasts a plethora of vegan Vietnamese cuisine at its sit-down restaurant. From their chicken-imitating vegan pho to fried rice to vegan butter chicken, they have a dish
under $20 for everyone! Their menu features a number of Vietnamese drinks, such as their malva nut and basil drink and various-flavoured bubble teas.
They have two locations on both sides of the St. George campus, at Kensington and Yonge, with their Yonge location being just a short stroll from Victoria College. Climate win: their Kensington location offers takeout meals with the option of reusable Suppli containers.
Tenon Vegan Sushi
Tenon Vegan Sushi is just a short stroll down Bloor St, and you’ll find this gem in the Annex area. With nearly all menu items under $20, the restaurant includes Japanese and Thai-style dishes, such as a vegan Soy Chick’n Karaage and a vegan General Tsao Soy Chick’n. The restaurant also offers plenty of sushi rolls, all creatively and deliciously made vegan.
While it is a sit-down restaurant, the service is quick and reliable, perfect for a betweenclass meal.
Almond Butterfly Cafe
Almond Butterfly Cafe is a gluten-free cafe on Harbord just down the street from Robarts Library.
While they mainly specialize in gluten-free items, they also have vegan baked goods, as well as vegan-accommodating drinks and sandwiches. Most sandwiches here contain eggs or meat, but with modifications, the Garden Melt, Avocado Melt, and Cream Cheese Veggie sandwiches can all easily be made vegan. I highly recommend the vegan cupcakes, just be sure to check the ingredients label provided in-shop. They have a small patio, perfect for soaking up some sun while finishing readings.
UTSC
La Prep Right on campus, La Prep is your go-to spot for vegan Asian sesame wraps and a variety of fresh salad bowls for as low as $4.95! Perfect for a quick lunch or a healthy snack between classes, making plant-based eats easy and affordable.
Energy Shack Juice Bar
Only a 10-minute drive from campus, this juice bar is the place for refreshing drinks! Offering cold-pressed juices and vegan smoothies for as low as $14.50.
DelecTable by Zarla Jane
Found inside Malvern Town centre, this quick 12-minute drive from campus can bring you delicious plant-based Filipino dishes. Try the fiesta noodle or rice, or a salad roll with peanut sauce for only $7.50.
These restaurants and cafés are ideal for U of T students at each campus looking for quick plant-based options nearby.
BANAFSHEH CHERAGI/THEVARSITY
Mackenzie Duffy Associate Arts & Culture Editor
Curated climate choices Student responsivity to the urgent threat of the climate crisis
Toronto’s 2025 summer was particularly notable for the heavy smoke that filled the air, which made the typically hot but manageable season especially unbearable.
Along with the temperatures, the risk of overheating and air pollution in the city also rose. While Toronto might have seemed sheltered from the wildfires that have been plaguing western Canada this year, the smoky city skyline proved otherwise. Seeing the fires edging as close as Ontario’s cottage country was frightening for those of us in eastern Canada, who watched the wildfires spread on the news last summer.
Canada is currently facing its second-worst wildfire crisis of all time, only doing better than the 2023 season. Our world’s warming climate has contributed to larger and more destructive fires, and consequently, more smoke-induced health issues, like reduced lung function, asthma, and cardiovascular disease.
Wildfires, their large-scale damage, as well as the personal health impacts they cause, are just some of the many consequences the world is facing as a result of climate change. In the face of clear effects of the changing climate, people around the world are feeling helpless in the face of an incrementally deteriorating global climate. Increasingly, we are compelled to consider who is responsible for climate action.
Eco-anxiety: climate doom
Eco-anxiety, a feeling of distress or worry over
Australia, Brazil, Finland, France, India, Nigeria, the Philippines, Portugal, the UK, and the USA — to participate in a survey. The study found that 60 per cent of the participants were immensely worried about climate change, and 75 per cent were scared for the future. 45 per cent reported that eco-anxiety negatively impacted their daily functioning, including eating, concentrating, sleeping, and attending school.
Urgency is often a major variable in the decision-making process, and how we respond to it can determine whether we find the pressure to act to be a motivating force, driving us to adopt meaningful lifestyle changes; or if it is overwhelming, causing us to disengage from the issue of climate action altogether.
With mounting emphasis on making personal choices to do our part in reversing the climate’s catastrophic course, how are U of T students responding?
Campus climate choices
“I definitely feel a sense of urgency,” Mariam Aboalsoud, a second-year peace, conflict and justice major, wrote to The Varsity. “[T]here’s definitely certain things on my mind that I won’t be able to do or won’t be able to see in the future because of climate change.”
Aboalsoud explains that this sense of urgency can sometimes feel immobilizing, while other times it makes her “want to do things almost faster,” such as travelling while she has the chance, before climate change causes further damage.
Aboalsoud is anxious to visit Egypt, where she
and fisheries — due to factors like its reliance on the Nile River for water, and its large and dense population.
This eagerness to quicken life plans in response to the rapid effects of climate change can overwhelm students, leaving many like Aboalsoud caught between engaging with climate action, and feeling defeated or unmotivated.
To combat feelings of helplessness, some students and faculty have adopted environmentally-conscious lifestyle choices, like reducing waste and pollution, thrifting and recycling clothing, and opting for alternative forms of transport, including walking and public transit.
This shift in attitudes highlights the link between consumer behaviour and personal values, where clothing, shopping habits, and daily routines reflect a desire to live more responsibly. On campus, I’ve noticed these changes reflected in the prevalence of reusable water bottles, and enthusiasm for thrifting and upcycling.
Many youth are going even farther, extending their sustainability choices beyond the clothes on their back to the food in their bellies.
According to a 2023 survey by GlobeScan — a firm that informs and advises organizations on sustainability — Gen Z is experiencing a significant renewed interest in vegetarianism, veganism, and reducing meat intake as an environmental practice. According to the survey, 27 per cent of Gen Z reported that
reported to have health benefits like improving kidney function and decreasing blood sugar. On university campuses, this food-based transition is often reflected in the popularity of plant-based dining options, student-led initiatives promoting “meatless” meals, and the overarching social media discourse — often led by students — around sustainable eating. Currently, plant-based options are available at dining halls in UTM and UTSG.
Aboalsoud attested to this. “I actively think about consumption and food waste — I hate throwing food out. Also, I’m very aware of how much meat I’m buying; I don’t need to be eating five different types of meat.”
For many young people, food choices have breached the political sphere, acting as a statement of climate-conscious values. By integrating sustainability into something as intimate as their daily diet, young people demonstrate a willingness to embrace change in ways that affect both their individual health and the broader wellbeing of the environment.
Sending global warming away by subway?
Commuting plays a major role in student life at U of T, especially at UTSG, which is located in the public transit-centric hub of downtown Toronto. In turn, many UTSG students utilize options like the subway, streetcars, and buses. “[E]ver since I [began] living in Toronto… I just [take the] TTC or walk everywhere,” Aboalsoud concurred.
While students may choose these
walkability, and makes moving around the city more accessible.
While commuting is evidently an integral aspect of living and studying in Toronto, there might be a hidden climate cost to this seemingly climate-friendly mode of transportation.
