This past Monday I ran my first event at U of T, White Supremacy and the Alt-Right: Community Leaders and Our Response to Hate Groups in Canada. As the title suggests, the subject isn’t light, but it’s a conversation I thought…
To Stress or Not to Stress
Stress (Noun) /stres The Oxford Dictionary’s definition: A state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances. My definition: A constant battle with oneself. A mental state that consumes one’s psyche for prolonged periods of time until…
A Smoke Free Campus
With the Trudeau government’s recent legalization of cannabis, many questions have surfaced surrounding smoking laws at the University of Toronto. While some students are celebrating this long-awaited legislation, others are fretting, wondering what will happen to our historic sidewalks/green spaces.…
Reflections on the Tree of Life Synagogue Massacre: Pride Has Nothing to Do With It
My name is Rachel. I am 20 years old. I am a Jew. My last name Cohen ties me to the Kohanim— The high priests of Judaism. Declaring this is liberating but terrifying. I am afraid at times to reveal my…
5 Things You Didn’t Know About Varsity Sports Games
When the term “Varsity” arises on campus many things come to mind—The newspaper, the iconic Varsity arena, and often the Varsity sports players themselves. While U of T isn’t known to be extremely athletic, I was astonished by the level…
How To Actually Be Productive At the Library
With midterms and essays piling up, I’ve had two major realizations thus far. 1) Taking 6 half-year courses, while starting a whole new program and working 3 jobs might kill me, but also I can sleep when I’m dead? 2)…
U of T Best Buddies: My experience
Since Mental Illness Awareness week falls in October, and there is an increasing emphasis on mental health, I thought it would be fitting to discuss my involvement with an organization that changed my entire perspective on intellectual and developmental disabilities…
How to Save Money at University
When I chose to attend U of T I knew it wouldn’t be cheap, but my young adolescent self didn’t consider the woes of rent costs, hydro bills and trips home. With the neighbourhood of Yorkville adjacent to my first-year…
The Event Chronicles: URSSU and Jennifer Keesmaat
Between classes and studying this past Monday, I heard about the event, “Our City, Our Future: Students in Conversation with Jennifer Keesmaat,” held by the Urban Studies Student Union (URSSU) that evening. As someone (maybe the only person) who’s interested in…
It’s Okay to Take a Break
In the spirit of the Jewish Holiday Yom Kippur this week, I wanted to take a minute to reflect. This holiday, also known as “The Day of Atonement,” is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Yom Kippur falls exactly…