Petition calls for Western University to introduce mandatory anti-racism course
By Vicky Qiao — Western University students are calling on the school to introduce a mandatory anti-racism or anti-oppression course that students would be required to take to graduate. As of Tuesday morning, the online petition “Make Anti-Oppression Course Mandatory for Graduation” has received over 5,800 signatures on change.org inContinue Reading
‘This is a problem with society. Period.’ — Black community members react to online challenge
By Adriana Vicic — LONDON , ON— Still reeling from the killing of George Floyd, which has spurred anti-black racism protests worldwide, some black Canadians reacted with disgust —but not surprise — to an online challenge that made light of Floyd’s death. By the time social media websites began clampingContinue Reading
Protesting during a pandemic: health experts talk about what to do during and after the event
By Eva Zhu — Youeal Abera says it’s “scary” that he had to make a choice between joining a crowd of thousands during a global pandemic and staying home while black people continue to suffer the effects of systemic anti-black racism. But in the wake of George Floyd’s killing atContinue Reading
Capital Pride director demonstrates solidarity with anti-black racism protesters
By Mira Williamson — When he attends Ottawa’s No Peace Until Justice march to honour George Floyd on Friday, Osmel Maynes said he will be doing it to help make life better for his young nephew and black people across the world. “I’m attending because I’m a black man, whoContinue Reading
COVID-19 highlights education gaps for special needs students
By Adriana Vicic — Normally, Emily Brunka works as a server in Toronto. But since schools closed in March, she has been a tutor for her younger sister Ela, 14, who has Down Syndrome. “It’s hard because it wasn’t something I was ever trained on,” she says. “And at schoolContinue Reading
Two worlds, one city: Old East, Old South and the gap in between
VICKY QIAO – String lights, Christmas trees, garlands and wreaths – holiday spirit hit the City of London as soon as December arrived. Yet walking down Dundas St. in Old East Village, nothing seemed festive other than the Michael Bublé song playing through my headphones. Abandoned shopping carts; scattered newspapers andContinue Reading
‘I survived the Holocaust but I might not survive coronavirus’: how one elderly couple is coping with love and positivity
SOPHIE STEKEL – Talking to my grandparents from the bottom of their driveway, it is as if I was on the other side of a barbed-wire fence. I couldn’t get too close. During this COVID-19 outbreak, there are those who have limited freedoms like going to the grocery store orContinue Reading
Student Study Distractions: Age-Old Problem or New-Age Culprit?
HAYLEY TUBRETT – The notification bell rings and your phone lights up. You see that someone snapchatted, messaged, or sent you a follow request. Is your immediate impulse to pick up your phone and check your notification? If so, then you’re not alone. For many university students, that reaction isContinue Reading
COVID-19 put this student’s internship in jeopardy. Now he’s not sure where to go.
EVA ZHU – For months, Lev McKinney was excited to move to San Jose for the internship of his dreams. But as COVID-19 rages on, his future could be in limbo. McKinney, a 19-year-old Computer Sciences student at the University of Toronto, was supposed to start a four-month internship forContinue Reading
Climate activism in a time of pandemic – divestment and digital organizing
With the COVID-19 pandemic escalating and spreading across the world, information on the outbreak has been dominating news media and the public discourse. Many student organizers and climate activists are having a challenging time spreading awareness and fighting for their cause. University students across North America have been protesting theirContinue Reading