Second-year commuter and history specialist Svetlana Sobolevskaia wrote to The Varsity that while she often prepares food for the day at home, “it can be pretty difficult when it comes to places like cafés or when eating out,” to reduce her use of plastic. However, buying food on the go is sometimes inevitable for commuters. Their early wakeups, long travel times, and far distances eat into the time they have to plan and make meals for their long study days.
Sobolevskaia’s experience interestingly contrasts the fact that the availability of singleuse plastic is decreasing. This supports the idea that for commuters, who often eat on the go, it’s harder to make climate-conscious eating choices.
Hotter takes
One of the more ‘controversial’ choices some young people are making to be more environmentally conscious is to go childfree. Unlike ‘personal’ lifestyle changes, like thrifting and reducing food waste, this choice elicits heavy debate about issues like individual autonomy versus collective survival and the ethics of reproduction in a warming world.
A 2022 Statistics Canada report showed that over a third of Canadians aged 15–49
While this report illustrates that financial stability compels many young people to go child-free, finances are often coupled with climate fears in Gen Z’s reasoning for not wanting children.
While critics worry about the implications of a population decline on the labour force and the economy, advocates argue that going childfree significantly reduces one’s own carbon footprint and prevents subjecting more people to exponentially worsening climate conditions, like extreme food scarcity and mass uninhabitability.
When asked, Aboalsoud said that family planning wasn’t something she’d really thought about, while Sobolevskaia wrote that although she “understands the need to continue having children,” she doesn’t think that having kids is a climate-friendly option.
Alternatively, Immy Okeefe, a second-year humanities student, wrote to The Varsity that she “personally would not take such drastic steps as not having a child.” The fact that, from only interviewing three people, I was able to get three different views on wanting children in this climate, shows how nuanced debates about this subject are.
Urban infrastructure changes, like pedestrianization projects and car bans, also tend to stir debates. Supporters of these initiatives argue that redesigning streets to prioritize pedestrians, cyclists, and public transit can reduce traffic congestion and emissions, improve air quality, and create safer, more livable cities.
Critics, on the other hand, raise issues of accessibility, economic impact on
sidewalks and more benches, or increasing bike lanes, illustrate the division between carcentric road designs and a more sustainable, people-centric city.
Sobolevskaia weighed in on the issue, and supports “creating walkable [cities] to reduce reliance on cars.” She points out that such city planning has already proven "effective in reducing CO2 emissions” in European cities. For example, in Vienna, 44 per cent of people choose to walk as their main mode of transportation; or the CityWalk project, with the goal of increasing walkability across 10 major European countries.
Grassroots or C-Suite, students are stepping up
While the smoke of the environmental crisis is on the horizon, U of T students are curating their daily lives with a consciousness and care that previous generations may not have found necessary. For us, the climate crisis has been a much bigger threat not only to our livelihoods, but to the future generations that some of us want to produce.
But is the fate of the world really in the hands of the people? Or should it rest as a responsibility of major corporations? What about government leaders? Who really has the power and resources to reverse our current climate trajectory?
“Even though I may not see the effects that my small actions have, I believe I’m doing something positive,” wrote
Sobolevskaia. “But for there to be an effective solution in mitigating climate change, I believe that there needs to be a systemic and institutional change, and I think that starts with the people electing individuals who believe in the effects that climate change is having.”
Debates about ‘who’ is responsible for climate action are commonplace within climate change discourse. Blame-shifting, accountability, and public image are just a few factors that influence whether people want to claim responsibility for changing the current climate course.
“I do think that systematic and institutional changes [are] necessary to fix this problem,” Aboalsoud wrote. “But I do believe that [at] an individual level, if you don’t care, you will never make it to the systematic and institutional level, so you have to care.”
Whether or not we will all finally come to an agreement about whose responsibility it is to create and follow through on climate solutions, students and youth are making curated choices in their lives, seeing themselves as the starting point to a safer future.
While these curated choices may not solve every climate issue alone, they’re emblematic not only of a growing awareness of climate change, but also of a careful, conscious decision to take actionable steps in our personal lives to help mitigate the climate crisis.
For U of T students, youth in Toronto, and many others around the world, these everyday eco-friendly acts become both survival strategies and symbolic gestures, evidence that even in a time of
Business & Labour
October 7, 2025
thevarsity.ca/category/business
biz@thevarsity.ca
Climate
change on credit Whether short-term relief is worth the long-term cost
Mia Torres
Associate Features Editor
At a Toronto café, a carton of oat milk — a more sustainable choice — consistently costs more than regular dairy. At the gas station, drivers felt brief relief in April when the federal carbon tax was removed, shaving a few cents off each litre. While the rollback may have made driving slightly cheaper, the environmental costs are very clear. If this is what we call affordability, it comes with a catch: the bill arrives later — and this time, it’s paid by our environment.
The carbon tax removal
On April 1, Canada removed its federal carbon tax, which had raised the price of gasoline and other carbon-based goods. While it was in place, the revenue was returned to provinces and territories through the Canada Carbon Rebate, with residents receiving direct proceeds from the federal fuel charge.
Since its removal, Canadians have felt small but immediate relief. Gas prices dropped, household bills eased, and even an extra iced coffee no longer felt like a reckless financial decision.
The policy shift contributed to a decline in inflation. Statistics Canada reported that in April 2025, headline inflation fell to 1.7 per cent from 2.3 per cent in March, largely due to lower energy prices. Gas prices dropped by 18.1 per cent, while natural gas fell by 14.1 per cent.
But experts warn the comfort may be temporary. Carbon pricing is designed not to punish consumers but to make pollution more costly. “Carbon pricing is efficient and cost
effective because it allows businesses and households to decide for themselves how to reduce pollution- and will often save money in the process,” the Government of Canada explained.
The government projected that carbon pricing would cut 80 million–90 million tonnes of emissions by 2022 compared to a nocarbon-pricing situation. By contrast, recent analysis by the Canadian Climate Institute shows that removing the tax from all provinces except British Columbia and Québec would raise national emissions by about 13.5 megatonnes by 2030. The institute further projects that Canada is not on track to meet its 2030 emissions target, with this increase accounting for 23 per cent of the surplus of emissions.
Beyond the environmental costs, carbon rebate payments would also end — eliminating a source of income for many households. What seemed like a short-term gain in affordability may in fact erode household finances while driving up the long-term cost of climate action.
The EV mandate delay
This year, carbon taxes were not the only climate incentive put on hold. The federal government also paused the electric vehicle (EV) mandate, waiving the requirement for 2026 models. The mandate required automakers to ensure that a growing share of their sales were zero-emission vehicles, with the target rising until all new vehicles sold are electric by 2035.
The short-term benefit is lower costs. Electric vehicles remain more expensive than gas-powered cars, and owners currently pay about 36 per cent more to insure them.
But the suspension comes at a steep environmental price. Gas vehicles are a major source of pollution, accounting for 21 per cent of Canada’s nitrogen oxide emissions and about 50 per cent of volatile organic compound emissions — both of which significantly harm air quality.
According to the federal government, these emissions have “major adverse impacts on the environment and health of Canada.” Vehicle combustion also produces pollutants that drive smog and acid rain.
Delaying the transition away from fossil fuels in major sectors like oil and gas creates long-term costs. By removing the EV, Canada risks falling further behind on its climate goals. To meet its 2030 climate target, the country would need to cut 40 megatonnes of carbon emissions every year from now until the end of the decade.
Everyday “green” costs
The tradeoff between affordability and the climate isn’t just visible in government regulations — it’s also seen in the supermarket. Statistics Canada shows that plant-based beverages like oat or soy milk have been about 15 per cent cheaper than dairy milk, yet consumers face surcharges of $0.50–$0.80 for these alternatives at cafés — a practice that made millions of dollars in revenue.
High price tags associated with green options usually arise from hidden costs for food preparation, biodegradable containers, and more. Grocery stores like Whole Foods price their items at a premium, with many of their products being organic produce and plant-based proteins.
Alternatively, Costco fills the fridge without emptying the bank account. The trade-off, however, is that options at Costco come with more plastic packaging and an overall higher environmental footprint.
Looking at the bigger climate picture
Expensive grocery bills and car prices might serve as a shock that captures our immediate attention, but the hidden costs that our climate endures slowly creep up on us. Not to mention, these costs are far worse.
In recent years, Canada has faced headlines dominated by wildfires, floods, and extreme heat waves. By August alone, more than 7.3 million hectares of forest had burned — over twice the 10-year average for that time of year. Experts warn that this may be the new normal.
The health tolls of our warming climate are also at an all-time high. Extreme heat events, like the 2021 BC heat dome, are prime examples of this. Climate change also affects mental health, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund, contributing to feelings like grief and eco-anxiety. Each of these disasters leaves a long financial trail with billions of dollars in federal relief spending, calling into question whether avoiding ‘green’ spending is really more affordable. Between 2011–2024, the insured severe-weather losses all over Canada have constantly reached billions of dollars, peaking at $8.55 billion in 2024. These high costs show just how climate change is continuously straining affordability, disaster relief systems, and the broader economy.
A holistic approach is currently needed to slow down warming, and integrating affordability into climate policy is more reasonable than treating the two as opposing forces.
Elini Sothy Varsity Contributor
The hidden costs of artificial intelligence An exploration
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has dominated headlines recently. From OpenAI supposedly creating a “PhD-level” model with ChatGPT-5 to the debut of AI actors, it seems like this technology is everywhere.
Companies are increasingly investing in AI to improve their products and services — firms invested $33.9 billion on generative AI alone in 2024, which was 18.7 per cent more than in 2023. It has become a necessity for a business to invest in AI to remain competitive in this new market.
However, there is a negative side to this technology. From increased energy usage to large amounts of toxic waste, its negative impact on the environment is very evident. Whether through failure or success, businesses need to learn how AI affects not just them, but the world.
AI’s energy impacts
The development of AI requires large amounts of memory storage and energy due to its data-intensive nature. “AI data centers need constant power, 24/7, 365 days a year,” Rahul Mewawalla, the CEO of Mawson Infrastructure Group, mentions in an article published on the MIT Technology Review website.
Electricity usage is increasing significantly — in 2020, computers consumed an estimated four
of
AI’s negative impacts on the environment
to six per cent of the global electricity supply, and this number is expected to increase to between eight and 21 per cent by 2030 due to AI.
Not only does high electricity usage affect companies’ energy costs, but it also impacts the environment. Renewable sources won’t be able to support 24-hour AI data centers because solar and wind power are often intermittent. This results in a larger reliance on non-renewable sources, leaving a larger carbon footprint.
Between 2017–2020, the energy and carbon emissions related to data centers doubled. Top tech companies have been reporting increasing emissions in their sustainability reports due to their AI data centers — in fact, Google, a company that used to maintain carbonneutral operations, is no longer able to offset its emissions with activities like tree-planing because of the surge in pollution arising from AI investments. Additionally, businesses such as Amazon and Meta are building more facilities to
develop AI models. As the number of facilities increases, so do carbon emissions.
AI’s material impact
AI data centers not only require electricity to function, but they also require water. To absorb the heat from equipment, chilled water is used to cool data centers. For each kilowatt hour that a data center consumes, it would need two litres of water for cooling. This water is taken from rivers, lakes, and groundwater to produce cooling systems for AI.
Due to limited water recycling, water supplies can be polluted by use in data centres. Google’s 2025 Environmental Report shows that its overall water consumption increased by 28 per cent between 2023–2024. If companies do not address the extreme use of water, there is a chance of social conflicts related to freshwater resources emerging, as water stores for humans are already scarce.
associated with GPUs, which power AI models. Moreover, old chips and equipment are being discarded, increasing the toxic waste produced.
Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Israel’s Reichman University have estimated that globally, AI will increase the amount of electronic waste produced by 3–12 per cent by 2030.
Strategies for sustainability Companies need to focus on ethical frameworks that could be implemented in their strategies and sustainable goals to account for the negative environmental impact of AI. They should also create policies to ensure that AI will be used responsibly.
Kazim Abro
Varsity Contributor
In the fight for climate justice, U of T has aimed to become a leader by example, notably with its longawaited decision to fully divest from fossil fuels by 2030. However, I believe that U of T’s actions reveal a tactic of selective ignorance by the university to appease those higher up in the corporate and governance ladder — leaving us to wonder who this justice is for.
On September 20, “Draw The Line” protestors marched through Toronto demanding the prioritization of climate justice hand-in-hand with Palestinian liberation, Indigenous sovereignty and economic accountability. High-profile climate activist Greta Thunberg echoed these sentiments by joining a flotilla that set sail to Gaza from Spain, attempting to break the aid blockade in Gaza, referring to the effort as a natural extension of the climate justice movement.
By extending the branch of the intersectional struggle of climate justice, where exactly does U of T’s ethos lie?
Performative justice
To truly understand how U of T’s fossil fuel divestment constitutes selective activism — a form of activism in which choosing to focus solely on one issue and ignoring other, often intersecting, forms of oppression — we must revisit what climate justice actually means. It isn’t just about reducing carbon emissions — it is the fundamental idea of fighting against systemic inequalities that make certain communities more vulnerable to environmental destruction than others. These communities include Indigenous, racialized, and colonized peoples.
U of T’s Just and Inclusive Energy Transition framework recognizes the obligation to promote human rights and local communities who are disproportionately impacted by the effects of
October 7, 2025 thevarsity.ca/cateogory/opinion opinion@thevarsity.ca
climate change. Yet U of T’s actions contradict these principles when it refuses to divest from weapons manufacturers. A May 2024 report by the student activist group Occupy For Palestine (O4P) shows that U of T’s investments in weapons manufacturing have had direct ties to instigating violence against Indigenous communities and Palestinians.
The university’s $3.6 billion endowment fund is commendably fossil-free, yet still includes investments in Lockheed Martin, Boeing and other weapons manufacturers. The O4P encampment last year had one central demand before being evicted from King’s College Circle: divest from arms manufacturers who remain complicit in the assault on civilians in Gaza.
The university simply cannot sincerely claim to be active in the climate justice movement while investing in the violence that fuels environmental degradation in Indigenous and occupied lands.
Intersectional struggles
According to the September 2025 report from the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP), the situation in Gaza has led to a “human catastrophe.” It was perpetuated by forced displacement, water contamination, and a critical destruction of the marine ecosystems that have contaminated the food chain and led to a poisonous fish supply. This destruction is not a separate issue from the climate crisis because of the nature of the assault on ecological systems and human survival. The environmental crisis that is happening in Palestine is manmade.
Indigenous communities across Canada also face militarized police violence for defending their land against fossil fuel development. The RCMP has conducted 77 arrests of Wet’suwet’en land defenders and allies over the course of four police raids at the Coastal GasLink protest sites since 2020. Coastal GasLink is a natural gas pipeline that has been issued over 50 warnings for
AI is also a large source of toxic waste. Mining procedures that pollute and the use of toxic chemicals are often
Though Canada and the US have not created any laws, policies, or legislation to limit the environmental impacts of AI, Europe recently introduced the European Union’s Act, which contains regulations for companies to follow when developing or using AI technologies. In fact, this plan states that EU countries must develop AI codes of conduct that mandate environmentally responsible use of this technology.
AI is leaving behind a carbon footprint that will continue to increase in size as it becomes more common. Companies wanting to invest in AI must weigh out both the financial return and the environmental impact of this technology before committing to long-term changes.
environmental violations by the British Columbia Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change. are witnessing two large-scale ecological collapses in history. U of T’s divestment from fossil fuels, but not from militarization and settler colonial projects, shows its choice to attribute greater moral significance to one form of destruction over another, an equally serious issue. However, climate change cannot be tackled in isolation from imperialism and settler colonialism.
Fossil fuel divestment as a marketing strategy, not a moral stand It is necessary to keep in mind that U of T’s commitment to divesting from fossil fuels in 2021 came after nine years of student-led divestment campaigns from the UofT350 — a student-led climate justice group.
UofT350 pushed for this change despite significant resistance from the administration. Back in 2016, then-President Gertler rejected his ad-hoc committee’s recommendation to divest and instead stated he would take a “series of actions on environment and sustainability.”
When the divestment was finally announced, President Gertler described it as “bold actions that have both substantive and symbolic impact.” What he failed to acknowledge was that it was also the bare minimum in a rapidly changing moral landscape that now awarded institutions for their climate consciousness.
The announcement coincided with similar moves from Harvard University and the University of California. Within this climate of increasing public pressure to make ethical financial decisions, I believe that U of T’s decision was a marketing maneuver to remain competitive in global academic rankings that weigh sustainability.
The university’s unwillingness to divest from weapons manufacturers undermines its moral stance. The May 2024 O4P report revealed that U of T holds investments in companies such as Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, both of which supply arms used in conflict zones in Palestine.
If the administration is a true institutional advocate of justice and sustainability, it must reevaluate all its investments that have indirectly incited aggressive action.
Towards intersectional sustainability
Intersectionality should not become a buzzword. It is a term used to articulate how multiple forms of oppression intersect and compound one another. Climate change, racism, militarization, and colonialism do not operate in silos and neither should our activism.
I believe that if U of T wants to be a genuine leader in sustainability, it must fully divest from weapons manufacturers that are complicit in human rights violations. It must lend its voice to Indigenous land defenders and implement steps towards reparative justice. Lastly, it must recognize and preserve basic human rights as part of the global climate justice movement. The fight for a livable planet must include the struggle against imperialism and militarized violence. From Wet’suwet’en lands to Gaza’s razed olive groves, the future of sustainability rests on the shoulders of our activism and the voices we choose to uplift.
U of T must put a halt to drawing arbitrary moral lines and commit to a future that is green and just.
Kazim Abro is a fourth-year undergraduate student double-majoring in New Media and Media and Communication — Journalism Stream at the University of Toronto Scarborough.
AVA AUBRY/THEVARSITY
America’s dive into deep sea mining
One of Trump’s April escapades threatened the rules governing deep-sea mining
Elizabeth Coffin-MacDougall Varsity Contributor
On April 24, Donald Trump signed an executive order to expedite the development of offshore mining of polymetallic nodules. The nodules in question are small, apple-sized metal balls that form on the bottom of the ocean floor, primarily containing metals like copper, cobalt, and iron. All of these metals are critical for sustainable tech.
I believe that his decision wasn’t just about metal extraction, but about power, and was a blatant disregard for international laws.
Polymetallic nodules are highly concentrated in the Clarion Clipperton Zone (CCZ), far off the west coast of Mexico in international waters. This zone, which is roughly 1.7 million square miles large, holds an estimated 18 trillion dollars worth of metals.
But here’s the catch –– these resources do not belong directly to any state, but are governed by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Therefore, I believe that Trump’s orders sent a clear message: the US does not feel the need to follow the rules everyone else has agreed to follow. That is exactly why I find Trump’s decision so dangerous.
Some may argue that because the CCZ belongs to no nation, the US has every right to stake a claim. I disagree. The fact that this area belongs to no single entity makes managing it collectively, as outlined in the UNCLOS international law, so important. To have one country decide it can operate unilaterally places global cooperation and the ecosystems that live in the CCZ at risk.
I believe US actions will pressure those who have been working in the area for years to develop offshore mining before an official decision has been reached by the International Seabed Authority (ISA), regarding permission to use resources in international waters.
The ISA was created under UNCLOS and is driven by the mission to organize and control seabed activities in international waters to ensure they benefit humankind. Therefore, nations and companies that have been –– not so –– patiently waiting for ISA guidance may now feel the need to move faster, and even violate ISA regulations in order to remain in the competition for resources.
16 government-backed corporations have already invested time researching and investing in the area. Yet not a single nodule has been harvested in international waters. This is a result of two factors. Firstly,
environmental concerns: since this is a part of the ocean that has been scarcely explored, scientists do not fully understand the consequences of disrupting it.
Secondly, legality: these companies are waiting for the ISA to finalize regulations on how seabed resources can be harvested and who profits from them. No decision has been released as to how countries can use the CCZ. Despite this, Trump has ordered US companies to proceed.
The most notable of these companies is The Metals Company (TMC), which is based in Vancouver. While Canada has taken a cautious approach to deep-sea mining, TMC has taken full advantage of Trump’s position. The company has already submitted an application to the US government under a US subsidiary of its company to mine the CCZ. In doing so, they are undermining both international laws and cooperation as well as Canada’s position in the matter.
I’m not denying the reality that we need more metals to meet global needs. Our landbased mines cannot keep up with the current demands, and the environmental toll of expanding them is significant. I can understand the appeal of deep-sea mining; it is out of sight, and some research suggests it may be less
destructive than land mining. However, I do not believe this justifies rushing ahead without any safeguards.
For me, the question is not whether we mine the seabed, but how we do it and, perhaps more importantly, who decides. I believe that global cooperation, scientific oversight, and clear, adhered-to regulations must come before profit. Without these, we risk triggering irreversible ecological damage and global distrust.
I am looking at what is unfolding in the CCZ with unease. The decision made will shape not only how we treat the deep sea, but also how we share resources globally in the decades to come.
We are watching the race to the bottom, both literally and figuratively. I believe that how the US and other companies, like TMC, choose to mine the deep sea as either rogue or lawful actors will aid in setting the global tone towards the environment and international law for the next four years and beyond.
If we get this wrong, the damage will not be confined to the ocean floor, it will ripple across the world.
Elizabeth Coffin-MacDougall is a secondyear student studying political science and contemporary Asian studies.
October 7, 2025
thevarsity.ca/category/science science@thevarsity.ca
Between a rock and a hard place
The state of women in geoscience
“If you meet a stone wall you don’t pit yourself against it, you go around it and find a weakness.” — Alice Wilson, on the discrimination of women in the field of geology.
When the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) — a national organization responsible for the dissemination of geoscientific information and research within Canada — was first established in 1842, it was composed entirely of men. Seven decades later, in 1938, Alice Evelyn Wilson joined the GSC and became Canada’s first woman geologist and paleontologist.
The brave steps Wilson took carved the way for future women geologists to come, such as Jenna McKenzie, geophysicist and co-founder of Ronacher McKenzie Geoscience, and Natalie Chu, geologist at Orix Geoscience Inc. However, the gender gap still exists, exposing fundamental education and societal inequalities that shape the experience of many women in the field today.
The first woman geologist Wilson began her undergraduate career at U of T in 1901, studying languages and history in preparation for pursuing a career as a teacher — one of the few professions considered suitable for women at the time. Throughout her studies, Wilson became ill with anemia, forcing her to take a leave.
Wilson’s interest in geology was sparked long before university, during the many summers outdoors with her family, exploring rocks and invertebrate fossils. After recovering from anemia, she pursued that interest and held various small positions in institutions related to that interest. She completed her degree in 1911 and secured a permanent position at the GSC.
After working for the GSC for four years, Wilson wished to further her education and pursue a PhD in geology. At the time, the GSC regularly granted paid leave to their employees who were men so that they could further their education, but Wilson’s requests were continuously denied.
Eventually, in 1926, the Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) intervened and granted Wilson a scholarship to complete her PhD. Even then, the GSC refused to allow Wilson a leave of academic absence while she studied. The CFUW fought for Wilson’s right to education, and in 1929, at the age of 49, Wilson completed her PhD on the geology and paleontology of Cornwall, Ontario, from the University of Chicago.
After graduating, she continued working at the GSC as an assistant geologist. Since the term geologist was deemed a higher-ranking position reserved for men, the fight for equal rights was not over yet for Wilson.
Until 1970, the GSC barred women from all fieldwork. Wilson, however, convinced them to allow her to investigate the Ottawa–St. Lawrence Valley rock layers and invertebrate fossils by foot or by bike, as opposed to by car, which was a resource provided only to her coworkers who were men.
In 1940, Wilson was finally deemed a geologist, only six years before her retirement in 1946, when her work, Geology of the St. Lawrence Lowlands, Ontario and Quebec, was published. This 80-page paper covered rock beds, drinkable water, economic geology, and the tectonic plates that make up the region. This behemoth of a publication was based on Wilson’s own fieldwork from 1925–1941.
Not only was it the most comprehensive publication about the St. Lawrence Lowlands at the time, but it was the first to relate the
land’s features and resources with its Paleozoic geology, which comprises some of the earliest forms of primitive life. Wilson not only advanced the knowledge of the geology of the Ottawa–St. Lawrence Valley, but also broke down barriers for women in the field. By challenging the institutional restrictions that marked her career, she became a role model and trailblazer, paving the way for future generations of women in geology.
Women-led geology organizations
The barriers Wilson faced in the geology industry, dominated by men in the 1900s, persist today. Women in geology are still trying to push against the gendered expectations and systemic bias that torments the industry. Among them is Canadian geophysicist Jenna McKenzie.
McKenzie earned her Bachelor of Science in Physics with a Specialist in Geophysics in 2002 from U of T. After working in the field for many years, McKenzie observed that most geological consulting companies in Canada were run by men. Seeing this, McKenzie and her colleague and friend, Elizabeth Ronacher, started their own geological and geophysical consulting company, Ronacher McKenzie Geoscience. When asked about her experience starting this company, in an interview with The Varsity, McKenzie says it was “novel to people because there’s only a few handful of women-owned companies.” McKenzie further explained that there’s “a bit of an old boy’s club [in the geology industry.]” Many clients ignored Ronacher’s and McKenzie’s pitches not only because they were women, but because clients always had “this guy” they used for decades. This led McKenzie and Ronacher to always be “competing against somebody’s buddy.”
In 2018, Ronacher McKenzie Geoscience won a $100,000 grant from the government of Canada for the Women’s Entrepreneurship Fund, a fund given to women entrepreneurs all across Canada. McKenzie details that this fund was a “big booster” for their company as it was primarily used for increasing their marketing, hiring new employees, and increasing strategic review, all of which helped gain new clients.
In addition to starting her own geological and geophysical consulting company, McKenzie is a co-founder of Women Geoscientists in Canada (WGC) — an organization whose goal is to provide women with the support needed to pursue successful careers in geoscience.
The idea of starting this non-profit organization occurred to McKenzie in 2017, while attending the Geology and Mining Conference Exploration ‘17. Sitting in a crowd of over 200 people, McKenzie noticed that there was not a single woman speaker at the entire conference.
Suddenly, a woman in the audience stood up in front of all the men speakers and stated exactly what McKenzie was feeling: “I don’t feel represented.” McKenzie describes this moment as the catalyst for founding Women Geoscientists in Canada (WGC), which “advocates for increased gender balance” within geoscience fields all over the world.
The hard work continues Natalie Chu graduated from U of T with a master’s thesis in syenites — a type of igneous rock — and currently works as a geologist. During her studies, she had applied to a summer field mapping program with a professor, but was rejected. When she asked why, the professor’s initial response was “because [she] was a female… and the position is pretty physically demanding and therefore he doesn’t think [she would be] up for it.”
Chu went on to explain that the professor
“heard himself say that and so felt a bit bad and then added that the candidate he chose actually has field experience.” At the time, Chu had no prior field experience and so accepted this reason; however, that first comment stayed with her. She thought that “the fact that the female comment was said before the field experience comment was interesting.”
After this early setback, she was accepted to do research at the Royal Ontario Museum in the mineralogy department under Dr. Kimberly Tait, the mineralogy curator of the museum and a professor at U of T. As Chu pursued her master’s, Tait connected Chu to the cofounder of a geological consulting company called Orix Geoscience Incorporated, where Chu has been working ever since graduating from U of T in 2012.
Gender-based barriers in academia
A statement made by the Geological Society of America in 2023, Removing Gender Barriers to Career Progression in the Geosciences, revealed that the “geosciences are the least diverse of any of the STEM fields” and that only one-third of geoscientists are women.
Additionally, a paper published in 2021 by researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, revealed a downward trend of women staying in the geosciences as tenuretrack faculty at universities throughout the United States. The study showed that while overall recruitment of women faculty has increased, there are still only a few women in higher-ranked positions of expertise.
There is a deep-rooted prejudice set within the hierarchical culture that allows sexism and bias within academia to persist. Fewer women geoscience professors means fewer role models to encourage women to pursue the field.
In Canada, there is limited research on the number of women academic faculty members in the geosciences at Canadian universities. There is also a lack of data on the number of women-owned and men-owned geological consulting companies within Canada. The limited studies on the role of women in geosciences academia and industry highlight an ignorance of the gender gap within this field.
Another potential reason for the lack of women professors could be explained by the disproportionate familial responsibilities they often have in comparison to men. According to the Geological Society of America, this is especially true when it comes to workplaces that “[lack] family-friendly policies and flexible career paths for women.”
McKenzie’s WGC wants to remove these injustices and ensure women stay in the geosciences by ensuring that conferences are diversifying their members and speakers, inspecting and reconstructing policies that perpetuate bias, and supporting initiatives such as pre- and post-paternal leave.
As systemic barriers are continuously challenged by women like Wilson and McKenzie, the number of women who will be able to become a part of the geosciences increases. However, just as Wilson was encouraged to complete her schooling because of the CFUW, Ronacher McKenzie Geoscience received the Women Entrepreneurship Fund, and Chu was connected to her first job with help from her supervisor.
Progress requires coordination with institutions and other colleagues. Members of the geosciences must acknowledge the obstacles in the way of progress and listen to the stories of women who have come face-to-face with and overcome these barriers. Only then will equal opportunities at all stages of geoscience careers be achieved.
Alison Hnatiuk Varsity Contributor
MEHAR FATIMA/THEVARSITY
The amazing trees on campus
The ways in which these green super-friends make our lives easier, and how we can return the favour
Matthew Bain Varsity Contributor
Despite the fact that they are on practically every street on campus, trees are often forgotten about as vital parts of urban ecosystems. More than just tall plants, the myriad of important functions trees perform are central to a healthy, sustainable city. The dense university foliage planted across the St. George campus helps students and faculty alike.
Our green friends on campus
Many of us don’t even realize the benefits we are reaping from nearby trees. “[It’s] something that typically most people don't think about,” said Danijela Puric-Mladenovic, an Associate Professor of Forestry at U of T, in an interview with The Varsity.
We can often fail to actively consider the origins of something as simple as shade, even if we ‘know’ where it’s coming from. When we walk through Queen’s Park or sit under the canopy surrounding King’s Circle, we might understand that trees are covering us, or walk on the shaded side of the street, but sometimes we forget that there is a living thing providing that shade.
Beyond shade, trees also soften what can otherwise be a harsh landscape of concrete. Puric-Mladenovic, a researcher in urban modelling, conservation and restoration, emphasizes the importance of considering different types of trees for their aesthetic and seasonal contributions. While we might enjoy the greens, reds and yellows during spring, summer and fall, it is also important to make use of evergreen or coniferous species,
such as fir and pine, which add some muchneeded colour during the frigid winter months.
In an email to The Varsity, Hannah Ezwawi, Chair of the Forestry Graduate Students Association (FGSA), added that trees also have a subconscious value, often helping us feel more grounded or connected to nature. In fact, time in nature has been linked with improved mental health and even cognition.
In the same vein, decompressing in public parks can help manage one’s blood pressure, and emerging research also shows that those who live near trees may tend to live lives that are healthier and happier. While not a magical cure-all, during the stressful life of a university student, the trees’ aid can nonetheless be invaluable.
Additionally, trees, of course, serve important environmental functions. In cities, steel buildings tend to absorb heat during the day, then release it at night, keeping temperatures high. Trees counter this effect and help reduce this emission of heat energy by up to 25 per cent, cooling streets and houses during the summer months.
All in all, trees contribute to an amazing number of things! They help our bodies, our minds and our communities, despite us not always realizing it. Even so, they often can use our help to survive within urban jungles, so that they’re able to thrive as well.
Difficulties facing trees in cities
Despite their resilience and importance in urban environments, many trees are at risk within cities. According to Puric-Mladenovic, the use of weed-
killers and de-icing agents often throws off the soil’s pH. This can lead to abnormal growth cycles, prevent the uptake of vital nutrients, and, in some cases, cause the roots themselves to die off.
Puric-Mladenovic stresses the importance of caring for young trees properly — for example, adding mulch when planted. Foot traffic around trees also compacts the soil, causing it to be less aerated. This soil denseness limits the movement of oxygen and water through the soil and makes it harder for roots to grow and spread. As a result, nutrient absorption becomes difficult, and the growth of beneficial bacteria involved in nutrient production may be inhibited.
Furthermore, it’s often forgotten just how deep roots can stretch underground, resulting in a vast network that doesn’t always have room to expand in the dense city fields. Puric-Mladenovic highlights lawnmowing as one of the most common risks to these roots, scarring both them and the portions of trunk close to the ground.
Ezwawi, on the other hand, offers a principle from urban development: “the right tree for the right place.” Knowing what trees flourish where — and prioritizing native varieties — helps ensure tree survival in the difficult urban environments.
) I W M K R M R K û V I E V G L M X I G X Y V I
Surviving fires requires better buildings and equitable protection
Maria Ehsan
Varsity Contributor
Much of today’s global policies and societal viewpoints on the worsening environmental crisis are plagued by a desensitized indifference. We’ve been hearing how the world is getting hotter, with every year breaking some sort of environmental disaster record, making the crisis seem like a normal part of life. This summer, one of the worsening, everyday crises that swept through Canada was prolonged, aggressive wildfires.
Globally, hotter and prolonged wildfires are the latest testaments to a crumbling climate. In 2025, Canada experienced 1,586 fires engulfing more than 1 million hectares — double the area burned by the same time last year. Some blazes were so massive that their smoke crossed the Atlantic Ocean, darkening skies as far away as Europe.
But these fires are not isolated catastrophes. They signal something deeper: our climate, our ecosystems, and our infrastructures are dangerously out of sync.
In an interview with The Varsity, Associate Professor Tanzina Mohsin, a climatologist at UTSC’s Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences, mentioned that we’re witnessing the atmospheric cost of climate inaction as it reshapes our natural systems into ones that are fire-prone. This includes increasing heat, drier air, and stronger winds.
Prevention remains the long-term key against wildfires. Still, preventative strategies must be matched with protection against the inevitable wildfires because smoke doesn’t just rise and fall. It settles in our lungs, schools, homes, and hospitals.
Protecting the air we breathe
That’s where engineers like Professor Jeffery Siegel come in. As a professor of civil and mineral engineering, his research focuses on protecting indoor air quality — an increasingly urgent priority as outdoor conditions deteriorate under the
So where does this leaf us?
The St. George campus alone is home to over 100 species of trees, with many being over 150 years old — almost as ancient as the university itself. Some are cultivars, trees which have been selectively bred for a unique trait like their leaves or flowers. Puric-Mladenovic highlights the ornamental cherries and crab apples at King’s College Circle as examples.
At the end of the day, trees quietly enrich campus life. Puric-Mladenovic says her favourites are the Indian elm and the white oaks on and around campus, while Ezwawi prefers the black oak.
If you’re looking to relax between study sessions, you can always explore the area to find what your own favourite trees are. The forestry building at 33 Willcocks is a great place to start, with an open courtyard that boasts several trees to enjoy. While you might not need to know the complicated science behind plants, it’s easy to see how many ways we rely on them in our day-to-day lives. For a campus in the middle of a forest of concrete and steel, having some wood and leaves tends to be good for the palate.
strain of recurring wildfires. His work emphasizes implementing healthier and more sustainable buildings by improving ventilation and filtration systems — which can limit particulate matter concentrations indoors during wildfires.
In an interview with The Varsity, Siegel explained that wildfire smoke can enter in three main ways: through open doors and windows, leaks in buildings — especially in older and poorly sealed homes, and by mechanical ventilation, which pulls outside air inside.
The solution, Siegel says, is to “build tight, ventilate right,” when designing our indoor environments. This means minimizing leaking points and filtering effectively — which is especially crucial during wildfires when outdoor air carries tiny particulate matter that can damage our lungs.
For homes without proper ventilation or airtightness, reliance on air filters can reduce exposure to harmful particles. Siegel explained
that the efficiency of filters is measured on the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values (MERV) scale, where higher ratings indicate better filtration of finer, more harmful particles — with filters of MERV 13–15 recommended during wildfires.
Who gets to breathe clean air?
Access to efficient filters is not universal. Siegel suggests do-it-yourself options, like attaching filters to a box fan, can help — provided people know how and when to use them.
Beyond the individual level, he stresses that public planning for wildfires — including fire prevention strategies and building design — needs to catch up. Since regulating people’s indoor spaces is near impossible, investing in community-wide education is essential to reducing exposure.
Siegel also spoke on health equity and how wildfire architecture projects need to include
“people who work outside or are underhoused.” Underprivileged and marginalized groups — like unhoused individuals, outdoor workers, and some Indigenous communities — are disproportionately exposed to the aftermath of wildfire smoke and can often be overlooked in air quality planning.
He also acknowledges that while wholebuilding fixations may be tougher to attain, focusing on ventilating and filtering congregate spaces is a more flexible solution. As an example, he stated that “Maybe you’ve got a very old school where it’s very hard to protect all the classrooms, but maybe you can protect the gym.”
Wildfires are not new. But the sooner we adapt our behaviours, our systems, and our buildings, the more lives we can protect as the climate crisis continues on its worsening trajectory.
As the wildfire season gets more prolonged and destructive each year, new architecture is needed to keep up. ABBY RUSSCHEN/THEVARSITY
Some of the trees on campus.
Sports
October 7, 2025
thevarsity.ca/section/sports sports@thevarsity.ca
Aiden Grout on finding balance and joy in high jump
In conversation with the star high jumper entering his final year as a U of T athlete
Taimoore Yousaf Associate Sports Editor
Before becoming a two-time U SPORTS high jump champion and Team Canada athlete, Aiden Grout was a kid from Pitt Meadows, BC. He took up track and field in hopes of becoming a faster soccer player. High jump quickly became his calling, carrying him from local meets to the international stages. Grout recently sat down in an interview with The Varsity and discussed his roots, the importance of balance as a student-athlete, and why keeping the sport fun has been pivotal to his success.
Grout recently graduated from U of T with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Sciences and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Sustainability Management. He cites time management and balance as the keys to navigating life as a high-performing student and athlete.
“It requires a lot more diligence… switching from undergrad into a Master’s program was definitely a big adjustment.” He continued, “We plan out each [training] session more carefully and find different ways to make use of time effectively, and so I feel like with athletics, it boosts my performance there.”
This sense of structure was deeply influenced by the culture around him. His coaches reminded athletes that they were students first and athletes second, and put in extended hours to design individualized programs to help their athletes fulfill their goals. Surrounded by teammates who excelled in the classroom, Grout found that discipline contagious. As he put it simply, “academic success translates to athletic success.”
Although the busy schedule demands hard work, Grout invites the challenge and thrives in the
environment around him. He earned the title of U SPORTS top scholar athlete for the 2023–2024 season, which is awarded to student-athletes who have excelled both academically and athletically. Grout has contributed greatly to the success of U of T’s track and field program. In addition to his two national titles, he took second place at his other two appearances at the U SPORTS Championships. He also claimed gold at the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Championships three years in a row from 2022–2024. Most recently, Grout represented Canada at the International University Sports Federation (FISU) World University Games in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany, where he placed ninth.
Despite international success, Grout gives flowers to his roots. Sports ran in the family. His parents were both Team Canada athletes, with his mom playing netball and his dad playing rugby. Consequently, he grew up to be a competitor, wanting to “win in everything [he] could.” Pursuing soccer excellence, Grout was in fifth grade when his parents entered him in “basically every [track and field] event.” Like many children growing up, he dreamed of being like Usain Bolt, but those dreams seemed far off when he finished last in his first 100 metre dash.
He recalled his first time high jumping, placing “fifth or sixth” in the meet. But more importantly, it was the event in which he had the most fun. This inspired him to sign up for further meets, and as Grout exclaimed, “the rest was history!”
He credits two coaches as pivotal toward his journey. Kevin Harrison, head coach for BC’s Langley Mustangs track club, who served as his primary mentor and launchpad, while Carl Georgevski, U of T track and field head coach, recruited Grout and helped nurture him into the superstar he is today. These early experiences,
combined with the guidance of his mentors, helped shape not just his technique, but the mindset he carries into every jump — one that’s rooted in focus, fun, and balance.
Grout highlighted that one of the most integral parts of high jump is the mental preparation that goes behind every repetition and performance, where each subsequent attempt is increasingly important.
“You only have three attempts at each bar height, and you know… you’re looking at a bar that’s way above your head. You’re like, how am I going to get over this?” Grout shared that his “edge” to succeed in these high-pressure situations is simply to make sure that he’s having fun. This is a principle that has truly guided Grout through his experience as both a U of T student and an athlete. After all, high jump is just another game, and as he explains, “if you’re not having fun, then you’re not going to be in the right headspace [to want to] jump high.”
He also goes back to the idea of balance, where his academics help to keep his mind focused and ensure peak athletic performance.
Likewise, the camaraderie amongst his teammates and his fellow competitors alike has helped Grout tremendously, inspiring him to aim higher — all while having fun and making lifelong friendships along the way.
Heading into his final year as a U of T athlete, Grout is focused on assuming a veteran role on the track team, pushing his peers to become their best selves. After nursing an injury last season, he is fully healthy and ready to get back to winning medals, potentially competing in multiple events, and creating a memorable end to his U of T career.
Grout leaves a simple message for his peers and younger athletes: “Nothing’s ever too serious. Just go out there and have some fun… the term YOLO is kind of old, but I definitely try to live by ‘you only live once.’ ” Through accolades and international recognition, Grout has kept his foundation and his community close to him, and he urges everyone to do the same. You only live once, so take every opportunity, reach as high as you can, and enjoy the ride.
Laurier Golden Hawks exact revenge, gust Blues in Varsity Arena
Persistent third-period play does not pay off for the Blues in their home opener
Last season’s match-up against the Laurier Golden Hawks saw the Varsity Blues storm back to secure a come-from-behind win at home. The Golden Hawks waited nine months for a chance at revenge, playing spoiler in the men’s hockey home opener.
Not to be denied from a different outcome, the Laurier fended off late-game flurries from the Blues, who took a 4–2 loss. The Golden Hawks remain undefeated in the ongoing OUA Men’s Hockey Regular Season at Varsity Arena.
What happened?
The game started slowly for both teams as the Blues delivered intensity on the boards with crushing hits, while the Hawks remained cohesive in defending their blue line to deny the Blues any looks at the net. Laurier got on the board first after forward Max-Antoine Melancon dumped a goal off a rebound from defence Kai Stothers’ shot to put them ahead 1–0.
The Blues’ penalty kill stopped the Hawks’ power play three times in the first period. With the man advantage, however, the Blues allowed a goal on a breakaway opportunity. Centre Thomas Lenart rushed in a two-on-one situation before nailing a goal off of forward Samuel Williamson’s feed to give the Hawks a 2–0 lead.
The Blues finally found the scoresheet after defence Mark Cooper swung a pass to the positioned forward, Zach Smith, for a one-timer
slapshot in the middle of the faceoff circle to trim the deficit, 2–1.
The Hawks struggled to gain possession the whole game, but proved to be lethal on odd-man rushes. Forward Bryce Sutherland intercepted the puck on the way to an assist for Melancon’s second goal to repossess a two-point lead, 3–1.
Trailing 3–1 in the final period, forward Rylee Hlusiack found the puck on a power play scramble and fired it across the net to cut the deficit to one. The goal brought the score to 3–2, rejuvenating the home team hopefuls as cheers echoed in the arena with ample time to mount another comeback.
Looking for their equalizer, the Blues fired on all cylinders as each succeeding shot brought more nerves to spectators. The crowds held their breath as the Blues pulled their goalie for a sixth attacker. Yet, Laurier’s goalie, Andrew Ness, denied any attempt made by the Blues.
An undropped puck in a crucial faceoff frustrated coach Ryan Medel and the Varsity Blues as Travis Verbeek went on a breakaway opportunity and buried an empty net goal, which sealed the win for the Golden Hawks.
“We felt [like] the faceoff puck didn’t hit the ice. It got caught up in the equipment and went back. That’s why that should have been a re-dropped puck that’s getting flown dead. I didn’t really get an explanation. That was kind of the frustration, they should have redone the faceoff,” Medel said when asked about the referee’s call in a post-game interview with The Varsity
What’s next?
The Blues sit at fourth place in the West Division with a 1–1 record, while the Hawks maintain a clean slate of 2–0, which is good enough for second place in the same division. The Blues will welcome the Western Mustangs on Thursday, October 9.
“We have to tighten up. We saw good things in the offensive zone as the game went on in terms of possession and creating offence off O-zone time. But as I’ve said, we have to tighten up. There’s a lot of parity in the league, so we have to be willing to play in tight games, and it starts from defending and playing without the puck,” Medel added.
Jean Patrick Vidad Varsity Contributor
The Blues player Laurier in their home opener on Saturday night CAROLINE HO/THEVARSITY
Grout is a two-time U SPORTS high jump champion. MIKE STILL/THEVARSITY
Gee-Gees shut out Blues in rematch
Intense battle between two top-10 nationally ranked teams ends in defeat
William Kuk Varsity Contributor
The #9 nationally ranked Varsity Blues Women’s Soccer team played their last regular-season home game against the #6-ranked University of Ottawa Gee-Gees at Varsity Stadium on September 28. The Blues had previously bested the Gee-Gees in Ottawa 2–0 on September 12, but in this rematch, the Gee-Gees returned the favour by defeating the Blues 0–2.
What happened?
During the first half, both powerhouse teams kept the score 0–0 by displaying strong defensive play. Blues goalie Maria GodoyAtrash made several key saves to stave off the Gee-Gees’ offensive, and on the opposite end of the field, Ottawa’s goalie Juliann Lacasse did the same.
It was during the second half that the Gee-Gees broke through the stalemate. The Gee-Gees were able to consistently keep possession of the ball and relentlessly attack. In the 51st minute, GeeGees forward Sabrina Mangiaracina secured the first goal against the Blues. Mangiaracina scored once again in the 55th minute by breaking through the Blues’ defence on the right side.
Although the Blues were able to generate some scoring chances throughout the match, GeeGees goalie Juliann Lacasse remained stalwart and neutralized all scoring attempts. The match concluded with the Blues down 0–2.
What’s next?
The Blues are scheduled to play three more away games to conclude the regular season. This
weekend, the Blues were hosted by Trent University. Despite the loss to the Gee-Gees, the Blues retain a strong Ontario University Athletics (OUA) standing at second in the OUA East Conference with a match record of 7–2–1 after besting the Trent Excalibur 3–2. The
next weekend will see the Blues play against the Laurentian University Voyagers and the #5 nationally ranked Nipissing University Lakers on October 11 and 12, respectively. The OUA playoff bracket will begin shortly after October 15.
Serve, drive, and play at the U of T Squash Club
Experience exceptional exhilaration and camaraderie like no other
Jean Patrick Vidad Varsity Contributor
Walking down Harbord Street in downtown Toronto, you’ll come across the University of Toronto’s Athletic Centre. Inside, various recreational sports unfold throughout the complex. Among the facilities is a room with lines drawn on its walls. Watching a match filled with thrilling plays and unforgettable rallies, you may feel compelled to join — and soon discover it’s open to all U of T students.
Shawn Poncha, a fourth-year Rotman Commerce student specializing in management, spearheads the U of T Squash Club as one of its co-presidents. The club aims to connect students, staff, and alumni through squash. “We focus on building an inclusive environment—whether you’re a first-time player or a seasoned competitor, there’s a place for you here,” wrote Poncha in response to questions posed by The Varsity
A racquet sport like no other Squash is a multidimensional sport. Unlike traditional racquet sports, which are played with a net on concrete or lawn, squash matches occur on the four walls of a room with lines on the ground and wall marking the areas of play. This unique setting offers a revolutionary style of play where players engage with the game in 360 degrees. A room also opens the possibility of unpredictable play since it delivers more angles of attack and retaliation.
To initiate play, players must serve with one foot in the service box in the back half of the room and aim it above the service line but below the out-of-bounds marker on the opposite wall. The ball must then land on the opposite corner.
Rally begins when players trade off in hitting the ball off the front wall, while only allowing it to bounce off the floor once, letting the ball make contact with any sides of the room unlimited times. This makes squash reflexively challenging, with fast-paced rallies and strategic placement of the ball.
“Squash is unique because of its pace and intensity. It’s fast, strategic, and requires a combination of agility, stamina, and mental focus. Unlike many other sports, squash is played in a confined court, so the ball is always in play—there’s no downtime. That makes every rally dynamic, unpredictable, and exciting,” wrote Poncha.
“Squash has often been recognized as one of the fittest sports in the world because it engages both the body and mind. Healthwise, it’s incredible for cardiovascular fitness,
strength, and coordination. It’s also an allweather sport that can be played year-round indoors, making it more accessible in Toronto’s climate,” Poncha added.
U of T Squash Club Poncha was “inspired to take on the leadership role because squash has been part of [his] life since [he] was seven years old.”
He wanted to continue playing the sport when he started going to U of T. Furthermore, it was his goal to introduce squash to other students in hopes of building an engaging community where they could learn, play amongst players of their skill levels, and make lasting friendships.
“I’d describe it as very inclusive and diverse,”
he wrote, when asked about the club’s community. “What makes the community special is how supportive and social it is—people come not just to play but to make friends, share tips, and have fun.”
The club holds Squash101 lessons for beginners to get a grasp on how to play squash. In addition, they conduct round robin matches every Thursday and Friday and provide free food, while allotting Saturdays for casual dropins.
They also run special events with groups like Urban Squash Toronto and racquet companies such as Black Knight, with whom they collaborated to host the “Black Knight Night to Remember” mixer. With a combination of social
events, learning tutorials, and competitive play, the club offers a wide variety of opportunities to engage with the sport.
From novices to recreational players to seasoned veterans already in competition, everyone is invited to join U of T Squash Club. Whether one is a student of any level, staff, or even a professional alumnus, the club is an inclusive place that welcomes them to the sport of squash. Discover the exhilaration and take part in camaraderie as the U of T Squash Club serves, drives, and plays a racquet sport like no other.
If you are interested in joining the U of T Squash Club, you can find them @uoftsquashclub on Instagram.
Blues forward Anne Yeomans battles for the ball. WILLIAM KUK/THEVARSITY